Archive for August, 2008

For Oscar dela Hoya to agree on a huge $3-million fine is a very strong sign that he can make 147 pounds for his Dec. 6 showdown with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

“We see that he’s confident, for him to agree on the amount,” said Pacquiao’s legal counsel, Franklin Gacal, yesterday morning after talking with Bob Arum. Read the rest of this entry »

CEBU CITY–Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista proved he still belongs to the elite group after he anihilated Mexican warrior Eden “Anestecista” Marquez in the second round of a scheduled 12-rounder last night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel to retain his WBO Intercontinental superbantam title.

In the co-feature, WBO minimumweight king Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes also defended his title with a brutal second-round stoppage of Nicaraguan Eddy Castro. Read the rest of this entry »

World’s best boxer battles Golden Boy on Dec. 6 Read the rest of this entry »

Barring any last-minute surprise, Gabe Norwood, the exciting and slam-dunking guard from George Mason University, could be the next biggest thing in the PBA.

With Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat Paints) all set to tab him as its No. 1 pick, the 6-foot-5 Norwood needs only to submit minor documents today to be eligible for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft set Sunday at the Market! Market! Place at The Fort in Taguig City. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems that there is no turning back for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and boxing’s Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya to slug it out for a mega buck fight in early December as both camps have expressed their unwavering desire to face each other. Read the rest of this entry »

DAVAO CITY — The Davaoenos filled the activity center of Atrium of Gaisano Mall, hoping to see up close some of the magical shots that have made Efren “Bata” Reyes the icon of the sport for almost two decades now.

They got it right as Reyes wowed them with his surgical-like touch that many local fans considered as almost unthinkable. So when the smoke of battle finally cleared, Reyes emerged victorious in what many labeled as a dream challenge match. Read the rest of this entry »

Officials of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Solar Sports Entertainment Corporation – the league’s new TV coveror – will have a rendezvous in Macau today to formally sign a three-year deal, each one hoping for a wonderful partnership that will bring the league’s popularity to a new high.

Though both parties have already reached an agreement as early as three months ago, the signing of the mega contract will only take place today. Read the rest of this entry »

BEIJING – International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge declared the Beijing Olympics officially closed yesterday, bringing down the curtains on a glittering sports extravaganza.

China concluded its debut as Olympic host after 16 days of near-flawless logistics and superlative athletic achievement that coexisted awkwardly with the government’s wariness of dissent and free speech.

To a large extent, the emergent superpower got what it had craved from these long-sought games – a dominant effort by its athletes to top the gold-medal standings for the first time and almost glitch-free organizing that showcased world-class venues and cheerful volunteers to the largest-ever peaceful influx of foreign visitors.

As a bonus, not just one but two athletes gave arguably the greatest performances in Olympic history – Michael Phelps with his eight gold medals in swimming, Jamaica’s ebullient Usain Bolt with three golds and three world records in the sprints. Read the rest of this entry »

Barangay Ginebra Wednesday night returned to greatness in the face of all sorts of adversities that many thought the Kings couldn’t live through. And with a collective resolve in the season’s final game, the Kings also proved that adversity is what they thrive on.

Walking wounded for practically the whole year, the Kings dug deep one more time and humbled an Air21 side that welcomed itself to the PBA’s elite, hammering out a 97-84 Game 7 victory for the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup before a stomping, chanting throng at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Read the rest of this entry »

Reports from the US reveal that while the proposed Dec. 6 showdown between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao is not a heartbeat away from being signed, indications point towards a possible compromise agreement.

Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times in a story that came out Tuesday that “he (Pacquiao) sort of realized that 30% of the big pie is better than 100% percent of the small pie.” Read the rest of this entry »

Will it be the championship experience of Barangay Ginebra or the hunger of Air21 which will make the big difference?

This will be answered tonight when the Gin Kings and the Express collide in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra forced the do-or-die game last Sunday when the Gin Kings hammered a come-from-behind 80-75 victory to tie the best-of-seven series at three games a piece. Read the rest of this entry »

Barangay Ginebra will continue to deal with player injuries but is spared of suspension to key personnel as the Kings battle the Air21 Express in a deciding Game Seven in their Smart PBA Fiesta Conference title showdown at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »

A four-game bill will usher in the seventh Universities and Colleges Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament today at the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.

Host Philippine School of Business Administration battles Emilio Aguinaldo College at 10 a.m., while Olivarez College takes on La Salle-Dasmariñas at 11:30 a.m. in the first two games.

Later in the day, the defending champion St. Francis of Assisi College Doves will begin their title-retention bid against newcomer Colegio de Sta. Monica at 1 p.m., while Trace College of Laguna debuts with a 2:30 p.m. showdown with Universal College of Nursing. Read the rest of this entry »

Former world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante absorbed a 9-8 decision from former world 9-ball titlist Johnny Archer of the United States yesterday to bow out of the 2008 Turning Stone Classic XI 9-Ball tournament in Verona, New York.

Bustamante, the 2002 World Pool Championship runner-up, had earlier lost to Raj Hundal of United Kingdom, 4-9, in the sixth round to slide down to the losers’ bracket.

The RP bet, who racked up five straight wins before bowing to Hundal, crushed America’s No. 1 player Shane Van Boening, 9-3, before bowing to Archer.

With the loss, Bustamante joined early Filipino casualties Jose “Amang” Parica and Mhet Vergara.

Archer, meanwhile, extended his winning run and nipped Hundal, 9-8, for the finals berth against Korean-American Charlie Williams in the $ 25,000 tournament.

Fil-Kuwaiti Rabeh Al-Hussaini stepped up when Chris Tiu struggled as Ateneo pummeled Adamson, 78-59, yesterday and clinched the first Final Four berth in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

The 6-foot-6 Al-Hussaini bulldozed his way to 29 points, including 14 in the first quarter, and set the tone for the rout as the Eagles notched their ninth win in 10 outings and gained entry into the Final Four. Read the rest of this entry »