By Diego de la Paz CUBAO, Philippines (Eagle News) – The Philippines men’s national team survived a huge scare from Iran in the endgame before pulling off an 81-70 result in its final tuneup game on Wednesday night in front of a raucous crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The team affectionately known by many as Gilas blew a once 23 point lead in the second half on a 20-5 start by Iran in the […]
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College Basketball: Arellano, De La Salle defeat champs, move on to summer tourney semis
SAN JUAN, Philippines (Eagle News) — Arellano University and De La Salle fashioned out do-or-die wins to move on to the semi-final round of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan City late on Tuesday night. De La Salle continues to exert its might over the competition, routing reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion Far Eastern University via a 91-71 count. But Arellano, on their part, stopped […]
NBA: ‘Do or Die’ time for Cavs despite Warriors game-3 woes
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND,Ohio (AFP)-– LeBron James knows all-too well the Cleveland Cavaliers must win Wednesday in the NBA Finals if they hope to make one of the greatest fightbacks in 70 years of championship history. Defending champion Golden State, which set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, has seized a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the best-of-seven series, winning twice at home by blowout margins to capture momentum. “It’s a do-or-die game for us,” […]
NBA: Concussion-hit Love remains uncertain for Cavs
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Cleveland forward Kevin Love’s status remains uncertain for Wednesday’s crucial third game of the NBA Finals after suffering a concussion in the Cavaliers’ game-two loss to defending champion Golden State. Love did not take part in practice and Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said that a decision will be made Wednesday on Love, who has shown improvement since being struck in the back of the head by the […]
NBA: Bogut eyes Rio despite ‘scary’ Zika
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Andrew Bogut plans to play for Australia at the Rio Olympics, but Zika virus concerns have the NBA standout joking about getting a hazmat suit as he considers the risks. The 31-year-old 7-footer (2.13m) from Melbourne has helped the defending champion Golden State Warriors grab a 2-0 lead over Cleveland in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. “I would be lying to say I wasn’t concerned about it, but […]
College Basketball: NU, Ateneo book semi-finals seats in summer tourney
SAN JUAN, Philippines (Eagle News) — National University and Ateneo de Manila, two of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ perennial men’s basketball contenders, cruised to separate wins over their foils to enter the semi-final round of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan City on Tuesday. Ateneo opened up the day by turning back Perpetual Help by a count of 68-59, while National U rattled the upstart […]
MMA: Popular fighter Kimbo Slice dies – promoter
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Kimbo Slice, the mixed-martial artist who rose to fame after videos of his backyard brawls went viral, has died at the age of 42, MMA promoters Bellator confirmed Monday. “We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family,” Bellator president Scott Coker said in a statement. Slice, whose birth name was Kevin Ferguson, had been transported to […]
NBA: Cavaliers look to get tough against wary Warriors
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — While the Golden State Warriors fight to avoid complacency after two lopsided wins to start the NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers hope playing at home will help them find toughness they have so far lacked. The defending champion Warriors would reach the brink of a repeat crown with a victory Wednesday in the best-of-seven series. “We’re feeling confident but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Warriors star […]
Will Smith, Lennox Lewis named as Ali’s pallbearer
More than 30,000 tickets will be distributed to the public for the two memorials scheduled for Thursday and Friday in sports arenas in Ali’s home town of Louisville, Kentucky, Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell said. Mourners who cannot get tickets will be able to watch a funeral procession that will drive Ali’s remains through Louisville, including along a boulevard bearing his name, to the Cave Hill Cemetery. Ali and his family had planned his funeral […]
NBA: Will Finals bring more heartbreak for Cleveland?
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Cleveland’s long-suffering sports fans, waiting since 1964 for a championship team in any major sport, welcome the NBA Finals to town hoping their Cavaliers can end the epic title drought. But defending champion Golden State leads two games to none in the best-of-seven series after a 110-77 romp Sunday over the same Cleveland squad the Warriors beat in last year’s finals. Golden State’s combined 48-point win margin […]
NBA: Stephen Curry says won’t play in Olympics
OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — NBA MVP Stephen Curry announced Monday he will not play in this summer’s Rio Olympics, stating he plans to skip the event in order to concentrate on his fitness. Curry, who at the weekend said he would wait until the end of the NBA playoffs before making a decision, said he had decided to withdraw from the USA’s preliminary squad after consulting with his family, advisors and team officials. “After […]
Boxing: How Ali’s ‘Thrilla’ left its mark on the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — A bustling shopping mall forms an unlikely monument to the “Thrilla in Manila”, but Muhammad Ali’s most brutal fight made its biggest impression on the minds of those who witnessed it and still speak of it with awe. The late Ali’s third and final meeting with Joe Frazier, in 1975, only went to Manila because Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos was hoping to gain popularity and prestige, three years after declaring martial […]
