Liam Neeson says Floyd scared of Pacquiao

Source: Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA – Hollywood actor Liam Neeson believes that the only thing holding back the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega fight is Floyd’s unwillingness to face the Filipino boxing superstar. 

In an interview with ESPN, the Oscar-nominated actor admitted being one of the fans waiting for the super fight to take place.

“I would pay any amount of money to be at that fight,” said Neeson, who is known for his performances in Hollywood films like Taken, Les Misérables, Clash of the Titans and The A-Team.

Donaire back to his old style

Image Source: unknown
Source: Marc Anthony Reyes; Philippine Daily Inquirer
Finally realizing there’s something wrong in his strategy the past few fights, Nonito Donaire Jr. has vowed to go back to his old patient, calculating  style.

After failing to knock out his past three opponents—the last two at 122 lb—Donaire told Ryan Maquinana of boxingscene.com that he will go back to his tried and tested game plan which requires precision and temperament as much as brute power. 

The 29-year-old Donaire came up with solid wins over Omar Narvaez, Wilredo Vazquez Jr., and Jeffrey Mathebula but didn’t get a high grade after he appeared to be rushing for a quick kill  instead of using jabs and combinations that were already in his arsenal.

Eagles chasing UAAP history versus Tigers

Source: Jasmine W Payo; Philippine Daily Inquirer
When Ateneo battles University of Santo Tomas for the UAAP championship, the Blue Eagles will be chasing history that comes with a fifth straight crown.

Ever since University of the East strung up seven straight titles from 1965 to 1971, no team has come close to threatening the record in men’s basketball. 

So with another title conquest, the Blue Eagles will not only move within two wins of matching the feat but also earn the distinction of having the second longest championship reign in the league.

San Sebastian thwarts Perpetual Help, secures playoff for 2nd place

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Calvin Abueva fouled out early but it didn’t keep San Sebastian from weathering a late-game push by Perpetual Help.

With Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual in tow, the Stags restored order en route to an 80-62 win over the Altas Thursday night in the NCAA Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil flying V Arena in San Juan city.

“We were lucky we had a lead,” said SSC head coach Allan Trinidad on Abueva fouling out. 

EAC puts JRU on brink of elimination

Source: Mark Giongco; Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – Emilio Aguinaldo College put Jose Rizal University on the verge of missing the Final Four after a 71-65 win Thursday night in the NCAA Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Generals, already out of semifinals contention, finished this season with an 8-10 record, their best mark since joining the league in 2009. 

Happi Noube struggled on his shot but still came away with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Azkals receive best-ever rating in FIFA rankings

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals surged in the latest FIFA men’s list for the country’s highest-ever ranking in world football.

From 150, the Philippines jumped three places higher to 147 following their success in the recent Philippine Football Peace Cup.

The Azkals defeated Guam, Macau and Chinese Taipei in the just-concluded tournament to win their first international title in 99 years.

Younghusbands back with the Azkals

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals have called up Phil and James Younghusband to participate in their 10-day training camp in the Middle East, which starts October 7.

This, after the Younghusband brothers were controversially left out of the Azkals roster for the recently concluded Philippine Football Peace Cup.

In a statement, Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the management decided to include the Younghusbands "after careful consideration."

'Floyd can make $200M by fighting Pacman, Bradley'

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – Roger Mayweather, trainer and uncle of unbeaten fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., thinks his nephew could earn close to $200 million by fighting Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.

Roger, however, maintained that the biggest fight for Floyd remains Pacquiao.

“The fight with Floyd is Pacquiao,” said Roger in Boxing Scene. “That’s the fight. He fights Timothy Bradley, he fights Pacquiao. He’ll make so much money. He’ll make close to $200 million.”

The anticipated Pacquiao-Floyd fight is seen as the biggest bout in terms of popularity and earnings in recent boxing history. Analysts believe that it could eclipse Floyd’s fight against Oscar de la Hoya in 2007, which generated over P120 million in revenues.

However, Floyd remained mum over the Pacquiao fight despite the latter offering a 55-45 share of earnings.

Continue reading: 'Floyd can make $200M by fighting Pacman, Bradley'

Buboy reveals Pacquiao's 'to do' list vs Marquez

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez has revealed the list of things they will have to watch out when fighting Juan Manuel Marquez.

For one, Fernandez said they will have to negate Marquez’s counterpunching and foot stomping.

Fernandez, who is Pacquiao’s bosom friend, admitted that they have been preoccupied with their offensive tack.

Archers, Kaya battle to 1-1 draw

Source: Cedelf P Tupas; Philippine Daily Inquirer
Skipper Tating Pasilan struck four minutes from time as Green Archers United held fancied Kaya to a 1-1 draw Tuesday night in the United Football League Cup at  Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Nate Burkey gave Kaya the lead with a fifth minute-strike, but missed a host of chances that could have put the game away for his side in an enthralling Group B clash. 

Pasilan equalized through an indirect free kick from 10 yards out after referee Rey Ritaga caught Kaya goalkeeper Saba Garmaroudi collecting a back pass from Nico Bolzico.

Rain or Shine routs new-look Petron

Image Source: Wikipedia
Source: Mark Giongco; Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine beat Petron Blaze as if the Boosters weren’t preseason favorites to win the title.

Riding high on their recent championship, the Elasto Painters pummeled the Boosters, 102-86, Wednesday night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

“As I said before the game, this is the best time to play Petron, they’re still in transition, they have a new coach,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao. “They’re going to be a lot more dangerous in the next two to three games and they won’t be the same when we play them the second time around.”

PBA Philippine Cup: Barako Bull edges Air21 behind ‘main man’

Image Source: Wikipedia
Source: Mark Giongco; Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Barako Bull lost Willie Miller in the offseason and for head coach Junel Baculi, Ronald Tubid will have to fill the void.

Tubid responded with a game-high 19 points to lead the Energy Cola to a 90-87 squeaker over the Air21 Express Wednesday in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

“Sean (Anthony) had his moments but the main man right now is Ronald Tubid,” said Baculi.

Younghusbands back in Azkals lineup for Middle East Camp

Source: Mark Giongco; Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – After missing the recently concluded Philippine Football Peace Cup, Phil and James Younghusband are back with the men’s National Football team for its coming Middle East Camp.

The Fil-British brothers, whom the Philippine Football Federation didn’t include in the lineup the last time out citing “economic and non-economic” reasons, will join the Azkals as they face Bahrain and Kuwait in a pair of international friendlies set on October 7-11. 

Expected to lead the Azkals along with the Younghusbands are PH squad fixture Chieffy Caligdong, Peace Cup Golden Boot awardee and MVP Denis Wolf and Angel and Juan Guirado.

Phil, James shrug off 'prima donna' tag

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines -- For football players Phil and James Younghusband, being reportedly referred to as "prima donnas" by Philippine Azkals coach Michael Weiss is still a matter for clarification.

"Coach Weiss -- English is not his native language... so it's difficult. Sometimes things are misheard or sometimes misunderstood," Phil said during a press conference for an endorsement launch on Tuesday, when asked for his reaction to Weiss' reported reference to them shortly after the Azkals' championship win in the recently  Philippine Football Peace Cup.

Last Saturday, during the Philippine football team's post-match press conference, Weiss was quoted as saying that the current Azkals line-up is "without prima donnas... people who think they already have achieved something in football."

Younghusbands await 'Azkals' callup'

Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines -- After being omitted from the Azkals' lineup in the recently held Philippine Football Peace Cup, football players Phil and James Younghusband said they now only wait for a "call-up" to play again for the Philippine national team.

"That's up to the management. We're always available, we're waiting for that call-up. We're looking forward, if we're getting a call-up to play with the team again," said James, Azkals midfielder, during a press conference for an endorsement launch held Tuesday.

"We've been following the team all week, and we just like to wish Coach [Hans Michael] Weiss a big congratulations. I think they did a great job in the Peace Cup," James added.

Ticket sales show Pacquiao remains hugely popular

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA, Philippines – The brisk ticket sales for the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight in December proves that the Filipino champ remains popular among boxing fans, according to a fight analyst.

Examiner’s Michael Marley said fans are still expecting the Filipino congressman to come up with an exciting fight, especially against his greatest rival Marquez.

“The Pacquiao Popularity Well has hardly gone dry. People still want to believe that Pacman can produce a crowd-pleasing scrap, one worth their hard-earned live gate or PPV (pay-per-view) TV investment,” said Marley.

Fajardo, Tiu make PBA debuts today

Image Source: Wikipedia
Article Source: Musong R Castillo; Philippine Daily Inquirer
The top overall pick in the last Draft seen by many as a game-changer in the PBA gets his first taste of pro action today when rock-solid Petron Blaze battles Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

June Mar Fajardo, an agile, 6-foot-10 center with a feathery touch, and the rest of the Boosters take the Big Dome floor in the 7:30 p.m. contest against the Elasto Painters. 

Fajardo adds ceiling and muscle to an already formidable Petron roster, which has been prepared hard in the off-season by former national team coach Rajko Toroman.

Chances of having intact Azkals likely, says PFF chief

Source: Celest R Flores; Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines men’s football squad’s first international title in nearly a century was a product of enough preparation.

That was the assessment of PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta of the Azkals’ success in the recent Philippine Football Peace Cup held here last week.

“It just shows that our preparations really helped. That was the team who went to the United States to train,” said Araneta Tuesday in the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate in Manila. 

Global begins UFL bid in style

Source: Cedelf P Tupas; Philippine Daily Inquirer
Reigning league champion Global launched its campaign in style, thumping Pasargad, 3-1, last night at the start of the United Football League Cup competition at Rizal Memorial field.

First half goals from Sudanese forward Izo El-Habbib and Carli de Murga and an early second-half strike by Misagh Bahadoran ensured a flying start for the strengthened Global side in Group A.

Pasargad’s Iranian forward Masood Shedidih scored on a sensational strike in the second half to avert the shutout at 3-1. But De Murga moved up to midfield and Global regained control.

Dream shelved, Aguilar now eyeing NBA D-League stint with Bakersfield

Source: June Navarro; Philippine Daily Inquirer
With his NBA dream shelved, Japeth Aguilar could find solace in the NBA D-League.

The 6-foot-9 Filipino could earn a spot in the Bakersfield Jam roster after an impressive workout with Jam assistant general manager Brian Levy in Los Angeles last week. 

According to Hoopshype.com, Aguilar earned positive reviews from Levy, who was fascinated with the former Western Kentucky Hilltopper’s jumping ability and explosiveness around the rim.

“He’s an explosive leaper that runs the floor well and has good instincts when crashing the offensive glass. He can shoot just well enough from the three and that must be respected,” said Levy, who also functions as the team’s director of player personnel. “He has the tools to contribute to a team this year if he finds the right situation.” 

Altas need win vs Stags to enhance semis bid

Source: Joey Villar; Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help faces an uphill battle as it seeks to remain in the Final Four race against San Sebastian in a make-or-break bid on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan.

Tied with Jose Rizal U at fourth spot with 10-7 slates, the Altas battle the San Sebastian Stags (11-5) at the close of their double-round robin elims campaign, needing no less than a victory for at least a playoff for the fourth and last semis berth.

The Bombers are also in a must-win situation but unlike the Altas, the Mandaluyong-based squad will have a rather lighter assignment in the ousted Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (7-10), also on Thursday.

UST's Abdul spared suspension

Source:  Olmin Leyba; Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - The University of the Santo Tomas Tigers will field a full roster when they start their showdown with five-peat-seeking Ateneo Blue Eagles for the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball crown on Saturday as star center Karim Abdul escaped suspension despite incurring a second unsportsmanlike foul in the previous game.

“Hindi suspended si Abdul (Abdul is not suspended),” commissioner Ato Badolato told The STAR yesterday.

There were concerns that the 6-6 Abdul will have to sit out the finals opener after getting slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul (UF) for nudging an airborne Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. during the Final Four. It was Abdul’s second UF this season after getting one for hitting University of the East’s JR Sumido in an earlier eliminations assignment.

Suzuki Cup 'completely different' from Peace Cup: Weiss

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Azkals head coach Hans Michael Weiss reminded Filipino football fans that the AFF Suzuki Cup is a completely different tournament from the recently concluded Philippine Football Peace Cup.

The Azkals ended a 99-year drought without an international football title when they ran through Macau, Chinese-Taipei and Guam to win the Peace Cup last week.

But in a report on the official Suzuki Cup website, Weiss stressed that the biennial tournament in November will be a whole different animal.

Marquez may retire if he KOs Pacquiao

Article Source: ABS-CBNnews.com
Image Source: unknown
MANILA, Philippines – Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez may consider hanging up his gloves if he can beat his greatest rival, Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, via a knockout in their fourth encounter.

Marquez and Pacquiao will meet for a fourth time on December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after their first three encounters failed to produce a decisive result.

“I want to knock him out,” Marquez told Boxing Scene. “I know I can do it, although I know that it won’t be easy.”

The Azkals make history in an eventful Peace Cup finale

Source: Bob Guerrero; The Passionate Fan

My postgame thoughts on the Azkals' Peace Cup-clinching win over Chinese Taipei.

This was a feel-good moment the Azkals desperately needed. The Philippines was hugely favored to lift this trophy, but the title means more because of the timing. The loss at Laos, the dropping of the team's two most popular players, and the general waning of interest for the team had hung like a cloud over the squad. All that vanished in the wake of a solid 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei. The atmosphere at pitch-side afterwards was jubilant and somewhat reminiscent of the win over Sri Lanka last year. Once again the team is enveloped in good vibes. It needs plenty of that with the Suzuki Cup looming.

Tigers' stint vs Eagles still hangs in balance

Source: Olmin Leyba; The Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines -  The status of University of Santo Tomas’ Cameroonian center Karim Abdul for Game 1 of the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball finals against Ateneo is still hanging in the air as the league weighs whether his unsportsmanlike foul in the Tigers’ 63-57 win over the National U Bulldogs, his second for the season, merits sanction.

“No decision yet,” UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato said yesterday afternoon in reply to The STAR’s query on Abdul’s case.

League rules call for a one-game ban if a player accumulates two unsportsmanlike fouls that could be classified as “intended to hurt.”

Jose Rizal, Perpetual brace for crucial matches

Source: The Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines -  Jose Rizal University and Perpetual Help gear up for a pair of crucial matches on Thursday when they close out their respective elims campaigns in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, both needing victories to assure themselves of at least a playoff for the last Final Four berth.

Between the two, however, the Heavy Bombers seem to have the inside track for the last semis seat as they will take on the ousted Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (7-10). In contrast, the Altas will have a tougher opponent in the San Sebastian College side still in chase for one more win to nail the No. 2 spot and the other twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.

Down-the-wire NCAA Final Four race looms

Source: Cedelf P Tupas; Philippine Daily Inquirer
Four teams brace for a down-the-wire finish in the second round of the 88th NCAA basketball tournament as they contest the three remaining Final Four berths.

With the elimination round down to its final week, the postseason picture remains muddled as only San Beda has gained a spot in the semifinals with San Sebastian, Letran, Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U all in contention for the three slots. 

The Stags, Knights, Altas and Bombers could end up in a quadruple tie at second, which could mean an extended season for the league.

Gins give Batang Pier rude welcome

Source: Musong Castillo; Philippine Daily Inquier
Frolicking in a free-flowing game in front of the PBA’s biggest season-opening crowd, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel got off to a dream Philippine Cup start last night after posting a thorough 110-90 destruction of Global Port at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Six players scored in twin digits and LA Tenorio showed his true worth in his first game as a Gin King as Ginebra finished off the newcomer Batang Pier with a flurry. 

“We got over opening day jitters, the distractions,” Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen said. “It is good to start this way.”