PRESS RELEASEThe NCAA Press Corps picked San Sebastian sharp shooter Jimbo Aquino as its ACCEL/Fil-Oil Player of the Week after powering the Stags to the early share of the lead in Season 85.Aquino, who has taken the leadership cudgels from last year’s leaders Jason Ballesteros and Jim Viray, averaged 23 points in wins over Perpetual Help and reigning three-peat champion San Beda the past week.During that stretch, Aquino buried a whopping 10 of the 13 triples he attempted including six in ...

It was an explosive afternoon for Jimbo Aquino as he along with a group of San Sebastian big men stunned three-time defending champion San Beda, 83-77, in the 85th NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.One of key players left from last year's roster, Aquino exploded for 12 points in the fourth quarter off four triples to lead the Stags' upset of the Red Lions. He finished with 26 points on six triples made that impressed SSC-R's rookie head Ato Agustin.&l...

PRESS RELEASEGames Wednesday(The Arena City, San Juan)10 a.m.- San Sebastian vs San Beda (Jrs.)11:45 a.m.- Letran vs Arellano (Jrs.)2 p.m.- San Sebastian vs San Beda (Srs.)4 p.m.- Letran vs Arellano (Srs.)College of St. Benilde survived an atrocious free throw shooting day as it turned back a stubborn Angeles University Foundation, 87-76, yesterday to jumpstart its bid in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.Angelo Montecastro fired 20 points while Chuck Dalanon, Wil...

Rookie-laden San Sebastian pummeled Perpetual Help, 76-64, in a non-televised match to complete the three-day opener of the 85th NCAA season at the Araneta Coliseum.Hoping to improve on their fifth place showing last season, the Stags had an easy time against the Altas led by 24 points at one point behind veterans Jimbo Aquino and Gilbert Bulawan.Aquino, tasked to fill up the void left by national team standout Jason Ballesteros and Jim Viray, led the Recto-based dribblers with 20 points off fou...

Defending champion San Beda delivered a huge statement to the nine other NCAA squads after crushing Mapua, 85-52, as the league's 85th season unfold in front of a packed crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.The Red Lions led by 20 points in the early part of the game while holding the Cardinals' offense to just 28 percent shooting from the floor to jumpstart their quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship.Team skipper Bam Gamalinda had a strong game for the Mendiola-based squad with 14...

PRESS RELEASENCAA president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of host San Beda yesterday said the 85th NCAA basketball tournament will unfold on June 27 at the Big Dome as planned despite the swine flu scare that hit some of its member schools.“Yes, we’re going ahead with everything, God be willing,” de Jesus said.“The NCAA Board has overwhelmingly approved the recommendation to cancel the ABS-CBN tournament to allow individual teams and players to prepare for the opening of the sea...

PRESS RELEASEBarely wrapping up its fourth crown in the country's premier women's volley league, University of Santos Tomas is setting its sights on another championship run in the Shakey's V-League this early."Hopefully, we could sustain our good performance in the next conference. We will try to improve in every game," said UST coach Cesael delos Santos, moments after steering the Tigresses to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 romp over the San Sebastian Lady Stags in their do-or-die match last Tuesday.It...

ABS-CBN cancelled today's scheduled twinbill of the College Wars at the Jose Rizal University gym in Mandaluyong City.The two-game affair was supposed to feature University of the Philippines and Mapua in the first game at 2pm followed by an interesting clash pitting defending UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila and JRU.Studio 23, ABS-CBN's UHF-owned channel, instead showed Game 2 of last year's UAAP finals between Ateneo and La Salle with a message shown below the screen advising the cancellation."D...

PRESS RELEASE What was expected to be a closely-fought sudden death match turned out to be a cruise for Univ. of Santo Tomas as it swept San Sebastian College for the second straight time, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22, to rule the sixth Shakey's V-League presented by Cherifer before a packed crowd at The Arena in San Juan. Everything the Tigresses did right in forcing the rubber match with a straight-set win last Sunday, they did again yesterday, plus more, as the Espana-based squad reasserted it...

PRESS RELEASE Arellano University walloped PMMS, 73-52, to clinch its third straight title even as San Beda slew reigning UAAP high school champion Ateneo to rule their respective divisions in the 15th Fr. Martin Summer Cup at the San Beda Gym. La Salle likewise pulled off a huge feat as it humbled defending UAAP women’s titlist Far Eastern U, 53-46, to complete a 10-game sweep of the event backed by Molten, www.gameface.ph and Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr. The win s...

PRESS RELEASEThe NCAA will not be very forgiving to players who will be caught playing dirty.League commissioner Aric del Rosario yesterday warned he would instantly toss out players that would be caught committing dangerous fouls like punching, kicking or elbowing among others that endangers the health of other players.“We will not tolerate dirty players in this league, they would be immediately ejected if we find them intentionally doing it,” said del Rosario, the same coach who st...

PRESS RELEASEGame Tuesday(Filoil Flying V Arena)4 p.m. - UST vs SSC(Series tied 1-1)University of Santo Tomas showed its championship form and got back at San Sebastian 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, to force a winner-take-all match for the crown in the sixth Shakey's V-League presented by Cherifer before an overflow crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.Michelle Carolino blasted away 14 kills, the last piercing through the Lady Stags' defense and clinching the one-hour, 24-minute victory fo...

It seems that San Beda is ready to win its fourth consecutive NCAA title after routing San Sebastian College, 85-69, and captured the 2009 Nike Summer League crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.The Red Lions led for most of the game as they put on a strong finishing kick to become the first NCAA team to win a title in the league's four-year run.University of the East, De La Salle and Ateneo de Manila, all coming from the UAAP, were the three previous winners of the annual tournament w...

Reigning titlist University of the East and Far Eastern University arranged a one-game title showdown after hurdling their respective semifinal foes in the 2009 Filoil Flying V Preseason Manuel V. Pangilinan Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.The Red Warriors went to Elmer Espiritu and Paul Zamar to pull away from San Sebastian, 90-84, while the Tamaraws avenged its disappointing loss to San Beda the other day, 64-58, to force an all-UAAP finale.Both University Belt-based squads w...

PRESS RELEASE Games tomorrow2 p.m. - AdU vs FEU (3rd Place)4 p.m. - UST vs SSC-R (Finals, Game 2)As San Sebastian braces for its second straight Shakey's V-League crown, guest Thai import Jaroensri Bualee also primes herself up for another MVP plum when the league honors the conference's outstanding players tomorrow. With Bualee firing 16 hits and the rest backing her up with solid games, the Lady Stags tripped the Tigresses, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, in the opener of their best-of-three titl...

An all-NCAA clash will feature the finals of the 2009 Nike Summer League after San Beda and San Sebastian defeated their separate semifinal rivals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City last June 11.The Red Lions, aiming for their fourth straight championship, came back from a 14-point deficit to surprise Far Eastern University, 74-72, while the rookie-laden Stags pulled away in the second half to oust Letran, 92-79.Both squads arranged a one-game affair for the championship set on Saturday at...

PRESS RELEASEGames Sunday2 p.m. - Adamson vs FEU4 p.m. - UST vs SSCSan Sebastian College turned an expected down-to-the-wire contest with University of Santo Tomas into a virtual romp, fashioning out a straight-set 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 victory to gain the headstart in their title showdown in the Shakey’s V-League presented by Cherifer at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.The Lady Stags unloaded a potent mix of power, defense and poise to startle the Tigresses and move within a win ...

PRESS RELEASEThe National Collegiate Athletic Association, the oldest and one of the most prestigious leagues in the land, will have the Philippine Sports Commission as its partner when its Season 85 opens shop on June 27 at the Araneta Coliseum.Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson of host San Beda yesterday announced they would hold most of their games at the government-owned Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Arena in Pasig City as part of the new partners...

San Beda College put on a strong defensive showing in the fourth quarter to oust De La Salle, 70-49, to earn the last semifinal ticket in the 2009 Filoil Flying V Preseason Manuel V. Pangilinan Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.The three-time defending NCAA champion Red Lions led by just four points, 52-48, early in the fourth quarter before they closed out the rookie-laden Green Archers with an 18-1 windup to earn a date with Far Eastern University in the semifinals on Friday.Ga...

Far Eastern University and San Sebastian College trounced their quarterfinal rivals to join defending champion University of the East in the semifinals of the 2009 Filoil Flying V Preseason Manuel V. Pangilinan Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.National team standout Mark Barroca erupted for 11 in the third quarter as the Tamaraws pulled away past Jose Rizal University, 76-61, while the Stags survived a late comeback by Adamson University, 82-69.The other quarterfinal affair betw...

PRESS RELEASE Games tomorrow 2 p.m. - Adamson vs FEU (for third) 4 p.m. – UST vs SSC (Finals, Game 1) Foiled the last time out, University of Santo Tomas showed its championship poise and beat Far Eastern University in a game it could not afford to lose, scoring a 25-20, 25-21, 25-14 victory to advance to the finals of the sixth Shakey’s V-League presented by Cherifer at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan yesterday. Michelle Carolino, back in action after missing the Tigres...

Far Eastern University heads four squads who made it to the semifinals after thrashing Perpetual Help, 89-51, in the 2009 Nike Summer League quarterfinals yesterday at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.RP developmental team members Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos and JR Cawaling led an all-out assault by the Tamaraws in the first quarter to put the game out of reach early.Barroca, who shrugged off fatigue due to his stints with the nationals in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and with champion Oracle Resid...

PRESS RELEASE Games Thursday 2 p.m. - FEU vs USJ-R 4 p.m. - USLS-Bacolod vs San Sebastian 6 p.m. - Adamson vs UST San Sebastian College overwhelmed Univ. of San Jose-Recoletos of Cebu with its power game as it posted a lopsided 25-8, 25-9, 25-15 victory at the start of the quarterfinal round of the sixth Shakey's V-League at The Arena in San Juan last May 19. Laurence Ann Latigay delivered 16 kills for a 17-point output, Thai import Jaroensri Bualee tossed in 15 points while Rysabelle Dev...

PRESS RELEASE Games Thursday 2 p.m. - FEU vs ADMU 4 p.m. - UST vs CSB 6 p.m. - AdU vs SSC-R San Sebastian College overwhelmed Far Eastern U with its power game, fashioning out a 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 victory to advance to the quarterfinals in the sixth Shakey’s V-League at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City. Thai import Jaroensri Bualee again stood in the forefront of SSC charge, firing away a game-high 23 hits, including four of the team’s last six points capped by a d...

PRESS RELEASE University of Santo Tomas fought back from seven points down in the fourth set to stop Far Eastern U’s win run, fashioning out a 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 27-25 victory to regain the solo lead in the sixth Shakey’s V-League at the Filoil Flying-V Arena in San Juan last night. Michelle Carolino presided the Tigresses’ rally from a 12-19 deficit in the fourth where the three-time champions won 10 of the next 13 points to force a 22-all count, battled the Lady Tams...

Ateneo-Oracare stunned erstwhile unbeaten University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 20-25, 15-25, 25-23, 16-14, in Sunday's Shakey's V-League 1st Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.The Lady Eagles overcame a lethargic third set by bouncing back by winning the final two sets in thrilling fashion to hand the Lady Tigresses their first defeat in four games.17-year old Thai import Keawnbundi Sontaya had another strong effort with 25 points while finally got support from local star Char...

PRESS RELEASE Standings       W    L UST             3    0 FEU             2    0 AdU             3    1 SSC-R           3    1 ADMU            1    2 CSB             1    2 Lyce...

PRESS RELEASE The National Collegiate Athletic Association will parade 10 teams after the three teams it invited to join as guest teams in its Season 85 unfolding on June 27 at the Araneta Coliseum recently accepted the invitation.League president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of San Beda yesterday made the announcement following the decision of Arellano University, Angeles University Foundation and Emilio Aguinaldo College to accept the conditions they earlier set."All three schools accepted the invi...

PRESS RELEASE The National Collegiate Athletic Association has invited Arellano University, Angeles University Foundation and Emilio Aguinaldo College to join as guest teams in the 85th NCAA season set to unfold on June 27 at the Big Dome. “We’ve sent the invitation letter to the three schools last Thursday,” said League Policy Board president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of host San Beda. Val Cayco, Arellano’s marketing director who also oversees the school’s athletic...

The finalists of the two title series held last year will usher in the start of the 2009 Shakey’s V-League 1st Conference on April 19 at the newly-dubbed Fil-Oil Flying V Arena (formerly Arena in San Juan City).   Adamson and San Sebastian, the champions of last year’s fifth season, will meet Ateneo and crowd favorite University of Santo Tomas, respectively, after simple opening rites that begin at 1pm.   From there, the Lady Falcons and the Lady Eagles troop...

Far Eastern University rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat University of the Philippines, 65-61, in a women’s basketball exhibition game held last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. In a rematch of last year’s UAAP women’s finals won by the Lady Tamaraws, Raisa Palmera took charge offensively as she helped her team erased a 10-point lead on three separate occasions to seal the win. Palmera, a member of the RP women’s youth team, drained 10 points in the s...

PRESS RELEASE Summer heats up with top-notch women's volleyball action as the Shakey's V-League unwraps its sixth season on April 19 featuring eight of the country's top collegiate teams at the Fil-Oil Arena (formerly The Arena) in San Juan City. San Sebastian College seeks a second straight championship, former three-time champion University of Santo Tomas and former titlist Adamson set out for another crack at the crown, while Ateneo goes all out to end a long title-drought in the tour...

Four-time NCAA juniors' champion San Sebastian defeated reigning UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila High School, 93-88, in an exhibition match held last night at the Araneta Coliseum.Four Staglets scored in double-figures to grab bragging rights against the Blue Eaglets in a battle of the top two high school teams in the country.Jamil Ortuoste led the way for San Sebastian with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting along with three rebounds and three steals while key players Raffy Gusi, Almond Vosotros and ...

PRESS RELEASEThe National Collegiate Athletic Association yesterday agreed to invite three more schools to join by invitation this year when its Season 85 unfolds on June 27 at the Big Dome.League president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of host San Beda, however, did not give particulars as to which three among Arellano University, Angeles University Foundation, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum would comprise the 10-team roster this year.“We have decided which schools are those, maximum 10, bu...

PRESS RELEASE Far Eastern University overpowered San Sebastian College, 81-70, yesterday to rule the 4th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup at the St. Placid Gym of San Beda. Mark Barroca, co-skipper of the Rajko Toroman-mentored Smart Gilas Pilipinas team seeking a berth in the 2012 London Olympics, fired 24 points to power the Tams to a nine-game sweep of the event backed by Magnolia Beverages, Molten, Basketbolista and www.gameface.ph. The Morayta-based dribblers also drew strength from r...

John Paul Gomez was seemed destined to play competitive tennis during his younger years. But after fracturing his right hand, it kept him away from one sport to another. The 22-year old native of Binan, Laguna shined even brighter in the chessboard as Gomez won one award after another - including the coveted Grandmaster norm during the World Chess Olympiad held last November. But for Gomez, who started to learn the sport around three years old before eventually beating his father's officemates...

University of Santo Tomas High School matched the achievements of its senior counterparts after bagging the 71st UAAP juniors division overall title.The Tiger Cubs, which grabbed their 11th overall diadem, tallied 99 points to beat University of the East by seven points in a closely-fought race for the championship.It was the third consecutive title for the Espana-based athletes and also the same exact amount of year that they won both divisions.During the 10-month season, UST were winners in gi...

Manilla Santos was one of the pioneer players in women's volleyball rise as one of the top spectator sports in the country. She was perhaps - if not - the fan favorite of an ever-contending De La Salle squad with her strong plays and charismatic appeal. So it was quite fitting that on her last game of her collegiate career, Santos came out on top once more and won the coveted Most Valuable Player award after leading the Lady Archers back to the UAAP crown. The five-year veteran delivered...

University of Santo Tomas once again showed its dominance in the seniors' division after winning the 71st UAAP overall championship. The Growling Tigers tallied 333 points as they won championships in nine sports disciplines during the two-semester season en route to a record 36th overall crown. The Espana-based campus were champions in men's fencing, women's football, men's swimming, men's table tennis, men's and women's taekwondo, women's tennis, men's volleyball and men's beach volleyba...

Manilla Santos bid goodbye to her collegiate career by steering De La Salle to the 71st UAAP women's volleyball crown after beating Far Eastern University, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, at The Arena in San Juan City.The fifth-year veteran delivered 16 points including key hit late in the clinching fourth set to give the Lady Archers their fifth overall championship in front of a full-sized crowd.La Salle's last title came in 2005 sweeping University of Santo Tomas, when the tournament was held dur...

University of the East and Far Eastern University dominated the 71st UAAP badminton tournament held at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.The Red Warriors captured their first-ever title after a 3-2 win over De La Salle while the Lady Tamaraws posted a 5-0 shutout of hapless National University to rule the women's side for the third overall time.Both squads finished the elimination round unbeaten winning their respective seven matches en route to the crown.In dethroning the Green Archers, Most Va...

De La Salle stayed alive in the series after a grueling, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18, victory over defending champion Far Eastern University in Game 2 of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball finals at The Arena in San Juan.Fresh off a disastrous performance in the title opener last Sunday, the Lady Archers had a much composed attack this time around and was able to take advantage of Shaira Gonzalez's injury that enabled them to extend the series to a pivotal third game set at 2pm on Sunday.Jacqueline...

For 16 games, University of Santo Tomas proved its dominance in the men's volleyball division. And on the season's final game, they showed why.The Growling Tigers completed a perfect 17-0 season by crushing University of the Philippines, 25-22, 25-14, 25-17, to capture the 71st UAAP men's volleyball crown at The Arena in San Juan City.Despite some lethargic performances, the Espana-based spikers came through with key hits from Henry James Pecana and John Paul Torres along with help from setter R...

University of the Philippines needed just a goal from its top striker to dethrone Far Eastern University, 1-0, and bagged the 71st UAAP men's football title at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.Jose Andonis Santos made his final season a memorable one when he delivered the solitary goal in the 49th minute to help the Fighting Maroons end a seven-year title drought and win a 14th overall crown.Santos, later named as the league's best striker for making six goals this season, got open on th...

University of Santo Tomas pulled off a stunning upset, beating De La Salle, 5-2, via shootout to win the 71st UAAP women's football championship at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.The Lady Tigresses overcame a one-goal deficit midway into the second half to force an extension before taking charge in the penalty shootout to shock the heavily-favored Lady Archers.It was the Espana-based booters' first-ever championship since the division was established in 1995. They are just the third sc...

The following contains the complete rundown of the recently-concluded 84th NCAA season. College of Saint Benilde won the seniors' division for the third time in the last four seasons while CSB-La Salle Greenhills captured the juniors division. Complete RundownStatistical PointsChampion - 40 pts2nd place - 30 pts3rd place - 25 pts4th place - 20 pts5th place - 10 pts6th place - 8 pts7th place - 6 pts8th place - 5 ptsSENIORS DIVISIONCollege of Saint BenildeBasketball - 8 pts (6th place)Volleyba...

Veteran Maica Morada delivered in the absence of a hobbled Shaira Gonzalez to help defending champion Far Eastern University grabbed a nail-biting, 16-25, 27-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-10, win over De La Salle in the opening of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball finals at The Arena in San Juan City.After the sophomore Gonzalez came down with an injury, Morada came through in the fifth set, delivered key hits that helped the Lady Tamaraws win the opener of this best-of-three title series.FEU can finish o...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas rolled to a, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21, trouncing of University of the Philippines at The Arena in San Juan City to move one game closer of winning the 71st UAAP men's volleyball crown.Following a sluggish start, the Growling Tigers bounced back and completed an easy three-set win over the underdog Fighting Maroons and hiked its unbeaten mark to 16 games. UST can clinch its second straight title with a victory on Wednesday.And UST head coach Emil Lontoc hop...

University of the Philippines received an unlikely gift from defending champion Far Eastern University to score a 2-1 win yesterday at the Ateneo Erenchun Field and kept its title hopes alive in the 71st UAAP men's football crown.FEU's Jake Hugo accidentally scored an own goal during the 52nd minute that ultimately decided the match and forced a winner-take-all match for the championship on Tuesday at 2pm."We organized our backline to neutralize their attackers and we see to it that we contain t...

De La Salle and defending champion Far Eastern University arranged a title showdown after hurdling their respective opponents in the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament held over the weekend at The Arena in San Juan.The Lady Archers beat Adamson, 25-16, 23-25, 25-22, 25-13, yesterday while the Lady Tamaraws scored a hard-fought, 25-14, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, victory earlier against crowd-favorite University of Santo Tomas.Both teams will start their best-of-three title affair on Sunday with th...

The top achievers of the UAAP and NCAA were recognized during Friday night's SMC-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion.UAAP men's and juniors basketball champions Ateneo de Manila, overall champion University of Santo Tomas and NCAA men's basketball titlist San Beda were given citations by the country's leading sportswriting organization for the achievements they made during past year.Ateneo's Rabeh Al-Hussaini and grandmaster John ...

De La Salle University completed an incredible turnaround, dethroning University of Santo Tomas, 4-1, to capture the 71st UAAP men's tennis championship held Friday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.Led by top-ranked RP player PJ Tierro and Irwin de Guzman, they gave the Green Archerd their first title since 2005 and also stunned the heavily-favored Tigers via a sweep of the best-of-three series.It was an incredible finish for La Salle, which also beat UST on the final day of eliminations to d...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas defeated Ateneo de Manila, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20, at The Arena in San Juan to grab the first finals berth of the 71st UAAP men's volleyball tournament. Led by Reny John Balse and John Paul Torres, the Growling Tigers overcame a sluggish effort to move into the championship round against the winner of tomorrow's clash pitting De La Salle and University of the Philippines. Balse led UST with 12 points while Torres, last season's Rookie of the Year,...

University of the Philippines and defending champion Far Eastern University arranged a finals meeting after blanking separate opponents in yesterday's 71st UAAP men's football tournament at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City,The league-leading Fighting Maroons got two goals from Jose Adonis Santos to defeat University of Santo Tomas, 2-0, while the Tamaraws continued the second round misery of De La Salle University with a 3-0 win.Both teams will have one more game to play on Sunday with U...

University of Santo Tomas cruised past Adamson University, 25-21, 25-21, 25-13, to earn third spot heading into the Final Four of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.Bernice Co scored 16 points while tournament leading scorer Aiza Maizo converted 14 points as the Lady Tigresses arranged a semis duel with defending champion Far Eastern University.But in order for them to upset the Lady Tams, they would have to win twice to gain a berth in the finals. UST split its...

University of the Philippines survived a grueling, 19-25, 28-26, 25-22, 19-25, 15-10, victory over Ateneo de Manila in a playoff match for third place of the 71st UAAP men's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.Behind the efforts of team captain Jan Paolo Martinez and Lloyd Arden Belgado along with several errors by the Blue Eagles, the Fighting Maroons were able to beat their nearby rivals from Loyola to arrange a Final Four showdown with De La Salle University.Martinez led the Dilima...

PRESS RELEASE Action-packed beach volley action from the country’s best collegiate beach volley teams will unfold in this year’s NESTEA Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ‘09.  A total of 72 teams from 43 colleges and universities from across the country will try to wrestle the title from defending men’s champion Foundation University and reigning women’s titlist Southwestern University.Sanctioned by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) as the country&rsq...

PRESS RELEASE Last year's Battle of Champion finalist Leah Acepcion is coming back with a new partner, and they will face tougher opponents together when the first leg of the Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament reels off tomorrow at the sand court of the University of the East-Caloocan campus.The five-foot-four Acepcion sees action with University of the Philippines Lady Maroons teammate Rebecca Gail Montero, who replaced Danielle Michiko Castaneda in this two-day spikefest which is spons...

St Francis of Assisi College dominated Philippine College of Criminology, 70-57, to capture the 1st Universitues and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) crown Monday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Guard Rex Leynes had a huge day in the title-clincher when he erected a game-high of 38 points, including 16 in the first half to lead the Doves to the championship. Leynes also got 16 points from ES Santos and 12 from Raymund Ilagan, later adjudged as the Most Valuable Player. &l...

University of Santo Tomas and University of the East ruled the 71st UAAP fencing tournament held over the weekend at the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City. The Growling Tigers survived a grueling challenge by UE to win men's crown while the Lady Amazons won the women's division in convincing fashion. It was the Espana-based fencers' second straight men's division crown while UE, led by reigning UAAP Athlete of the Year Michelle Bruzola, captured its third title in four seasons. UST b...

University of Santo Tomas scored a four-peat after defeating De La Salle University, 3-2, in the last day of the elimination round of the  71st UAAP women's tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.After losing the first singles match, the Lady Tigresses won the next three matches to capture the outright championship after a six-game sweep of the double-round eliminations.Macy Solon and Chrizanth May Helar beat Maria Lourdes Binoya and Ana Regina Buenviaja, 6-0, 6-1, in the fir...

PRESS RELEASE Far Eastern University slammed 2008 NCAA runner-up Jose Rizal A, 78-51, over the weekend to remained unscathed in six games and inch closer to the semifinals in the 4th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup at the FEU Gym.Reigning NCAA three-peat champion San Beda trounced 2008 UAAP losing finalist La Salle, 68-62, to notch its fourth win in seven games while dealing the latter its second setback against four triumphs in this event backed by Magnolia Beverages, Molten, Basketbolista and ...

De La Salle University secured top spot in the Final Four after a tough, 25-21, 25-12, 22-25, 25-18, win over defending champion Far Eastern University in the last day of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball elimination round at The Arena in San Juan.Jacqueline Alarca, one of the frontrunners from the coveted Most Valuable Player, powered the Lady Archers with 19 points while veteran volleybelle Illa Santos and Stephanie Mercado scored 17 points apiece to defeat the Lady Tams in one hour and 37 minu...

Defending champion Adamson University showed why they dominated the 71st UAAP baseball tournament.The Falcons cruised to a convincing, 12-0, seven-inning rout of Ateneo de Manila at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium to capture the outright championship after completing a 10-game sweep of the double-round eliminations.Led by veterans Marvin Malig, Romeo Jasmin and sophomore Jennald Pareja, the San Marcelino-based batters rolled to its second straight championship and ninth overall while becomin...

Pitcher Cloiene Muyco ended her college career in style as she helped Adamson University grabbed the outright championship of the 71st UAAP softball tournament yesterday at the UST grounds in Espana, Manila. With a splendid performance on the mound, Muyco led the Lady Falcons to an abbreviated, 10-0, five-inning blanking of defending champion University of the Philippines to end the season with a rare 10-0 record to regain the crown they lost last season. Muyco, a recruit out of Domingo Lacson...

PRESS RELEASE Defending women’s champion San Sebastian College made an early statement in their title retention campaign as it easily disposed Jose Rizal University, 21-11, 21-8, as the NCAA beach volleyball tournament opened recently at the La Salle Green Hills sand courts. The pair of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lou Ann Latigay and Margarita Pepito actually scored back-to-back victories on opening day. After beating JRU’s Marjonette Echano and Georgia Salamera last...

University of Santo Tomas claimed the last Final Four berth Sunday after beating lowly National University, 25-21, 25-14, 20-25, 25-21, in the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.With 19 points from Bernice Co and 11 from Maika Ortiz, the Lady Tigresses improved to a record of 8-5 to remain half-a-game behind Adamson University for third place in the team standings.But UST didn't seal a berth in the semis until De La Salle University survived a gallant stand by fifth...

University of the Philippines avoided an upset defeat Sunday by forcing a 1-1 tie with Ateneo de Manila at the start of the second round of the 71st UAAP men's football tournament at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.Stephen Permanes came through in the 73rd minute when he hit a free kick that enabled the Fighting Maroons to keep the Blue Eagles winless in six games.The stalemate kept UP from solo first place in the team standings with a record of four wins, two draws and no defeats for 1...

Three days after putting himself in the annals of Philippine baseball, Marvin Malig played the hero's role once again as defending champion Adamson University escaped with a thrilling 5-4 victory over University of Santo Tomas in the 71st UAAP baseball tournament held Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.Down three runs with two outs in the seventh frame, Malig crushed a grandslam homer off rookie pitcher Glen Tuazon that put the Falcons in front for good and eventually kept their unbea...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas improved to a perfect 12-0 mark after dumping winless National University, 25-14, 25-12, 25-19, in the 71st UAAP men's volleyball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.John Paul Torres, last season's rookie of the year, and Jayson Ramos led the Tigers with 11 points apiece to dispatch the hapless Bulldogs, which have lost all of their 12 games, in just 59 minutes.UST needs to win its last two games in order to finish the double-round eliminati...

Pitcher Cloiene Muyco posted another strong effort and Adamson University secured its eighth straight victory after beating Ateneo de Manila, 7-1, in the 71st UAAP softball tournament at the UST field in Espana, Manila yesterday.Muyco, a member of the RP national softball team, recorded 11 strikeouts in a no-relief that helped the Lady Falcons moved within two games of clinching the outright championship.She also got help from Chat Lorevie Ditchon, who hit a run-scoring single in a three-run, fo...

Adamson University's Marvin Malig did what no one in the rich history of Philippine baseball has ever done before - hit three home runs in one game.The 20-year player out of Nueva Ecija National High School went the distance three times to help the defending champion Falcons rout National University in an abbreviated, 15-3, seven-inning affair of the 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.Right from the start, Malig went swinging for the fences hitting his first fou...

Defending champion Far Eastern University earned a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four beating cellar-dweller National University, 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, in the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament yesterday at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.Maica Morada and Shaira Gonzalez scored 15 points apiece as the Lady Tamaraws improved to a league-leading 11-1 record. The Nes Pamilar-coached team has not lost a single game since their opening day defeat to University of Santo Tomas.With the...

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) failed to come away with the necessary votes that would have enable them to welcome a new member next season.In a statement released by the league, NCAA Policy Board president Reynaldo Vea of Mapua Institute of Technology said that none of the four candidate schools were able to meet the amount of votes that could have earned them a spot in the country's oldest collegiate league."By NCAA rules, none of the four applicants can be admitted to the...

University of Santo Tomas' Chun Wang Song is on pace to win the league's Best Hitter honors after leading the first round of the 71st UAAP baseball tournament in two categories.Song, a Korean-born slugger, was one of the few bright spots of the Tigers' sluggish outing as he led the league in both batting average and slugging percentage while ranking second in stolen bases.He had a batting average of .529 while posting a slugging percentage of .882 while making four stolen bases in five games. Th...

University of the Philippines' Jose Adonis Santos made the most goals after the first round of the 71st UAAP men's football tournament.Santos, who is in his senior year with the Fighting Maroons, made three goals in four games to overtake University of Santo Tomas' Mario Javier Clarino for the lead.All of his goals were game-winners in which he beat UST and Ateneo de Manila, respectively, before kicking a 90th minute goal last Sunday to beat University of the East.His efforts has helped State U ...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas continued its unbeaten run after beating Ateneo de Manila, 4-1, in the 71st UAAP men's tennis tournament held over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.The Tigers, aiming to win a fourth consecutive crown, had an easy time in beating the Blue Eagles in a Davis Cup-like format to improve their record to a spotless 5-0 card.UST can clinch outright championship if they finished the double-round eliminations unbeaten.Raymond Villarete won over ...

For the third time, senior Jose Andoni Santos scored a game-winning goal as University of the Philippines claimed sole possession of first place after the end of the 71st UAAP men’s football first round held Sunday at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City. Santos scored during extra time to help the Fighting Maroons defeat University of the East, 1-0. The victory helped UP climbed to four wins, one draw and no defeats for 13 points while UE dropped to fifth spot with a reco...

Defending champion Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas settled to a scoreless draw to end the first round of the 71st UAAP women’s football tournament held Sunday at the Ateneo Ocampo Field in Quezon City. In a battle of two teams hoping to catch league-leading De La Salle University for the lead, both teams failed to score a single goal to end the match without a winner. The tie earned them one point each but the Lady Tigresses kept their hold of second place ...

Eight-peat seeking San Beda College swept the first round of the 84th NCAA football tournament held recently at the Philsports Field in Pasig City.   The Red Lions blanked hapless Mapua Institute of Technology, 4-0, as David Fornea scored two goals in the first half that set up another easy victory. San Beda, coached by former national team mentor Aries Caslib, finished the first round with three wins, no draws and no defeats for nine points. Fornea scored his first goal du...

University of Santo Tomas grabbed sole possession of fourth place after beating Ateneo de Manila, 25-21, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20, in the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.In a fierce battle of two teams fighting for the last Final Four berth, it was the Lady Tigresses that edged out the rookie-laden Lady Eagles in one hour and 48 minutes with Aiza Maizo once again leading the charge.Maizo, the league's leading scorer with 211 points, finished with 24 points while getti...

Defending champion Adamson University began the second round with an easy 7-1 beating of hapless De La Salle University in the 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.The Falcons were led by starting pitcher Jayson Dimacutac and Gian Paolo Llaguno that helped them move within four games of claiming the outright championship via a sweep of the two-round eliminations.Adamson currently holds a spotless 6-0 record after the win.Dimacutac, the rookie hurler out of Luyos N...

Defending champion Far Eastern University and De La Salle University continued their winning ways after beating separate opponents in the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila. The Lady Tamaraws defeated crosstown rival University of the East, 27-25, 25-20, 25-22, while the Lady Archers trounced hapless National University, 25-13, 25-19, 25-18. Both teams, already assured of a spot in the Final Four, remains tied for first place with identical 10-1 recor...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas streaked to its 11th consecutive victory after beating Far Eastern University, 25-13, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21, in the 71st UAAP men's volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila. The Tigers got another strong effort from last season's rookie of the year John Paul Torres to defeat the Tamaraws in one hour and 45 minutes. UST also swept their season series against FEU, whom they met in a three-game finals series a year ago. Torres topscore...

  Universal College pulled off a shocker Friday as it rallied from a double-digit to defeat to oust defending champion Arellano University in overtime, 71-68, to capture the 16th NCRAA men’s basketball tournament at the TIP gym in Quiapo, Manila. Never considered a favorite to upset the heavily-favored Chiefs, the Golden Dragons came through with big plays from Mark Montilla and Cedric Matugas in the fourth quarter and overtime to come away with the title in just their first ...

Universal College forced a rubber match for the 16th NCRAA men's basketball championship after beating defending two-time champion Arellano University, 76-70, at the RTU gym in Mandaluyong City. Trailing by nine points early in the second half, the Golden Dragons put on a huge 24-4 run in between the third and fourth periods before staving off a late comeback attempt by the Chiefs to seal the win. UC's win also denied Arellano of ending the season undefeated as they suffered their first defeat...

PRESS RELEASE Games Tomorrow (San Andres gym) 11 a.m. DOMC vs CSM 12:30 p.. MMC vs LPC Las Pinas College and Colegio de Sta. Monica blasted separate rivals to advance in the quarterfinal round of the 1st Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) yesterday at the San Andres gym in Manila.www.gameface.ph are supporting the inaugural UCLAA season. Marlon Pening fired 20 points to power Las Pinas over National College of Business and Arts, 79-55, while CSM got a combined 2...

PRESS RELEASE The Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners and the De La Salle-Dasmarinas Lady Patriots came off with hard-fought victories to frustrate Rizal Technological University at their own turf yesterday to clinch the men’s and women’s crowns of the 16th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) volleyball tournament.The Mariners got big plays from one of its honor students and a tall frontliner as they fended off the Blue Thunders,  21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 5-...

PRESS RELEASETHE DE La Salle U Lady Green Booters and University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons crushed their separate rivals yesterday to take the lead in the women's and men's UAAP football events, respectively, at the Ateneo De Manila fields. De La Salle, coached by long-time mentor Hans Smit, leaned on the goal of Jessica Ryon, Clarissa Lazarro and Paula Bravo to rout Ateneo De Manila Lady Blue Booters, 3-0, and register a league-leading 3-0-0 win-loss-draw slate at the Ocampo fiel...

Defending champion Adamson University completed a sweep of the first round after blanking University of Santo Tomas, 8-0, in the 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.Romeo Jasmin, the reigning Most Valuable Player, strike out a season-high 13 batters in a complete-game shutout as the Falcons improved to a clean 5-0 record and needs to win all of their second round matches in order to claim an outright championship.The win also equaled their female softball counter...

Team StandingsPCCr (8-0)St Francis (7-2)LPC (6-2)De Ocampo (6-3)Metro Manila College (5-3)NCBA (3-5)Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (2-6)Colegio Sta Monica (2-6)St Jude College (2-6)UP Los Banos (0-8) Games Tomorrow (Basketball, Muntinlupa Sports Complex)9 a.m. UPLB vs CSM 10:30 a.m. PLMun vs NCBA 12 nn MMC vs SJC 1:30 p.m. PCCr vs LPC Games Tuesday (Volleyball semifinals, NCBA Fairview gym) 8 a.m. SJC vs PCCr (M) 9 a.m. NCBA vs LPC (M) 10 a.m. SJC vs LPC (W) 11 a.m. SFAC vs PCCr (W) Las P...

PRESS RELEASE    MANY-TIME champion De La Salle University relied heavily on smart plays and speed to rally past University of Santo Tomas, 2-1, to gain the top post of 71st UAAP women's football event the other day at the Erenchun Field inside the Ateneo campus.   After Santo Tomas U's Mary Cres Ignacio's first goal at 12th minute, the De La Salle Lady Green Booters responded with two goals and kept their stifling defense all-throughout the game en route to a league-leading 2-0-0 win-loss-...

Ateneo de Manila made it a high-scoring affair, beating De La Salle, 27-14, in the 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Ateneo actually was down 11-6 when they scored seven runs in the seventh inning that saw rightfielder Michael Edgar Esguerra dropping a flyball by Luke Bernardo. That error scored three runners to tie the game before Kirk Long delivered home the go-ahead run. From there, the Loyola-based batters scored five runs in the eighth inning and ni...

Defending champion Far Eastern University and De La Salle maintained a share of first place after beating separate opponents in the start of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball second round tournament held over the weekend.The Lady Tamaraws defeated last year's finalist Adamson University anew, this time via a tough 27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, victory Saturday at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila while the Lady Archers thumped rival University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-14, 25-21, today at The Arena in...

Ateneo de Manila shocked erstwhile undefeated University of the Philippines, 6-4, in today's 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.The Blue Eagles took advantage of two errors in the fourth with a three-run binge before shutting down a late comeback by the Maroons to take their first win after two games.A walk by Matt Reyes with the bases loaded allowed Paolo Castillo to score the game's first run while an error off a flyball by Rheinhart Bartolome scored two more ...

University of the East pulled off a shocking 11-10 upset of defending champion University of the Philippines in the 71st UAAP softball tournament held Saturday at the UST field in Espana, Manila.The Red Skirts blew a commanding 6-0 lead but was able to score two runs in the seventh-and-last inning off two errors to complete the surprising win.Trailing 10-9 in the bottom of the seventh, Barbara Lauriquez scored from third off a catching error to tie the game while the Lady Maroons bobbled a groun...

University of Santo Tomas' Aiza Maizo is currently leading the pack in the scoring race after the first round of the 71st UAAP women's volleyball tournament.The southpaw Maizo, playing in her second year with the Lady Tigresses, accumulated a total of 118 points, five ahead of De La Salle's Jacqueline Alarca. She tallied 86 spikes, 22 blocks and 10 service points in seven games.She is also leading the league in blocks with an average of 0.85 per set to help UST gain a 4-3 record for fourth place...

PRESS RELEASE Games Wednesday(at the Arellano University gym)10 a.m. Olivarez College vs Arellano (jrs)11:30 a.m. CCM vs Olivarez College (srs)1 p.m. La Salle-Dasmarinas vs PMMS (srs)2:30 p.m. Arellano vs EAC (srs)The Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals weathered a big scare from the La Salle-Dasmarinas Patriots and escaped with a 76-67 beating yesterday in the 16th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men's basketball tournament at the San Andres gym in Manila.Substitute coach Ge...

PRESS RELEASE University of the Philippines and San Sebastian downed their respective foes over the weekend to seize a share of the lead with La Salle in the 3rd Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup at the Far Eastern University Gym. The Maroons slammed STI Colleges, 73-60, while the Stags stunned the three-peat NCAA champion San Beda Lions, 72-59, to seal a second win in a row and a piece of the Group A lead with the Archers. Jose Rizal B trounced Mapua Institute of Technology, 82-76, to book ...

Ateneo de Manila kept its hold of solo second place after grueling 25-22, 25-10, 18-25, 20-25, 24-22, victory over University of the Philippines in the 71st UAAP men's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.The Blue Eagles nearly blew a two-set lead but held on in the end to capture their fifth win in six games to remain a game behind defending champion University of Santo Tomas (6-0) in the team standings.Duane Craig Teves and Andre Joseph Pareja led Ateneo with 23 and 21 points, respec...

Defending champion Adamson University shook off a lethargic start by beating De La Salle, 18-10, in the opening day of the 71st UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.Reigning Most Valuable Player Romeo Jasmin took over late for the Falcons as he made three hits in three times he batted with three RBIs while performing well on the pitcher's mound by hurling 3 1/3 innings of relief and struck out three in the win. Jasmin broke an 8-8 tie in the sixth when he hit a one-run...

Defending champion Far Eastern University stunned erstwhile undefeated De La Salle University as they rally from a two-set deficit to take a 22-25, 24-26, 30-28, 25-19, 15-11, victory in the yesterday’s 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila. The Lady Tamaraws leaned on sophomore Shaira Gonzalez and team skipper Rachel Daquis to stun the Lady Archers in two hours and 18 minutes. Gonzalez led FEU with 25 points, 22 on attacks, while Daquis added 19 points,...

Adamson University hurled University of the East while Far Eastern University grabbed its first win past National University in yesterday’s 71st UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila. The Falcons defeated the Red Warriors, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23, in the first game while the Tamaraws dumped the Bulldogs, 25-23, 25-22, 17-25, 26-24, in the main encounter. With the win, Adamson overtake idle De La Salle for fourth place with a 3-2 record while FEU won after lo...

De La Salle University stunned last year’s runner-up Adamson University, 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-10, to remain unbeaten and take solo lead in the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.Down two sets, the Lady Archers mounted a furious comeback behind the efforts of Jacqueline Alarca, Charleen Cruz, Manilla Santos and Stephanie Mercado to surprise the Lady Falcons in two hours and four minutes.Alarca led the charge with 22 points while Cruz scored 19 p...

Ateneo de Manila grabbed sole possession of first place in the 71st UAAP men’s volleyball tournament after disposing winless Far Eastern University, 25-19, 25-23, 25-16, at The Arena in San Juan.The Blue Eagles, who are aiming to reach the final four this season, frustrated the Tamaraws anew led by the efforts of Duane Craig Teves, team captain Andre Joseph Pareja and Timothy James Sto Tomas to remain undefeated after four games.Ateneo overtake fellow undefeated University of Santo Tomas (...

De La Salle University cruised past fierce rival University of Santo Tomas, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22, to join idle Adamson University as the early leaders of the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.The Lady Archers banked on the efforts of Jacqueline Alarca and Stephanie Mercado to rule the Lady Tigresses in one hour and 23 minutes.With the win, the Taft-based volleybelles tied Adamson with a 2-0 record in the team standings.Charleen Abigal Cruz added 10 p...

University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila capture their second straight victories after trouncing separate opponents in yesterday’s 71st UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.The Fighting Maroons hammered National University, 25-18, 25-15, 22-25, 25-22, while the Blue Eagles decked Adamson University, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20.UP and Ateneo joined defending champion University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University in a tie for first place at 2-0.The ...

Defending champion Far Eastern University bounced back from a disappointing loss in the opener last Saturday by trouncing University of the Philippines, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18, in the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila. Sophomore Shaira Gonzales combined with the efforts of Mica Morada and Cherry May Vivas to help the Lady Tamaraws equaled their record to 1-1, three days after losing a hard fought five-set encounter with University of Santo Tomas. Gonzal...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University shared top spot in the standings Tuesday after rolling past separate opponents in the 71st UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.The Growling Tigers dumped University of the East, 25-18, 25-16, 25-22, while the Green Archers surprised last season’s runner-up Far Eastern University, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23.John Paul Torres and Reny John Balse scored 11 and 10 points, apiece, while Henry Ja...

De La Salle University bounced back from its disappointing loss in the UAAP by defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 71-62, to capture the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship at the Araneta Coliseum.JV Casio sizzled for 17 of his 20 points in the second half while adding six rebounds, six assists and three steals to be named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.It was a fitting end to Casio’s collegiate career, two months after the Archers got swept aside by the Blue Eagles ...

Adamson and La Salle beat separate rivals Sunday in the resumption of the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.The Lady Falcons, which suffered a disappointing finals setback to champion Far Eastern University last March, escaped past a rebuilding Ateneo de Manila, 22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 15-8, while the Lady Archers easily dumped University of the Philippines, 25-17, 25-13, 25-15.With both wins, Adamson and La Salle joined University of Santo Tomas and...

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas start its title defense on a high note by defeating Adamson University, 25-10, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, in Sunday’s UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.Reigning rookie of the year John Paul Torres led the Growling Tigers with 20 points while Henry James Pecana and Reny John Balse added 17 and 13 points, apiece.Nino Jeruz topscored with 19 points for the Falcons, who succumbed to the Espana-based spikers in 1:23.S...

Ateneo-La Salle, one more time.The Blue Eagles and the Green Archers arrange another championship duel after surviving past their respective opponents in the Final Four of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship at The Arena in San Juan.Ateneo overcame a fiery challenge of Colegio de San Juan de Letran for a 61-60 victory while La Salle stunned NCAA champion San Beda, 62-61, after trailing by 14 points in the second quarter.Both teams will meet on Monday at the Araneta Coliseum in a rematch ...

University of Santo Tomas overcame defending champion Far Eastern University, 25-21, 16-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12, in the opening game of the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at a jampacked crowd at the FEU gym in Morayta, Manila.The Lady Tigresses, aiming to regain the crown they lost last year, leaned on the efforts of Aiza Maizo and Abigail Co to defeat the Lady Tamaraws at their own home floor.Maizo led UST with 23 points while Co added 14 as head coach Cesael “Shaq” D...

Collegiate rivals Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle earned a trip to the final four after hurdling their respective opponents in yesterday’s Elite Eight of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. UAAP champion Ateneo had a difficult time against NCAA’s Mapua Institute of Technology but pulled away in the final canto for a 67-53 victory while La Salle survived against University of the East, 75-72. The Blue Eagles struggled for three quarters despite...

PRESS RELEASE San Sebastian College finally ended a long chase for the Shakey's V-League volley championship, overcoming a first-set setback then outsteadying University of Santo Tomas in a gripping fourth set duel, 16-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, to capture the second conference crown via sweep before a big crowd at The Arena in San Juan last night. The Lady Stags took five of the last six points, shattering the last deadlock at 20 to take the fourth set, the match and the championship that h...

Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Far Eastern University arrange a quarterfinal duel on Wednesday after winning their respective Sweet 16 matches of the Fil-Oil Flying V “Final Challenge” at The Arena in San Juan.The Knights dumped NAASCU champion San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite, 85-70, while the Tamaraws led early and overcame a pesky comeback by NCAA runner-up Jose Rizal University for an 84-75 truimph.Meanwhile, collegiate rivals Ateneo and De La Salle eye a spot in the ...

PRESS RELEASE San Sebastian College put on a solid all-around game to smother University of Santo Tomas with a straight-set 25-21, 25-19, 26-24 victory as it moved in the threshold of a first-ever championship in the Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan City. The Lady Stags flaunted their power-hitting ways in the first two sets then pounced on Mary Jean Balse’s absence in the third to bounce back from a 17-21 deficit by taking nine of the last 12 points to complete the surprise swee...

University of the East and Arellano University are the latest teams to move to the next round after beating separate opponents in the “Final Challenge” of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship at The Arena in San Juan. The Red Warriors managed to win against an always-competitive University of the Visayas, 68-62, while the Chiefs defeated Universal College of Nursing, 76-61. UE will meet De La Salle in the next round on Sunday while Arellano meets San Beda on Wednesday....

De La Salle University and Mapua Institute of Technology advanced to the next round of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship after ousting separate opponents at The Arena in San Juan today.The Green Archers, runner-up during the UAAP season, trounced CESAFI third-placer University of San Carlos, 71-51, while the Cardinals zoomed past 2007 CUSA champion Manuel L. Quezon University, 97-85.La Salle will meet the winner of tomorrow’s clash between CESAFI champion University of the Visaya...

PRESS RELEASEUniversity of Santo Tomas proved steadier than Adamson in a highly-charged fifth set duel that featured 12 deadlocks, pulling off a 17-25, 25-14, 25-20, 9-25, 15-13 win to arrange a showdown with San Sebastian for the Shakey’s V-League second conference crown at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.The Tigresses showed championship points to snatch victory from the clutches of defeat as they pounced on two errors by the Lady Falcons to clinch the game-winning points that ended...

PRESS RELEASE The Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers needed three quarters before they could turn the tables on the La Salle-Dasmarinas Patriots, 77-67, yesterday in the 16th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men's basketball tournament at the TIP gym in Quiapo. They needed one big spurt in the last quarter before they could finally overpower the Patriots, and later post their first win in two games. It was the Engineers first triumph in two games, and...

Powerhouse collegiate champions Ateneo de Manila and San Beda dismantled separate opponents at the start of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship Sweet 16 at The Arena in San Juan. The Blue Eagles, champions of the UAAP, overcame a gritty challenge of Lyceum of the Philippines University for a 77-56 victory while the NCAA title-winning Red Lions had an easy time in dumping CESAFI runner-up University of San Jose Recoletos, 98-83. Both teams advanced to the Elite Eight set next week w...

PRESS RELEASESan Sebastian went through another wringer and like the last time out, came out of it a winner, nipping La Salle, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 28-26, 15-9, to barge into the championship round of the Shakey’s V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.Jennelyn Belen took over from Charisse Ancheta to set the plays for San Sebastian in the fourth and fifth sets, which the Stags won in close fashions to complete their two-game sweep of the three-time champions.Sa...

PRESS RELEASE University of Santo Tomas fought off a fierce comeback by Ateneo and escaped with a 25-15, 25-23, 27-29, 23-25, 15-12 victory to formalize its claim of the top spot in the Final Four at the close of the Shakey’s V-League second conference elims at The Arena in San Juan City. Aiza Maizo and guest player Mary Jean Balse came through with crucial kills in the deciding set to close out the two-hour encounter and give UST a 6-1 slate. San Sebastian College primed up for its Fin...

PRESS RELEASE St. Benilde, out of it all with five straight losses, stunned fancied Ateneo, 21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, late Tuesday to spoil the semifinal bid of the Lady Eagles in the Shakey’s V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan. Zharmaine Velez blocked Michelle Laborte’s powerful spike to foil the Lady Eagles’ bid to extend the match and register what was only their first victory after five losses matches that dropped them out of the race in the leagu...

PRESS RELEASE Streaking Adamson leaned on Janet Serafica’s brilliant set plays to down Lyceum, 26-24, 25-16, 25-16, and clinch the second semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.Serafica kept the Lady Falcons’ offense going with superb set-up plays for the team’s hitters with Rissa Jane Laguilles and guest player Nerissa Bautista responding with 14 attacks apiece to power Adamson to the straight-set, 1:11-hour vi...

PRESS RELEASE La Salle recovered from a sloppy second set performance and won the next two, beating St. Benilde, 25-18, 21-25, 25-10, 25-17, and clinching the first semifinal berth in the Shakey's V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan this afternoon. Held to a five-point game the last time out, Stephanie Mercado unloaded 17 hits while Jacqueline Alarca added 16 points for La Salle, which advanced to the next round ahead of everybody else with a 5-2 (win-loss) card.La Salle, ...

PRESS RELEASE First conference champion Adamson continued to sizzle as it brought down three-time winner La Salle with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 victory today to wrest the lead in the Shakey’s V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan City. MVP Nerissa Bautista came through with another power game for Adamson, which also drew inspiration from a pair of rookies to stretch its win run to four after an opening day loss to surge ahead of the eight-team field in the league sponsored by Sh...

A belated greetings to the San Beda Red Lions for capturing the 84th NCAA men’s basketball championship, defeating the feisty JRU Heavy Bombers to achieve a rare three-peat.Season 84 was perhaps the toughest one for San Beda as several teams such as the Heavy Bombers, Letran Knights, Mapua Cardinals and even non-final four team San Sebastian pushed them through some tough games before capturing the crown.And most of their epic matches were included in this short list we did - the top 10 ga...

Returning De La Salle is ripping its opponents in the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference after starting off the first two weeks of the tournament with a clean 4-0 start for first place in the team standings. The Lady Archers, who begged off from joining last conference, continued its winning ways with a difficult 25-21, 25-15, 21-25, 26-24, trouncing of Ateneo de Manila last Tuesday. In that game, La Salle leaned on the efforts of Jacqueline Alarca and veteran Manila Santos to di...

PRESS RELEASE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan led in honoring  Coach of the Year Norman Black of Ateneo and other top achievers this season as rivalries were set aside for a night of celebration in the 2008 Collegiate Basketball Awards last Tuesday at the Manila Pavilion. "It has been a long road for me in Ateneo," said Black of his stint with the reigning UAAP champion during the event presented by the UAAP and NCAA Press Corps and Smart.  "We tri...

PRESS RELEASE The UAAP and NCAA Press Corps will pay tribute to the top five players from the country's premier varsity leagues when it hosts the 2008 Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by Smart on Tuesday night at the Manila Pavilion. Ateneo's Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Chris Tiu, San Beda's Sam Ekwe, La Salle's JV Casio and San Sebastian's Jason Ballesteros will be honored in the elite Mythical Team in the 7 p.m. program.The event sanctioned by the Philippine Sportswriters Association wi...

University of Santo Tomas along with St Clare College of Caloocan and Emilio Aguinaldo College claimed the final three slots for next month’s zonal phase as the 2008 Smart-KFC-PLDT Philippine Collegiate Championship at the Makati Coliseum.The Growling Tigers finished the three-day tournament with a clean 3-0 record in Group B after thrashing Las Pinas College, 69-56, while the Saints and the Generals survived past separate rivals to join Lyceum of the Philippines University in the zonal ph...

With Philippine Christian University set to take an indefinite leave of absence next season, the NCAA is planning to expand its membership to 10 teams before 2010 after a six-hour meeting between the league’s Management Committee and Policy Board held today at the Casa Espanyol in Manila.League officials said that they have accepted five schools for application in Emilio Aguinaldo College, Centro Escolar University, Arellano University, Angeles University Foundation and Lyceum of the Phili...

Lyceum of the Philippines University earned a berth in the zonal phase while University of Santo Tomas is on the verge of moving on as well as the second day of hostilities of the 2008 Smart-KFC-PLDT Philippine Collegiate Championships wildcard phase resumes at the Makati Coliseum. The Pirates trounced Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-80, after pulling away in the homestretch with the Growling Tigers dislodge former UCAA and NCRAA champion St Francis of Assisi, 64-51, as both teams claim top spot i...

SENIORS DIVISION       University of Santo Tomas   PTS PLACE BASKETBALL MEN 6 5th BASKETBALL WOMEN 10 3rd CHESS MEN 12 2nd CHESS WOMEN 10 3rd JUDO MEN 10 3rd JUDO WOMEN 12 2nd SWIMMING MEN 15 1st SWIMMING WOMEN 10 3rd TABLE ...

PRESS RELEASE Three-time champions University of Santo Tomas and La Salle re-join the Shakey's V-League, making it another eight-team cast when the league's second conference of the fifth season unwraps on Oct. 19 before another banner crowd at The Arena in San Juan. The Tigresses and the Lady Archers took a leave of absence in the first conference ruled by the Adamson Lady Falcons but are back in the hunt for their fourth title in the country's premier ladies volley league, ensurin...

University of the Visayas continued its domination of the CESAFI basketball tournament by claiming its eighth consecutive crown following a grueling 73-68 win over University of San Jose Recoletos in Game 4 of their title series Wednesday night at the jampacked New Cebu City Coliseum. Harold Cincoflores and 6-11 Fil-am center Gregory Slaughter stave off a slow first half to lead the Green Lancers to a 3-1 win of the best-of-five championship showdown and earned an outright berth into the...

  1 Ateneo de Manila University (UAAP) UAAP Champs, swept DLSU 2-0 in the Finals. Has the league MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini and ROY Ryan Buenafe   2 San Beda College (NCAA) Went through the proverbial wringer including 2 winner-take-all games before completing a rare NCAA Grand Slam. Sam Ekwe won his 2nd MVP award in 3 years   3 De La Salle University (UAAP) Still a force in spite of losing their title to Ateneo. Have 2 of the best players i...

San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite put on an overwhelming display to oust defending champion STI College, 86-77, to win the 8th NAASCU basketball title at the Makati Coliseum.The Baycats leaned on Most Valuable Player Kris Lucernas, Mythical 10 members Ray Alcasabas and Oliver Villareal and reserve big man Mark Basa to lead the team to its first-ever title since joining the league two years ago.Lucernas led SSCR-C with 19 points while Alcasabas added 18 as they won the last two games of t...

Far Eastern University never had a single go-to-player but its deep roster and team-oriented system propelled them to a near-flawless effort in capturing the 71st UAAP women’s basketball championship last Saturday at the Arena in San Juan.The Lady Tamaraws rose to the best record in the elimination round and then had to survive in the final four en route to a sweep of University of the Philippines in the titular series for its first crown in a decade.For head coach Mike Oliver, he was glad...

San Sebastian College Recoletos-Cavite kept its title hopes alive by demolishing defending champion STI College, 95-75, in Game 2 of the 8th NAASCU men’s basketball finals at the Makati Coliseum.Big man Kris Lucernas and guard Ray Alcasabas combined as the Baycats dismantled the Olympians with its outside shooting and run and gun system to force a rubber match for the title on Saturday at 2pm.Lucernas finished with 24 points while the speedy Alcasabas uncorked four triples to tally 21 poin...

WITH REPORTS FROM UCAA PRESS RELEASE The Universal College of Nursing Dragons stunned the multi-titled Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals with their outside sniping to post an 85-76 win on Wednesday evening to capture the 7th UCAA men’s basketball crown last Wednesday at the TIP-Manila gym in Quiapo.Cedric Matugas, the Dragons’ six-foot-one point guard, drilled in 18 points with Mike Montilla, also scoring 18 through six three-pointers to lead the Dragons to its first ever title via ...

It was the toughest one for San Beda but yet, they pulled it off.Hampered by distractions on and off the court, the Red Lions still managed to be the kings of the NCAA by finally put to rest the feisty JRU Heavy Bombers with an 85-69 win yesterday that gave them a rare three-peat.After a disappointing loss in Game 2, the Red Lions gave the war to JRU as the trio of Sam Ekwe, Pong Escobal and Ogie Menor stepped up once more while rookie Jake Pascual solidify himself as one of the team’s fut...

San Beda College captured a rare NCAA three-peat as they finished off the feisty Jose Rizal University, 85-69, in front of a season-record 20,360 fans at the Araneta Coliseum. Sam Ekwe ended his college career with 21 points and 19 rebounds to be adjudged as the Finals Most Valuable Player plum while Ogie Menor exploded for 18 points and eight rebounds as the Red Lions became the first team to three straight titles since the San Sebastian Stags won a five peat during the mid-90’s. It was...

It’s now or never for both San Beda and Jose Rizal today as they will slug it out one more time this season to settle the NCAA men’s basketball crown.During the first two games of the championship series, both the Red Lions and the Heavy Bombers figured in an intense battle with a combined margin of victories at six points.For the upcoming game, here are some keys in the crucial rubber match.San BedaSam EkweSeries Averages: 14.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 13-of-24 FG ShootingEkwe will be...

                                                                          PRESS STATEMENT         In addressing the recent issue of the PBL letter to the NCAA and to the press, which stated the intention to withdraw its pool of referees from the NCAA on its third and fi...

Norman Black has won almost all the laurels in Philippine basketball. As an import, he was heralded for his 100 percent performance in 1981 for Great Taste and a year after won his only Best Import honor for San Miguel Beer in the Reinforced Conference. When he became a player-coach, Black steered the Beermen to nine PBA titles before winning his only championship with Sta Lucia during the 2001 PBA Governors Cup. But last Thursday, the 50-year old Baltimore, Maryland native finally w...

With their season hanging in the balance, Jose Rizal University relied heavily on their system that has helped them reach this far.The Heavy Bombers made defense a priority once more with several key players taking charge on the offensive end while one key break led them to another chance of scoring a 62-60 win over the heavily-favored defending two-time champion San Beda.With James Sena starting the game off the bench and Mythical Five member Marvin Hayes playing limited time because of an eye ...

Adjustments will be the main ingredient for both Ateneo and De La Salle when Game 2 of the UAAP finals resume tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum. As seen in Game 1, several key factors led to the Blue Eagles' impressive 69-61 victory over their arch-rivals that put them on the brink of capturing its first championship in six seasons. With that, here are some possible keys from both teams heading into this upcoming match. Ateneo Rabeh Al-Hussaini:Game 1: 31 points, 14-of-26 FG shooting, nine re...

JRU head coach Ariel Vanguardia is not throwing the white flag just yet despite being outwitted by defending champion San Beda in Game 1 of the 84th NCAA basketball finals.Although they were hammered by the battle-tested Red Lions, 89-81, Vanguardia remains upbeat about his team’s chances heading into Friday’s match.“Were not giving up, hindi kami basta basta gigive up,” Vanguardia said immediately after both teams’ hymn were sang. “I don’t think they ca...

San Beda head coach Frankie Lim entered the Araneta Coliseum press room smoking an imported cigarette as a way of calming himself.For Lim, that cigarette is a tension-killer especially after his team the Red Lions overcame a gritty battle of Jose Rizal University in Game 1 of the 84th NCAA basketball finals series.The Mendiola-based squad secured a 72-68 in a contest that saw them hit key shots and some lucky breaks to be on the verge of capturing of winning its third consecutive championship wi...

Defending champion San Beda pulled off a difficult victory over a feisty Jose Rizal University, 72-68, in Game 1 of the 84th NCAA basketball finals in front of 15,313 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.The Red Lions leaned on team captain Pong Escobal, Most Valuable Player Sam Ekwe, Borgie Hermida and the rest of the second unit as they are now on the brink of capturing its third consecutive title and 14th overall with a win on Friday.Escobar led San Beda with 15 points while Ekwe amassed 13 points an...

San Beda slot man Sam Ekwe finally received his second Most Valuable Player award as the NCAA rewarded its best players for the 84th season.Ekwe bested San Sebastian’s Jason Ballesteros for the said award, as he rough season that saw him being the subject of a forfeiture of San Beda earlier in the season because he was wearing a uniform from last season.Last week, Ekwe was reportedly questioned by authorities outside the school campus before he was released.Ekwe averaged 15.1 points and 13...

San Sebastian overcame a stiff challenge from the Letran Squires to capture a thrilling Game 1 victory, 83-81, in the 84th NCAA juniors basketball finals at the Araneta Coliseum.Raffy Gusi came through in the clutch as he drilled a three-pointer from the right side off an Almond Vosotros pass with 28 seconds remaining that erased a 79-79 tie.But the Squires almost send the game into overtime as Jerome Roxas was fouled by Vosotros with no time left. However, Roxas missed both freethrows as the Sa...

Jose Rizal University’s Keith Agovida was officially named as the NCAA Most Valuable Player while pocketing three other awards as the league’s honored its best players in the juniors division during halftime of Game 1 between the San Sebastian Staglets and the Letran Squires.Agovida led JRU to a third place finish in the elimination round while nearly thwarting Letran in the last game of the stepladder phase.Aside from the coveted plum, the Pasig City native also collected the league...

How ironic that finals duel earned the distinction of having two of the famous cat-calls that every opposing fan in the NCAA can shout.On one end, San Beda has been taunted as “Beda Tulo Laway” by the opponents when almost every time one of the famous chants would be used by the red faithful.Meanwhile, Jose Rizal University has been dubbed as “Hopia” which has been subject of myth and even a source of theory as to where it came from.Those insults will be only one of the s...

Approached by sportswriters after the game, all Kelvin dela Pena did was to apologize to the Mapua community for failing to get the job done.“I apologize sa Mapua community if things did not go our way,” dela Pena immediately said after the game.For dela Pena, his NCAA career has come to an end as the Cardinals came up short of pull off an upset win against the defending two-time champion San Beda, 60-53, two days ago at the Astrodome.It was a dismal goodbye for the Fil-Canadian stan...

With the two-time defending champion San Beda facing elimination, it sure was causing their supporters tremendous worry, especially after the supposed underdogs – the Mapua Cardinals – surprised the Red Lions in their initial final four encounter.But the worry turned into probably a sigh of relief once the game ended and the title holders are back in the finals for a shot at a rare three-peat.Their 60-53 victory over MIT yesterday was not led by Most Valuable Player Sam Ekwe or pro-b...

San Beda’s three-peat aspirations remain intact.The Red Lions leaned on Ogie Menor and rookie Jake Pascual to take the last finals ticket with a 60-53 victory over the pesky Mapua Cardinals in the 84th NCAA basketball final four at the Cuneta Astrodome.Menor scored nine points in the final quarter while Pascual had a breakout game for the Mendiola-based dribblers to arrange a best-of-three titular showdown with Jose Rizal University, who ousted Letran in the other final four encount...

Domination was the name of the game yesterday for Rabeh Al-Hussaini as he made a statement to his legitimacy as this season‘s Most Valuable Player.Although pleased that he can be named as the winner of the said plum, a much bigger prize is what matters the most for the 6-4 slotman.“One more game, wala akong pakialam (sa MVP) gusto ko ng championship,” Al-Hussaini said after Ateneo took the UAAP Finals opener against the arch-rivals De La Salle, 69-61, in front of 22,900 fans at...

A ticket for Game 1 of the UAAP basketball finals series between Ateneo and De La Salle really had the biggest demand than any other commodity today.Almost eight hours before the game, fans have started to line-up the Araneta Coliseum in hopes of purchasing a ticket for the much-awaited series that last happened in 2002.Gates started to open at around noon with TicketNet selling about 4,000 general admission tickets. It was the only side that was available after the much-expensive seats sold out...

PRESS RELEASEGames Tomorrow(Game 1 at the TIP-Manila gym)5 p.m. Olivarez College vs Las Pinas College (for third)6:30 p.m. EAC vs UCN (Game 1)The multi-titled Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals are back in the finals, and they will have the Universal College of Nursing Dragons as their challengers when the best-of-three title series of the 7th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament begins tomorrow at the TIP-Manila gym.Argel Mendoza made up for a c...

JRU head coach Ariel Vanguardia has always been very thankful to Letran head coach Louie Alas for his basketball life, even more so when his team celebrated another win after the buzzer sounded.It wasn’t just another ordinary win for the Heavy Bombers, it was something big for the supporters that they even chanted the word “hopia“ that has been accustomed to be the favorite insult used for the Mandaluyong-based campus. Aside from that, they made an achievement that hasn't done...

Ateneo de Manila High School rose to a tough but convincing Game 1 victory over FEU-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation, 72-62, in the 71st UAAP juniors basketball finals at The Arena in San Juan.The Blue Eaglets relied on big man Ian Enriquez, who scored 18 points and 17 rebounds while Mythical Five candidate Juami Tiongson, Ael Banal and Kiefer Ravena also stepped up in the win.Tiongson scored 15 points and dished out six assists while Banal, son of multi-titled coach Joel Banal, added 13 poi...

Far Eastern University survived a near collapse late to defeat University of the Philippines, 54-52, in Game 1 of the 71st UAAP women’s basketball finals series at The Arena in San Juan.The Lady Tamaraws were led by guard Bernadette Mercado, who tallied 13 points, three assists and three steals as they can wrap up their first title since 1997 with a win next Saturday, also at The Arena.FEU went up by 11 points at halftime and nine points, 52-43, with 2:23 remaining on a drive by Mercado on...

Caught in a roller-coaster ride to make it to the final four, Mapua was thought to be a cinch to get an early vacation against heavily-favored San Beda but turned the tables around instead to make it a competitive battle for a trip to the finals.Just like in the second round, head coach Leo Isaac’s boys made it an encore with it’s typical half-court offense and some few defensive stops to take a nail-biting 53-51 victory over the Red Lions that forced a rubber match for the other ber...

Jose Rizal University reached its first finals in seven years as the squeaked past Letran in a thrilling 63-61 victory in the 84th NCAA basketball final four at the Cuneta Astrodome.The Heavy Bombers were down by three points with two minutes left but went through John Wilson and James Sena while making a game-saving stop at the last possession to secure the win.Sena finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds as he scored a finger roll off the post with 31.2 ticks to go that erased a 61-60 deficit....

Ateneo head coach Norman Black and De La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren graced the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum last Tuesday at Shakey’s UN Avenue to discuss the upcoming best-of-three finals series of the UAAP. Here some of the things that both coaches answered from the press during the one-hour discussion. Norman Black, regarding his history with Franz Pumaren: “We’ve worked together in San Miguel for 12 years and for five years when I was co...

FEU-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation clinched the second finals berth by after pulling off an upset win over defending champion De La Salle Zobel, 58-56, in the 71st UAAP juniors basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.The Baby Tamaraws leaned the heroics of Chris Tolomia, Russel Escoto and Chino Almario as they overcame a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the final four to eliminate the heavily-favored Junior Archers.Tolomia and Escoto led FEU-FERN with 13 points apiece while Almario tal...

Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines arrange a best-of-three finals series after beating separate rivals in today’s 71st UAAP women’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.The Lady Tamaraws eliminated Adamson University, 74-63, while the Lady Maroons overcame a twice-to-beat disadvantage to upset second seed University of Santo Tomas, 50-46.Both teams will start their titular showdown on Saturday at 1pm, also at The Arena.Chovi Borja overcame a sluggish e...

Defending champions San Sebastian and Colegio de San Juan de Letran are on the verge of retaining their respective championships after Game 1 of the 84th NCAA volleyball tournament at the San Beda College gym in Mendiola.San Sebastian, who scored a perfect 12-0 mark in the double-round elimination tournament, easily subdue College of Saint Benilde, 25-17, 25-19, 25-13, while Letran stunned league-leading San Beda, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.Best attacker and best server winner Rysabelle Devanadera scor...

Jose Rizal University and Letran College arrange a duel for the second twice-to-beat incentive after beating its separate opponents in Monday’s playoff matches of the 84th NCAA basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.The Heavy Bombers overcame a late fourth quarter charge by San Sebastian College for a 57-53 victory while the Knights put on a dominating display to defeat Mapua, 62-52, in the second game.With the win of both teams, they are already assured of making through to the fin...

Jose Rizal University booked a place in the next round of the NCAA juniors stepladder phase by eliminating CSB-La Salle Greenhills in overtime, 95-89, at the Cuneta Astrodome.Joshua Saret led the Light Bombers with 31 points on 7-for-15 shooting from three-point distance while Keith Agovida added 23 points and nine rebounds to place a matchup with last year’s runner-up Letran Squires.JRU was actually down 17-5 after the first period and 39-28 at the half by sending the game into an extra s...

Ateneo de Manila High School made easy work of Adamson High School, 78-45, to make a return trip to the finals in the 71st UAAP juniors basketball Final Fouir at The Arena in San Juan.The Blue Eaglets, who are seeking to reclaim the title they last won in 2006, led from start to finish as Juami Tiongson scored 20 points and six rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting while Jayvee Dumrique added 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.On the other hand, FEU-Nicanor Reyes Education Foundation ...

Adamson University and season host University of the Philippines kept their hopes of a finals berth alive after stunning their more favored opponents today in the 71st UAAP women’s basketball Final Four at The Arena in San Juan.The fourth-seeded Lady Falcons escaped with a nail-biting 57-56 win over top-seed Far Eastern University while the Lady Maroons decked University of Santo Tomas, 52-39, as both squads forced a rubber match on Wednesday.Behind center Amby Almazan, Fria Bernardo and A...

PRESS RELEASEDASMARINAS, CAVITE - The Olivarez College Sea Lions moved closer to their first ever semifinals stint, as they tripped the Trace College-Laguna Stallions, 83-65, yesterday in the 7th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men's basketball tournament at the Ugnayang La Salle gym here.Marlon Vizcarra, Jethro Mendoza and Leonard Victoria helped bring the Sea Lions to their goal after they came up with double-digit performances which keyed in their fourth win in six games...

PRESS RELEASE Defending champion STI Colleges crushed Informatics International College, 91-72, while St. Clare College Caloocan downed New Era University, 90-78, to strengthen their chances in the 8th NAASCU men’s basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.The Olympians, who are hoping to retain the title despite losing several key players this year,  played just hard enough to frustrate the Icons and claim their 10 th win against three losses in this eight-team, carryover quarter...

Far Eastern University, with its deep and balanced lineup, became the dominant team after the double-round eliminations of the 71st UAAP women’s basketball tournament.The Lady Tamaraws, who missed the Final Four last season, grabbed top spot heading into postseason play with a near-perfect 13-1 record and will take on Adamson University in an 11am match tomorrow at the Arena in San Juan holding a twice-to-beat incentive.The Mike Oliver-mentored team was bannered by RP national team prospec...

DASMARINAS, CAVITE – De La Salle-Dasmarinas leaned on the efforts of guards Rico Rivera and John Marc Aranza to post an upset win over erstwhile leader Philippine School of Business Administration, 89-81, in the 7th UCAA basketball tournament at the DLSU-D gym here. Rivera uncorked 30 points while Aranza dropped 18 as the Patriots of head coach Ephraim Serrano improved its record to an even 3-3 record for fifth place in the eight team field. La Salle Dasma, who posted its second c...

Reminder: Stats only generate 50% of the MVP criteria, the rest will be votes of the teams (15%), officials (15%), and the media (20%). Special thanks to Imperium Technology for providing the stats. OVERALL STATISTICAL POINTS (Minimum 3 games played) September 6, 2008 Rank PLAYERNAME TEAMNAME GP Pts Rebs Asts Stls Blks SPs Bonus -Ps TOTSPs 1 Cruz, Jervy UST 14 277 192 13 6 12 961 90 5 75.0714 2 Al-Hussaini, Rabeth...

San Sebastian found the hard way to secure an outright finals berth to survive over Jose Rizal University in overtime, 97-88, in the final day of the eliminations of the 84th NCAA juniors basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.The Staglets blew a 14-point lead in the second half and battled through an extra session after a game-tying triple by JRU’s Louie Vigil. But Arvie Bringas, Almond Vosotros and Raffy Gusi stepped up in overtime to secure a perfect 12-0 record and a twice-to-be...

The following contains the scenarios that the NCAA will map out in case of a three-way tie or a four-way tie for second. The NCAA is using FIBA classification point system.In case of a three-way tie at 9-5:                                W    L    PNo.3 SSC-R         &...

Far Eastern University had its fate in the palm of their hands when they entered the Araneta Coliseum floor two days ago. Tied with De La Salle for second place at 10-3, the Tamaraws can easily put some pressure on the Green Archers in the race for the second twice-to-beat incentive with a win. However, University of the East played the spoiler role. The Red Warriors stormed to a huge start before thwarting a second half rally by the Tams to end their elimination round campaign on a high note...

It was another usual game in the NCAA juniors division with two teams enduring contrasting fortunes. The JRU Light Bombers are aiming at one of the top two spots heading into the Final Four while the Mapua Red Robins (officially dubbed as Malayan High School of Science) are still a rebuilding team that is on the verge of suffering a winless campaign.But for JRU star Keith Agovida, a skinny 18-year old, 6-1 big man, he took advantage of a weak opponent and some passes from his teammates to post a...

Frankie Lim said it best, it was indeed the ‘Game of the Year’. With the NCAA Final Four race having more confusion than a mathematical problem a grade school student is having difficulty with, San Beda put some little dilemma on the situation after pulling off an escape act over a hungry San Sebastian Stags, 62-58. Not only did the defending champion won its 10th game of the season but it also gave them the first slot in the Final Four, with a win over the Letran Knights next we...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (= from Last Week, Record: 12-1) – The Blue Eagles continue to dominate the UAAP, posting yet another win this time against NU. But it wasn’t just a win, that game enabled them to clinch a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four. But like Norman Black said, the hard part begins. La Salle Green Archers (+1 from Last Week, Record: 10-3) – DLSU went 2-0 this week without Franz Pumaren, causing interim mentor Jack Santiago to have a sigh of relief. The...

Defending champion STI College spoiled erstwhile solo leader St Clare College of Caloocan in a big way, 106-66, in the resumption of the 8thh NAASCU basketball tournament at the University of Manila gym. The Olympians leaned on the second quarter efforts of Mac Macabasco and Mike Cabangon as they outscored the Saints, 38-16, to take a commanding 62-30 halftime lead and never looked back. Macabasco and Cabagnon led STI with 16 points, apiece, to improve its record to 7-3 to remain in f...

Marlon Vizcarra scored 14 points, including a go-ahead layup with 36 seconds remaining as Olivarez College continued its surprising start with a 72-69 upset of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the 7th UCAA basketball tournament at the EAC Sports Center. The win enabled the Sea Lions to a 3-1 record, tying Philippine School of Business Administration and Universal College of Nursing for second behind unbeaten Las Pinas College. After Vizcarra hit the crucial basket that made it a four-poin...

One thing head coach Dindo Pumaren and his UE Red Warriors team realized was that they were lucky to get out alive. Despite a furious rally from 24 points down by a desperate but determined UST Growling Tigers, it wasn’t enough as UE escaped with a nail-biting 89-87 victory that earned them the fourth-and-last spot in the Final Four that eliminated their victims from reached the postseason. And when the UAAP student volunteers invited Pumaren along with Marcy Arellano, Pari Llagas, ...

San Beda Red Lions (= from Last Week, Record: 9-3) – The Red Lions gained sole possession of first place with a win over the gritty CSB Blazers. Ogie Menor showed his offensive skills with 35 points as the reigning two-time champions are gunning for solo first before the Final Four starts. San Sebastian Stags (+1 from Last Week, Record: 9-4) – Another upset win for Baste, beating JRU last Wednesday, and now they have climbed up to second place. But the task isn’t fini...

Ateneo head coach Norman Black and Rabeh Al-Hussaini were all in good mood last night when they meet the media in a customary postgame talk, especially after their team coasted to another win in the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament. It wasn’t just a victory, though. Not only did the Blue Eagles grabbed its 12th victory in 13 games but they also captured top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the Final Four. While it was “mission accomplished” for&nbs...

PRESS RELEASE San Sebastian College-Cavite leaned on the hot hands of Oliver Villareal and Jhun Gracilla to eke out a thrilling 89-81 win over five-time champion University of Manila and vault into the solo lead in the 8th NAASCU men’s basketball tournament at the UM gym in Manila. Villareal and Gracilla came through with the clutch baskets in a pivotal stretch in the payoff period, enabling the Baycats to stave off repeated rallies by the Hawks and clinched their seventh win in nine m...

Tomorrow will be the last time in this UAAP season that the Philsports Arena will host its men’s basketball competitions. And the venue formerly known as the ULTRA will hold a crucial matchup for the fourth-and-last spot in the Final Four pitting the UE Red Warriors and the UST Growling Tigers. Both teams enter the pivotal contest in contrasting situations. The Red Warriors, who holds a 7-5 record, will only have to win over UST or against FEU on September 4 in order to make its s...

The Mapua Cardinals are in a desperate situation. However, they are not pushing the panic button yet after showing up earlier this afternoon with poise and composure against one of the league’s top teams. Not only did Leo Isaac’s Cardinals’ defeated the Letran Knights, they won it in devastating fashion, a 69-52 score that kept them a game behind their victims and Jose Rizal University in the race for the fourth-and-last spot in the Final Four. In a match that saw an alm...

PRESS RELEASE The Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars bounced back from a loss they suffered during a previous game with a resounding 89-74 whipping of the Trace College of Laguna Stallions yesterday in the 7th UCAA men's basketball tournament at the EAC Sports Center. Vic Manuel tallied a gamehigh 22 points for the Jaguars, who posted their third triumph in four games to move into a share of the lead with the Universal College of Nursing Dragons. Marc Joseph delivered...

Without head coach Franz Pumaren, Jack Santiago endured sleepness nights before his first game as a temporary replacement of the multi-titled tactician.Pumaren, who has been the team’s bench tactician since 1998, missed his first game after coaching the RP Youth Team in the ongoing FIBA Asia Junior Men’s Championship in Tehran, Iran.But with Santiago at the helm, his first win as mentor was a wild one as rookie Maui Villanueva scored a tip in at the buzzer as De La Salle won a thrill...

Mac Baracael arrived with his teammates about an hour or two before game time and he was in good spirit, converting on several outside jumpers and even made a right-handed dunk for good measure.A month after getting shot outside of the school gymnasium by an unknown assailant, Baracael made a short but successful return for the FEU Tamaraws, who secured its first Final Four berth in three years with a 64-60 win over National University yesterday afternoon at the Big Dome.In a game that almost go...

It appears that there is no one that can stop Ateneo de Manila these days as they continue to be one step ahead of its opponents every single week. With 11 wins and single defeat to show, the Blue Eagles are on track of finishing the double-round eliminations with the top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage going into the Final Four. However, in order for them to get that predicament, they must win Saturday's game against National University in which Norman Black and his team hopes to do. "W...

It has been a disappointing week for the Adamson Falcons. Eight straight defeats to go to 2-10 and now the team have been dealing with two side issues that have summarized their rough season. Everyone noticed that the Falcons were playing a blowout loss to University of the Philippines with three players on the sidelines, Marc Agustin, Paul Gonzalgo, and Allan Santos. It was later found out that the trio was being benched by head coach Leo Austria. While Austria refused to cite the reason ...

For the seventh consecutive week, UAAP leaders Ateneo de Manila remains as the top team in the latest Philippine Collegiate Championship Power Rankings for Metro Manila released this week. With an 11-1 record after wins over University of the East and University of the Philippines during the past week, the Blue Eagles are on the verge of securing top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage before the elimination round of the UAAP season ends in the first week of September. The Blue Eagles, b...

Looking back in the first round, San Sebastian was only considered as good enough to barely make it to the Final Four but now it seems that they have become a potent threat to go even farther than expected. The Stags, behind a steady second-half defense and some crucial baskets in the fourth quarter, rose to its seventh consecutive victory by trouncing the once-hot Jose Rizal University, 52-47, that not only pushed them to the brink of making the semis for the first time since 2005, but ...

(Press Release) Five-time champion University of Manila trounced erstwhile co-leader New Era University, 76-69, while newcomer Lyceum of Subic Bay shocked defending champion STI Colleges, 87-84, to boost their chances for a semifinals berth in the 8th NAASCU basketball tournament at the UM gym. Onofre Mapiza, a 6-3 junior forward, finished with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Hawks of coach Francis Rodriguez to their fourth win in six matches. Reyner Sadsad added 14 poi...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (= from Last Week, Record: 11-1) - The Blue Eagles are a win away from capturing top spot in the Final Four but it wasn’t easy after barely beating UE and then had to used a strong second half to defeat UP. FEU Tamaraws (+1 from Last Week, Record: 8-3) - Mark Barroca scorch hot for FEU during the fourth quarter of its huge upset of De La Salle. But he wasn’t alone, Jens Knuttel provided help in the backcourt as did big men Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes. And n...

Olivarez College leaned on the efforts of Marlon Vizcarra, John Angelo Lascunas, and Leonard Victoria to surprise defending champion St Francis of Assisi, 81-74, in the 8th UCAA basketball tournament at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center last August 25. Vizcarra led the Sea Lions of new head coach Michael Saguiguit with 19 points while Victoria and Lascunas hit 14 and 11 points apiece as they tie Universal College of Nursing for second place with identical 2-1 records. UCN defeated D...

San Beda Red Lions (+3 from Last Week, Record: 8-3) - The Red Lions reemergence this week after dashing JRU’s hope of winning a ninth-consecutive game. Almost the whole team of head coach Frankie Lim stepped up and all of a sudden they now share a tie for first place. JRU Heavy Bombers (-1 from Last Week, Record: 8-3) - JRU struggled in the second half in losing to the Red Lions last Friday. James Sena didn’t showed up in the game and Mark Cagoco and Marvin Hayes were some of the ...

Never did Mark Barroca exploded like this before. Needing a win to tie De La Salle for second spot in the team standings, Barroca made an offensive rage as he led the FEU Tamaraws to a much needed win over the De La Salle, 83-75, yesterday afternoon at the Philsports Arena. The second-year guard, who entered FEU from Unibersidad de Zamboanga in his hometown of Zamboanga City, lit up DLSU for a career-high 26 points, 13 of which came in the final quarter as he was instrumental in helping...

(Press Release) The Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars and the Las Pinas College Blue Lions repulsed their foes in convincing fashions yesterday in the resumption of the seventh Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men's basketball tournament at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center.Vic Manuel came off with a monster game, delivering 40 points for the Jaguars as they turned back Universal College of Nursing Dragons, 83-75, and marched to their second st...

Five teams tied for the lead in NAASCU Five teams are sharing a tie for first place (as of Sunday) in the 8th NAASCU men’s basketball tournament. And forget about finding defending champion STI on the list, as St Clare College of Caloocan, New Era University, San Sebastian College-Cavite, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, and 2006 winners AMA Computer University holds identical marks of 3-1 after two weeks of hostilities. New Era started off the season by winning its first game wi...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (= from Last Week, Record: 9-1) - It was another strong week for the league-leading Eagles after beating UST and Adamson. Rabeh Al-Hussaini posted another strong outing during the last two games alongside Eric Salamat. Ateneo is on pace to end the season with the top spot in the Final Four. De La Salle Green Archers (= from Last Week, Record: 8-2) - The Green Archers survived a paltry first half by posting a strong second half to defeat NU. JV Casio had another strong...

JRU Heavy Bombers (+1 from Last Week, Record: 8-2) - The Heavy Bombers secured top spot last Friday in a tightly-contested match against erstwhile leader Letran. JRU also won its eight consecutive match with NCAA Player of the Week James Sena leading the way. Letran Knights (-1 from Last Week, Record: 7-2) - Despite the loss to JRU, Letran made it a dogfight. Still, the Knights struggled in the second half as John Melegrito suddenly disappeared after a strong first half while RJ Jazul was...

Everyone thought that when Mapua made its first entry into the court last Wednesday against the defending champion San Beda Red Lions, they would in for another blowout game just like what happened on opening day over a month ago.   But the people were wrong, it was a strong first half and a low-scoring defensive battle in the crucial part of the game that helped kept the Cardinals in the hunt for the fourth-and-last spot in the Final Four after a 53-48 victo...

With the game already decided with two minutes remaining in the contest, big man Jason Ballesteros put an exclamation point to their dominating 68-36 blowout of Perpetual Help with an alley-oop jam from Pamboy Raymundo yesterday at the Astrodome. That jam symbolized the Stags fortunes these days as the said victory stretched their streak to five games to improve to a 6-4 record, half-game ahead of the 5-4 Mapua Cardinals, who later stunned defending champion San Beda, in the race for the Final ...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (+2 from Last Week, Record: 7-1) – The Blue Eagles start off the second round with a strong second half against FEU to get the win. Still, Norman Black’s concern is the team’s played off in that game after the Tamaraws rallied late. Eric Salamat exploded for Ateneo off the bench so did Rabeh Al-Hussaini. La Salle Green Archers (+2 from Last Week, Record: 7-2) – DLSU exact revenge over UE in their second round debut before pummeling UP two days ...

Press Release ST.CLARE  College-Caloocan overpowered  Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, 82-72, while San Sebastian College-Cavite nipped defending champion STI College, 84-74, to gain a share of the lead  with three straight wins j in the NAASCU men’s basketball tournament at the UM gym. Richmong Sibal  scattered 14 points  and three other mainstays also scored in double figures  as the  Caloocan-based Saints of coach Jimmy Mariano and Dr. Ernesto Ja...

There’s an old saying that payback’s an expletive word (obviously we can’t post it right here). But for league leaders Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle, they made it a payback week after beating their respective opponents Far Eastern University and University of the East in a quick rematch of their first round meetings. For the blue side, their 5-0 start was halted by the Tamaraws when they were handed a 72-66 upset last July 31. Two days later, the green team got be...

Note: The rankings does not reflect the games played yesterday   Letran Knights (+1 from Last Week, Record: 7-1) – The Knights start off the second round with a runaway win over an uninspired College of Saint Benilde squad. After so-so games in the first round, Rey Guevarra finally came up big for Louie Alas’ wards.   JRU Heavy Bombers (-1 from Last Week, Record: 6-2) – The Heavy Bombers are on a roll as they stretched their winning run to six games. Unfortun...

Defending champion STI College made a rousing start by defeating University of Manila, 70-58, to open the 8th NAASCU men's basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.   The Olympians leaned on the efforts of Ronald Danganan and PBL standout Ramon Mabayo to frustrate the Hawks in a rematch of last year's finals series.     Danganan and Mabayo led STI with 19 points with the former hitting 10 points in the second half to erase a slim 37-35 lead at halftime...

UE Red Warriors – It seems that every UE game their fans come into droves and will easily pack the arena. They might not be as traditional as Ateneo or La Salle or even a tough San Beda and Letran audience in the NCAA, but these fans root their lungs out for their Red Warriors as they have a different kind of rowdiness during games. It also helps that 90 percent are women and most of their basketball players are marketable enough to appear in magazines.   Ateneo Blue Eagles &nd...

Host Mapua Institute of Technology leads after four rounds of the 84th NCAA seniors chess tournament held every weekend at the Jose Rizal University gym in Mandaluyong City.   The Cardinals tallied 11.5 points to take solo lead over second-placer Colegio de San Juan de Letran, who has 10.5 points.   The team of Julius Ramos, Adrian Perez, Francis Ligon, and Eleixeis Burce rolled to an easy 3.5-1.5 win over San Beda College of Rene Villasin, Joseph Navarro, Joey Mendoza, and Gerard ...

So many things have happened during the first five weeks of the UAAP season, with close games and number of crowds to non-stop controversies and off-court incidents and speculations. Last night, we listed our first round awardees in the NCAA but now is the turn of the UAAP to get some citations in time for the start of the second round action. Most Valuable Player: Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ateneo Blue Eagles While Jervy Cruz is leading the pack in the statistical points' race after the first r...

It was like yesterday when the 84th NCAA season unfurled at the Araneta Coliseum (I even came in late after covering a baseball game) and San Beda mauling Mapua in the opening game before three other contests were played that ended around 10:30 pm. Since that day, a lot of things happened in the current season with paltry attendance numbers, lopsided wins, inconsistent and superstar players, physical barbs, uniform issues, and late-game collapses. Now that we are in the middle part of the seas...

UE Red Warriors (+2 from Last Week, Record: 4-3) – The Red Warriors may have earned a double black eye for having their protest denied twice (and losing 100,000 pesos in cash bond), but they end up getting one of the shockers of the first round by beating a hot De La Salle squad thanks to Player of the Week James Martinez. FEU Tamaraws (+1 from Last Week, Record: 5-2) – The Tamaraws made the biggest upset of the first round (then) after stunning the 5-0 Ateneo in a 72-66 win ...

Reigning Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz of the University of Santo Tomas is leading the pack in the Statistical Points race after the first round of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament. The 6-4 big man of the Growling Tigers led all players with 63.7143 points to beat out Ateneo de Manila’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who tallied 62.8571 points for second place. Cruz ranks among the top five in three statistical categories. He and Dylan Ababou led the league in points with ...

I decided to let the first round end before doing this rankings so here we go   Jose Rizal University (+3 from Last Last Week, Record: 5-2) – Head coach Ariel Vanguardia said it best, they went from 0-2 to number two which they now share with defending champion San Beda. The Heavy Bombers posted the upset of the first round, beating the Red Lions via their three-point shooting. Aside from that they pummeled Mapua and sink PCU further on a game-winner by James Sena.   Letran K...

University of Santo Tomas is sure hurt by the loss of chief ballhandler Japs Cuan, but a backup rookie picked up the slack in their last two victories of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament.   Clark Bautista, a product of Benedictine International School, stepped up to the plate once more for the Espana-based squad by scoring 18 points, all of which came from his six three-point shots that propel them to an 88-77 win over winless National University.   Aside from his ex...

The most anticipated game of the 84th NCAA season had everything else other than basketball last night. Fans came into droves at the Cuneta Astrodome with scalpers probably having a field day (and hopefully, not the criminals) while fans made curse remarks at opposing players with some of them even pelting the court with C2 or Nestea bottles (cheap plug), one peso coins that won't even be enough for someone to buy a cigarette stick these days, and even a yellow paper plane that would have ...

JRU head coach Ariel Vanguardia was so relieved during the postgame that after thanking the heaven above, he told the sports scribes a quote that summarized their first round outing in the 84th NCAA season. “That was our battlecry, from 0-2 to number two,” Vanguardia said after the Heavy Bombers scored a pulsating 60-58 win over lowly Philippine Christian University on James Sena’s game-winning layup off two defenders with 1.4 ticks remaining. “We relied on our d...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (= from Last Week, Record: 5-0) – Ateneo played one game last week and scored a struggling win over winless National University. The team is poised for a sweep of the first round but faces two tough teams in FEU and UST this week. De La Salle Green Archers (= from Last Week, Record: 5-1) – The Archers found an easy time during their last two games with wins over Adamson and UP. But they will be in for a daunting task on Saturday in a finals rematch again...

As you may have heard in other websites and discussion boards, Mac Baracael was shot outside the FEU campus by an unidentified gunman late this evening. Baracael was with two teammates Robert Kave and Ron Cabagnot when the incident happened. He is currently undergoing operation at a hospital after being rushed by an FEU ambulance. But the third-year standout is currently in stable condition although he remains under observation according to FEU head coach Glen Capacio.

Head coach Norman Black and a big-name rookie entered the press room and quickly the former PBA grandslam coach praised that said player who seated right next to him as sportswriters flanked them for an interview. “Star of the game,” Black said of that neophyte, moments after the Blue Eagles trounced their rival University of the Philippines, 83-66. Ryan Buenafe, the rookie that Black commended, rose to the occasion once more in just his fourth game in the UAAP. He scored 17 p...

Ateneo Blue Eagles (= from Last Week, Record: 4-0) – After three rough games, the Blue Eagles finally had an easy time by walloping their nearby rivals UP. The usual players have stepped up while Ryan Buenafe found the right time to make a buzz once more by pouring in 17 points. De La Salle Green Archers (+1 from Last Week, Record: 3-1) – JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer are leading the team but their two wins over UST (in a cliffhanger) and to NU (wipeout) saw significant cont...

San Beda Red Lions (+1 from Last Week, Record: 4-0) – The Red Lions emerged from a near-defeat to lowly San Sebastian Stags by responding with an easy thrashing of College of Saint Benilde (too bad they won it convincingly, yet a possible forfeiture is looming because of Ekwe’s jersey). Player of the Week Pong Escobal rediscovered himself offensively and should be in for more consistent games during the season. Letran Knights (-1 from Last Week, Record: 5-0) – These K...

The NCAA announced last Friday a revision of the following three playing dates of the elimination round. Today, July 21, 2008 2pm San Beda vs Perpetual 4pm PCU vs San Sebastian Wednesday, July 23, 2008 2pm San Beda vs JRU 4pm Mapua vs Letran Wednesday, July 30, 2008 2pm JRU vs PCU 4pm San Beda vs Letran

Friday, July 18, 2008, can be considered as a wacky day for most people. Prices continue to bloat like Shawn Kemp’s weight a few years ago, fire engulfed an establishment in Libertad, and even a prophesied earthquake was billed for the said day. Leaving reality aside, the 84th NCAA men’s basketball tournament had its weirdest game of the season thus far after the Letran Knights overcame a 20-point deficit – and a sure defeat – to post a thrilling 63-62 victory ov...

After the NCAA version, it’s now time for some UAAP Power Rankings. 1.) Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-0) – The Blue Eagles have asserted themselves as the early favorites in the current UAAP campaign. Chris Tiu remains as the team’s go-to-guy down the stretch while the efforts of big men Rabah Al-Hussaini and Noy Baclao has been tremendous on both ends. Rookies Ryan Buenafe and Nico Salva, meanwhile, are having solid starts for the Loyola-based squad. 2.) UE Red Warriors (2-...

As you have noticed here in Ubelt.com, JP Abcede regularly post his weekly Power Rankings regarding players who have made its mark during a certain week. This time, it’s going to be a team ranking edition of the Power Rankings so here we go.   Note: The games played on Monday will not reflect the following rankings   1.) Letran Knights (3-0) – Louie Alas mentioned prior to the start of the season that his team played far below expectations during the preseason...

San Beda College is off to a 3-0 start in the 84th NCAA men's basketball tournament but don't be fooled by this, as their quest for a third consecutive title is off to rocky start.   The 85-56 mauling of Mapua Institute of Technology on opening day is now a distant memory as they have to worry about how to find ways to play consistent basketball after two closely fought victories over Philippine Christian University and, earlier today, against San Sebastian College-Recoletos.   "I ...

Arvie Bringas took charge late while Almond Vosotros had another strong game as San Sebastian College-Recoletos survived a fearless effort by San Beda High School in overtime, 77-73, in the lone game of the 84th NCAA juniors basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last July 14.   The defending champion Staglets blew a 15-point lead in the third quarter and was trailing by six, 62-56, with 3:05 remaining in regulation only for them to force the game into an extra sessio...

University of the East regained top spot in the third installment of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship Power Rankings. The Red Warriors got the upper hand in the latest rankings after trouncing University of Santo Tomas, 78-72, to jumpstart their 71st UAAP season campaign last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Dindo Pumaren-coached team was handed as the top collegiate squad in Metro Manila during the first week but dropped to second place in the second poll results. Placin...

The opening weekend of the 71st UAAP season wrapped up with the highly-anticipated game between bitter rivals De La Salle, the reigning champions, and Ateneo de Manila in front of the 22,008 fans at the Big Dome last Sunday. In a back-and-forth tussle that saw several foul shots thrown, rookies making promise, and some dubious sanctions made, the Blue Eagles hang tough to defeat their arch nemesis, 79-73, to open their season on a winning note. Sunday’s game saw 13 ties and a bunch...

Jose Rizal University bounced back from their recent defeat to hand La Salle Greenhills a 105-80 thrashing in the lone NCAA juniors basketball game at the Cuneta Astrodome last July 7. The Light Bombers were paced by a huge effort by Keith Agovida, who tallied 37 points and 21 rebounds, in an almost no-rest, 38 minute exposure. Teammate Louie Vigil also contributed 22 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. After a slim 22-20 lead in the first quarter, the Mandaluyong-based junio...

In a season of downpour, it was raining triples inside the Cuneta Astrodome Friday afternoon after RJ Jazul waxed hot in helping the Letran Knights to an 88-73 beating of erstwhile unbeaten College of Saint Benilde.   Jazul burned the Blazers for 37 points, 21 in the first half as the Knights became the new NCAA leaders after three playing dates of the elimination round.   The former Letran Squire said that it was his highest points ever made in any level such as the high school, c...

It was another easy victory for reigning two-time champion San Sebastian College-Recoletos after bulldozing Jose Rizal University, 89-65, in the NCAA juniors’ basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome last July 4. The Staglets took over from start to finish by beginning with a 16-7 lead and never looked back to post their third consecutive win in as many outings to remain as the lone unbeaten team in the said division. Big man Arvie Bringas led the Recto-based squad with a double-dou...

Surprise! Surprise! Who’s leading the 84th NCAA season after two playing dates of the seniors division?   College of Saint Benilde, last year’s cellar-dweller with just one win in 12 games, opens up the campaign with two hardfought victories to come up as the early leaders.   After their opening day win over returning Philippine Christian University, the Blazers follow it up with another rough victory, this time against fellow opening day winner University of Perpetual ...

Defending two-time champion San Sebastian College-Recoletos coasted to its second consecutive victory by crushing hapless Malayan High School of Science, 119-25, in the second day action of the 84th NCAA juniors basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome last July 2.   Last year’s Mythical Five member Arvie Bringas paced the Staglets with 39 points on 16-for-21 shooting from the floor while hitting five triples.   SSC-R led from start to finish to toy the Red Robins, back ...

No less than a fourth consecutive crown is what the San Sebastian Staglets are eyeing for as the 84th NCAA juniors basketball tournament opens house tomorrow morning at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Despite a key loss in last season’s Most Valuable Player Ryan Buenafe, head coach Raymund Valenzona is still optimistic about his team chances after bagging their second straight Nike Summer League title and placing second in the Father Martin Cup during the preseason. “In...

It was a rousing start for the San Beda Red Lions, but it wasn’t expected that their performance would turn Araneta Coliseum into a demolition derby. Their 85-56 decking of host Mapua Institute of Technology triggered a start of their quest for a third-consecutive NCAA title in convincing fashion that surprised even head coach Frankie Lim. “I thought all the while, it was going to be close but I was surprised with the way the team performed,” Lim quoted during a post-g...

University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and College of Saint Benilde posted similar come-from-behind victories in two non-televised, late-night opening games of the 84th season of the NCAA at the Araneta Coliseum last June 28. The Altas rallied from an eight-point third quarter deficit to stun last year’s fifth-placer San Sebastian College-Recoletos while the Blazers came back from 13 points down to shut down the returning Philippine Christian University, 69-65. Both cardiac ga...

(Second part) Mapua Institute of Technology (Last season: 6-6, 4th place) The Cardinals lost key players Sean Co and Jerby del Rosario but the host for season 84 remains upbeat about their final four chances. Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player (and recently-named Mr. NCAA) Kelvin dela Pena will banner the team with his duties in the backcourt and also on scoring opportunities while big man Neil Pascual will make productions inside. Aside from the two, sophomore guard Jonathan Banal hop...

The 84th season of the NCAA is just two days away and the excitement continues to brew among the students and alumni from member schools of the oldest collegiate league in the country. There may have new rules and a little controversy to jumpstart the season, but the focus will again be on basketball once the opening tip starts on Saturday at the Big Dome. But right now, here is the first part of a two-set preview for the upcoming tournament, which will first focus on the teams that didn...

The NCAA Policy Board has given the go-signal to let San Beda College forward Elvin Jake Pascual suit up for the upcoming season in an announcement made last June 23 at the ELJ building of the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City. The final decision came after San Beda appealed the decision of the NCAA Management Committee's initial ruling to ban the former Philippine Christian University Baby Dolphin because of eligibility issues. "We (NCAA Policy Board) have decided to allow Jake Pascual play thi...

Ateneo de Manila University trailed by seven-points with 3:25 left in the contest but scored eight straight points to take a thrilling 65-64 victory over University of the East and claim the 2008 Nike Summer League senior's division title at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City last June 15. Chris Tiu hit the game-winning jumper with 26.8 seconds to go and the Blue Eagles hold off several opportunities of the Red Warriors to capture the crown. For more of this game, go to the official Nik...

Paul Lee put on a shooting exhibition in the fourth quarter to lead University of the East to the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Invitational title with an 81-65 victory over reigning two-time NCAA champion San Beda College last June 14 at the Arena in San Juan. Lee, who came off from a right ankle sprain suffered a month ago, engulfed for 20 points in the final canto, five of them coming from the three-point distance, as the Red Warriors shook off a furious charge by the Red Lions, who pla...

When Angela Benting scored on a spike that landed in Ateneo’s backline, euphoria rocked the Adamson Lady Falcons’ side after that game-ending scenario. The Adamson Lady Falcons had finally seize a championship. With their two-game sweep of the best-of-three series against the Lady Eagles to cop the Shakey’s V-League first conference diadem last week, Adamson exorcised some demons that have hounded them not only in this intercollegiate volleyball tournament, but also in t...

This time, they finally nabbed the big one. Adamson University ended years of close calls and disappointing finishes to win their first-ever Shakey's V-League crown with an easy, 25-17, 25-13, 25-17, dismantling of Ateneo de Manila University in Game 2 of their titular series at The Arena in San Juan last May 30. The Lady Falcons were bannered by another impressive showing by conference Most Valuable Player Neriza Bautista, Finals MVP Sang Laguilles, and Michelle Segodine to frustrate the...

BATANGAS CITY, BATANGAS – Harbour Centre has made its mark in Philippine basketball lore. The Batang Pier completed a rare five-peat last May 28 by routing Hapee Toothpaste, 86-73, to capture the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup championship via a 3-1 series victory at the Batangas City Sports Center here. Soon-to-be Singapore Slinger Jason Castro provided the killer blows to the Complete Protectors’ chances of forcing a fifth game by leading a huge 19-0 run in the secon...

Adamson University made a dominant showing early in punctuating Ateneo de Manila University, 25-7, 25-14, 23-25, 25-22, to grab Game 1 of the Shakey’s V-League finals at the Arena in San Juan City last May 27. The Lady Falcons banked on the performance of their guest player Neriza Bautista while getting solid support from team captain Sang Laguilles and Angela Benting to power the Dulce Pante-coached volleybelles. Bautista, who had stints as a member of the national team, led Adamso...

TANAUAN CITY, BATANGAS - Harbour Centre got an all-around performance from the season’s Most Valuable Player while an unlikely player stepped it up down the stretch to score a 90-78 victory in Game 3 of the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup in fron of a full house at the President Jose P. Laurel gymnasium 1 here. Jason Castro, named for the coveted individual honor, proved his worth with 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while Belga scored six in the fourth ...

  Ateneo de Manila and Adamson University made contrasting, but important victories to book an all-bird showdown for the championship as the semifinals of the Shakey's V-League concluded at the Arena in San Juan last May 25. The Lady Eagles relied on a gallant effort from two sets down to stun upset-minded Lyceum of the Philippines University, 18-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-9, while the Lady Falcons had strong efforts from Neriza Bautista and Sang Laguilles to eliminate three-time f...

  TRECE MARTIRES CITY, CAVITE – This time, there was no meltdown as Harbour Centre took charge in the second half to defeat Hapee Toothpaste, 93-81, in Game 2 of the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup finals in front of a full crowd at the Governor Ayong Maliksi gymnasium here. The Batang Pier used a third quarter fury as Jeff Chan and Jason Castro collaborated to make a slim 43-40 halftime deficit into a big margin while the team avoided a repeat of their disappointing loss in Ga...

Ateneo de Manila and Lyceum of the Philippines kept their dreams of making into the finals alive following separate victories in the semifinals of the Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan last May 23. The Lady Eagles rallied from a set down to stun elimination round leader San Sebastian College Recoletos, 14-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13, while the Lady Pirates played consistent ball in surprising second placer Adamson University, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22. With all four ...

Hapee Toothpaste mounted a fourth quarter comeback to come away with a miraculous 74-73 victory over Harbour Centre in Game 1 of the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup finals in front of a mammoth crowd at the Batangas City Sports Center last May 21. The Complete Protectors rallied back from an 18-point second half deficit before Larry Rodriguez, Mark Borboran, and Gabe Norwood led a huge rally in the final canto to stole the game away from the four-time reigning champions and thus tak...

  The Philippines may have posted an unbeaten mark but still was not enough to gain a spot in the next round of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. With the Azkals’ 3-0 win over Bhutan in front of a jampacked crowd at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza in Iloilo, they came up short of going to India in August after fellow undefeated Tajikistan sealed its entry to the main draw by dismantling Brunei, 4-0. Tajikistan and the hosts both ended up with seven points but the former h...

Hapee Toothpaste captured the second and last finals berth after putting the final nail on Burger King, 77-72, in Game 4 of the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup semifinals at the Governor Ayong Maliksi gymnasium in Trece Martires City, Cavite last May 17. The Complete Protectors were bannered by an impressive showing by star Gabe Norwood, who put up 17 points, 13 coming in the first half alone as Hapee sets up a rematch against Harbour Centre in a best-of-five titular showdown starti...

The Philippine Football team will be in a crucial situation later today when it meets Bhutan in the final match of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup Qualifying Tournament in Barotak Nuevo Football Plaza in Iloilo. The Azkals need to win by more than three goals against the Bhutanese booters in order to get past through to the next round later this August in India provided that Tajikistan loses, draws, or wins by a lesser margin against Brunei. Both the Filipinos and the T...

Four-time champion Harbour Centre booked another seat in the finals as Jason Castro lift up a strong fourth quarter to oust San Mig Coffee, 73-69, in Game 3 of the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup semifinals at the Muntinlupa Sports Center last May 15. The soon-to-be Singapore Slinger led the Batang Pier’s attack in the fourth quarter by scoring 13 points, including a clutch triple that made it a 69-68 edge with 1:08 remaining. After the Coffee Kings evened the margin on split...

  The Manila Sharks burned the streaking Batangas Bulls in the latter stages to grab an 8-3 win and remained as the only undefeated team in Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last May 4. With the Bulls scoring three runs in the second inning, the Sharks quietly mounted a rally before a three-run seventh put them on top by a run then scored five more in the top half of the final inning for their sixth consecutive victory. Trailing 3-1 in the seventh ...

Khiel Misa made the key steal of the game as Burger King wrapped up its elimination round with the number three spot by beating Pharex Medics, 69-65, in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Governor Ayong Maliksi Provincial gym in Trece Martires, Cavite on Labor Day. Misa swipe the ball away from Sean Co then dribbled all the way for the layup that gave the Whoppers the advantage, 67-65, with 17.2 seconds remaining. Burger King thwarted two forced three-point attempts by Ronnie...

Struggling Pharex Medics clinched a quarterfinals berth with a key win by handing league-leader Harbour Centre its first defeat, 99-97, in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Arena in San Juan City. Leading for most of the second-half, the Medics got a hold of the lead in the final three minutes with Ian Saladaga having a career game to post their seventh win with one game remaining against Burger King on Labor Day. The win also kept them in a tie with Toyota Otis, who earli...

The Manila Sharks prowl erstwhile undefeated Antipolo Pilgrims, 11-5, to grab solo leadership in Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Third baseman Nino Tator erupted for the Sharks, as he tallied five runs batted in (RBI) while hitting a home run as the Harbour Centre-owned squad improved to 4-0 for first place in the standings. Tator, also a member of the RP national team, made a pair of two-RBI hits as the Sharks tallied four runs each in the third an...

Burger King came back from a double-digit deficit to stun San Mig Coffee, 67-61, for their third consecutive victory in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan last April 19. The Whoppers trailed by 10 points in the third quarter but stormed back in the deciding period as Khiel Misa bombed 14 of his 16 points in that same juncture which saw him score a three-point basket off Neil Raneses with 39.7 seconds to go that gave them a 62-59 advantage. Prior to that, Mi...

League leader Harbour Centre tallied its 11th straight win by trouncing San Mig Coffee, 86-71, in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan last April 17. Jeff Chan scored eight points in the first quarter as the Batang Pier cruised to an early 11-0 start and 22-9 later on before taking its biggest lead, 45-18, in the second quarter. But the Coffee Kings mounted a late surge in the fourth as Leomer Losentes drained a three-pointer with 1:35 to go to cut the margi...

Harbour Centre relied on key shots from Jason Castro and TY Tang to beat Toyota Otis, 99-92, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center in Manila last April 15. Castro led the black and red-clad squad with 19 points while Tang erupted for seven in the final quarter to finish with 12 markers. The Batang Pier improved to a spotless 10-0 mark with five games remaining as they committed only six turnovers in t...

National Capital Region proved to be a dominant force as they cruised to the overall title in the recently concluded National PRISAA Games held April 8-13 in Zamboanga City   Composed of athletes from Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, and San Beda College, Metro Manila pocketed more than 180 gold medals in the six day event held at various venues around the city.   The biggest medal producing sport came in athletics and swimming, as NCR easily wayside their opponen...

  Gerry Penalosa made a tough one-sided beating of Ratanachai Sor Vorapin to retain his WBO bantamweight crown with an 8th round technical knockout win in the Invasion fight card at the Araneta Coliseum last April 6. Penalosa put on a technical masterpiece against the Thailand challenger for seven rounds before a combination sent Vorapin to the canvas as referee Gino Rodriguez ended the bout at 2:31 seconds. The San Carlos City southpaw actually put the Thai in spaghetti legs after...

Patrick Cabahug waxed hot for the Toyota-Otis Sparks by bombarding the Burger King Whoppers in the fourth quarter for a 72-62 victory in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan last April 5. Cabahug scored 18 of the team’s 25 points in the final canto as the Sparks pulled away from the Whoppers in the middle portion to improve their win-loss slate to 3-6 in the tournament. “I was waiting for Patrick to have a game like this,” said winning coach A...

Hapee Toothpaste took annihilation to another level after decking Noosa Shoes, 96-80, to take solo second in the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan City last April 3. UAAP Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz led the Complete Protectors with 18 points and seven rebounds while Mark Borboran also had 18 markers along with eight rebounds and two blocks on a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. Cruz scored 10 points in the first period to lead a 15-2 start and 27-10 through t...

  Darius Rice may not be the solution in the current food shortage but he sure did save the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants from the jaws of defeat after pulling a pulsating 127-126 double overtime win over sister team Magnolia Beverage Masters at the Araneta Coliseum. Rice, a former University of Miami standout, fired 56 points, two of which came when he scooped a layup past Mike Cortez with 6.2 seconds in the second extra session to preserve the victory. Prior to the basket, Rice ...

Red Bull Barako relied on a fourth quarter rally to shock Barangay Ginebra Kings, 89-83, in the opening day of the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum last March 30. Led by Cyrus Baguio and Mexican import Adam Parada, the Bulls fought back from trailing for most of the contest by taking the lead on a Celino Cruz basket with more than two minutes left, 82-81. After a defensive stop, Parada drained a three-point play thanks to a putback that gave Red Bull some breedin...

Romeo Jasmin and Charlie Labrador conspired in leading the Manila Sharks to a 5-0 shutout victory over the Makati Mariners to open Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last March 30. Jasmin, the UAAP Most Valuable Pitcher, threw six innings and struck out two Mariners in a flawless effort while Labrador hurled the last three frames to complete the Sharks’ season opening win. Catcher Rommel Roja gave Manila the early lead in the first inning on a two-...

Jervy Cruz sank a wacky putback with 0.2 seconds remaining to lift Hapee Toothpaste to an 85-83 victory over Burger King in a double overtime thriller of the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum last March 27. Cruz grabbed the offensive rebound off a missed outside attempt by Reed Juntilla before quickly threw the ball from an open 10 feet lane to score the game-winner. The victory improved the Complete Protectors, who recovered from a barbaric loss to Harbo...

There was no winner between Ateneo and La Salleas both squads featuring current PBA cagers ended in a 90-90 draw in front of a sparse Easter Sunday crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. Just like several of their memorable matches in the past, the two teams figured in an exchange of baskets in a hotly-contested last minute but no one went home with a victory to show as Wesley Gonzales missed a tough midrange jumper from the top of the key on the final play.  The pro league doe...

24 current PBA players will relive their collegiate past as Ateneo and La Salle figures in a reunion match today at the Araneta Coliseum.  Dubbed as the PBA Ateneo-La Salle Showdown, the game will feature the UAAP’s most popular rivalry with former players from the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers playing for a cause. The contest will benefit the PBA Players Education Trust Fund.  Talk N’ Text’s newly-hired coach Chot Reyes will lead the Blue Eagles...

Arellano University recorded yet another back-to-back championship as they captured the 15th Smart-NCRAA juniors basketball tournament last Saturday by sweeping aside Olivarez College.   The Baby Chiefs pulled the same scenario as last season, after beating the same squad in a three-game showdown. They also equaled their senior counterparts, who grabbed its second straight title last month over St Francis of Assisi College. On the other hand, returning Ri...

Manny Pacquiao completed his unfinished business left four years ago by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez in their much-awaited rematch via a split decision to capture the WBC super featherweight championship last March 16 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.  Pacquiao floored Marquez in the third round but battled through a busy showing by the Mexican along with a cut he suffered because of a clash of heads. Still, the Filipino ring idol was able to land some strong pu...

The Sta Lucia Realtors put a glorious end to a grueling series with a 100-88 win over the Purefoods TJ Giants to take the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup crown in the seventh-and-deciding game at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum last March 2.  Dennis Espino powered his way for 29 points, 22 coming in the second half, on 9-13 shooting to be named as the Finals Most Valuable Player as the Realtors bagged its second title in franchise history, seven years after capturing the 2001 Gover...

Adamson University fought late with a three-run eighth inning to dethrone reigning champion University of Santo Tomas, 5-3, in Game 3 of the UAAP season 70 baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last March 2. The Falcons, who suffered a heart-breaking defeat in Game 2, were five outs away from losing but got the big breaks thanks to a pair of errors by the Tigers in the eighth to win their first championship since the 1990’s. A poor pickoff throw by UST ...

University of Santo Tomas pulled together a strong comeback to keep their hopes of a second straight title intact after beating Adamson University, 8-5, in Game 2 of the UAAP season 70 baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last February 29. Left for dead after trailing 5-1 entering the eighth inning, the Tigers unleashed a four-run onslaught to tie the contest and then put up three more in the final inning to secure a come-from-behind victory. Wi...

James Yap put up an explosive return and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants forced the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup Finals to a deciding seventh game after trouncing the Sta Lucia Realtors, 89-81, last night at the Araneta Coliseum.   Yap fired a game-high 30 points, 20 of those coming in the final canto, to cap off a strong comeback after serving a one-game suspension last Sunday for swatting Joseph Yeo’s nose in Game 3.   The former PBA MVP put the game out of reach when ...

Adamson University gave up a pair of home runs but still got the big breaks in surprising defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 6-3, in Game 1 of the UAAP season 70 baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last February 27.   The Falcons broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning as Roger Landicho and Joselito Bermoza each snapped a run-scoring hit to go one-up over the Tigers in their best-of-three affair.   A grounder to right field by Landicho allowed a hustling...

University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University meets anew as the UAAP baseball finals unwraps later today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. The best-of-three showdown will be a rematch of last season’s championship series, when the Tigers wound up sweeping aside the Falcons to cop their second crown in three seasons. On the other hand, Adamson had to survive a long series with the University of the Philippines after edging them out, 3-1, in the do-...

Adamson University relied on their early offensive moves and their strong pitching to bag the last finals berth to send University of the Philippines home, 3-1, in the knockout match of the UAAP season 70 baseball final four at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last February 24. Behind catcher Edward Landicho and pitcher Romeo Jasmin, the Falcons are back in the finals for the second straight year in a rematch against defending champion University of Santo Tomas. Landicho led...

Sta Lucia plans to dispose Purefoods TJ Giants, and a second championship tomorrow in Game 6 of the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.   The Realtors dumped the undermanned Hotdogs with a convincing 88-76 victory as SLR came up with a strong second half performance. Best Player of the Conference winner Kelly Williams reappeared after two subpar performances by posting 20 points and 16 rebounds while getting support from Nelbert Omolon, who had 14 m...