Ateneo outlasts UE in women's basketball

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Lady Eagles conquered the University of the East Lady Warriors, 61-57, in the 2nd round of the women’s basketball tournament of UAAP Season 74 at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

The Lady Eagles were led by Sarah Mercado’s double-double production of 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The game saw 11 deadlocks and 12 lead changes.

UE was unable to keep Ateneo off the boards, as the Lady Eagles dominated the rebounding category, 52-36.

Reports from: ABS-CBN News

Pumped-up Stags seek win No. 10

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian, buoyed up by its victory over arch rival San Beda, goes for win No. 10 as it takes on unfancied Emilio Aguinaldo today at the start of the second round elims in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Drawing strength from the prolific duo of Ronald Pascual and Calvin Abueva, the Stags humbled the San Beda Lions in a pulsating 70-68 victory last Friday in a duel of unbeaten teams as they completed a nine-game first round sweep.

The win also snapped the defending champions’ stirring 26-game run that included a historic 18-game sweep for the crown last season.

San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson said their first round sweep was just the first half of the battle.

Gametime is at 4 p.m.

Bulldogs Chew on Hapless Maroons

MANILA, Philippines - The National University (NU) Bulldogs had one of their best games of the season, defeating the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 65-43, in their 2nd round meeting of UAAP Season 74.

The Bulldogs showed improved offensive execution, with main men Bobby Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe both finishing in double figures.

The Maroons, meanwhile, could not get anything going on offense. They finished with only 13 first half points, their lowest output in the 1st half for the season.

The 2 teams only combined for 40 points in the 1st half, 27-13, the lowest combined output of 2 teams for Season 74.

Gilas holds alternative tune-up Games for Asian tiff

Smart Gilas Pilipinas hopes to step up its buildup for the FIBA Asia Championship with tune-up matches with Jordan here and a stint in China after it pulled out of the Doha meet due to the unavailability of the Talk n Text players.

"We really don't have an alternative for Doha," said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, referring to the four-team tournament that would have pitted the Nationals against the Lebanese, Syrians and the host Qataris.

"But we will try to play two games against Jordan in Manila and something in China," he added.

Toroman said the team needs at least five tune-up games to blend well heading into the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China which stakes a lone berth in next year’s London Olympics.

Reports from: ABS-CBN News

Petron Takes Game 7, Wins PBA Governors Cup

MANILA, Philippines - It was sweet redemption for the Petron Blaze Boosters as they defeated the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in Game 7 of the PBA Governors Cup Finals, 85-73, taking home the title by winning the series, 4 games to 3.

Arwind Santos named finals MVP.

With their victory, Petron not only won the championship, but also avenged their loss to Talk N Text in last conference's Finals. They also prevented Talk N Text from achieving a historic grand slam.

 Coach Ato Agustin became the 2nd coach to win a championship in his rookie season.

Grand Night for TnT or Petron

MANILA, Philippines - The banner 2010-11 PBA season comes to a climactic end as the Talk n Text Tropang Texters and the Petron Blaze Boosters decide who bring home the Governors Cup crown in a do-or-die setto at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

It's a fitting finish in a battle for no ordinary championship.

Talk n Text’s quest for grand slam and Petron Blaze's bid for revenge and redemption boil down to one final game to be tipped off at 7 p.m.

There's no more room for error; no more time to relax, and so the contending teams are only expected to give it all that they've got.

It's an ultimate match to close the classic series earlier seen as a lopsided one.

Petron, under the San Miguel Beer banner, has gone 3-2 while Talk n Text 1-2 in do-or-die (Game Seven) final matches.

The Tropang Texters fought with great resolve and kept their grand slam hopes alive with a 104-78 mighty conquest of the Boosters Friday.

Gilas Skips Doha Tourney

Smart Gilas Pilipinas will no longer participate in the four-team pocket tournament set Aug. 24-30 in Doha, Qatar as Talk N' Text players supposed to reinforce the Nationals are not available.

Reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo and, more recently, Larry Fonacier and Ryan Reyes are expected to join the Nationals in the weeklong meet but couldn’t make it because of the ongoing PBA finals where their team is playing Petron in the deciding Game 7 today.

This gives them only one rest day since Smart Gilas is leaving Tuesday.

"The Talk N' Text players can't go because they have little time to rest since their best-of-seven series would only end on Sunday (today)," said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

The cancellation of the Doha trip, meanwhile, will allow Smart Gilas players who applied for the PBA rookie draft to attend the rookie camp starting Tuesday and the draft day itself on Aug. 28 at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

The Smart Gilas players that sent their application to the annual draft were JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros, who are all potential first rounders.