By Kristel Satumbaga

Game Thursday

(Olivarez gym, Parañaque City)

12 noon – Olivarez College vs Diliman College

Diliman College guns for a second straight PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League championship in the rubber match against Olivarez College Wednesday at the Olivarez gym in Parañaque City.

Game is at 12 noon with the top-seeded Blue Dragons riding on the momentum of their 82-72 Game 2 win last Monday in the best-of-three finals series.

Diliman is determined to become the first team to clinch two straight crowns in the four-year-old league with coach Rensy Bajar expected to lean again on their outside shooting.

In Game 2, the Blue Dragons drained nine three-pointers including five from Robbi Darang.
Darang is slated to anchor the squad once again after finishing with 25 points, three rebounds and six assists.

The Blue Dragons will also draw strength from Johnnel Bauzon and Abdoulaye Niang, who combined for 24 points and 12 rebounds, as well as center Kevin Gandjeto, who had eight points and four boards.

But Olivarez won’t give up without a fight after coming close to the title for the third straight time.
They first lost the crown to Centro Escolar University in the inaugural season and yielded to Diliman in last year’s finals.

Olivarez coach Myk Saguiguit hopes to see the same intensity that won them Game 1, 64-62.

Saguiguit banks on newly-named Most Valuable Player Jayboy Solis, John Lester Maurillo and Yani Elie to spearhead the Sea Lions after merging for 45 points in Game 2.

Elie is also set to man the pain after hauling 14 rebounds.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Alaska slipped past Phoenix Pulse 105-102 Wednesday for its third straight win and create a three-way tie for seventh in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces lost a first half lead, regained the driver seat late in the third before weathering a late Fuel Masters’ fightback to level the Columbian Dyip and NorthPort Batang Pier in the standings at 4-6.

Vic Manuel topscored with 20 points while Jeron Teng added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists before going down with an apparent injury on his right knee in the final minute.

Import Franko House added 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Aces, who need to beat the co-leader NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City in hopes of securing a place in the quarters.

But the Aces may end up playing with Teng, who was initially diagnosed with a hyperextended knee after Phoenix big man Justin Chua landed on him during a looseball scramble.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s good but we’re hoping for the best,” Cariaso said of Teng, who was undergoing MRI as of posting time.

Matthew Wright dropped 25 points but Phoenix was eliminated from contention after falling to 2-8.
Wright gave Phoenix a chance, cutting Alaska’s lead to 103-102 on a three-pointer with 12.3 remaining. Jvee Casio answered for the Aces with two foul shots to bring the margin back to three.

Phoenix tried to go with Wright for a game-tying three but Alaska guard Simon Enciso anticipated the play from the right elbow, forcing RJ Jazul to pass the ball to Jason Perkins for a corner trey.

But Perkins missed his three and the Aces held on for the win.

Alaska led 21-4 at the start but Phoenix slowly came back and eventually took a 48-41 lead before halftime.

The scores:

ALASKA 105 — Manuel 20, Teng 17, House 15, Ahanmisi 12, Racal 11, Enciso 9, Casio 9, Tratter 7, Herndon 3, Brondial 2, Thoss 0, Ayaay 0.

PHOENIX PULSE 102 — Wright 25, Gee 23, Perkins 18, Chua 16, Mallari 5, Potts 4, Napoles 3, Jazul 2, Kramer 2, Gamboa 2, Intal 2.

Quarters: 32-19; 49-53; 80-76; 105-102.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

No Part 2 of the Battle of Katipunan this season.

Presented a rare opportunity lived for by any player who has seen NBA star Steph Curry bury way-out three-pointers, University of Santo Tomas guard Renzo Subido stepped into the moment and drained a ‘prayer’ five feet clear of the rainbow arc to help lift the Tigers past the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 68-65 last night and into the UAAP Season 82 Finals against Ateneo starting Saturday.

Subido’s trey with 23.6 seconds remaining erased a two-point UP lead and gave UST a 66-65 edge, bringing back to life yellow-clad UST supporters who had turned silent after the Maroons fought back to gain the upper hand late in the game at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UP called time and Kobe Paras got the ball at deep left corner but had it slip away. An airborne Javi Gomez de Liano found himself in possession of the broken play and banked in a five-footer but missed, the ball going out bounds off him.

Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo then hit two charities to make it a three-point lead. UP got 4.9 seconds to send the stepladder knockout match into overtime but James Spencer knocked a 3-point attempt strong off the glass, triggering celebration from half of the 18,000-plus crowd.

UST completed a masterful four-game sweep of UP this season and denied an anticipated rematch of last year’s record-setting Ateneo-UP championship series.

Trailing for most the knockout game, UP first tasted the lead in the last 5:13 after a Juan Gomez de Liaño jumper gave the Maroons a 59-57 lead. UST, who led by as many as 12 in the first half, wasn’t to be denied though.

In what came down as the thriller’s most special moment, Subido took the ball at the left wing, far from the arc and with Bright Akhuetie on him but sagging back just inside 2-point territory. The UST playmaker took a few dribbles, glanced down as if to measure the space he needed and launched the biggest shot of his collegiate career.

Chabi Yo erupted for 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Tigers, while Subido and Mark Nonoy added 14 and 12 points.

Rhenz Abando contributed 11 points.

“That was a good game. We have to give credit to (UP) coach Bo (Perasol) for making adjustments,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo. “Breaks of the game.”

Akhuetie scored 16 points and 17 rebounds while Manzo and Ricci Rivero posted 12 points each for UP.

UST roared to a 7-0 start anchored on Renzo Subido and held UP to only six points for an 18-6 lead in the first quarter.

But the Tigers stumbled into six turnovers in the second period as the Maroons trimmed down their deficit down to 29-28 at the half.

Highlighting UP’s 45-percent field goal shooting in the second quarter was an 11-2 blast spearheaded by Bright Akhuetie to take a 22-11 deficit to 22-19, 5:53 to go.

Akhuetie scattered his first 10 points in the second period while hauling eight rebounds for the Maroons, while Soulemane Chabi Yo already had nine points and seven boards for the Tigers.

Scores:

UST 68 — Chabi Yo 22, Subido 14, Nonoy 12, Abando 11, Ando 3, Cansino 2, Concepcion 2, Paraiso 2, Bataller 0, Huang 0.

UP 65 — Akhuetie 16, Manzo 12, Rivero 12, Ju. Gomez de Liano 8, Paras 8, Spencer 3, Ja. Gomez de Liano 2, Prado 2, Webb 2, Murrell 0, Tungcab 0.

Quarters: 18-6, 29-28, 49-44, 68-65.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Pro puncher Charly Suarez wants no less than the gold medal when he makes his fourth Southeast Asian Games appearance.

Fighting in the lightweight class (60 kg.), Suarez will enter the competitions armed with a wealth of amateur experience that includes a clash with Vasyl Lomachenko and a four-fight win streak in the pro ranks.

Last month, Suarez racked up his fourth win in Hanoi, Vietnam, after scoring his first three victories on Philippine soil.

“Kaya yan (I can do it),” the 31-year-old Suarez told the Bulletin during a break in training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Suarez’ entry back into SEAG competitions was cleared by the Games and Amusements Board.

Thailand remains tops on Suarez’s mind as the toughest hurdle in SEAG boxing but is upbeat of his chances.

Suarez won gold in the 2009 (Vientiane) and 2011 (Jakarta) editions and the bronze in 2017 (Kuala Lumpur).

In the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Suarez took the silver.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Manny Pacquiao’s Senate calendar in the first half of 2020 will allow the boxing star to make a ring return in March or April, according to the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight king.

“I can fight in March, April because the Senate will be on break during that time,” said Pacquiao, who retained his WBA 147-lb crown for the first time by beating previously-undefeated Keith Thurman last July in Las Vegas.

The Senate will be on recess from March 14 to May 3.

American fight agent Sean Gibbons, the man tasked by Pacquiao to hold talks with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), reveals there is no definite date yet although some of the senator’s staff floated a date: April 11.

Gibbons admits offers from everywhere is keeping Pacquiao from committing right away.

“He will fight in the first quarter (of 2020) but there is no date yet,” said Gibbons, adding that a Middle East group is muddling things up.

Pacquiao was in Dubai last September for a basketball gig and it was there a group raised the possibility of bringing him over to the Middle East to fight.

Pacquiao is under contract with Haymon’s PBC and among those being eyed to face him in 2020 are Danny Garcia and Mikey Garcia, who are not related to each other.

Recently, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said he would prefer Danny as Pacquiao’s opponent, citing that Mikey is coming off a loss, and is, therefore, not an attractive foe.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Games Friday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — Phoenix Pulse vs Blackwater

7 p.m. — Ginebra vs Columbian

NorthPort put a halt to NLEX’s five-game unbeaten run after coming from behind to pull off a 102-94 victory and boost its playoff aspirations in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Import Michael Qualls sizzled for 36 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Christian Standhardinger had 23 points and 19 rebounds as the Batang Pier snapped a two-game slide to move in a tie for seventh spot at presstime with the Columbian Dyip at 4-6.

The Batang Pier won despite trailing 22-7 at the start against a Road Warriors that was coming off a dramatic 86-85 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok last Sunday.

NLEX dropped to a share of the lead with Meralco at 8-2.

It was a double celebration for coach Pido Jarencio, who performed a “Go USTe!” chant after being informed of his alma matter’s dramatic win over University of the Philippines for the right to face Ateneo in the UAAP Finals.

Focusing more on his team, Jarencio was glad to see NorthPort recover from a flat start.

“It’s a total team effort,” said Jarencio. “The players wanted to win this game dahil kung hindi, out na tayo this conference.”

The Batang Pier took the lead on Kevin Ferrer’s three for 76-73 with over three minutes remaining in the third before Qualls erupted for 11 in the fourth, including a basket that gave his squad its biggest lead at 100-87, less than 90 seconds in the period.

NLEX’s defeat put a damper on the comeback of birthday boy Kevin Alas, who went scoreless in seven minutes. Alas played his first game since suffering a second ACL injury in early-February.

Manny Harris finished with 36 points for the Road Warriors.

Scores:

NORTHPORT 102 — Qualls 36, Standhardinger 23, Anthony 19, Ferrer 9, Elorde 7, Taha 4, Lanete 2, Mercado 2, King 0, Escoto 0.

NLEX 94 — Harris 34, Ravena 16, Quinahan 10, Erram 7, Cruz 7, Fonacier 6, Miranda 5, Paniamogan 4, Taulava 3, Soyud 2, Alas 0, Ighalo 0.

Quarters: 25-28; 43-51; 81-78; 102-94.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Game Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

12 noon – UST vs FEU

Far Eastern University put on crucial defensive stops to turn back University of Santo Tomas 48-46 Wednesday to forge a rubber match for the remaining finals berth in UAAP season 82 women’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws held the Tigresses to only three points in the last five minutes to turn a 43-42 deficit to victory that forged a rubber match for the remaining finals berth.

Fatima Quiapo pumped in a career-high 18 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for FEU, which battled UST through six deadlocks and two lead changes.

Val Mamaril contributed nine points and five boards, Choy Buhayan chipped in eight points, and Clare Castro posted eight points and 15 rebounds.

“Nakuha sa tiyaga,” said FEU coach Bert Flores. “Alam namin kasi na mas matangkad sila, pero na-control namin yung boards.”

The Lady Tamaraws outmuscled the Tigresses, 55-41, while holding UST to its lowest point production in the season.

Flores said their graduating players motivated them most.

“Walo kasi yung graduating players ko. Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Ano, gusto nyo bang mag-iyakan ngayon o maka-isang laro pa?” he said.

The knockout match will be on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where the winner faces unbeaten National University in the best-of-three finals.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Bogdan Bogdanovic had 25 points and 10 assists, Nemanja Bjelica added 19 points and 12 rebounds and the Sacramento Kings won in their first game since losing leading scorer De’Aaron Fox to an ankle injury, beating the slumping Portland Trail Blazers 107-99 on Tuesday night.

The Kings overcame a sloppy first half, made a big run in the third quarter, then pulled away in the fourth to end a two-game losing streak to the Blazers.

Fox suffered a Grade 3 sprain in his left ankle during practice Monday. The third-year point guard, who started 81 games last season, will be reevaluated in a few weeks.

Bjelica helped make up for the loss of Fox. He made eight of his 14 shots and set a season-high for rebounds in his first double-double of the season. Buddy Hield added 20 points.

Damian Lillard had 27 points and CJ McCollum added 24 for the Blazers (4-7), who have lost five of six.

The Kings led by 14 early in the fourth quarter before the Blazers chipped away and pulled within 98-93 on a 3-pointer from Anfernee Simons with 2:51 remaining.

Bjelica answered with a 3, and after McCollum scored for Portland, Cory Joseph added a 3-pointer that made it 104-95. Joseph, starting in place of Fox, missed his first five shots before that.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

PHOENIX — Anthony Davis had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Kyle Kuzma added 23 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 123-115 on Tuesday night.

The Lakers (8-2) are off to their best 10-game start since 2010 and bounced back from a home loss to Toronto on Sunday. LeBron James added 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Phoenix (6-4) trailed for a big chunk of the fourth quarter but pushed ahead 113-111 on Devin Booker’s fastbreak layup with 3:29 left. The Lakers responded with three straight 3-pointers — one from James and two more from Kuzma — to lead 120-113 and put the game out of reach.

Los Angeles dominated in the paint with 70 points. Dwight Howard came off the bench to score 12 points and grab nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Suns were led by Ricky Rubio and Booker, who both scored 21 points. Aron Baynes added 20 and Dario Saric had 18.

Davis scored 14 points as the Lakers took a 60-58 halftime lead. James added nine points and eight assists.

Efficient Booker

Booker came into the game shooting 54.5% from the field, 53.2% on 3-pointers and 92.3% on free throws. He’s still on his 50/50/90 pace after shooting 9 of 18 from the field against the Lakers. He also had nine assists on Tuesday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

DENVER — Trae Young scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the fourth quarter and added 11 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks over the Denver Nuggets 125-121 on Tuesday night.

Young finished seven points shy of his career high set March 1 against Chicago last season. He was 13 of 21 from the field and finished 8 for 13 on 3-pointers.

Jabari Parker had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Alex Len scored 17 for the Hawks, who played most of the second half without guard Kevin Huerter.

Huerter was hurt when he was fouled by Nikola Jokic with 9:57 remaining in the third. Jokic slapped down on his arm as Huerter was starting to go up with the ball and he immediately grabbed his left arm. He was holding the arm against his body as he walked to the locker room.

Huerter was ruled out for the game later in the period.

Will Barton led Denver with 21 points, Jokic had 20 and Paul Millsap added 19. The Nuggets had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Young, who had 17 points in the first half, shouldered the load on offense after Huerter left. Young put up 10 points in the third and then carried the Hawks in the fourth, scoring more than half of their 27 points.

Denver rallied early in the fourth to tie it at 101 but Young hit a pair of 3-pointers and a floater to put Atlanta ahead 114-106. The Nuggets couldn’t get closer than four the rest of the way.

Atlanta, which trailed 12-0 in the opening minutes, rallied to take a 63-54 lead at halftime. The Hawks increased their lead to 13 in the third.

Source: Manila Bulletin