By Jan Carlo Anolin

MANILA – Joshua Pacio defended his ONE Strawweight title after defeating Brazilian challenger Alex Silva via split decision in ONE Fire & Fury Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Pacio proved he’s one versatile fighter and beat Silva, a blackbelter in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, at his own game.

The match featured grappling and striking all throughout five rounds, with most time spent on ground game.

Silva took down Pacio in all rounds and eyed for submission but Pacio’s training came into fruition and he found ways to escape the Brazilian challenger.

The two would eventually be back on their feet and continue with the same fighting style.

The 24-year-old defending champion downplayed his performance and vowed to come back stronger with more equipped grappling skills.

“I need to work more,” Pacio said. “I didn’t get the finish that we’re expecting but I need to work more on my ground game and follow up striking

Coach Mark Sangiao, however, had nothing but praises for the Team Lakay champion.

“Silva is a world champion, a BJJ champion, and all of his attempts… Joshua managed to escape,” Sangiao said. “We can see a lot of improvement on the ground with Joshua.

“He (Pacio) even attempted a foot lock in the first round but Silva had escaped.”

Pieter Buist of the Netherlands, meanwhile, handed Team Lakay its lone loss of the night after beating Eduard Folayang via split decision in the lightweight bout.

Buist survived Folayang’s early attempt at guillotine choke in the opening canto, Dutchman retaliating the next round in ground game.

The third round turned out to be crucial as Buist wasted no time and stunned Folayang with a solid head kick, giving him an opening for the submission although he failed. The 6-foot-2 Dutchman continued the offensive before Folayang rushed for the submission attempt with 30 seconds left.

In another fight, coming off a loss to Demetrious Johnson last October in the flyweight grand prix final, Danny Kingad delivered this time and won via unanimous decision over Chinese opponent Xie Wei.

The two opened the first round with a exchange of blows before Kingad attempted to submit Wei after catching and slamming him to the ground.

Wei got the upper hand in the second round and kept Kingad pressed against the cage walls but the Filipino fighter countered with solid low kicks.

In the third round, the referees warned Wei twice — for an accidental headbutt and a knee strike at the back of the head — after taking down Kingad. As the match progressed, the 24-year-old Filipino survived a submission scare from Wei.

Lito Adiwang, one of the crowd favorite matches, highlighted the lead card after submitting Thai foe Pongsiri Mitsatit with a kimura lock at the 3:02 mark of the first round to win the strawweight bout.

Adiwang displayed his signature aggressive fighting style and landed a solid right leg kick that sent  Mitsatit to the floor early in the first round.

The 26-year-old fighter from Benguet didn’t stop there and unloaded a barrage of punches before Mitsatit recovered.

Adiwang failed to submit Mitsatit on the first attempt but after getting into the right position, the “Thunder Kid” lived up to his moniker and went for the thunderous finish.

In the atomweight division, Gina Iniong, 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in kickboxing, prevailed over Asha Roka of India via unanimous decision.

Iniong showed her ground game early in the first round, capitalizing on the top position while pounding Roka with hammerfists.

In the second round, the 30-year-old Filipina landed a solid leg kick and once again took down Roka. Keeping Roka locked, Iniong aimed for the finish with a guillotine choke but the Indian foe was saved by the bell.

Iniong dominated most of the ground game in the final round before the 21-year-old Roka turned more aggressive, hoping for a knockout in the waning seconds.

Meanwhile, referees called the match between Jomary Torres of the Catalan Fighting System and Taipei’s Jenny Huang a ‘no contest.’

Huang landed two illegal strikes on Torres’ groin, prompting the referee to make the decision. Torres  was unable to proceed with the match due to the pain.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)

8:30 a.m. – San Beda vs EAC (Junior’s)

10 a.m. – San Beda vs EAC (Men’s)

12 noon – San Beda vs EAC (Women’s)

2 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (Women’s)

3:30 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua l (Men’s)

5 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (Junior’s)

Chamberlaine Cuñada scored 28 points to power Letran against Lyceum of the Philippines University 26-28, 27-25, 16-25, 25-19, 16-14 that bolstered its semifinals bid in the NCAA Season 95 volleyball Friday at The Arena in San Juan.

Cuñada also came through with three blocks, while Julianne Castro added 17 points for the Lady Knights, who rallied back from an 11-14 deficit in the fifth to score a crucial win.

Letran’s libero Julia Angeles, who did not play against Mapua last Wednesday, collected 14 digs, and coach Mike Inoferio praised her gutsy effort.

“Nagkasakit siya, amebiasis. Kailangang may katuwang yung team captain namin (Charm Simborio). Sinugal namin para makapaglaro. Maganda ang ipinakita niya, especially sa crucial part ng fourth set, ang lalalim ng palo ni (Ciamelle) Wanta. I’m happy. Sana tuloy-tuloy ang recovery niya,” said Inoferio.

“Credit na din sa mga player talaga. Sa fifth set kasi lagi naming sinasabi diyan sa set ano na yan e players game yan e, wala ng coaches dyan and trabaho nalang namin ay mag-time out. So kung bumigay ang player, wala na. So sila ang nagpanalo hindi kami,” added Inoferio.

Letran’s win pushed the team into a tie with San Beda at fourth and fifth spots at 2-3.

College of Saint Benilde sports a league-best 6-0 record, while University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and defending champion Arellano University are level at 5-1.

The Lady Knights will next face the Lady Chiefs, who are aching to rebound from a five-set loss to the Lady Altas last Tuesday.

LPU dropped in a tie with Jose Rizal University at 2-4. Alexandra Rafael scored 17 kills, while Monica Sevilla also had 17 points to go with 14 digs for the Lady Pirates.

In the men’s division, Michael Doria and Brylle Novo each had 17 points as Letran beat LPU, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22, to enter the win column.

John Alabin had 17 hits while Steven Sta. Maria added 12 points as Letran moved solo fourth in the juniors division at 4-1 following a 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 win over LPU.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Is it too soon for the rematch between Danny Kingad and Demetrious Johnson?

It may be far down the line at this point but Kingad is eager to face off with  the former UFC flyweight champion once again.

“If they will give me a rematch, I think kayang-kaya ko,” Kingad said Tuesday during the ONE: Fire & Fury open workout at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

While it is a given that Johnson has the edge in terms of speed and experience, Kingad believes that he can outpower the 33-year-old American fighter.

Kingad wants the match to be in the Philippines should it be granted.

Amid the talks, the 24-year-old Sadanga, Mountain Province native said he will take it one match at a time to see what’s in store for 2020.

“Target for this year is focus muna ako sa training and always, kung sino man ‘yung itatapat sa akin, kukunin at kukunin ko siya.”

Before that dream fight happens, Kingad has to face China’s Xie Wei  in the flyweight bout this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Kingad said he’s at peak confidence coming off a loss to Johnson last October 2019 – his first since 2017, and he has vowed to bounce back and apply what he wasn’t able to execute before.

“Araw-araw ko talaga pinapanood, pinag-aaralan ko talaga ‘yung mga mistakes ko then pumupunta ako sa gym para pag-aralan [ulit],” Kingad said.

“Kailangan natin magpursigi. Climb the ladder ulit para tataas ulit tayo.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Eduard Folayang is not thinking too far ahead with what is yet to come in his career as a mixed martial artist.

But just like everybody else in the MMA scene, Folayang eyes a steady course in his journey to a possible third lightweight title in ONE Championship.

The 35-year-old Igorot warrior, of course, wants no less than that championship belt.

“And yet kung mag-fail man tayo, ayun ‘yung purpose ng fighting natin kung hindi doon sa championship – so [is it] to become a better human being na lang ba? Or more than that?” Folayang said Tuesday during the ONE: Fire & Fury open workout at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

“’Yun ‘yung naglalaro sa utak ko.”

The two-time ONE lightweight world champion wants to assess the impact of year 2020 first, be it upcoming fights or life events, before proceeding to the title bout.

Folayang is set to face Pieter Buist of the Netherlands this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena, a fight he considers ‘very important.’

“Kapag naipanalo natin ito, the closer we get to that [championship] shot and ‘yun naman ‘yung gusto natin. Naghanda tayo para masungkit ‘yung panalo this Friday.”

At 6-foot-2, Buist might be a huge hurdle for Folayang, who draws motivation from the fact.

“The more na makikita ko’ yung height niya, the more na nakikita ko kung gaano pa kataas ‘yung tatalunin ko,” the 5-foot-6 Baguio native fighter said.

Folayang vowed to exceed the performance in his previous fight where he won via technical decision over Mongolia’s Amarsanaa Stogookhuu due to an unintentional headbutt last November.

The fight was stopped at the 2:29 mark of the second round after Folayang was left bloodied with a cut on his left cheek.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Philippines’ top junior netter Alex Eala and Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho trounced Slovenia’s Ziva Falkner and Great Britain’s Matilda Mutavdzic 6-1, 6-2 on Friday to capture the Australian Open Junior Championships girls doubles title in Melbourne.

Eala and Nugroho, seeded fourth in the tournament, needed only 49 minutes in dispatching their rivals.

The won four break points out of nine and had 18 winners.

The feat made Eala, 14, the second Filipino to win a Grand Slam title after former top junior player Francis Casey Alcantara, who captured the boys doubles crown at the 2009 Australian Open Junior Championships with Taiwanese partner Hsieh Cheng-peng.

It was also her first Grand Slam title since debuting at the 2019 US Open.

Eala and Nugroho threaded through the eye of the needle, dropping four sets throughout the tournament including their opening-round victory over Elina Avenesyan of Russia and Ukraine’s Liubov Kostenko 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.

They also picked up a second-set scare in surviving Julie Belgraver of France and Slovenia’s Pia Lovric in the second round 6-2, 4-6, 11-9, before besting seventh seed Aubane Droguet and Selena Janicijevic of France 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the quarterfinal.

Eala and Nugroho further bolstered their campaign with a stunning 1-6, 7-5, 10-8 win over top seed Kamilla Bartone of Latvia and Linda Fruhvirtova of Czech Republic en route to their final victory.

Both Eala and Nugroho’s International Tennis Federation junior rankings are expected to shot up from Nos. 9 and 27, respectively.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic injured his right ankle again in practice Thursday and will miss the NBA team’s Friday game against the Houston Rockets, coach Rick Carlisle said.

Carlisle said Doncic wouldn’t make the trip to Houston and would undergo an MRI exam. He offered no further details on the severity of the injury.

“We obviously hope it’s not serious,” Carlisle said, “but don’t know.”

The 20-year-old Slovenian star, who is scheduled to make his first All-Star Game start in Chicago next month, missed four games in mid-December with a sprained right ankle.

Mavericks guard J.J. Barea said after practice that Doncic “stepped on somebody” and “hopefully it’s not that long” before he returns.

Barea spent time talking with Doncic as he received treatment after practice.

“He’s a tough kid,” Barea said. “Any time you lose your best player, it’s not easy. But it gives an opportunity to other guys to play more minutes, more touches and get better as a team.”

Doncic is enjoying an outstanding second season, averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He was the youngest player to be voted an All-Star starter since LeBron James in 2005.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The Los Angeles Lakers, shattered by the death of franchise icon Kobe Bryant, are trying to wrench their attention back to their pursuit of an NBA title, a chase that resumes Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“We’re concentrating on the work,” head coach Frank Vogel told reporters at the team’s practice facility in suburban El Segundo. “There’s therapy in the work.”

Before getting down to the most serious work, however, the Lakers warmed up outside with a little soccer and American football designed to lighten the atmosphere.

“We are striking a balance of trying to make guys feel good,” Vogel said. “Laughter is always a good remedy for something like this when it’s appropriate.

“Today’s workout outside, it’s not the first time we’ve done that. But it does feel good to be out there.”

The Lakers were on their way home from Philadelphia when Bryant — who won five NBA titles in a 20-year career with the club — was killed in a helicopter crash in suburban Calabasas on Sunday.

The 41-year-od was among nine people who died, a group that included his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, her Mamba Academy basketball teammates Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli, Altobelli’s parents John and Keri, and Chester’s mother Sarah.

Pilot Ara Zobayan and Christina Mauser, an assistant coach of the Mamba Academy team, also died.

Lakers superstar LeBron James was among many in the NBA — and the greater sports world around the globe — to express his anguish at Bryant’s death on social media.

But James and other Lakers players have yet to speak publicly about the loss of a player who defined one generation of NBA players and inspired another.

Bryant’s wife Vanessa broke her silence in an Instagram post on Wednesday night, saying she was “devastated” by the sudden loss of her husband and daughter.

“Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way,” she wrote. “Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable.”

Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Lakers, offered condolences via Instagram on Thursday to Vanessa Bryant and the couple’s other three daughters: Natalia, Bianka and Capri.

She also expressed sympathy and support for the families of the other victims.

“The entire Laker family mourns with you,” she said.

Buss, the daughter of longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss, said Bryant helped her go on after her father died — three years before Bryant retired in 2016.

“My father loved you like a son, which makes us family,” Buss wrote.

Amid the grief, Vogel said he had been gradually ramping up the team’s preparations for the Trail Blazers.

Players and staff got together Tuesday for little more than a light workout and lunch together. Wednesday saw a more normal practice and Thursday “was very focused on playing the Trail Blazers and executing some of the things we need to do to prepare for them.”

‘Do the job’

The Lakers have won 16 NBA championships, one shy of the record held by the Boston Celtics. But they have endured six straight losing seasons since their last playoff appearance, including the final three campaigns of Bryant’s career.

This season, with James and the newly arrived Anthony Davis, the Lakers lead the Western Conference with the second-best record in the NBA, at 36-10.

“Our whole belief since I got here is that we’re just going to put our head down and do the job,” Vogel said. “That really hasn’t been any different the last two days.”

However, it will be an emotional night at Staples Center, where the Lakers will honor Bryant’s memory.

Vogel said he’d been briefed on the plans, but the club is not revealing them beforehand.

“I’m going to let that all play out tomorrow night,” he said, acknowledging that whatever tributes are planned will make the night more difficult.

“But we shouldn’t do it any other way,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do and an important night for our franchise and Laker Nation.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, made her first public comments since Kobe Bryant’s death via Instagram on Thursday, calling the franchise icon “family.”

“Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers,” wrote Buss, daughter of longtime owner Jerry Buss who died three years before Bryant retired.

Bryant, who won five NBA titles in a 20-year tenure with the Lakers, died Sunday in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.

“My father loved you like a son, which makes us family,” Buss wrote.

“When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men.

“At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality — and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing — what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for.

“For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination.”

Buss expressed sympathy to Bryant’s wife Vanessa and their other three daughters: Natalia, Bianka and Capri.

“We will always be here for you,” she said. “To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you.

“Laker Nation – we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly.

“We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe – that’s what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way.”

View this post on Instagram

Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers. My father loved you like a son, which makes us family. When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men. At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality – and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing – what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for. I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong. I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage. For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination. Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri – I am so sorry for your loss. We are grateful to have you in our lives and we will always be here for you. To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you. Laker Nation – we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly. We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe – that’s what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way. : : To learn more about how you can help the families affected by this tragedy go to MambaOnThree.org and to further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports visit MambaSportsFoundation.org #peace #love #joy #family #Mamba #Mambacita #2 #8 #24 : : Picture taken in February 2016 on the way to #NBAAllStar game in #Toronto

A post shared by Jeanie Buss (@jeaniebuss) on Jan 30, 2020 at 9:05am PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Kobe Bryant’s jersey number 24 will be honored at the NBA All-Star Game in February under a new format for the mid-season exhibition announced on Thursday.

The NBA said every quarter of this year’s All-Star game will be a “mini-game” for charity with an untimed final period with a target score that will decide who wins.

Scores will be reset to 0-0 at the start of the second and third quarters, then restored to start the fourth.

Then a target score comes into play, with the first team to reach that number winning. The target will be the number of points scored by the leading team from the first three quarters, plus 24.

The NBA said All-Star weekend in Chicago, capped by the game on February 16, will feature multiple tributes to Bryant, the five-time NBA champion who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.

The 69th All-Star game will feature teams led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Tito S. Talao

MILAN — The Philippine Basketball Association isn’t going anywhere for the next three seasons without Commissioner Willie Marcial.

In a move unprecedented, the PBA board of governors late Thursday extended Marcial’s tenure as commissioner for another three years though he still has one more year left in his current contract.

Marcial, the league’s technical and media bureau chief before he was asked to temporarily take over the helm after Commissioner Chito Narvasa stepped down in late 2017, was named permanent commissioner the following year and signed a deal that would run until 2020.

His fresh mandate will see him sitting as the league’s 10th commissioner until 2023 when pros will again be tapped to fill up the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the 19th FIBA Basketball World Cup which the country, through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is hosting.

If completed, Marcial’s six-year term will put him right behind founding commissioner Leo Prieto and Emilio ‘Jun’ Bernardino as the PBA’s longest serving chief, both having held the top post for eight years.

“Baka bigla pang mag-paalam e, kaya in-extend na namin” said San Miguel Beer governor Robert Non when sought why the board decided on an early reappointment for Marcial.

“Also, he really gets the job done. Madali pang kausap kasi very relaxed ang style nya, parang barkada lang kayo,” Non added.

Marcial said he was humbled by the trust given him by the PBA board.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanilang pagtitiwala; di ko inasahan na darating ako dito,” he said. “Pagsusumikapan kong suklian, kami sa Commissioner’s Office, ang pagtitiwala ng governors.”

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa said the reappointment was made in the spirit of “openness” and “transparency.”

Meantime, Vargas bared the league’s 2020 calendar, with the curtain rising for the PBA D-League Draft on Jan. 20 followed by drafting and acceptance of 3×3 applicants in February, with the 3-3 tournament proper set in March.

The Philippine Cup runs from March 1 to June 17 and will be succeeded by the Commissioner’s Cup, featured 6-foot-10 imports, on July 24 to Oct. 4. The season-ending Governors’ Cup, with 6-foot-5 reinforcements, is from Oct. 11 to Jan. 2021.

The D-League covers February to June, while Batang PBA is from April to June. The All-Star Weekend in Passi, Iloilo is set July 10 to 12 and the D-League Foundation Cup is from July to October.

No Christmas Day game is scheduled this year.

Provincial games have been calendared on March 14 between Blackwater and Barangay Ginebra in Balanga, Bataan, March 21 between TNT and Magnolia in Cagayan de Oro, March 28 between SMB and Meralco in Panabo in Davao del Norte, April 25 between SMB and Columbian Dyipo in Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte and a yet-to-be-announced game on May 2.

Source: Manila Bulletin