by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | basketball, sports, tournaments
As Rondae Hollis-Jefferson steps into unfamiliar ground in his PBA career for the first time, he believes that there’s no need for anything extraordinary from him to help TNT secure their third title since he joined two years back.
I have never experienced a Game 7 before,” stated the former NBA player. “However, ultimately, it boils down to basketball. For both teams, it’s make-or-break; they either come out victorious or call it quits. The key is to leave nothing on the court or not step onto it at all.
The key game for the Commissioner’s Cup Finals begins at 7:30 p.m. at what is anticipated to be a full house at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Many fans are eager to witness an exciting conclusion to a series that could potentially go down as one of the most thrilling championship matchups in league history.
Barangay Ginebra’s coach Tim Cone has experienced numerous wins and losses throughout his career, with moments being referred to as the “best two words in sports.” However, for this legendary coach aiming to secure his 26th championship title, each Game 7 remains equally challenging.
Cone stated, “They will never be just another game. They are challenging opponents.”
The victor will have the privilege of lifting the midseason conference trophy and will also gain boasting rights in a rivalry that has intensified with their three encounters in the Finals since Hollis-Jefferson went up against the Justin Brownlee-led Ginebra squad during the 2023 Governors’ Cup.
The TNT team clinched victory in six games during that series, and they repeated this feat in the opening game of the Governors’ Cup against Ginebra yet again. The Tropang Giga secured their position thanks to Hollis-Jefferson’s versatile performance, continued strong plays from Rey Nambatac, and Poy Erram’s remarkable poise, which prevented the Gin Kings from seizing their initial opportunity for triumph with an 87-83 win just two evenings prior.
The battle cry
I believe I’m prepared,” Hollis-Jefferson stated. “My approach is to come in and pour everything into it, as usual, battling hard to contribute to our victory. That’s how I plan to enter: doing whatever it takes.
These could very well be the anticipated rallying calls from the remaining members of Tropang Giga. With Nambatac gunning for an outstanding finale after a stellar showing in the finals, and Erram looking to make a constructive impact while steering clear of past incidents where his outbursts marred games two and five.
How Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy fare on both offense and defense might also play a key role following the up-and-down outcomes since the Finals started two weeks back. Additionally, for TNT as a team, improving their performance in the final quarter, similar to what they achieved in Game 6, will be essential.
Cone has an overall record of 6-4 in Game 7s of the Finals when coaching Alaska, B-Meg/San Mig Coffee, and Ginebra. Additionally, he holds a 1-1 record in decisive Game 5s of the Finals and secured victory in a crucial Game 3 during the 2003 Invitational while leading Alaska.
Brownlee aims to conclude a finals series that nearly concluded prematurely due to his dislocated right thumb suffered during game three. A win here would establish him as the most successful foreign player ever with seven victories under his belt.
He nearly succeeded in Game 6, but Ginebra came up short.
Brownlee understands the sensation of being part of a Game 7 match, such as when Ginebra defeated Meralco with an audience of 54,000 at the Philippine Arena during the 2017 Governors’ Cup. He aims to recreate this experience for the Gin Kings and their dedicated fan base.
Scottie Thompson witnessed his streak of solid performances come to an end during Game 6 and aims to make amends. The form that Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Maverick Ahanmisi, Troy Rosario, or RJ Abarrientos exhibit might as well sway the result.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | basketball, sports
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Despite ending his first season in the UAAP on an ambiguous note, Zaydhen Rosano’s previous mentor, Darwin Dinoy, continues to feel immense pride for what he has accomplished so far.
The impressive player from Cebuana, who had a good chance at winning the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball MVP title, missed out on making it to the Mythical Five when she got disqualified because of a disqualifying foul in an eliminations game versus the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Worse still, her squad, the National University (NU) Lady Bullpups, lost to UST in the championship game.
Nevertheless, even with the pain, Dinoy’s pride in Rosano stays unshaken.
“I am extremely pleased because she demonstrated respect not just towards the team but also towards the institution. The key point is that she excelled greatly during her time with NU,” stated Dinoy, who first spotted Rosano while she was attempting to join the volleyball squad.
Rosano’s path from being a prospective volleyball player to becoming a basketball star underscores her resolve. Dinoy remembered advising her to switch her concentration to basketball, convinced that her stature and inherent physical gifts would render her an impressive competitor on the playing field.
“I told her that her height would be more advantageous for basketball compared to volleyball,” Dinoy said. He mentioned she paid attention, and within merely three months, they noticed remarkable progress. Her basketball abilities seemed innate, perhaps due to her brothers and sisters influencing her,” he added.
Rosano is the younger sibling of renowned Cebu basketball players Zareygel from the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and professional athlete Zaoinyl.
With Dinoy as his guide, Rosano flourished into a formidable point producer, significantly contributing to guiding Abellana National School (ANS) to consecutive Batang Pilipinas Basketball League (BPBL) championships and securing a silver medal at the Palarong Pambansa.
Prior to joining NU, Rosano showed great consideration for her ANS family by asking for approval from her mentors and peers—this gesture earned her even more support from those who had faith in her capabilities.
“Rosano was consistently disciplined and steadfast in her pursuit of obtaining a college scholarship. Her plan was to study here in Cebu rather than in Manila,” Dinoy disclosed.
Although her initial UAAP season concluded with disappointment, Rosano’s outstanding play was undeniable. Prior to her disqualification, she racked up an impressive total of 113.0 statistical points (SPs). Her average stats included scoring 18.3 points, grabbing 9.3 rebounds, dishing out 4.7 assists, and making offensively disruptive plays for 8.0 steals each game—a set of numbers that positioned her amongst the top players in the league.
Dinoy stays optimistic that Rosano will return even more robust and keep making an impact with the NU Lady Bullpups in the upcoming seasons.
“She adjusted quicker than anticipated even with the distinct systems and surroundings at NU. I hadn’t thought she would make such an instant difference,” he mentioned.
As Rosano’s journey progressed, Dinoy shared one last piece of wisdom with his previous protege:
“Remain modest. It’s essential to keep both feet firmly planted on the ground. Without humility, the journey to excellence can quickly go off course,” Dinoy ended his statement.
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by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | basketball, basketball players, lebron james, nba, sports
LeBron James scored the winning basket with a last-second tip-in layup, leading the visiting Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 120-119 win against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA on Wednesday.
James, who only connected on a field goal in the final quarter, ended up scoring 13 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists for the Lakers (44-28). This win put an end to their three-game skid.
READ:
NBA: James Returns but Lakers Suffer Crushing Defeat with No Other Breaks
Down by three with five minutes to go, Los Angeles embarked on an 11-2 scoring spree capped off by a triple from Rui Hachimura at the 1:51 mark. However, the Pacers responded with seven consecutive points, highlighted by a Tyrese Haliburton three-point play, which gave them an 119-118 advantage with just 42 seconds left on the clock.
Following Benedict Mathurin’s missed three-point shot, Luka Dončić’s unsuccessful floaters were followed up and scored by James as time expired.
Dončić recorded 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for Los Angeles, with Austin Reaves contributing 24 points and Hachimura adding 14.
In Indiana’s game (42-30), they were spearheaded by Mathurin who scored 23 points from the bench and Haliburton contributing 16 points along with 18 assists. Myles Turner added 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Indiana, whose five-game win streak came to an end, while Andrew Nembhard ended up scoring 16 points as well.
Down by 13 points at halftime, Indiana narrowed their gap to just seven thanks to Turner’s three-pointer. Later, Doncic extended the Lakers’ lead with a layup, making it 83-73. However, an impressive 13-5 run by the Pacers, concluded with back-to-back threes from Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith, brought Indiana within striking distance, trailing only by two points.
READ:
NBA: Bronny James reaches new peaks in Lakers’ defeat against Bucks
Nembhard’s score during Indiana’s last chance gave the Pacers a 95-92 disadvantage heading into the final period.
James’ initial two successful field goals occurred during successive possessions early in the final quarter, cutting Indiana’s lead to just nine points, 101-92. He extended this streak by adding another four points afterward. However, Mathurin responded with eight points for Indiana, contributing significantly to their 13-0 scoring spree which tied the match at 105 all with 6:05 left on the clock.
A little more than a minute afterward, Turner’s three-pointer handed the Pacers their initial lead since the start of the second quarter’s first minutes.
Indiana held a 33-28 advantage heading into the second quarter, however, the Lakers responded with a 15-0 surge at the start of the period. A three-point play by Nembhard halted the bleeding for Indiana momentarily; yet, Reaves proceeded to score 10 out of the Lakers’ subsequent 12 points, enabling Los Angeles to take a commanding 55-43 lead just before the halfway point of the game.
Mathurin contributed the last six points for the Pacers in the first half, however, Jaxson Hayes’ slam with 11 seconds left allowed the Lakers to take a 68-55 advantage into halftime.
–Field Level Media
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | basketball, sports
MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas demonstrated unyielding determination and commitment to clinch the top spot in the UAAP high school boys’ basketball tournament.
After 24 years, the Tiger Cubs have reclaimed their gold title as they won the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Championship with an exciting 83-77 victory over the National University Nazareth School Bullpups in overtime, held last Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
UST’s most recent celebration of a UAAP boys’ basketball championship occurred during Season 64 way back in 2001, with the team guided by season MVP and long-time UST player Jun Cortez.
The championship completed the Tiger Cubs’ redemption story following two back-to-back fourth-place showings in Seasons 85 and 86. This victory also secured their 12th total title, cementing their position as the second most successful program in UAAP boys’ basketball history.
After the Junior Growling Tigresses clinched the title last Thursday, the Tiger Cubs’ victory enabled UST to secure the inaugural ‘golden double’ in UAAP high school basketball history since girls’ basketball was introduced in Season 82 back in 2020.
“My aim as a mentor is to assist as many young athletes as possible in reaching the next stage of their careers. What really counts is linking this legacy with the players we’ve nurtured,” stated Manu Inigo, the head coach of the Tiger Cubs, who became part of an elite group as just the fifth coach to claim titles in both the NCAA and UAAP during the contemporary period, after Turo Valenzona, Joel Banal, Koy Banal, and Aldin Ayo.
Seventeen points ahead mean nothing when facing NUNS. Our aim was to secure each quarter one at a time, hence we weren’t concerned with whoever was in the lead—just as long as we gave our all till the very last moment. We caught a break during the extra period, which led us to victory.
The series was intensely competitive, with an average winning difference of only 5.6 points per match. NUNS took the lead by securing a 77-70 triumph in Game 1, but UST equalized it with an 89-85 win in Game 2, setting up a decisive Game 3.
Even though they were behind by up to 17 points, the Bullpups made their move at the perfect moment during the final quarter, pushing the game into overtime when Jid Locsin divided his free throws and Migs Palanza scored a putback following Mac Alfanta’s missed layup.
Nevertheless, this final surge proved costly for NUNS since Season 87 Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe—who scored 23 points, grabbed 24 rebounds, blocked four shots, and dished three assists—was forced to leave the game due to fouls with only five seconds left in regular time.
This turned out to be the pivotal moment during overtime. UST took an early lead of 80-74 thanks to a fadeaway bank shot by co-captain Kirk Cañete and consecutive layups from Senegalese forward Racine Kane.
As Mot Matias stepped onto the court after Locsin was sidelined due to cramps with just under two minutes left, she sparked a last-ditch effort for The Bullpups. Her three-pointer narrowed down their gap to 80-77. Nevertheless, Kane’s successful free throw along with critical missed shots during the waning moments of the game ensured UST emerged victorious.
Matias got an opportunity to increase their lead but squandered crucial free throw chances, whereas frantic three-point tries from both Matias and Iver Napa fell short, thus determining NUNS’s outcome.
Kane concluded his initial UAAP campaign impressively, securing Finals MVP accolades by maintaining averages of 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 steals, and 1.6 assists throughout the three-game series.
“Following Game 2, Coach Manu spoke with me, emphasizing that we must wrap things up in Game 3. Given this is our final year together, we left nothing on the table today; we played for UST and for Coach Manu,” Kane stated.
Kane led UST to their title-winning victory by scoring 28 points along with grabbing 17 rebounds, blocking two shots, stealing twice, and contributing one assist. Despite having some trouble offensively, team leader Koji Buenaflor still managed to score 12 points from 5 successful attempts out of 16 tries, complementing his performance with 15 rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Charles Esteban contributed 11 points, along with four rebounds, one assist, and a steal. Wacky Ludovice and Carl Manding also stepped up, scoring 10 points apiece. On the other hand, Cañete nearly achieved a triple-double, ending the game with eight points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Castro’s NUNS program experienced more heartbreak, securing their second successive silver medal after losing to Adamson University in another exhausting three-game series during Season 86 (2024).
Palanca topped the scoring for the Bullpups with 21 points, along with grabbing 13 rebounds, blocking three shots, adding one assist, and stealing the ball once. Meanwhile, Alfanta had difficulty finding his shot, managing only 10 points off of 4 successful attempts out of 15 tries, though he did secure 11 rebounds, provide two assists, and make one theft. In contrast, Locsin scored nine points, dished out three assists, pulled down two boards, made one steal, and blocked another attempt despite their team’s loss.
The NUNS will say goodbye to several important members as Akowe, Palanca, Alfanta, Locsin, Jedric Solomon, Iver Napa, Gab Nepacena, Tom Pillado, Allan Timbang, and Alnhumaeri Usop all move forward after completing their studies.
The Scores:
UST (83) – Kane 28, Buenaflor 12, Esteban 11, Ludovice 10, Manding 10, Cañete 8, Bucsit 4, Solon 0, Acido 0, Cidanes 0.
NUNS (77) – Akowe 23, Palanca 21, Alfanta 10, Locsin 9, Cartel 4, Matias 3, Solomon 2, Nepacena 2, Usop 0, Pillado 0, Natinga 0, Figueroa 0, Lucido 0.
Quarter scores: 24-18, 46-33, 60-49, 74-74, 83-77
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | basketball, sports, tournaments
ADORE him or despise him, you must acknowledge that
Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes
Is one of the most insightful coaching talents in the nation.
He boasts numerous championships and awards as proof: 10
PBA
titles with Purefoods, Coca-Cola, and TNT; a record six Coach of the Year accolades from the PBA Press Corps, along with remarkable achievements as the Gilas Pilipinas mentor.
However, if there’s one achievement conspicuously absent from
Reyes
Based on his resume, it’s a grand slam—a achievement only five teams and four coaches have pulled off, specifically the late Baby Dalupan, Tommy Manotoc, Norman Black, and Tim Cone (on two occasions).
READ
These teams were incredibly close to achieving a grand slam.
Reyes
is on the wrong side of history based on the same criteria; despite leading his TNT squad to become one of just 10 teams in the 49-year history of the professional league to clinch the titles of the initial two conferences within a single season, they fell short of achieving a three-peat in the concluding conference.
This occurred during the 2010-2011 season when the Texters clinched the Philippine Cup by defeating San Miguel in the finals with a score of 4-2, and later triumphed over Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals with the same scoreline of 4-2, before
lose to a Petron
In Game 7 of the Governors’ Cup championship series, side (currently known as SMB), guided by coach Ato Agustin and spearheaded by Arwind Santos, competed for the title.
PHOTO: PBA Images
Fourteen years later, Reyes, who guided TNT to the championship of the opening Governors’ Cup by defeating Ginebra in the finals, was still on course for another three-peat after this.
Tropang Giga defeated the Kings with a score of 87-83.
on Wednesday evening to compel a decisive Game 7 in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Could winning the grand slam be on his mind at this moment?
“No way. Not even close,” Reyes stated firmly. He maintained that once he stepped away from the PBA to focus on his role with Gilas Pilipinas as a coach, he ceased pondering over achieving a career grand slam. Since then, these thoughts have not crossed his mind.
“When I retired, I ceased pondering over it and haven’t given it another thought since,” Chot stated.
PHOTO: Mark Cristino
Regardless of whether he wants to or not, Reyes along with his Tropang Giga team will be confronted with inquiries regarding a grand slam if they defeat Ginebra in Game 7 this Friday evening—or they’ll have to contemplate yet another opportunity for a hat-trick slipping through their fingers should they lose.
Then which one should it be? Abangan.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | basketball, sports, tournaments
BY Andrei Barrantes
For the third consecutive year, the formerly dominant NU-Nazareth School ended up disappointed following the conclusion of the UAAP boys’ basketball championship.
During Game 3 of the Season 87 championship series, the Bullpups lost in overtime to the University of Santo Tomas—a setback following their bronze medal win in Season 85 and their second-place finish in Season 86.
READ:
Tiger Cubs clinch basketball championship for Espana
Certainly, the team in blue and gold continued to make the match competitive despite falling behind by as many as 17 points and facing significant difficulties shooting from beyond the arc. They subsequently launched an intense comeback effort in the second half but still found themselves down by two at 72-74 with just 5.8 seconds remaining in the game.
Following a timeout, Mac Alfanta’s attempt fell short, but luckily for NUNS, Migs Palanca was in the perfect position for the follow-up shot that equalized the score and sent the game into overtime.
PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau
Although they eventually exhausted their energy in overtime, the Bullpups found encouragement in Palanca’s performance, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking three shots across 28 minutes of play.
“Even though my personal output might be good, if the end result is not winning, what I did will be overshadowed because they’ll say it was insufficient,” he explained.
Once again we fell short, but it wasn’t our loss though — it’s either we win or we learn from it.
Moving on to the next one for Migs
With the 6-foot-7 forward wrapping up his final season in NUNS, he reflected on his journey from barely seeing play off the bench to becoming an essential player.
As he explained, “Everyone needs to be worked on. My current position, even those who know about it, during my first year, I was at a bank, and I didn’t have a single minute to spare. However, I treated that as a learning opportunity.”
I watch them during study sessions, at movies; I keep my focus on the board. In my second year, I started translating a little bit but wasn’t consistent about it. By my third year, everyone noticed, and I contributed regularly to the group.
Without any doubt, Palanca shared his wish to remain in Jhocson, continuing to be under the vigilant eye of renowned coach Jeff Napa.
“I’ll just stay for now. I’ll do what I did during my first year as a junior: focus on learning, learning, and more learning,” he said.
Although he can proudly claim that he rose through the ranks during his years in high school, the native of Agusan del Norte expects a higher degree of competition when he reaches college. He states, “I’ll see what their physicality is like because they say in college, it’s all about IQ. If you really observe, the freshmen dominate mostly with sheer strength. But for the seniors, it’s true skill that counts.”
Given all the hurdles coming up, National U’s tight-knit program appears not to pose an adjustment issue for him, since he has already established relationships with important Bulldogs who even showed up at Game 3.
“They’re there, Reinhard [Jumamoy], my companions. During our rehearsals, we reach up to the university level, so I engage in conversations with them. Sometimes, I am right alongside them,” he explained.
