Despite being quite competitive in Asia, the Philippine national underwater hockey team remains largely unknown.

But through grassroots programs and more international exposure, the team looks forward to a better future and, hopefully, more financial support from the government.

Jane Bracher reports. – Rappler.com

You’ve probably heard of hockey – played indoors, on ice, or on the street.

But did you know that it is also played underwater? 

What’s more, we have a Philippine national team for it, and they are headed to the World Championship.

Underwater hockey is played at the bottom of a pool around 6 to 8 feet deep.

It’s a 6-on-6 game, where players use a short stick to try and put a puck through a 3-meter long goal.

Basic gear includes a mask, snorkel, fins, ear guards, padded gloves, and teeth guard.

The game is played in two halves, typically 10 to 20 minutes in length, depending on tournament rules.

CHARI MAY ONGYANCO, WOMEN'S TEAM CAPTAIN: The real real real difference of course is while playing we cannot talk to each other. The only way to communicate is actually by feel in a way. Medyo kailangan may ESP ka. That’s the hard part of the game. Unlike ice hockey or field hockey they can communicate or talk. Another big difference between our sport and other hockey is while playing you’re holding your breath.

Underwater hockey is thought to be introduced in the Philippines in the 1980s.

Filipinos first competed internationally in the 1990s.

The team is very competitive in Asia and they’ve seen action in the World Championship twice before 2016.

The sport isn’t new. But it remains largely unheard of.

CHARI MAY ONGYANCO, WOMEN'S TEAM CAPTAIN: It’s hard to actually promote the sport because it’s a non-spectator sport. In international games usually they have these cameras underwater for livestreaming and the audience just watches it on screens above the water.

Despite limited government funding, no dedicated coach, and players maintaining their day jobs, the Philippine team is headed to South Africa from March 23 to April 2 for a 3rd World Championship appearance.

The world’s top teams include New Zealand, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom.

Growing the sport in the Philippines is a priority.

The government supports grassroots programs where the team teaches underwater hockey in places like Palawan, with Cebu as a potential next stop.

The hope is for the sport to eventually reach schools.

JAY BEJAR, MEN'S TEAM CAPTAIN: Well, it’s one of the things we really want to push through – making underwater hockey available especially to those colleges na kasama sa UAAP.

CHARI MAY ONGYANCO, WOMEN'S TEAM CAPTAIN: As a Filipino since we’re surrounded by waters, so actually it should be our advantage kasi marami magagaling lumangoy sa atin. Actually kahit hindi magaling lumangoy, basta hindi takot sa tubig can actually excel in underwater hockey.

Little is known of underwater hockey in the Philippines for now.

But with commitment and patience, a bright future won’t be far behind.

PARIS, France – The International Basketball Federation has gone into a head-to-head confrontation with organizers of the Euroleague contest by launching its own Champions League in Europe.

The world body, FIBA, has threatened to ban national teams from European Championships if their top clubs play in the Eurocup, which is linked to Euroleague, rather than the new Champions League.

The battle could be decided in the courts.

FIBA officially announced its Champions League on Monday. The 32-team 4.5 million euro ($5 million) contest starts in September.

Each team will get a minimum of 100,000 euros and the winner 500,000 euros. Far below Euroleague's riches.

FIBA orginally ran the European Champions Cup which ran until 2000 when top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and CSKA Moscow, broke away to set up the Euroleague Basketball Company and their own championship.

Since then Euroleague and the second level Eurocup have been the top two club contests in the continent.

This year, Euroleague has said it will cut the contest from 24 to 16 teams – with 11 clubs given permanent berths. Each side will reportedly be guaranteed millions in revenues.

FIBA has agreed that Euroleague should remain the top contest but wants its own Champions League to become the second ranking event, ahead of Eurocup.

Reserving 11 permanent places for top clubs such as Real, CSKA Moscow and Panathanaikos of Greece has been condemned by Euroleague's critics. 

France's Secretary of State forSport, Thierry Braillard, has backed the new league and told L'Equipe newspaper that Euroleague is "based just on the financial interests of a few, brushing aside collective interests and sporting values."

France is a candidate to host the first Champions League final in April next year.

But Markus Studer, FIBA's chief operating officer and head of the new contest, said: "The fundamental principle of the Basketball Champions League is that it is a competition based on a sporting criterion.

"This will not only protect the national leagues but also dramatically increase their value while also helping our sport grow."

Euroleague is still fighting hard to keep the second level 24 teams in its Eurocup. Russian clubs are expected to stick with them. German clubs have indicated they are likely to follow FIBA.

France's federation backs FIBA, but there are divisions. French NBA star Tony Parker wants the Villeurbanne that he owns to be in Euroleague.

Euroleague has in turn made an official complaint to the European Commission about FIBA in February.

The dispute risks spilling over into international contests if some countries are banned and FIBA starts organising internationals during the Euroleague season. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – After a collision sent him crumbling to the floor anew, Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee is crossing his fingers it's nothing serious for his left knee. 

The 27-year-old had another stroke of bad luck and injured his left knee once again on Monday, March 21 in a blowout loss to TNT.

Lee challenged a Ryan Reyes triple attempt midway in the second period and ended up with his left knee colliding with Reyes' right as both crumpled to the floor. 

The Gilas Pilipinas guard managed to stand up and was seen shaking it off along the sidelines as he was subbed out, but he never returned to the game. Lee played just 3 minutes and missed his lone field goal attempt.

"Malas (Tough luck)," was Lee's first reaction upon emerging from the dugout walking slowly. "Pagbagsak ko natamaan na naman yung tuhod ko so hopefully hindi naman ganoon ka-grabe (When I fell my knee got hit again so hopefully it's not that bad)." 

Lee said he thinks it might be a contusion and that he will have it checked. His left knee was the same one that reportedly suffered a partial lateral meniscus tear during the Philippine Cup, when he aggravated a previous injury on the same knee.

Lee was out for most of the season including the first 5 games of the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup. 

He looks forward to the Holy Week break in order to recover and find out the extent of his injury.

"Malaking bagay yung break kasi kahit papaano makaka-recover ako. Malalaman ko yung magiging status ulit ng tuhod ko," he said, hoping he won't have to sit out very long again. "Sana hindi ganoon ka-grabe. Pakiramdam ko kaya ko naman."

(The break is a big deal because at least I can recover. I can find out the status of my knee. I hope it's not that serious. I think I can go on.) 

Lee is likewise eyeing to lose weight in order to get back to better game shape. He is now at 217 lbs and he is looking to go back to 200. 

"Nag-gain ako ng weight pero kasi hindi naman agad mababawas kaya kailangan dahan-dahan din talaga," he explained. "Basta habulin ko talaga 'yung 200 lbs, 'yung playing weight ko. Ngayon mga 217 ako. Before naman, 210 to 2015, okay ako sa ganoon pero 'yung type ng laro ngayon kailangan din talaga magbaba ng timbang."

(I gained weight but I can't just lose it all right away, I have to do it slowly. I will work to get back to 200 lbs, my playing weight. Now I'm at 217. Before, at 210 to 215, I was okay but with the type of game now I need to lose weight.) 

Rain or Shine, now 4-4, will return to action on Friday, April 1 against Phoenix. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – From vacations, staycations, full on work mode, and to keeping with tradition – PBA players and coaches alike are spending the Holy Week break in a variety of ways. 

Alaska star Calvin Abueva, for one, will make use of the two-day break to travel to Batangas with his family, where they will spend time on the beach. 

“Yun lang naman ginagawa namin e (That’s what we always do),” he said, explaining the Aces continue practice through Holy Wednesday, March 23 before taking Maundy Thursday and Good Friday off, then resuming training on Black Saturday.  

Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas will travel Wednesday to Lucban in his home province of Quezon to visit the Kamay Ni Hesus Shrine, which will be his family’s last stop for the traditional Visita Iglesia or 7 Churches Visitation. 

“Ngayon lang kami makukumpleto na family (The family will be complete),” said Alas, whose son Kevin of NLEX will leave for Quezon on Thursday.

Some players will be having a traditional Holy Week. 

Rain or Shine star shooter Jeff Chan won’t be going on vacation as part of his sacrifice that’s a common practice for Filipinos, especially among the Roman Catholics. 

“Kaming family hindi kami usually nagbabakasyon pag Holy Week. Talagang sacrifice din,” Chan explained, adding he and his family will be abstaining from meat and going on Visita Iglesia as well. “Kasi for us si Lord nag-sacrifice tapos kami mage-enjoy. Parang hindi tama for us.”

(My family and I don’t usually take vacations during Holy Week. It’s our sacrifice. For us, the Lord sacrificed so why would we enjoy. It doesn’t feel right for us.) 

TNT star playmaker and Chan’s Gilas Pilipinas teammate Jayson Castro is likewise observing Holy Week tradition. 

“Uuwi ng Pampanga and vigil sa mga relatives ko kasama ng mama and sister ko (I’ll be going home to Pampanga and take part in a vigil with my relatives, my mother and my sister),” he shared, noting he won’t be watching the well-known crucifixion practices done in his hometown to immitate Jesus Christ’s suffering. 

“Sobrang religious kami so (gagawin namin) yung mga prusisyon (at) lagi kami nasa church (We’re very religious so we will be participating in the procession and will be at church).”

The Aces’ Dondon Hontiveros, meanwhile, will head home to Cebu for a quick respite from the game and to spend time with his family. 

“Tradition na namin na magkakasama and yung mama ko sobrang religious, sasamahan ko na lang siya sa kung anong tradition gagawin niya (It’s tradition for us to be together as a family and my mom is very religious, so I’ll accompany her as she goes through her traditions),” he shared, adding his family will take part in old traditions like reflecting on the 7 Last Words. 

Another Cebuano JR Quiñahan of the Elasto Painters will likewise fly home from Wednesday to Sunday. The big man is excited to spend Holy Week in Cebu after missing out last year. 

“Mag Visita Iglesia tsaka prusisyon sa Friday (We'll go on Visita Iglesia and a procession on Friday),” said Quiñahan, who also shared he goes to Quiapo church every Friday.  

“Wala munang pork (No pork for now),” he shared his sacrifice. “Marami naman isda doon e, fresh naman yun (We have plenty of fish there and they're fresh).”

"Lechon mga kaunting balat lang siguro (Perhaps a bit of skin from lechon)," he added in jest. 

Plenty of players choose to stay in Manila to avoid clogged roads to and from the city. 

Mahindra’s Niño Canaleta will be staying in the city to spend time with his barely a month old newborn. 

“Hindi rin ako makakaalis kasi hindi pa pwede maglalabas yung misis ko. Siguro sa house lang, dito sa Manila (We can't leave because my wife still needs to rest. We'll stay at hom here in Manila),” he said, saying this year his family won’t be doing their usual Holy Week tradition of going home to Tarlac and going on Visita Iglesia. 

The Enforcers have a 4-day break from Tuesday to Friday before resuming practice on Saturday.

Alaska’s veteran slotman Sonny Thoss appeared eager for some quality time with his kids during the break as he carried his son on his shoulders after his team’s loss to Mahindra Monday. 

“Just spending time with the family,” he shared his Holy Week plans. “I don’t really wanna go anywhere with the traffic and everything. Just staying in Manila doing whatever I can with the family.” 

“Just keeping it simple. The important thing is to be with the family. The kids like to go swimming somewhere, something simple, nothing fancy.” 

TNT head coach Jong Uichio as well as assistant coach Nash Racela are both planning to stay home as well, just like Rain or Shine assistant coach Caloy Garcia, who is looking forward to some TV time.

“Bahay lang ako, manonood ako ng mga series ko (I’ll just be at home watching my series). Daredevil season 2,” Garcia said.

Guys like the Painters’ Paul Lee and the Tropa’s Dylan Ababou will be using the brief lull in the conference to recover from injuries. Lee re-injured his left knee and is hoping it’s nothing serious while journeyman Ababou, who is starting to find his groove with TNT, will take care of some hamstring pain. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - Los Angeles was named by the NBA on Tuesday, March 22 as the host city for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, the record sixth time the Southern California metropolis will stage the event.

The 67th showdown between elite squads from the Eastern and Western conferences will be played February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center, home arena for the NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

"Los Angeles is known for first-class hospitality and entertainment, making it the perfect host for NBA All-Star," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver. "The city is home to some of the most passionate basketball fans in addition to extraordinary facilities."

Los Angeles previously hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1963, 1972, 1983, 2004 and 2011.

NBA legend Bill Russell was the Most Valuable Player of the 1963 All-Star Game at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, when the East beat the West 115-108. Other past MVPs from All-Star Games in Los Angeles include Jerry West of the Lakers in 1972, Julius Erving of Philadelphia in 1983, the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in 2011.

Last month's NBA All-Star Game in Toronto was the highest-scoring contest in the event's history. Next year's 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be staged in Charlotte, North Carolina. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - NBA Hall of Fame star Dikembe Mutombo on Tuesday emotionally described the chaos of being caught up in the deadly Belgium bombings which left around 35 people dead. 

The 49-year-old Congolese legend had been transiting through Zavantem Airport in Brussels when it was rocked by two explosions, possibly caused by suicide bombers, in the check-in hall. 

Mutombo, who was returning from a visit to the hospital in Kinshasa his foundation opened, told CNN he had been asleep in a passenger lounge when the airport was attacked.

"I heard people start screaming and everyone start running," Mutombo said.

"I was napping and I was, like, what's going on? I thought it was a joke. And a lady said, 'Everybody out, everybody out. We have to go. We have to go. A lot of people are bleeding downstairs. A lot of people are hurt.'"

"There was no hesitation from there. I grabbed my bag and I started running as well," said Mutombo.

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Mutombo was hoarse as he described being ushered through the terminal to the airport tarmac, recalling fellow travelers paralyzed by shock as they struggled to come to terms with the horror of the blast.

"I just feel bad for the family of the loved ones that lost their lives. They couldn't run, they couldn't move," Mutombo said. 

"It was very crazy. I feel very bad. A mom trying to push her two kids. You have everybody running. It was very sad," added Mutombo, who retired in 2009 after 18 years in the NBA. – Rappler.com

MIAMI, USA - World number one Novak Djokovic backed off comments that men's tennis players should make more than women on Tuesday as Serena Williams and Andy Murray led a stinging chorus of criticism at the remarks.

A furious row over the gender pay gap in tennis erupted at the weekend, when Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore said women should get "on their knees" to thank male players for money in the sport.

Moore was forced to apologize before resigning late on Monday.

Djokovic fueled the controversy however after stating that he believed the pay gap was justified, adding that women go through "hormones and different stuff." 

(READ: Serena slams Indian Wells boss for 'women riding men's coattails' remark)

Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles crowns to 11 for Djokovic, condemned the Serbian star's remarks on Tuesday.

"It has been, I would say disappointing," Williams said. "I wouldn't say my son deserved more money than my daughter because he's a man. It would be shocking."

Djokovic has a 17-month-old son, Stefan, but Williams openly wondered how he would explain himself to a future daughter. 

"He's entitled to his opinion," Williams said. "If he had a daughter, he has a son right now, he should talk to his daughter and say, 'Your brother deserves more money than you.'

"I would never use sex to compare. We have so many great players, men and women, who have brought so much vision to the sport. Every athlete works extremely hard.

"If I had a son and a daughter I would never tell them one deserves more because of their sex."

Britain's Murray even noted Djokovic's notion that men should receive less than women if their matches were less well attended, citing an example of how many would show up to watch who if Williams and Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovski each had a match in a ticketed session.

"I think there should be equal pay 100 percent," Murray said.

"The whole thing doesn't stand up. It depends on the matches day by day. The men's game has had some great rivalries for the past few years. The whole of tennis should strengthen from that, not just the men's game."

Djokovic later issued a statement on Facebook, offering a qualified apology for his comments, which he said had been made while he was affected by the "euphoria and adrenalin" of his win at Indian Wells.

"I've made some comments that are not the best articulation of my view, and I would like to clarify them," Djokovic said.

"We all have to fight for what we deserve. This was never meant to be made into a fight between genders and differences in pay, but in the way all players are rewarded for their play and effort.

"This was my view all along and I want to apologize to anyone who has taken this the wrong way."

'We don't deserve less'

Murray meanwhile said he was baffled to hear of Moore's outburst ahead of Sunday's final, where Williams lost 6-4, 6-4 to Victoria Azarenka.

"You had it before a great women's final with 16,000 people," Murray said. "The whole thing was pretty strange and pretty disappointing coming right before a final like that. It didn't make sense."

Women's tennis found other defenders, such as Japan's Kei Nishikori.

"You see great women's tennis too," he said. "A lot of people want to see women's tennis, especially Serena."

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova called Djokovic's comments "very disappointing."

"We are training 100 percent the same as the men. We're more troubled with hormones and other things? He should not have said what he said."

"What he said was not right at all," said two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

"We work so hard for this, spend so much time practicing. I don't think we do any less than the men," Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska said. "We don't deserve less prize money." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Mixed martial arts (MMA) has achieved another milestone in its young existence as the state of New York has finally lifted the ban on the sport following a nearly 20-year battle for its legalization.

After making it onto the Assembly floor for the first time in 7 years, a bill to legalize MMA in New York passed with a 113-to-25 margin on Wednesday, March 23 (Manila time).

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank You NY State Legislature for making MMA in New York a reality! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMA4NY?src=hash">#MMA4NY</a> <a href="https://t.co/5fBCsu1nLZ">pic.twitter.com/5fBCsu1nLZ</a></p>&mdash; UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/712408754281521152">March 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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MMA will fall under the jurisdiction of the New York State Athletic Commission, which has 120 days to adopt the necessary statutes to regulate the sport.

In addition, the aforementioned bill also regulates MMA on an amateur level, which is an often-overlooked aspect of the framework as previous drafts excluded it.

Former New York governor George Pataki first banned MMA in 1997 when it was still a largely unregulated sport with few rules to govern the athletes dishing out punishment inside the cage.

State athletic commissions in New Jersey and Nevada helped to create a new rule-set that turned out to be the standard for MMA.

Slowly but surely, MMA became legal across the United States, with New York as the last state joining the other 49 that already allow and regulate the sport.

The bill still requires the signature of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, which should be a formality as he already expressed his support for the sport this year by including professional MMA revenue in his proposed budget.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship intends to host multiple events per year in several locations in New York and could stage a fight card in Madison Square Garden in November.

“This has been a long time coming, and on behalf of our New York UFC athletes and fans, I want to offer heartfelt thanks to Speaker (Carl E.) Heastie, Majority Leader Morelle and all the members of the assembly – Democrats and Republicans – who voted for this bill,” UFC chief executive officer Lorenzo Fertitta said in a press statement.

UFC’s roster is peppered with fighters from New York, perhaps most famously including former light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones and ex-middleweight kingpin Chris Weidman.

Before the ban in 1997, the world’s premier MMA organization held one live event in September 1995 in Buffalo, New York.

Aside from the UFC, Bellator MMA is already looking towards staging events in New York as well.

“The New York Assembly’s vote to legalize MMA is a watershed moment for this incredible sport. As someone who has been promoting combat sports for more than 30 years, this is a very exciting time for mixed martial arts,” Bellator president Scott Coker stated. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - LeBron James said Tuesday he planned to scale back his social media activity slightly earlier than usual as he prepares for the Cleveland Cavaliers' post-season NBA campaign.

James set tongues wagging earlier this week when he unfollowed the Cavs official Twitter feed, with speculation the move was fueled by unhappiness in Cleveland or frustration with the management. 

However, James insisted Tuesday the move was motivated by a desire to start paying less attention to social media as the post-season looms. 

"A little bit sooner than normal," James said.

"But you know I understand that it's right around the corner and I want to start mentally preparing myself for the distance. So mentally I'm just being a little more sharper minded as of late, just gearing toward it." 

The Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference but have suffered blips in the past week with defeats at Utah and Miami. 

"At the end of the day, we're 9-3 in our last 12, so, I mean, we're playing some good ball," he said. 

"We just didn't play how we want to play in the Utah game and in Miami, but we're playing some good ball." 

James and the Cavaliers lost last season's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, prolonging a decades-long wait for a major championship in Cleveland. 

No team from Cleveland has won a title in any of the major professional sports since 1964. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – UPIS standout Javi Gomez De Liano isn’t going anywhere.

The 6-foot-5, 17-year-old talent confirmed to Rappler on Wednesday, March 23, that he has committed to play college basketball for the UP Fighting Maroons in the seniors division of the UAAP.

Gomez De Liano played his high school hoops for UP’s juniors team, and in the latest season was named to the league’s Mythical 5 after posting averages of 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.

During the SLAM Rising Stars game this past Sunday, the elder of the Gomez De Liano brothers posted 6 points and 6 rebounds while displaying the type of versatility that can make him a dangerous college player with some development.

Gomez De Liano told Rappler this past Saturday that he was practicing with UP, but saw a good fit with the UST Growling Tigers. Nonetheless, he’s ultimately decided to stick with State U.

“The school has been good to me. [I] might as well give back in return,” he said to Rappler via message.

“It was a very tough decision to be honest, but I looked back and realized I wouldn't be here if it wasn’t for [UP]. Just a gratitude in return i guess.”

The Maroons enjoyed their most successful UAAP campaign in years during Season 78 with a 3-11 record under new head coach Rensy Bajar. 

It’s uncertain yet if Bajar will return to coach the team, with noise of former Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Bo Perasol possibly taking over being floated around as well.

“I'm really excited to represent UP for Season 79,” said Gomez De Liano. “I’ll be playing the shooting guard position and maybe small forward.”

While UPIS relied on both him and his younger brother Juan for scoring during its latest campaign, Gomez De Liano knows that won’t be his biggest assignment right away in the collegiate level.

“I know I won't be the primary scorer [right away]. I could help by making plays, dishing good passes and hitting those threes.

“It's a rebuilding team, so I really want to help out this coming season.”

His studies will come first, Gomez De Liano assures.

“And of course, the education here is one of my main criteria [for] going here.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), owing to a PBA Board resolution, is investigating PBA employees and officials to find out how an official’s fake diploma was leaked to the media, league media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed Wednesday, March 23. 

Around 8 to 10 employees have already been probed, according to Marcial, out of a total 38. That number also includes PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa. Employees and officials are called by batch to the NBI office. 

“Lahat kami pwede kami tawagin any time, kahit si commissioner (Any one of us can be summoned, even the commissioner),” Marcial told Rappler. 

Members of the PBA Board of Governors, who requested for the probe, are not classified as PBA employees or officials, and are not in the PBA office every day.

The length of the investigation depends on the NBI, Marcial said. He also said further actions will be decided upon once a conclusion to the probe has been made. 

The investigation comes after the controversy involving PBA marketing head Rhose Montreal, who was found to have falsified her college diploma, claiming she was a graduate of the University of the Philippines with cum laude honors. 

Copies of the diploma were uploaded on social media. (READ: TIMELINE: PBA and the Rhose Montreal controversy)

Montreal resigned soon after but has since been rehired after she reapplied for her old position. Her application was accepted on the condition she forfeit all her previous benefits, which reportedly amounts to more than a million pesos, and start over on a 6-month probationary period, PBA commissioner and San Miguel governor Robert Non told media at a press briefing. 

A league statement on Montreal’s rehiring released on March 7 said her application was approved “primarily, among others, for humanitarian reasons because of her exemplary performance.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Timothy Bradley Jr expects there will be backlash if he walks out of Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 9 (April 10 Manila time) with the victory over Manny Pacquiao. 

With the 37-year-old Pacquiao coming off a nearly year-long layoff due to a shoulder injury, Bradley isn't expecting to receive much credit should he win, with some likely to dismiss it as a win against an over-the-hill boxer.

“[If] I beat Manny Pacquiao, I already know what’s going to be said. ‘Oh, he was old. He was over the hill. He was this. He was that.’ I already know what it’s goanna be. If I lose to Manny Pacquiao, ‘Oh, he’s still great. He can still fight. He’s still this.’ I know how it goes,” he said in a recent conference call. 

Most boxing pundits believe that the third encounter between Pacquiao and Bradley will be a continuation of their first two meetings, where the sport’s only 8-division world champion held the upper-hand for most of the bout. 

Bradley picked up a controversial win over Pacquiao by way of split decision in June 2012, with two judges scoring it 115–113 in favor of the American boxer and the other 115–113 to his Filipino rival. 

In their April 2014 rematch, Pacquiao avenged the loss and routed Bradley via unanimous decision to regain the WBO welterweight championship. 

Pacquiao received good feedback from longtime promoter Bob Arum, who saw his intense training first-hand when the Top Rank Promotions chief visited the renowned southpaw at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California last week.

Bradley is determined to prove that he can score a decisive triumph against the Filipino boxing icon, hinting at a game plan that could negate Pacquiao’s relentless style in the ring.

“Our approach this time is going to be way different. We have a big game plan going into this fight and I am looking closely at Pacquiao and his weaknesses,” he stated. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Timothy Bradley Jr. revealed that he is preparing for Manny Pacquiao’s best version as both men are set to square off against each other for the third time on April 9 (April 10 Manila time). 

Although Pacquiao is coming off a nearly year-long layoff due to a shoulder injury, Bradley expects that the 37-year-old pugilst from General Santos City will bring his A-game in his farewell fight. 

“I’m not depending on Manny Pacquiao to be weak in any way. I think he’s going to be strong and I think he’s going to be highly motivated, and he’s going to be looking to take my head off,” he said in a recent conference call. 

Pacquiao blamed his injured right shoulder for his poor performance in his May 2015 blockbuster versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

Boxing’s only 8-division world champion injured his right shoulder 3 weeks before the highly-anticipated encounter with Mayweather and was forced to take several days off from sparring as he nursed the aforementioned ailment. 

An MRI exam subsequently showed a rotator cuff tear on Pacquiao’s shoulder, but his camp opted to proceed with the fight since he made good progress and looked like he could still compete. 

While Mayweather landed 148 of 435 punches during the 12-round title unification tussle, Pacquiao connected with just 81 of 429 as his aggressive style was neutralized by his opponent’s flashy defense and ring generalship. 

Pacquiao revealed that the shoulder injury limited him from throwing more shots, compelling him to undergo surgery 4 days after the fight. 

Top Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum was impressed with Pacquiao’s performance in training camp and confided that the Filipino boxing icon is back in his fearsome form.

Arum also noticed that Pacquiao was using his right hand frequently in his 8-round sparring sessions with Ghislain Maduma and Lydell Rhodes. 

Freddie Roach, who has been Pacquiao’s boxing coach since his title-winning performance against Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight belt in June 2001, stressed that his valued pupil aims for a storybook ending to his professional career by knocking out Bradley.

Pacquiao has tallied 38 knockouts in 57 his 57 wins, but he has not stopped an opponent in the ring since November 2009 when he routed Miguel Cotto via twelfth-round technical knockout. 

Even if Pacquiao has not scored a knockout triumph since 2009, Bradley is not going to be complacent when he steps into the squared-circle with pesky Pinoy southpaw. 

“He hasn’t knocked anybody out in a very long time. It could be the weight. It could be the weight class. He is at 147 pounds. It could be that, but I’m not depending on any decline in Manny Pacquiao. I’m not depending on any of those things,” he stated. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will wear a standard mouthpiece to avoid election issues in his upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 9 (April 10 in PH). 

Los Angeles-based dentist Dr Ed Dela Vega posted Pacquiao’s actual mouthguard on Twitter, which draws shades of the Philippine tri-color with the MP logo in the middle.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/PhilippineStar">@PhilippineStar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gmanews">@GMANews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a> Here you go folks, the real one i will give to MP! <a href="https://t.co/hEzPuAUfdN">pic.twitter.com/hEzPuAUfdN</a></p>&mdash; Ed de la Vega,DDS (@Mouthgrds4Champ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mouthgrds4Champ/status/710976546530459649">March 18, 2016</a></blockquote>

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Dela Vega released the photo on the aforementioned social networking site after he shared a mouthpiece that has an emblem of the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance, among which Pacquiao is included as one of its 12 senatorial bets in the May 9 general election.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guess who gets to use this on April 9th? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PacBradley3?src=hash">#PacBradley3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nickspeaks">@nickspeaks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abaccordero">@abaccordero</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ronnathanielsz">@ronnathanielsz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vegasbob1975">@vegasbob1975</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash">#boxing</a> <a href="https://t.co/4S1oQZgSnH">pic.twitter.com/4S1oQZgSnH</a></p>&mdash; Ed de la Vega,DDS (@Mouthgrds4Champ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mouthgrds4Champ/status/710595379964686336">March 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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To silence potential political uproar, Dela Vega clarified that Pacquiao never intended to use the UNA-featured mouthguard in his third ring encounter versus Bradley, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

“There was never an intent to let him use it. People just assumed that! I gave him another one to use,” he wrote. 

The 37-year-old pugilist is currently in hot water for his curtain-call bout next month as his critics question Pacquiao for unfair political advertising, pursuant to the Fair Elections Act. 

Former party-list lawmaker Walden Bello filed a petition this past February, urging the Commission on Elections to decide if Pacquiao's match with Bradley will violate election rules. 

In a press statement, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal challenged Bello by countering that there are no provisions in the election laws that prohibit a candidate from participating in any sport. 

Macalintal also stressed that if there was any offense under Philippine laws, the same cannot be applied against Pacquiao as the fight will be held in the United States. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparked the Oklahoma City Thunder to a hard-fought win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday as a 24-point effort from James Harden ended in vain. 

Durant bagged 23 points while Westbrook collected his 15th triple double of the season with 21 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds as the Thunder improved to 49-22 with their fifth straight victory.

Westbrook's contribution included a decisive spell late in the fourth quarter when a three-point play put Oklahoma 92-90 ahead before he added a free throw immediately afterward to extend the lead to 3 points. 

Houston clawed their way back to trail by only one point with 11.8 seconds left but a superb defensive play from Dion Waiters, leaping high to deflect a pass, effectively saved the game for the Thunder. 

Hornets top Nets

Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets gave their fans another rollercoaster ride to score a 105-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in New York. 

The Hornets had recovered from a 22-point deficit to stun the San Antonio Spurs on Monday but on Tuesday the shoe was on the other foot as they survived blowing a 17-point lead to hang on for the win.

Nicolas Batum scored 23 points and Jeremy Lin added 21 as the Hornets held their nerve in the decisive fourth quarter. 

Batum and Lin made 15 of 28 shots from the field, including 6 of 8 in the final 12 minutes. 

"I think (Batum) is just confident. He made Jeremy play really well again tonight," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. 

"Nicolas really made the plays with the game on the line. When we needed him, he really made the big plays." 

Nets center Brook Lopez bemoaned his team's failure to complete a comeback victory after they had recovered their early deficit. 

"I think it really just came down to them making shots and we didn't," Lopez said. 

"We got some good looks, and ours just didn't go down. It was unfortunate that we put ourselves in a hole in the beginning of the game." 

In New Orleans, Dwyane Wade scored 25 points as the Miami Heat notched their 12th victory in 17 games with a 113-99 victory over the Pelicans. 

But the crucial contribution came from Hassan Whiteside, whose 24-point haul included nine points in the final 5-and-a-half minutes.

"He's developed his overall game," said Wade. "There are other times when he ducks in and we're able to get him the ball in his sweet spot on the post. He was the biggest guy out there." 

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside made crucial defensive plays down the stretch, highlighting his improvement. 

"You saw him challenging in the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter basically everything at the rim," Spoelstra said. 

"You can't just play the rim, and he's taken steps forward with that." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – If there was one message that the 2005 film Coach Carter delivered, it's that, for all the importance of performing on the court by student-athletes, getting an education is still more vital.

Recently, University of the Philippines has had two student-athletes who have personified that kind of mentality. A few weeks after it was announced that former basketball player JR Gallarza is graduating as magna cum laude, it’s now also revealed that UP volleyball player Kathy Bersola is in the running to graduate as summa cum laude.

The news was first shared by Gallarza himself on social media, and Bersola confirmed to Rappler that, while it’s not assured yet, she’s on pace to achieve the same accomplishment.

“Sobrang breaking the barriers. Everyone thinks athletes just slack off in school, just train and not go to classes, pero sa UP kasi, we put a prime on education. Yun yung pinakamagandang nabibigay nila saamin for being scholars. Quality education,” she said.

(It’s very much breaking the barriers. Everyone thinks athletes just slack off in school, just train and not go to classes, but in UP, we put a prime on education. That’s the best thing given to us for being scholars. Quality education.)

Bersola says the required GPA to graduate as summa cum laude in UP for her degree (Sports Science) is 1.2. She currently averages a grade of 1.18, with 21 units left that she hopes to spread up to the next school year.

“Actually graduating dapat ako this semester kasi 4 years lang yung course ko and I was on time, then na-injure ako last year, so I decided to continue,” said Bersola, whose 2014-2015 UAAP season was cut short by a torn ACL injury.

(I was supposed to graduate this semester because my course only runs for 4 years plus I was on time, but I got injured last year so I decided to continue.)

“Ang ginagawa ko (What I’m doing) now is extending, so I’m leaving out a few units for next year and taking up extra subjects.”

Bersola, who’s this year’s Lady Maroons skipper/team captain, entered State U in 2012 after graduating from Makati Science High School. She’s been a consistent dean’s lister since, and plans to pursue medicine after she earns her undergraduate degree.

“I’m planning to use my sports science background kasi gusto ko mag ortho (because I want to do ortho) or sports science medicine. Med then go back to sports,” she said. 

While such goals will certainly keep her busy over the next few years, that doesn’t mean volleyball is out of the picture. With the emergence of the Philippine Superliga and Shakey’s V-League, and even the country’s national team participation in international tournaments, it’s now clear volleyball players in college can keep playing even after their amateur careers are up.

"Gusto ko ma experience. Gusto ko ma try kahit once na makapaglaro,” she said about potentially playing post-UP.

(I want to experience that. I want to try and play [in the aforementioned leagues] even just once.)

But for now, she’s concentrated on the Lady Maroons’ (7-4) campaign in Season 78 and finishing her studies - a very crucial task if you’re enrolled in UP.

“You can’t play if you don’t get the grades, and you can’t ask favors from professors,” Bersola shared about the dynamic for student-athletes in State U. 

“Wala talaga, as in sobrang kailangan mong paghirapan lahat. May mga prof pa nga na pag umabsent kami pag may game, as in mami-miss talaga namin. As in absent na kami. Hindi kami ganon ka excused.

(You really need to work for everything. There are some professors who, when you’re absent due to a game, you’re still not excused from what you miss. You’re considered absent. We don’t get that much leeway.)

“Para saamin, it says a lot about UP na it is the State University and para wala kang takas. You really have to study. And, ayun, addition na yung pag tra-training and pag lalaro for the school.”

(For us, it says a lot that UP is the State University and there’s no easy way. You really have to study. Training and playing for the school are incentives.)

For Bersola, getting motivated to perform on both the classroom and volleyball court isn’t a struggle due to her competitive nature. And she’s aware that by taking advantage of the education she’s receiving, she gets to prepare for giving back someday in the future.

“Ever since talaga, sobrang competitive ko na and gusto ko talaga that I do my best all the time… it’s my duty to do my best and not waste the free education I’m getting. I really do my best and parang showing gratitude na rin sa mga Filipino.”

(Ever since before, I’ve been really competitive and I want to do my best all the time… it’s my duty to do my best and not waste the free education I’m getting. I really do my best and show gratitude to Filipinos.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Despite having his hands full in the ongoing preparation for his rubber match against Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 9 (April 10 Manila time), Manny Pacquiao still managed to take time and suggest designs for his outfit that he will wear on fight night.

After Nike severed its ties with Pacquiao due to his controversial remarks on same-sex marriage, the 37-year-old pugilist acquired the services of Eddie Aguilera, a long-time sports apparel designer who was worked with big name boxers.

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Aguilera is no stranger to the sport of boxing as he worked with several high-profile boxers in the past, including undefeated WBA featherweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz, WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford, WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder and newly-minted WBO welterweight titleholder Jessie Vargas.

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="6" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCtsOhSy-WA/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thankful to have been able to work with these World Champions this year and many more that supported me this year @elfamosoterremoto @jessievargas_ @tbudcrawford @bronzebomber #AguileraBoxingOutfits #AGSports #leosantacruz #jessievargas #terencecrawford #deontaywilder</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Aguilera Boxing Outfits (@aguileraeddie) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-03-09T01:31:19+00:00">Mar 8, 2016 at 5:31pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Pacquiao is known to be meticulous about the material of his boxing shorts, but the seamstress had no worries and considered it a privilege to design the Filipino boxing icon’s trunks.

“It’s my first time doing his outfit. It’s pretty much my first time doing on certain material. It’s pretty nice experience, and I’m having fun with it,” Aguilera said.

Aguilera was surprised when he found out that Pacquiao once worked in a local tailoring shop at a young age.

“I was surprised that he said he’s sewer. It makes it a little bit nerve-wracking in a good way. It steps up my game,” he stated.

Since Nike owns the rights to the MP logo that the renowned Pinoy southpaw has been using since 2007, Pacquiao’s new fight trunks will have the fist emblem imprinted.

The initial design of Pacquiao’s trunks has not been shown yet to the public, but Aguilera guaranteed that it will be ready in two weeks.

In his May 2015 blockbuster bout versus Floyd Mayweather Jr, Pacquiao earned $2.25 million alone from the sponsorships on his shorts. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - How does a sports apparel giant lose the hottest rising basketball star in the world? Start by saying his name incorrectly.

That’s where Nike went wrong when it sought to re-sign Stephen Curry to an endorsement deal after the 2013 season. The reasons that led Under Armour to pull off the marketing coup of a lifetime had long been murky at best, but Curry’s father Dell helped shed some light on the circumstances that cost Nike the best baller on the planet.

Speaking with ESPN.com, the elder Curry tells of a pitch meeting in which a Nike official called the Golden State Warriors star “Steph-on.”

“I heard some people pronounce his name wrong before. I wasn't surprised. I was surprised that I didn't get a correction," said Dell Curry.

If that wasn’t indication enough that Stephen Curry was low on their list of priorities, the PowerPoint the Nike execs had shown contained a slide with Kevin Durant’s name, suggesting that it had been recycled from an old presentation.

”I stopped paying attention after that," said Dell Curry.

(READ: Pacquiao, Sharapova are not the first to fall out with Nike)

Curry’s father, who himself played in the NBA from 1986 to 2002, got the feeling that his son wasn’t exactly going to be treated as the new face of Nike.

"They have certain tiers of athletes. They have Kobe, LeBron and Durant, who were their three main guys. If he signed back with them, we're on that second tier,” said Dell Curry.

Nike reportedly had matching rights to other offers but failed to match the two-year offer by Under Armour, which was less than $4 million. In September of 2015, Curry signed an extension through 2024. According to ESPN, the terms were undisclosed but included ownership in the company.

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So far, the loss is clearly Nike’s.

With Curry as its figurehead, Under Armour has surpassed Adidas as the number two sportswear brand in the United States while Forbes reports that UA “grew a significant 57% year over year in 2015.”

Business Insider reported that Curry’s potential worth to Under Armour is more than $14 billion, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Jay Sole.

Curry's appeal was further demonstrated before his visit to the Philippines in September 2015, when fans lined up for hours to purchase the required 5,000 pesos of Under Armour merchandise, which would earn them two tickets to see Curry in an exhibition at Mall of Asia Arena.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Line outside <a href="https://twitter.com/UnderArmour">@UnderArmour</a> in BGC for <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30">@StephenCurry30</a> tix. Buy 5k merch, get 2 tix to see Curry Sept 5 at <a href="https://twitter.com/MOAArena">@MOAArena</a> <a href="http://t.co/vHqsr3uRim">pic.twitter.com/vHqsr3uRim</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/637471050540843008">August 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
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(IN VINES: Steph Curry puts on a show in Manila)

Curry, 28, has shown no signs of slowing down. The reigning Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association is hoping to lead the Golden State Warriors to a second straight title while breaking his own record for most 3-pointers made this season.

Moral of the story? If you’re unsure of how to pronounce his first name, just call him Steph. – Rappler.com

MIAMI, USA - Drug-tainted New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will retire after his contract expires in 2017, he told ESPN on Wednesday.

"I won't play after next year," the 40-year-old said. "I've really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be a dad."

"A-Rod" is slated to earn $40 million over the final two seasons of the $275 million deal he inked before the 2008 Major League Baseball campaign.

Some $25 million of salary under that deal was surrendered when Rodriguez missed the entire 2014 season while serving a suspension for his role in the Biogenesis performance enhancing drug distribution scandal.

He returned on opening day of 2015 after a ban that lasted 162 games and has played almost exclusively as a designated hitter.

If he can match his 2015 home run output of 33 in each of the next two seasons, he would finish his career 9 home runs short of Barry Bonds' all-time Major League record of 762.

Rodriguez is currently fourth on Major League Baseball's all-time list with 687. He appears poised to pass Yankees legend Babe Ruth (714) for number 3 on the list, but could walk away trailing Bonds and Hank Aaron, who remains at number two with 755.

Rodriguez, a 3-time American League Most Valuable Player and 14-time All-Star, is one of the game's great talents, but like Bonds before him has become a symbol of the scourge of doping.

After Sports Illustrated reported in 2009 he had failed a drug test in 2003, he admitted to using performance enhancers from 2001-2003 - the first 3 seasons of his 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

At the time, steroids were not banned by Major League Baseball, and Rodriguez's performances on the field, including during the Yankees 2009 World Series run, were enough to polish his reputation.

But the 2013 scandal involving the Biogenesis clinic in Florida revealed his use of PEDs had continued after MLB established their anti-doping policy.

He bitterly fought suspension before accepting the ban that cost him the 2014 campaign.

Last season he gradually won back fans with his efforts on the field and his oft-expressed gratitude for the chance to be back in the major leagues where he first played in 1994. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Robert Byrd, who officiated the first encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr in 2012, has gotten the call to referee the third fight between the two welterweights on April 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The referee, who is from Bradley's home state of California but listed as residing in Las Vegas, was chosen unanimously by the Nevada Athletic Commission's 5-person panel during their monthly agenda meeting on Thursday, March 24 (Manila time).

Byrd has been a pro boxing referee since 1983 and officiated his first world title fight in 1988 when he was the third man in the ring for Tony Lopez vs Rocky Lockride 1, which was named Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine. According to his profile on Boxrec, Byrd was a 34-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 in the "expanded category."

The 3 judges named were Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey, and Dave Moretti and Burt Clements of Nevada. Neither of the 3 were involved in the first two fights. Weisfeld was one of the judges the night Pacquiao was knocked out in round 6 by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 but has never judged one of Bradley's fights.

Moretti has worked 7 of Pacquiao's fights but none of Bradley's. Clements has worked two fights each for the boxers.

Byrd has only previously refereed one fight of Pacquiao's, while the only other fight of Bradley's he had worked was his split-decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in 2013.

Judging has been a constant concern during their previous two fights. Most boxing observers feel that Pacquiao deserved the decision in their first fight, but it was Bradley who had his hand raised by split-decision. Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) earned a unanimous decision in their rematch in 2014.

Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) is coming in having won two straight fights while Pacquiao hasn't fought since losing a decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr last May. – Rappler.com