MANILA, Philippines - What is a champion? A simple way to identify one is by the gold-plated leather straps they carry around their waists, but a championship is only as important as it is to those who covet it. 

At Philippine Wrestling Revolution’s “Renaissance” this Saturday, September 26, the company will raise the stakes for both the PWR championship and its newly introduced Philippine Hybrid X (PHX) title. All competitors involved in title scenarios will enter Makati Cinema Square with odds lower than 50-50 of leaving with a belt. 

The main event will feature PWR champion “Classical” Bryan Leo defending his championship in a Triple Threat match - the company’s first ever 3-way dance - against “The Senyorito” Jake De Leon and The Apocalypse, a crowbar-swinging masked monster who inserted himself into the main event picture when he appeared after the rematch between De Leon and Leo, nailing both with his Death Bell finishing maneuver. 

“I don’t have to lose to lose the title. It’s unfair to say the least, but that’s life,” says Leo, who hit a distracted “JDL” with a low blow before choking him out with his "Royal Prison Lock 2" submission to retain his title last month at PWR Live.

Despite his own reputation for villainy, Bryan Leo had no kind words for The Apocalypse or his actions. 

“There’s no justice, what’s the point of security? I don’t feel safe, and I’d want to press charges if he was a human being. I don’t even know, he looks like a failed abortion,” said Bryan Leo, a wrestler who mockingly greets his fans by saying he is from a “First World Country” that has yet to be specified (among other things).

Jake De Leon - a husky, yet agile workhorse from Bacolod City whose physique and common man appeal are reminiscent of the late Dusty Rhodes - was the company’s first champion. His reign lasted just minutes after Bryan Leo cashed in an impromptu title opportunity on an exhausted JDL at PWR: Wrevolution X in May.

PWR Commissioner Mr. Sy made the authoritative decision to throw them all together in the same ring with the title on the line.

“The Apocalypse wanted an opportunity to challenge for the PWR championship so he got an opportunity. He made that clear at the end of PWR Live. Jake De Leon did not have a fair conclusion to his match with 'Classical' Bryan Leo so it just makes sense to put them all in a 3-way dance. That’s how you put an end to this,” said Sy.

PHX title and 'The Last Real Warrior'

The tournament to crown the first PHX champion is down to its final four, with Mayhem Brannigan facing Chris Panzer in one semifinal match, and “The Social Media Sinister” Ken Warren matching up against Filipino-Japanese wrestler Ralph Imabayashi in the other. The winners of both matches will meet each other later that night for the title.

“It’s really overwhelming, it’s an awesome experience,” says Brannigan, a hardcore risk taker whose Hannibal Lecter mask and Misfits t-shirt accurately reflect his style of wrestling. “It’ll be an even more awesome experience when I win it. Note that I said when I win it, not if.” 

(WATCH: PWR Live full matches)

Another performer appearing on the show is SANDATA, a masked Filipino warrior and one half of the tag team Dual Shock (alongside Peter Versoza). Dual Shock will meet Fighters 4 Hire (Joey Bax and Miguel Rosales) in a grudge match from PWR Live.

SANDATA, who only speaks Filipino, says he wears a mask not to hide his face, but to empower himself further.

“SANDATA is the last real warrior in the country. I am out here to prove to the entire world - not just to PWR or the entire country - that I am the realest, most fearsome warrior,” said SANDATA, master of the Pagbasag (The Shattering), a head scissors takedown facebuster.

The grudge is more practical than personal for SANDATA: “Dual Shock have not come away with a win since coming to PWR and we really want to change that. We feel this is our best chance to finally get the W.” 

Also on the card will be John Sebastian of The Royal Flush vs Bombay Suarez in a no-holds-barred rematch.

Tickets for the show, the company's sixth in the past year, are on sale at the door for P300. The show will also be livestreamed by GPNLive.com. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - “Komportable kami sa isa't-isa,” explains veteran Cebuano shooter Warren Kiamco about his partnership with Carlo Biado. 

(We are comfortable with each other.)

“Walang sisihan. Yun ang pinaka-importante,” he added. 

(We don't blame each other. That's the most important thing.) 

The tandem of Kiamco and Biado already have one title under their belt, the 2015 SEA Games 9 Ball Doubles gold medal, when they defeated Vietnam's Do Hoang Quan and Nguyen Anh Tuan in Singapore. But the Dafabet World Cup of Pool in York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, will be at a whole different level.

This Filipino pairing will try to give the Philippines the World Cup trophy for the fourth time. Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante triumphed twice in this event, while two years ago Dennis Orcollo and Lee Vann Corteza downed the Netherlands duo of Niels Feijen and Nick Van Den Berg to claim the crown.

The Philippines' 3 titles are the most of any nation in nine runnings of this 9 Ball Scotch Doubles (alternate shot) event, conceived and organized by British sports promoter Matchroom Sport. Apart from the Philippines, only China has won it more than once. The Philippines is also the only country that has captured the World Cup of Pool with two completely different pairings. They have also reached the finals in 4 of the 9 events, with Orcollo and Roberto Gomez falling at the last hurdle to China's Li He Wen and Fu Jian Bo in 2010.

(To be fair, the host nation gets two teams, and the Philippines held the event 4 years in a row from 2009 to 2012.)

Doubles pool is a completely different animal from singles pool. There seem to be partnerships that just work exceedingly well in doubles, even though the individual players are nothing special. Li and Fu not only won this event twice in 2007 and 2010, but they also reached the semis in the years in between. Li has been a finalist in the world 9 Ball championship but has little else of note to show in his CV. Fu is even less accomplished as a singles player. But put them together, and there was magic.

Just like the pairings of Mark Woodforde with Todd Woodbridge and the Indian combination of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi racked up piles of doubles victories in tennis, some pool combinations just work. Most certainly Efren Reyes plus Francicso Bustamante also fit into that category. 

In general the rule is simple in doubles pool at the World Cup: you must have one outstanding player matched with another player who may not be as good, but is at least steady. Maltese legend Tony Drago is a very fine pool player who was stuck with the rather mortal Alex Borg for years. They have never won a single match. 

A good example would be the Finnish pairing of Mika Immonen and Petri Makkonen, winners in 2012. Immonen was already an established champ, while Makkonen played the role of grasshopper to the Iceman's sensei. Makkonen's confidence grew with every round and he even carried Immonen in a match after Mika struggled. They eventually overcame Poland in the final.

This Philippine team fits the bill of a talented star and a reliable sidekick. Kiamco says they qualified as the Filipino team because they were the two highest Filipinos in the World Pool-Billiard Association's world rankings. 

Biado may have lost to Ko Pin Yi at the World 9 Ball last week in the round of 32, but he will still be feeling confident after reaching the World 10 Ball final in General Santos City last February. (Ko beat him then too, 11-9.) 

The La Union-born, Quezon City-raised Biado is a seasoned 32-year old veteran who was once a tee boy in a golf driving range. In 2011 he won the Philippine National 10 Ball championship. Biado doesn't have the kind of textbook technique pool instructors might want, with some head movement in his delivery and a swing that could be a tad smoother, but you can't argue with the results. Biado has terrorized his fellow pros in challenge matches for years.

Kiamco may be Biado's ideal foil. The 45-year old has only snapped off a handful of big titles, but he is renowned for his consistency. In one season alone in the old San Miguel 9 Ball Tour he finished second in 3 tour stops. There is little variance in Kiamco's play from C game to A game, and that could be an asset. Kiamco's stroke is simple and effective. There are no funny angles or extraneous movements. 

Like Biado, he too needed the eventual champion, Ko Pin Yi, to show him the door in the World 9 Ball, via an 11-9 score in the round of 16. 

The fact that Kiamco and Biado have already won something together is a big plus. The Philippines has not always had winning teams right out of the box. The World Cup of Pool is an event that took years for Pinoy superstar Dennis Orcollo to figure out. The former World 8 Ball champ went through several partners, namely Francisco Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano, and Roberto Gomez before trying out Corteza.

This Team Mindanao flamed out in the first match in 2012 to the Swiss team of Dmitri Jungo and Ronnie Regli 8-7 in the first match. Fortunately they stuck together to win it all the very next year in England. 

The first round of the the 32-team event is now just a race-to-seven, (the races lengthen later on), and the Philippines have been given an unkind draw, being matched with a dangerous Russian side composed of veteran Konstantin Stepanov and the youthful but gifted Ruslan Chinakhov in the first round. The format is single elimination, and one run of patchy form or even a few bad rolls could send the team packing. 

Should the Philippines handle Chinakhov and Stepanov, they will likely meet England B, comprised of Mark Gray and former world 9 Ball champ Daryl Peach, in the round of 16. The English pair duke it out with Sweden in their first match. The experienced Marcus Chamat will have the relatively untested Christian Sparrenloev-Fischer by his side. 

The Philippines play Russia in the final match of the 6:30 pm session on Wednesday, September 23^rd, meaning their match will likely lag in the wee hours of Thursday morning, Philippine time. Here is the link for the live stream, which costs US$7.99 for the whole tournament: http://www.pool.livesport.tv/

The final match will be played on September 27 in the UK, so early September 28 here. 

The Philippines will field a new team in hopes of bringing home the US$60,000 first prize. Kiamco and Biado will bear the weight of a nation's expectations on their shoulders, but no doubt they reputations alone will be enough to strike fear in the hearts of their opponents.

For more info, visit the official event site here. 

http://www.matchroompool.com/world-cup-of-pool/ 

Or the official Facebook page here. 

https://www.facebook.com/worldcupofpool?fref=ts

– Rappler.com 

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.

Gilas Pilipinas will wrap up their play in Group B of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship against Kuwait, a team the Philippines hasn't played against this decade.

Background

The Philippines has had the edge in this match-up, 5-2, although it has been 6 years since the two last met for a major tournament (2009 with RP victorious, 85-71). 

The Kuwaitis were a power in Gulf basketball in the 1980s but are nowhere within the top ranked Pan-Arab teams. Still, they are tabbed to finish second in the group owing to their experience edge over the up-and-coming Palestine. 

Players to watch out for:

One of their most aggressive outside shooters is point guard Ahmad Albaloushi. Hussein Alkhabbaz is an athletic defender with good timing on his shot block attempts. Among their better big men are forward/centers Abdullah Alshammari and Abdulazziz Mohammad.  

Scouting report:

There is much to be learned from Kuwait depending on the quality of their competition. 

The Kuwaitis gave a good account of themselves in the 2014 Asian Games, topping Group A with a 3-0 record in the qualifying rounds beating the likes of Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Maldives. It is the rapidly improving Mongols who gave them fits as they pulled off a squeaker, 82-81. Once in the preliminary round, grouped with Qatar and Japan, the Kuwaitis crashed out, 0-2, finishing 10th in the 16-team field.

They don’t have a lot of height. Saleh Albrahim, their 6-foot-8 center, is at most a project and doesn’t make an impact during games, leaving them no choice put to play a pair of power forwards up front — 6-foot-5 Abdullah Alshammari and Abdulazziz Mohammad.  

The Kuwaitis, at least by way of their last Asian Games performance, drew firepower from 6-foot point guard Ahmad Albaloushi, who averaged 14.0 points in that tourney, and small forward Hussein Alkhabbaz, who was perhaps their most consistent performer, scoring in double digits in every match with 11.6 ppg.

Kuwait lost to two foes the Philippines has regularly faced, Qatar and Japan. The Qataris won, 79-69, leading the whole way, but Kuwait gave them fits. The Kuwaitis scored 22 turnover points from 9 steals and the atrocious 45 errors of Qatar (they themselves threw the ball away 31 times but their Gulf foe managed to score a measly 4 points from them). Kuwait equalized Qatar’s output in inside points with 34 apiece. 

It was Qatar’s edge in the offensive glass, 11-7, that allowed them to get the win, with 10 huge markers off second chances (Kuwait scored only four). 

Against, Japan, Kuwait played catch up but never seriously threatened in an 89-75 loss. Japan shot a lot better than Kuwait and hurt them with points off turnovers, scoring 20-9. 

How the Philippines should play them:

Press them into oblivion. Albaloushi had more turnovers (14) than assists (12) in the last Asian Games. They aren’t that great defensively so expect the Filipinos’ dribble drive offense to wreak havoc on their defense.

– Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines – For someone who led CESAFI in points scored last season, it's a bit surprising to find out that the 23-year-old Joshua Romelle dela Cerna only started playing the sport at the age of 16.

“I grew up not having any interest in basketball nor with any other sport,” said Dela Cerna, who added that neither was he into video games.

It wasn't until the age of 16 that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father Romeo, a former barangay league player who fell short of the varsity level.

Despite being a basketball fanatic, Dela Cerna said his father never forced him to play but just gave him guidance. Now, his father is present in every game that he plays.

The 6-toot-2 forward/center became a member of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in 2013. And, with only the barangay league tournaments as his experience, he immediately made it to CESAFI's Mythical five.

In his second year, he became the league's leading scorer after averaging more than 20 points per game.

This season, he has been named into the All-Star West Team of University of San Carlos head coach Britt Reroma, which takes place on September 27.

Dela Cerna said that he is surprised the sport has come naturally to him despite starting at an advanced age.

“Nahibong lang ko na I can play good, na kama-o nako, naa nakoi mga skills na magamit nako ig duwa (I marveled that I can play good, that I already know how to play, that I already had skills that I can use when I play),” Dela Cerna shared.

To make up for lost time, Dela Cerna says he practiced whenever he could find time.

“I have taken to always playing basketball and I make sure to win because I hate losing. And God is good because I have been named most valuable player in the barangay leagues from the time I started until now. Last summer I was again named MVP,” said Dela Cerna.

According to Dela Cerna, it has also helped that he often researched on the net about the basic techniques of basketball and he practices them at their home in Talisay, one of the bigger cities of the Cebu province.

A friend of then-Wildcats head coach Gilbert Demape, a former PBA player, saw an 18-year-old Dela Cerna, who was then in the third year of his High School studies, play and brought him to CIT-U.

He began practicing with the Wildcats every summer, and once he finished high school, he was absorbed by the university's college varsity team and been a mainstay in their starting lineup.

He had also played in the Partner's Cup, a CESAFI pre-season tournament with corporate sponsors, from 2012 to 2013 under Demape.

This BSBA Marketing Management student names Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant as his idol, saying he appreciates the Black Mamba's graceful moves.

“The way he plays, it is really beautiful especially his fadeaway shot,” said Dela Cerna who admitted that he tries to emulate the Laker guard's moves.

Among the local players, Dela Cerna looks up to Marc Pingris for his defense and the hardwork that the national player puts in.

As to what he has learned from playing basketball, Dela Cerna said the sport taught him to be patient, to be respectful and to be humble.

For his collegiate career, Dela Cerna said that he wants to help the CIT-U Wildcats clinch their first-ever CESAFI title. And, he has two more years to make it happen.

Asked what he thinks the Wildcats need to win a championship title, Dela Cerna quipped “patience, teamwork and hardwork. We should always be consistent in our scoring and everyone should contribute.”

The CIT-U Wildcats has already ended their eliminations campaign with a 5-7 win-loss record and will play the waiting game as they have a slim chance of making it to the final four, that is if the current fourth placers - University of Cebu Webmasters and University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars - drop all their remaining games.

If not, they will aim for it next season with Dela Cerna saying that they would have a good chance as import players will no longer be allowed.

Should CIT-U Wildcats not make it further this season, they can consider it an achievement the upset win that they have inflicted on newly installed league leader University of the Visayas Green Lancers, a feat they had also accomplished last season.

After his stint in the CESAFI, Dela Cerna hopes to be given a chance to play in Manila. “Just want to try my luck out there.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The biennial 2015 FIBA Asia Championship will be played from September 23 to October 3 in Changsha, Hunan, China. There will be 16 countries vying for the biggest prize of this Asian tilt – an automatic slot at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Top teams expected to make a serious run for the gold medal and the accompanying Olympics spot are reigning FIBA Asia champion Iran, host China, previous bronze medalist South Korea and silver medalist Philippines.

Qualifier for Rio 2016

The gold medalist of this year’s FIBA Asia will automatically qualify for the Rio Olympics.

While the second, third and fourth placers will be relegated to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening in 2016 from July 5 to 16. That qualifying tournament will have 18 national teams from FIBA’s primary events divided into 3 competitions of 6. The winner from each tilt will qualify for Rio 2016.

The Philippines and its national men’s basketball team Gilas Pilipinas are eyeing nothing less than the gold at this year’s FIBA Asia Championship. The Southeast Asian nation has not played in men’s Olympic basketball tournament since 1972.

Iran participated in the men’s basketball Olympics in 2008 while China has been a fixture at the Games since 1976. South Korea saw action together with China in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Groupings

The 16 national teams are divided into 4 groups.

Group A:

Iran

Japan

Malaysia

India

Group B:

Philippines

Palestine

Kuwait

Hong Kong

Group C:

South Korea

Jordan

Singapore

China

Group D:

Chinese Taipei

Qatar

Lebanon

Kazakhstan

Competition format

According to FIBA.com, all 16 teams will play in a single round robin within their groups for the first round of competition from days 1 to 3. The top 3 teams from each group will move on to the second round. The eliminated teams will play in classification games (13-16).

The second round, happening from days 5 to 6 after one rest day, will be placed once again in two groups (E and F) of 6, where each team will play the 3 new teams they have not yet faced. Win-loss records from the first round will be carried over. 

Only the top 4 teams from each group will qualify for the Quarterfinals while those eliminated will play in classification games (9-12).

The final 8 teams will play in the playoffs or final round from days 9 to 11 after a rest day. All games in this round will be in knockout format. 

The quarterfinals, happening on day 9, will be a crossover between the top 4 teams of Groups E and F from the second round. The top team from each group will face the bottom team of the other group and so on and so forth, like so:

E1 vs F4

E2 vs F3

E3 vs F2

E4 vs F1

For the semifinals, which takes place on on day 10, the winner between E1 and F4 will face the winner between E3 and F2. While the other semifinals pairing will be between the winner of E4 vs F1 and the winner between E2 vs F3.

The winners in each of the two semifinals brackets will battle gold in the final on day 11. Classification games will be played as well throughout the last 3 days.

Future of FIBA Asia

FIBA Asia will play this kind of tournament format for the last time this year. By 2017, there will be a new competition format and calendar in order to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China as well as in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Each FIBA World Cup qualification period will be stretched out over two years, meaning the FIBA Asia Championship will also take place over the course of two years. There will be 6 windows per qualification period: November, February, June, September, November, February. Each team, FIBA said, will also have one home and one away game.

Teams from FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceania will also merge in one Asia-Pacific zone for the 2019 World Cup qualification “to ensure competitive games,” according to FIBA.com. 

The 2019 FIBA World Cup will also undergo major changes as it veers away from occuring on the same year as the FIFA World Cup as well as increasing its number of teams from 24 to 32. The next basketball World Cup in 2019 will have a total of 7 teams participating from the Asia-Pacific region, which will include Asia and Oceania.

All continental championships after the 2019 World Cup will follow a 4-year cycle. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Earl Scottie Thompson turned in his seventh triple-double in the ongoing NCAA Season 91 basketball tourney as he led the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta against the lowly Emilio Aguinaldo College, 89-59, on Tuesday, September 22 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Thompson, who was picked up by Brgy. Ginebra in the recent PBA Draft, finished with 10 markers, 14 boards and 13 dimes as the Altas improved their win-loss record to 11-4 and tied with Colegio de San Juan de Letran at second place in the team standings.

Aside from Thompson, Gerald Dizon also contributed 18 baskets to Perpetual Help’s victory over EAC, while Nigerian import came up with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

With the Generals only down nine points at halftime, Aric Del Rosario-mentored troop stepped on the gas pedal in the third quarter, where the purple shirts sparked a 29-4 blitz.

“EAC was obviously in high sprits. I really thought that we won’t able to close out the game in a large margin because we don’t like close games against teams, which are at the bottom of the standings,” Del Rosario stated in the post-game interview.

With 1:38 remaining in the contest, 3 players were sent to the locker room when EAC’s Enjerico Diego took a hard bump from Alta Nikko Cabiltes of Perpetual Help, causing a commotion on the court and Diego’s teammate Raymond Pascua also entering the fray.

All 3 will likely face a one-game suspension.

Christ Mejos mustered 13 points to front the efforts of the Generals, who dropped to a 2-13 slate.

Scores:

Perpetual Help (89) - Dizon 18, Eze 11, Thompson 10, Dagangon 9, Akhuetie 9, Coronel 8, Oliveria 7, Tamayo 6, Gallardo 5, Ylagan 2, Bantayan 2, Sadiwa 2, Elopre 0, Cabiltes 0, Pido 0 

EAC (59) - Mejos 13, General 11, Onwubere 8, Hamadou 8, Diego 7, Pascua 6, Munsayac 5, Bonleon 1, Pascual 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, Mallari 0

Quarter scores: 14-12, 39-30, 64-41, 89-59. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Adamson Soaring Falcons head coach Mike Fermin has been suspended by UAAP Season 78 senior’s basketball tournament commissioner Rebo Saguisag for his team’s upcoming game against the NU Bulldogs on Wednesday, September 23, after he was ejected in Adamson’s loss to La Salle over the weekend.

Fermin was ejected after making a slit-throat gesture during the 6:46 mark of the fourth quarter, which took place after he complained about an unsportsmanlike foul called on his player and team captain Dawn Ochea.

Fermin received two technical fouls which led to the ejection, and under UAAP rules, that means an automatic suspension for the next game.

“You know [the] house rules [in] the UAAP, if you’re thrown out, that would result into a one-game suspension so that’s by operation of law,” Saguisag told the Philippine Star.

While talking to Rappler on Tuesday, September 22, Fermin said he accepts the penalty handed out by Saguisag - a friend of his - but is seeking clarification on the officiating in the UAAP.

“I respect the decision of the commissioner,” Fermin, the team’s rookie head coach, said. “I respect it and we will abide by it. We won’t contest. But we will seek clarification through him (Saguisag).”

Fermin admits that he did the slit-throat act, but wants an explanation on what gestures are prohibited and allowed.

“My question is: what are the gestures that aren’t permitted?” he said. 

“What are the gestures that are really not allowed? What do you want us to do?” he later added, before asking if a coach circling his finger around his forehead or covering his eyes are actions that warrant punishment as well.

Fermin was also unhappy with the officiating in the entire game against La Salle - something he feels was most prominent in the incident that led to the unsportsmanlike foul called on Ochea and, subsequently, his ejection.

According to Fermin, the referee who ultimately made the unsportsmanlike foul call first signaled for a jump ball, but changed his decision when La Salle guard Thomas Torres grabbed a part of his face after seemingly get hit.

Fermin says the hit was “unintentional” in Ochea’s part as he was just trying to get the loose ball.

Adamson had cut a 26-point La Salle lead to 11 and was in the middle of their rally when the call was made. The ensuing free throws from the unsportsmanlike foul and technical fouls on Fermin gave the Green Archers free throws and the opportunity to regain control of the contest.

With regards to the slit-throat gesture, Fermin says he did the act to point out to the referee that he had killed the Soaring Falcons’ momentum.

“That was during the time-out. I told them, you killed our momentum. If I screamed it, he wouldn’t have heard me. So I was gesturing,” Fermin told Rappler.

Fermin, who called the match against La Salle a “badly-officiated game,” hopes that the UAAP will take action against the officials in charge of the contest.

“It’s up to them. It’s there in the video that there were questionable decisions. I don’t know what they will do with the officials.”

“I accept my sanction,” Fermin said. “What sanctions are they going to give those officials. Kung hindi nila gagawan nang (if they don’t take any) action, I cannot do anything about it.”

Adamson is currently winless in 4 games this UAAP season.

As of posting time, a text message to Commissioner Saguisag has not been answered. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Even though San Sebastian College-Recoletos’ hopes of entering the Final Four in the ongoing NCAA Season 91 basketball tourney have already been dashed, the Golden Stags scored the biggest win by pulling off a 98-92 upset against the reigning 5-peat champion San Beda College on Tuesday, September 22 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

San Sebastian defeated San Beda with an outstanding effort from veteran center Bradwyn Guinto, who finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, one steal and one block to improve the Recto-based brigade’s win-loss standing to 5-10.

“We just played with heart and with more intensity. This is my first time ever to win against San Beda,” Guinto told reporters after San Sebastian's surprising rout of the Red Lions.

Aside from Guinto, reliable shooter Jamil Ortouste converted 8 of his 13 points in the final frame for the Golden Stags.

“I just told my players to enjoy our last remaining games and let this season be a lesson for us,” San Sebastian head coach Rodney Santos said in the post-game interview.

With 2:26 left on the clock, San Sebastian gained a 91-83 edge with a lay-up by Ortouste to secure the astonishing victory, ending a 5-game losing skid against the Red Lions from Mendiola.

On the other hand, the disappointing setback sent San Beda to a 3-way tie with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta on top of the team standings with an 11-4 record.

Pro-bound Art Dela Cruz amassed a triple-double performance of 30 markers, 12 boards and 10 dimes for San Beda, while Ola Adeogun bagged a double-double feat of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Scores:

San Sebastian (98)– Guinto 26, Calisaan 21, Fabian 16, Ortuoste 13, Bulanadi 10, Costelo 7, Pretta 5, Santos 0, Capobres 0

San Beda (92)– Dela Cruz 30, Adeogun 17, Tankoua 10, Amer 9, Soberano 8, Mocon 7, Solera 4, Presbitero 3, Koga 2, Tongco 2, Cabanag 0, Reyes 0

Quarter scores: 28-23, 49-45, 73-74, 98-92. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Wesley So grabbed a pawn on the 22nd move and it slowly it led to his elimination by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in the fourth round of the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijian on Tuesday, September 22. 

So's pawn grabbing ultimately cost him a piece. Even if he had 3 pawns for it, there was no way for him to capitalize on it as the French grandmaster played the endgame accurately to prevail in 68 moves of an English Opening. 

So goes home to the United States, which he has been representing since October 2014, with $25,000 for reaching the fourth round. He has failed to beat Vachier-Lagrave, who is now up 3-0. A consolation is that So ousted Le Quang Liem, the Vietnamese who has a lifetime 2-0 score against him, in the third round.

According to 2700Chess.com, So remains at 12th spot in the world rankings, losing 11.3 points in this tournament. He was ranked seventh in the world last August but lackluster results in the Turkish team championship and a last place finish at the super-strong Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis pulled him down to number 12.

"The window of opportunity is running out. Unless he can find a serious coach who can help him, he will not get to the top," said Paul Truong, one of So's coaches at Webster University at the Chess Philippines Facebook page. 

Around a month after So formally broke with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in October 2014, he dropped out of Webster University to become a professional. 

So has no coach to work with, only powerful chess software loaded into his laptops.

The world's best players have coaches to supplement such silicon aid. Whether this is enough is open to debate. 

As Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri wrote about So in the recently-published book After Magnus: Who can Dethrone the World Champion?, the Philippine-born So has shown an ability to recover from setbacks. His next event will be the Millionaires Chess tournament two weeks from now in the US. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - After an on-court incident with 1:38 remaining in the final frame of the game between University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday, September 22, players from both schools took the heat to the parking lot of the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Enjerico Diego of EAC and Nikko Cabiltes of Perpetual Help were ejected after both men shoved each other following a rebound play, while Diego’s teammate Raymond Pascua entered the fray and instigated a scuffle.

According to an eyewitness account, Cabiltes confronted Pascua before the two exchanged verbal jabs and then traded punches outside the playing venue, prompting security officials to intervene and control the melee.

One witness claimed that Pascua was accompanied by Sidney Onwubere to attack Cabiltes, but Diego was not seen at the aforementioned scene.

The observer further stated that import centers Bright Akhuetie and Hamadou Laminou tried to stop the altercation together with GJ Ylagan and Nestor Bantayan.

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The National Collegiate Athletic Association is still investigating the unfortunate incident and has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.

Tuesday’s double-headliner ironically marked the first year anniversary of the infamous free-for-all brawl involving EAC and Mapua Institute of Technology at the same location, which led to the suspension of 17 players and 3 referees. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The road to Rio begins for the Philippines against Palestine as Gilas Pilipinas kicks off their 2015 FIBA Asia Championship campaign against the Middle Eastern squad on Wednesday, September 23 at 11:45 am.

Palestine, which is unranked by FIBA, qualified for the continental meet by finishing third at the West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) Championship. Palestine has a younger team than the Philippines (an average age of 25 compared to 31 for the Philippines) but is by average an inch shorter at 6-foot-4.

(READ: Facing Gilas Pilipinas - Palestine)

Follow the action with Rappler’s live blog!

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- Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas may have a serious task ahead of them, but that isn't stopping them from having fun at their FIBA photo shoot in Changsha, China.

From Dondon Hontiveros' cell phone jump shot, to Sonny Thoss' new alternate jersey and the ever-present smile of Calvin Abueva, the Philippine national team has brought a relaxed mindset as they approach Group B of the FIBA Asia Championship.

(READ: FIBA Asia 101: A guide to the Olympic qualifier in China)

The gold medal winner will be guaranteed a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. With much at stake, Gilas will have to turn their smiles to game faces as they approach Palestine, Hong Kong and Kuwait in the next few days.

– Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines - The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters has likely waved goodbye to Final Four contention in the 15th CESAFI men's basketball tournament after bowing to the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 73-87, Tuesday, September 22 at the New Cebu Coliseum.

The USC Warriors ended the eliminations with a win-loss record of 10-2 to regain the top spot from the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, which has one game left against defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras this Saturday, September 26.

The University of San Jose Recoletos, on the other hand, have bolstered their chances of making it to the final four with an 88-81 thrashing of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), who bowed out this season as the only team to have not won a single game. 

UC's loss has given the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, who ended the eliminations with a 5-7 card, a very slim chance of advancing to the final four. 

This is because the USJR Jaguars and the UC Webmasters still have one more game to play against each other, also this Saturday.

A win by USJR would mean that they will join USC, UV and SWU into the single round-robin semifinals. 

However, a win by UC will mean a triple tie for the fourth spot for UC, USJR and CIT-U which will be decided by a quotient system.

This means that Cebu basketball fans will have a very exciting match to look forward to this Saturday.

USC routs UC

Smarting from a 31-point loss which gave them their lowest output for the season, the Warriors made sure to recover by quickly setting up the tone of the ballgame and erecting a 12-point lead, 20-8, going into the second quarter with William McAloney making his presence felt by scoring six points.

McAloney continued his remarkable performance all throughout the game and posted a career high 15 points which earned him the best player title. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and one steal.

Ian Jefferson Tagapan topscored for the Warriors with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals while Victor Manuel Rabat accounted for 17 points, 5 rebounds and two steals. Also contributing much to the Warriors' win was Charles Pepito, who along with his 11 points also pulled down 12 rebounds.

Garciano Puerto Jr. led the Webmasters with 20 points with Justine Dacalos adding 11 points and Jhan Calvin Jabello dishing 10 points.

The Webmasters got over their miscues which hounded them in the first quarter and rallied in the second canto to pull down the Warriors' lead to just 4 points, 29-33, at the halftime break.

Rabat, however, opened the second half with two triples to once again widen the gap to eight points, 39-31.

The Webmasters did not give up and even managed to come as close as 3 points, 38-41, with a little more than 6 minutes remaining going into the final quarter on Jabello's two gift shots which he earned when he was fouled on the way to the basket after swiping the ball from Tagapan.

However, it was eventually the nearest that they could get as the Warriors pulled away to a 16-point advantage on the back-to-back layups of Caesar Ian Ortega to end the third canto at 65-49.

The Warriors continued to hold sway over the Webmasters and posted their biggest lead at 18 points on a basket from Pepito at the opening minutes of the final quarter.

The Webmasters doggedly worked to bring down the Warriors lead and managed to trail by just eight points with 4:59 remaining on the back-to-back rainbow shots of Dacalos and Melvin Butohan.

Jabello further pulled down the Warriors' lead to a mere 6 points when he split his charities, however, Tagapan led the Warriors to a blistering rally that saw them eventually sealing the game in their favor with a 14-point advantage.

USJR denies USPF a win

Juan Miguel Gastador led the Jaguars with a career high 22 points that earned him the best player tag. He completed his play with 9 rebounds, two assists, 3 steals and one block.

Helping the Jaguars to post their much needed win was Kevin Rey Villafranca who finished with 16 points and Ralph Jude Dinolan who handed 15 points.

The Panthers, on the otherhand, had 3 players finishing in double figures--Brantford Borces who topscored with 18 points, Jawein Wisdom Ceniza who had 17 points and Kino matthews Bajamunde who contributed 10 points.

Eager to finish the season with just a win, the Panthers was just trailing the Jaguars by half a basket, 15-16, in the first quarter when Gastador pulled up a triple allowing the Jaguars a breather.

The Panthers, however, was not far behind going into the second canto as they were only just 3 points, 19-22, behind.

But Ferdinand Risma started the second quarter with 3 straight baskets and had the Jaguars pulling away to 9 points, 28-19.

The Panthers was not without their own arsenals in Bolivar and Borces who combined for their own 3 straight baskets, one from Bolivar and back-to-back from Borces, that had  the Panthers once again nipping at the heels of the Jaguars, 25-28.

Again, Gastador came to the rescue handing the Jaguars a 5-point advantage at 30-25.

The Jaguars, however, held the Panthers to just a basket courtesy of Borces with 2:42 remaining, that had the Panthers staring at an 11-point deficit at the halftime break.

The second half saw the Jaguars continue to torment the Panthers as they padded their lead to as much as 12 points with 1:24left in the ballgame.

Ceniza and Gilberto Sastrillas started hitting their attempts from beyond the arc but it was already too late as the Jaguars clinched their much needed victory.

Game Schedule

Saturday, September 26 at New Cebu Coliseum

Seniors:

2 pm - UC vs USJR
3:30 pm - UV vs SWU

Scores:

First game:

USJ-R (88) - Gastador 22, Villafranca 16, Dinolan 15, Mantilla 13, Risma 8, Bayhonan 5, Labares 5, Navarra 4, Peromingan 0, Senining 0, Moral 0.

USPF (81) - Borces 18, Ceniza 17, Bajamunde 10, Bolivar 8, Colina 7, Avanceña 6, Alocillo 5, Quiachon 4, Sastrillas 3, Langahin 3, Laver 0, Patalinghug 0.

Quarter Scores: 22-19; 42-31; 66-56; 88-81.

Second game: 

USC (87) - Tagapan 18, Rabat 17, McAloney 15, Pepito 11, Olago 6, Laguyo 6, Ortega 4, Magat 4, Suarez 4, Lim 0, Oleodo 0.

UC (74) - Puerto 20, Dacalos 11, Jabello 10, Butohan 8, Mayol 7, Culango 6, Montilla 4, Suelto 3, Tagudin 2, Codilla 0, Santander 0, Grafilo 0, Luzares 0.

Quarter Scores: 20-8; 33-29; 65-49; 87-73. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippines got off to a terrible start in their quest for an Olympics ticket as the debuting Palestine stunned Gilas Pilipinas, 75-73, in Group B action of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Wednesday, September 23 at the Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium in Changsha, China.

(HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas vs Palestine – 2015 FIBA Asia Championship)

The Philippines led by as much as 15 early in the first half and held the advantage most of the way before an Jamal Abu Shamala 3-pointer shoved Palestine ahead by a hair, 72-71, with 1:35 remaining.

Andray Blatche, who had a good performance for Gilas overall in his first game out despite being out of shape for the past two months, put Gilas back on top 73-72 but Sani Sakakini converted the go-ahead 3-point play with 15.8 left.

The Philippines had a chance to win it in the final possession but Blatche's triple attempt was blocked as time expired.

Only 4 Palestinians made it on the scoreboard all game long. The 6-foot-5 forward Abu Shamala was not subbed out at all and played the full 40-minute game to lead the charge with 26 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. He also went 6-of-10 from downtown and 10-of-23 overall from the field.

Like Abu Shamala, Sani Sakakini also logged in 40 minutes of play to post 22 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals. His brother, Salim Sakakini, added 10 points and 11 rebounds in over 23 minutes of play.

Imad Qahwash contributed added 17 points and also registered a 40-minute outing to round out the small scoring party for Palestine that was enough to overturn the deeper bench of Gilas.

Blatche posted a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds despite being shackled in the second half after pouring 14 points in the first.

Gilas rookie and revelation Terrence Romeo was relatively quiet with just 11 points on a miserable 4-of-13 field goal shooting off the bench. Jayson Castro, known internationally as Jayson William, added 10 points and only a single assist.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team let go of its strong start and eventually gave in to complacency by the second period as Palestine chopped a 45-33 lead with 1:21 left in the second to just 45-40 at halftime following a series of defensive lapses.

The Filipinos allowed their FIBA Asia rookie foes to stay within striking distance in the second half with sloppy offensive executions, a relaxed defense, and a number of miscues that amounted to 15. Gilas was also out-rebounded 53-58.

(IN PHOTOS: Gilas Pilipinas in wacky mood at photo shoot)

It was an unexpected loss for Gilas, who is ranked 31 in the world by FIBA while Palestine is unranked.

Gilas will have a chance to redeem themselves when they play Hong Kong on Thursday, September 23 at 9:30 am, and Kuwait on Friday as they try to advance past the group stage. 

Hong Kong opened up group stage play with an 87-50 win over Kuwait.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The road to the Olympics was already long and bumpy in the first place for Philippine national men's basketball team Gilas Pilipinas. But after a shock defeat at the hands of unranked Palestine, Gilas will suddenly look up to find the road also grew much steeper.

The debuting Palestine stunned the Philippines, 75-73, in the opener of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Wednesday, September 23 at the Changsha Social World College Gymnasium in Changsha, China.

(HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas vs Palestine – 2015 FIBA Asia Championship)

Gilas, ranked 31 in the world by FIBA, was off to a good start and led by as much as 15 points in the first half. But sloppy execution on both ends of the floor during the second half forced by Palestine's zone defense spelled their demise.

(IN PHOTOS: Gilas Pilipinas in wacky mood at photo shoot)

Gilas will have a chance to redeem themselves when they play Hong Kong on Thursday, September 23 at 9:30 am, and Kuwait on Friday as they try to advance past the group stage.

Hong Kong opened up group stage play with an 87-50 win over Kuwait.

See the photos of the Philippines' painful first loss below.

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Renowned Spanish football team Real Madrid is coming to the Philippines for the first time to “help train the country’s future football stars,” according to a press release that was sent out on Wednesday, September 23.

The announcement comes days after Real Madrid C.F. made headlines when star player Cristiano Ronaldo appeared with a young Syrian refugee in a match in the Spanish capital. 

The partnership was made between the Real Madrid Foundation and Andrew Tan’s conglomerate, Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) in order to “conduct the biggest and first-ever series of football clinics in the Philippines.”

“We are very confident that with the training and guidance of Real Madrid’s coaches, more young Filipino players will be able to achieve their football aspirations,” said Kevin L. Tan, the director of Alliance Global Group, Inc.

“AGI, through Emperador, Inc., is ready to invest its resources and take the lead in growing the popularity of the world’s number one sport in the Philippines.”

The press release indicates that a “rolling” football clinic will be established to conduct the popular campus experience program of Real Madrid C.F. through the help of professional football coaches from Madrid, Spain, who will mentor youth and local coaches across the Philippines’ 16 regions.

The series of clinics will take place at the “world-class” McKinley Hill Stadium in McKinely Hill, Fort Bonifacio, from October 5 to 9 and from October 12 to 16. The clinic will be led by 3 visiting coaches from Real Madrid C.F., who will have mentoring duties of 36 coaches and 360 students from the NCR (National Capital Region).

Real Madrid Foundation will also hold football clinics in Baler, Aurora from October 19 to 23 and from October 26 to 30, with 12 coaches and 120 students expected to be present.

“The rolling football clinics will be modeled after the training programs conducted by [the] Real Madrid Foundation in other Asian countries such as Japan and China,” according to the press release.

Real Madrid, which hopes to promote education of values through sports, has been conducting sports clinics to promote the sport among children around the world. It’s Real Madrid Foundation currently runs permanent and temporary activities and projects in 70 countries and has benefited more than 50,000 youth from different parts of the world. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The final buzzer rang out through the Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium as if it were wake-up call to Filipino basketball fans. It was irritating confirmation that what had transpired over the last several minutes was not a dream, but rather the most unconscionable outcome that could’ve been conceived. 

Gilas Pilipinas, ranked 31st in the world, had lost to unranked Palestine, 75-73, in their opening match of the FIBA Asia Championship. 

The Philippines entered the Rio Olympics qualifying meet as dark horses to emerge with gold against continental giants China, Iran and South Korea, who still loom large. But no one could’ve imagined Gilas – being looped in Group B with Palestine, the 69th ranked Hong Kong and 70th ranked Kuwait – could drop a match in what amounts to the anti-Group of Death. 

It was the equivalent of Manny Pacquiao losing to a trial horse from Wyoming, or Francisco Bustamante being hustled by a kid at a bus stop saloon. 

The game followed the script early on, with the Philippines opening up a 15-point first half lead and naturalized big man Andray Blatche accounting for 14 points and 8 rebounds after 20 minutes. 

(IN PHOTOS: Palestine rejoices in upset win over Gilas Pilipinas)

Palestine had their own American-born big shot to carry them when things turned bleak in Jamal Abu Shamala, a 6-foot-5 swingman who had previously represented Jordan and played 4 years for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Shamala led a second half comeback that was boosted by a switch to a 2-3 zone defense that forced Blatche out of the paint and into the perimeter. There, Blatche’s size and agility were negated and he was reduced to a questionably conditioned big man chucking up 3s (of which he hit just 1-of-7).  

With the lane closed off, Palestine was able to exploit the Philippines’ lack of shooters. The Philippines shot just 7-of-30 from 3-point range, with Dondon Hontiveros going 1-of-6 and Ranidel De Ocampo going 0-of-3. 

Shamala stunned Gilas fans with a 3 that gave Palestine the lead, 72-71, at 1:35 for the first time since the opening moments. From there, it was a battle of heart and will that Palestine was unwilling to cede. 

The Philippines had one last opportunity to win, and it went into the hands of Blatche. Blatche’s 3 arced high, but lacked the distance after Sani Sakakini tipped just enough of it to make the shot drop like a failed North Korean missile into the Sea of Japan.

All credit is due to Palestine, a FIBA Asia-newcomer that fought for survival on the court with the same doggedness their nation had shown in their decades-long struggle for sovereignty.

Palestine had none of the fan support that the Philippines did. There was no social media-savvy mass that could make one of their slogans (do they have one?) trend worldwide the way #LabanPilipinas did throughout much of the afternoon.

The Palestinians won despite 3 players playing the entire 40 minute-duration, and only 4 players making it to the score sheets. 

Both Shamala (26 points and 15 rebounds) and Sakakini (22 points and 14 rebounds) outshined the former NBA center Blatche (21 points and 12 rebounds) in the end. 

As Blatche went, so did the Philippines, with only Terrence Romeo (11 points) and Jayson Castro (10 points) making it to double-digit scoring. Marc Pingris started but played just over 6 minutes in which he incurred 4 fouls. Calvin Abueva was able to absorb minutes, grabbing 8 rebounds off the bench. 

There are still two games yet to play in the group stage as the Philippines fights to avoid being relegated to the classification round at FIBA Asia for the first time since 2007, where they finished ninth at Tokushima, Japan. 

Anything less than a first place finish means the Philippines’ dream of making the Summer Olympics basketball tournament for the first time since 1972 is over.  

(READ: FIBA Asia 101: A guide to the Olympic qualifier in China)

Next they play Hong Kong, a team they beat handily at FIBA Asia 2013. Hong Kong showed they are there for more than a vacation by pounding Kuwait, 87-50, in their opening match. A second straight loss would be demoralizing for the Philippines.

What the men of Gilas Pilipinas said in their post-game huddle after the final buzzer sounded is something only they can know.

Each member of the team must ask themselves something in the few hours that remain between that moment and the beginning of the Hong Kong match: how badly do they want to win, and what are they willing to do to achieve that goal?

If there’s any lingering doubt, this tournament is as good as over for the Philippine nationals. – Rappler.com

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.

MANILA, Philippines – The FEU Tamaraws were at their best in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, September 23, as they erased a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and came away with a statement-making 92-81 victory over the UE Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Once again backing up why many consider them to be the favorite of the UAAP Season 78 senior’s basketball tournament, the Tamaraws scored 33 points in the final period while limiting their opponents to just 10 - mostly in garbage time - to improve their record to 4-1.

The Red Warriors, who are now in a two-game losing skid, dropped to 2-3.

Mac Belo, an expected top pick in the 2016 PBA Draft, led the Tamaraws with 24 points on 60% shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and two blocks, while his co-pilot Mike Tolomia put up 15 points, 2 boards, and 8 assists.

Monbert Arong registered 14 points in the win, while big man Raymar Jose had 13 points and 11 boards. Roger Pogoy and Achie Inigo scored 10 and 8 points, respectively.

Derrick Pumaren’s Red Warriors, who erased an 11-2 deficit in the first quarter and was ahead 50-39 at halftime, was led by the 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists of Edison Batiller. Chris Javier also played well, putting up 13 points to go with 4 rebounds.

FEU, who won for the tenth time in the last 11 games against UE, opened the fourth period on a 7-0 run spearheaded by 3-pointers from Inigo and Tolomia. The Red Warriors were momentarilly able to stop the bleeding thanks to an Edgar Charcos tip-in, but the Tamaraws were able to respond right away thanks to a Belo jumper.

A few minutes later, Belo hit a 3-ball and then converted on a put-back to put his team ahead 77-75. It was all FEU from there as they completed a 22-4 run to extend their lead to 81-75, and stayed in control of the game the rest of the way.

Once again showing that they can flip the switch at any moment - like they did against UP - the Tamaraws shot 59% from the field in the final quarter and went 4-of-9 from downtown, while limiting UE to 28% shooting and 0-of-5 from long range.

Coach Nash Racela’s team also scored 10 points off turnovers during the 10-minute span.

FEU shot 49% from the floor overall and 38% from long rage, but once again had issues taking care of the ball as they turned it over 24 times. 

Both the Tamaraws and Red Warriors did a nice job sharing the ball as they combined for 44 assists. UE, however, also had issues with miscues as they finished with 21 turnovers.

Scores:

FEU (92): Belo 24, Tolomia 15, Arong 14, Jose 13, Pogoy 10, Inigo 8, Tamsi 3, Escoto 2, Orizu 2, Escoto 1, Dennison 0, Comboy 0, Trinidad 0, Ebona 0

UE (81): Batiller 18, Javier 13, Derige 10, Varilla 9, Abanto 8, Charcos 7, De Leon 7, Palma 6, Manalang 3, Penuela 0, Yu 0

Quarter scores: 21-29, 39-50, 59-71, 92-81 – Rappler.com

LAREDO, TX—If the WWE isn’t taking forever to get their stories move through their natural progressions, they’re most likely rushing them.

A quick recap, before we begin: at the very end of last Sunday’s Night of Champions, Kane—the Demon Kane, not Corporate Kane, as the company makes the effort to remind us—returned to haunt Seth Rollins after perhaps months and months of verbal and psychological abuse by the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 

On this week’s RAW, however, who else should Rollins find ominously standing, face to the wall, in the Authority’s office? None other than Corporate Kane.

This Corporate Kane, however, presumes to have no knowledge of the Demon’s attack the previous night. He spends the whole show convincing Rollins and the Authority that he had no memory of the incident, implying that the Demon was now some sort of Mr. Hyde-ish alter ego. However, the show ends with gleeful, caffeine-powered Corporate Kane sending Rollins an encouraging message, before quickly turning menacing—and revealing he was under the ring all along, dragging Rollins to hell like the episode was directed by Sam Raimi.

Now… what the hell? (No pun intended.)

First of all, I’m aware of the irony should I be jumping the gun on this story and its analysis. Second of all, why spend all this time teasing an intriguing, unusual storyline if we’re going to rush all the way the big reveal after a little over two hours? It may not have been groundbreaking, the premise may have been corny, but it was definitely intriguing. People were sick of Kane at worst and indifferent to him at best, and I thought adding a bizarre wrinkle to his multiple personalities was a good, respectable try at refreshing the character.

Instead, we teleport right into what should be the dramatic climax, with Kane revealing he was faking the entire thing. While the tension between Kane and Rollins had been simmering for a while now, with slightly confusing starts and stops here and there, there is a climax to the climax. Since they decided to introduce this new element, they’ve pretty much deferred the climax. Because Kane decided to reveal his true colors at the end of the show, what then was the point of his earlier subterfuge? He looks stupid for wasting his own time.

This has always been a problem with WWE storytelling, which is made even more damning by Vince McMahon’s own admission that they are storytellers, first and foremost, in the company. How can you be a storyteller when you can’t understand how to tell a story? This could be a swerve, and we could still see Kane return to being ambiguous next week, but the ending was a giveaway. To panic and retcon that little nuance of Kane changing his voice in next week’s episode would be doing even more damage.

Now we’ve got no choice but to witness a four-week game of cat and mouse.

High spots:

• So glad to see the show open with a crazy brawl instead of yet another soliloquy. Having the Shield and the Wyatts brawl was a refreshing change of pace, and that broadcast real estate should really be given to people who need more exposure, not stars who are on the brink of overexposure. 

• Good call on having Orton return and continue what the Wyatts started, but the only way to properly do this is to give some tension between him and the Shield. They’re the guys who didn’t come down to save him, so why should Orton trust them too?
• Much love for the six-man tag between the Cosmic Wasteland and Neville feat. The Lucha Dragons, as well as Dudleys and Dolph vs. The RuDay. If the roster wasn’t already very stacked (and the tag titles already barely well-managed), I’d also cast my vote for a WWE Trios Championship.
• Glad to see Paige finally turn heel. I’m amused that they let her say the things she said (especially concerning Nikki, and the subtext of her relationship with John Cena) but not totally surprised, as it’s almost the exact same thing they let CM Punk do in 2011. Let’s hope this ushers in the real Diva Revolution.
• I’m probably in the minority here, but I loved Big Show’s outburst. I’m a sucker for from-the-heart promos, and Big Show just nailed it. He nailed all the right talking points for his upcoming match with Brock Lesnar at Madison Square Garden, especially their history from twelve years ago. I don’t know about you, but I’m already sold for their match. 

Low blows:

• I don’t do a PPV review so I didn’t get to say this for Night of Champions, but announcing Brock Lesnar’s Go to Hell Tour via video package was such a lazy move. They couldn’t find the time to fly Paul Heyman to Laredo and have him cut one of his usual fiery promos?
• Seth Rollins and John Cena continue to deliver like they always do, but at some point you’ve got to feel for Rollins and wish they’d give him a break. The guy had just come off a marathon back-to-back main event on Sunday, and he’s supposed to work his ass off again the next night. Yes, that’s what champions, main-eventers, and faces of the company do to secure their spot in history, but just because it’s What Harley Race Would Do doesn’t mean it’s the best thing a company should be making its star employee do. They’ll regret this the day Rollins’s body breaks down on him.
• Natalya’s back! I don’t think, however, that it was a good idea to have her lose her first match back. There were many ways she could have gotten a motivation to fight the heel team without having to lose.
• I keep saying it, but I’ll say it again: three hours of RAW is way too long.

Do you like wrestling? Do you enjoy listening to podcasts? Would you want to listen to a podcast about wrestling? If the answers to those questions – especially that last one – are yes, then you should check out the cleverly-named Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, featuring Mellow 94.7 DJ and PWR General Manager Stan Sy, wrestling writer Romeo Moran, and all-around multimedia person (and voice of PWR) Raf Camus! On their latest episode, PWR head booker Sir Vic joins the boys to talk about how much the company had changed over the course of a year, from Renaissance to Renaissance! Listen to it here! – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas’ highly-anticipated campaign for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship got off to a disappointing start as the men’s national basketball team surprisingly choked a 9-point lead with 4 and a half minutes remaining, paving the way for their unranked opponents, Palestine, to escape with a morale-boosting 75-73 victory.

In multiple instances during their first game of the tournament, Gilas looked like they would come away with an easy win. Led by the strong early play of naturalized Filipino and former NBA big man Andray Blatche, the national squad raced off to a 27-12 lead after one quarter of play and then, later on in the third period, established another 12-point lead following a layup by veteran national player Ranidel de Ocampo.

Palestine, however, continued to hang around by hitting timely jumpers, grabbing crucial offensive rebounds, getting defensive stops, and leaning on the very impressive play of 28-year-old Jamal Abu Shamala, who finished with 26 points (on 6 3-pointers), 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and played every single minute of the game.

Despite having a far-from-perfect performance, Gilas still looked like they were going to seal the victory a little under the halfway mark of the final quarter. But then, Palestine’s zone defense forced the national team into hesitating before taking shot attempts and ill-advised jumpers. On the other end, Abu Shamala and company started nailing 3-pointers and hit shots in the paint to complete the comeback.

Here are some post-game reactions after the contest:

On Andray Blatche

The dominant start of the game for Gilas saw Andray Blatche at his finest. Resembling his superior form in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the 6-foot-11 Blatche gave Palestine’s defense fits as he constantly attacked the rim, drew fouls, hit layups, and kicked out to open shooters. He took a few 3-ball attempts in the first half as well, but most of them were the product of good ball movement on offense and from crisp passes by teammates; not the pull-up, rushed 3-pointers he took during the MVP Cup held in Manila.

Blatche took two more good 3-point attempts in the second half as well, but there were others - including the one that was blocked at the end of the game which sealed the loss - that made Gilas’ audience cringe. Blatche is too good and too big to roam around the perimeter, receive a pass, and hoist up the jumpers that Palestine and other Asian opponents want him to take. 

Considering the height advantage he had over his opponents, having 7 of his 18 total attempts come from downtown is just too high a number. 

There were two plays during the second half where Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin had his naturalized player moving away from the ball, finding open lanes to cut to the rim and get easy baskets. On both occasions, he converted from the field. Clearly, he should do more of that, especially since his teammates are willing passers - sometimes to a fault.

(READ: Gilas Pilipinas has back against the FIBA Asia wall)

Another thing that boggles my mind is why Blatche plays very limited in the post. I get the dribble-drive system and how dynamic he can be from the perimeter, but with only the aging Asi Taulava and Sonny Thoss - two guys with little agility and athleticism - as the team’s legitimate local big men, I was hoping Baldwin would call more plays for Blatche in the block.

The one possession I actually remember him operating from there was actually just by accident. It was with 1:17 left in the game, when he rebounded a Jayson Castro miss, and scored over two Palestinian defenders in the paint after backing them down and using a drop step to get a good look to give Gilas their last taste of the lead in the contest. Palestine had no answer for him, making me wonder why Gilas didn’t go that route more times during the game.

Blatche has the size and width advantage to take opponents to school down the block. He might have spent the last few weeks on a soup and salad diet, but it was evident on Wednesday that he’s still far from game shape, and might not get to ideal playing weight in time before the FIBA Asia Championship ends. 

Blatche might as well use that extra weight to dominate inside the paint, rather than operate mostly from the perimeter. And even on possessions where he doesn’t get the ball, him being inside opens the doors for more offensive boards and easy put-backs.

Rebounds

There is simply no excuse for the bigger Gilas to have allowed 23 offensive rebounds to Palestine. The average height of both teams are fairly even - hovering around the 6-foot-5 range - but when one team has a 6-foot-11 former NBA player, another 6-foot-10 player, and two 6-foot-6 guys; while the other team’s tallest guy is 6-foot-8, that advantage on the offensive glass is unacceptable.

Here’s the scary thing: if Gilas allowed that many second-chance opportunities to their opponents, can you imagine how bigger teams like China and Iran will be able to put points on the board against the national team? 

The Philippines might not even get far enough to face those two opponents if they allow Hong Kong’s Duncan Reid to grab that many offensive boards when the two teams go up against each other on Thursday.

Often times, rebounding is about will and, as the old cliche goes, “who wants the ball more.” In their first FIBA Asia game, clearly, that was not Gilas.

Moving forward

It was as astonishing a loss as possible, but the dam isn’t falling in on Gilas just yet. Memory recalls that they also suffered one loss in the first round of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship against their rivals Chinese-Taipei, and then went undefeated the rest of the way until they fell to Iran in the gold medal match at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Gilas is with Palestine, Hong Kong, and Kuwait in Pool B of the tourney, with 3 of those teams moving on to the next round. Given Kuwait’s depleted roster and dismal performance against Hong Kong, and that Gilas remains the most talented team in their bunch seeing as they still have Blatche, it may be safe to assume that the Philippines will still advance to the next stage along with Palestine and Hong Kong while the Kuwaitis will end up in the classification round. 

However, if the defeat to Palestine taught us anything, it’s that the Philippines cannot take any of the upcoming games for granted. All it could take is another bad-shooting game, letting go of the gas pedal for a few minutes, or a few unlucky bounces for defeat to transpire. One more of those, and the national team will be coming home from China quicker than expected.

– Rappler.com