MANILA, Philippines - They don't call him Big E for nothing. Standing at nearly 6-feet tall and being billed at close to 300 pounds, Big E has been one of the most physically imposing forces in World Wrestling Entertainment since debuting on the main roster in 2012. He now brings the pain as one third of the WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day, alongside Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.

Big E and The New Day will be a part of the WWE Live Manila event on Saturday, September 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. The show will be the WWE's first in the Philippines since 2009, and the company's only visit to Southeast Asia in 2016.

Below are some of the highlights from Big E's 15-minute conversation with Rappler Sports editor Ryan Songalia.

On making his New Day tag partners laugh when coming up with ideas...

Big E:“Honestly, that’s the whole point, is to pop each other. And if the fans laugh, then that’s like an added bonus. 

"And it’s honestly for one percent of the audience sometimes that understands the joke. But for the most part, I think, what we try to do, we try to appeal to a larger demographic as well, but we like to keep the small stuff too that the fans can pick up on."

On The New Day's current feud with The Wyatt Family...

Big E: "I think it’s a stark contrast from the feuds that we’ve had in the past, which tended to be based around physicality. There isn’t often times a lot more depth – one of the things we like is that in a different way that we would go back and forth with Enzo and Cass, which is more just cracking jokes back and forth. Obviously we’re still gonna be us, but I think with Bray, and the way he controls the mic and – is you know, one of the better talkers of our generation.  I think it definitely adds a different challenge for us, and a new wrinkle. I think this program is just going to show a different side of both teams and feel fresh.”

On which video game he dominates Xavier Woods in...

Big E: "Woods is pretty phenomenal at all games for the most part, but UFC 2 I’ve got his number in, so that must be the one game. He’s not actually great at sports games. That’s really not his thing, so, most sports games, I think I got him, and that’s about it."

On accidentally hitting AJ Lee before his RAW debut match in 2013...

Big E: "That was, at the time, probably the most frightening moment in my career. It probably still is.

"I remember swinging back and knowing that I hit her, and I was expecting to turn around, see this tiny woman on the ground in a pool of blood. I don’t know what I would have done after that, probably just walk straight to the back. But thankfully, she’s very tough, it ended up hitting her, in, like, her chest or upper torso region, not her face, she was fine. We ended up having a laugh about it later but that could have been really bad, but thankfully, everything’s all good."

On coming to Manila...  

Big E: "I was in grad school 7 years ago, right before I got signed, I was supposed to go. Actually, the reason I got my passport, the very first time, was to go to Manila, we were actually gonna help set up some sports camps. I was actually excited about it, but I actually ended up getting signed by WWE, and obviously couldn’t make the trip.

"I’ve been doing some research about the Philippines, and obviously, knowing how important Manny Pacquiao was as an ambassador for the country and for his people has been very cool as well.

"Hopefully we’re back in the Philippines regularly, but it’s one of those things we’ll treasure because we don’t get to do a trip like that very often. So we’re all very excited about having shows in Manila, and it should be a lot of fun." – Rappler.com

MORE WWE COVERAGE ON RAPPLER

• Seth Rollins added to WWE Manila card
• WWE Live Manila ticket prices revealed
• WWE returns to Manila for live show in September
• RAW Deal: Going back to Manila
• Ohio’s other World Champion - Dean Ambrose

DINARD, France - There will be no love lost between Real Madrid teammates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo when Wales faces Portugal in Wednesday's Euro 2016 semifinal, Welsh manager Chris Coleman said on Sunday, July 3.

The clash between 26-year-old Bale, the tournament's joint-top scorer with 3 goals, and Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, 31, will be the intriguing subplot to the game in Lyon.

While Coleman said that the game will be decided by several factors, he knows that the Wales number 11 and Portugal number seven will be the centre of attention.

"They're two of the best players on the planet. They know each other very well, but I don't suppose there will be any love lost on the evening between both teams, not just Gareth and Cristiano," he said.

"Both teams know what's at stake, so any friendship will have to wait until after the game. It's us against them."

Wales's superb 3-1 win over Belgium in Lille on Friday took them into a major tournament semi-final for the first time.

Their chances of reaching the final may hinge on their capacity to prevent Ronaldo causing damage, but Coleman believes that Portugal will be equally anxious about facing Bale.

"In this game, it's not like I need to pull my defenders aside and say: 'This team we're playing, they've got a guy up front and his name's Cristiano Ronaldo and he does this, that and the other.' Because they already know," he said.

"But we never did that with (Belgium's) Eden Hazard. We know about them, we know where the dangers are. I could work my defenders for the next month, drilling them about Cristiano Ronaldo.

"He still has the capacity to do something special, unstoppable. Of course that's a danger. But we've got one of them as well in our team, so it balances itself out."

Ronaldo makes no secret of his attachment to the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which he has won three times, but Coleman does not believe that the trophy is a source of motivation for Bale.

"I don't think that is in Gareth's head," Coleman told a press conference at Wales's media centre in Dinard, northwest France.

"Of course he's a human being. Thoughts will run through his mind, but he'll be thinking about how we perform in the next game and nothing beyond that.

"His focus will be on the next opponent and challenge and what he needs to do. That will be in his thinking more than anything else." – Rappler.com

LONDON, England - Roger Federer and Andy Murray will attempt to make the most of Novak Djokovic's shock Wimbledon exit and book their places in the quarter-finals on Monday, July 4.

Federer, the 7-time champion, had been seeded to face world number one Djokovic in the semi-finals having lost the 2014 and 2015 championship matches to the Serb at the All England Club.

Now, the 34-year-old is comfortably the favorite to reach his 11th final from the top half of the draw.

But first he must get past Steve Johnson, the world number 29 from the United States who has never before made the last 16 at a Grand Slam event.

Federer said it was unreasonable to expect Djokovic, who had held all 4 Slam titles, to keep on winning.

"I always said it: the first week is tough. Margins are small. I know we get carried away, we think it's impossible to beat him, all these things. Clearly he's beatable. It's not impossible," said the Swiss.

"He cannot win straight 200 matches in tennis. You're going to have your losses."

Johnson won on grass at Nottingham and was a quarter-finalist at Queen's in the Wimbledon build-up.

But he has never played Federer.

"I think it's going to be exciting. I have never played on Centre," said the 26-year-old.

"It's going to be a great experience. I'm going to go out there thinking I'm going to be the winner. I have no fear out there."

Murray facing pal Kyrgios

Second seed Murray, the 2013 champion, has breezed into the fourth round without dropping a set.

But he faces a tough task on Monday against Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios.

Murray has a 4-0 career lead over the Australian with three of those meetings having come in the four majors.

"Our relationship's pretty good," said 21-year-old Kyrgios, who defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014 on his way to the quarter-finals.

"We joke a lot. When he's in the locker room, it's just instant banter."

Sam Querrey, the American 28th seed who knocked out Djokovic in the third round, is in the last 16 for the first time in six years.

He faces French grass court specialist Nicolas Mahut, who holds a 2-0 lead over the American including a win on grass at 's-Hertogenbosch last month.

Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic, a semi-finalist in 2014, meets Belgium's David Goffin, the 11th seed.

Marin Cilic tackles Japan's fifth seed Kei Nishikori in a repeat of the US Open final of 2014 which Cilic won.

Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga meet in an all-French duel. Both men are two-time semi-finalists at the All England Club.

They are locked at 4-4 in career meetings but have not played each other for more than three years.

In an all-Czech match-up, world number 64 Jiri Vesely, who beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo this year, takes on 10th seed and 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych.

It will be Vesely's first appearance in a Slam fourth round.

French 32nd seed Lucas Pouille is also in unchartered waters when he faces 2011 quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic.

Bookmakers have Murray as the favourite for the title at evens, ahead of Federer, Raonic and then Kyrgios. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The looming prospect of facing a team like France, ranked 5th in the world, and the determination to achieve a tall task of reaching the Rio Olympics cast an earnest mood over Gilas Pilipinas just under two days before tip-off of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament here. 

(READ: Your guide to the FIBA OQT in Manila)

“Serious. Focused,” head coach Tab Baldwin described the team’s mood in a short interview after viewing Sunday, July 3. “We’re looking at France in the video, we’re looking at France on the court and so all of our attention was on how do we counter the strength of the team and the systems that they run.” 

The Philippine national men’s basketball team is zeroed in on studying game plan and practicing executions ahead of the highly anticipated clash that has injected a mix of tension and excitement among Filipino fans. (RELATED: Gilas Pilipinas, I choose you!) 

Swingman and Gilas mainstay Gabe Norwood said his teammates appear calm with the pressure not quite sinking in yet as they are locked in on preparations.

“Until it really gets started it’s the same,” he said, as Gilas members filed out of the viewing room looking both serene and cheerful at the same time. “Right now we’re just focused on getting our game plan together.” 

Gilas pulled in the cadets plus Meralco Bolts swingman Jared Dillinger for Sunday night’s practice, where they served as the Tony Parker-led French team Gilas had to thwart. The extra bodies, which included Kevin Ferrer, Kiefer Ravena, and Mo Tautuaa, were tasked to simulate France’s plays.

(READ: France, Parker wary of Gilas' outside shooting)

“We used to call it taxi squad in the States to learn some of France’s stuff to try and execute them,” Baldwin explained. 

“It takes a little bit of the energy burden off of our team and it gives us a different group of guys to face. We can talk about the strengths to the players. We appreciate the guys coming in, it’s important to help us out. Everybody’s on board.” (RELATED: France's Nicolas Batum to miss game vs Gilas)

Gilas will have two practices Monday, July 4 a day before the first game Tuesday, July 5 at 9 pm. 

After France, Gilas takes on New Zealand with the top two teams of their group moving on to the next round. The winner of the 6-nation tilt will qualify for the Olympics. 

The Philippines has not been to the Olympic basketball tournament since 1972. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – "We will try to not let them get in the game.” 

France national team coach Vincent Collet wasn’t only referring to the Philippine national team on the eve of their match in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but the crowd as well. 

Collet and his lieutenants got a firsthand glimpse of the loud Gilas Pilipinas fans when they scouted the Philippines in their tune-up match against Turkey last Friday, June 1.

"We know it is the first game of the competition,” added Collet, who has been at the helm of Les Bleus for 7 years now.

"We know the expectations of the (hometown) fans and what it means to play against France. We have several NBA players in our roster so there is an interest in them. I think the atmosphere is going to be something amazing. It will be one part of the game. The Philippines is a very good team. They have very good players.

"I have fear that they will play at an unbelievable level with the home crowd support.” 

Gilas supporters are among the most passionate of any national team in the world, and earned international recognition at the 2014 FIBA World Cup when the Philippines was awarded as having the "Most Valuable Fans." 

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines faces its first task in powerhouse France to start the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Tuesday, July 5 here.

(READ: Your guide to the FIBA OQT in Manila)

Gilas Pilipinas, the national men's basketball team, will be led by naturalized import Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, and June Mar Fajardo, while France will have NBA stars Tony Parker and Boris Diaw at the helm. Nicolas Batum will miss this game against Gilas due to contract issues.

Gilas aims to finally reach the Rio Olympics for the first time since 1972. Can they do it?

(RELATED: Gilas Pilipinas, I choose you!)

Meanwhile, Turkey and Canada raise the curtains on the tournament in a Group A clash before the Philippines-France game.

Get live updates from both games through Rappler's live blog starting at 6 pm. Turkey versus Canada begins at 6:30 pm while Philippines versus France starts at 9 pm.

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– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – There is a strong likelihood newly inaugurated Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will watch the national team's first game against France whether live or on television on Tuesday, July 5.

Comm Sec Martin Andanar said in a radio interview Sunday, July 3 that there is a "big possibility" Duterte may show up at the Mall of Asia Arena for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, or simply follow the action on TV.

(LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs France – FIBA OQT Manila)

"Hindi po napag-usapan iyan sa Gabinete, Albert," he said. "Pero I am sure with the head of the PSG (Presidential Security Group), si Butch Ramirez na napaka ano po talaga – a big fan of sports, and Commissioner Mon Fernandez. Ito po ay – malaki po ang posibilidad na manood po ang Pangulo whether live or sa telebisyon."

(It was not talked about with the Cabinet, Albert. But I am sure with the head of the PSG, Butch Ramirez who is a big fan of sports, and Commissioner Mon Fernandez. This is – there is a big possibility that the President will watch whether live or on television.)

(RELATED: Gilas Pilipinas, I choose you!)

Duterte was inaugurated as the country's new leader on June 30.

The Philippines will be represented by Gilas Pilipinas in the 6-nation tournament where the winner will qualify for the Rio Olympics. The country has not been to the basketball Olympics since 1972. (READ: Your guide to the FIBA OQT in Manila) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The FIBA Olympic Qualifiers in Manila are France’s last chance to make it to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

There is also an air of finality as some long-time mainstays of the French national team — Tony Parker and forwards Mickael Gelabale and Florent Pietrus – have called it their last in a national team shirt. 

While France head coach Vincent Collet has annointed 6-foot-5 siwngman Nando De Colo as “France’s future” after being named the Final Four Most Valuable Player of the recently concluded Euroleague Finals where his squad, CSKA Moscow, emerged triumphant. 

Despite France’s missing NBA mainstays Rudy Gobert, Ian Mahinmi, Evan Fournier, and Alexis Ajinca, Les Bleus still have enough firepower to bring to bear in Manila. De Colo, is one of them. 

The Sainte-Catherine-les-Arras born lad isn’t at all comfortable with the tag placed on him. “I don’t think about the future,” he said. “I just have to be ready for the tournament.” 

(READ: Tony Parker Sr a proud dad as son's int'l career winds down)

In the same vein, the swingman who used to be Tony Parker’s teammate with the San Antonio Spurs from 2012-14, said that as a teammate, he would love for Parker, Gelabale, and Pietrus to end their tour of duty with an Olympic berth.

“It would be nice to win not only for France and ourselves but also for our teammates," says De Colo.

De Colo admitted that it was time for France to forget the disappointment of EuroBasket 2015 where Les Bleus lost in the semi-finals, 80-75, to eventual champion, Spain. "I think it was a big disappointment last summer. But now we need to be focused on this tournament and maybe forget about the past. Just be focused on our team. The tournament will not be easy so we have to be ready. We have to respect everyone.” 

France is the fifth ranked country by FIBA in world basketball and De Colo likewise expressed apprehension at the tag. “It can be good and it can be bad,” he said. “It’s good that French basketball is getting better. It’s also bad because if we believe the hype, that will be our downfall.

(READ: France wary of Gilas fans' impact on Manila OQT showdown)

“The Philippines will play fast and with a lot of energy. So we have to be focused and play defense. If we let them play their game, we know their fans will support them and their confidence will grow.”

Unlike Gelabale who outright said he thinks France will defeat the Philippines, De Colo expressed caution.

"We can never know what will happen on the court. We can have a bad game; some others can get hot. We need to know better who we are playing against. We know they (the Philippines) are fast and quick. They like to use the 3-pointer as a weapon and they attack the basket. We just have to be prepared." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Pocari Sweat lost the first game in the best-of-3 semifinals series and even dropped the first set of their do-or-die game on Monday, July 4 against Bali Pure. But the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors showed heart and grit to prove that they were the better team, earning a trip to the finals.

Pocari Sweat overcame their slow start to down the Bali Pure Water Defenders in 4 sets, 15-25, 27-25, 25-11, 25-23, to seal a finals showdown with the Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers in the Shakey's V-League Open Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Myla Pablo exploded with 26 points, coming from 22 attacks. Elaine Kasilag also added 21 points for Pocari Sweat.

"Our motto is just to do our best and God will do the rest," Pocari Sweat Assistant Coach Rommel Abella said in Filipino.

"Slow start talaga kami. Diesel team nga daw kami," he added. (We came from a slow start. We're like a diesel-fueled machine.)

Bali Pure owned the first set, 25-15, courtesy of the attacking of Gretchel Soltones, who finished with 19 points.

But Pocari Sweat fought hard to steal the momentum in the second canto.

It was a Pablo and Kasilag scoring show in the third set as the Lady Warriors buried the Water Defenders in a 22-10 hole.

"Sobrang saya kasi nasuklian yung sobrang hirap naming training," said Pablo. (I'm so happy because our training bore fruit.)

Aside from Soltones, Captain Alyssa Valdez and Amy Ahomiro led Bali Pure with 15 and 13 markers respectively. 

The best-of-3 finals begin Wednesday, July 13 at the Philsports Arena. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Two games headlined the fifth day of the Philippine Collegiate League on Sunday, July 03, 2016, at the Rizal Technological University Gymnasium. 

Game 1: UP vs RTU-A

The first game pitted the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons against the RTU-A Lady Thunders, which resulted in a 19-point blowout win for RTU, 82-63.

The Lady Thunders greeted the Sunday morning match with a barrage of 3s as they raced ahead to a 27-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams maintained a brisk offensive tempo as RTU ended the half with an 8-point lead, 42-34.

The Lady Maroons opened the second half with an 14-2 run to take a 4-point lead, 48-44. Through stifling defense, RTU countered with a 10-0 run of its own to regain command of the game and hold a 5-point lead after the third, 56-51. 

Clinging on to their aggressive play, RTU ballooned the lead to 12 to open the final period, 63-51. The Lady Maroons failed to outmaneuver the Thunders’ defense as they lost grip of the game for good.

Karlois Duazo, Rogelyn Inoferio and Angelica Jaberto led the Lady Thunders in scoring with 19, 18 and 17 points, respectively. Maria Wong filled the stat sheet for UP with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Game 2: Blackwater vs DLSU 

The dominant Blackwater Perlas Pilipinas squared off against the undefeated De La Salle University Lady Archers in the second match of the morning. Coming off a 79-point destruction of RTU-B, Blackwater whooped DLSU by 31, 86-55.

Through sheer size and veteran experience expected of the National Team, Perlas jumped to an early 24-point lead at halftime, 46-22, despite having just 10 active players.

The Lady Archers traded baskets with Perlas in the second half but were unable to get defensive stops to trim down the lead. Eventually, Perlas pulled away in spectacular fashion – displaying no-look passes, stepback 3s and pinpoint fastbreak offense. 

Trixie Antiquiera contributed a team-high 17 points in Blackwater’s balanced attack. Snow Penaranda tried her best for the Lady Archers, chipping in 16 points and 13 rebounds. 

Both teams will return on Friday, July 8. DLSU will look to prolong its undefeated streak* against RTU-B and Blackwater will test the mettle of Centro Escolar University.

*Blackwater is a guest team. All their games are non-bearing.

PCL STANDINGS (as of July 3, 2016)

DLSU                    3 – 0

CEU                       2 – 1

RTU-A                  2 – 1

UP                         2 – 2

RTU-B                  0 – 2

PUP                       0 – 3

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Marestella Torres-Sunang, battling rain and windy conditions, jumped 6.72 meters to capture gold at a track meet in Kazakhstan in her last attempt to achieve the qualifying mark in the women's long jump for the Rio Olympics, the Philippines' athletics chief told Rappler.com on Monday, July 4.

In a text message, Philip Juico said if Torres' mark, which surpassed her own Philippine record of 6.71m, is certified by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), she will be the third trackster to make the Philippine team. The old mark was set at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Part of the certification process is getting the wind gauge report, which could invalidate a performance if the trailing wind exceeds more than 2 meters per second. Juico told Rappler he was trying to get the wind gauge reading from Sunang's coach Joebert Delicano.

"I just talked to Marestella Torres Sunang and she did 6.72 in the Kazakhstan Open to qualify for the Rio Olympics," said Juico in his message. "It was her sixth and last jump in windy conditions compounded by continuous rains. She fouled in her fourth and fifth jumps."

Performing best when the chips are down, the 35-year-old Torres-Sunang showed why she is the country's track queen after she battled back into form after she fell short of qualifying with a 6.60m mark in the National Open. Torres had also lost her entry to the Philippine team through universality clause when Mary Joy Tabal qualified by making the cut off in a marathon in Ottawa last May.

Sunang won an event in Kyrgyzstan with a jump of 6.47 meters and then topped the Kosarov Memorial in Kazakhstan with a leap of 6.52 meters before improving her mark by 20 centimeters.

If the IAAF approves Torres-Sunang's performance, athletics would have 3 entries, joining Tabal and hurdler Eric Cray, the biggest contingent among the competing Philippine national sports associations. Torres-Sunang would be a 3-time Olympian after competing at the 2008 and 2012 Games. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Free agent superstar Kevin Durant is leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors.

The 7-time NBA All-Star is set to sign a two-year, $54 million contract - the second year which is a player's option - when free agents become eligible to sign on July 8, according to spotrac.com.

In a 5-paragraph statement on The Player’s Tribune, where Durant is a “deputy publisher,” the 2013-14 NBA MVP says has reached a point in his life where he has to leave his comfort zone for a new city which offers the “greatest potential” and room for personal growth.

Durant also said that he will miss Oklahoma City and the role he had in building the Thunder.

“It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career.”

Durant leaves a team which just traded Serge Ibaka to sign supporting pieces such as Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova and joins an All-Star lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Igoudala.

Durant spent 9 years with the Oklahoma City franchise, earning 5 All-NBA First Team selections, 7 All-Star selections and 4 scoring titles. His last playoff appearance was in the Western Conference Finals last season, where the Thunder blew a 3-1 series lead to the eventual winners - his new team - the Golden State Warriors. 

The Warriors won the NBA title in 2015 and won a regular season-record 73 games against only 9 defeats, but fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in an epic 7-game finals series this year. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The impact of Kevin Durant's shock announcement that he'll leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors has been felt globally. After all, the Warriors won 73 games last season after winning an NBA title the year before, and the addition of the 2013-14 MVP Durant returns the Dubs to championship favorite status.

Durant's fellow NBA players took to Twitter to express their surprise, disbelief, and for his new teammates, joy.

The 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala had apparently found a WiFi connection just in time to find out about his new teammate.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looks I just turnt the gogo wifi on at the right time...</p>&mdash; Andre Iguodala (@andre) <a href="https://twitter.com/andre/status/749994635230060544">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Some NBA players wasted no time joking about the situation, with Portland Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum saying Durant's ex-Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook is set for his best season to date, while Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat thinks the Dubs will set some new records of their own.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thats crazy!!!! KD in GSW???? .... R they gonna score 200 points a game</p>&mdash; Marcin Gortat (@MGortat) <a href="https://twitter.com/MGortat/status/749992890684833792">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russ about to avg a triple double with 30 </p>&mdash; CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) <a href="https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/749994761721753600">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Other NBA players, like Jeremy Lin and Evan Fournier, were at a loss for words.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Whoa...</p>&mdash; Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLin7/status/749994137907105792">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW... Really?</p>&mdash; Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanFourmizz/status/749992396910387200">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Damn</p>&mdash; Dorell Wright (@DWRIGHTWAY1) <a href="https://twitter.com/DWRIGHTWAY1/status/749991737540505600">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sigh</p>&mdash; Ekpe Udoh (@EkpeUdoh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EkpeUdoh/status/749991439342399488">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Sportswriters didn't have a lack of things to say about this league-rocking news.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With Kevin Durant gone, the only small forward remaining on OKC&#39;s roster is Kyle Singler at the moment. Life comes at you ... fast</p>&mdash; Lang Greene (@LangGreene) <a href="https://twitter.com/LangGreene/status/750007088894517248">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam Presti made Russell Westbrook The Man in OKC. Kevin Durant couldn&#39;t take it any more.</p>&mdash; Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSkipBayless/status/750006922938462208">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The Oklahoma City Thunder management have reacted in classy fashion to losing their biggest star.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/okcthunder">@okcthunder</a> on Kevin Durant&#39;s departure: <a href="https://t.co/C78aXZSXPJ">pic.twitter.com/C78aXZSXPJ</a></p>&mdash; SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCentre/status/750006770643374081">July 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The news is probably going to deflate Victor Oladipo, the newly-acquired Thunder player who had this to say a day earlier.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThunderUp?src=hash">#ThunderUp</a></p>&mdash; Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VicOladipo/status/746811599323815940">June 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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And Kevin Durant himself had something to say about how corny it is to form super teams. At least he thought so 3 years ago when he sent this tweet.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now everybody wanna play for the heat and the Lakers? Let&#39;s go back to being competitive and going at these peoples!</p>&mdash; Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/18688294600">July 16, 2010</a></blockquote>
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 – with reports from JR Isaga/Rappler.com

Ryan Reyes, 32, has been the steady guard option for Tropang TNT since joining them via a trade in 2010. The Los Angeles-born Filipino-American was selected 3rd overall in 2007 and has had a quiet but solid PBA career. 

Reyes, a former PBA Rookie of the Year and 4-time All-Defensive Team awardee, is a reliable defender and a good offensive option especially when he can hit the outside shots. When Gilas faced Iran for a tune-up early in June, Reyes buried 4 3-pointers to help the Filipinos avoid a late collapse.

The 6-time PBA champion had a crack at the national team in 2008 when he was named to the pool under coach Yeng Guiao. The following year he was part of the squad that won the SEABA Championship. 

Reyes has been flying under the radar for Gilas 4.0 this year. He is rarely approached for media interviews and was relatively a surprise inclusion to the final 14 and eventually the final 12. But the stability he is expected to provide on top of his maturity could bode well for Gilas. – Rappler.com

Bobby Ray Parks Jr, the son of a legendary PBA import Bobby Parks Sr, has done a great job so far of carving his own path in basketball. 

Parks, 23, has been out chasing his NBA dream since 2015, having played for the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League. Before that he was two-time UAAP MVP playing for the National University Bulldogs, a SEABA Championship MVP, and a PBA D-League MVP and champion. 

He has seen action as well with the Gilas cadets and youth teams since 2011, winning gold medals in two Southeast Asian Games. 

He joins this iteration of Gilas Pilipinas as a more mature and more developed all-around player with solid NBA D-League experience. The 6-foot-4 combo guard is athletic, versatile, fast, and boasts strong basketball IQ. He serves as another scoring option, solid defender, and ball-handler for Gilas. – Rappler.com

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – A crime-plagued, cash-strapped Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, July 5, enters the one-month countdown to becoming the first South American city to host the Olympics.

Stadiums are all ready – barring finishing touches – and within weeks, Brazil expects to greet at least 500,000 tourists for the August 5-21 Games.

The mayor, Eduardo Paes, and Brazil's Olympic committee boss Carlos Nuzman were to give a news conference marking the milestone in Rio's epic effort to transform from a beautiful but crumbling city to glittering stage for the world's most-watched event.

"The city is 100% ready. It's an unbelievable city. I'm very proud of our city," Paes said Monday at the presentation of a new bus expressway, part of an overhaul to the overburdened transportation system.

Some 10,000 athletes will compete over 19 days in Rio, ranging from familiar sports icons such as sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps to the stars of Olympic newbie sport rugby sevens and golf, which returns after more than a century's absence.

But despite growing excitement in the sporting world and the visible transformation of Olympic sites in Rio, a mounting series of problems are overshadowing the Games.

Security nightmare

The authorities will deploy 85,000 police backed by soldiers on Rio's streets. That's twice as many as used in the 2012 London Olympics.

Terrorism is a serious concern after the Islamic State (ISIS) group demonstrated its geographical reach, with bombings in Istanbul and Baghdad blamed on the group in the last few days.

Brazil's distance from jihadist hot spots, coupled with the country's absence from wars, is expected to be the main factor on security forces' side.

However, Rio already faces its own serious violent crime that has embarrassed Olympic organizers trying to change the city's image.

Although down from horrific levels a decade ago, the murder rate is on the rise and street crime is also proliferating, symbolized by the hijacking of a truck filled with German television equipment last week.

Police – heavily criticized by human rights groups over their brutal tactics in slums known as favelas – are themselves coming under deadly fire. More than 50 Rio state police have been killed this year.

On Monday, July 4, some 100 officers protested in the arrivals hall of Rio's main international airport holding banners reading "Welcome to Hell" to demand unpaid salaries and overtime pay.

"We are here to show citizens and tourists from abroad the realities of Brazil," said veteran police officer Alexander Neto, 56. "They've been conned and we, too, have been conned. You have to understand there is no public security."

Rio state, which is near bankruptcy amid Brazil's crippling recession, says those late payments to the emergency services, hospitals and others are now beginning thanks to an emergency federal bailout.

Fighting back

The mayor and Olympic organizers have been fighting back against a torrent of bad publicity.

Despite the decision of several athletes, notably high profile golfers, to pull out of the Olympics because of fear over the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus, the authorities insist there are no serious health risks.

Zika can trigger birth defects in babies born to infected mothers, but in most cases causes little beyond flu-like symptoms – and August is a month with few mosquitoes.

On the security issue, although Paes acknowledges problems, he blames the state government, not the city.

"This is the most serious issue in Rio and the state is doing a terrible, horrible job," he told CNN.

Paes has been unable to hide his mounting frustration with the bad publicity, also stoked last week by the discovery of unidentified human body parts on Copacabana beach, home to the beach volleyball arena.

Over the weekend, he lambasted a New York Times opinion piece that predicted a "catastrophe."

He lashed out at critics again on Monday, saying: "We can't allow this permanent aggression to continue."

He is unlikely to get his wish.

Among other events planned for the one-month countdown Tuesday was a demonstration by leftist movements protesting against "the exclusion Olympics."

"They have money for a mega-event," they said in a statement, "while delaying salaries for workers and cutting basic services for the people." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – For Canada head coach Jay Triano, being in Manila for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament is like a strange homecoming.

Triano played for the Canadian National Team that participated in the 1978 FIBA World Championship, which was held in Manila.

“Thirty-eight years ago? That long, huh?" grinned the 57-year old coach". “We even stayed at this same hotel (the Sofitel Philippine Plaza was simply known as ‘the Philippine Plaza back in the 1970s). Of course, it is different now

"I remember that we played a little over 3 years to the day that the Thrilla in Manila was fought,” recalled Triano over a late night chat. The classification round was played at the old Rizal Memorial Coliseum after which the semi-final round moved to the Araneta Coliseum. Canada opened that second round at the Big Dome on October 6 with a loss to Brazil, 69-62. 

“Before tip-off, I was thinking, ‘wow, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had one of the greatest boxing fights ever here. And now I am playing basketball in this same arena.’" 

However, this time around, Triano will be leading Team Canada into battle for one of the last 3 slots to the 2016 Rio Olympics in the modern and plush Mall of Asia Arena that is a few minutes drive from the team hotel. “It’s a lot more beautiful,” says Triano of Manila “Although we haven’t been out. But from what I can see from my window on the bus and in the hotel room. We aren’t here to sightsee; we’re here to qualify for the Olympics.”

Triano in fact is the only coach in this FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event to have played and coached in the Summer Games.

“In 1978, it was my first year with the Canadian national team. I was trying to fit in with a bunch of players that I just had met,” shared Triano. "I remember being in awe at some of the talent in front of me. Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union were powerhouses at that time and they ended up playing for the gold medal. Brazil had the great Oscar Schmidt and Marcel De Souza. I remember that we played an exhibition against a local team (the PBA All-Stars) and I couldn’t believe that there were 20,000 people there in the Araneta Coliseum.

(READ: Looking back: The 1978 World Basketball Championship in Manila (Part I))

“In 1980, we qualified for the Moscow Olympics but didn’t participate because of the Western boycott (due to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan).

“So in 1984, I finally got the chance to play in the (Los Angeles) Olympics. It was exciting. We had to go through the qualification process in the Tournament of the Americas (in Brazil where Canada finished third behind Brazil and Uruguay). For some of us, it was 'finally, we’re going to the Olympics.' It was important for our country, too. Getting to the semi-finals of the 1984 Games helped raise the profile of basketball in Canada.

Triano was the captain of the Canada teams that played in the 1984 and 1988 Seoul Olympics. He coached Canada during the 2000 Sydney Olympics that featured NBA players like Steve Nash and Todd MacCulloch. And now, he hopes to lead this young team to Rio.

"For the last couple of years, we’ve got great talent,” described Triano of this new generation of Canadian ballers. "We’ve been trying to educate them about the international game. Some of them make a living playing in the NBA but some of them play in Europe. playing for the national team takes a lot of pride and we’re the youngest team in this tournament."

One of those young players he has is Tristan Thompson who is coming off a successful NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“When I think about the 1984 Olympics now, I kind of go, 'Hey, I played against Michael Jordan in the Olympic Games and the Pan-American Games. And he is arguably one of the greatest players of all-time. At that time, because you’re so competitive you just try to play the game and do your best. It’s fun to play against people then you watch their careers unfold, watch then succeed.

"It’s the same with Tristan Thompson who is now playing alongside LeBron James who will go down as one of the best to ever play the game. Tristan's had a great year. I said to him, 'You won a NBA championship. You signed a big contract. Let’s get to the Olympics to top it all off.’"

(READ: Looking back: Dalipagic, Yugos win 1978 World Championship in Manila)

This FIBA Qualifiers that Triano describes as “big,” his goal is to bring his 12 players to Rio. "I always thought that playing in the Olympics was one of the best things I ever did. But to help 12 players meant a lot more to me. That’s my goal here."

"Our leader and team manager Steve Nash always says it’s a big thing to be a NBA MVP but the biggest thrill he had playing basketball was to represent the country in the Olympics. A lot of our players feel the same way. You can play in the NBA, 5, 6, 7 years but in the Olympics not a lot of people can say they participated.”

Missing NBA players

Although missing a few NBA players in Anthony Wiggins, Nik Stauskas, and Kelly Olynyk, Triano isn’t overly concerned.  

"Everyone’s got different reasons for not playing for the national team. Some are personal. Some are contract related. Some are insurance related. I have always been of the philosophy that I am not going to waste my time thinking about the people who are not here but focus on who is here and is willing to play. The 12 here are representing Canada. I wish we had everybody but that’s off-season work. Once the summer starts, my focus is on the people who are here."

Triano compliments US National head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his time working as an assistant for the US national team that won the 2010 FIBA World Championship (Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and company) in Turkey as “great teaching experiences.” 

“What I learned from Coach K is how to deal with the pro players. His ability to deal with the pro players as far as structures of the practices, structures of the day, and how to treat the players is a big thing. You want the players to come back and play to represent the country. Being with Coach K, Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan, Mike D’Antoni - it was like a clinic every day on what great coaches do. You learn and become better." 

And now they are here in Manila.

“For 4 days we have to be very good. With the competition that is here you cannot play poorly and hope to qualify.

“I hope once more, I leave Manila with very good memories."

Jay Triano facts:

The 1978 Canada team he played with also featured forward Leo Rautins who was selected 17th overall in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played on that team that also had rookie Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks yet lost to the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the 1984 play-offs.

Triano was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 179th pick of the eighth round of the 1981 NBA Draft (he didn’t play for them though).

The 1984 Canadian team he played with also featured Bill Wennington.

For the upcoming 2016-17 NBA season, he will be joining the Phoenix Suns coaching staff of Earl Watson as associate head coach.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The opening day of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila features some of the top sides going at each other early on.

At 6 pm, Canada battles Turkey while in the main match at 9 pm, France takes on the home team, the Philippines.

(LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs France - FIBA OQT Manila)

What’s at stake?

The early win and a step ahead of the others. it’s an opportunity to stamp one’s class and put pressure on other teams to win right away and not depend on the outcome of other matches.

A win for France and they’ll most likely take down New Zealand then probably face Turkey in the quarterfinals. The French have noted that Canada is their biggest nemesis to their Olympic dreams. A loss could put them on an early collision course with Canada. Although they will have Nicolas Batum in uniform by then, why take the chance?

A win for Gilas will give them much needed confidence to face New Zealand. It will propel this team to even bigger heights. A loss will make the next match versus New Zealand a must-win situation. 

Is there pressure on both teams?

Yes, of course. For France, they are the tournament favorites. Even without their other NBA stars, they still have the talent to get the job done in defeating the Philippines and the field and heading off to Rio.

While some of the French players, Mickael Gelabele in particular, have openly said that they expect to win their Olympic qualifier opener, they know it isn’t going to be easy. Teammate Florent Pietrus alluded to how their football counterparts in Euro 2016 took care of business by sending unheralded Iceland, 5-2, in the semi-finals last Monday, July 4.

“We saw how Iceland stunned England in the quarterfinals. It was a reality check for France to not underestimate Iceland. That is why in the first half, they wanted to bury them (the French football team did going up 4-0 after the first 45 minutes of play). We know it is the same here. We cannot take the Philippines lightly. They are at home and we know what the homecourt advantage is all about.”

The Philippines faces pressure as well. After all, this is what was fought for — the homecourt advantage that was in full display during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships where roaring crowds willed and cheered the team on to victory. Since the formation of the new Gilas program in 2008, this is the second time the Filipinos are given a chance to go to the Summer Games. The Philippines missed out in London in 2012. The first seat to Rio was missed in Changsha, China. Now is as good as it will ever get.

They know that a loss now will put a severe crimp on plans on booking a sems seat so they will throw everything, Andray Blatche, Terrence Romeo, the kitchen sink, and the crowd at France.

Said Philippines coach Tab Baldwin: “The bigger the stakes, the bigger the hurt when you fail. Of course, the bigger the joy when you succeed.” 

How will this battle go?

This game will be won on who can control that shaded lane and who can impose their style of play.

Explained Baldwin, "We can be a decent dribble drive team but it is predicated on the ability to get the rim and collapse defenses. The big European sides do not collapse easily because they don’t have to. They have size to intimidate shooters. So we needed a foil for the dribble drive offense and came up something we believe in. When we learned that we had carte blanche to players we could get, we had to modify our playing systems to exploit the talent.

It goes through Andray Blatche a lot and he’s been superb really. In terms of adjustment we are really focusing on ball screen defense. When teams have a limited time of preparation, they rely on the ball screen offenses and defenses. We spent a lot of time on that but there’s a tidal wave of bad habits. We’ve had some time to re-develop into good habits. I suspect we made ground. We are not good as defensively as the team could do ball screens for everyday of their lives. It will be a challenge for our defenses to shut down Park and De Colo and others.

France even without NBA stars Rudy Gobert and Ian Mahinmi still have the size to control that lane. Although they surprisingly have only one natural center in 7-footer Kim Tillie, Boris Diaw and Joffrey Lauvergne can swing over. 

Although explosive swingman Nicolas Batum arrived late Monday evening, he will not be able to suit up until July 7th when his new NBA contract with the Charlotte Hornets kicks in.

France coach Vincent Collet knows that he is short-handed so he will have to make the best use of his bench. He knows he is up against a smaller but quicker team that makes use of the 3-point shot as well as any other European side.

“I think we have to control their speed and take advantage of our height,” said Collet. “Their system finds them attacking the basket. We have to stop them from doing that and of course, watch out for their 3-point shooters." – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines - Word filtered slowly but surely Tuesday morning and it was sigh of relief when long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang's performance that bagged the Kazakhstan Open for her and made the cut-off for the Rio Olympics was within the allowable wind limits by the international athletics body.

"It's 0.8 meters per second," said Philip Juico, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) in a phone interview with Rappler.com. "She qualifies."

This will be the third consecutive Olympic stint for the 35-year-old Sunang, who participated in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

There was much suspense about the wind gauge during Sunang's last jump that enabled her to win the event on Monday night. A reading of higher than 2 meters for second would invalidate the jump.

Not only did Sunang crack her own national mark by one centimeter with her 6.72 meter leap that won the Kazakhstan Open, her third straight victory in 3 competitions in Kryrgyzstan and Kazakhstan but it boosted her status as the country's top track and field athlete.

Thought to have peaked after jumping 6.60 meters in winning the national open last April at the Philsports Arena, Sunang gathered her resources for one last run at her Philippine record of 6.71 meters, which she achieved in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, her fourth consecutive long jump title.

"She had the support she needed," said Juico, who said that Sunang is now 28th in the world in the long jump. "We never lost faith in her even when it took her around two years to recover after giving birth in 2014."

Sunang and her coach Joebert Delicano will be arriving tonight, said Juico.

The IAAF still has to notify the Philippines officially that Sunang is in. Athletics will now be the largest contingent of Philippine representatives at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, with hurdler Eric Cray and marathon runner Mary Joy Tabal. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine women’s softball team is set to clash against the world’s elite in two different tournaments this month.

The RP Blu Girls, as they’re known, will compete in the World Cup of Softball XI, in Oklahoma City, USA, which will run from July 5 to 10 (July 6, Manila time). 

The queens of Southeast Asian softball will first battle the fourth ranked USA team on opening day, followed by sixth-rank China on the seventh, followed by the 11th ranked Puerto Rico and the top-ranked Japan on the same day on July 7. The Philippines will then face the 19th-rated Venezuela and the seventh-ranked Netherlands on June 8, and third-ranked Australia on July 9 before the championship game on the 10^th

The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champions will be back in action shortly after on July 15 (July 16, Manila time) for the World Women’s Softball Championship in Surrey, Canada.

“This is a perfect start for our 4-year plan for our RP Blu Girls to compete and contend in 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil) president Jean Henri Lhuillier said in a statement.

The RP Blu Girls are currently 23^rd in the world rankings, but the Philippine women’s softball team has a chance to improve their standing against the world’s best. – Rappler.com