MANILA, Philippines – Canada was able to withstand a late-game rally by Senegal and pull away with a 58-55 victory to move to 2-0 and advance to the semifinals of the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying tournament on Wednesday, July 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After topping Group A, the Canadian national team will face the second placers of Group B in the semis for a chance to make the finals where the team will play for a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Cory Joseph once again led Canada with 13 points and 5 rebounds while Tyler Ennis and Melvin Ejim finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Senegal, which was playing its first game of the tourney, was led by the 16 points of Maurice Ndour who also had 10 boards and 6 blocks.

The Senegal national team failed to take a 56-55 lead after Clevin Hannah missed on a triple with 21 seconds left. Canada left the door open for overtime after Joseph split his final visit to the foul line, but another missed 3-ball by Hannah as time expired sealed his team’s defeat. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The power paradigm in the NBA shifted this week when former MVP and unrestricted free agent Kevin Durant announced he plans to join the Golden State Warriors next season.

Durant, who spent the first 9 years of his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will start at small forward for a team which won a record 73 games last regular season and was a win away from a second straight NBA title.

(READ: Kevin Durant and the super-team dilemma)

The reception to the move has received mixed reviews. Some have ridiculed Durant for joining the team that beat him in the Western Conference Finals last season, while others have commended Durant for making the decision that will best help win him his first NBA title.

Count former NBA MVP Steve Nash with the latter.

“I think it’s great. I think that, first of all for Kevin personally, he made the move that was best for him. I think he saw an opportunity to win in Golden State. But I think more importantly knowing Kevin - he’s a friend of mine - I think that he was just as excited to be in a really positive environment,” Nash said on Wednesday.

The 8-time NBA All-Star is currently in Manila as the team manager of the Canadian national basketball team competing in the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying tournament against 5 other nations.. Nash spoke with the media on Wednesday during a press conference organized by Fun88.

“They have a great culture there,” Nash added about the Warriors organization, “great coach (Steve Kerr) who’s empowering and at the same time is demanding and I think he’ll bring the best out of them, but I think it was as much a personal move for his happiness and development as it was to win.”

Nash, who was part of a superteam in 2012-2013 with the Los Angeles Lakers, also emphasized during his interview with Rappler how what Durant did was within the rules of the NBA and credited him for taking advantage of it.

“I think it’s natural once the rules allow for it. I think it started with LeBron going to Miami, and then you’ve seen Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin, and well, really, you saw it with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo. Although that was a slightly different situation through trades.

“This is just a natural evolution of the rules and the cycle of the game. These guys are the best players in the world, and I think once Boston did it, and LeBron through free agency did it, Kevin Durant just had an opportunity to do it as well.”

When asked if he believes the Warriors are the favorites to win the NBA title next season with their new core, which includes a Big 4 of Durant, Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, Nash agreed that’s the case on paper, although it doesn’t automatically translate to a championship.

“I would think they’re the favorite on paper but the NBA, as we’ve seen with the Miami Heat in LeBron’s first season, and Cleveland in LeBron’s first season - they both lost. So I think it’s much easier to be predict a team’s success when it’s half way or two-thirds through a season than it is before the season no matter how much talent they have on paper, because at the end of the day, it’s a team sport.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine basketball team's road to Rio came to a halt on Wednesday, July 6 after losing a heartbreaker to New Zealand, 89-80 at Mall of Asia Arena.

Unlike on Tuesday, when Gilas Pilipinas came out like a house on fire early against France, the Philippines appeared sluggish from the outset, falling behind in the first quarter. The Philippines came to within two points late in the fourth but their momentum was squandered due to turnovers and missed shots.

New Zealand will play France tomorrow with the winner to earn a higher seeding in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament semifinals. Here is this game in photos by Josh Albelda.

– Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – The New Zealand and Gilas Pilipinas match got off to an emotional start on Wednesday, July 6 as the Tall Blacks performed its traditional Haka dance moments before the opening tip at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Similar to the Haka dance performed by the Wellington Saints during the 2015 MVP Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the New Zealanders put on a series of steps, moves, and chants simultaneously. But unlike last time, there was no sign of amusement from the Philippine team as they locked shoulders in solidarity, showing no hints of intimidation.

The crowd initially booed but showed appreciation afterwards. The game is in the first half at time of this story's publication. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – And just like that, the dream for Rio has come to an end.

The Philippine men’s national basketball team was officially eliminated from the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament after falling to New Zealand, 89-80, on Wednesday, July 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It was the second consecutive defeat in as many days for the Philippine team, which lost to France on Tuesday and finishes the tournament it hosted with a 0-2 record.

New Zealand will face the French national team on Thursday to determine their standing heading into the semifials, but both nations have already advanced.

Andray Blatche led the national team with 30 points and 7 rebounds while Jayson Castro scored 13 points on 13 shots. 

New Zealand, which established its lead in the second quarter and didn’t look back the rest of the way, was led by the 25 points of Tai Webster. His brother, Corey, also dominated with 23 points. Isaac Fotu pitched in 17 points. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Two years ago Filipinos were against the guys in green at the Spain FIBA World Cup. This time, the home fans found themselves rooting for the visiting Senegal in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

As Senegal tried to take down the favored Canada on Wednesday, July 6, the African squad found surprising support from the crowd waiting to watch Gilas Pilipinas take on New Zealand in the day’s second game. 

“That was really incredible of them, we didn’t expect that at all,” said Maurice Ndour, whose 3-pointer late in the fourth brought the Senegalese to within a point, turning the game to a thriller.

That sent the crowd in frenzy and prompted chants of "defense!" on the other end.

(RELATED: IN PHOTOS: In France setback, Gilas' 6th man still proves memorable)

“For the crowd to just give us a bit of a boost, it was amazing. That kind of kept us in the game too.”

Senegal, playing in Group A, ultimately fell short as Canada escaped with a 58-55 victory and with a 2-0 slate will move on to the next round. 

“Coming from Europe that was a great surprise for me,” said head coach Porfirio de Fisac via an interpreter. “The public can enjoy the game and not only the colors. These players are very thankful to the Philippines. Thank you for the support.” 

Senegal is not only familiar to Filipinos because of the World Cup – having been the Philippines’ opponent in its first victory on the world stage in decades – but also due to Hamady N’Diaye, who played for Kia in the PBA in 2015. 

N’Diaye was grateful for the love and experience of getting cheered once again by Filipinos. 

“Amazing. It’s amazing. I’ve been cheered for here before and for the Filipino fans watching cheer for us in Senegal, I’m grateful, I’m really grateful,” he said, before wishing Gilas Pilipinas good luck. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have the same (crowd support).” 

Senegal will battle for its tournament lives against Turkey on Thursday, July 7 at 6:30 pm. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The quest for a spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil may have been over for Gilas Pilipinas but the Philippines’ men’s national basketball team once again earned the respect of sports fans and spectators on social media.

On Wednesday, July 7, Gilas Pilipinas failed to advance to the semifinals of the ongoing FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (FIBA OQT) at the Mall of Asia Manila after losing back-to-back games to world number 5 France, 93-84, and then to New Zealand, 89-80 (Read: Gilas falls to New Zealand, gets eliminated in front of home crowd).

Shortly before the game against New Zealand ended, #LabanGilas became the number 1 trending topic nationwide.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are still proud of you, Gilas Pilipinas! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/haFwFO5fM8">https://t.co/haFwFO5fM8</a> <a href="https://t.co/X2AdR46PAb">pic.twitter.com/X2AdR46PAb</a></p>&mdash; Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports/status/750705176793657344">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Even with the heartbreaking loss, netizens and viewers still showed their support for Gilas Pilipinas until the very end.

{source}<a class="twitter-grid" data-partner="tweetdeck" href="https://twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/timelines/750713260555382784">Salamat Gilas</a> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Meanwhile, some netizens tweeted this viral photo of Alaska Aces' Calvin Abueva after Gilas' loss to New Zealand. Abueva, along with Barangay Ginebra's LA Tenorio, were the last men cut from the final Gilas 12 line-up.

Abueva also became one of the trending topics in the Philippines after the game.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">&quot;Siya yung hindi mo pinili, pero nandyan pa rin para sayo.&quot; (c) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Abueva?src=hash">#Abueva</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GilasPilipinas?src=hash">#GilasPilipinas</a>  <a href="https://t.co/sHrD9MisBO">pic.twitter.com/sHrD9MisBO</a></p>&mdash; Bille Guzman (@BilleGuzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BilleGuzman/status/750718339727519744">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

The Group Phase of the FIBA OQT continues on Thursday, July 7, with Senegal facing Turkey at 6:30 pm, and New Zealand going up agianst France at 9 pm.

What do you think of Gilas Pilipinas' performance at the FIBA OQT? Let us know in the comments section or write about it on X. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Could this be the last we’ve seen of Jayson Castro in a Pilipinas uniform? 

The veteran playmaker hinted that the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament might have been his last run with the national team right after the team lost to New Zealand, 89-80, and bowed out of contention for a Rio Olympics slot in August.

When asked whether fans would still see more of Castro in the future with Gilas, he had a swift and curt answer: “Siguro this is my last na (Perhaps this is already my last),” he said, before promptly walking away to avoid further questions. 

Castro, 30, has been one of the anchors of Gilas in recent years, leading them to back-to-back FIBA Asia Championship silver medal finishes and a stint in the FIBA World Cup in 2014. 

The 6-time PBA champion was also named to FIBA Asia’s Mythical Team twice in 2013 and 2015.

Castro and the rest of the Philippine team failed to win in the FIBA OQT and saw their Olympic dreams crushed after two straight losses to France and New Zealand at home. 

“Ang sama ng game namin,” a dejected Castro noted in the short interview. “Hindi namin alam kung anong nangyari e. Outhustled, outplayed, lahat na.”

(We had a bad game. We don’t know what happened. Outhustled, outplayed, all of it.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The dream of making the 2016 Rio Olympics came to an end when the Philippines lost to New Zealand on the second day of the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Wednesday, July 6.

The Philippines, which also lost its opening day game against France, became the first team to get eliminated in the tourney, leaving the national team despondent as Wednesday night turned into the early hours of Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Few looked more shaken up by the loss than Gabe Norwood, who braved through doing the post-game press conference but visibly looked, in his own explanation, “lost for words.”

“I know it hurts for everybody,” Norwood said, pausing between phrases. “It pains me to be in this situation and I speak for the whole team. Just a tough process.”

New Zealand took control early and went up by double digits in the opening moments of the third period. Gilas got as close as two in the final quarter, but its opponents didn’t let up and managed to hold on for the win.

“New Zealand came out and played a hell of a game. Their guards played well, bigs played well. We just didn’t have any answers tonight at the time when you really needed them,” said Norwood, who struggled from the field by going 0-of-2 in 27 minutes.

The Webster brothers hurt Gilas badly, with Tai scoring 25 and Corey pitching in 30. Andray Blatche led the Philippines with 30 points and 7 boards.

After the final buzzer sounded to signal the end of the road for the national team, Gilas huddled up one final time with Norwood, its team captain, providing the final sentiments.

“I just told them to be proud,” Norwood remembered what he told them. “Can’t stop being proud. We were wearing that flag across our chests, and as badly as it hurts, we know the effort that we put in as well.”

Gilas went through weeks of gruelling preparation, only to play just two games and to lose them in disappointing fashion.

“And that’s the thing that probably hurts the most - how much work we put in, how much effort we put in tonight and to still come up short - that’s what hurts," said the team's defensive stopper. "We’re a strong group. We all have really a lot of respect for one another on and off the court.”

Nonetheless, Norwood was complimentary of the support from the fans and hopes it will remain the case, wherever the Gilas program goes after the Olympic Qualifiers.

“It hurts, but I also want to say thank you to the best fans in the world. Hopefully this continues to bring pride to our country, the game of basketball, and hopefully we continue to move forward with the Gilas program.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - After New Zealand painfully ended the Philippines’ Olympic dreams with a masterful 89-80 victory in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last Wednesday, July 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena, the victorious head coach, Paul Henare, took time to reflect on beating his old coach and mentor, Tab Baldwin.

“I have mixed emotions,” admitted Henare post-match. "I played for him for over 10 years. We started off as coach and player and in time we became very close friends. Any time you compete against your friends you want some of those bragging rights. But what I am feeling right now is mixed. It was an honor to compete against him. I take pride that the two of us are coaching in an international level. But again, I am feeling for him. I know what it is like."

The 37-year old Henare played for Baldwin during New Zealand's 2002 FIBA World Cup run where they made it all the way to the semi-finals only to lose to eventual champion Yugoslavia, 89-78. Like Baldwin before him, Henare guided the New Zealand Breakers to 3 Australian NBL titles in the last 5 years.  

Henare was assisted by Pero Cameron, also another of those 2002 Tall Blacks veterans of Baldwin's who made that tournament’s Mythical Five selection alongside Germany’s Dirk Nowitski, China’s Yao Ming, Argentina’s Manu Ginobili, and Serbia’s Peja Stojakovic. Both of them have been minding the Tall Blacks since 2015.

“Those were great years we had together in New Zealand,” later added Henare. “Coach Tab sowed the seeds that we are reaping today." 

With the victory over host nation, the Philippines, New Zealand assured themselves of a slot in the semi-finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.  

The Tall Blacks play France on Thursday, July 7. The winner of that match will play the second place squad of Group A while the losing team will take on Canada, which qualified earlier in the day with a 58-55 triumph over Senegal. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine men’s national basketball team became the first nation to get eliminated in the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament after losing to New Zealand on Wednesday, July 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Gilas Pilipinas wound up losing its only two games of the tourney - the other one was against France a night earlier - and will have to watch from the sidelines as the 5 remaining teams compete for the ticket to the Rio Olympics.

But despite the early exit and disappointing defeats, Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin still sees positives in the national team’s campaign.

“You betcha there’s a lot of positive,” Baldwin said during the post-game press conference on Wednesday. “There’s positives for all of us individually in that we had tremendous unique experiences this year with the program that we ran [and] the opportunity to play here in Manila in front of our own fans.

“That’s a big positive for the SBP, for the Philippine fans, Philippine basketball, and for us to be the representatives in that environment, that’s a memory that we’ll keep with us forever.”

Baldwin also emphasized how important it was for the Philippines, which was the lone representative from FIBA Asia in the Manila OQT, to play against this high level of international competition.

“It’s a positive that we get this competitive experience for Philippine basketball players, but it’s also an eye-opener for us to understand that we need a lot more of this if we expect to be successful in this level,” said the 58-year-old head coach. 

“Certainly, we were competitive, and that’s a positive, because there probably was a time when we probably wouldn’t be competitive at this level.”

Baldwin also stated that despite the talent discrepancy Gilas usually faces against the world’s powerhouses, the national team goes into each game with the expectation to win, not just compete.

“We competed well in this tournament, but we don’t expect to come to big tournaments and to compete. We expect to come and get some wins, and progress, especially when we’re at home. So we have to sit back, we have to analyze why that didn’t happen and we have to try and fix it,” he said.

“We need more of this, and this is the pathway. Trust me there is no other pathway. If we want to start winning at this level, we got to take a bunch more beatings at this level to learn how to win at this level.” – Rappler.com

LYON, France - Cristiano Ronaldo became the "Dragon-slayer" as his record-equalling ninth European Championship goal helped power Portugal past Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bales' Wales and into the Euro 2016 final.

Ronaldo brilliantly rose above the Wales' defense to score his country's first goal in the 2-0 win in front of 50,000 fans in the Stade de Lyon on Wednesday, July 6.

Nani deflected the Portugal hero's shot for the decisive second goal that saw their country into Sunday's final against tournament hosts France or world champions Germany.

Ronaldo and Bale had not spoken in the tournament before Wednesday's match. With victory sealed, Ronaldo embraced his club teammate at the end.

"The team did a marvellous job to reach the final. I hope on Sunday you'll see me crying with joy," said Ronaldo, who as a 19-year-old wept on the pitch after Portugal lost 1-0 to Greece as hosts of the Euro 2004 final.

"I have always dreamed of winning for Portugal - I hope it is our time now.

"I am very confident. I deserve it, Portugal deserves it, all the Portugese people deserve it."

Bale paid tribute to the three-time world player of the year with whom he has not always had an easy relationship in Madrid.

"He's a natural goal-scorer and he scored yet again," said Bale.

"We're obviously massively disappointed. We've got to be proud of ourselves first and foremost."

Amazing run

"We gave everything, we have no regrets," he added, predicting Wales would be a force in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"We've given everything, on the pitch, off the pitch," Bale said of Wales stunning campaign in their first major tournament since 1958 when it took a Pele goal to beat them in the World Cup quarter final.

British media called the 31-year-old Ronaldo the "Dragon-slayer" as they recounted how the sharpshooter had stunned Welsh fans brandishing flags and t-shirts with the national red dragon symbol.

Bale had the better of the first half showing off his pace and power to threaten the Portuguese goal.

But five minutes into the second period, Raphael Guerreiro curled a cross to the back post and Ronaldo leapt above James Chester to head past Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Three minutes later, Nani, who has just completed a move from Turkey's Fenerbahce to Valencia in Spain, instinctively pushed out his leg to deflect a Ronaldo shot past Hennessy.

Tens of thousands of fans celebrated in Lisbon's Praca do Comercio. Heads dropped in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Ronaldo said he had congratulated Bale on Wales' "amazing run".

"They were the revelation team. I wished him good luck and as for the rest (of the conversation) I'd rather not say."

Ronaldo is desperate to win on Sunday at the Stade de France in what could be his last big chance of winning a Euro or world title.

Portugal did not win a match in regulation 90 minutes before the semi-final.

"Maybe it didn't start as we wanted, but this is not a 100 metre dash, it is a marathon," said the captain.

'My flag, my fatherland'

Portugal coach Fernando Santos, 61, said the final will be the highlight of his long and much-travelled career.

Santos said he would be closely analysing Thursday's game between France and Germany for potential weaknesses.

"It is my country, my flag, my fatherland, so from a personal point of view it is very important for me.

"Two very strong teams face off tomorrow. I will watch the game very attentively to analyse our opponent."

Germany were boosted ahead of the Marseille game by the news that captain Bastian Schweinsteiger had recovered from injury and would start the match.

But they will still be missing centre-back Mats Hummels through suspension and striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira through injury.

France, like Portugal, have become stronger as the tournament has progressed and hammered Iceland 5-2 in the quarter-final while Germany needed a penalty shootout to beat Italy.

There is an air of revenge for France, whose fans have never forgotten a 1982 defeat in a World Cup semi-final when Patrick Battiston suffered serious injuries.

French coach Didier Deschamps wants a win to end a run of three defeats in major competitions -- including 1982 -- against their neighbours and rivals.

"We can't change past history, but we've got our own page to write," said Deschamps. "We're facing the best team in the world, but the lads have to believe." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas fell short for a second straight night, losing 89-80 to New Zealand Wednesday night, July 6 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines.

Gilas started slow but remained close the whole night, but the Tall Blacks, led by the Webster brothers Corey and Tai, were too much to handle as the Philippines bowed out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Group B. 

Relive the Philippines' stand against New Zealand through these highlights. – Rappler.com

NEW YORK, USA - Dwyane Wade, a 3-time NBA champion with Miami, is set to join his hometown Chicago Bulls following 13 seasons with the Heat, the US media reported Wednesday night, July 6.

The 34-year old free agent reportedly balked at a two-year, $40 million deal from the Heat who drafted him in 2003.

He was also reportedly upset with Miami making a priority of trying to re-sign Hassan Whiteside and attempting to woo Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City.

Nothing is official as NBA clubs can agree verbally to terms with players but no contract signings can take place until Thursday.

Wade has made over $300 million in a career where he teamed with LeBron James and Chris Bosh to championships in 2012 and 2013 after winning one with Shaquille O'Neal in 2006.

Wade reportedly was seeking at least $50 million and the Bulls were willing to meet the demands of the Chicago native.

Before reports surfaced about Wade going to Chicago, he had been linked to the Denver Nuggets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Wade, a 12-time NBA All-Star who played on the 2008 US Olympic gold medal team of NBA stars, has never been the Heat's top-paid player.

The Denver Nuggets reportedly pitched as much as $52 million for two years while Bulls guard Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler reportedly have been pushing Wade to come play for his hometown club.

Meanwhile, Ray Allen, two weeks shy of his 41st birthday, was looking at signing with the Cavaliers and the Warriors.

ESPN reported Allen's representatives reached out to the Warriors while Cleveland.com said he had contacted the Cavaliers of his interest in returning to the NBA after two seasons off. He also reportedly has shown interest in the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs as he seeks a third title after crowns with Boston in 2008 and Miami in 2013.

In 18 NBA seasons, Allen averaged 18.9 points and made 40 percent from beyond the thee-point arc. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The tandem of Filipino Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi of Belarus advanced to the Wimbledon men’s doubles semifinals on Tuesday, July 5 (Wednesday Manila time), making Huey the first Filipino player to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon.

Huey and Mirnyi dominated the duo of British Jonathan Marray and Canadian Adil Shamasdin, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3, to advance to the Final Four.

The Filipino and Belarusian duo, rated no. 24 and 25 in the world respectively by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) among doubles players, have a chance to make the Wimbledon final when they meet the French duo of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut - rated no. 2 and 3 - on July 7 (July 8, Manila time).

The 30-year-old Huey, a Filipino-American from Washington DC, had already reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals in Melbourne, in 2014 and 2016, and in the US Open in 2013, and reached the mixed doubles semis at the Australian Open earlier this year. Huey also plays for the Philippines in Davis Cup competition.

The 12th seed pair of Huey and Mirnyi eliminated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the opener. They bested the team of Marcelo Demoliner and Aisam Qureshi in the second round, then beat Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin in the third round.

Herbert and Mahut conquered 3-time Wimbledon champions, brothers Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan in the quarterfinals to advance in the tournament. – with reports from Rafael Bandayrel/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Another major setback has hit the UFC 200 pay-per-view card as one of the biggest rematches in the organization’s history has been scratched off just 3 days before the event.

UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday, July 7 (Manila time) that the second light heavyweight title encounter between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones has been cancelled after the latter was notified of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on June 16.

The company head honcho did not disclose substance for which Jones tested positive and stressed that the promotion would like to find Cormier a short-notice opponent to allow him to remain on the UFC 200 card.

“Stranger things have happened,” White said at an impromptu press conference.

UFC 200 was originally headlined by a welterweight rematch between UFC featherweight titleholder Conor McGregor and lightweight contender Nate Diaz, but the marquee confrontation was cancelled after the 27-year-old Irishman opted to pull out due to a conflict over media obligations. 

Jones is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts today, but has failed drug tests in two of his last 3 scheduled matches.

The 28-year-old native of Rochester, New York tested positive for cocaine before his first meeting with Cormier in January 2015. Jones won that fight by unanimous decision.

In addition, Jones served a suspension for the most part of 2015 after his involvement in a hit-and-run incident.

The heavyweight bout between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt has been promoted to the main event. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Ranidel De Ocampo had long been contemplating hanging up his Pilipinas jersey for good, especially after suffering from a back injury late last year. But after Gilas Pilipinas found themselves eliminated from the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the group stage, De Ocampo decided it was time to wrap up his international career.

“Sa tingin ko ito na talaga 'yung sign na kailangan ko na talagang magpahinga sa Gilas kasi hindi na rin ako masyadong nakakalaro tapos kaunti na lang yung minuto,” De Ocampo spoke Wednesday, July 6, after the Philippine national men’s basketball team’s 89-80 loss to New Zealand.

“At the same time marami na rin mga bagong player na pwede na maglaro.” 

(I think this is really a sign that I need to retire from Gilas because I don’t play much anymore and I get little minutes. At the same time there are plenty of new guys who can play.)

He made it official later on, posting an announcement on his Twitter account during the wee hours of Thursday, July 7: “I officially announce my goodbye of playing in Gilas Pilipinas Basketball #PUSO.” 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I officially announce my goodbye of playing in Gilas Pilipinas Basketball! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PUSO?src=hash">#PUSO</a></p>&mdash; Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) <a href="https://twitter.com/jutaca33/status/750756565997588480">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin replied to the tweet: “Thank you for your service, commitment and class. It’s been a privilege to work with you as both a player and person.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/jutaca33">@jutaca33</a> Thank you for your service, commitment and class. It&#39;s been a privilege to work with you as both a player and person.</p>&mdash; Tab Baldwin (@iHob1111) <a href="https://twitter.com/iHob1111/status/750762484277972993">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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De Ocampo played just 33 seconds and missed his lone field goal attempt versus the Tall Blacks in the FIBA OQT. Against France he had 3 points, two rebounds, two assists, and 3 turnovers in over 15 minutes as he slowly digressed from his once prominent role in the team. 

For Gilas 4.0, he focused instead on being a leader and a voice of reason, particularly for tough times such as when the Kiwis were overpowering them Wednesday. 

“Sinasabi ko sa kanila na huwag sumuko, don’t give up, kaya pa natin yan. Pero sa nakikita ko sa mga teammates ko hindi naman sumuko e. Talagang binigay yung lahat. Ganoon talaga e. Mas lumabas yung laro ng kalaban.” 

(I told them not to give up, don’t give up, we can still do it. I saw in my teammates they never did give up. They gave it their all. It happens. The opponent played better.) 

Gilas playmaker and De Ocampo's TNT teammate Jayson Castro is likewise mulling retirement from the national team. In a brief interview after the game, Castro said, in response to a question on whether or not fans will still see him with Gilas: "Siguro this is my last na."

If there is anybody who could speak with much weight about not giving up, it’s De Ocampo – given his dedication and commitment to return from his back injury and play one more time for the national team. 

The 34-year-old versatile forward served flag and country beginning at the 2003 Southeast Asian Games. 

He has been to many battles here and across oceans, he witnessed the national team evolve into the Asian contender it is today. He has been a part of the team’s progress and success in more ways than one. 

Now, he is ready to pass on the baton.

In these last months with Gilas, De Ocampo played witness to the rise of his heir apparent: the equally multifaceted Troy Rosario.

In a documentary by FIBA OQT coveror TV5, De Ocampo bared how he immediately saw Rosario’s potential to take his place. 

“Alam mo kasi dati pag may nagi-interview sa akin na ‘o Ranidel, sino sa nakikita mo papalit sayo?’ hindi ako makasagot talaga ng diretso e,” he explained of his 24-year-old, 6-foot-7 Tropang TNT teammate. 

“Simula nung Gilas 3.0, pag may nagtatanong, talagang buong buo ko nang sinasabi na nakikita ko si Troy Rosario yung talagang papalit sa akin.” 

(Before when someone would interview and ask me who I thought could replace me, I could not give a straight answer. But by Gilas 3.0, when someone asks, I confidently tell them I see Troy Rosario as the guy who can take my place.)

Rosario has long idolized De Ocampo since college and both men found inspiration in each other’s comeback journeys from injuries in their careers. 

“Hindi ko alam anong meron sa Gilas kung bakit hindi ko matiis (I don’t know what’s with Gilas that I can’t say no to it),” De Ocampo said in the documentary. 

De Ocampo, who leaves Gilas Pilipinas confident that the team is in good hands, will be missed as a key figure of the national team. 

His slick, timely and clutch 3-pointers as well as his smooth, balanced moves around the basket will now be filed under nostalgia. More than that, what will be missed most is his wisdom, mentorship, and his class as a player and a man. 

“Proud naman ako sa mga nai-contribute ko sa Gilas, sa bansa natin,” he said nearing midnight, before later obliging fans calling out his name outisde the Mall of Asia Arena for photos and autographs. 

“At habang buhay ko ‘tong itre-treasure at ipagmamalaki. Sobrang proud ako doon.”

(I’m proud of what I’ve contributed to Gilas, to our country. I will forever treasure and take pride in that. I’m very proud of it.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – After New Zealand ended the Philippines’ Olympic dreams with a masterful 89-80 victory in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last Wednesday, July 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena, the victorious head coach, Paul Henare, took time to reflect on beating his old coach and mentor, Tab Baldwin.

“I have mixed emotions,” admitted Henare post-match. "I played for him for over 10 years. We started off as coach and player and in time we became very close friends. Any time you compete against your friends you want some of those bragging rights. But what I am feeling right now is mixed. It was an honor to compete against him. I take pride that the two of us are coaching in an international level. But again, I am feeling for him. I know what it is like."

The 37-year old Henare played for Baldwin during New Zealand's 2002 FIBA World Cup run where they made it all the way to the semi-finals only to lose to eventual champion Yugoslavia, 89-78. Like Baldwin before him, Henare guided the New Zealand Breakers to three Australian NBL titles in the last 5 years. 

MANILA, Philippines – The Turkey national basketball team pulled away late in the fourth quarter to defeat Senegal, 68-62, and make the semifinals of the FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Thursday, July 7, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Led by a strong outing from Semih Erden and a bounce-back game by Ali Muhammed, the Turks claim the second spot in the standings of Group A and will face the winner of Thursday’s game between France and New Zealand in the next round.

After Maleye Ndoye hit a 3-pointer to cut the Turkey lead to 63-60 with 1:03 to go, Muhammed drilled a 3-pointer that put his team up 6 and enough of a cushion to hold on for the win.

Muhammed finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds while Erden haf 14 and 11. Ndoye scored 15 points to lead Senegal. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – I may be mostly a football writer, but like any red-blooded Filipino, I'm hard-wired to appreciate hoops, especially a team with our flag on their singlet. During FIBA Asia in 2013 I took in all the games live except for the final. So on Wednesday, July 6 I caught the New Zealand game from the general admission section.

The 89-80 loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially since it eliminated us from contention for the Olympic Games. Perhaps a bit leggy from the previous night's loss to France, Gilas succumbed to a Tall Blacks team that was playing their first outing of the competition. On the court, the Philippines looked too predictable on offense for me, and just couldn't make stops. A sharp, quick, and cohesive New Zealand were mostly in control of proceedings.

But there was disappointment off the court as well. First, a word on the haka, the Maori war dance that New Zealand sports teams perform before games. The Tall Blacks offered up a rousing example on Wednesday, much like the one the Wellington Saints served up against Gilas last year.

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Other Kiwi sports teams may perform it as well, but the haka is most associated with the New Zealand All Blacks, New Zealand's world champion rugby team.

During international rugby matches, the haka is treated with some degree of reverence. There might be some booing, but in general fans, even opposing ones, are in awe of the spectacle. The sight of Kiwi athletes expressing their unique cultural heritage is really something to behold.

It's also my understanding that the haka is not just a means of psyching out the opponent but also a way of showing respect. Gilas stood shoulder-to-shoulder and slowly advanced towards the New Zealanders doing the haka, which is fine. The French rugby team did the same in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, and they seemed to do so in an aggressive “v” formation.

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Music was played during the haka and the dance was also booed. That was poor, but for me the onus should be on the organizers to prevent this. We cannot expect Filipino fans to understand the significance of the dance. What should have happened is that match barker Noel Zarate should be given a script to read beforehand explaining to the crowd the meaning of the dance, and to ask fans to show it the proper respect. I hope that is done before the semifinal on Saturday.

I'm told that the disrespect shown to the haka only motivated the New Zealanders more on Wednesday.

The other letdown was the shocking number of empty seats in the arena, especially in the Lower Box area. It's my understanding that the game was officially sold out. So why the invisible fans? Surely these ghost Gilas supporters numbered in the hundreds.

I spoke to a scalper during the FIBA Asia tournament in 2013 and he said he had a connection within the event, and that's how he got his tickets. I can believe that. It's not like all scalpers line up early and buy tickets at the first opportunity then resell. Perhaps many are getting them in an illicit manner even before they go on sale. Perhaps it then becomes impossible to offload all the tickets, and thus the vacant chairs. I really don't know.

The pricing was also whacked. P200 for Gen Ad and P400 for Upper Box is fine. Those sections looked pretty packed on Wednesday. But Lower Box went for P6,800, and Patron 8,500. Not to mention the P10,000 for VIP chairs. That's beyond insane.

It was a recurring theme in my Twitter feed after the game, that rabid masa fans should have had those seats instead of wealthier, and presumably less rowdy supporters. The prohibitive pricing made that impossible.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/PassionateFanPH">@PassionateFanPH</a> hindi kasi pang masa ung presyo ng ticket sir...sana ung sa taas eh mura tickets pra mapuno..</p>&mdash; Dave Anthony (@davemadelo123) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemadelo123/status/750709585636241408">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/PassionateFanPH">@PassionateFanPH</a> palit ng seats. ang mga nasa taas ibaba, ang mga nasa baba itaas. MAG-INGAY!!!</p>&mdash; rondolfh sandigan (@makmikmok) <a href="https://twitter.com/makmikmok/status/750501543430885376">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/PassionateFanPH">@PassionateFanPH</a> Exactly! Sayang lang homecourt advantage. Sana binigay nalang tix sa mga magpapakamatay magcheer. What a waste.</p>&mdash; Cindy (@chubinda) <a href="https://twitter.com/chubinda/status/750393703865257984">July 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Something just isn't right here. This is an opportunity to fill up MOA Arena to the brim and create the most difficult environment for visiting teams as we gun for a slot in Rio. And yet it didn't happen.

For sure our lawmakers have very important things on their plates, but in my opinion a senate or congressional probe on the possible scalping for these games, as well as the overly dear pricing, is not uncalled for. No doubt our solons have tackled even more frivolous matters.

But more importantly, the fans who did get tickets and filled the arena just didn't deliver. It's one thing to show up for a game, it's another to actively support your team.

Maybe I'm just old-school and belonged to a generation of UAAP supporters who cheered lustily from start to finish no matter what the score was. Those days are long gone, it seems, even in collegiate ball. Those days have yet to arrive for the national side.

The Gilas fans last Wednesday mostly didn't follow the lead of the handful of cheerleaders beside the drumline. There were cheers of “Laban Pilipinas” on offense and “Dee-Fense” on defense, but they were largely ignored. I was cheering from my perch in the nosebleeds, but I was pretty much by my lonesome, and too far away to make any impact.

The crowd did wake up during a few runs, especially when we trimmed the Tall Blacks lead to 60-58, but whenever New Zealand made big baskets, we quieted down in a hurry.

The folks in the lower sections seemed to be very attached to the seats they paid so much for. They just wouldn't get off them, even when we came close. Fans need to literally and figuatively stand up and be counted.

As I tweeted on Wednesday night, it's not just the players that need puso. The fans need to show it as well. The relationship between team and hans needs to be symbiotic, where both feed off the energy of the other.

May I offer some suggestions on how to make this happen.

There needs to be a concerted, intentional effort from the organizers to change the fan culture in Gilas games. It must be communicated in TV spots, online campaigns, press conferences, and via social media that watching Gilas should be an interactive experience. When you buy a ticket to a home game, you're not just there just to passively watch, but also to cheer. Every fan in the building needs to take responsibility for lighting a fire under our players and giving them that extra boost to victory.

Proposed hashtag: #GilasHereToCheer. Those white and blue fan t-shirts that were being handed out? #GilasHereToCheer can be printed in front, and a big number 6 on the back, to symbolize the power of our collective sixth man.

We also need a few more simple, catchy cheers aside from “Laban Pilipinas.” The team needs an iconic rallying cry that is similar to Ateneo's “One Big Fight” or UST's “Go Uste.” Preferably with simple hand gestures. Maybe “Laban Pilipinas” isn't cutting it.

These cheers were developed in schools over time. It might be a stretch to do it artificially now for a national team, but we must try.

Once 3 or 4 simple, powerful, cheers are conceived, a video of the cheers should be created and spread on social media and on TV. That way fans can be familiar with them once they go to the games. The video can also be shown on the big screen in the arena before tip-off.

Perhaps celebrities can also exhort fans to cheer, both through shareable video clips and in person at the games.

Another important talking point: when the team is not doing well, cheer HARDER. It's up to us to give them a lift. To add to the momentum when they need it most and to let them know we have their backs.

A college-style band of traditional cheerleaders needs to be created too. Cheerleaders who will stand in front of the crowd, with their backs to the court, leading the cheers. This bunch can be culled from existing university cheering squads.

Gilas' path to Rio came to a halt on Wednesday. But there will be more competitions ahead, including qualifying campaign for an expanded FIBA World Cup in 2019. There will now by FIFA-style international windows for Gilas to play in on their road to the worlds.

We now know that Gilas will be playing qualifiers on the following dates: 20-28 November 2017, 19-27 February 2018, 25 June to 3 July 2018, 10-18 September 2018, 26 November to 4 December 2018 and 18-28 February 2019. Two matches per window, presumably one home and one away. More details on this link.

The concept of home-court or home-field advantage is really not a part of Filipino sports culture, since most of our leagues are played in neutral, common venues. So it really is a challenge to change the mindset. But there's plenty of time for us to get organized and prepare.

We need the Mall of Asia Arena to be a cauldron of noise. A seething, heaving, inhospitable fortress of energy where our players have an extra spring in the step, and our visitors are beaten spiritually and emotionally even before the first whistle. If we all play our part, we can make this a reality. Our team deserves nothing less.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH – Rappler.com