MANILA, Philippines – With just a week left to Christmas, many of our kababayans have already finalized their itineraries for the remaining days of vacation. While some hit the road early to avoid the horrendous traffic and holiday rush, a few also chose to maximize a quality staycation with their family and loved ones. The country's own volleyball idols are definitely no exception. 

Alyssa Valdez: 

The Queen Eagle took an early holiday escape as she flew to the Land of the Rising Sun together with the rest of the Valdez family. The Katipunan standout seemed to make the most out of her vacation as she happily shared snaps of her visit to the Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan, among others. Valdez also made a quick side trip to Thailand, where she showed support for the Lady Eagles in their 10-day boot camp.

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BN_r5hAglEE/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My forever. </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Alyssa Valdez (@alyssa_valdez2) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-14T11:00:07+00:00">Dec 14, 2016 at 3:00am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BN9ZtG7AlOe/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Universal Studios Japan </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Alyssa Valdez (@alyssa_valdez2) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-13T13:42:39+00:00">Dec 13, 2016 at 5:42am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BN8Xes-ADIL/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Osaka Castle </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Alyssa Valdez (@alyssa_valdez2) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-13T04:03:58+00:00">Dec 12, 2016 at 8:03pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Kob khun ka, Coach Tai!  <a href="https://t.co/CulMtZqyQn">pic.twitter.com/CulMtZqyQn</a></p>&mdash; Mona Bagatsing (@Mownana) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mownana/status/809393748324937728">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Amy Ahomiro:

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:37.407407407407405% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BN9Ep5pA6EV/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">New places. Old friends </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Amy Ahomiro (@amyahomiro) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-13T10:38:43+00:00">Dec 13, 2016 at 2:38am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Just like her Ateneo teammate, Amy Ahomiro appeared to be enjoying the pristine beaches of Thailand with her peers. 

Ara Galang:

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:41.99074074074074% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOCRPQVh5ZK/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Victonara Salas Galang (@vsgalang)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-15T11:04:52+00:00">Dec 15, 2016 at 3:04am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Another volleybelle who chose to hit the road ahead of the holidays was DLSU star Ara Galang. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP savored the white sands and crystal clear Boracay waters with her friends as seen on her Instagram page.

Angeli Tabaquero:

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:33.33333333333333% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOCXy8yhTCg/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">CAUTION : Empowerment zone ahead. #AdUWVT</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by 杏志栄利 Angeli Tabaquero (@ge_tabaquero) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-12-15T12:02:11+00:00">Dec 15, 2016 at 4:02am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
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The former Golden Tigress and newly named assistant coach of the Adamson Lady Falcons will utilize the remaining days of the year to focus on her team’s preparations for the upcoming UAAP Volleyball season. 

“Sanay na naman ako kasi I've been down this road for a long time na. At saka kung gusto namin talaga na manalo, di 'yan makukuha pag nagbakasyon ka basta basta lang. Kailangan trabaho talaga.”

(I’m already used to it since I’ve been down this road for a long time already. If we really want to win, we won’t be able to do so by just taking a vacation. We need to put in some work.) 

Michele Gumabao: 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What&#39;s rare r these moments where we can be together &amp; watch a movie Whats common is my face missing @yeyegumabao  <a href="https://t.co/M0zpRVVOjo">pic.twitter.com/M0zpRVVOjo</a></p>&mdash; Michele I. Gumabao (@gumabaomichele) <a href="https://twitter.com/gumabaomichele/status/805433724170948610">December 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Pocari Sweat skipper Michele Gumabao likewise remains focused on the huge task at hand as an assistant coach for the Lady Falcons. 

For the former DLSU standout, sacrifice is the ultimate key. 

“Things are more important than the holidays now, for a coach. Even the players wanna spend the holidays with their families. They sacrifice their holidays, you (the coaches) have to sacrifice your holidays. You have to practice what you preach,” Gumabao told Rappler. 

“We have naman a break, 2 to 3 day break. That's enough. Less traveling for me now.” 

Cherry Rondina: 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Newest crown  <a href="https://t.co/OcGnC0oi7I">pic.twitter.com/OcGnC0oi7I</a></p>&mdash; Cherry Ann Rondina (@Rondina011) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rondina011/status/808153753832464388">December 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Like any other UAAP volleyball athlete, UST’s Sisi Rondina will have to spend some quality hours on court during the semestral break. 

With a short holiday time off allotted to the squad, the recent Grand Prix champion plans to pay her hometown Cebu a visit before getting back in action next year. 

“Siguro po uwi lang ako. Miss ko na pamilya ko eh.” (I’ll probably just go home. I miss my family already.) – Rappler.com 

Another year in sports gone by. One more year of thrilling victories and agonizing defeats.

Though 2016 sets itself apart from the rest, in that it is a year when adversity was at its most ruthless, but breakthroughs were even sweeter.

2016 was the year of historic comebacks, both in international and local sports. This year, the Rappler Sports team introduces its own sports awards – decided on after intense deliberations and analysis among its members – as a way to look back at the year that was in sports.

Through these awards, we honor the achievements of Filipino athletes and remember the iconic – and even questionable – moments of the past year.

Feel free to join the discussion in the comments section and tell us other athletes, teams, coaches, and sports moments that you think should also be remembered from 2016.

2016 Rising Star

After a solid year in which she had a massive role in the De La Salle Lady Spikers' run to the UAAP Season 78 women's volleyball title, Kim Dy is our choice for Rising Star.

The 21-year-old stepped up as a leader this past season and went on to bag the Finals MVP award for her impressive Game 3 finals performance of 17 points on 16 attacks.

The incoming fourth year spiker's breakout season came just in time as veterans Ara Galang, Cyd Demecillo, and Mika Reyes had already graduated – Kim Fajardo is also still uncertain to return this upcoming season.

The Lady Spikers will defend their crown in Season 79 with Dy pegged as the new leader to spearhead them back to championship glory. (READ: Kim Dy envisions bright future as DLSU enters new era)

Other nominees: Chris Newsome (Meralco Bolts), Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra), Isa Molde (UP Lady Maroons), Eduard Folayang

Comeback of the Year

It had never been done before in the 41-year history of the PBA – nor the NBA. Until 2016, until the San Miguel Beermen.

San Miguel completed a historic first-ever comeback from a 0-3 deficit against the Alaska Aces to win the 2016 Philippine Cup title. The Beermen's feat was made even more remarkable by the fact that they did most of the heavylifting without then two-time MVP and big man June Mar Fajardo, who was sidelined by a knee injury and returned to play sparingly in Game 5 of the best-of-7 series.

(IN PHOTOS: San Miguel Beermen overcome the odds to win PH Cup title)

San Miguel survived two back-to-back overtime elimination games in the series and completed the turnaround in Game 7 with guard Chris Ross taking home the Finals MVP plum.

The Beermen win the award over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, who returned to the UAAP Final Four this Season 79 after 5 years of futility, and over Ara Galang's comeback Season 78 from devastating ACL and MCL tears in her knee, as well as Manny Pacquiao's coming-out-of-retirement victory over Jessie Vargas.

Other nominees: Adamson Soaring Falcons, Ara Galang (DLSU Lady Spikers), Manny Pacquiao

WTF Moment of the Year

This award goes to the most eyebrow-raising, face-scrunching sports-related moment of 2016. And there were quite a few.

But the Rappler Sports team chose the country's boxing icon Manny Pacquiao winning a seat in the Senate. Pacquiao, 38, received plenty of criticism, especially on social media, about his qualifications from the time he filed for candidacy and to this day.

One of the biggest criticisms he's dealing with is his decision to juggle his boxing career with his commitment to public service. 2016 was also the year Pacquiao was roasted for his comments on same-sex marraige.

It is worth noting that one of Pacquiao's primary agendas is lifting the state of Philippine sports during his time, and he has since taken steps toward that.

(READ: Pacquiao tells PSC Chairman Ramirez: Clean up corruption in sports)

Other nominees: The James Yap for Paul Lee PBA trade, PBA special Gilas draft order secrecy, the Philippine Olympic Committee presidential elections, the PBA's Rhose Montreal controversy

Iconic Moment of the Year

Of the local championships won this year, Justin Brownlee's championship-winning three-pointer at the buzzer of Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup will go on to be the one people will talk about for years to come.

(WATCH: Justin Brownlee hits 3-pointer to clinch championship for Ginebra)

The import's big shot delivered Barangay Ginebra out of mediocrity and into their first championship in 8 years, putting an end to the Meralco Bolts' historic first PBA Finals appearance. It also gave the league's winningest coach Tim Cone his 19th title.

What made it more special is the winning moment's organic backdrop that developed in the moments leading up to it, as fans raised their flashlight-equipped smartphones into the air and dotted the dimly-lit domed ceiling of the Smart Araneta Coliseum with manmade stars.

(READ: Ginebra reaches summit, and they're on to the next one)

The moment left many decades-long fans of the league's – and possibly the country's – most popular ballclub in tears, proving that in sports, anything can happen.

Other nominees: Hidilyn Diaz's Rio Olympics podium moment, Alyssa Valdez's final goodbye walk in the UAAP

Team of the Year

Nothing like living up to expectations and proving you're no fluke.

The De La Salle University Green Archers were written as a championship-or-bust team with their loaded veteran lineup anchored by the highly anticipated debut of big man Ben Mbala.

True to form, the Archers dominated the UAAP in Season 79, with Mbala copping the Most Valuable Player award and the trophy back at Taft after a finals sweep of rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Jeron Teng was named Finals MVP for the second time before he left his collegiate career. The only thing La Salle didn't achieve this year was a season sweep as Ateneo defeated them in the second round of eliminations. It was also the team's only loss of the year.

La Salle went on to finish 2016 with an impressive 26-1 record in competition including the FilOil preseason tournament.

Other nominees: De La Salle Lady Spikers, San Miguel Beermen, UP Fighting Maroons men's and women's football teams

Coach of the Year

Franz Pumaren, the collegiate coaching genius.

Having carved his legend with La Salle from 1998 to 2009 – where he won 5 titles (6 counting the one rescinded in 2004), appeared in 3 other finals, and had a total 115-47 record before 2016 – Pumaren was naturally expected to lead the Adamson Soaring Falcons back to contender status.

(READ: Franz Pumaren: Adamson's mission is to win a championship)

The swiftness with which he accomplished that only underscores his talent handling college basketball players.

Pumaren, 53, pulled together some talented players like Rookie of the Year runner-up Jerrick Ahanmisi and jolted Adamson straight to its first Final Four appearance in 5 years. They lost to eventual champion La Salle, his former team, in the semis but they remain on track for a bright future of gunning for UAAP championships with their young core.

(READ: Living a dream: Pumaren’s vision for Adamson accelerates)

Other nominees: Tim Cone (Barangay Ginebra), Leo Austria (San Miguel Beermen), Freddie Roach (Manny Pacquiao), Ramil de Jesus (DLSU Lady Spikers)

Athlete of the Year

As the first Filipino athlete to snap a brutal 20-year Olympic medal drought for the Philippines, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is our unanimous pick as Athlete of the Year for 2016.

(READ: Rappler's profile of Hidilyn Diaz before the Rio Olympics)

Diaz, 25, won the silver medal in the women's 53-kg weightlifting division of the Rio Olympics this past August, making her the first first Filipino female athlete to win an Olympic medal.

The Zamboanga City native finally broke through on her third trip to the Games. Her feat also makes her the first Filipino to medal in weightlifting, and the first non-boxer from the Philippines to win a medal since 1936.

Diaz was initially supposed to win the bronze but was bumped up to silver after China's favored bet failed to clear a lift in the clean and jerk part of the competition.

Diaz's triumph ramped up support for Filipino athletes and calls for improvement in Philippine sports, especially as national teams gear up for next year's Southeast Asian Games.

Other nominees: Alyssa Valdez (Ateneo Lady Eagles), Yan Lariba (table tennis and PH flag bearer, Rio Olympics), Janelle Mae Frayna (PH's first Woman Chess Grandmastser), Josephine Medina (Rio Paralympics bronze medalist)

– Rappler.com

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated Kim Dy's age as 25 years old. She is 21 years old. We regret the error.

PARIS, France – Doping, financial and sexual abuse scandals have increasingly shamed sport in the past 12 months. Here are 5 scandals to look out for in 2017.

Russia doping

Barely a week goes by without new cases of doping in Russian sport even as the country battles to get back into international athletics in time for the 2017 world championships in London.

The International Association of Athletics Federations has already extended its suspension of Russian competitors until at least February. World Anti-Doping Agency chief Craig Reedie told AFP in November that Russia is "quite a long way off" being compliant with international doping statutes.

Russia has passed a new law making doping a criminal offence, but it has strongly denied accusations in the McLaren report of state-run doping. International experts say the country is in denial, that they are still not getting enough cooperation and that cities closed to foreigners are a doping black hole.

After more than 110 Russians were banned from the Rio Olympics in August, the International Olympic Committee opened two investigations into Russian sport, including one on doping at the Sochi and London Olympics.

Russian weightlifting has also been badly hit and Russia has lost the world bobsled championships because of the scandal.

Football corruption

Football's world governing body has had a mass clearout since Swiss investigators detained 7 FIFA officials at their Zurich hotel in May 2015.

US prosecutors have not given up their campaign however and 8 key figures in the case will faces trials in New York on November 6, unless talks about possible guilty pleas succeed.

Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb, who has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering could be sentenced in May. Two other former FIFA vice presidents, Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz, could be extradited to the United States in 2017. Forty-one individuals and companies have been charged by US authorities over more than $200 million in bribes.

Separately, US and Swiss prosecutors are looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively as well as the activities of former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter.

Cycling power cheats

In April 2016, Femke Van den Driessche, a former European youth cyclocross champion from Belgium, became the first person to be banned for using a hidden electric motor.

She may not be the last.

Thomas Voeckler, a former holder of the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey, said he was "convinced" that the motors have been used by professionals but added that it should be easier to detect than doping. Infrared cameras were used on this year's Tour.

American former champion Greg LeMond has said that all doubts must be ended and suspicions have been cast in the direction of several teams.

Football abuse

British police are investigating hundreds of historical cases of sexual abuse of young footballers by coaches and some top clubs have been implicated.

London police said they have more than 100 allegations of abuse at 30 clubs including four now in the Premier League. Scottish police added 109 cases.

Former Crewe Alexandra player Andy Woodward opened the floodgates by telling about abuse he suffered at the club's academy 25 years ago. Since then it has been revealed that Chelsea paid a player to stay silent about abuse and that an accused youth coach at Crewe had also worked at Manchester City.

Southampton have also been drawn into the scandal, which English FA chairman Greg Clarke has called the "biggest" crisis he can recall in football.

Weightlifting's doping strain

Weightlifting, one of the most popular Olympics spectacles, accounted for 48 of the 104 positive tests detected in new analyses on samples from the 2008 Beijing Games and London 2012.

The shaming of Kazakhstan's Ilya Ilyin, who won a gold medal at each Games, highlighted the crisis facing the sport which WADA diplomatically considers "high risk". Even the International Weightlifting Federation said that Russia's and Bulgaria's multiple doping failures were "shocking" before banning them from the Rio Olympics in August.

IWF president Tamas Ajan said in Rio that Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus would be banned for a year because of their high number of doping failures. No official announcement has been made yet however.

China could also be at risk from a motion passed by the IWF this year calling for a ban for any country that has 3 or more failures from the new tests on London and Beijing samples. – Tim Witcher, Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

PARIS, France – Here is a look back back at the "heroes" and "zeros" from sports in 2016.

Heroes

1. Leicester City

Claudio Ranieri's Leicester City pulled off one of the greatest shocks in English football history by defying title odds of 5,000-1 to lift the Premier League trophy.

Having miracuously avoided relegation the previous season, the Foxes rode that wave of momentum all the way to a fairytale triumph. Their rags-to-riches revival was epitomized by the rise to prominence of former non-league striker Jamie Vardy whose 24 goals was second only to England team-mate Harry Kane.

Riyad Mahrez scooped the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, while N'Golo Kante and Wes Morgan joined them in the team of the year.

2. Eder

The Guinea-Bissau born striker emerged as Portugal's unlikely hero by firing the national team to a first major title with a 1-0 extra-time win over France in the Euro 2016 final.

With just 3 goals in 28 appearances – all of them in friendlies – and only 13 minutes played en route to the final there was little to hint at Eder's heroics at the Stade de France. But an early injury to Cristiano Ronaldo forced a re-think and the 28-year-old was brought on towards the end of normal time. 

His 30-yard thunderbolt left Hugo Lloris grasping at thin air and Portugal hoisting aloft the Henri Delaunay trophy.

"The ugly duckling went and scored. Now he's a beautiful swan," quipped Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

3. Luvo Manyonga

The South African battled both rivals and addiction along his road to redemption which culminated with a silver medal in the long jump at the Rio Olympics.

Manyonga burst onto the international stage with a fifth-place finish at the 2011 worlds in Daegu but descended into a drug-riddled "living hell" after growing hooked on crystal meth.

He served an 18-month ban for a failed test in 2012 but eventually got clean after leaving behind his hometown of Mbekweni. He was denied gold by the slimmest of margins in Brazil, finishing one centimetre behind American Jeff Henderson, but still provided one of the most inspirational stories of the Games.

4. Chicago Cubs

Joe Maddon's team ended a 108-year wait by beating the Cleveland Indians in thrilling fashion to clinch the World Series.

The Cubs romped through the regular season, winning over 100 games for the first time since 1935, but again appeared destined to succumb to the the 'Curse of the Billy Goat' after falling behind 3 games to one.

However, Chicago rallied to level the best-of-7 contest and, ignited by Dexter Fowler's lead-off home run, raced into a 5-1 lead in the decider. 

The Indians hit back with Rajai Davis launching a two-run home run off flamethrower Aroldis Chapman to tie the scores before a brief rain delay added to the drama.

But the Cubs weren't to be denied, winning 8-7 to snap the longest title drought in the game.

5. Simone Biles

The American marked her first Olympic Games with a performance for the ages.

Aged just 19, Biles won a record-equaling 4 gold medals in the team event, individual all-around, vault and floor exercise.

A slip on the beam cost her a shot at a fifth title, eventually settling for bronze, but by then her status as the world's best female gymnast was in no doubt. 

Biles became the fifth woman to win 4 gold medals at the same Games after Hungarian Agnes Keleti (1956), Soviet Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984). 

"I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps," the Texan said. "I'm the first Simone Biles." 

6. All Blacks

New Zealand reinforced their billing as rugby union's preeminent force with an 18-match winning streak – a record for a tier-one nation. 

It started with a thumping win over the Wallabies in August 2015 and blossomed into an historic run that included a third World Cup title – their trans-Tasman rivals again vanquished in the final – later that year.

All Black greats Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu bowed out of the international game but Steve Hansen's side didn't miss a beat in 2016.

A 3-0 series win over Wales preceded a convincing Rugby Championship triumph that culminated with a 57-15 throttling of South Africa in Durban. New Zealand then beat Australia at Eden Park to make it a record 18 wins in a row before a first defeat to Ireland in Chicago halted their historic streak.

Zeros

1. Maria Sharapova

One of the golden girls of tennis, Sharapova's reputation suffered a damaging blow with news of a failed doping test at January's Australian Open. 

The Russian tested positive for the banned heart drug meldonium and was subsequently handed a two-year ban, later reduced to 15 months on appeal.

Fellow professionals reacted with a mixture of criticism and support for the 5-time Grand Slam champion, while sponsors were also divided by her transgression.Both racket manufacturer Head and sportswear giant Nike stood by Sharapova but others swiftly pulled the plug on their relationship.

She is eligible to return in April 2017, but it won't be an easy road back with her every move set to be scrutinized intensely. 

2. Sam Allardyce

Landing the England manager's job should have represented the pinnacle of Allardyce's career, but just 67 days after his appointment he was unceremoniously axed following his controversial remarks in a newspaper sting.

The 62-year-old was secretly filmed giving advice on how to circumvent transfer rules while also mocking predecessor Roy Hodgson. His reign was the shortest of any England manager by far and piled on further embarrassment after the Three Lions' shock defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016. 

"Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that," a resigned Allardyce told reporters outside his home in Bolton. 

3. Ryan Lochte

The American added 4x200m freestyle gold to his list of honours in Brazil but an infamous 'robbery' scandal soon turned that achievement into a mere footnote.

Lochte claimed he and 3 teammates were mugged by robbers pretending to be police as they returned home from a night out in Rio. But police quickly denounced the bogus story with CCTV footage showing the group had vandalized a gas station.

Gunnar Bentz, Jimmy Feigen and Jack Conger were banned for 4 months, while swimwear manufacturer Speedo headlined a host of sponsors to sever ties with Lochte, who was handed a 10-month ban.

The 32-year-old was also charged with filing a false robbery report – a crime punishable by up to 6 months in prison. 

4. Nick Kyrgios

The talented but volatile Australian endured another turbulent year on tour which ended with an 8-week ban and fine for 'tanking' against Mischa Zverev at October's Shanghai Masters.

Kyrgios agreed to consult a psychologist and his suspension was trimmed to 3 weeks, clearing him to return for the start of the 2017 season. 

The 21-year-old vowed to "use this time off to improve on and off the court" but only time will tell whether it's truly a case of lesson learned.

He is the first player since John McEnroe in 1990 to be banned for poor on-court behaviour and also withdrew from Rio, along with compatriot Bernard Tomic, following a row with the Australian Olympic Committee. 

5. Tyson Fury

The self-styled 'Gypsy King' was on top of the world after ending Wladimir Klitschko's long reign as heavyweight champion in late 2015, but a year on his reputation lies in tatters.

Fury tested positive test for cocaine while battling severe depression and twice canceled planned rematches with Klitschko. He backtracked hours after claiming he was retired in a foul-mouthed Twitter rant and a turbulent 12 months was topped off with the suspension of his boxing licence.

Beyond his brash persona, Fury's fragilities were laid bare with his return to the sport looking remote. 

6. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini

It is almost exactly one year since football's two biggest powerbrokers were booted out of the game.

A controversial two million Swiss franc ($2 million, 1.8 million euro) payment precipitated their demise with a series of appeals ultimately falling short.

Initial 8-year bans were reduced to 4 years for Platini and 6 for Blatter and while the Frenchman vowed to clear his name in a Swiss civil court, Blatter conceded he had reached the end of the road after turning his back on his last legal recourse.

The Swiss, head of FIFA since 1998, was replaced by Gianni Infantino, while Slovenia's Aleksander Ceferin took over at UEFA from Platini. – Martyn Wood, Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – As expected, two-time UAAP Finals MVP Jeron Teng of De La Salle University was selected by AMA Online Education as the top pick in the 2016 PBA D-League Draft held Tuesday, December 20, at the PBA Cafe in Pasig.

The 6-foot-2 forward, who just won his second UAAP title to cap off his collegiate career, is likely to become a formidable threat with double-double machine Jay-R Taganas as AMA chases a franchise-first semifinals berth.

Surprisingly, one of the expected top Fil-foreign prospects Jason Brickman fell as far as the fourth round as he was selected 26th overall by Tanduay. 

The Asean Basketball League standout was expected to be taken immediately – together with NCAA champion Davon Potts of San Beda, who eventually went seventh overall to Cignal-San Beda – after he helped the Westports Malaysia Dragons win the recent ABL tournament and bagged the Finals MVP plum.

Meanwhile, big man Jom Sollano of Colegio de San Juan de Letran went second overall to Tanduay, while Colegio de San Lorenzo's Jonjon Gabriel went to Racal at third. The draft went as far as 18 rounds.

The 2017 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup is set to open on January 19.

See the full list of draftees below:

Round 1: 

1. AMA: Jeron Teng (La Salle)

2. Tanduay: Jom Sollano (Letran)

3. Racal: Junjun Gabriel (San Lorenzo)

4. Cafe France: Patrick Aquino (CEU)

5. Wangs: G-Boy Babilonia (Ateneo)

6. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Jayson Grimaldo (MLQU)

7. Cignal-San Beda: Davon Potts (San Beda)

8. Batangas: Wilmar Anderson (UB)

Round 2: 

1. AMA: Jeepy Faundo (UST)

2. Tanduay: Monbert Arong (FEU)

3. Racal: Jerrick Balanza (Letran)

4. Cafe France: Mishaal Veron (CEU)

5. Wangs: Justin Arana (UST)

6. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Nikko Lao (MLQU)

7. Cignal-San Beda: Robert Bolick (San Beda)

8. Batangas: Jon Macasaet (UST)

Round 3:

1. AMA: Mario Bonleon (UST)

2. Tanduay: Paul Varilla (UE)

3. Racal: Mac Tallo (SWU)

4. Cafe France: Orlan Wamar (CEU)

5. Wangs: Chris Lalata (St Francis)

6. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Jaymark Mallari (MLQU)

7. Cignal-San Beda: AC Soberano (San Beda)

8. Batangas: Chris dela Peña (Letran) 

Round 4: 

1. AMA: Renz Palma (UE)

2. Tanduay: Jason Brickman (Long Island)

3. Racal: Daryl Singontiko (Perpetual)

4. Cafe France: Alvin Capobres (San Sebastian)

5. Wangs: Michael Ayonayon (Sienna College)

6. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Juan Baliday (MLQU)

7. Cignal-San Beda: Calvin Oftana (SBC)

8. Batangas: Thomas de Guzman (Sacramento State)

Round 5: 

1. AMA: PJ Barua (La Salle)

2. Tanduay: Andreas Cahilig (Amang Rodriguez)

3. Racal: Jon Sheriff (UST)

4. Cafe France: Allyn Bulanadi (San Sebastian)

5. Wangs: Ervin Lacsamana (St Francis)

6. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Gianne Rivera (MLQU)

7. Cignal-San Beda: John Bahio (San Beda)

8. Batangas: JR Yasa (PCU) 

Round 6: 

1. AMA: Sabah Cox (CDO College)

2. Racal: AJ Coronel (Perpetual)

3. Cafe France: Justin Mercado (San Sebastian)

4. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Justine Padua (MLQU)

5. Cignal-San Beda: Joe Presbitero (San Beda)

6. Batangas: Lucky Mangabang (UB) 

Round 7: 

1. AMA: Jason Riley (Marian U)

2. Racal: Thomas Torres (La Salle)

3. Cafe France: Caesar Ortega (USC)

4. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Allan dela Cruz (MLQU)

5. Cignal-San Beda: Kenneth Alas (San Beda)

6. Batangas: Mark Carongoy (San Lorenzo)

Round 8: 

1. AMA: Kim Pojol (Corson HS)

2. Racal: Regie Basibas (UST)

3. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Alexander Unsay (MLQU)

4. Cignal-San Beda: Kyle Carlos (San Beda)

5. Batangas: Greco Magbuhos (Lyceum) 

Round 9: 

1. AMA: Matthew Bernarbe (Letran)

2. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Miguel Plata (Manila)

3. Cignal-San Beda: Krenz Carlos (NSW)

4. Batangas: Justin Ada (LPU-Laguna)

Round 10: 

1. AMA: Jay-Ar Gaco (Arellano)

2. Victoria Sports-MLQU: Harold Butron (Adamson)

3. Batangas: Earvin Mendoza (St Clare-Caloocan) 

Round 11: 

1. Victoria-MLQU: Yankie Haruna (St Benilde)

2. Batangas: Benhur Lascano (De Ocampo-Memorial) 

Round 12: 

1. Victoria-MLQU: Marvin Lee (UST)

2. Batangas: Kiervin Revadavia (St Vincent) 

Round 13: 

1. Batangas: Cedric De Joya (UB) 

Round 14: 

1. Batangas: Don Carlo Fortu (UP-Batangas) 

Round 15: 

1. Batangas: Raymond Inciong (BSU) 

Round 16:

1. Batangas: Jose Mari Bautista (Lyceum)

Round 17: 

1. Batangas: Mark Cailao (LPU-Laguna) 

Round 18: 

1. Batangas: Dahrrel Caranguian (De Ocampo Memorial)

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Showing he has fully recovered from a right calf muscle injury that sidelined him for much of late last season, Vic Manuel was effective on both ends of the floor once again as he powered the Alaska Aces to back-to-back victories this past week.

The undersized Manuel tallied a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds plus two blocks and a steal, enabling the Aces to complete an 81-79 come-from-behind win over the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday, December 14.

Manuel also provided some spark off the bench on Sunday, December 18, contributing 10 points, 5 rebounds, two steals, and a block as Alaska blew past Barangay Ginebra, 102-86.

His performance made him the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of December 12 to 18, beating a solid bunch of candidates led by 3-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo and playmaker Alex Cabagnot of San Miguel Beer.

Star's Paul Lee, TNT's Kelly Williams, and Blackwater's Art Dela Cruz were also nominated.

Manuel stepping up comes at a critical time as the Aces continue to miss the services of veteran big men Sonny Thoss and Noy Baclao, who are both still out of commission due to separate knee injuries.

Alaska is now riding a 3-game win streak after losing its first two outings. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA – Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps towered over the 2016 Rio Games, capping an era of sustained excellence that promises to reverberate through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and beyond.

From Beijing in 2008 through London 2012 and, finally, in Rio, Bolt and Phelps captivated both die-hard fans of their sports and casual spectators attracted like moths to the Olympic flame.

More importantly, they inspired a legion of young competitors determined to flourish on sport's biggest stage even as Olympic officials grapple with soaring costs, corruption and the ever-present specter of doping.

"It's not even once in a generation – it may be once in 10 generations that someone like Michael comes along," said Bob Bowman, the coach who nurtured Phelps from an age-group phenomenon to an Olympic superstar whose 5 gold medals in Rio took his already stunning tally to 23 gold among a total of 28.

The same could be said of Bolt, who has dominated in the tests of speed that are the quintessential sporting contests, maintaining his supremacy over an unprecedented span of years.

"I've proven to the world I'm the greatest," declared the ebullient Jamaican, who preens and poses with the same unabashed ardor with which he raced to 3 Olympic sprint trebles.

Both Bolt and Phelps presaged their mature exploits with precocious Olympics appearances, Phelps as a 15-year-old contesting the 200m butterfly in 2000, and Bolt, at 17, finishing fifth in his heat in the 200m in 2004.

By those Games in Athens in 2004, Phelps was already challenging Mark Spitz's record of 7 titles at one Games, coming away with 6 golds and two bronze.

In Beijing Phelps cemented his place among Games greats with a perfect 8 golds in 8 events at the Water Cube while Bolt electrified the Birds' Nest stadium with his 100m, 200m and 4x100m sprint triumphs.

From Beijing on they were linked in Games lore, each adding to his legacy in 2012 – Bolt with another sprint sweep and Phelps with 4 more gold to add to his staggering tally of Olympic medals.

Although a burned-out Phelps flirted with retirement after London, it was fitting that his decision to return for one last, fifth, campaign, saw him bow out at the same time as Bolt.

The Jamaican's unprecedented third sweep of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m means debate will rage loud and long as to which can claim the status of "greatest Olympian."

Providing a platform

Already in Rio, dozens of rising swimming stars cited Phelps as their inspiration.

That included Singapore's Joseph Schooling, who bested his idol in the 100m butterfly to claim his country's first-ever Olympic gold in any sport, and Adam Peaty, who twice broke his own 100m breaststroke world record to become the first British man in 28 years to win Olympic swimming gold.

"No matter what country you swim for, you're indebted to Michael Phelps," US backstroker Ryan Murphy said. "He's opened a lot of doors for all of us."

Bolt's influence is just as broad.

"I will say that it is an absolute pleasure to be able to compete in the same era as Usain Bolt," said America's two-time Olympic decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton.

Eaton isn't among the doom-sayers worried that Bolt's departure from the track – after an extended victory lap in 2017 – will leave a void that can't be filled.

"I really disagree he'll leave a vacuum," Eaton said. "If anything, he's provided a platform for all the other young, aspiring athletes to launch from.

"Just now we're not seeing the fruits of his accomplishments and labor, but I think in the years to come you'll see a lot of young athletes who'll say 'I got inspired by Usain Bolt'.

"When I got inspired by Michael Johnson I was eight years old and I didn't start coming into fruition in track until I was 18," Eaton said, "so give it a decade." – Rebecca Bryan, Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

PARIS, France – Money flooded into sports in 2016 faster than ever before and flooded out in the shape of fatter salaries for the stars who have become multi-million business brands.

Paul Pogba's world record transfer to Manchester United set the tone for a year of big money deals that handed the French 23-year-old wealth beyond the dreams of most of his Old Trafford fans.

But even Pogba has got a long way to go to catch up with gold-plated stars like Barcelona's Lionel Messi and his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's highest paid athlete according to Forbes, who banks just short of $1.7 million (1.6 million euros, £1.4 million) a week in salary and endorsements.

Pogba's 5-year contract to join United may have raised eyebrows among football fans and critics but top-flight managers and sports business insiders had already priced-in mega transfer inflation.

The explosion of TV rights made the Pogba contract possible, flooding the coffers of the English Premier League, making a mockery of economic austerity and the jobless queues. 

And the tide of high finance in sport did not stop there. TV income rose 40% for Germany's Bundesliga while the US NBA enjoyed a vintage financial year and Formula One motor racing attracted a multi-billion dollar US takeover bid.

Three years after Welshman Gareth Bale set a world record transfer figure of 101 million euros (around £80 million) for his move to Real Madrid, Pogba upped the ante with his 105 million-euro transfer to Manchester in August despite his failing to set sparks flying for France in Euro 2016.

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson told the Daily Mail that the moment the £8.3 billion ($10.75 billion, 9.6 billion euros) domestic TV deal covering 2016-2019 was signed between the Premier League and Sky Sports and BT Sport, "transfer values and salaries were going to go up."

Star power 

The result was not long in coming. Premier League clubs spent 1.38 billion euros during the 2016 summer transfer market window, 34 percent up on the previous year.

The British game's star power also spilled over into foreign markets, where broadcast rights sell to the highest bidder. The biggest deal to date was signed in November with Chinese video streaming service PPTV for 600 million euros.

Elsewhere in Europe the Bundesliga cashed in hugely with a TV deal worth 3.48 billion euros over the next 3 years, a near 40% jump on the past year.

If economic hardship tightened the purse strings somewhat in some other parts of Europe, the cash flowed thick and fast in basketball in the United States, where TV income tripled and the sport generated global revenue of $5.2 billion (4.8 billion euros) with operating profit of $900 million, a record, according to Forbes.

At the same time, NBA clubs saw their value rise by an average 13% with the New York Knicks topping the financial league at $3 billion. 

With TV income up sharply since last year – and slightly higher than Premier League levels – NBA clubs are pushing up salaries, with LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers seeing his $23 million dollar paycheck boosted to $30.9 million for the 2016/17 season.

Formula One was also a big winner in the financial stakes. The sport deemed to be in severe decline still managed to attract the high rollers with US firm Liberty Media, run by billionaire John Malone, buying out F1's parent company in a deal which values the sport at $8 billion.

Formula One is gambling on gaining more exposure worldwide, including in the United States, hoping to generate an even wider revenue stream in the future. Logically, that will translate as even more money in the bank for the big stars. – Françoise Chaptal, Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was injured after an attack by a knife-wielding burglar at her home in the eastern Czech town of Prostejov, her spokesman said on Tuesday, December 20.

"Petra Kvitova was attacked in her flat this morning, it was a random crime, nobody was going to attack or rob her as Petra Kvitova," spokesman Karel Tejkal told Agence France-Presse.

"She was injured with a knife during the attempted burglary. Her life is not in danger," Tejkal added.

The Dnes daily said the 26-year-old world number 11 had cuts on her left hand, in which she holds the racket, after fighting the burglar.

"What happened to me was not pleasant at all but it's over now," Kvitova said on Facebook.

"I trust the doctors and I believe it will all end well. Don't worry about me," she added.

Radka Milosevska, spokeswoman for the Prostejov hospital, told Agence France-Presse Kvitova had been treated with knife cuts and released.

Local police spokesman Frantisek Korinek said the attack had occurred before 0730 GMT on Tuesday near the town centre and that the burglar was still at large.

The police have the burglar's description, he told Agence France-Presse but declined to confirm media reports that Kvitova had let the burglar in as he pretended to be a technician checking boilers.

The burglary adds a sombre ending to a rather lackluster year for Kvitova, who slid from sixth in the world in January to 16th in August.

She sacked two coaches before winning the Wuhan Open in China in October after a 13-month title drought.

She added a victory at Zhuhai, China in November and was on the Czech Republic team that won the Fed Cup later that month, beating France for its fifth title in six years.

On December 1, Kvitova hired a new coach, Czech Jiri Vanek, who had led her Fed Cup teammate Karolina Pliskova to this year's US Open final.

Bronze medallist from the Rio Olympics and Wimbledon champion in 2011 and 2014, Kvitova is also recovering from a stress fracture to her foot which has ruled her out of the Hopman Cup starting on January 1.

"The results of a scan have confirmed that my foot is healing but not as quickly as we would have liked," she said earlier on Tuesday.

Kvitova was hoping to start next year at Sydney on January 8 to warm up for the Australian Open the following week. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – From one Racela to another.

Olsen Racela will take over from brother Nash as head coach of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws men's basketball team, the school announced on its website late Tuesday night, December 20.

Racela, 46, and a San Miguel Beer legend, is currently assistant to Tim Cone for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA. He had previously coached the Petron Blaze Boosters (now San Miguel Beermen).

His brother Nash moved on to coach the TNT KaTropa in the PBA after guiding the Tamaraws to the UAAP Season 79 Final Four.

Nash rebuilt the Tamaraws' basketball program since 2012 and led the team to two finals appearances and the school's first men's basketball title in a decade last year. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Creighton Bluejays rolled to their 12th straight win over the Arizona State Sun Devils, 96-85, to stay undefeated in the NCAA tournament on Wednesday, December 21 (Tuesday in Manila).

With the win, the Bluejays match their best start in 74 years, according to the team's official Twitter account and website.

Marcus Foster topscored with 29 points along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and two steals, as Filipino high school standout Kobe Paras was not fielded in and listed a DNP (did not play).

Paras has had his highlight moments with Creighton but continues to struggle with playing time. (WATCH: Kobe Paras throws it down in Creighton rout of Longwood)

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On to the next.<br><br>With No. 9 Creighton&#39;s win over Arizona State, the Bluejays are one of just six remaining unbeaten D-I teams (12-0). <a href="https://t.co/vxuytZsBnn">pic.twitter.com/vxuytZsBnn</a></p>&mdash; ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNCBB/status/811427944677646336">December 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
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 – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Jerwin Ancajas, who stunned Puerto Rico's McJoe Arroyo to capture the IBF junior bantamweight title in September, will make the first defense of his championship on January 29 in Macau, his manager-trainer Joven Jimenez told Rappler.

No opponent or venue has been finalized for Ancajas (25-1-1, 16 knockouts) of Panabo City, Davao del Norte. But the 24-year-old Ancajas has already been training in Imus, Cavite, said Jimenez, sparring 4 to 6 rounds at a time to stay sharp.

"He is very disciplined, always in the house and training since he won the fight," said Jimenez, who adds that the fight will be promoted by Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions and Top Rank.

A Facebook message to MP Promotions' matchmaker Sean Gibbons was not returned by the time of this story's publication.

Ancajas last fought in Macau in November 2014, knocking out Tanzania's Fadhili Majiha in 3 rounds.

Due to a purse bid for the minimum of $25,000 before the mandatory challenge of Arroyo, Ancajas was entitled to just 15% of the purse split, or $3,750. Jimenez is hoping his fighter gets a bigger payday this time around. 

"That's what we pray. Last time no purse, no money," said Jimenez. – Rappler.com

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

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time boxing champion Johnriel Casimero will vacate his IBF flyweight title and instead look up the scales to bigger fights at junior bantamweight, his promoter Sammy Gello-ani tells Rappler.

The Ormoc City, Leyte native punched his way back to the world championship this past May when he scored a fourth-round knockout of Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng in China, avenging a contentious loss a year earlier which was marked by numerous fouls.

Casimero (23-3, 15 knockouts) followed that up with a tenth-round stoppage of previously-unbeaten Charlie Edwards in London this past September on the undercard of the middleweight championship bout between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook.

"He's growing and I think the opportunity is more on super fly. I think flyweight is not anymore competitive," said Gello-ani Wednesday in Muntinlupa City, where his fighter Jesse Espinas fought to a technical decision win over Lito Dante.

(READ: Johnriel Casimero: The best boxing champ you've never heard of)

The title will likely be given up formally by Gello-ani's partner Sampson Lewkowicz, an adviser and matchmaker based in Las Vegas, Gello-ani says.

The 26-year-old Casimero had previously won a world title at 108 pounds and had said before the Edwards fight that he wanted to move up to 115, where pound-for-pound and WBC champion Roman Gonzalez reigns.

The other titleholders at 115 pounds include WBO titleholder Naoya Inoue of Japan, WBA titleholder Khalid Yafai of England and IBF titleholder Jerwin Ancajas, a Filipino who was in attendance at Wednesday's show.

"Chocolatito or anybody," said Gello-ani. "Sad to say, Ancajas is on the super fly and he's a Filipino. But wherever there is an opportunity, that can be done. Maybe on the WBC also.

"I don't think we will be fighting small fights at 115." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The rookies from both squads came to play with Matthew Wright shining brightest as he led the Phoenix Fuel Masters to a 94-90 squeaker victory over the Meralco Bolts in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, December 21, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Wright, a shooting guard selected in the special Gilas draft in October, dropped a team-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, to go with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Mark Borboran provided support with his 17 points and 8 rebounds, while another rookie in former National University guard Gelo Alolino supplied 11 markers, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals as the Fuel Masters recovered from back-to-back losses for a 3-3 record.

Cyris Baguio also had 11 points as Phoenix won the endgame shootout over Meralco, with Baguio burying the last of 4 straight treys from both sides for the last lead chance, 91-90, with 1:12 to play.

Meralco's own rookie Jonathan Grey was not to be left out of the splash party, draining one from downtown to briefly give the Bolts the edge with 1:25 remaining, and going on to finish with a game-high 24 points off the bench.

Reynel Hugnatan, who sparked the 3-point barrage with just under two minutes on the clock, added 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Cliff Hodge had a double-double of 12 markers and 11 boards.

Yet another rookie, Ed Daquioag, likewise showcased his wares with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 30 minutes of action.

Meralco has now lost two games in a row and dropped to a 2-3 slate.

Scores:

Phoenix (94): Wright 22, Borboran 17, Baguio 11, Alolino 11, Enciso 7, J.Wilson 7, Torres 6, Caperal 5, Hayes 4, Lanete 4, Javillonar 0, Miranda 0.

Meralco (90): Grey 24, Hugatan 15, Hodge 12, Daquioag 11, Yeo 9, Amer 7, Nabong 4, Newsome 2, Al-Hussaini 2, Caram 2, Chua 2, Uyloan 0.

Quarter scores: 22-19, 45-44, 65-75, 94-90.

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott made a surprise appearance as a member of the crowd during a 2017 PBA Philippine Cup game on Wednesday, December 21, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Scott, who coached the Lakers this past season during NBA legend Kobe Bryant's final year of playing, is on vacation in the Philippines with his Filipina girlfriend who is reportedly a registered nurse.

The 55-year-old, who was replaced by Luke Walton as Lakers coach, witnessed the thrilling match-up between Phoenix and Meralco, in which the Fuel Masters emerged with a 94-90 victory.

Scott sat beside Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Rookie Mac Belo continues to rise for the Blackwater Elite, this time leading them to a 99-91 win over the Globalport Batang Pier and a 4-2 record in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, December 21, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Belo paced the Elite with 20 points, making up for his 4-of-12 field goals with a perfect 11-of-11 shooting from the stripe. He also had 6 rebounds and 2 steals to help Blackwater to back-to-back victories.

Nard Pinto produced 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists while Art Dela Cruz had 13 markers, 5 boards, and 5 dimes. Ryan Buenafe chipped in 11 points plus 6 rebounds.

Terrence Romeo, battling with fellow ex-Far Eastern University Tamaraw Belo, flirted with a triple-double with his 22 points, including 8-of-8 free throws, along with 8 rebounds and 9 assists.

His backcourt partner Stanley Pringle was ejected at the 2:21 mark of the third after incurring two flagrant fouls penalty 1, the second for a landing spot violation. He finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds.

JR Quiñahan had 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Niño Canaleta contributed 11 markers and 8 boards. Von Pessumal and Mike Cortez combined for 20 points.

Globalport slipped to a 3-2 card. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Jesse Espinas had spent much of his working year fighting off foreign talents in Thailand, but the Filipino boxer found his toughest test of the year right at home.

The class of Espinas (16-2, 11 knockouts) shone through despite a determined challenge from Lito Dante (12-7-4, 7 KOs) as he won a unanimous technical decision Wednesday, December 21 at the Cupang Plaza Covered Court in Muntinlupa City, Philippines.

The fight was stopped 47 seconds into the ninth of a 10-round scheduled strawweight fight after a clash of heads left the Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental native Espinas with a long, wide gash through his left eye brow. All 3 judges scored the fight 77-75 in favor of Espinas.

The win keeps Espinas on track for bigger opportunities in 2017 after a breakout year in 2016 which saw him emerge from a domestic trialhorse to a top 15 contender in all 4 of the major sanctioning bodies.

The sour ending was the culmination of an otherwise outstanding fight which contrasted the slick southpaw movement and combination punching of Espinas and the rugged determination of Dante, a 6-year pro from Sierra Bullones, Bohol who goes by the nickname “Naruto.”

Espinas’ speed and ability to punch off of angles befuddled Dante early on, keeping him off balance and making him an easy target in the first round. The fight leveled out into the second and third round as Dante began to force the fight, coming in low under Espinas’ counter punches and banging away with his body shots and chopping right hands. 

Dante, whose durability has made him one a measuring stick for a prospect’s worth, succeeded in drawing Espinas into a brawl and making Espinas come forward at times. Espinas showed he had the power to go punch for punch with Dante, hurting him with a quick lunging right hook and pouring on the punishment along the ropes until Dante recovered.

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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This Filipino boxer Jesse Espinas (16-2, 11KOs) is pretty slick and is rated in the top 15 of the WBC, WBA &amp; WBO at 108 pounds <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash">#boxing</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPUKTKXpij">pic.twitter.com/JPUKTKXpij</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/811638693496639488">December 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The win capped off a breakout year for the 24-year-old Espinas who moved past a technical knockout loss to Christian Araneta in 2015 to win 5 straight in 2016, beginning with a fifth-round stoppage of Joey Canoy (who had a 10-1-1 record) in January, followed by an eighth-round knockout of previously-unbeaten Paipharob Kokietgym (who was 32-0 at the time) in Thailand a month later.

Espinas then scored knockouts of Indonesians Tommy Seran and Silem Serang and is now rated among the top 15 contenders by 3 of the 4 sanctioning organizations at 108 pounds, and among the top 15 at 105 pounds with the fourth.

“By 2017 I will get something big for him, that is my plan for him because he’s world rated now. If we will have a chance to get a world championship fight, I will grab it because he’s ready,” said Espinas’ promoter Sammy Gello-ani, who also handles IBF flyweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero.

(READ: Casimero to vacate flyweight title, eyes big fights at 115 pounds)

Gello-ani says he would like to see Espinas back in the ring in February or March. 

Earlier in the night, Bago City’s Joepher Montano (7-0-2, 6 KOs) maintained his unbeaten record with a final round knockout of Daffy Dempo (4-6, 3 KOs), knocking him out at 2:42 of round 8 in their junior welterweight title fight. 

Montano, a former fighter from the ALA stable now trained and managed by Joven Jimenez in Imus, Cavite, looked on his way to a quick stoppage in round two when a left uppercut followed by a right hook put Dempo on the seat of his pants. Montano, a 20-year-old southpaw, had trouble sustaining the pace and eventually leveled out, keeping control of the fight but appearing out of position when he threw his pushing right jab.

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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An 8th round knockout win for jr welterweight Joepher Montano (7-0-2, 6KO) over Daffy Dempo in Muntinlupa City, Philippines <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash">#boxing</a> <a href="https://t.co/GLbFNldBF1">pic.twitter.com/GLbFNldBF1</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/811578201151410176">December 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
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With just seconds left in the fight, Montano closed the show, landing two overhand lefts on a weakened Dempo, dropping him and forcing referee Jerrold Tomeldan to wave off the fight.

The show was promoted by Dante S. Almario. – Rappler.com

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

MANILA, Philippines – Should there be a call for him to return, Pido Jarencio admitted he is open to coming back to coach the University of Santo Tomas men's basketball team.

"As long as the position is vacant, at the same time, I am welcome at UST and to the management, then why not? I'll come back," the 52-year-old former UAAP champion coach told Rappler on Thursday, December 22.

Jarencio has stirred talk of a possible comeback this month with a couple of tweets alluding to a reunion with the Growling Tigers at España. The most recent one he posted Thursday morning, saying he is "only one call away" with the 3 Ps philosophy he used at UST attached as a hashtag.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Im only one call away&quot; i&#39;ll be there to save your day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PusoPridePalaban?src=hash">#PusoPridePalaban</a></p>&mdash; pidojarencio (@pidojarencio1) <a href="https://twitter.com/pidojarencio1/status/811748144811679744">December 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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This was his other tweet on December 6.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let&#39;s bring back the glory! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pusopridepalaban?src=hash">#pusopridepalaban</a> <a href="https://t.co/MYNICf53o7">pic.twitter.com/MYNICf53o7</a></p>&mdash; pidojarencio (@pidojarencio1) <a href="https://twitter.com/pidojarencio1/status/805996287493607424">December 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Boy Sablan remains UST's head coach, taking over for the controversial Bong Dela Cruz before UAAP Season 79.

It's been a swift and steep drop for the Tigers, where within a year they went from finalists in Season 78 then all the way down to the cellar with just a 3-11 record for Season 79.

Jarencio left UST in 2014 to coach the Globalport Batang Pier in the PBA, but has since moved on as the team's head of basketball operations. The fiery, colorful mentor steered the Tigers to the 2006 crown and to back-to-back finals appearances in Seasons 75 and 76. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen-year-old gymnast Carlos Yulo successfully landed an international podium finish as he bagged the all-around Junior bronze on December 21 at the 2016 Mikhail Voronin Cup in Moscow, Russia. 

Yulo finished in third place with an all-around score of 82.232, trailing behind two Japanese opponents who put up 83.166 and 82.499 on the scoreboard respectively. 

Competitors in the Individual All-Around tournament had their scores totaled for 6 different events- floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. 

The Filipino Olympics prospect likewise brought home 3 more individual awards on day 2 of the competition, earning two silvers for vault and parallel bars as well as a gold for the still rings event. 

The Youth Olympian, who was accompanied by Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama, made waves earlier this year as he secured another All-Around gymnastic bronze finish at the Pacific Rim Championships in Seattle, Washington. 

Yulo has been training in Japan since May, as his ultimate dream of representing the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics seems to be within reach after earning an athletic scholarship from the Olympic Solidarity Movement of the International Olympic Committee. 

Before the 2020 Games, the gymnast will try to qualify for the 2019 South East Asian Games. – Rappler.com

The year’s finally winding down, we (or most of us) are finally home with our families, and we’re about to celebrate everything we’ve worked so hard all year for.

If you’ve been following wrestling at all in 2016, then you know that it’s been a good year for our sport. Companies like WWE, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Ring of Honor have stocked their rosters with enough big-name talent that there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of good wrestling to go around. In fact, there’s too much of it that it’s so hard to keep up with the wrestling week now unless you dedicate your days to watching.

But all the good wrestling this year doesn’t mean that we still can’t ask for things this Christmas. The abundance of the sport now just does a slightly better job of hiding its flaws, but there are still flaws. So on that note, let me present to you my top 10 wishes for pro wrestling this Christmas:

10. Another season of the Edge and Christian Show (That Totally Reeks Of Awesomeness)

They say we’re getting it, but I want it now. Nothing on WWE programming has been as subversive as Edge and Christian’s comedy show, and I want them to improve on their shaky first season.

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9. A Southeast Asia championship tournament on the WWE Network

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the new WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament happening on the WWE Network next month. That’s amazing for people in the UK and Ireland, and now that we know that the company is willing to put together localized content—which may or may not be part of the main WWE canon, but still under the WWE banner—we want this to happen for Southeast Asia.

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Many of you may not know this, but SEA is a burgeoning wrestling territory. And while it’s not as experienced as the rest of the world (just see how Hong Kong’s Ho Ho Lun compared against the rest of the Cruiserweight Classic), it’s something the region can still be proud of. 

You’ve got PWR and, if they can get their act together, the Manila Wrestling Federation over here (trained by some wrestlers with more professional pedigrees), Singapore Pro Wrestling, Malaysia Pro Wrestling, the Hong Kong Wrestling Federation (from which Lun and fellow CWC competitor Jason Lee hail), New Vietnam Pro Wrestling headed by former WWE wrestler Dick Togo (which may or may not still be alive, but still), and Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling based in Thailand. There may not be a lot, but there will be enough to go around. Let’s make this happen.

8. Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown

Because no one should ever come to RAW from NXT anymore. Just ask guys like Neville and Bayley.

7. The Women’s Revolution on RAW to mean something more than just Sasha Banks and Charlotte

For months now, ever since the brand split, RAW’s women’s division has solely focused on two people: Charlotte and Sasha Banks. They’re padding Charlotte’s title history and writing Banks as a contender who could always win the title on any given night, but could never hold on to it for long. Now they’ve finally put it to rest at Roadblock, but because the spotlight has shone on the two women for the whole second half of 2016, they have a lot to do to build the others up to at least Banks’s level.

6. Cody Rhodes as a main event player in New Japan Pro Wrestling

I went into some detail last week about Cody Rhodes’s newfound ubiquity around the pro wrestling world outside WWE, capped off by his joining the Bullet Club. I want him to be more than that—I want him to become a fixture in the NJPW main event scene as Kenny Omega is now, and as AJ Styles once was, whether he’s holding the IWGP Heavyweight or Intercontinental Championship. Even though NJPW doesn’t really keep gaijin (foreigner) wrestlers in their main event scene for too long, I want them to take a chance on him. That’ll draw more eyes to the top Japanese promotion.

5. Make Monday Night RAW two hours again

I’ll be honest with you—Roadblock notwithstanding, RAW has been a lot better this December, the best it’s been since the brand split. But like I’ve been saying over and over, despite how stacked the roster is and how much it stole in the WWE Draft last July, 3 grueling hours of Monday Night RAW is totally not sustainable, storywise. You can pepper it with solid moments, like Neville’s heel turn, but if you’re trying to hold up a PPV-length show every Monday, something has to give every week.

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Rumors say that Vince McMahon himself doesn’t like having to write 3 hours of television every Monday, and that it’s actually the USA Network who wants to keep RAW at 3 hours. If that’s the case, he’s got to fight harder to go back to the old system. It’s really for everyone’s own good.

4. Keep SmackDown Live the way it is

WWE SmackDown Live, on the other hand, is so good because it understands now more than ever how to get the most out of its two hours. There will be episodes where the card is stacked, and there will be other weeks where its big players will be given some room to breathe while midcarders get their shine. That way, no one ends up being oversaturated, and you get a relatively fresh product every Tuesday (Wednesday morning Manila time).

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It’s not as star-powered as RAW is, but at this point, I think I can speak for most people when I say we’d rather have a consistently solid wrestling show than, uh, Roman Reigns.

3. An extra 30 minutes for NXT

I want the show to get an extra half-hour every week, if only so we can stop cramming a bunch of three to 5-minute matches in their single hour. Yes, it’ll mean they’ll have to restructure the way the show is taped in Full Sail University but it should result in better match quality in every episode. I also hope they start really taping full episodes, and not just important matches, in other venues regularly, not just when they’re tagging along in the Big Four PPVs.

2. A midcard championship for NXT

If you watch an NXT Takeover—any Takeover show—you’ll notice that there’s always that one match that seems like it’s getting by on the strength of its in-ring action alone. While there isn’t anything wrong with that, it’s indicative of a strange vacuum in NXT’s midcard, where people, especially new big names to the brand fight for seemingly nothing. It’s something easily fixed by instating a second-level title so that upper-midcarders can play for something; my personal suggestion is bringing back the FCW 15 championship, but it could really be anything. Maybe an Internet Championship, since the show is mainly broadcast on the Network. Anything works, just give them something to chase.

1. A legit reboot for the Cruiserweight division

Now one would think that the establishment of 205 Live is the WWE pretty much rebooting the Cruiserweights after their botched first couple of months exclusively on RAW. But the truth is it’s just further become an island now that they’ve got their own show—now more than ever, outside of Baron Corbin’s interference back in Survivor Series, the Cruiserweights have no reason to ever play in the heavyweights’ world, and vice versa. It’s a disconnect fans are aware of, even on a subliminal level, which is why the division hasn’t taken off the way it should after the Cruiserweight Classic.

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The way to fix it is simple, too: get rid of the overt purple branding and make them feel more like they’re actually part of the show, and not just a special attraction that somehow made it to RAW or the Network. Introduce the notion, like they did with Corbin and Kalisto, that while the Cruiserweights have their own division (like the women and tag teams) they’re not restricted from interacting with the heavyweights. And then you can move on to the Cruiserweights possibly transcending the same way other weight classes do in the UFC, and maybe main eventing an episode of RAW. 

Those things have already happened, too, just without the restrictive “Cruiserweight” branding—remember when Daniel Bryan won the world title at the main event of WrestleMania? He was essentially a Cruiserweight wrestling like a heavyweight and winning a literal heavyweight championship, so you can’t tell me or the fans that Cruiserweights don’t have what it takes to break through. WWE has an entire untapped market here, and they shouldn’t be pigeonholed as merely a lighter weight class. It’s a tall order for 2017, but with Triple H around I remain hopeful.

*****

Do you listen to podcasts? Would you want to listen to a local podcast about pro wrestling? If the answers to those questions – especially that last one – are yes, then you should check out the cleverly-named Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, featuring Mellow 94.7 DJ and PWR General Manager Stan Sy, wrestling writer and Wrestling God Romeo Moran, and all-around multimedia person and former voice of PWR Raf Camus! This week, the boys count down the top 10 new wrestling themes to debut this year in the third annual SGP Podcast Theme Song Awards! – Rappler.com