MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Adamson Soaring Falcons earned their first win of the season at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas Growing Tigers, 88-81, on Saturday, September 16 at Smart-Araneta Coliseum. 

Adamson were coming off a 20-point loss against the Ateneo Blue Eagles due in part to the absence of their starting center Papi Sarr, who was out with a groin injury.

The Soaring Falcons took control of the game early, ending the first quarter up by 8 points, 24-16. Robbie Manalang led the Falcons, as he banked in 3 triples and a bucket to tally 11 points in the first half. 

The Growling Tigers attempted to cut the deficit with Marvin Lee making back-to-back triples and Steve Akomo slamming it home twice for the Growling Tigers. 

The third quarter was highlighted by a Tyrus Hill's first one-handed dunk in the UAAP that saw him accidentally posterize Jeepy Faundo at the beginning of the quarter. The Growling Tigers rallied back to get within 3 points, but the Soaring Falcons got back on track with a 10-1 run.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TYRUS HILL is a bad man! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAAPSeason80?src=hash">#UAAPSeason80</a> <a href="https://t.co/DpaM07emJZ">pic.twitter.com/DpaM07emJZ</a></p>&mdash; ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/abscbnsports/status/908997365255647232">September 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

The Soaring Falcons continued to hold the lead heading into the final frame. Despite UST's efforts to make the comeback in the last minute of the game, the Growling Tigers fell short.

The UST Growling Tigers committed a total of 41 turnovers, which is the second to the highest number of turnovers committed in the UAAP since August 21, 2003. It was the Far Eastern University Tamaraws who held this record, but they still managed to secure a 69-56 win in their game against the Bulldogs.

Manalang led the Falcons with 19 points and made 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Lojera established 16 points within the arc and he shot 100% from the free throw line.

Faundo top-scored for the game with 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, 2 of which were offensive. Guards Lee and Jordan Sta. Ana scored 14 points apiece for the Growling Tigers.

This win improves the Soaring Falcons' record to 1-1, while the Growling Tigers fall to a 0-2 record in the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament.

The UST Growling Tigers will face off against the NU Bulldogs at 2pm and the Adamson Soaring Falcons will go against the DLSU Green Archers at 4PM on Wednesday, September 20 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Scores:

AdU (88) – Manalang 19, Lojera 16, Manganti 11, Sarr 10, Pingoy 9, Ahanmisi 8, Espeleta 5, Camacho 4, Hill 3, Bernardo 2, Ochea 1, Frias 0, Mustre 0, Zaldivar 0.

UST (81) – Faundo 21, Lee 14, Sta. Ana 14. Akomo 10, Arana 9, Basibas 7, De Guzman 2, Kwawukumey 2, Lorenzana 2, Garcia 0, Soriano 0, Caunan 0, Escalambre 0, Macasaet 0, Huang 0.

Quarter scores: 24-16, 45-39, 70-58, 88-81. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Adamson rookie Tyrus Hill debuted his dunking abilities in the UAAP on Saturday, September 16, at the Araneta Coliseum. 

Hill embellished the Soaring Falcons' victory over the Growling Tigers with two slams in the second half. 

The 6-foot-4 Filipino American opened the third period with a dunk that saw Hill accidentally posterize UST's leading scorer Jeepy Faundo. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TYRUS HILL is a bad man! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAAPSeason80?src=hash">#UAAPSeason80</a> <a href="https://t.co/DpaM07emJZ">pic.twitter.com/DpaM07emJZ</a></p>&mdash; ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/abscbnsports/status/908997365255647232">September 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {/source}

In the final frame of the game, Hill pushed his luck for another slam that saw him go over UST center Steve Akomo. However, the play was called for travel.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was just too good to be true for Tyrus Hill. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAAPSeason80?src=hash">#UAAPSeason80</a> <a href="https://t.co/NXKefgtHiA">pic.twitter.com/NXKefgtHiA</a></p>&mdash; ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/abscbnsports/status/909007999590473728">September 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {/source}

Tyrus Hill collected a total of 3 points in the game that included his first dunk in the UAAP and a bonus free throw. 

Together with Adamson's second leading scorer Kurt Lojera, Hill was recruited by Coach Franz Pumaren from California, as both players were part of the BallerZ team that participated in the AAU Basketball league. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Since the appointment of NCAA champion coach Jamike Jarin to the UAAP's NU Bulldogs was announced, headlines pointed toward his inevitable confrontation with longtime rival Aldin Ayo, coach of the defending champion DLSU Green Archers.

Both coaches are known for ruling the roost in the NCAA, with Ayo's Letran Knights famously breaking Jarin's championship 5-peat with the San Beda Red Lions last year.

Right after tip-off, fans knew they were in for a treat that only an Ayo-Jarin matchup can deliver.

Employing the same run-and-gun offense (or run-and-execute, as Coach Ayo would like it to be called), both teams went lights-out with a barrage of drives and threes. By halftime, DLSU held a 65-61 lead, good enough to be a final score for some other matchups in the league.

The relentless back-and-forth did not die down at intermission, as NU shot out to a 21-6 run only to be countered by a 22-8 run by the men in green. Shot after shot fell as the ball moved crisply on both ends, much to the crowd's delight. By the end of the third quarter, it was a close 91-88 DLSU lead.

That score is good enough to wrap up a PBA game, but Ayo and Jarin were far from done. After a few more possessions trading buckets, an Aljun Melecio trey broke the 100 barrier for DLSU, 102-94, with a full 5 minutes left in regulation.

But NU still shot themselves back. It was only until the shot clock was turned off that DLSU finally secured the lead and in turn, the victory. After 4 white-hot quarters of basketball excellence, Ayo's Archers trumped Jarin’s Bulldogs 115-109.

Such a historic face-off carried with it historic statistics. According to the league's resident statistician Pong Ducanes, it was the first UAAP game in 11 years where both teams scored at least a hundred points.

Coincidentally, NU was also involved in that last game, where they defeated the UP Fighting Maroons 107-104 way back in 2006. Aside from the bloated score, the two teams also experienced 11 deadlocks and 14 lead changes.

For 40 minutes, the UAAP got an eye-opening sample size when identical coaching styles clash in a game. Both teams sped up and slowed down accordingly to match the other. In the end, it was heart, not the playbook, that won the game for DLSU. They won, sure, but they could not just pull away.

 In the postgame conference, Coach Ayo revealed that he did have a very hard time against Coach Jarin.

"Siguro kung titingnan 'nyo 'yung mga nanood kanina, parang nanood ng lawn tennis, talagang takbuhan," he said. (If you saw those who were watching, it’s like they were watching lawn tennis. [We’re] just running all over.)

"We have the same system," he added. "Coach Jamike is a very good coach. Kanina, 'di ko alam kung anong ilalabas ko pa sa bulsa ko eh. Kung kalaban mo si Coach Jamike, talagang pipigain 'yung utak mo eh." (Earlier, I didn’t know what else to pull out of my pockets. If you’re facing Coach Jamike, your brain would really be squeezed.)

Thankfully for fans, this was only the first of hopefully many battles between the two top-level coaches. For the difficult task of figuring the other man out, we'll leave that to them. We'll just sit back and enjoy the next chapter in their pursuit to further greatness. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel nabbed the solo lead in the standings after shrugging off a late scare from the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, 89-82, in the 2017 PBA Governors' Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, September 16.

Ginebra was in full control almost throughout the game and even held a 13-point lead midway the 4th quarter, 75-62, before the Elastopainters dropped a 10-0 run to cut their deficit to just 3 points, 72-75.

Solid shooting from the stripe and easy buckets from Justin Brownlee, who scored 6 of Ginebra’s last 12 points, kept Rain or Shine from clinching a quarterfinals slot as the Elastopainters dropped to 5-4. Ginebra, meanwhile, clinched their eighth win in 10 games.

"It was a real grind tonight trying to get that win. We weren't happy about the first half play, we were more prepared in the second half. They stayed in the basketball game, we could not just get away. At least we got it done," said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.

Four players from the Ginebra side finished in double figures with Brownlee leading the pack with 28 points to go with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. LA Tenorio chalked up 16 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals in the win.

Raymond Almazan, who scored 14 first half points that kept Rain or Shine afloat before the break, finished with a team-high 20 points while J’Nathan Bullock had 15 markers and 11 boards.

Japeth Aguilar was nowhere to be found for Ginebra as he ended up with no points, but it was Greg Slaughter who stepped up big with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Scores:

Ginebra (89) – Brownlee 28, Tenorio 16, Slaughter 12, Thompson 12, Mercado 9, Devance 7, Ferrer 5, Aguilar 0, Caguioa 0,

Rain or Shine (82) – Almazan 20, Bullock 15, Cruz 13, Tiu 11, Norwood 9, Belga 6, Borboran 3, Matias 3, Yap 2, Ahanmisi 0, Ponferada 0, Robles 0, Trollano 0

Quarter scores: 24-15, 37-32, 65-55, 89-82

– Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) - With blood streaming from cuts over both eyes, Milan Melindo proved not only was he a worthy champion, but he had as big a heart as anyone in boxing today.

Melindo rescued his IBF junior flyweight title with a strong eleventh round and a knockdown of Hekkie Budler in round 12 to retain the title by split decision on Saturday, September 16 at Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, Philippines. One judge had it 115-113 for Budler while the other two had it 117-110 and 115-112 for Melindo.

Melindo (37-2, 13 knockouts) of Cagayan de Oro City started out strong, landing the cleaner punches in the early rounds with his superior balance and combination punching. But Budler (31-3, 10 KOs) of Johannesburg, South Africa began finding his rhythm in the fourth, getting in and out with his jab and straight rights before Melindo came back with a strong fifth.

The fight turned in the sixth round as a cut on his Melindo's left eye began to stream blood into his eye, and a second cut over his other eye in the tenth left Melindo functionally blind. The second was ruled as the result of a punch, according to Melindo's trainer Edito Villamor.

"I think I'm gonna finish him but Budler has a strength to continue the fight," said Melindo of the knockdown in round 12. "I planned to box him, I planned to make him go forward so that I can counterpunch him. He thinks that I can't see because I have two cuts and the blood is running in my eyes so he thinks I cannot see his punches."

Melindo could see his opponent's gloves and little else, he said, and said he was lucky to make contact thanks to volume punching.

"I see a little bit only because the blood is running in my eyes. Then the color is yellow," said Melindo, 29, adding that the blood burned when it ran in his eyes.

Promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions says Melindo's next fight will be a mandatory title defense, though he's unsure who the challenger will be.

Melindo, who knocked out Akira Yaegashi in one round this past May to win the title, had struggled at the weigh-in Friday, coming in at 109.25 pounds on his first attempt before weighing in at 108 after some time in the sauna.

The South African contingent didn't take the result so well, with Budler's promoter Rodney Berman calling it a "blatant robbery," calling the refereeing "pathetic" and the judging "a disgrace" on Twitter, adding "ibf can keep their titles." 

(READ: Sultan outfights Casimero, becomes top contender for IBF champ Ancajas)

The co-main event saw Jason Pagara (41-2-1, 25 KOs), fighting for the first time since November of 2016, struggle to a split draw against late replacement James Onyango (23-11-2, 19 KOs) of Kenya. Pagara scored knockdowns in rounds two and 5 but was unable to handle the pressure from Onyango, who opened up a cut on the hometown fighter and battered him around the ring in the late rounds as exhaustion set in.

The scores were 94-94 on one card, while one had it 94-93 for Onyango, scoring a 10-8 round in the eighth without a knockdown, and the other had it 95-93 for Pagara.

The crowd booed the decision and cheered for Onyango afterwards, chanting "Kenya! Kenya" as he exited the ring.

Pagara is said to have reported to camp well overweight, and Aldeguer says he'll sit down with him and ask where his head is at after this performance.

Pagara had been rated number one by the WBO at 140 pounds but was dropped to number 3 due to inactivity. – Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) - In the fight for middleweight supremacy, the 3 judges could not come to a consensus opinion.

Gennady Golovkin and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez had to settle for a split-decision draw on Saturday, September 16 (Sunday Manila time), with judge Adalaide Byrd turning in a farcical 118-110 card for Alvarez, another scoring it 115-113 for Golovkin, and the third having it 114-114 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 knockouts), the lineal middleweight champion, controlled the early rounds with his quicker hands and combination punching before Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), holder of the IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight belts, turned up the heat in round 4, getting more assertive with his jab and pushing Golovkin to the ropes.

Alvarez did some of his best work to the body and with uppercuts while Golovkin's overhand right was his best weapon.

The fight was tightly contested throughout, and though there were no knockdowns it remained an entertaining affair throughout. All 3 judges agreed that Alvarez won the final 3 rounds and the first two while Golovkin controlled the middle rounds on the two more realistic cards.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">See for yourself. Here&#39;s the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaneloGGG?src=hash">#CaneloGGG</a> scorecard. <a href="https://twitter.com/CommDigiNews">@CommDigiNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/2BvuZPpZSJ">pic.twitter.com/2BvuZPpZSJ</a></p>&mdash; Gayle Falkenthal APR (@PRProSanDiego) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRProSanDiego/status/909269917840547840">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

"Look I still have the belts and I am still the champion," said Golovkin when asked about the decision. 

Both fighters expressed interest in a rematch in the immediate aftermath.

"Of course I want the rematch. This was a real fight," said Golovkin. Alvarez also said he wanted a rematch, and disparaged Golovkin's punching power afterwards.

Manny Pacquiao was among many who disagreed with the decision, tweeting "Did they bring these judges over from Australia?", a reference to the controversial scoring in his fight against Jeff Horn in July.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Did they bring these judges over from Australia?  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaneloGGG?src=hash">#CaneloGGG</a></p>&mdash; Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) <a href="https://twitter.com/mannypacquiao/status/909267298778701824">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons bounced back from their previous loss to win against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 84-71, on Sunday, September 17, at the Araneta Coliseum. 

The Red Warriors could have had a breakout performance in this match with their efficient full court defense and successful conversions in the first half. However, the Fighting Maroons rallied back in the second half and continued to limit the Red Warriors' offense until the end of the game. 

The Red Warriors were hungry for their first win of the season, as they held a big 14-point lead (27-13) against the Fighting Maroons in the first quarter. UP sparked a comeback in the second quarter, highlighted by Javier Gomez de Liano's corner triple that tied the score at 33-all. 

Veteran forward Clark Derige backed up rookie Mark Maloles by draining two triples, and he clutched the second one in the last second of the first half. UE held a 4-point lead at the end of the second quarter (42-38).

The Fighting Maroons turned the tables after Maloles scored back-to-back early in the third frame. Paul Desiderio made a stepback three and finished his drive with a layup to get ahead of the Red Warriors by 1. Desiderio's play proved to be the turning point as UP pulled away with a 15-point lead at the end of the third.

The Red Warriors attempted to rally back in the fourth after the Fighting Maroons extended the lead to a massive 22 points. However, the Desiderio-led team continued to wax hot to end the game with a 13-point lead. 

Desiderio scored a double-double in this game and attained a career high of 28 points and 10 rebounds. Ibrahim Outtara followed with a double-double of his own with 14 points and 18 rebounds, 7 of which are offensive boards.

Derige continued to lead the UE Red Warriors with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, while Maloles followed with 16 points.

This win puts UP at 2-1, while UE remains winless with a 0-3 record in the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament.

Scores:

UP (84) – Desiderio 28, Outtara 14, Manzo 10, Gomez de Liano Ja 9, Gomez de Liano Ju 7, Prado 7, Lim 4, Lao 3, Webb 2, Dario 0.

UE (71) – Derige 21, Maloles 16, Pasaol 12, Olayon 11, Manalang 8, Cullar 3, Varilla 0, Bartolome 0, Acuno 0, Abanto 0, Armenion 0, Conner 0, Cruz 0, Gagate 0.

Quarter scores (UP-UE): 18-27, 38-42, 64-49, 84-71

– Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines— The draw verdict in the Gennady Golovkin vs Saul “Canelo” Alvarez middleweight championship fight was met with universal derision made for hot debate on social media after the fight’s conclusion on Saturday, September 16 (Sunday Manila time).

One judge had it 115-113 for Golovkin, while another scored a 114-114 draw in the main event that took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Netizens, however, particularly pondered on judge Adalaide Byrd's 118-110 card for Alvarez.

Manny Pacquiao, who had been talking up the fight for months, took a shot at the judges who scored it a draw and for Alvarez, tweeting out “Did they bring these judges over from Australia?” in a reference to the controversial judging that gave Jeff Horn a unanimous decision win over him in July. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Did they bring these judges over from Australia?  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaneloGGG?src=hash">#CaneloGGG</a></p>&mdash; Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) <a href="https://twitter.com/mannypacquiao/status/909267298778701824">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Here are some of the social media reactions following the announcement of the match result:

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But boxing man.......the SPORT itself needs to part ways with Adalaide Byrd. Fight of the Year devalued by Agenda. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaneloGolovkin?src=hash">#CaneloGolovkin</a></p>&mdash; Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) <a href="https://twitter.com/KarlTowns/status/909281046956580864">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Adalaide Byrd should never look at a pair of boxing gloves again</p>&mdash; Michael Carter-Willi (@MCW1) <a href="https://twitter.com/MCW1/status/909267501019729920">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> yo i can&#39;t watch boxing no more.. he landed 60 more punches</p>&mdash; Michael Carter-Willi (@MCW1) <a href="https://twitter.com/MCW1/status/909265817778442240">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I mean I get the whole &quot;scoring is subjective&quot; thing &amp; I agree it can be &amp; rounds are close etc but 118-110 Canelo is just blatant cheating!</p>&mdash; matthew macklin (@mattmacklin) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattmacklin/status/909311578624876544">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nah that was politics man. Unfortunately when a fighter generates the money Canelo does lots of people get rich so cash cow gets protected. <a href="https://t.co/moc7oOZhLv">https://t.co/moc7oOZhLv</a></p>&mdash; Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulMalignaggi/status/909276343430508545">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don&#39;t get mad because I see things thru the eyes of corrupt boxing judges.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGGCanelo?src=hash">#GGGCanelo</a> <a href="https://t.co/LLnQwHHj1C">pic.twitter.com/LLnQwHHj1C</a></p>&mdash; MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelRapaport/status/909271075762114560">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey folks there is 1 way to truly win a boxing match kO! No crying over decisions please. Goes 12,a beauty contest.</p>&mdash; George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeForeman/status/909300746352566273">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The judge that scored it 118-110 leaving ringside like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaneloGGG?src=hash">#CaneloGGG</a> <a href="https://t.co/ybVLIx4vkN">pic.twitter.com/ybVLIx4vkN</a></p>&mdash; Joey Langone (@JoeyLangone) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeyLangone/status/909267822798413824">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

—Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Michael Aldeguer was none too pleased with the performance of Jason Pagara this past Saturday, September 16.

Pagara (40-2-1, 25 knockouts) looked nothing like a fighter worthy of the number one ranking he had previously held with the World Boxing Organization at 140 pounds as he was battered about by an unknown Kenyan who accepted the fight on just two weeks’ notice.

The result was a split-draw but the crowd at Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City had already decided their winner, booing the decision and cheering James Onyango (23-11-2, 19 KOs) after the 10-round welterweight fight, chanting “Kenya! Kenya!” as if the fight had taken place in Nairobi.

“Below par. Way, way below par,” said Aldeguer, ALA Promotions president, his voice switching from the exuberance of his praise for Milan Melindo and Jonas Sultan to disappointment.

Aldeguer said Pagara had “personal problems” which kept him out of the ring for 9 months, and added the boxer wasn’t in shape when he reported for camp.

“He was supposed to fight last July 8. We couldn’t put him there because he wasn’t in shape. Now it affected his rankings because he was inactive for 9 months,” said Aldeguer, referring to Pagara's drop from the number 1 ranking to the number 3 spot, which would probably keep him out of consideration for a vacant title shot should Terence Crawford vacate and move to 147 pounds.

Pagara had a good start to the fight, knocking Onyango down in the second and fifth rounds but couldn’t finish him off. And as his stamina abandoned him, Pagara was cut and beaten, and survived by running from his slow but relentless foe.

Aldeguer said the 25-year-old Pagara had offers to fight in Japan, and interest from promotional outfit Top Rank to bring him to the US. Now he wants to sit Pagara down and gauge how serious he is about his career.

“The most important thing is his health,” Aldeguer said.

“If he’s going to be fighting the world top rated ones, it’s going to be a disaster for him. We’ve gotta sit down and see what he wants. This is something that is very serious for him. Is he gonna stay focused or not? If not then we can’t give him a fight.” – Rappler.com

LAS VEGAS, USA - Three-belt champ Gennady Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez look set to rule the resurgent middleweight division for years to come after their 12-round slugfest which ended in a stalemate.

"It was a great fight," said boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya. "This is one of the best fights we have seen in recent years."

Golovkin, who was making his Las Vegas debut, and Mexico's biggest star Alvarez delivered on all levels as two of boxing's pound-for-pound best met at the T-Mobile Arena Saturday, September 16 (Sunday Manila time) in a highly-anticipated fight that was two years in the making.

The evenly-matched fight ended in a draw which meant Kazakhstan's Golovkin would keep his World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts.

"We knew going into this it would be a war," said Golovkin's trainer Abel Sanchez.

Golovkin will earn a $3 million purse and Alvarez will make $5 million. 

(READ: Pacquiao on Golovkin-Alvarez: ‘Did they bring these judges over from Australia?’)

Golovkin is considered one of the fittest athletes in boxing and he needed every ounce of that conditioning and every extra breath of air to withstand the force of Alvarez's body and head punches. 

Alvarez says he would use his rematch clause for a second fight against knockout king Golovkin, who has now gone the distance his last two fights. In March, he had his streak of 23 consecutive knockouts snapped when he outpointed Daniel Jacobs.

Some said Golovkin was showing his age as Jacobs had an unexpected surge over the final 3 rounds before losing by a narrow decision. 

Alvarez doesn't think Golovkin is ripe for the picking but says he might have lost some of the fear factor.

"He has a different power than others I have faced," Alvarez said of Golovkin. "But he is not the monster everybody is talking about. I didn't feel that."

Golovkin has 19 straight title defenses and now needs just one more victory to tie Bernard Hopkins for the most middleweight title defenses in a row at 20.

Golovkin waited a long time to get his first fight on boxing's biggest stage in the United States. He has fought in 22 cities and seven different countries but never before in Sin City.

This fight should have already happened and Golovkin had to push hard to get a deal. But it was left to marinate until there was no other option for Alvarez, who was fighting for just the second time over 155-pounds.

Golovkin wasn't going to let anything distract him while training for this fight. He even missed the birth of his daughter on September 8 because he was in the gym training for the fight. His wife, Alina, gave birth to the couple's second child.

While Golovkin plans to enjoy more time with his expanding family, Alvarez is going to take several months off.

"I am going to rest for the rest of the year and we will fight again next year," he said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles continued their winning ways with a victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 94-82, on Sunday, September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

This marks the first meeting of the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the FEU Tamaraws since the Season 79 semifinals. The Blue Eagles held a twice-to-beat advantage, but the Tamaraws sent it to a second game, where Ateneo was able to emerge victorious in overtime. 

In this match, the Blue Eagles showcased their deep outside shooting with 7 players getting their triples into the stat sheet. Ateneo held the lead from the first quarter onwards, but former Blue Eagles Hubert Cani and Arvin Tolentino attempted to cut the final frame deficit.

The Blue Eagles started strong with 5 players from the squad being able to make outside shots in the first quarter. After a Matt Nieto triple to ignite the offense of the Blue Eagles, Anton Asistio went sizzling hot and bombed 3 triples in the first quarter alone.

Wendel Comboy led the scoring for the FEU Tamaraws in the first half, tallying 9 markers that were all from outside shots. FEU rallied back late in the second quarter, and Comboy sank his third triple to get to within 7. However, the Blue Eagles brought it back to a 10-point lead by the end of the first half. 

The FEU Tamaraws came within 5 via the early contributions of Prince Orizu and Ron Dennison in the third. The Blue Eagles then made an 11-1 run that was ended by Comboy's fourth triple in the game. Go finished the period with a layup via a dish by Tio to make it a 14-point lead for the Blue Eagles at the end of the third. 

With Arvin Tolentino banking most of the points for the Tamaraws in the final frame, the Blue Eagles pushed to finish the game strong with a 12-point lead. 

The Blue Eagles remain undefeated with a 3-0 record, while the Tamaraws fall to a 1-2 record in the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament. 

Ravena continues to lead the Blue Eagles in scoring as he racked up 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Anton Asistio and Matt Nieto followed with 16 points and 11 points, respectively. Both Ateneo guards also made 3 triples apiece. 

Comboy topscored for the FEU Tamaraws with 12 points, which were all from beyond the arc. Orizu and Tolentino followed with 11 points apiece. 

Scores: 

Ateneo (94) – Ravena 18, Asistio 16, Matt Nieto 11, Vince Tolentino 10, Go 9, Verano 7, Ikeh 6, Black 5, Mike Nieto 5, Porter 5, Mamuyac 2, Tio 0, Mallillin 0.

FEU (82) – Comboy 12, Orizu 11, Arvin Tolentino 11, Tuffin 10, Dennison 8, Ramirez 7, Trinidad 7, Parker 5, Ebona 5, Cani 4, Escoto 2, Nunag 0.

Quarter scores: 34-22, 55-45, 72-58, 94-82

MANILA, Philippines - In a must-win third game for both teams, the UP Fighting Maroons came out on top, 84-71, against the still winless UE Red Warriors.

The Warriors of Sampaloc shot out of warmups to an early 14-point lead thanks to their patented full court press defense and fast breaks. At the end of the first quarter, UE held a 27-18 lead over the stunned Maroons.

That was the case until UP’s big Malian import Ibrahim Quattara got his legs under him and started to be an anchor inside, the area where UE draws its strength from. UE still led at the half but only by 4, 42-38. Quattara had 7 points and 8 boards to lead the Maroon rally. In comparison, he totaled a mere 6 points and 13 rebounds in his first two outings against UST and Ateneo.

Then Paul Desiderio happened. After shooting a horrible 3-of-18 from three-point land in his first two games, the captain righted the ship with 3 straight pull-ups from downtown, erasing the Warriors’ lead and mounting an advantage for UP. This was all the rest needed to relax and get going on their own, including Quattara, who corralled all misses at both ends of the court. 

With UP enjoying a 23-point lead at the fourth after trailing by 14 at the first, it was only a matter of holding ground as they coasted to the finish line.

Desiderio double-doubled with a game-high 28 points and 10 boards on an improved 9-of-16 shooting with 5-of-9 treys. Quattara arguably outshined the King Maroon however, with 14 points, 18 rebounds (7 offensive) and two rejections – career-highs across the board.

Heading into their Saturday tussle with the feared defending champion DLSU Green Archers, Perasol said the UE game was a much-needed momentum boost. “We are faced with a very tough schedule in the upcoming weeks, so we needed to get as [many] wins as we can,” he said.

Quattara, however, he was just happy to be actually playing in the UAAP, two weeks after he was almost ruled ineligible. 

“It’s a really good experience,” said the 6-foot-9 center. “It’s the top collegiate league here in the Philippines, so I think all athletes here dream of playing in the UAAP. I’m just thankful that I got the chance. The UP community and Coach Bo gave me that chance. I’m just grateful.”

Coach Perasol knew his player’s pain all too well, as two years of toiling with the team in various pre-season tournaments almost went to waste two days before his debut.

“We practiced the whole off-season with him,” he said. “We gained some successes with him; that’s why it was really hard to accept the fact that he won’t be playing initially. But we were able to fight that back and he’s here with us now.

“I think we will be a lot better with him,” he added. “I think that we have a good fighting chance if we have him with us.” 

Though he is set to face the Cameroonian monster Ben Mbala in their next game, Quattara is not too worried about it. “What can I say? It will be a good match, a good experience for me. As you all know, he’s a strong player, a good player. But for me, it’s not just about what I can do; it’s about what we can do as a team.”

For the better part of two years under the UP banner, Quattara has been facing tougher challenges away from the hardwood. For now, he just wants to play, as he almost never did. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The TNT KaTropa stopped the endgame surge of the Star Hotshots to notch their 7th win, 104-99, in the 2017 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday, September 17 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

TNT led by as much as 17 after a hot offensive showing in the third frame before Star came back within striking distance and cut the deficit to two in the payoff period. 

With import Glen Rice Jr  leading the way, the KaTropa made crucial baskets down the stretch and held on to a victory which propelled them to a 7-3 card in the season-ending conference. 

Rice Jr finished with an explosive double-double of 43 points and 19 rebounds, while Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy had 12 apiece. 

Star's new import Kristofer Acox collected 18 markers and 18 rebounds, while Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang both added 17. 

Earlier in the day, the Blackwater Elite also clinched a playoff spot after eliminating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 118-107 to log in their 5th win in the conference. 

With GlobalPort star Terrence Romeo ejected in the second frame, the Elite took advantage and cruised to a big enough cushion of 21 points that helped stave off the Batang Pier in the endgame. 

In his first game since being traded from the Star Hotshots, Allein Maliksi stood out for Blackwater as he put up 22 points coupled with 5 rebounds. 

He got ample help from Roi Sumang, who had 21 points, and Henry Walker, who flirted with a triple-double with 19 markers, 13 boards, and 9 assists. 

Murphy Holloway meanwhile delivered a double-double of his own of 28 points and 23 boards for the Batang Pier, who are now out of the running together with the Alaska Aces. 

Despite losing their Sunday match-up, the Hotshots (5-4) are still through to the quarterfinals following the Blackwater win. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - In a must-win third game for both teams, the UP Fighting Maroons came out on top, 84-71, against the still winless UE Red Warriors.

The Warriors of Sampaloc shot out of warmups to an early 14-point lead thanks to their patented full court press defense and fast breaks. At the end of the first quarter, UE held a 27-18 lead over the stunned Maroons.

That was the case until UP’s big Malian import Ibrahim Ouattara got his legs under him and started to be an anchor inside, the area where UE draws its strength from. UE still led at the half but only by 4, 42-38. Ouattara had 7 points and 8 boards to lead the Maroon rally. In comparison, he totaled a mere 6 points and 13 rebounds in his first two outings against UST and Ateneo.

Then Paul Desiderio happened. After shooting a horrible 3-of-18 from three-point land in his first two games, the captain righted the ship with 3 straight pull-ups from downtown, erasing the Warriors’ lead and mounting an advantage for UP. This was all the rest needed to relax and get going on their own, including Ouattara, who corralled all misses at both ends of the court. 

With UP enjoying a 23-point lead at the fourth after trailing by 14 at the first, it was only a matter of holding ground as they coasted to the finish line.

Desiderio double-doubled with a game-high 28 points and 10 boards on an improved 9-of-16 shooting with 5-of-9 treys. Ouattara arguably outshined the King Maroon however, with 14 points, 18 rebounds (7 offensive) and two rejections – career-highs across the board.

Heading into their Saturday tussle with the feared defending champion DLSU Green Archers, Perasol said the UE game was a much-needed momentum boost. “We are faced with a very tough schedule in the upcoming weeks, so we needed to get as [many] wins as we can,” he said.

Ouattara, however, he was just happy to be actually playing in the UAAP, two weeks after he was almost ruled ineligible. 

“It’s a really good experience,” said the 6-foot-9 center. “It’s the top collegiate league here in the Philippines, so I think all athletes here dream of playing in the UAAP. I’m just thankful that I got the chance. The UP community and Coach Bo gave me that chance. I’m just grateful.”

Coach Perasol knew his player’s pain all too well, as two years of toiling with the team in various pre-season tournaments almost went to waste two days before his debut.

“We practiced the whole off-season with him,” he said. “We gained some successes with him; that’s why it was really hard to accept the fact that he won’t be playing initially. But we were able to fight that back and he’s here with us now.

“I think we will be a lot better with him,” he added. “I think that we have a good fighting chance if we have him with us.” 

Though he is set to face the Cameroonian monster Ben Mbala in their next game, Ouattara is not too worried about it. “What can I say? It will be a good match, a good experience for me. As you all know, he’s a strong player, a good player. But for me, it’s not just about what I can do; it’s about what we can do as a team.”

For the better part of two years under the UP banner, Ouattara has been facing tougher challenges away from the hardwood. For now, he just wants to play, as he almost never did. – Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines - There were more than a few boxing fans who had no idea who Jonas Sultan was when he stepped into the ring with Johnriel Casimero on Saturday, September 16, in a meeting of Filipino road warriors with a number one ranking at stake.

Most probably assumed Sultan was more fodder for Casimero on his way to a world championship shot in a third weight class, but Sultan had other ideas. In the biggest fight of his young career, Sultan was in total control throughout, neutralizing Casimero with his jab and counterpunching and backing him up with impunity.

“I just adjusted my style with Casimero because he is very stylish and very hard to hit,” said "Zorro" Sultan, who won a unanimous decision at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City. “My strategy is more jabs and hooks so I can hit him in the face.”

The win made Sultan (14-3, 9 knockouts) the top-rated contender for the IBF junior bantamweight title currently held by Jerwin Ancajas, also a Filipino, which means they could be on a collision course for the first Filipino vs Filipino world title fight since 1925.

Sultan, in his proudest moment as a boxer, was humble about the challenge he’d face against Panabo City’s Ancajas (27-1-1, 18 KOs), who has been champion for a year now with two defenses under his belt.

“Maybe that will happen some day, Jerwin Ancajas. But I need more practice and hard training because Jerwin Ancajas is a very good fighter, he’s a strong fighter and strong power puncher also,” said Sultan, 25, of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Sultan’s promoter Michael Aldeguer says it would take some time for the mandatory challenge to take place because Ancajas had faced a mandatory in his last fight this past July when he knocked out the overmatched Teiru Kinoshita on the Pacquiao-Horn undercard.

“I still have to talk to the IBF,” said the ALA Promotions president Aldeguer, who adds that he expects negotiations for a mandatory fight to open in January or February.

“We’re so proud of him but we’ve always believed in Sultan,” said Aldeguer. “He’s a guy that just needed the breaks. We saw his determination, he’s always focused and he’s hard to fight, he’s skillful, he knows how to read the opponent and he has the heart. And that’s very important.”

Despite Ancajas' superior experience – Sultan turned pro just 4 years ago after a brief amateur career – trainer Edito Villamor believes his fighter would be a live underdog against Ancajas. "We have a big chance because Sultan is a tough fighter," Villamor said.

Sultan’s performance – plus his demeanor – also earned the respect of Ancajas’ manager/trainer Joven Jimenez.

“He deserved to be a mandatory challenger and he is a very good boxer that can bring excitement to fights,” said Jimenez.

“He is very humble. Me and Jerwin like him.”

There’s a lot of time between now and the next mandatory notification, and Ancajas has been linked to a challenge by WBO junior bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue of Japan, who wants to face the Filipino in unification bout in December.

“If Inoue wants the fight, we are ready,” said Jimenez. “Jerwin is always ready for him.”

For now, Sultan has a thanksgiving celebration to prepare for in the province. – Rappler.com

SINGAPORE – Lewis Hamilton won a chaotic and rain-hit Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 17, to seize control of the Formula One world championship as his title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out on the first lap.

Ferrari's Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen all went out just after the start of the first wet race in Singapore, which saw 3 safety cars and finished with only 12 drivers.

It all played perfectly into the hands of Mercedes driver Hamilton, who went from fifth on the grid to first and held off Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo to clinch his third win in a row.

With his 60th race victory and seventh this season, Hamilton – who said he needed a "miracle" after struggling in qualifying – stands 28 points ahead of Vettel with 6 grands prix left this year.

"Guys what can I say – what a turnaround today! Fantastic job with the team strategy," Hamilton said over the radio, before leaping out of his car and hugging his engineers.

"God blessed me today, for sure," he said later, dripping with champagne. "I capitalized on the incident – who would have known that would happen? 

"It was really unfortunate for the Ferraris but a great result for the (Mercedes) team."

Ricciardo finished second for the third straight occasion in Singapore, while Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz finished a career-best fourth.

Sergio Perez was fifth and Jolyon Palmer, still digesting the news that he has been replaced by Sainz at Renault next season, placed sixth – also his best result in F1.

'Another safety car?'

Some drivers had expressed concerns about visibility in the wet under floodlights, but the night race had hardly started when it lost three of the first four cars on the grid.

Raikkonen plowed into Red Bull's Verstappen on the first corner, taking both cars out of the race and also heavily shunting Fernando Alonso's McLaren.

Pole-sitter Vettel, who had been looking to reclaim the world championship lead from Hamilton, spun further ahead, lost his front wing and ended up reversing down the track, before also retiring.

"Obviously it sucks being on the wrong side of the track now, but that's what it is," Vettel shrugged after returning to the paddock.

But Hamilton dodged the pile-up and he progressed from fifth on the grid to first, ahead of Ricciardo, as the race finally restarted after a safety car.

Alonso lasted just a few laps before the damage sustained at the first corner forced him to retire, and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat became the fifth man out when he plowed nose-first into a barrier – prompting a second safety car.

Mercedes declined to pit Hamilton under the safety car but after the restart he reeled off a string of fastest laps on the slowly drying track, extending his lead over Ricciardo.

Ricciardo and then Hamilton pitted for ultra-soft tires after laps 28 and 29 and the Briton emerged 8.7 seconds ahead with 50 minutes left on an increasingly quick track.

Hamilton had a healthy advantage of 9.6 seconds when Sauber's Marcus Ericsson spun and stopped on Anderson Bridge, bringing out a third safety car and wiping out the Briton's lead.

"Why another safety car?" Hamilton grumbled over the team radio.

But Hamilton shot off after the restart to maintain the gap from Ricciardo and as he finally took the checkered flag, the grandstand came to its feet and fireworks lit up the night sky.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both retired late in the race to bring the total number of casualties to 8.

An investigation by race stewards found nobody was to blame for the crash on the first corner, meaning no punishments were handed out. – Rappler.com

Player of the Week – Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo Blue Eagles

Performance – 2 games (2 wins), 17.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 61% shooting

The legend of Ravena continues.

For the second straight season, Thirdy Ravena is Ateneo's vocal and statistical leader. As is expected from him, he led the Blue Eagles to two convincing victories against neighboring UP Fighting Maroons (92-71) on Wednesday, September 13, and against the FEU Tamaraws (94-82) on Sunday, September 17.

In Wednesday's Battle of Katipunan, Ravena had an efficient outing of 16 points and 6 rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. Four days later, he had more playing time with 27 minutes and nabbed a double-double in the process, tallying 18 points and 11 boards including an athletic put-back tip late in the game. He also chipped in 5 assists to round up an already impressive performance.

Like a true "Blue" rival, De La Salle's Aljun Melecio nabbed runner-up honors for the week, courtesy of an all-around gem of 20 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 5 three-pointers after the Archers' instant classic on Saturday, September 16, against the NU Bulldogs.

Look for Thirdy to continue running wild next Sunday, September 24, against the UE Red Warriors. He's a Ravena after all.

Team of the Week – Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-0)

Performance – 2 wins vs UP (92-71) and FEU (94-82), 93 PPG, 15.5 points in margin of victory

It's a clean sweep for the Blue and White.

Ateneo is the team of the week after consistently dominating against opponents UP and FEU.

Leave it to former Gilas coach Tab Baldwin to fully utilize a 12- to 15-man rotation and get results from every last Eagle. In their 19-point rout of UP on Wednesday, 11 players logged at least 10 minutes with only Chibueze Ikeh and Matt Nieto eclipsing the 20-minute mark. In comparison, 3 UP players logged at least 24 minutes with an ice-cold Paul Desiderio logging 32.

Although 4 players recorded at least 22 minutes against the much tougher Tamaraws, all 4 marked at least 10 points, with Ravena leading the way at 18. Still, 6 other players logged in double-digit minutes and combined for 20 crucial points.

"We like to think that it's one of our strengths – a deep bench," said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. "We're not afraid to put anyone out there. We keep reminding our players that it could be anybody so they just have to be ready."

Exchanging places with them on our leaderboards is the runner-up for the week – the DLSU Green Archers. Despite only winning by 6, Coach Aldin Ayo's boys put on an offensive clinic, winning 115-109 against rival coach Jamike Jarin's NU Bulldogs. A game for the ages, it was the first in 11 years where both teams tallied at least 100 points. Had La Salle raked in more stops against the Bulldogs, they would have easily been the top team for two weeks in a row.

Surprise, surprise. Ateneo and La Salle are still the teams to beat moving forward. At this point, underpreparing for either of them is a sure recipe for a self-inflicted embarrassment.– Rappler.com

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Slovenia won their first European basketball title on Sunday with a 93-85 victory against Serbia.

Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic, playing his last international match, led the way with 35 points as Slovenia, with just two million people, became the smallest country to lift the title since Latvia in 1935.

Dragic's points were the most in a final since Spanish star Pau Gasol's 36 in 2003 and short of Aleksandar Djordjevic's all-time record of 41.

Klemen Prepelic claimed 21 points and US-born Anthony Randolph, who only became a Slovenian citizen in June, had 11.

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"We were chasing a medal for 25 years and now we have gold - it's incredible," said Prepelic. 

Slovenia's victory push was almost derailed when 18-year-old Luka Doncic hobbled off with an injury with his team leading by eight points midway through the third quarter.

With the scores level with just over two minutes left, Klemen Prepelic hit a clutch shot followed by a Randolph jumper to give Slovenia the breathing space they needed

Earlier, brothers Pau and Marc Gasol scored 26 and 25 points respectively as Spain claimed their ninth European medal in the last 10 editions with a 93-85 win against Russia in the third-place match. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, one of the greatest managers and color commentators in professional wrestling, died on Sunday, September 17 at the age of 73.

A cause of death was not immediately announced, but Heenan was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2002. The WWE legend then went under a reconstructive jaw surgery in 2007, which seriously impacted his ability to speak.

Heenan started his professional wrestling career in 1961, but found his greatest success at ringside as a manager. He flourished in this career path and was dubbed as "The Brain" for his entertainment value and knack for making the careers of great wrestlers.

Heenan created the "Heenan Family", which included WWE Hall of Fame names Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Paul Orndorff, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect and Harley Race. 

Bobby Heenan made it to the WWE Hall of Fame as well in 2004.

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Heenan, with his sharp wit and wise-cracking putdowns against "humanoids", became one of the most influential heels in wrestling history. His impact on the industry was demonstrated by the outpouring of tributes he received after news of his death circulated.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">...one of a kind. <a href="https://t.co/2uM1qpWHaF">pic.twitter.com/2uM1qpWHaF</a></p>&mdash; Triple H (@TripleH) <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/909562267376799744">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/PpPpNdq6yP">pic.twitter.com/PpPpNdq6yP</a></p>&mdash; Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RicFlairNatrBoy/status/909550285080682497">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don&#39;t mourn death<br>Celebrate Life<br>Thanks for entertaining &amp; making my childhood great<br>Bobby the Brain Heenan<br>Goodnight <a href="https://t.co/7RQSvL8iJO">pic.twitter.com/7RQSvL8iJO</a></p>&mdash; Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) <a href="https://twitter.com/THETOMMYDREAMER/status/909610835525369856">September 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our thoughts go out to the family of Bobby &quot;The Brain&quot; Heenan. No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids.</p>&mdash; Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEDanielBryan/status/909564771204075520">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the greatest managers and announcers in WWE history. Our thoughts are with the Heenan family. <a href="https://t.co/r9A3IJlSoP">pic.twitter.com/r9A3IJlSoP</a></p>&mdash; Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinceMcMahon/status/909570633905922048">September 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - A planned motorcycle trip with his friends took a tragic turn as former PBA player Cristiano “Cris” Bolado died yesterday morning at Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. He was 47.

According to his partner, Anne Christine Waje, Bolado rode with his fellow motorcycle enthusiasts “at least twice a month.” 

“Sobrang nakakabigla (It really took me by surprise),” Waje, who has been with Bolado for 11 years, told Rappler through a Facebook exchange. 

The couple had been in Cambodia since 2013.

The 6-foot-6 big man, a father of two, worked as a basketball coach in an international school in Phnom Penh while managing their restaurant.

Waje said they are now coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in the capital of Phnom Penh to return Bolado’s remains to the Philippines. 

Bolado, a former National University Bulldogs player, was a second-rounder in the 1994 draft and eventually won 11 PBA titles, highlighted by a grand slam with Alaska in 1996. He retired from the PBA in 2003. – with reports from Camille Elemia/Rappler.com