MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxer Warlito Parrenas fell well short in his first world title opportunity on Tuesday, December 29, as he was stopped in two rounds by WBO junior bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan. The time of stoppage was 1:20.

Parrenas (24-7-1, 21 knockouts) of Cadiz City, Philippines was no match for the speed and power of the 22-year-old Inoue (9-0, 8 knockouts), being dropped early in round two along the ropes. Parrenas, 32, rose up on unsteady legs, attempting to fight back before being dropped again by a right cross, followed by two left hooks as he was on the way down. Parrenas banged the canvas to show his frustration but was deemed unable to continue by referee Mike Ortega.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Japan&#39;s 115lb champion Naoya Inoue KO&#39;s Warlito Parrenas in round 2 <a href="https://t.co/8itdUWaYqK">pic.twitter.com/8itdUWaYqK</a></p>&mdash; Boxing Memes (@Boxing_Memes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Boxing_Memes/status/681804779564187648">December 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
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The loss is Parrenas' first since 2012, when he was knocked out in one round by Oscar Blanquet, also in Japan. Parrenas had been unbeaten in 8 straight fights heading into the bout, but had been held to a draw by David Carmona in a fight for the interim WBO title in July.

The win was Inoue's first fight in a year, as he was sidelined for most of 2015 due to a hand injury. In 2014 Inoue accomplished one of the most difficult of feats, winning world titles in two separate divisions. He stopped Adrian Hernandez to earn the WBC junior flyweight title, before defeating Omar Narvaez last year for the junior bantamweight title he currently owns.

One more Filipino boxer will get a crack at a world title before the year ends when former national amateur standout Vic Saludar faces WBO strawweight titleholder Kosei Tanaka on New Year's Eve in Nagoya, Japan. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The PBA suspended two of the referees directly responsible for the non-call in the controversial end to Globalport and Barangay Ginebra's 2016 Philippine Cup knockout quarterfinals match.

The league announced the suspension of officials Rommel Gruta and Edward Aquino for the remainder of the conference in a statement released Tuesday, December 29, following a deliberation with the 4 referees who officiated the game on Sunday, December 27 – Aquino, Gruta, Mardy Montoya, and Bing Oliva.

"In the deliberation with the technical committee, it was determined that two (2) violations were not called. One was the 5-second ball hogging violation which was the responsibility of referee Rommel Gruta.

"The second infraction was the backing violation of GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, whose responsibility was that of referee Edward Aquino’s," the statement read.

(READ: Ginebra-Globalport PBA quarterfinals game marred by controversial end)

"The technical committee also determined that only referees Aquino and Gruta were liable for these missed calls. As a result of these two non-calls, Barangay Ginebra was denied final ball possession. 

"The technical committee decided that both referees shall be suspended for the rest of the ongoing Philippine Cup effective immediately."

PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa called for a technical committee meeting with the referees Tuesday after Globalport's controversial 84-83 win, which even raised the possibility of a Ginebra protest the following day.

The Gin Kings complained that a foul or a 5-second ball hogging violation on Stanley Pringle should have been called in the final 8 seconds of that quarterfinals contest.

The referees, according to the PBA's statement, admitted there was a failure to blow the whistle on their part.

"All the referees were present in the meeting with the Commissioner. In their opening statement, the referees accepted that they missed the call, they were apologetic and were ready to face the sanctions that would be imposed on them," the statement said.

Ginebra was overcome by emotion and left stunned after the final buzzer with head coach Tim Cone storming into the court at the final buzzer pleading his case to no avail.

Fans were also highly emotional and reportedly resorted to throwing coins at Globalport forward Jay Washington’s car outside the arena after the game.

The eliminated Ginebra had a chance to file a letter of complaint to the Commissioner's Office plus a bond of at least P20,000 until noon on Monday, December 28 but decided to forego the protest and move on.

With the win, Globalport earned the right to face Alaska in a best-of-7 semifinals series starting on Monday, January 4 at 7 pm. (SCHEDULE: 2016 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – More than half of the Mall of Asia Arena gallery roared for the men in red Sunday, December 27, and rained boos for the guys in white. The jeers were a decibel higher for a certain young star with blonde hair. 

But no matter how loud, Terrence Romeo would not be moved. 

The 23-year old Globalport guard made a decision the night before to ignore inevitable boos from the throng of Barangay Ginebra fans in their knockout quarterfinals match in the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup. 

The decision paid off and he, together with backcourt partner Stanley Pringle, led Globalport to an 84-83 overtime victory and the franchise’s first-ever semifinals stint.

“Wala ko naririnig e. Boo sila ng boo sa akin. Gusto ko sana sila laruin. Actually nasa bahay ko pa lang ako alam ko nang i-boo ako nung mga yun e,” Romeo recounted the mind-setting he did prior to Sunday. “So bago ako matulog inisip ko na kahit anong boo nila hindi ako magre-react.” 

(I didn’t hear anything. They kept booing me. I wanted to egg them on. Actually I was still at home and I already knew they would boo me. So before I slept I told myself no matter how much they boo me I would not react.) 

Last season’s Most Improved Player torched the Gin Kings with 23 points on 5 triples to go with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.

So used to being the jeered player, Romeo blossomed in hostile environment once again, pulling out nearly every move from his arsenal: spinning to a stepback 3-pointer, killer crossovers, hesitation moves to confuse the defense – bouncing blonde hair and all – and just hitting one tough shot after another. 

“Kumbaga stay lang yung focus ko sa game kahit ano mangyari,” he said. “Kahit mag-run sila kung napansin niyo hindi nagbabago yung emosyon ko, ganoon pa rin ako. Buti nagbunga.” 

(I just stayed focused on the game whatever happened. Even if they made a run if you noticed I never showed any emotion, I stayed the same. Good thing it paid off.)

(READ: PBA suspends two refs for non-calls in controversial Ginebra-Globalport game)

He and Pringle conspired for 5 straight points in overtime to give the Batang Pier the advantage and later on seal the win. Together with his team, Romeo, too, will march into the final four for the first time. 

“It feels so good, this is my first semis in the PBA. All our hard work paid off,” he said in Filipino. 

After a momentous on-court celebration that was lost amid the controversial ending, Romeo entered the press room with spirits soaring as he yelled to head coach Pido Jarencio: “Yes, coach!! Semis, coach!!”

(Watch Terrence Romeo's reaction at the 22-second mark of the video below)

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Romeo also won over the team he nearly ended up with during the 2013 rookie draft. Ginebra could have selected the former UAAP MVP out of Far Eastern University with the 4th pick, but instead went for the athletic James Forrester. Romeo landed in Globalport as the 5th overall pick that year.

Since then Romeo has been on a rampage in the PBA, appearing in the All-Star games and eventually seeing action on the international stage with national team Gilas Pilipinas. 

Romeo will get a true acid test when Globalport takes on the favored Alaska in a best-of-7 semis series starting Monday, January 4 at 7 pm. (SCHEDULE: 2016 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals)

“I think this is just the start of the continued rise of our morale. If we apply all the good habits we learned in the quarterfinals to the next game and lessen our mistakes, I think we can keep up with them (Alaska),” he said.

“This is when we will truly be tested because this group will play in the semis for the first time.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson provided fans at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte a treat during the Hornets’ latest win on Tuesday, December 29.

The second-year player threw down a hammer dunk while posterizing Hornets forward Marvin Williams a little over midway through the third period.

Check it out here:

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While one of their own was a victim of Clarkson’s jam, Charlotte still came away on top with a 108-98 win as Kemba Walker torched Los Angeles for 38 points.

Clarkson, who last year practiced with the Philippine national basketball team and committed to the program through 2024, had 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists but shot only 2-of-14 from the floor.

The true highlight of the game, however, took place before tip-off when Hornets principal owner Michael Jordan, considered the greatest to ever play in the NBA, paid tribute to the retiring Kobe Bryant with a video message. – Rappler.com

PHOENIX, USA – Phoenix Suns leading scorer Eric Bledsoe had season-ending surgery on Tuesday, December 29 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

The Suns said in a statement that Bledsoe would undergo rehab and is expected to return "to full playing status for the start of training camp next fall."

Guard Bledsoe suffered the injury on Saturday during a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was averaging 20.4 points and 6.1 assists in 31 games this NBA season.

Bledsoe had surgery to remove damaged meniscus in 2014. That operation sidelined him for more than two months. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant says his passion for winning was shaped in part by the snubbing he received from the team that drafted him into the NBA back in 1996.

Bryant was just 17 and fresh out of high school when he sat down immediately following the entry draft with head coach Dave Cowens of the Charlotte Hornets who had selected him with the 13th overall pick.

"Charlotte never wanted me. [Dave] Cowens told me he didn't want me. It wasn't a question of me even playing here," said Bryant after his farewell tour with the Los Angeles Lakers made a stop in Charlotte on Monday night, December 28.

Five-time NBA champion Bryant says the slight he received from the former Boston Celtics star player Cowens helped shape his championship character.

"I mean, I had grown up watching basketball. I knew who Dave Cowens was and was pretty excited," Bryant said. "Then I was like, 'Oh, all right.' I quickly transitioned from smiley kid to killer instinct."

After the draft Charlotte traded Bryant to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.

Bryant announced recently that he is retiring from the NBA at the end of the current season.

Besides his 5 championship rings with the Lakers, Bryant has won two NBA finals MVP awards, two NBA scoring titles and was named an all star 17 times in his brilliant career. 

Bryant drew a thunderous applause throughout the evening from a sellout crowd of 19,632, the largest ever for a regular-season game at the Time-Warner Cable Arena.

The Hornets saluted him before the game with owner Michael Jordan delivering a videotaped message.

Bryant finished with a team-high 20 points in the Lakers 108-98 loss and said that he was moved by the cheers from the crowd.

"It's been like that in every city, fortunately," Bryant said. "Here it is a little different because this is the city that drafted me. The journey started here. As brief as it was .... so it has more value to it."

Lakers coach Byron Scott said Bryant deserves the respect he is getting in all the cities the Lakers have visited.

"It's been remarkable," Scott said. "The fans are showing him a lot of love, and rightly so. He's put in 20 hard years and given everything he's got, every single night.

"I think what the fans are doing everywhere we go so far are just showing their appreciation. I think it's a beautiful thing." – Rappler.com

PARIS – Judges and prosecutors trashed the reputations of two of the leading Lords of the Rings in 2015 and criminal charges against Sepp Blatter and Lamine Diack were a warning that sports has got to clean up its act.

Bribes, doping, even more bribes, the sky seems to be the limit in the strictly cash underbelly of sports marketing and fixed sporting glory.

The jury is still out on whether the federation chiefs who dominate a sports industry that accounts for up to $700 billion a year – one percent of world GDP – will get the message though.

"If Blatter and Michel Platini are banned that will have no impact on other sports. But for sure there are other sports with similar problems," said Sylvia Schenk, a sport expert for the Transparency International anti-corruption group.

Patrick Nally, a British entrepreneur who was one of the pioneers of sponsorship for the Olympics and other mega-events, is among the critics who see hope.

He said the focus put on FIFA, football's world body, and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) means other governing bodies can expect the spotlight.

"It will mean all federations will become more transparent and I think we will see the International Olympic Committee taking a more active role in helping and encouraging federations to meet all the minimum criteria expected of international organizations."

An early wake-up call at the luxury Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich on May 27 blew the lid on soccer's chicanery.

The first 7 FIFA officials were hauled away in a raid two days before Blatter had expected to seal an easy fifth term as head of football's world governing body.

US attorney general Loretta Lynch said corruption was "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted" in football. Blatter said he suspected the arrests were politically motivated. The battle was on.

Blatter got his vote after his only challenger Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a FIFA vice president from Jordan withdrew. But 4 days later Blatter announced that a new election would be held on February 26 and that he would stand down.

(READ: Isolated Sepp Blatter devastated by FIFA scandals)

Now 39 football officials and business executives who face charges in US courts account for $200 million in bribes given or taken.

A Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA's finances delivered the knockout blow. Blatter is a formal suspect for "criminal mismanagement," European football boss Platini was named in the inquiry over a "disloyal" two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment he received in 2011.

(READ: Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini vow to fight 8-year bans from FIFA)

FIFA has banned both men from football for 8 years. That means Platini cannot even accept a ticket for the European Championships in his native France in 2016. Blatter and Platini both strongly deny any wrongdoing. But only an appeal miracle will get Platini into the FIFA election in February.

(READ: FIFA used special software to catch Blatter-Platini payment)

'Disgusted'

Swiss investigators are also looking into the FIFA vote in 2010 to give the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. German police have launched a probe into whether German organizers paid money to get votes for the 2006 World Cup.

Despite the chaos and ignomy, there is no shortage of candidates for the FIFA leadership: Asian football boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, South African politician and tycoon Tokyo Sexwhale, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne.

The result looks tight. The fallout from the scandal has already been enormous though with sponsors warning they could pull out of FIFA deals if reforms are not convincing.

"People are disgusted," said Transparency International's Schenk.

"Some think it will never change, while others want radical change now. Neither belief is right. It will take time for deep changes at FIFA."

The IAAF has been in the firing line all year over widespread "state-supported" doping in Russia, Kenya and other countries.

A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report told how one controller had to jump from a window in the middle of the night to stop local police taking samples he had gathered.

But British running legend Sebastian Coe had only been IAAF president for a few weeks when his veteran predecessor Lamine Diack of Senegal was arrested by French investigators.

He now faces charges of corruption, money laundering and accepting bribes to cover up failed Russian dope tests.

Russia is suspended from international athletics and racing against time to get back for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August. More criminal charges could follow and WADA is to release a new report in January likely to widen the agony in athletics with more countries named and shamed.

Coe has been forced to give up his role as a Nike "ambassador" but he defended the IAAF before the British parliament, insisting: "No, it's not a corrupt organization."

Scandal has not stopped football and other sports attracting ever more money.

The English Premier League makes about $2.5 billion (2.3 billion euros) a year from domestic and foreign television rights. Spain's La Liga, in second place, gets about $1.1 billion (one billion euros).

Other sports are also attracting extra revenues and are guilty of FIFA-style chicanery, according to Schenk.

"Sport could now experience a Big Bang because of FIFA-gate," said sports economist Vincent Chaude, deputy head of the French group Sport and Citizenship.

"The model for sports' organization has reached the end of its time. This is the ultra-communication society which demands more transparency."

US prosecutors have played a leading role in pressing FIFA and Switzerland, the home of most leading sporting federations, has changed its legislation to make the sporting barons more accountable.

"The more the sporting movement delays making reforms the more governments will be tempted to get a grip through the criminal system," said Jean-François Vilotte, former head of France's Regulation Authority for Online Games. – Paul Ricard, AFP/Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES – The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 19-point deficit to snap Houston's home win streak, and LeBron James received an early birthday gift as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Denver on Tuesday night, December 29 (Wednesday, December 30 in Manila). 

Al Horford and Paul Millsap posted double-doubles and the Hawks rallied to win a Texas-style shootout over the Rockets by a score of 121-115 at Toyota Center in Houston.

Horford finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds while Millsap tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawks, who have now won their last 4 meetings with the Rockets.

Millsap also had a block of Rockets center Dwight Howard with 11 seconds left on the clock and Atlanta clinging to a 117-115 lead.

"We fought through adversity and got it done," Horford said.

Hawks forward Kent Bazemore added 26 points on 5 of 9 3-point shooting, while guard Jeff Teague finished with 22 points with 8 assists in their final game of 2015.

Atlanta overcame another miserable shooting effort from slumping guard Kyle Korver, who missed all 11 of his field goal attempts. That included a record of zero-for-10 on 3-pointers.

Houston led 47-28 early in the second quarter, 71-56 at the half and 98-88 with 10:32 remaining but scored just one field goal following a Howard dunk with just over 8 minutes remaining. 

The Hawks ground the Rockets' offence to a halt by intentionally fouling free throw liability Howard down the stretch as the lead dwindled in the final quarter. Howard made just 10-of-18 free throws Tuesday.

Howard matched Horford with 30 points and added 16 rebounds, while Rockets guard James Harden scored 26 points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 8 assists.

"I think we should have stuck with the same game plan we had in the first half," Howard said. 

King James rolls on

LeBron James, who will celebrate his 31st birthday on Wednesday, scored 34 points and grabbed 6 rebounds as the Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 93-87. 

"It has been a long roll for me but I got a longer roll to keep going. I got to keep pushing the envelope," James said. "Hard work pays off and tonight was an example of that."

Will Barton scored a team high 29 points and Joffrey Lauvergne scored 14 for Denver, who have lost 6 of their last 7 games.

The Cavaliers were playing their fourth game in 5 nights on this Western Conference road trip. They lost a hard-fought game to Golden State in an NBA finals rematch on Christmas Day before winning the last two.

Thunder outgun Bucks

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 53 points and 15 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 131-123 victory over Milwaukee at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Westbrook earned 27 points on 10-of-22 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

Durant collected 26 points, 6 boards and 8 assists, stretching his streak of scoring 20 or more points to 18 games.

Center Enes Kanter came off the bench to tally 23 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Cameron Payne added 16 points to help Oklahoma City improve to 22-10.

Bucks guard Khris Middleton led all scorers with 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting. Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 27 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Michael Carter-Williams scored 19 points as the Bucks dropped to 12-21.

Gasol cools off Heat in OT 

Centre Marc Gasol scored a game-high 23 points, 7 of them in overtime, as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Miami Heat 99-90 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.

With the score tied 83-83 at the end of regulation, Memphis jumped out to an 89-83 advantage in overtime and the Heat never got closer than three points. Gasol also had 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Collegiate sports is always one of the most anticipated events in the Philippines every year. It’s during that time of the season when school spirit is at its peak, and where rivalries and competition are most fierce. As one of the two main collegiate leagues, the UAAP often provides moments and memories to last a lifetime, and 2015 was no exception.

Once again, the UAAP played a major role in society with action-packed games at the arenas which also reached homes across the country and set social media ablaze.

Here are the top 10 stories from the two biggest sports of the UAAP - basketball and volleyball - in 2015:

10. Ateneo wins its first men’s volleyball title

Ateneo de Manila University dominated the volleyball tournaments of the UAAP in 2015, but while their women’s team was expected and favorited to triumph anew, the men’s squad came as a bit of a surprise.

Led by the 33 points of Marck Espejo, Ateneo defeated two-time defending champion National University in 4 sets, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15, on March 7 to make history. 

The title-clincher was the cherry on top of the sundae of a season for Ateneo where they topped the eliminations with an 11-3 record and beat Adamson in the Final Four. Moreover, their second-year sensation, Espejo, won his second straight MVP award, and was named Best Attacker.

9. The NU Lady Bulldogs remain dominant

You know what’s more impressive than a perfect season? Two straight perfect seasons.

That’s what was accomplished by the historic National University Lady Bulldogs, who swept all of their 16 games in UAAP Season 78 to win another women’s basketball title and push their winning streak to 32 games.

Led by both league and finals MVP Afril Bernardino’s 18 points, 17 boards, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, NU blew out Ateneo 75-55 in Game 2 of the finals to finish their march toward the record books in dominant fashion. 

8. Finally going UP

There was no more popular event during the opening of the 2015 UAAP men’s basketball tourney than the hot start of the UP Fighting Maroons, which after going just 1-27 in their past two seasons, won their first two games against UE and La Salle.

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While the win against the Red Warriors was also celebrated, it was really the victory against the Green Archers that had UP faithful in a celebratory mood, due to preseason expectations of DLSU being a title contender, which prompted some to believe UP had a shot at making the Final Four.

Unfortunately, the Maroons ended the rest of their season going just 1-11 to finish at 3-11. It turns out the victory against La Salle was nothing to celebrate too, as the Green Archers turned out to be the biggest bust in the basketball tournament.

Nonetheless, there was still some progress. UP’s team now also has better backing, a coaching staff that is dedicated to improvement, and a roster that has just 3 players graduating. Continuity is key when it comes to developing college basketball programs, and the Fighting Maroons are progressing towards that.

7. The coaching carousel

There were 3 UAAP men’s basketball teams that hired new head coaches moving forward, and each university obtained big-name mentors that will make the league’s roster of head coaches for next season top-notch.

In a development that stole the thunder of the UAAP men’s basketball finals’ first game, De La Salle University agreed with former Letran head coach Aldin Ayo to be the new head coach of the Green Archers - just two days after the school officially announced the resignation of Juno Sauler.

Then over a week later, Adamson University announced its new head coach - Franz Pumaren - a 5-time UAAP champion who used to call the shots for La Salle. It didn’t take long for Pumaren to temper expectations, as he said during a press conference that Adamson’s mission is to win a championship.

(READ: What will Franz Pumaren bring to Adamson?)

And if those two hirings weren’t attention-grabbers, Ateneo officially named Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin as the Blue Eagles’ next head coach days later.

With the announcement of each new head coach, the reaction on social media and in the UAAP community was palpable. Adding to that, expectations for next year’s men’s basketball tournament have increased, making the wait for September 2016 insufferable.

6. Kief and Kev, co-MVPs

The race for the 2015 UAAP men’s basketball MVP award was close, with Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena barely edging out UST star Kevin Ferrer, 69.5 statistical point to 67.36, to win his second straight MVP award.

But just because one guy came out on top in the numbers battle, that didn’t mean both deserving players did not get the chance to shine under the spotlight. 

In what was an unconventional but sportsmanlike move, Ravena asked Ferrer - a close friend of his - to join him in lifting the league MVP award together during the league's awarding ceremonies, much to the delight of the UST, Ateneo, and UAAP communities.

“But doing that is just more than the award, it’s the companionship and friendship we shared all throughout being great competitors and just wanted to help our schools win,” Ravena said in his press conference after about his long-time rival and buddy since high school.

5. Down goes Ara - and La Salle

On March 7, 2015, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers earned a victory which was the paragon of bittersweet. La Salle beat the NU Lady Bulldogs in 4 sets to advance to the UAAP women’s volleyball finals again, but in the process lost its best player, Ara Galang, to injuries.

Galang, who was rushed to Makati Medical Center after suffering a fall near the end of the game against NU, tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Medical Collateral Ligament (MCL), and medial meniscus, plus suffered a big bone bruise.

The former UAAP Rookie of the Year in 2012 and co-MVP in 2013 needed 8 months after the injury to recover.

Her absence was pivotal, as La Salle was swept by Ateneo in the finals, making it two straight years the Lady Spikers fell to their rivals in the championship round.

4. Belo does it again

A little over a year after making his unforgettable game-winning 3-pointer against La Salle in the 2014 Final Four, Belo converted another momentous game-winning shot by converting a put-back layup in the dying seconds of his team’s Final Four victory against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

It’s crazy to think how similar the two situations were. FEU was the #2 seed against #3 La Salle in 2014, and it was the #2 seed against #3 Ateneo in 2015. Both times, Belo hit shots as time expired. Both also happened at the same venue - the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. 

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Besides cementing his legacy as one of the most clutch players ever in UAAP history, Belo also gave graduating Ateneo players like Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal an excruciating end to their college careers.

(READ: Mac Belo: the selfless heartbreak kid)

And a few weeks later, Belo helped make sure FEU would close the deal for good.

3. Kevin Ferrer provides a finals classic to remember

The FEU Tamaraws won the 2015 UAAP men’s basketball tourney in 3 games, but truth be told the series may have be done in Game 2 if not for Kevin Ferrer’s unforgettable performance.

On the same day Ravena asked him to hoist the MVP award together, Ferrer scored 24 points in the third quarter of the finals game - the most in a period since the UAAP started having stats handled by Imperium in 2003 - to finish with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

The third quarter explosion mainly consisted of contested, in-your-face triples Ferrer was shooting with absolute ease. By the time he hit his fourth 3-pointer of the third period, ABS-CBN Sports + Action play-by-play man TJ Manotoc had screamed “you gotta be kidding me!”

Manotoc said the same thing when Ferrer hit his fifth triple of the period, and then yelled out “My goodness” by the time the UST star’s sixth 3-ball went in.

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By the time the fourth quarter started, UST had turned a 30-21 deficit into a 47-41 lead thanks to Ferrer and his hot streak that will always live in college basketball lore.

2. The 10-year drought ends for FEU

Unfortunately for Ferrer and UST, the Tamaraws bounced back in Game 3 to win their 20th UAAP title and first in 10 years.

The title victory was especially sweet for FEU, which made the finals of the UAAP in 2010, 2011, and 2014 but lost each time, and was close to losing again as UST took a 59-53 with 3:42 left in the contest.

Unfortunately for them, FEU responded with an 8-1 run to take a 61-60 lead and never looked back en route to the title.

Mac Belo, who was fighting cramps in the third game, came away with the Finals MVP thanks to averages of 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. Belo also spent majority of Game 3 guarding Ferrer, who was limited to 6 points on 2-of-7 shooting.

1. The undisputed best

Speaking of perfection, that’s exactly how UAAP Season 77 went for the Ateneo Lady Eagles, which swept all 16 games they played and won the championship for a second straight season.

It was clear from the get-go that Ateneo was at a level above their peers during the season, and displayed that supremacy in the finals against La Salle anew.

Adding to that, Alyssa Valdez was named league MVP for a second straight year and also bagged the Best Scorer and Best Server awards.

The graduating Denden Lazaro, on the other hand, took home the Best Libero award on top of a second straight ring. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - When you’re a boxer and your first name is Victorio, the nickname “Vicious” is a natural fit. The 25-year-old from Polomolok, Philippines will have a chance to live up to it when he faces WBO strawweight titleholder Kosei Tanaka on New Year’s Eve at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya, Japan.

“I’m a vicious fighter,” Saludar (11-1, 9 knockouts) asserted.

Saludar has been a pro for just two years, but his boxing background is deep. His father, a corn farmer in a town just 30 minutes north of General Santos City, convinced him and his brothers to pursue the sport. 

The Saludar name has a strong reputation in Philippine boxing: His older brother Froilan (23-1-1, 14 KOs) became a top flyweight contender in the pros while Rey won a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games. Vic won a bronze at light flyweight at the 2010 Asiad in a division that included two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming and future IBF flyweight champ Amnat Ruenroeng.

Saludar put gloves on for the first time at age 11, and those gloves took him to places he would’ve never imagined. After several years on the Philippine national team, Saludar decided to turn pro and aim for another goal.

“I wanted to be a world champion, that’s why I turned pro,” said Saludar.

Saludar knocks out Michael Kaibigan in one round

At 23, he signed with ALA Promotions, the Cebu-based company which produces the “Pinoy Pride” events on ABS-CBN. For company president Michael Aldeguer, the decision to sign Saludar once he stated his intention to turn pro was a no-brainer.

“We’ve always loved Vic,” said Aldeguer. “The Saludar brothers are some of the best talents that we’ve seen in the Philippines. Vic was always one fighter we knew who had it.”

His ascent through the pro ranks encountered bumpy air early on. Saludar turned pro in 2013 and knocked his first two opponents out in round one. In his third fight of 2013, just 4 months after turning pro, Saludar was stopped in the fourth round by Powell Balaba.

Saludar dropped Balaba in round one, but suffered a hand fracture with which he could not continue fighting.

“It was a lesson for me,” Saludar said. “I learned that I should be more careful when I fight. I blame myself because I wasn’t careful enough. I wanted to continue fighting and I knew I would’ve won. I was frustrated but I learned my lesson.”

Aldeguer says the loss changed the way Saludar fights, making him less aggressive but vicious nonetheless.

“The loss took away from what he wanted to do, which is be an aggressive fighter. I think he’s more calculating now, he chooses his punches more, he doesn’t really jump in right away,” Aldeguer said.

Since the loss, Saludar has run off 9 straight wins. But his level of competition thus far pales in comparison to that of his 20-year-old opponent, with none of his foes rising to the level of the 20-year-old Tanaka (5-0, 2 KOs).

(READ: 2015: The best of Philippine boxing)

Tanaka turned pro shortly after Saludar did, beating an Indonesian boxer named Oscar Raknafa who was rated number 6 in the world by the WBO. In May of this year, at just 19 years old, Tanaka outfought Mexico’s Julian Yedras to win the title he currently holds.

Though he fought about 50 amateur fights, without the same international experience as Saludar, Tanaka has the experience of going 10 and 12 rounds in his last two fights. Saludar has gone just 8 rounds twice, and his lone 12-round scheduled bout in September against Rizky Pratama ended in a first-round TKO.

Tanaka, an Economics student at Chukyo University in Nagoya, tells RingTV.com that he envisions this fight being a thriller.

“This bout will seem to become a very thrilling one, where both fighters can use their own speed and power.

“[Saludar’s] strengths are sharp punches and one-two punches. However, his weakness is a lack of experience for a 12-round match.”

Saludar likened Tanaka to two-time gold medalist Zou Shiming, an amateur rival of Saludar’s, because of his constant movement. Saludar’s trainer Benny Dela Peña said the goal is to limit Tanaka’s movement and force a fight.

“Vic will always be in front of him throwing punches,” said Dela Peña, who had Saludar spar with Filipino boxers Jeny Boy Buca, Jake Bornea, and Jetro Pabustan to prepare for this assignment.

With a win, Saludar would join WBO/RING magazine junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and WBO junior featherweight champ Nonito Donaire, Jr as the only current world champions from the Philippines. 

Servania returns in Japan - without ALA

Unbeaten Filipino boxer Genesis Servania (26-0, 11 KOs) is scheduled to face Indonesian Hendrik Barongsay (29-23-3, 18 KOs) in an 8-round fight on the Tanaka-Saludar undercard in his first fight since February.  

The unbeaten junior featherweight rose up the rankings under ALA Promotions, but Aldeguer says the fight wasn’t authorized by ALA and claims the company still has a promotional contract through August with the 24-year-old from Bacolod City. 

“The thing is, he still has a contract with ALA Promotions so we’re looking into that with our legal team,” said Aldeguer, who added that Servania was originally slated for a fight on the undercard of Donnie Nietes vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr in July but showed up to training out of shape. 

Servania didn’t respond to requests for comment but his Facebook page lists Kashimi Gym in Japan as his new workplace. In October he told reporter Dennis Principe that he was having issues with the trainers at ALA Gym. 

“I don't see eye to eye with the trainers. We have a lot of issues.” – 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 at @RyanSongalia.

MANILA, Philippines – Spearheading fastbreaks, orchestrating plays, zipping past confused defenders and burning the bottom of the net in an endless variety of ways – the backcourt duo of Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo is certainly now a force to be reckoned with in the PBA.

As swiftly as they moved on the court, Pringle and Romeo were just as rapidly dubbed as the “Fast and the Furious” 2.0.

“They’re definitely the best backcourt (partners). I (can) almost say it as a ‘Fast and Furious 2.0’,” veteran Billy Mamaril compared the Batang Pier guards to his ex-teammates and original “Fast and Furious” duo Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand.

The veteran Ginebra two-guard tandem of Caguioa and Helterbrand rose to prominence in the 2004-2005 season, leading the team to back-to-back championship runs.

For Globalport a decade later, Pringle and Romeo led the franchise to its first-ever semifinals appearance since joining the league in 2012.

The pair lead the team in scoring this 2016 PBA Philippine Cup with Romeo averaging 24 points and Pringle 21 points. 

Both conspired for 5 straight points in overtime which created the critical separation from Ginebra in Globalport’s 84-83 win Sunday, December 27.

“There’s no one like them (Pringle and Romeo), that’s the main difference. Everyone else is just supporting them,” said Mamaril, 35, who played for the Gin Kings for almost a decade and won two championships with Caguioa and Helterbrand.

(READ: PBA suspends two refs for non-calls in controversial Ginebra-Globalport game)

Romeo, drafted 5th overall in 2013, and Pringle, picked first overall the following year, are walking highlight reel-makers. They shine on the court every game but during the knockout quarterfinals against Ginebra, they got much-needed help from team vets including Mamaril.

(READ: Romeo ignores Ginebra's boos on his way to first PBA semis)

Mamaril was instrumental to the win as he scored the game-tying basket late in regulation and forced overtime with a crucial block on LA Tenorio’s potential game-winner.

“As a pro basketball player there’s nowhere else you want to be than that situation,” he reflected, “that’s what you dream of as a kid: game on the line, do your fundamentals, keep it simple. Nothing, just make a basket, make a stop.”

But still, the controversial victory is a bittersweet achievement against the team that was his old home.

“More than the sweetness, it’s bittersweet. I wish I could take them (Ginebra) with me,” he said, “but I’m happy with this group right here. They’re young and full of excitement.”

Mamaril’s experience will play a bigger role when the youthful and less experienced Globalport take on the battle-tested Alaska in a best-of-7 semis series starting Monday, January 4 at 7 pm. (SCHEDULE: 2016 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals)

“I’m happy for them,” he said. “This is the first time they got to the semis. Me, as a veteran, I got to guide them.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fighter Kevin Belingon will have an opportunity to vie for a world title as he challenges Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Championship bantamweight belt next year.

Although ONE has yet to publicly announce the championship clash, a reliable source within Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization confirmed the fight booking to Rappler.

The marquee match-up will take place at He Long Stadium in Changsha, China on January 23, 2016 as the headliner of ONE’s 37th fight card and fourth venture on mainland China’s soil.

Belingon (13-4) was one step away from securing a date with Fernandes in 2014, but South Korea's Dae Hwan Kim spoiled the Pinoy’s championship aspirations by submitting the highly-touted Team Lakay representative with a first-round rear-naked choke in March of that year.

The 28-year-old Baguio City native bounced back by scoring a lopsided decision triumph over Koetsu Okazaki in December 2014.

On the other hand, Fernandes (18-3) has successfully defended the gold-plated strap thrice since becoming the promotion’s official 135-pound kingpin in October 2013 when he outpointed then-champion Soo Chul Kim in a title unification bout.

Aside from his two-year reign as the ONE bantamweight titleholder, the 35-year-old Brazilian is also riding high on a ten-fight winning streak that included notable victories over Antonio Banuelos, Okazaki, Masakatsu Ueda and Kim.

Fernandes, who turned down a lucrative offer from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2012 to sign with ONE, was last seen in action when he knocked out Finland’s Toni Tauru with one punch this past July.

With the implementation of ONE’s new weigh-in policy, it is still unclear if both men will compete at the original bantamweight limit of 135 pounds.

Rappler tried to reach ONE for clarification regarding the matter, but ONE has not released a statement as of this article’s publication. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says a deal has been reached for Manny Pacquiao to face WBO welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley for a third time on April 9 in Las Vegas, numerous sources reported Thursday, December 31.

Arum, who promotes both fighters, told veteran reporter Lance Pugmire: “We've worked out the deals, now the paperwork is being sent.” Emails to Top Rank requesting comment have not yet been answered at time of publishing.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bob Arum says Manny Pacquiao will fight Timothy Bradley April 9 at MGM Grand. &quot;We&#39;ve worked out the deals, now the paperwork is being sent.&quot;</p>&mdash; Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) <a href="https://twitter.com/latimespugmire/status/682234002833448961">December 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) is calling his fight on April 9 the final fight of his 21-year career, saying he’ll focus full-time on his career in politics after the May 9 elections, where the two-term congressman will be running for the Senate.

Pacquiao has been out of the ring since losing a unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather in the highest grossing fight in the sport's history on May 2, after which he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

The 8-division champion boxer lost a debated decision in their first fight in 2012, which was Pacquiao’s first defeat in 7 years. They faced off in a 2014 rematch, with Pacquiao prevailing by unanimous decision. 

Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) of Palm Springs, Calif. struggled initially to rebuild following his lone career defeat, being held to a draw against Diego Chaves before being rocked by Jessie Vargas in a fight earlier this year.

Since then, Bradley has hooked up with trainer Teddy Atlas before serving Brandon Rios the first knockout loss of his career in November.

Monica Bradley, the wife and manager of Timothy Bradley, denied to Rappler Thursday that a deal for his next fight had been reached.

"We're waiting for the turn of the year to even start talking about who Tim's next opponent will be," she said.

Atlas declined to comment about the fight, saying he wasn't informed that the fight would be happening. "I would rather wait until I know that the fight is actually done and official, which I don't know."

(READ: Saludar aims to be 'Vicious' in New Year's Eve world title fight)

According to an ESPN report in 2014, their first fight sold 890,000 pay-per-views while the rematch dipped slightly, generating between 750,000-800,000 buys.

The General Santos City, Philippines native Pacquiao is currently 37-year-old while Bradley is 5 years younger at 32.

Arum says that he preferred to play it on the cautious side when calling it Pacquiao's final fight, however.

"I'm not going to advertise it as his last fight. He could change his mind, then everyone says I'm a huckster," Arum said. – 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 at @RyanSongalia.

NEW YORK, USA - New York Knicks' reserve forward Cleanthony Early was shot in the leg in an apparent robbery after leaving a strip club overnight, reports and officials said Wednesday, December 30.

The incident occurred moments after the 24-year-old left the CityScapes Gentlemen's Club in an Uber, according to CBS and the New York Post.

A group of armed and masked men robbed Early after surrounding the Uber with their cars, reportedly robbing him of gold chains and even gold caps on his teeth.

In the process, Early was shot in the leg, according to the reports.

A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department confirmed that a 24-year-old man had been shot in the leg in Queens but declined to name the victim.

"He was transferred to a hospital. No arrests. There is a investigation ongoing," she told AFP.

(READ: Knicks forward Derrick Williams has $750K in jewelry stolen from apartment)

The New York Knicks posted a short statement on their Twitter account following the incident.

"We are aware of what occurred with Cleanthony Early this morning and are relieved that he is not in a life-threatening situation," the Knicks said. 

"We will not comment any further until we receive more information."

Early, a native of the New York borough of the Bronx, is playing his second season for the Knicks. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - The Golden State Warriors fizzled without red hot Stephen Curry on Wednesday, falling 114-91 to the Mavericks in Dallas in just their second defeat of the NBA season.

The Mavericks made the most of Curry's absence with a lower left leg injury, racing to an early 17-point lead that they stretched to as many as 30 in the third quarter.

"Our guys did a very good job of staying very focused even though Curry didn't play," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We knew there was a chance he wouldn't and if he didn't we didn't want to have any kind of emotional letdown. The rest of their team is a great team."

The Mavericks led 60-42 at halftime and with forward Harrison Barnes, backup guard Leandro Barbosa and reserve center Festus Ezeli also all sidelined by injury, Warriors interim coach Luke Walton had few options.

Golden State guard Klay Thompson had one of his worst nights of the season, connecting on just 4 of 15 shots from the floor and one of two from the free throw line for 10 points, his lowest contribution since November 11.

Thirty-two of the Mavericks' 60 first-half points came in the paint, where they held a 22-point advantage at the interval.

Dallas built the lead to 83-53 with 5:05 left in the third as they thwarted a Warriors team that have averaged 114 points per game.

Dallas guard J.J. Barea, making his fourth straight start in place of injured Deron Williams, scored a game-high 23 points including five of seven from three-point range.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and eight rebounds and center ZaZa Pachulia posted his 17th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

The Warriors, who will try to bounce back against the Rockets in Houston on Thursday, fell to 29-2 - still a record-setting season start that Carlisle called "completely remarkable".

Boston says bye to Bryant 

In another significant stop on the Kobe Bryant farewell tour, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar produced a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Lakers to a 112-104 victory over the Celtics in Boston.

Cheered in pre-game introductions - then booed when he touched the ball - the 37-year-old veteran came away with more emotional memories from his last appearance at the Celtics' TD Garden before he retires at the end of the season.

"Being able to say thanks to the fans was a beautiful moment," said Bryant, who patted his chest in recognition of the pre-game ovation.

He was even more touched, however, by the jeers that recognized the long Celtics-Lakers enmity, a rivalry that he said had shaped his career.

"As soon as I touched the ball and they booed, I'm like, 'Oh, I'm home,'" said Bryant, who didn't score until his ninth shot but made a key contribution to a 21-5 third-quarter scoring run.

Bryant was treated to another ovation as the game ended, chants of "Ko-be! echoing around the arena before he exchanged embraces with several Celtics players.

Bryant said the Celtics played a pivotal role in his NBA career. After the Lakers' 2008 NBA title bid ended in a blowout loss to the Celtics in Boston, he and the Lakers turned the tables with a seven-game Finals triumph over the Celtics in 2010.

"When we lost (to the Celtics) in 2008, that was the turn for me," Bryant said. "That was when it was like, 'Listen, I have to figure this leadership thing out by any means necessary.'"

Butler does it for the Bulls

In Chicago, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler tipped in an alley-oop pass with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the hosts to a 102-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jimmy Butler gently tips in the Pau pass for the <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls">@ChicagoBulls</a> win!&#10;<a href="https://t.co/zjuQ0jAQm7">https://t.co/zjuQ0jAQm7</a></p>&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/682447600721608706">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Butler scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime and guard Aaron Brooks came off the bench to score a season-high 29 points for Chicago, who pulled off the victory despite the absence of star guard Derrick Rose because of right hamstring tendinitis.

In San Antonio, the Spurs routed the Phoenix Suns 112-79 to remain unbeaten at home, improving to 19-0 on their own court this season.

The lowly Philadelphia 76ers nabbed their third win of the season, never trailing in the second half en route to a 110-105 victory over the Kings in Sacramento. – Rappler.com

BEIJING, China - China is preparing to bid for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the continent's biggest football championship, the country's top soccer authority said as it hopes to one day host the World Cup.

The Chinese Football Association is soliciting input for a possible application to host the tournament, it said in a letter to its members posted on its website.

The bid will require at least 6 cities and 8 stadiums to host a total of 51 competitions in the month-long contest, which is held every 4 years.

China is the world's most populous country and its second-largest economy, but its football team languishes in 84th place in the FIFA world rankings, and it is on the verge of elimination for Russia 2018 after a 0-0 draw with Hong Kong in November.

(READ: Chinese football will be world class in 5 years, says Scolari)

President Xi Jinping has called on the nation to up its game with the goals of eventually hosting and winning a World Cup - a tournament in which it has only appeared once, in 2002.

The drive has seen schools and government organizations looking to promote the game, while Chinese Super League clubs have lured foreign players and coaches with lucrative deals.

Chinese football long suffered from endemic corruption, with a history of match-rigging and bribery, but authorities have sought to clean up the game in recent years.

China hosted the Asian Cup in 2004 and reached the final, but lost 3-1 to neighbour and rival Japan, triggering a riot by fans.

Cities must have an international airport and at least 10 5-star hotels to be considered for inclusion in the 2023 bid, the CFA statement said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Over the course of his career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has had numerous unforgettable performances against his team’s biggest and most historic rival, the Boston Celtics.

During his final ever game at the TD Garden Arena in Boston on Thursday, December 31, the retiring Bryant made sure to leave another classic moment.

With his Lakers up just two, 104-102, and 1:42 remaining on the clock, Bryant fired an attempt from way downtown.

It went in, and essentially became the dagger to end the contest.

{source} <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jNwBNv1IagA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> {/source}

Los Angeles held on the win the game, 112-104, and improved to 6-27 on the season while Boston dropped to 18-14. Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson led LA with 24 points.

Late in the game, Bryant was also serenaded by “Kobe Bryant” chants by the Boston crowd as he approached his family who were watching courtside.

{source} <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VGDaqsA3M2M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> {/source}

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley 3 it is.

Whether you like it or not, Bob Arum's announcement that the 8-division champ from the Philippines will face Bradley for a third time all but seals the deal on this trilogy coming to Las Vegas on April 9. Detractors will assert with much credibility that a third fight isn't necessary, as there is no unfinished business between them. 

Bradley (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) won a controversial split-decision in their first fight in 2012, a decision that was panned universally. Even Teddy Atlas, who currently trains Bradley, said of the judges at the time: "It's either corruption or incompetence."

Highlights of Pacquiao-Bradley I (June 9, 2012)

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In their second fight in 2014, the judges at least got it right, awarding Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) a unanimous decision win. The fight was more competitive the second time around, with Bradley stunning Pacquiao with a counter right hand in the early goings before Pacquiao's activity took over the fight.

Highlights of Pacquiao-Bradley II (April 12, 2014)

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Now both fighters are a little older (Pacquiao is 37, Bradley is 32) with a few new wrinkles to their careers. Pacquiao has stated this will be his last bout as he prepares to focus full-time on a political career, while Bradley looks rejuvenated under his new trainer after scoring a knockout of Brandon Rios. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxer Vic Saludar won't be celebrating the new year as world champion after he was knocked out in 6 rounds by WBO strawweight titleholder Kosei Tanaka at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya, Japan on Thursday, December 31. The time of stoppage was 2:15.

Saludar (11-2, 9 knockouts), a 2010 Asian Games bronze medalist and native of Polomolok, Philippines, appeared to be leading the fight early after scoring a knockdown of Tanaka (6-0, 3 KOs) with a right hand in round 5.

His momentum was erased the following round when a left hook to the body from the 20-year-old Tanaka, an Economics student at Chukyo University, sent him to the canvas for the count.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">WBO 105lb champion、Kosei Tanaka&#10;.<a href="https://twitter.com/KOsei615">@KOsei615</a> TKO6 Vic Saludar ！&#10;Retains his belt！<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash">#boxing</a> <a href="https://t.co/VspWJ9ESmU">pic.twitter.com/VspWJ9ESmU</a></p>&mdash; Alex Iwamatsu (@ONEOFJAPAN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ONEOFJAPAN/status/682467329582628864">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Saludar's defeat is the second by a Filipino in a world title fight in Japan this week, coming just two days after Warlito Parrenas was stopped in two rounds by WBO junior bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue.

(READ: Saludar aims to be 'Vicious' in New Year's Eve world title fight)

The Philippines concludes 2015 with just two world champions to its credit, WBO/RING magazine champion Donnie Nietes and WBO junior featherweight champ Nonito Donaire Jr.  

Servania returns with decision win

Earlier on the card, unbeaten Filipino junior featherweight Genesis Servania returned to action for the first time since February with an 8-round unanimous decision win over Indonesian Hendrik Barongsay. All 3 judges scored the fight in favor of Servania (27-0, 11 KOs).

Servania, 24, left Cebu-based company ALA Promotions, with whom he built his career, after citing differences with the gym's trainers. ALA president Michael Aldeguer told Rappler earlier this week that Servania's fight was not authorized by the company, claiming that they had a contract with the Bacolod City native through August. A request for comment from Servania was not returned. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – In an online poll conducted by internal football website Goal.com for the best player per position, Filipino-Austrian-Nigerian David Alaba of Bayern Munich emerged as the best left-back in the world. 

The Austrian international, whose mother is a Filipino and whose father is a Nigerian, got more votes than Brazil and Real Madrid's Marcelo who came in second and Spain and Arsenal's Nacho Monreal who came in third.

Alaba is the 5-time and reigning Austrian Footballer of the Year (2011, 2012,2013,2014, and 2015). Probably his biggest contenders for his 6th straight Austrian FOY next year are Stoke City's attacker Marko Arnautovic and Leicester City's defender Christian Fuchs.

Alaba has shown his Filipino roots by displaying the Philippine flag (along with Austria and Nigeria) after their Champions League win vs. Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

To some extent, Alaba's achievement is a testament that Filipinos and Fil-foreigners, if given proper training and support, can be one of the world's best in any field. Even the football field. – Rappler.com