Gilas Pilipinas ushered in their new era in spectacular fashion. In the team’s first FIBA-sanctioned game with coach Tim Cone at the helm, the Philippines overwhelmed Hong Kong, 94-64, to kick-start their campaign in the first window of the 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers at Tsuen Wan Stadium in Hong Kong on Thursday night. Playing without...
Tag: basketball
Post
Samboy Lim, ‘Skywalker,’ 61
Philippine basketball has lost the great Avelino “Samboy” Lim Jr. A legend at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Lim died on Dec. 23 at 61, surrounded by loved ones. On Nov. 28, 2014, he fell into a coma following a cardiac arrest during an exhibition game with friends and former PBA colleagues at Ynares Sports...
Post
Calm before the storm, no panic for coach Cone
Gilas Pilipinas may have been confronted by major issues these past few weeks, but there was a distinct calm on Sept. 14 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City, where the team engaged in a late-afternoon practice session open to the public. Newly named Gilas head coach Tim Cone did not seem fazed that he has...
Post
Gilas Pilipinas trounces China, 96-75, salvages FIBA World Cup pride
It’s one win that meant little in terms of the standing at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but so much for millions of Filipinos unhappy with the state of their national basketball program and aching for relief from a string of defeats. Before an 11,000-plus crowd that packed the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last night (Sept....
Post
Gilas’ redemption and 6 more golds for the Philippines in Phnom Penh
Not even the record-setting jump of Olympian and world No. 3 EJ Obiena—who bagged his third consecutive Southeast Asian Games pole vault gold medal—could have softened the blow. Neither could the record-smashing performances of Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno that earned them gold medals in their respective weightlifting events. Even gymnastics star Carlos Yulo’s medal...
Post
LeBron, Kareem make indelible moments in NBA history
There are certain indelible moments in the history of the US National Basketball Association, whether you witnessed them first-hand or not. One such moment happened on April 5, 1984, during the match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas. The Lakers called a time-out with just under nine minutes left...
Post
When you let your fists do the talking
What is it with blowout games and big brawls? Retribution for a humiliating beatdown? Payback for the other team’s 3-point shots that never seem to miss? Vengeful warning to an opponent for dunking on one’s team’s misery? It could have been any of those in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) match between the College...