Just a quick update: posting will be light this week because I’m in Palawan for most of the week for the day job. Meanwhile, if you missed it, check out this classic from our favorite writer:

WBO women’s superbantamweight champion Ana (Hurricane) Julaton declined the other day to reveal the secrets of her love life but manager Angelo Reyes admitted while not insinuating a romantic relationship, she’s “good friends” with Miami Heat’s Fil-Am head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Taenang Quinito yan, ginawan ng issue sina Erik Spoelstra at si Ana Julaton. Uso na rin pala sa sports yung pag-gawa ng gimmick para i-hype ang event. Parang Piolo-KC lang eh.

Continue reading "Quick advisory, and Quinito the chismoso"

I swung by the PBA office last Wednesday for a chat with Commissioner Chito Salud. I had wanted to talk to him about the plans for the PBA’s developmental league, which I’ll be writing about for the March issue of Baller magazine. I’d introduced myself by name as a Baller writer when I booked the interview, so I was a bit surprised when the commissioner’s executive secretary, Ms. Coy, asked me, “Are you Fire Quinito?”

Apparently, my reputation preceded me.

Continue reading "One-on-one with Commissioner Chito Salud: Barako, Gilas, salary cap and other issues"

PBA owners: Manny Pangilinan (4th from left) and Ramon Ang (5th) sit side by side

Pictures from yesterday’s PBA owners’ meeting showed a curious seating arrangement: Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT and Metro Pacific, and Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation, sat side by side to discuss the league’s problems with the other teams’ top honchos. Tonight, when game 2 of the Philippine Cup finals between San Miguel and Talk N Text tips off, the corporate “frenemies” will be back on opposing sides rooting for their flagship basketball teams, a position they’ve probably grown accustomed to over the past several years.

Continue reading "San Miguel-Talk N Text series the latest saga in Ramon Ang-Manny Pangilinan rivalry"

There’s a war raging on televised boxing in the United States, and just as it happened a few years ago in the Philippines, it involves Manny Pacquiao. Over the weekend, various sources reported that the pound-for-pound champion’s May 7 fight against Shane Mosley will be carried by Showtime. It’s a major coup for the premium TV network in its battle with rival HBO, which has dominated the American televised boxing landscape for decades.

Continue reading "Manny Pacquiao's Showtime deal may change landscape of American boxing on TV"

In a way, the Philippine Cup finals showdown between San Miguel and Talk N Text is a hater’s nightmare; for fans like me who relish watching highly-touted teams fall flat on their faces, a series featuring the league’s most loaded teams isn’t exactly the first choice. These two teams have been the most brazen in poaching top stars from less heralded teams. Consider that just in the past three seasons, these teams have made transactions to acquire Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos, Denok Miranda, Joseph Yeo, Alex Cabagnot, Kelly Williams, and Ryan Reyes in what were obviously lopsided deals with the Air 21 and Sta. Lucia franchises.

In this series, there’s no underdog that a casual PBA fan who’s not among the San Miguel or Talk N Text faithful could get behind.

That said, it’s hard to imagine the level of play being less than excellent in the series, considering the talent levels of both squads. A hardcore basketball fan could then take solace in the fact that at least the games are going to be good.

Continue reading "San Miguel versus Talk N Text: A PBA Philippine Cup finals fearless forecast"

I was having dinner last night with the boys from the excellent Patay ang Butiki blog, and we invited GMANews.TV’s intrepid sports reporter Rey Joble to join us, since he just worked next door. As soon as he walked in to the restaurant, his phone started buzzing with all kinds of calls and text messages from PBA insiders telling him the details of a big trade by Rain or Shine, Air 21, and Meralco.

Here are the details of the blockbuster deal:

Air 21 gets: Jay-R Reyes (Rain or Shine), Reed Juntilla (Meralco)

UPDATE: Fidel Mangonon III reports on Twitter that Air 21 will also be getting two first round picks from Meralco (2011 and 2013).

Meralco gets: Sol Mercado (Rain or Shine), Paolo Bugia (Rain or Shine), Erick Rodriguez (Air 21)

Rain or Shine gets: Ronjay Buenafe (Air 21), Ronnie Matias (Air 21), Beau Belga (Meralco), 2011 first round pick (Air 21), 2013 first round pick (Air 21)

Continue reading "Breaking down the blockbuster: Mercado to Meralco, Reyes to Air 21, Buenafe to RoS"

Nelson Beltran reports in today’s Philippine Star (sadly, the story doesn’t seem to be online read the story here) that Barako Bull is taking a leave of absence from the Philippine Basketball Association. The move would pave the way for Smart Gilas to play two conferences in the PBA, an idea that initially drew apprehension from Commissioner Chito Salud because it would disrupt the league’s calendar. With Barako dropping out, Smart Gilas could take the Energy Boosters’ slot in the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup.

James Ty posted a few more details on Twitter, saying that Barako will pay the salaries of the remaining players under contract, and they will be allowed to try out for other teams as well. The marquee names in the Barako Bull lineup include Marlou Aquino, Lordy Tugade, and Rob Wainwright, who has also ready taken to Twitter to look for a team.

Continue reading "Barako Bull takes a leave from the PBA"

If you’ve been avid about following the fortunes of Smart Gilas national team on the Internet, you’ve probably heard about Christian Standhardinger, a Filipino-German prospect who has spent the past couple of years playing for the Nebraska Huskers in the United States NCAA. An athletic 6’8” forward whose mother is Filipino (his middle name is Hermoso), Standhardinger played for the German youth national basketball team, but still remains eligible to play for the Philippines in senior competitions.

The last time we heard from Standhardinger, he left Nebraska over reported disputes with his coach over playing time. Then yesterday, it was announced that he was transferring to LaSalle (the US NCAA school, not the UAAP powerhouse).

Continue reading "Smart Gilas Fil-German prospect Christian Standhardinger nabbed for public indecency"

Here’s an excerpt from a story I wrote for the maiden issue of Baller about the San Miguel coaching drama last conference. It’s a look back at the career of Ato Agustin, who will make his PBA finals coaching debut this Saturday. There have been some minor edits for clarity.

ATO AGUSTIN is no stranger to the lack of loyalty of the franchise that ironically carries the tagline Iba ang May Pinagsamahan. After winning a Most Valuable Player award and several championships in seven years for San Miguel, he was unceremoniously traded in 1996. It took him 14 years to get back to the San Miguel bench, and he had to climb his way up to do it.

Agustin has been the hottest name in the coaching ranks outside the PBA, despite debuting as head coach only last year. Not much was expected from the Stags when he took over; the team had not only missed the Final Four for the third straight year, it also lost its two best players, center Jason Ballesteros and gunner Jim Viray.

Continue reading "Ato Agustin: A Baller magazine excerpt"

This hasn’t gotten much play in local media yet, but a very curious item involving Nonito Donaire caught my eye last week. BoxingScene.com reports allegations made by his wife Rachel that Manny Pacquiao’s management team does not want Donaire to appear in cards featuring the pound-for-pound king. Rachel says Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz had called Top Rank, which promotes both fighters, to make sure that Donaire did not appear in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Margarito fight last November.

“I know for a fact that the November fight, Koncz called in and asked them to take him off the card,” Rachel said. “From what I heard it's Michael Koncz doing all the dealings because Nonito is not with MP Promotions and he doesn't want him on the cards.”

My curiosity was piqued because just recently, I was speaking to a boxing insider who was telling me that he felt that Manny Pacquiao did not exactly like Nonito Donaire. He pointed out as proof the fact that Pacquiao never invites Donaire to his birthday party, which has counted among guests foreign boxers such as David Diaz and Juan Manuel Lopez.

Continue reading "Do boxing champions Nonito Donaire and Manny Pacquiao have secret beef?"