Blake Hinson had 27 points and 13 rebounds and Federiko Federiko added 13 points to lead Pitt to a season-opening 80-58 victory over visiting UT Martin on Monda
Jayson Tatum poured in 29 points and Jaylen Brown added 28 as the Boston Celtics defeated the host Miami Heat 111-104 on Friday night in a rematch of last seaso
MANILA - TNT Tropang Giga moved to within a win from making a comeback to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals after downing Magnolia Hotshots, 102-84, in Game 4 of their semifinal series on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. With the win, the Tropang Giga now holds a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series against the Hotshots, the same situation in their Philippine Cup Finals clash last year in Bacolor, Pampanga. TNT pulled away from Magnolia in the second half, holding the Purefoods franchise to just 16 third quarter points before erupting for 32 in the final frame. Poy Erram led the Tropang Giga, who can close out the series on Friday, with 19 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and one block off the bench. RR Pogoy added 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Ian Sangalang made 19 markers, three rebounds, and one steal for the Hotshots. In the first game, Meralco Bolts used a blistering start and was able to sustain it until the end to trip
MANILA - Gilas Pilipinas' stint in the FIBA Asia Cup came to an end Tuesday night after Japan knocked them out with a 102-81 win in their playoff first-round encounter at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta. Even with National Basketball Association player Yuta Watanabe exiting the game in the third quarter after an ankle injury, Japan played like a team on a mission as the "Akatsuki Five" scored its most significant win over the Filipinos, at least in recent memory, to set a quarterfinal date with Australia on Thursday night. A far cry from how both teams would start their clash at least in the past 12 years, Japan shocked Gilas and raced to a 32-16 lead at the end of the first quarter even as the former sustained its good start in the second quarter. Gilas thought it could capitalize on the absence of Watanabe, who had to be taken out of the arena on a wheelchair due to a grimacing pain in his ankle, but Japan's three-point shooting was on point to counter Gilas' outs
MANILA - Rain Or Shine scored its second straight win after a sluggish start in the PBA Philippine Cup through a 107-90 rout of suddenly reeling Blackwater on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Elasto Painters quickly recovered after the Bossing slowed them down in the second quarter as they dominated the second half to pull away for good. ROS quickly showed its offense in the first quarter, taking a 28-22 lead over Blackwater at the end of the period. The Bossing, however, responded by holding the E-Painters down to just 13 second-quarter points to eventually take a 45-41 lead at the halftime break. ROS bounced back by dropping 37 points in the third quarter and pulled away from there. Rey Nambatac dropped a conference-high 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals off the bench for the E-Painters, who moved up to 3-6 in the standings. Gian Mamuyac added 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Brandon Rosser put up 19 markers, tw