NEW PSL 21U KINGS. Pampanga Delta players bask in the limelight during a photo opportunity after ruling the PSL 21U Battle of Champions on Monday night (Sept. 5, 2022). Pampanga defeated Consolacion, 76-71. (Photo courtesy of PSL) MANILA - Pampanga reigned supreme in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) 21U after beating Consolacion, 76-71, in the final of the "Battle of Champions" on Monday night at the Cebu City Sports Institute. Despite some sort of a homecourt disadvantage against their Cebuano opponents, the Delta showed their might especially down the stretch to edge the Sarok Weavers. The Delta stole the thunder from the Sarok Weavers in the final 2:02 of the game as Justin Bautista led the former's game-turning 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Bautista completed a three-point play and made the dagger layup to give Pampanga a 75-69 lead with 1:06 to play in the game. Matthew Flores made a jumper in Consolacion's next play, but it turned out to be the Cebuano squa
MANILA TNT showed its championship pedigree on Magnolia with a 108-96 win at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Led by another explosive game from Mikey Williams, the Tropang Giga quickly deposed the Hotshots from start to finish to draw first blood in their best-of-seven series, although the PLDT franchise had to repulse a fourth-quarter threat from the Purefoods squad. Williams finished with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while RR Pogoy added 23 points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. Calvin Abueva put up 18 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, while Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, and Aris Dionisio each added 14 markers for Magnolia even as Dionisio also tallied 13 boards for the double-double. (PNA) }
MANILA - Ginebra used a huge turnaround in the final 17 minutes of the game to score a 106-82 blowout win against Terrafirma in their PBA Philippine Cup showdown on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Japeth Aguilar showed why he is currently one of the league's top two-way players, coming just close to matching a career-high in blocks even as he led the Gin Kings in scoring against the Dyip, who fizzled late in the game after threatening to pull off a major upset. Behind a strong second quarter and a solid start to the third quarter, Terrafirma looked poised to make Ginebra its first victim in the conference after taking a 71-64 lead with 5:18 left in the third. However, the Gin Kings pulled away for good after finishing the third on an 18-1 run coupled with a 24-10 fourth-quarter domination. Aguilar finished with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, and seven blocks, one shy of his career-high of eight, to lead Ginebra, which tied
MANILA - Wangs-Letran escaped a late push from Adalem-St. Clare to score a 94-87 win at the start of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. In the battle pitting the top teams of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU), the NCAA champions prevailed despite the NAASCU rulers nearly pulling off a comeback from 23 points down. The Knights quickly stomped their dominance on the Saints, opening a 43-20 lead with 7:59 left in the first half. However, Adalem-St. Clare slowly chipped away the lead and was just within three, 85-88, with 59 seconds left in the game. King Caralipio finally sealed Wangs-Letran's win with a dagger triple with 47 seconds remaining. Louie Sangalang made 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks for the Knights, while Caralipio, Tommy Olivario, and Brent Paraiso each added 12 markers. John Rojas made 25 poin
MANILA - Barangay Ginebra returned from a 19-point deficit to stun the NLEX Road Warriors, 83-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup meeting on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Ginebra took over in the final 18 minutes of the game to steal the victory from NLEX, which was earlier thought to be on its way to a blowout win. Behind a solid first half, NLEX opened a 55-36 advantage with 7:11 left in the third period, but Ginebra finished the quarter on a 19-5 run before outscoring its opponent, 25-12, in the final canto to complete the comeback. Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings, who bounced back from their loss to the Magnolia Hotshots and moved to second place in the team standings at 3-1, just behind the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen, with 20 points, seven rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and a steal. Arvin Tolentino caught fire late and added 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Kevin Alas chipped in 16 points, four assists, and one steal, while Calvin