THE G.O.A.T. set to launch today on FOX Sports

The GOAT and its hosts: KC, Nikko, Suzy, KC

FOX Sports Philippines will be unveiling a new local magazine show tonight to celebrate the Pinoy's devotion to basketball, called The G.O.A.T.

Armed with the desire to be the "most engaging local sports program on cable," The G.O.A.T will feature opinionated discussions on the relevant sports topics out there (of course, high emphasis on basketball-related ones), while at the same time, delivering them in an irreverent and entertaining way that caters to both casual and hardcore fans. With Filipinos among the most active people in social media, fans and viewers can join in on the discussion (#TheGOATonFS), when the show airs on Thursdays, 9pm on FOX Sports.

To facilitate the discussion, FOX Sports has tapped four of the most loquacious media personalities: Nikko Ramos, Tin Gamboa (better known to many as Suzy), Mo Twister, and KC Montero.

There will be taped segments, interviews with local and international personalities, animated discussions on your favorite sporting event/s, and even a "Goatie of the Week."

With the combination of its engaging hosts and interesting topics, The G.O.A.T seeks to be the newest part of the sporting viewing habit.

Amihan Pilipinas set to go on a nationwide tour with PLDT Home Ultera

The Amihan Pilipinas volleyball superstars (L-R): Lizlee Ann Pantone, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Nerissa Bautista, Honey Rose Tubino, Christina Salak, Dindin Santiago, Rachel Anne Daquis, Jaja Santiago, Mary Jean Balse, Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Kim Fajardo and Jen Reyes. Not in photo: Ara Galang, Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz.

The all-star Amihan Pilipinas women's volleyball team will be touring around the country this summer season to help promote the sport in the grassroots level.

In coordination with PLDT Home Ultera, the Philippine Volleyball Federation, and the different local government units, Amihan is set to visit ten cities to assist in unearthing volleyball talents via clinics and exhibition matches, while helping the PLDT Home Ultera Install Patrol bring LTE broadband accessibility to each location.

PLDT Home's marketing head Gary Dujali believes that having this Install Patrol tour with the Amihan squad will help "bring the sport to a whole new level." He adds that "fans get to be mentored by the country's top volleyball coaches and play against their favorite Amihan Pilipinas superstars."

Amihan is composed of "the cream of the crop in women's volleyball" in Mika Reyes, Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, the Santiago sisters (Dindin and Jaja), Ara Galang, Nerissa Bautista, Mary Jean Balse, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Jen Reyes, Tina Salak, Honey Royse Tubino, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, and Lizlee Ann Gata-Pantone. Joining these players are the following coaches: Ramil de Jesus, Ariel dela Cruz, and Rico de Guzman.

Amihan already made their way to General Trias and Dasmarinas in Cavite, as well as Iloilo, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and Lipa, Batangas, while they are to come to Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Pampanga this month.

Details on the PLDT Home Ultera-Amihan tour can be seen on www.pldthome.com.

Seventeen chosen from Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Manila Regional Selection Camp

Manila Regional Selection camp scrimmage action

The final Regional Selection Camp for both the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend, with seventeen kids picked out to participate in the upcoming National Training Camp next weekend.

Eleven boys and six girls were luckily chosen out of the 519 participants, with the selections being conducted by the evaluation committee, led Chris Sumner and assisted by the likes of Rodney Santos, Eric dela Cuesta, and Christian Luanzon, as well as Melissa Jacob and Ish Tiu.

Santos says that the committee was impressed by this group, particularly with their confidence in spite of their young age. He believes that they will compete well in the National Training Camp.

The kids underwent testing, drills, and exercises in Day 1, with the top forty performers returning in Day 2 to undergo more intense tests and drills, followed by scrimmages. It is from these, plus how they reflected the program's STAR core values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) from which the seventeen were named.

The eleven boys are Stacey Tibayan (Letran), Ruzzelle Andrew Dominguez and Brevin Lyle Competente (National University), Edrian Custodio, Jac Macasaet, and Gab Reyes (La Salle-Zobel), Kai Sotto and Christian Allen Vergara (St. Francis of Assisi College), Vehnjo Maximo (La Salle Greenhills), Jessie Adrian Ortega (Escuela de Sophia), and Ernest John Felicida (Corpus Christi College - Cagayan de Oro).

The six girls are Stephanie Villapando (Trace College), Akemi Manteja and Christine Jazz Ungui (La Salle-Zobel), Nelia Jean David and Micaela Denise Pentecostes (Diliman Preparatory School) and Kyla Flores (Parañaque Science High School)

Felicida was just in Manila for vacation when he tried out and then made it to the selection. Vergara is the first 10-year old to make it to the NTC, and in preparing for the camp, he says, “I will just practice more, drink lots of water and sleep early.”

The National Training Camp finalists of the Manila Regional Selection Camp. (L-R, FRONT): Nelia Jean David, Mikaela Denise Pentecostes, Kyla Flores, Stephanie Villapando, Akemi Marteja, Christine Jazz Unqui; (BACK) Stacey Tibayan, Ernest John Felicida, Ruzzelle Andrew Dominguez, Jac Macasaet, Kai Sotto, Jesse Adrian Ortega, Edrian Custodio, Brevin Lyle Competente, Gab Reyes, Vehnjo Maximo, Christian Allen Vergara and Coach Chris Sumner

Only the selection from the Alaska Power Camp is left, as they complete the NTC participants for the April 24-26 camp at the PICC Forum and the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. It is from this camp where the ten outstanding boys and five outstanding girls will be named as the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA All-Stars. The All-Stars will then join their fellow ASEAN counterparts, as they partake of an overseas NBA experience. It is also from the NTC that a Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year will be named.

Final Regional Camp for 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program set

The final Regional Selection Camp is slated to take place this weekend at the PICC Forum, with the chance to be in the National Training Camp at stake.

On April 11, participants will undergo vitals tests, basketball drills, and skills challenges. Those who excel in those three will proceed to Day 2 of the camp on April 12, where they will have to go through some more focused drills emphasizing their basketball skills, aptitude, and endurance, as well as some scrimmages. They also have to embody the core Jr. NBA values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect).

The Regional Camp will be overseen by Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA coach Chris Sumner, with the likes of Jeffrey Cariaso, Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, as well as Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob, and Lhen Flormata assisting. It is they who will make the decision of who will make the National Training Camp, which is slated to take place on April 24-26. Fifty boys and twenty-four girls will comprise the NTC, which will come from the Regional Camps and from the Alaska Power Camp.

By the end of the NTC, ten outstanding Jr. NBA and five outstanding Jr. WNBA participants will be named as All-Stars, and will be embarking on a unique overseas NBA experience alongside their ASEAN counterparts. The list of All-Star alums include Aljon Mariano (UST), Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Hubert Cani (Ateneo), Kib Montalbo, Lorenzo Navarro (La Salle), Henry Asilum, Jarrell Lim, Janjan Jaboneta (UP), Dawn Ochea (Adamson), Rendell Senining (NU), and Arnie Padilla (FEU).

Five picked from Davao Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

The Mindanao portion of the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Selection camp concluded this past weekend at the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City, with five kids picked to be a part of the National Training Camp next month.

Three boys and two girls topped the field of over 250 participants, excelling in the tests, drills, and exercises in Day 1, followed by more intense drills and exercises plus a team scrimmage in Day 2. In addition to their on-court abilities, the five also were selected on how they exemplified the core STAR values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) that is a hallmark of the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program.

For the boys, Paolo Emanuel Antonio (Stella Maris Academy - Davao), Christopher Gonzaga (University of the Immaculate Conception - Davao), and Jeffy Malilim (Corpus Christi School - Cagayan de Oro) were picked for the Jr. NBA program, while Rozie Amatong (Modern International Learning Center - Davao) and Rhea Ville Bausin (Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School - Davao) were named for the Jr. WNBA program.

Rozie in particular, impressed the crowd with heroics, as the 11-year old nailed a buzzer-beater to win a scrimmage for her team. She says, "Basketball is a beautiful game. I especially love the challenge that comes with this sport."

An evaluation committee composed of Jr. NBA & Jr. WNBA coaches made the selections, including the likes of Rodney Santos, Eric dela Cuesta, Christian Luanzon, Ish Tiu and Melissa Jacob. Tiu revealed that while the boys showed exemplary STAR values, the girls were "a package of skill, talent, passion, and perseverance." She feels that the five picked "will compete well in Manila."

The final Regional Selection Camp heads to the PICC Forum on April 11 and 12 for the Manila leg. After this, it will be the National Training Camp on April 25-26. It is from there that the ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars, as well as the Coach of the Year will be named.

Under Armour and the Philippines

Under Armour

When everything seems to be all about either a swoosh or three stripes, a new element in the sporting apparel recently made their headway into the Philippines.

That, is Kevin Plank's pride and joy, Under Armour.

Here is Under Armour's Chief Marketing Officer for SE Asia, Adrian Chai's nuggets of wisdom with regards to brand's presence in the country:

Re: Filipino response towards UA?

The response so far has been tremendous, especially with the rise of the brand in the USA. In particular, the basketball, compression attire and running range has gained quite significant traction with the built-in technologies like the new "Charged Cushioning."

What has been interesting is that the women's range has taken traction quite well, with many athletes and personalities trying the products out and taking advantage of the technologies built-in with each.

Re: UA's Brand Ambassadors not named Stephen Curry, as well as local counterparts?

There are already quite a number of athletes that UA has recently signed up, from Andy Murray to Michael Phelps. We have also non-sporting athletes that exemplify the "Will to Succeed and Overcome," such as ballerina Misty Copeland and supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

(To add: Bryce Harper, Lindsey Vonn, Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth, Julio Jones, Miles Austin, Matt Wieters, Brandon Jennings, Saul "El Canelo" Alvarez)
(To add: Tottenham, QPR, Toronto Maple Leafs)

Looking toward the Philippines, we have also local athletes, such as Gretchen Ho and Johan Aguilar. Apart from them, there are also very known personalities like Piolo Pasqual and Senator Pia Cayetano, who happens to be avid fans and athletes who actively compete and train.

(To add: Robi Domingo, Natasha Alquiros, Mia Cabalfin)

Re: UA and the National Basketball Training Center

We were working through Eric Altamirano (NBTC head) on some programs, which may include involving up-and-coming basketball stars. Looking at the rise of basketball and the love for the game in the Philippines, it was a great opportunity for us to show our support for them just like the way it is done in the USA with the Elite 24 program.

Re: the next step/s of UA in the Philippine sporting scene?

We are constantly looking to find synergies with different sports to work with the brand. It is also important, however, that we do not digress from the core competency of our apparel that involves training and our key sporting categories. We will embark on some exciting programs in basketball, as well as involving locals in our latest Earn Your Armour challenge, where Filipinos across the country can join up and as a community to engage and train using Under Armour's recently acquired fitness tracking app Endomondo. We will then tie this in with local on-ground activations called Armour@The Fort, where fans of the brand and others can join in and train up with our partner gyms and trainers.

There are already a couple of UA stores in the Philippines, one at the Bonifacio High Street, the other inside SM Megamall.

14 selected in Bacolod Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

The Bacolod Regional Selection Camp yielded the most successful camp for the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program, with fourteen kids being called up for the National Training Camp next month.

370 kids aged 10-14 y/o from the Visayas made their way to the St. John's Institute this past weekend to undergo test, drills, and challenges posed by the different coaches who made the trip to the City of Smiles. After the first day, forty were invited to return the next day to continue with the tests and exercises, as well as scrimmages at the end of Day 2. It is from these, as well as those who best exemplify the STAR values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) that the selection committee picked the ten boys and four girls to make the trek to Manila in April.

The four girls selected for the Jr. WNBA National Training Camp are Karla Sheen Cotejo (Bacolod City College), Dyna Sicil Nieves (University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos), Luisa Martina de la Paz (University of St. La Salle), and Rodnie Mae Hodilena (Luis Hervias National High School). All of them are Bacolodnon.

On the boys' side, four kids from host school St. John's Institute made it to the final, (Andrei Lechoncito, Daniel Coo, Nicholas Steven Pura, and Kurt Coloso) while five came from Tay Tung High School (Ralph Allen Cagalawan, K Christian Perigua, Kent Dentin Esperagazo, John Dexter Gigantana, and Andy John Villamer).

Also making the trip to Manila is Calbayog City native Kurt Jan Aparri of Christ the King College, needing two boat rides and a long road trip to be able to make it to Bacolod. He shares that he learned a lot from this camp that he can take with him anywhere he will go in his basketball career.

Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA head coach Chris Sumner led the delegation that had overseen the Regional Camp, which included NBA Asia Director for Basketball Operations Craig Brown and Alaska coaches Rodney Santos, Junjun Alas, and Eric dela Cuesta. In addition, Ish Tiu, Vangie Soriano, and Lhen Flormata from the senior women's national team also helped with the camp. Sumner was impressed with the Bacolod turnout, noting the camp's competitive nature forcing the difficult decision of picking the final selection.

Two more Regional Camps are scheduled to take place, with one in Davao at the University of Immaculate Concepcion on March 28-29 and the one in Manila at the PICC Forum on April 11 and 12. Those who are interested can check out www.jrnba.asia/philippines for more details.

Seven selected from the Baguio Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

Jump ball from one of the scrimmages in the
Baguio Regional Selection camp.

The Northern Luzon portion of the Regional Selection Camp for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend at the St. Louis University Laboratory High School, with seven lucky youngsters getting the nod.

Four boys and three girls impressed the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA coaches (led by Rodney Santos, Junjun Alas, Christian Luanzon, Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob, and Lhen Flormata) enough to pick them out of the almost three hundred participants and deem them "worthy of inclusion" for the National Training Camp set to take place in April at the PICC Forum. Santos though that this year's participants were in his words, "very impressive." He believes that "they will perform very well" at the NTC next month.

Jan Zyrus De Ayre (Berkley School - Baguio), Magnus Gabriel Ines (St. Louis University Laboratory High School), Christian Allen Magno (St. Albert the Great School - Dagupan), and Manuel Andrey Ober (Dagupan City National High School) represented the boys, while Christine Angela Venterez (Baguio National High School), Christine Cayabyab (Judge Jose de Venecia Sr. Memorial National High School - Dagupan), and Rose Marie de los Santos (St. Albert the Great School - Dagupan) represented the girls. Cayabyab, in fact, made it to last year's NTC, and hopes to impress again in her return.

The seven Northern Luzon kids that will participate in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska. (L-R) Magnus Gabriel Ines (Baguio), Manuel Andrey Ober (Dagupan), Christian Allen Magno (Dagupan), Jan Zyrus De Ayre (Baguio), Christine Angela Venetrez (Baguio), Kristine Cayabyab (Dagupan) and Rose Marie De Los Santos (Dagupan).

These seven kids survived the rigors of the two-day camp, with the first day devoted to skills, tests, and drills to determine the top forty players out of the 295 in the field. Those forty then were subjected to more intense drills, exercises, and scrimmages to help determine the best in their field. Of course, those picked have to exemplify the Program's core values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect.

A couple more regional camps are slated to take place, with Bacolod's St. John Institute hosting one on March 21-22, followed by Davao's University of the Immaculate Conception on March 28-29. The PICC Forum will hold the final Regional Camp on April 11-12 before the NTC takes place.

Interested parties can check out www.jrnba.asia/philippines or www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines for more details.

Six selected in Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp in Iloilo

Jr. NBA hopefuls battling during the Iloilo camp.

The first Visayan Regional Training Camp for the 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend in Iloilo City, with another six kids out of the three hundred participants at the Ateneo de Iloilo picked to be in the National Training Camp next month.

The four boys selected are Vince Andrew Jayme (Huasiong College - Iloilo), Ian Dominic Espinosa (Ateneo de Iloilo), and Jann Paolo Villariza and Lucky Charm Ramos (Sun Yat Sen High School). The two girls are Jenedith Ruth Valle (Barrio Obrero National High School) and Shan Sumagaysay (Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus - Iloilo).

Similar to the previous Regional Camps, Day 1 saw the almost 300 children undergo tests, drills and challenges, from which the top forty were asked to return the next day to undergo additional drills and participate in scrimmages and exercises. From these, as well as how the participants exemplified the core Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) the coaches, led by Chris Sumner and assisted by the likes of San Sebastian legends Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, made the decision to select these six finalists.

The finalists of the Iloilo Regional Selection Camp of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska : L-R: Shan Sumagaysay, Lucky Charm Ramos, Jann Paolo Villariza, Vince Andrew Jayme, Ian Dominic Espinosa and Jenedith Ruth Valle.

One of the coaches, women's national team stalwart Ish Tiu, said, "that the players have the skill and talent, and yet they have a yearning to learn more and to excel even further." That "spirit of competitiveness," she adds, is what will "put them on good footing" come the National Training Camp at the PICC Forum in seven weeks' time.

The program will head up north to St. Louis University in Baguio City this weekend for the next Regional Selection Camp. After that, three more camps are scheduled to take place, at St. John Institute (Bacolod) on March 14-15, University of the Immaculate Conception (Davao) on March 28-29, and the PICC Forum (Manila) on April 11-12.

Those interested to participate can check the details on www.jrnba.asia/philippines.

FEU attempts to complete UAAP treble today

The quest to replicate their UAAP treble is on the minds of Far Eastern University as they go on the field for the finals in men's and women's football today at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kicking things off will be the women's final between the Lady Tamaraws and the University of the Philippines.

Both teams ended up level on points at the end of the eliminations, but the Lady Maroons ended on top of the standings with a superior goal difference, thanks to the efforts up front by national team standout Cristina delos Reyes and youth standouts Mary Rose Obra and Kali Navea-Huff.

Under the leadership of Anto Gonzales, UP is seeking its first-ever UAAP crown, while FEU under Let Dimzon is looking to annex its third straight title, fourth in the last five years, and tenth overall.

Season 75 MVP Barbie Sobredo will lead the defending champions, who also have veterans like Alesa Dolino and Amita sisters (Analou and Jenelyn) to counter against that offense.

After the women's final, the men take to the field, with La Salle seeking to deny FEU a chance to defend their crown while ending their 17-year title drought.

DLSU managed to make a return trip to the finals for the first time in almost a decade by downing rivals Ateneo, 1-0, last week. The Green Booters remained unbeaten after Gelo Diamante's 88th minute strike. Head coach Hans Smit, believes that the squad "needs to be ready, mentally and psychologically" to be able to win the school's fifth title.

Goalkeeper Paeng de Guzman will be tasked to foil the goal-scoring exploits of Eric Giganto, Arnel Amita, and Jesus Melliza, who combined to score 39 goals in the eliminations. Helping him with this responsibility are defenders Matthew Nierras, Nico Villacin, Noel Brago, Greggy Yang, and Gerald Layumas.

FEU, on the other hand, needed extra time to upend UP, 1-0, in the other semifinal, as Amita scored the lone goal of the match on a rebound off his missed penalty in the 99th minute, keeping their hopes of defending their title alive.

The Manila Jeepney midfielder believes that due to the relative easy accessibility of Rizal Memorial to La Salle, the Green Booters would have a distinct homefield advantage. He adds that their finals opponent is also very strong on both sides of the ball, but they will continue to attack and never surrender.

Both games will be telecast LIVE on ABS-CBN Sports and Action, starting at 2pm.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the first step of securing the treble was successfully made, as the Baby Tamaraws overcame a couple of obstacles to secure a hotly-contested 2-1 win over Ateneo at the artificial turf field of FEU-Diliman and successfully defend their Juniors crown.

The younger Blue Booters went ahead eight minutes in, as Jodi Layug scored the opening goal of the match eight minutes in. The boys of head coach JP Merida would even get a personnel advantage after Nickael Ferrer was sent off for a foul in the first half.

However, Gio Pabualan tied the game for the Baby Tamaraws just before the break. Mark Arranguez would then put the soon-to-be five-time champions ahead in the 61st minute.

Ateneo tried to find an equalizer, but they were unable to convert those scoring opportunities from the likes of Jarvey Gayoso.

The closer it got to the end, the more intense the game got, with both sides getting a player sent off in the dying minutes, ending up with a 10-on-9 matchup, and with both benches and crowds incensed at the officiating.

In the end, the boys of Kim Chul Su were able to retain the championship, which is their fifth in the brief history of the Juniors tournament.

La Salle, FEU claim UAAP chess titles

Final standings: Men - La Salle 40.5, Adamson 37.5, UST 33.5, FEU 30.5, NU 30.5, Ateneo 23.5, UP 17, UE 11.5.
Women - FEU 44, La Salle 43, UP 31.5, NU 27.5, UST 23, Adamson 21, UE 17, Ateneo 17.

La Salle finally ended its drought in men's chess, claiming the championship with a 3-1 victory over Adamson last Sunday at the Henry Sy, Sr. Building inside its Taft campus.

The Falcons had a chance to end a 25-year drought, but Rookie of the Year and MVP NM Jerad Docena and Franz Grafil ensured that the Green Woodpushers' decade-long drought will end instead with a 40.5-point total.

Adamson will have to settle for back-to-back runner-up finishes with 37 points, followed by UST at 33.5. Deposed champions FEU ended up in fourth place with 30.5.

On the women's side, FEU bucked a 2.5-1.5 loss to defending champions La Salle, managing to hold on to the championship by a solitary point, 44 to 43. A Board 2 win by Shania Mae Mendoza over fellow WFM Cherry Mae Mejia proved to be enough to clinch the title for the Recto-based pawn-pushers, given that the highly anticipated match-up between WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Janelle Mae Frayna ended in a stalemate.

Mendoza was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year plum, while Frayna took home the MVP.

In the Juniors division, NU's 37.5 points was enough to claim the title over FEU-Diliman (33) and Adamson (32). The Bullpups' Ryan Magtabog was named as the MVP, with UE's Lee Roi Palma was awarded the Rookie of the Year.

The collegiate gold medalists for each board are the following:

Board 1: IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (Ateneo) / Frayna (FEU)
Board 2: Docena (La Salle) / Mejia (La Salle)
Board 3: Kevin Labog (Adamson) / WIM Bernadette Galas (La Salle)
Board 4: Christian Flores (UST) / Venice Vicente (FEU)
Board 5: Nigel Galan (La Salle) / Nikki Yngayo (FEU)
Board 6: Justin Corpin (UP) / Cyamie Villanueva (FEU)

NU completes UAAP dominance in lawn tennis

The Patrimonio siblings ensured National University will take home the tennis crown in UAAP Season 77 this past weekend at the Olivarez Sports Center.

The Lady Bulldogs swept their way to the championship, making quick work of UST, 3-0, to sweep the finals, 2-0, at the Paranaque facility.

Clarice, who was named as this season's MVP, defeated Macy Gonzales, 6-2 6-2 in the first singles, while Hannah Espinosa and Junnelyn Polito took care of Lenelyn Milo and April Santos, 6-2 6-1 in the first doubles. Tin, on the other hand, clinched the trophy with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Kendies Malinis in the second singles.

It was during the previous week that their male counterparts, led by MVP Fritz Verdad, took home the championship with a perfect 11-0 season and 33 straight match victories.

Six emerge from Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 Binan camp

Ball possession in the Jr. WNBA scrimmages was hotly contested.

Almost 500 kids participated in the Biñan Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Selection camp that took place this past weekend at the University of Perpetual Help System.

Out of those, four boys and two girls were selected a group led by Camp Director Chris Sumner and former PBA head coach Jeffrey Cariaso to be in the National Training Camp next month at the PICC Forum in Manila. The six are the outstanding performers during the two-day camp at the Alonte Sports Arena, with the top forty participants out of the drills and tests from the first day being asked to return the next day to do additional testing and scrimmages. Of course, both days highlight the core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect, which is something the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA espouses.

The six finalists from Binan, with Head Coach Chris Sumner.

They are Karl Georg Clauss (De La Salle University - STC in Sta. Rosa), Joshua Yvan Garing (De La Salle - Lipa), Jalen Angelo Limon (St. Francis School - Biñan) and John Ashley Los Bañez (Canossa School - Sta. Rosa) for the boys, and Luisa San Juan (Amazing Grace School - Laguna) and Pherl Gwyneth Savendano (Christian Values School - Cavite) were selected among the girls.

Regarding the participants, Sumner says: “We found many basketball talents here with good skills, athleticism and great fundamentals. I was impressed with their desire. My advice to them is to practice, practice, practice, and to always be hungry. Not everyone has the chance to be here. They should make the most of it and live the STAR values,”

Iloilo will host the next Regional Selection Camp, set to take place on March 7-8. The other camps will be at St. Louis University (Baguio) on March 14-15, St. John Institute (Bacolod) on March 21-22, University of the Immaculate Conception (Davao) on March 28-29, and the PICC Forum (Manila) on April 11-12.

Interested participants can check www.jrnba.asia/philippines for more details.

NU volleyball in do-or-die action

Games today at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum:
2 p.m. – NU vs UST (men semis)
4 p.m. – FEU vs NU (women step-ladder)

National University will have a full afternoon of action at The Big Dome today, with the resumption of postseason collegiate volleyball action.

Kicking off the doubleheader is the men's Final Four matchup against UST at 2pm. The defending champions forced a winner-take-all match after beating the second seeds, 26-24, 28-26, 23-25, and 25-21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Awaiting the winner is top seed Ateneo on Wednesday. The Blue Spikers dispatched Adamson in the other Final Four matchup.

The second game of the doubleheader features the Lady Bulldogs going up against Far Eastern University in the official start of the stepladder postseason in women's volleyball.

NU has gone 6-3 since the move to hire Roger Gorayeb as head coach, who remains hopeful that they can replicate the feat Ateneo did last season in its ascent to the championship.

The Lady Tamaraws completed the cast after defeating old rivals UST in a a playoff, 25-21, 25-15, 20-25, 16-25, 15-6. The win marks their return to the postseason after missing out on the last two seasons. Libero Tin Agno was the only player from that squad that is still on the roster.

For head coach Shaq delos Santos, he wants to see the Lady Tamaraws to remain focused and enjoying the game, as they play their fourth straight elimination match. He adds, "Maganda ang ikinikilos ng NU, pero hindi kami nawawalan ng pag-asa. Nakakaakyat na kami. Yung butas ng karayom, napapalaki namin. Pero hindi kami puwedeng mag-relax dahil tiyak na magiging intense ang pangyayari sa game (today),"

Binan to host the second 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Camp

Kids aged 10-14 in South Luzon will have the chance to take part in the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Philippines program this weekend, with the Regional Selection camp at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The young cagers will be tasked to undergo different tests and drills, as well as learn the core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect during the first day, with the outstanding performers asked to return the next day for more skills and exercises, as well as scrimmages. Chris Sumner runs the camp, while Jeffrey Cariaso of the Alaska Power Camp, as well as Aces assistant coach Topex Robinson assist Sumner.

From the two-day participants, up to four boys and two girls will be picked to participate in the National Training Camp slated to take place in Manila on April 24-26. It is from this camp that the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA All-Stars, as well as the Coach of the Year will be plucked from and partake of the overseas NBA experience with their fellow ASEAN All-Stars..

The other upcoming Regional Camps are slated to take place in Iloilo (March 7-8), Baguio (March 14-15), Bacolod (March 21-22), Davao (March 28-29) and Metro Manila (April 11-12).

UAAP chess updates

La Salle is at the cusp of snatching its first UAAP men's chess title in over a decade.

The Green Woodpushers defeated defending champions Far Eastern University, 2.5-1.5 in the penultimate round of the competition, moving them closer to snatching the trophy they last won in 2004.

With 37.5 points, all La Salle needs to do is defeat Adamson this weekend to assure themselves of the title.

The Falcons, fresh from a 4-0 annihilation of UE, trail the leaders by 1.5 points. Overcoming that deficit means they end their 25-year title drought.

UST remained in third place after beating Ateneo, 2.5-1.5, raising the Tiger Woodpushers' total to 31.5, while NU defeated UP with the same score to remain in fourth place with 28.5 points.

On the women's side, it is FEU currently on top with 42.5 points after their 3.5-0.5 win over UST. Four-time defending champions La Salle are just two points back after their 3-1 win over UE. The two schools will meet this weekend to decide the championship.

The other results show UP assuring themselves of a third place finish with a 2.5-1.5 win over Ateneo, while NU and Adamson played to a 2-2 draw.

In the juniors, NU has virtually wrapped up the title after FEU's 1.5-2.5 loss to Adamson. The Bullpups defeated UE 3.5-0.5 to raise their total to 33.5 points.

La Salle takes finals seat in UAAP baseball

La Salle claimed the other remaining finals seat in UAAP baseball, defeating Ateneo, 14-12 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Green Batters built a seven-run lead early on, taking advantage of the Blue Batters' throwing miscues. The defending champions, however, mounted a comeback and threatened to send the game into extras, but Carlos Munoz held on for the save in the ninth inning. He capped off the win with a strikeout of Renzo Ramos.

Head coach Joseph Orillana shared that he told Carlos not to feel the pressure and just do it "one out at a time." He adds that the upcoming finals matchup between the arch-rivals will be more about the pitchers.

Ateneo already secured the first finals seat thanks to winning the first seven games this season, although their form in going for the three-peat might be put into question due to losses in their final three matches.

La Salle's win snuffs out any hopes for UP's postseason chances, even with their 7-4 triumph over NU. The Maroon Batters have a 5-4 record, with a suspended match against La Salle still to be played.

The best-of-three finals will take place starting on March 5 at the same venue.

Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Training Camps kick off in Palawan

Competition was intense in the scrimmages of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Selection Camp in Puerto Princesa

The 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Selection Camps (presented by Alaska) kicked off this past weekend in Puerto Princesa City, with almost 200 participants at the Seminario de San Jose.

Saturday saw the boys and girls aged 10-14 years old undergoing tests and drills to determine their vitals and basketball acumen, as well as instilling the program's core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect (STAR). The top performers were then invited the next day for more tests and drills, as well as the chance to participate in scrimmages.

By the end of Sunday, three boys and a girl were selected to represent the province in the National Training Camp a couple of months from now. Jan Patraic Tinbancaya (Palawan State University), Jazeel Jared Trinidad and Gerald Dagot (Palawan National High School), and Mary Nicole Carlos (Palawan State University) impressed the instructors present to be the lucky ones picked.

Palawan's representatives for the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska.   L-R: John Patraic Tinbancaya, Gerald Dagot, Mary Nicole Carlos and Jazeel Jared Trinidad.

According to Camp Director Chris Sumner, he expressed excitement for the four kids, recognizing the boys' versatility, athleticism and talent, while adding that Mary Nicole was "awesome" during the camp.

This is the third time in the past four years that Puerto Princesa was selected as a Regional Camp for the program, with the camp already yielding a Jr. NBA All-Star in Paul Harvey Dagunan.

The next Regional Camp will take place in Biñan, Laguna on February 28 / March 1, followed by one in Iloilo (March 7-8), Baguio (March 14-15), Bacolod (March 21-22), Davao (March 28-29) and Manila (April 11-12). The outstanding participants will then join the National Training Camp on April 24-26, from which ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars, as well as the Coach of the Year, will be named.

Those who are interested in this free program can check out the website (www.jrnba.asia/philippines) for more details.

UST, FEU keep postseason hopes alive

The postseason for women's volleyball got a little more complicated, with UST and FEU ensuring that at least one playoff game will be needed before the stepladder officially begins.

The Tigresses assured themselves of at least a playoff after easily dispatching the UE Lady Warriors, 25-10 25-22 and 25-11. EJ Laure and Pam Lastimosa combined to score 21 points in the win and sending Francis Vicente's side without a win for season 77.

The other women's match saw FEU took care of things against Adamson, 25-20 25-21 and 25-18, in what amounted to be a play-in game for the playoff. Head coach Shaq delos Santos said that the Lady Tamaraws were slowly gaining in confidence, especially with wins against UP and now Adamson, squads that are also in the playoff hunt.

Bernadette Pons and Remy Palma each scored twelve points in the win, while Geneveve Casugod added ten of her own.

In the men's side, the Tiger Spikers of UST secured the remaining twice-to-beat advantage still in play, defeating Ateneo in five sets, 25-15 22-25 25-23 17-25 15-13. The other game saw defending champions NU snatch the third seed in beating Adamson, 26-28 25-17 25-17 and 25-21. The Final Four matchups sees Ateneo against Adamson and UST against NU.



The final set of volleyball games in the eliminations is set to take place later today, highlighted by the women's matchup between NU and UP. The Lady Bulldogs are seeded third in the stepladder regardless of the result, but the Lady Maroons need to win in order to gain entry into a playoff for it, joining the Tigresses and the Lady Tamaraws. Otherwise, UST and FEU will joust for that final spot of the stepladder on Wednesday.

NBA to celebrate the Chinese New Year

The NBA will have something special in store for its Chinese fans this coming Chinese New Year to usher in the Year of the Goat.

NBA China CEO David Shoemaker says, "the Chinese New Year is a time of joyful family reunion and provides an occasion for us to share in the festivities by delivering the excitement of the NBA right into the homes of our fans." He adds that the league "appreciates the support of the Chinese fans."

Kicking off the activities is a Season of Giving initiative involving NBA legend Gary Payton in Fujian province that took place last January 30. Payton unveiled a basketball court that the league donated to the school. He also had a traditional Chinese New Year meal with underprivileged students in Nanping, while also having conducting a basketball clinic with Special Olympics athletes in Shanghai. He also visited the children at the NBA Yao Basketball Club. In a separate move, the league will donate 1,600 Spalding basketballs to the different provinces, autonomous regions, and special administrative zones of China.

Starting on February 19, the NBA will have twenty match-ups televised on China Central Television (CCTV). China-based fans can also watch the games on Beijing TV, BesTV, Chongqing Satellite TV, Guangdong TV, LeTV, Sina, Tencent, Elta, Fox Taiwan, Taiwan Mobile, Videoland, and Now TV Hong Kong.

On social media, the NBA and its partners American Airlines and Mengniu will have marketing initiatives to engage fans on NBACNY.com as well as the league's official accounts on Sina Weibo, Tencent, and WeChat. Fans would have the chance to win special prizes through these interactions via the "virtual red envelopes."

In the United States, the league will have two major initiatives.

First, the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets will have special edition uniforms to pay tribute to the Chinese culture. The Warriors will launch theirs in their game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 20, while it will be on February 21 for the Rockets in their game against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, Sacramento Kings, and the Washington Wizards will have events and activities relating to the holiday.

Second, the league will air a Chinese New Year-related commercial on February 20 during the Warriors-Spurs game on ESPN in the US. The same ad will be aired in the NBA's Chinese-related media platforms. Entitled "Surprise Door," it involves Jeremy Lin, James Harden, Stephen Curry, and Dwyane Wade paying a visit to a Chinese family to partake of the holiday and watch a NBA game together.