UFC: Sangcha-an loses bloody bout to Delos Reyes

MANILA, Philippines - Team Lakay's Roldan Sangcha-an put on a brave effort but wound up submitting to Guam-born Filipino fighter Jon delos Reyes in an exciting flyweight showdown in the preliminary card of the UFC Fight Night Manila: Edgar vs. Faber Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Delos Reyes tried to finish the fight early as he went for submissions in the opening round, at one point locking Sangcha-an into a rear naked choke, and following it up with an armbar.

But the 24-year-old Sangcha-an, who fights out of Baguio City, evaded his submission attempts and even locked in an arm lock of his own towards the middle of the first round. Delos Reyes, however, showed the referee that he was in no trouble.

An accidental clash of heads opened a bloody gash on Delos Reyes' right eye in the second round, and Sangcha-an tried to go for the finish as he went on the attack. At one point, the fighters exchanged punches and then kicks, leading both to fall down to the mat.

Delos Reyes kept his wits about him despite the blood pouring profusely from the cut, and sneaked in a right hand that landed flush on Sangcha-an, sending the Team Lakay mainstay to the mat. He was able to unleash ground and pound before the referee called time for the Octagon-side doctor to check on his eye.

When action resumed, Delos Reyes made quick work of Sangcha-an, taking control and applying a rear-naked choke. Sangcha-an valiantly tried to roll out of trouble, but was forced to tap at the 3:13 mark of the second round.

"I'm disappointed, but it's part of the game," said Sangcha-an following his loss. "I accept this defeat, and learn from it, because champions who don't accept defeat will never be champions."

"It was great fighting here tonight," he added. "I am proud to represent the Philippines."

Delos Reyes, who also has Filipino roots, said he "felt great" following the victory but understood that he was in for a tough night against Sangcha-an.

"I wanted to show the fans two Filipinos fighting against each other in the UFC," he added. "I think it was a good fight for our first UFC fight in Manila."

"I was born in Guam, but I'm a full Filipino," he declared. "Fighting in the Philippines was going to be a lot of pressure. I love Filipinos. I get humbled here."

In the first fight of the night, Yao Zhikui won a split decision over Nolan Ticman in another flyweight encounter.

Judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29, giving Yao only his second win in the UFC.

Ticman was not convinced, saying afterwards that he "won the fight, that's it."

Yao, for his part, admitted that he was not too confident heading into the announcement of winners.

"My opponent kept running from me," he said. "I won the fight, because I was the aggressor."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Indian Aces rout Singapore Slammers in IPTL clash

MANILA, Philippines -- The Indian Aces won four out of five sets against the Singapore Slammers Friday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to win the first ever International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) match.

Ana Ivanovic and Gael Monfils of the Aces drew the loudest cheers from the MOA Arena crowd as they routed their overmatched opponents in the women's and men's singles, respectively.

But it was the pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza who got the party started for the Aces, as they defeated the pair of Bruno Soares and Daniela Hantuchova, 6-4, in the mixed doubles.

Indian Aces playing coach Fabrice Santoro and Singapore's Patrick Rafter put on a show in a match-up of past champions, as they battled to a 5-5 draw that triggered the first-ever five minute shootout in IPTL history.

It was Santoro who won the shootout, 8-4, giving the Aces a 2-0 set lead and a 12-9 advantage in games won.

The Slammers pulled one back in the men's doubles, as the pair of Tomas Berdych and Nicholas Kyrgios beat Monfils and Bopanna, 2-0.

The Aces dominated the singles matches, however, as the charismatic Ivanovic thoroughly outclassed Hantuchova, 6-0, to the delight of the crowd, and Monfils booked an entertaining 6-1 victory over Lleyton Hewitt.

"It's a great team, I couldn't ask for a better team," Ivanovic said in a brief post-match press conference. "I'm really happy to spend time with all of them. The team spirit was great, we were laughing a lot and trying to make jokes, and I think Fabrice is a great captain."

Monfils became the first victim of the much discussed "shot clock," when, leading 3-1, he failed to serve by the time the clock expired and Hewitt was awarded a point.

The Frenchman made a fuss at the umpire, even going back to his own bench, but eventually returned to serve and won the next three games handily.

"I think everyone found the 20-second rule quite interesting," said Ivanovic. "It was very fast, especially with the ball sometimes not being in place, and it was a bit faster and a bit more dynamic."

Another new feature, the "Happiness Power Point," also repeatedly came into play. Mirza and Bopanna used the power point in the first set to win a game while up 30-15, and Rafter, Ivanovic, and Monfils also won power points in their respective sets.

The Aces had a 25-16 lead in terms of games won.

As promised by the organizers ahead of the competition, the sets were much faster than fans and even the players had gotten used to, thanks to the shot clock that timed the serves and the no-ad rule.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

It's Murray vs. Cilic, Monfils vs. Berdych in IPTL Day 1

MANILA, Philippines -- The inaugural edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) looks to get off to a blazing start when the Indian Aces take on the Singapore Slammers while the Manila Mavericks defend their home court against the UAE Royals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

The revolutionary new tennis league, which aims to "break the code" of tennis' traditional format, begins at 4 p.m. with the Fabrice Santoro-coached Aces going up against Josh Eagle's Slammers.

First up will be the men's singles showdown between world no. 18 Gael Monfils of the Aces against world no. 7 Tomas Berdych of the Slammers.

Up next is the women's singles showdown between Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova, followed by a men's doubles wherein Monfils will team up with Rohan Bopanna to take on Bruno Soares and Lleyton Hewitt.

A mixed doubles match will then pit Bopanna and Sania Mirza against Hantuchova and Soares, and the first group tie will be capped by a legends singles showdown between Indian Aces playing coach Fabrice Sontoro against Patrick Rafter.

The hometown Manila Mavericks will make their IPTL debut at 7:30 p.m., when world no. 6 Andy Murray faces off against world no. 9 and reigning U.S. champion Marin Cilic.

The women's singles will see Maria Sharapova take on Kristina Mladenovic, who took the place of the injured Eugenie Bouchard in the UAE Royals line-up.

Filipino-American tennis star Treat Huey will then team up with Daniel Nestor in the men's doubles, where they will take on the pair of Cilic and Nenad Zimonjic.

The first day of the IPTL will be capped by a legends showdown between Carlos Moya of the Manila Mavericks and Goran Ivanisevic of the UAE Royals.

Players and coaches competing in the league have expressed their excitement with the new tournament format, which is designed to make the sport more attractive to fans both inside the MOA Arena and to those watching on television.

The traditional scoring format has been changed to a single-set, no-add scoring, which will speed up the game and allow the fans to witness 24 different players compete in one evening.

Each match will consist of five sets to be played by different players, and each game won counts as one point for the team's points total. The team that wins the most games overall across the five sets wins the match.

The order of play will be decided by the home team, and the team line-up is given to the umpire 45 minutes before the match starts. In the case of the two away teams, the order of play will be determined by a coin toss.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ex-PBB housemate wins Miss World Philippines 2014

MANILA - Former "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate Valerie Weigmann won the title of Miss World Philippines 2014 during the coronation night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

The Filipino-German also won the Best in Long Gown, Best in Swimsuit and Best in Fashion Runway awards during the night's pageant.

Weigmann joined ''PBB: Teen Edition'' in 2008, where Ejay Falcon was proclaimed the big winner. After her stint in the show, she went on to star in TV commercials, co-host noontime shows and appear on magazines.

She said her main cause in joining the Miss World pageant is to raise awareness for the needs of the Aeta community based in Tarlac.

"Nagustuhan ko 'yung Miss World because it's all about beauty and giving," she said in an earlier interview. "So since may advocacy na din kasi ako, nakita ko 'yung opportunity to raise awareness of my indigenous brothers and sisters."

Here are the runners-up in the Miss World Philippines 2014 pageant:

1st Princess - Lorraine Kendrickson
2nd Princess - Nelda Ibe
3rd Princess - Nicole Donesa
4th Princess - Rachel Peters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Netizens abuzz over rumored One Direction PH concert

MANILA – Rumors of a One Direction concert in Manila swept Twitter on Tuesday, with several Filipino Internet users expressing their excitement over seeing the popular boy band perform.

The hashtag #1DinManila remain in Twitter’s list of top local trending topics as Filipino fans react to a photo of the so-called ticket rates to the One Direction concert that has been circulating online.

The photo showed that the concert will allegedly be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with tickets said to cost P5,000 to over P20,000 each.



A quick look at One Direction’s official website, however, shows that the Philippines -- and any other Asian country -- is not included in the band’s tour, at least until October 2014.

One Direction is set to perform in different parts of Europe in May and June, and in the United States from July to October.

SM Tickets has also yet to release rates for the concert should it push through in Manila.

Meanwhile, some fan groups of One Direction claim that the concert date will be announced on May 7.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Alicia Keys duets with Regine Velasquez, apl.de.ap

MANILA – In a very rare opportunity, international singer Alicia Keys did a duet of her hit song “If I Ain’t Got You” with the Philippines' own Regine Velasquez.

During Keys’ “Set The World On Fire” concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Monday, fans were surprised when Velasquez appeared onstage as the Grammy-winning artist was singing her original song.






"The Voice of the Philippines" coach has been in the country for a while now helping the survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda.”

Just like the ‘Black Eyed Peas’ rapper, Keys also visited typhoon survivors at the Villamor Airbase, where she gave out coloring books and crayons to children.

On Tuesday, Keys said on Twitter that she is grateful to have come to the Philippines and spent time with some of "the most resilient and beautiful spirits she has ever met."

She later tweeted: "Today was the next level. Thank you for your inspiration."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rockets, Pacers vow to put on a show in historic NBA preseason game

MANILA -- After months of anticipation, basketball-crazy Filipinos will finally get to see their hoops idols in person as the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers face off in the first ever NBA preseason game to be held in the Philippines Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Pacers and the Rockets have been in town since Monday, and have taken part in various NBA Cares events. They also went shopping at the Mall of Asia and Greenhills.

But it is tomorrow's preseason game that has been the talk of the town for months. The hype for the Pacers-Rockets showdown only intensified after Indiana made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous season, and Houston added superstar center Dwight Howard in free agency.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pacers guard/forward Paul George vowed to put on a show in front of the Filipino fans, who have given both teams a remarkably warm welcome ever since they arrived.

"We're gonna come out and play this game like it's an actual game," said George, last season's Most Improved Player. "We're not gonna come out and play lackadaisical. We want to give the fans a real show and hopefully gain some fan base."

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters earlier that tomorrow's game will be a good chance for them to test themselves against a strong team like the Rockets.

"The Rockets are a championship contender," said Vogel. "Obviously, they had a great season last year, and in the last 12 months they've added two of the best players in the NBA in Dwight Howard and James Harden. It should be an interesting game here."

And Vogel, knowing the passion that Filipinos have for the game of basketball, is expecting an "electric" atmosphere even though it is still just a preseason game that is ultimately meaningless.

"The fanfare here is very exciting. To get to see these two exciting teams come in here, and it's the second preseason game - a lot of times, that's not the most intense type of game," he said. "But I think, with this situation, and with both of these teams with title hopes, and playing in a crowd like we're gonna have here, I think it's gonna be exciting."

Vogel was echoed by Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale, who is also expecting a great reception from what should be a sellout crowd at the MOA Arena tomorrow.

"I think what will be fun (for the team) is the exhibition game tomorrow. It will be electric, and there will be a lot of people here," said McHale. "It will be different from a normal exhibition game because the people here will be really into it, so it will be fun."

For the Rockets, it is also a chance to see how their team chemistry has improved, especially with the addition of Howard this season. Tomorrow's game will also allow them to match themselves against one of the top teams in the NBA, considering that the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season and pushed the Miami Heat to the brink.

"Definitely, they're a great team," said Houston guard James Harden. "This last couple of years, they've stamped themselves on this league especially in the Eastern Conference. They have a great coaching staff, great players over there, so it's gonna be a great challenge for us in trying to measure where we are and where we need to be."

While it is far too early in the season to call tomorrow's match-up a potential Finals preview, both teams are clearly seeing the game as a chance to measure how far they have come and how far they still have to go in terms of preparing for the grind of the upcoming season.

Knowing that they will be the first ever NBA teams to play a preseason game in basketball-mad Philippines is also making tomorrow's showdown more special for the players.

"It's great that the NBA has brought basketball to this country," said George. "For us to be the first ones to be here to play, it's special."

"It's a huge honor to even play here in the Philippines," said Chandler Parsons, one of the most promising players of the Houston Rockets. "They are so passionate about basketball here, it's awesome to come in take in this culture and put on a show for the fans."

"To be able to play a team like the Pacers, they're one of the best in the East. So I think it will be a good test to see where we stand against one of the best teams in the NBA, and what better place to play in than in the Philippines," Parsons added.

Indiana won both of their games last season, winning 105-95 in their January 18 game, and then sweeping their season series with a 100-91 victory in March 27.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Larry Bird lauds Coach Spo's 'fantastic job' with Heat

MANILA, Philippines -- NBA legend and current Indiana Pacers president for basketball operations Larry Bird commended Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra for a job well done in leading the Heat to back-to-back championships amid intense scrutiny and public attention.

"He's done a great job. A great job," said Bird, who met with Philippine media briefly on Wednesday while the Pacers practiced for the NBA Global Games. "He's a very young coach, even though he's been part of basketball for a long time."

"He had a lot of scrutiny going on and it's been a very tough job for him, but I think he handled it as well as he possibly could," Bird added.

Spoelstra, the first Filipino-American head coach to win an NBA championship, led the Heat to back-to-back titles this year. Along the way, they beat the Pacers in a hotly contested seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana head coach Frank Vogel had previously said Spoelstra does not get enough credit for what he has done with Heat, especially in terms of coaching a team that features three superstars -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Today, Bird noted that the amount of talent that Miami has makes Spoelstra's job even more difficult.

"Obviously, they have a lot of talent down there," said the Boston Celtics legend. "But sometimes, the teams with the most talent are the most difficult to coach. So I think he has done a fantastic job."

Bird's Pacers will play the Houston Rockets in the first ever NBA pre-season game to be held in Manila tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

La Salle frustrates UST, forces winner-take-all

MANILA, Philippines – De La Salle University (DLSU) foiled University of Sto. Tomas in Game 2, 77-70, to force a rubber match in their best-of-three UAAP men’s title showdown on Saturday.

The Archers dominated the boards to bounce back from their Game 1 loss to the Tigers last Wednesday.

UST, which edged La Salle in Game 1, 73-72, is seeking to become the first fourth seeded team to win the UAAP men’s basketball crown.

The Tigers swept top-seeded National University (NU) in two games to forge a title showdown against the Archers, who eliminated Far Eastern University in the other semis pairing.

Game 3 is set to take place on Saturday, October 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UST forges Finals showdown vs La Salle

University of Sto. Tomas (UST) closed out top-seeded National University (NU), 76-69, in their knockout game to return to the UAAP men’s basketball finals and arrange a title showdown against De La Salle University (DLSU).

The Bulldogs bowed out despite a twice-to-beat edge as the fourth-seeded Tigers completed a two-game sweep in front of 17,828 spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jeric Teng led the Tigers with 19 points while Kevin Ferrer, who did the most damage in the fourth quarter, had 18.

An emotional UST coach Pido Jarencio felt vindicated for steering his wards back to the finals.

“Hirap. Speechless ako ngayon. Hindi ko akalain aabot kami ng finals,” said a teary-eyed Jarencio following the game.

UST, which was swept by the Ateneo Blue Eagles during last year’s UAAP finals, became the first fourth seed to reach the finals since the league adopted the Final Four format in 1994.

It was a grueling journey for the Tigers, who saw its UAAP bid threatened following Teng’s month-long layoff due to injury.

UST also needed to eliminate the Eagles to catch the last trip to the UAAP Final Four. As fourth seed, the Tigers took on the daunting task of needing to beat league-leader NU twice before arranging a Finals match-up with La Salle.

Jarencio, who felt his team had nothing to lose against NU, believes he has proven UST’s detractors wrong.

“S’yempre maraming taong nagdududa sa kakayanan ko,” he said.

Early rhythm

UST quickly established its rhythm in the first quarter with Tata Bautista leading the way for a 19-10 lead.

Aljon Mariano and Teng took over midway the second canto where UST took a 25-15 advantage. Joshua Alolino’s quick basket and Ray Parks’ free throws enabled NU to cut the lead, 26-19.

Alolino and Emmanuel Mbe then pushed the Bulldogs ahead, 31-29. But Ferrer knotted the scores on the stripe to end the first half.

It was neck and neck for UST and NU in the third period, until Jamil Sheriff’s midrange jumper that pushed the Tigers ahead, 45-43. Ferrer then buried a triple late in the third for a six-point cushion, 50-44.

NU managed to pull within one going into the fourth quarter, 50-49, through Lee Villamor’s three-point dagger and Troy Rosario’s buzzer beater.

But UST showed championship poise in the final minutes where the Tigers unleashed an 11-0 run that knocked the wind out of the Bulldogs.

The Tigers foiled the Bulldogs’ attempt to make its first UAAP Finals appearance since 1970.

Two-time MVP Parks, who bailed out in the dying seconds due to cramps, finished with 15 points. He was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Mbe added 10 for National U.

UST won their first Final Four meeting, 71-62, last week to force the deciding second game against NU on Saturday.

'All-out war'

The Tigers will face the Green Archers, who beat the FEU Tamaraws last Wednesday to clinch the other Finals ticket.

UAAP panelist and former Eagle Kirk Long said the finals showdown will be an interesting match as it will pit UST’s Jeric Teng against his brother Jeron of La Salle.

“It's gonna be exciting seeing the brothers face off,” said Long.

“La Salle, UST [are] two deep teams, it will be an all-out war, all-out battle.”



Jeron was also present at the MOA Arena as he cheered for his brother during the game.

The best-of-three finals between UST and La Salle will begin on Wednesday.

The scores:

UST 76 – Teng 19, Ferrer 18, Mariano 12, Bautista 8, Sheriff 6, Abdul 6, Daquioag 3, Lo 2, Pe 1, Lao 1.

NU 69 – Parks 15, Mbe 10, Alolino 10, Javelona 9, Villamor 8, Rosario 6, Rono 6, Khobuntin 3, Javillonar 2, Neypes 0, Alejandro 0.

Quartescores: 19-10; 31-31; 50-49; 76-69.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

IMAGES: Rihanna sparkles in Manila show

MANILA -- Despite starting two hours behind schedule, Rihanna's concert had Filipino fans in high spirits as they left the Mall of Asia Arena late Thursday, taking to social media to share their experience during the one-night show.

Scheduled to start at 8 p.m., the Manila stop of the Barbadian singer's "Diamonds World Tour" reportedly started late, as she only landed in the Philippines at around 6:15 p.m. on the same night.


The lull, however, easily shifted to high gear with performances from American DJ tandem Good Times Ahead, Rihanna's opening act since the European leg of the concert series.

Rihanna, in the early part of the show, noted it was her second time in the Philippines, having performed here in 2008.

Wearing what appeared to be white sportswear -- some netizens called it "gym clothes" -- the 25-year-old hitmaker went on to strip the matching white jacket and baggy shorts as the show went on.

Performing some 20 songs, Rihanna had fans screaming with her global hits "Umbrella," "Love the Way You Lie," "We Found Love," "Where Have You Been," "Stay," and the finale number, "Diamonds."

Local celebrities spotted at the concert include Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Kathryn Bernardo, Bianca Gonzalez, Kim Chiu, and Gutierrez siblings Ruffa, Richard and Raymond.

Here are some photos of the "Diamonds World Tour" concert taken by netizens, as it happened in Manila:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sorry, no cameras allowed at Rihanna concert

MANILA -- Filipino fans of Rihanna won't be able to take photos of the international pop star when she performs at the Mall of Asia Arena stage on Thursday night.

The Pasay City concert venue, in its official social media accounts, announced that any type of camera will not be allowed in, "as per artist's management and event organizer's request."

"All type of cameras (digital cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, DSLRs) are prohibited during Rihanna's 'Diamonds World Tour.' Only accredited press and media will be allowed to bring cameras inside the venue," it said.

The 25-year-old Barbadian singer, who is behind the global hits "Umbrella" and "We Found Love," is performing in the Philippines for a second time after her sold-out show in Taguig in 2008.

Manila is one of the three Asian stops of the "Diamonds" tour, which has so far visited over 60 cities around the world. The concert series is set to make 19 more stops until November 15.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'King James' delights in unforgettable Manila tour

MANILA, Philippines – NBA superstar LeBron James of the Miami Heat, widely acknowledged as the best basketball player on the planet, tweeted his appreciation for Filipino fans a day after he was showered with cheers and adoration in his “Witness History” tour.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, visited the Philippines for the first time this week and thrilled thousands of Filipino fans on Tuesday when he visited the Nike Park at The Fort, then put on a show along with local basketball stars at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“What a great experience here in Manila, Philippines!!” James tweeted Wednesday morning. “Thanks for welcoming me with open arms, will never forget it.”


The highlight of James’ visit came at the MOA Arena on Tuesday afternoon, when thousands of screaming fans went wild as he appeared amid a fireworks display and smoke.

“Are y’all ready, Philippines?” James asked, and the MOA Arena crowd responded by showering him with “MVP” chants.

“I’ve been everywhere,” James said. “This is an unbelievable place. I love it, I’ve had an unbelievable time so far.”

Scrimmage


James gamely participated in a skills clinic conducted by Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes along with members of the national team, the national youth team, and some collegiate basketball players.

The crowd followed his every move, cheering on every dunk, pass, and even a missed three-pointer.

The local hoops stars, especially members of the Under-16 team, were clearly thrilled to be doing skills drills with James.

“Siyempre idol. Nandoon na lahat eh. Ano pa ba ang hindi mo a-idol-in kay LeBron,” Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena would later say in an interview with The Philippine Star.

But the loudest ovation came when, halfway through a 10-minute scrimmage between Gilas Pilipinas and the college stars, James decided to suit up for his team.

He immediately drilled a three-pointer and spent five minutes blowing past by his defenders, including Marc Pingris and Ranidel de Ocampo.

“Sinabayan ko talaga siya, kaso wala talaga eh. Ang lakas ng upper body niya,” De Ocampo told The Philippine Star.

“Tatlong beses niya akong tinirahan ng tres pero wala talaga akong magawa eh,” offered Pingris, one of the best defenders in the PBA today. “Magaling talaga siya. Kinain niya ako ng buhay.”

But Pingris and de Ocampo can take comfort in the fact that Gilas Pilipinas wound up beating Team LeBron, 29-27, after the King himself missed a potential game-tying lay-up.

“The reason I missed those last two shots is because my jersey is too damn small, so forgive me,” James said after the game.

Though he could not lead his team to victory, James was clearly able to accomplish what he set out to do when he visited the Philippines – inspire the local basketball players and fans.

“I will continue to do my part to inspire you guys and continue to make sure you guys love the game of basketball,” James said.

He thrilled the crowd further when he gave away signed basketballs, and then authored a heart-warming scene when he gave away his jersey to a young boy.

Legacy

In a press conference earlier in the day, James discussed the difficulty of winning consecutive championships with the Heat.

"They always say once you win the first one it starts to become easier. It wasn't easier for us at all, to be the defending champs and have to defend your title each and every night regular season, throughout the playoffs, was very difficult, " he said.

"For me, as a player, I just want to be the best that I can be each and every night, I want to be the MVP for our team."

James, who has been under tremendous scrutiny and pressure since he came into the NBA, stressed that he was not even close to being satisfied despite being a four-time MVP, two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP.

"I got a lot more to prove, to myself, I got a lot more to accomplish, that I want to accomplish. And the word 'legacy' is always thrown around very early in my sport, in sports in general," he said.

"So, for me, I don't really talk about it. I think at the end of the day, when I decide to hang my shoes up, put the jersey down, my game, my resume speaks for itself and I will let everybody decide where they want to put me," he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UE climbs from behind to beat La Salle

The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors climbed from behind to defeat the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 85-83, on Saturday's Season 76 UAAP men's basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The game was close in the first two quarters, with La Salle maintaining a slim 4-point lead, 43-39, heading into halftime.

La Salle threatened to pull away at the start of the fourth by extending its lead to 10, 68-58, with 8 minutes to go in the ballgame.

But turnovers and cold shooting from the Green Archers allowed UE to trim the lead.

Five straight points by Roi Sumang tied the game at 73 with over 3 minutes left in the game.

The Green Archers then took a 4-point lead with over a minute left, 81-77, but another 5-0 run capped off by a three-pointer by Ralf Olivarez shifted the lead back to the Red Warriors.

With the Red Warriors holding on to a 3-point lead, La Salle’s Luigi dela Paz hit a long two-pointer with only 17 seconds left.

Olivarez was then fouled and split his charities to give UE an 85-83 lead.

The Green Archers had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but Thomas Torres missed a floater in the lane.

Sumang led the Red Warriors with 21 points. Charles Mammie and Olivarez chipped in with 19 points and 8 points, respectively.

Almond Vosotros scored a career-high 26 points in a losing effort.

La Salle suffered its second straight loss despite having a double digit advantage in the final quarter.

In its last game against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, La Salle had a 13-point advantage before squandering it and eventually lose in overtime.

La Salle fell to its third loss in five games while UE improved its record to 3-3.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lee Min Ho arrives in Manila for concert

MANILA, Philippines - Korean star Lee Min Ho is back in the country for a one-night concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on July 6 (Saturday).

The event is presented by the local clothing brand Bench, which has Lee as one of its celebrity endorsers.

Lee’s concert in Manila is part of his “My Everything” tour. The Korean star is best known in the Philippines for his role as Gu Jun-pyo in the hit series “Boys Over Flowers.”

He first visited Manila in November 2012 for a “meet-and-greet” event organized by Bench.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Steven Tyler gets 'hot gift' from Mocha Girls

MANILA, Philippines -- Before Aerosmith took the stage of the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night, the rock band's lead vocalist Steven Tyler hosted an exclusive meet-and-greet with Mocha Uson and her sexy girl group Mocha Girls.

Uson said they talked with Tyler for 15 minutes at the rocker's dressing room before the much-awaited concert of the U.S. rock band.

"Mr. Steven asked the concert promoter if he could meet the Philippines' popular female group like the Spice Girls. The promoter then contacted us to meet Mr. Tyler," said Uson.

"He asked us if we already performed in US and we said, 'Yes. We just went to Las Vegas last March 27' and he said, 'Oh that's before my birthday.' We were the only Filipino artists to meet him before his show," she added.





Uson described Tyler as "sweet and humble."

"He's really nice. You won't feel that he is a rock icon because he is really cool and was really warm with us. It felt like you're just talking to a friend. He is really a nice guy compared to other artists who doesn't even know how to smile to their Pinoy fans. He's really down to earth, " she said.

The sexy singer also revealed that her group give Tyler a special present as a souvenir of the band's first visit to the Philippines.

"We gave him a warm welcome, a hello welcome to Manila and then we gave him our calendar and our red panties as souvenir," she said.

In her official Twitter account, Uson posted a photo of her group with Tyler.

"It's amaaaziinnggg!!! Steven Tyler!!" she gushed on Twitter.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Journey's Manila concert cancelled

The Manila concert of the American band Journey fronted by Filipino singer Arnel Pineda has been cancelled.

The concert, which was initially scheduled on March 21 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, was canceled “due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances,” Journey said in a statement posted on the SM Tickets website.


“We apologize for any inconvenience brought about by this decision to the fans and we are looking forward to performing to our Filipino fans in the near future,” it added.

Those who have bought tickets to the concert may have them refunded.

In a separate statement, Pineda admitted that ticket sales to the concert have been "slow."

"Due to the extreme importance of the Easter holiday in my home country, as well as the deserved widespread media attention on the upcoming election in Manila, the ticket sales for Journey's upcoming show have understandably been somewhat slow," Pineda said.

"We have decided it is best for everyone to postpone the Manila concert until the next time Journey tours in Asia. We are very sorry that we won't be able to see our fans this year, but we will see you again soon. You know we all love to play in Manila!" he added.

Journey’s show in Manila is part of an Asian tour. The band first performed with Pineda in March 2009 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

Meanwhile, another concert featuring nine rock bands has been canceled. Those who bought tickets to “Smash Project,” which has been scheduled at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on March 8, can also have their tickets refunded at SM Tickets.

The concert includes American punk rock band All Time Low, Canadian pop rock band Sum 41, American metalcore bands Miss May I and Of Mice and Men, French pop punk band Chunk! No Captain Chunk! and We Start Partys, among others.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Regine gears for Valentine show with Ogie

MANILA, Philippines - After the success of her concert celebrating her 25th anniversary in show business, Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez is set to do a Valentine's Day show with her husband Ogie Alcasid.

"Foursome," which will be held on February 14 at the SM MOA Arena, will also feature former couple Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez.

set to do a new show at SM MOA Arena this time with her husband Ogie Alcasid.

"Feb 14 gandang kantahan sayawan at katatawanan #Foursome please get your tix now as in now na http://instagr.am/p/VA_ysjIX8w/," Velasquez tweeted.

Aside from the Valentine's show, Velasquez is also planning to have a US tour of her silver concert.

"We are also working on a US tour kinakausap na po ni @cacaimitra ang kinauukulan para dito........Kung maaayus po nila ito we will do Silver the US tour po. Harinawa na may gustong manood sa US ngek di ako suru dyan......But for now #FOURSOME muna tayo kasi malapit na yun eh feb 14 moa arena, o diba galing kong promogirl," Velasquez tweeted.

The singer also bared that she is set to record a new album.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Korean group 2PM to perform in Manila in March

MANILA, Philippines – South Korean group 2PM will be serenading its fans in Manila in March as part of its "What Time Is It" Asian tour.

The six-member all-male group, known for popular singles "10 Points Out of 10 Points, "Again & Again," and "Hands Up," will be the first JYP artist to perform in the Philippines.

2PM is set to grace the Mall of Asia Arena on March 2, with ticket prices at P11,500 (VIP 1 & 2), P9,000 (VIP 3), P7,000 (Lower Box A), P6,000 (Lower Box B), P3,300 (Upper Box), and P1,000 (General Admission).

Tickets will be sold starting today, January 26, according to 2PM Asia Tour's Facebook page.

After Manila, the group will be holding concerts in Guangzhou, China on March 30 and in Bangkok, Thailand on April 8.

2PM has already performed in other parts of Asia last year, particularly in Shanghai, China; Indonesia; Taiwan; and Macau.

Prior to the group's debut in 2008, the boys were members of a larger band, One Day, which branched out to baladeers 2AM and the hiphop/upbeat artists 2PM.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Philippine All Stars to open for Jennifer Lopez

MANILA, Philippines -- Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj and Ne-yo are just some of the international acts whose Manila concerts featured the Filipino hip-hop group, the Philippine All Stars.

Tonight another global superstar will be added to the resume of the lauded dance group.

The Philippine All Stars will be the opening act in Jennifer Lopez’s one-night-only concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Monday for the Manila leg of the actress-singer’s Dance Again World Tour.

“Malaking privilege talaga to open for her. Siya ang isa sa mga inspirasyon namin sa dancing, lalo na ang mga girls,” said the group’s Krista Roma.

Although the dancers admit to feeling nervous about tonight’s concert, they are also excited to take the stage for their performance, especially since they look up to Lopez for her dance choreography as shown in her music videos like “Jenny on the Block.”

For the male members of the Philippine All Stars, they are also hoping to catch the attention of Lopez, widely considered among the hottest women on the planet, especially since the latest boyfriend of the former “American Idol” judge is her dancer Casper Smart.

And just as Lopez has served as an inspiration for the Pinoy dancers, the Philippine All Stars are also hoping to impress the Hollywood star.

"Gusto namin ipakita na world-class ang dancers natin dito sa Pilipinas dahil naniniwala kami talaga magaling tayo sa pagsayaw," Roma said.

Celebrities star-struck

Meanwhile, another self-confessed fan of Lopez is Kapamilya star Maja Salvador.

The “24/7 in Love” star even posted a picture of Lopez on her official Twitter account after she saw the “Dance Again” hitmaker in a five-star hotel this morning.

“I died! Just saw J-Lo working out! OMG! Thank you, Lord! Dream come true!” she posted on Twitter.

“Una naka swim ko kids niya pagbalik ko ng gym waaaaah nandun na siya! #number1FanofJLO Thank you Lord! Happiest day!” she said in another tweet.

“Just talked to J-Lo! Me: Can I have a picture with you? J-Lo: Can you meet me downstairs please ‘coz I’m kinda mess right now... I love you!” Salvador said.

Other celebrities also expressed their excitement with tonight’s concert, including TV host Mariel Rodriguez and broadcaster Karen Davila.

“Excited to watch @JLo tonight! I'm an original fan! Love her roots, story, rise to the top, music and sexiness!” Davila said on her Twitter account.

Singer Zsa Zsa Padilla said she already saw Lopez perform in Los Angeles.

“J-Lo is muy caliente! Saw the show in Staples and I'm feeling pretty left out not watching it again. Enjoy,” she said on Twitter.

Even the social media team of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) can’t help but be swept by the J-Lo fever.

“ADVISORY: @JLo concert 2nyt at SM MOA. Expect traffic buildup at area as many fans have been waiting for tonight to dance again,” the MMDA said on its Twitter account. – Report from Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News

source: abs-cbnnews.com