Boxing vs MMA: Will There Be Another Crossover Match this year?

It probably goes without saying that the boxing match that received the most attention last year was Mayweather vs. McGregor.

On Saturday 26^th August 2017, Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Conor McGregor in what was labelled ‘The Money Fight’. This saw eleven-time champion, Mayweather, in a ring with the UFC Lightweight Champion and mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion, McGregor.

The match took place in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena inthe light-middleweight weight class, with Mayweather winning by a technical knockout (TKO) during the tenth round. This took Mayweather’s undefeated streak to 50 matches.

Their winnings?

McGregor took home $30,000,000 and Mayweather pocketed $100,000,000 – but reports suggest they both earnt far more than this ($100,000,000 and $300,000,000 respectively).

Could we be seeing another crossover match anytime soon?

Boxing vs. MMA

If you ask Conor McGregor what he thinks, he says we should expect there to be more crossover fights between MMA and boxing.

Despite many people, boxing fans in particular, feeling as though there wouldn’t be any competition between two, McGregor felt that they’d be proven wrong and would be left wanting more.

But what about Mayweather?

Well, reports suggest that there could even be a re-match between McGregor and Mayweather in the UFC.

At the end of last year, UFC commentator, Joe Ragan, said that Mayweather had mentioned that he’d be interested in having a bout in MMA. According to Ragan, Dana White had confirmed that he’d spoken to the boxer to fight inside the Octagon. about doing a deal in the UFC, which would see Mayweather making an appearance

When questioned about whether or not this was true, they referenced the most recent fight between McGregor and Mayweather, saying if that happened, anything can happen. This has led people to believe there could be another fight in the not too distant future.

Who Else Might Be Interested?

Aside from the two who have already taken part in a crossover match, would any other boxers be interested?

Well, Anthony Joshua would be willing to accept a cage fight or take to the boxing ring with an MMA artist in the future. Before The Money Match took place, Joshua said he could see the appeal of the match, despite it being heavily criticised by many. Speaking to Press Association Sport he said that he liked fighting and would ‘do thing they couldn’t do was submissions. He’d let them bite, elbow and kick but whatever’. He admitted that he’d probably get beaten, saying that the only there couldn’t be any submissions.

Joshua said he couldn’t beat a guy with submissions due to the skills needed to be able to do that, but when it comes to fighting rules and pure aggression he believes he can fight and it won’t be a problem. Who knows, there may even be athletes from totally different backgrounds looking to have their glory day in the ring.

And one thing’s for sure, as well as the fans of these fighters, one industry that’s particularly looking forward to such an event is the gambling industry. Last year, bookmakers saw a wagering handle between $60-70 million from the Mayweather/McGregor fight, with Nevada’s casino operators raking in $989.5 million – a record-breaking revenue.

Willie Marcial as PBA Commissioner?

Marcial opts to stay quiet until OIC stint is over

One of the many questions that the PBA needed to answer heading into the board members’ first board meeting for 2018 which is set on January 26, 2018, is: Who will be the new PBA commissioner to take over from now-resigned Chito Narvasa?  There are many names that have been included in the list of possible candidates to take the league’s top post which includes Rebu Saguisag, Charles Chua, among others. But now, even Wilie Marcial, the long-time chief of the PBA Media Bureau, also acting as the OIC upon the effectivity of Narvasa’s resignation, has his name included in the possible candidates to take the top post.

Apparently, several parties are said to be making the big push for Willie Marcial to be formally named as the league’s new commissioner. After all, Mr. Marcial has gradually started implementing changes in the PBA which includes allowing more physicality to come into play during games. And that’s not surprising if Marcial’s name is included in the choices because like it or not, Marcial’s plans for the league sounds better for the PBA and for the fans in effect.

However, Willie Marcial intends to wait until his stint as OIC is finished by the end of the month before making any further moves,  noting that he doesn’t know if the board will eventually give him the post of commissioner.

Question: Is Willie Marcial as commissioner good for the PBA?

As mentioned above, Willie Marcial has managed to keep the ground running upon Narvasa’s departure and has implemented noteworthy changes in the short period of time that he has been the league’s temporary caretaker. 

So if you are one of the board members, would you still look elsewhere for a new commissioner if your OIC is doing a great job? 

This pundit on wheels isn’t saying that Willie Marcial should be the next PBA commissioner but for the sake of the continuity of good things that have been happening in the PBA right now, this pundit thinks that the board should consider naming Marcial as the commissioner because it will benefit the league and it can definitely help repair the strained between the PBA and the basketball-loving Filipino fans. 

Conclusion

While Willie Marcial has indicated earlier that he only intends to help in the selection of a new process, hearing him say that he will rather wait for the end of his OIC stint before making any further plans, says one thing: that he would welcome the league’s decision if it decides to name him as Chito Narvasa’s successor.

But then again, the call is up to the board itself. 

 

Edward Kelly Elated to Compete Alongside Older Brother Eric at One FC

Eric and Edward Kelly lived under the same roof for years in their hometown of Baguio City when they were young and shared the same burning passion in martial arts.

Growing up in the small town community of San Tomas Central, located within the city limits of Baguio, Eric and Edward did not always get along with one another as the two fought all the time, sometimes even resulting in injury.

“We were not that close before. We always fought. In short, Eric and I were headaches to our parents,” Edward recalled in jest. “But of course, things change when you grow up and mature. We now appreciate each other’s company.”

Fortunately, when the brothers entered high school, Eric discovered martial arts, and everything would change for both of them.

Edward paid attention to the growing accolades of his older brother and was heavily motivated by it.

“I noticed after he started martial arts that it taught him the discipline not to fight me as a brother. Instead, he started giving me advice on what he had learned,” he bared. “I also joined martial arts because it teaches you discipline, and a lot of other positives, too.”

Years later, both men have made remarkable runs as outstanding martial artists in their respective professional careers.

Eric is now widely regarded as one of the best homegrown martial arts athletes to come out of the Philippines.

A Wushu practitioner who combines solid striking techniques with high-level grappling skills, Eric owns nine scintillating submissions and one knockout out of 12 total career victories.

Eric’s most impressive showing to date came in a submission win over Rob Lisita in July 2014, a performance that earned him the US$50,000 ONE Warrior Bonus.

Meanwhile, Edward is considered as one of the best and brightest featherweight prospects to emerge from the well-established martial arts scene in the Philippines.

With a complete striking and grappling skill set, Edward brings Team Lakay’s world-renowned Wushu to center stage as he showcases his impeccable skillset inside the ONE Championship cage.

In addition, the younger Kelly has won three of his last four bouts under the ONE Championship banner, all by spectacular finish.

The Kelly brothers get a rare chance on 26 January as the siblings will compete side-by-side when ONE Championship holds its first of the four scheduled events in the country for 2018.

Asia’s premier martial arts promotion spearheads ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Eric squares off with Brazilian standout Rafael Nunes on the undercard of ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES, while Edward crosses paths with Cambodia’s Meas Meul in a three-round featherweight clash.

It is the first time both of them will be featured at a ONE Championship event together, and Edward plans to make it a night they will never forget.

“I am so excited because finally, it’s going to happen. It marks the first time that I will compete alongside my older brother. Surely, it’s going to be a memorable night for the both of us,” he said.

“We have the same aim of winning. So making it two for two on this card will make this extra special,” Edward added.

As Eric seeks to get back on the winning track at the expense of Nunes, Edward is likewise looking to move forward in his career after getting his three-bout winning streak snapped by American stalwart Emilio Urrutia in August 2017.

In his next cage outing, Edward goes up against Meul, an undefeated promotional newcomer with six wins to his credit, at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES.

“My coaches have prepared me well for this. I am not going to disappoint my team and my country when I enter that cage on 26th of January,” Edward assured. “I don’t want to let my countrymen down this time. I am here to give them a great bout. And of course, win the bout in impressive fashion for them.”

Edward has no qualms if he has to go full three rounds with Meul, but he admitted that his sights are always set on securing the finish.

“I am looking to dominate him for three rounds. But hopefully, I can get the finish. A finish will be the perfect way to tell the world that I am back,” he ended.

Like the fighters, fans and bettors are anticipating this event as feature a number of good matchups. 

What is happening to the Cavs?

In the crazy world of NBA basketball, one thing has been a constant in the past few years, the Cleveland Cavs always playing solidly. They might not have won every game, they perhaps haven’t blown too many sides off the court, however, they have rarely been crushed. It has been incredibly rare to see LeBron and co have to slink off the court after suffering a genuine mauling by another side.

Last night though they were left broken and bruised after a stunning performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves who raced in a 20-4 league and didn’t look back for a second. If you are feeling as lucky as the Timberwolves then come shoot some hoops with 243 ways to win on the excellent game basketball star. It is a game that combines the best of basketball with the best of slots. It is easy to play, fun to win and is the perfect way to combine a love of dunks with a passion for spins. The Cavs will be hoping their luck can turn as the season goes on.

They will be particularly worried about the fact that LeBron was kept down to only ten points and with rumours abounding that he might not be sticking around in Ohio for too long, the team need to get back on track and have the King playing at his best, sooner rather than later. It was his lowest points total in a game since October 2007 which was all the way back during his first stint with the Cavs. For a team hoping to win back the title they lost to Golden State Warriors last season they are not in great form having lost four of their last six matches as they experience travel sickness in road matches.

The margins have not made for great reading either, this 28 point loss has come hot on the heels of a 14 point deficit against the Boston Celtics and a 14 point defeat to the Sacramento Kings who currently hold a losing record. While the Cavs themselves are 26-14, they have already lost more than half as many games as they did when they won their last championship with a significant amount of games to go.

They do therefore look a little bit vulnerable, while the Warriors continue to sweep all before them with their 33-8 record, this could be the first year in a while where we do not see LeBron in the NBA finals and he decides his time back in Akron has come to an end. With the Celtics on form and the Raptors firing on all cylinders this could be a very hard year for the Cavs and LeBron.

It is important for them to get back on track quickly, to get LeBron firing again and to give a boost to the whole team. It absolutely does not feel like they are big trouble or in a crisis but they also are nowhere near their best and if any team are going to stop Golden State then they have to reach a level far higher than where the Cavaliers are at right now. They can start on the road back to the top with a win over the Raptors, a side currently above them in conference, when they meet on Friday.

The Struggle is REAL for LeBron and the Cavs

LeBron admits this season is the hardest for him

When the Cleveland Cavaliers swapped Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas who, at the time of the trade, was still recovering from the injury he sustained during the last playoffs, many people were worried that this deal would have a rippling effect to the success rate of the Cavs. Despite getting Derrick Rose who was also dealing with his own injury problems among other matters, and Dwayne Wade, the defending Eastern Conference Champions are not as dominant as they used to be during the previous 3 seasons despite LeBron James playing another MVP-worthy season.

The Cavs began the season inconsistently and right now, they are nowhere near the super team that they should be. Why? If they are, then they should be holding the best record in the Eastern Conference, to say the least. Instead, the Cavs are in the 3rd spot in the East with a 26-17 record- 7 games behind the East-leading Boston Celtics.

Recently, LeBron James, who is averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks in 43 games this season has finally admitted one thing that has been observed by many: the 2017-2018 season has been the hardest for LeBron. 

How bad is it? 

Since December 19, 2017, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 3-9 and are riding on a 4-game losing streak. The Cavs lost to the Golden State Warriors, twice, and to the Celtics of Kyrie Irving. But one of the ugliest defeats that the Cavs have to endure this season was the one against the Toronto Raptors, 133-99. That, by the way, was the most lopsided defeat that has been absorbed by the Cavs. It was so horrible that LeBron James was seen yelling at his teammates at the bench as if he was the coach. 

Conclusion

If the Cavs can’t figure things out before the playoffs, it will put Tyronn Lue’s coaching job in jeopardy and worse, it will almost secure LeBron James’ ticket out of Cleveland. However, we shouldn’t count the Cavs just yet because whether we like it or not, the Cavs are still seasoned for another Finals trip assuming the Cavs make it past the Celtics. And who knows? These struggles might benefit the Cavs in the long run. 

Jeron Teng Looks Forward to 1st Game against Ginebra

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

The son of Alvin Teng embraces confidence boost heading into battle against the giants

After winning their first two games to open the league’s 43rd season, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings looked like the team who is ready to take down the league’s best all-Filipino crew, the San Miguel Beermen. Then, they ran into the path of the Blackwater Elites who in turn, handed the Gin Kings their first taste of defeat this conference, 94-77. While the fans of the Gin Kings are hoping that their team will bounce back from this setback, they are heading into another anticipated battle and it’s not some mediocre team, folks. It’s the Alaska Aces who are now bannered by Calvin Abueva AND their prized rookie, Jeron Teng.

Facing the Gin Kings may be a daunting task but one player is looking forward to it and that player is Jeron Teng. In fact, the son of former PBA player, Alvin Teng, is the welcoming the confidence boost that he gained from breakaway third quarter against the Kia Picanto when outscored the entire Kia team, 13-5. Folks, that’s 13 of his 23 points in the win- Alaska’s 2nd straight.

Question: Can Ginebra defend Jeron Teng?

Realistically, Ginebra has no one on their current roster ASIDE from Joe Devance that can match-up the intensity of Jeron Teng on both ends of the court. As we saw in their previous game against Blackwater, Ginebra struggled to defend Mac Belo who scored 22 points despite making 6 of 17 shots. Aside from Belo, Ginebra also failed to limit Allein Maliksi who added 17 points for the win. 

Having said that, Ginebra will have their hands full on Jeron Teng aside from the Beast, Calvin Abueva. Sure, they can contain the Beast but defending Jeron Teng is another story all throughout. Tim Cone could send out Kevin Ferrer or even start Japeth Aguilar at the 3 spot to try to defend Teng. But then, we’re talking about Tim Cone, ladies and gentlemen, the winningest coach in the history of the PBA. One way or another, he’ll figure things out. But then again, we’re also talking about defending Jeron Teng. 

Prediction: Alaska will stun the Gin Kings in Sunday’s game, January 21.

DeAndre Jordan Wants to be Traded to Houston

Apparently, DJ wants to be reunited with Chris Paul

One thing is certain for now: DeAndre Jordan won’t be finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. In fact, he might be even playing for another team after the trade deadline. 

Why? His name has been included in a great number of trade rumor over the course of the last few months and given the fact that the Clippers aren’t winning the number of games they should  be winning even after the departure of Chris Paul, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Clippers are growing frustrated and among those who are clearly frustrated is none other  than DeAndre Jordan himself.

And now, the man of the hour has already stated what he wanted to happen- that if you will understand Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. 

Apparently, DeAndre Jordan would welcome any trade that would send him to the Houston Rockets that would reunite him with Chris Paul- someone who provided a big amount of success to the Clippers during their stint together which were highlighted by multiple playoff appearances and non-stop alley-oop plays that ignited the crowd whether they were playing at Staples Center or on the road.

Who should the Rockets send in exchange for DeAndre Jordan?

To begin with, DeAndre Jordan could make the Rockets a lot better especially on the defensive end of the game as he is the 2nd-best rebounder in the league right now, averaging 14 rebounds per game while his ability to penetrate the shaded area should benefit the Rockets as he’s shooting 66.1% from the field- the second-best in the league just behind the Rockets’ Clint Capela.

Ideally, a one-on-one swap would be the best way to handle this one. However, ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine has said that a straight swap between DeAndre Jordan and Clint Capela wouldn’t work because of the luxury tax and cap space issues. And so would Eric Gordon. 

So who’s the best guy the Rockets could offer?

Ryan Anderson 

A DeAndre Jordan-Ryan Anderson swap would benefit the Rockets because according to the Trade Machine, the Rockets would have added 5 wins to their projected number of wins by the end of the current season. On the other hand, a guy like Ryan Anderson could provide a stretched player who could play both 3 and 4 spots and can shoot threes. 

Conclusion

Remember those alley-oop plays ran by Chris Paul to DeAndre Jordan? Those are amazing to watch, right? We might be able to see them again. The only question is: will the teams pull the trigger on this deal? 

Physicality is back in PBA: Coaches Pleased

Alex Compton and Norman Black laud PBA’s move to provide more leeway for physicalities

Over the course of the past few seasons, one of the usual grievances that are being voiced out by the players, coaches and even the fans is that referees back then were almost “trigger happy” when calling fouls on physical plays. And we cannot blame them for voicing out such grievances. Picture this, folks. Referees could whistle you for a foul for simply bumping the player whom you are defending. That’s really frustrating and could change the overall pace of the game because the more fouls that were called, the slower the game becomes. And slow games bore fans. They want faster games. They want more physicalities.

Fortunately, things are starting to get better as one of the changes that OIC Willie Marcial wants to implement this year is the reinstatement of the old “No Harm No Foul”  rule for the purpose of speeding up games and also to make the games themselves more exciting especially for the fans. Like it or not, the officiating has been horrible that fans were complaining about fouls that should haven’t been called and fouls that should have been called And the frequent call of fouls have taken away the physicality in the PBA.

Before 2018 came in, Willie Marcial has stated that the league has already started training its referees as they prepare for the reinstatement of the said rule.

Just last January 10, 2018, two coaches expressed that they were overall pleased with the higher amount of physicality that was allowed during their game. Those coaches are none other than Norman Black and Alex Compton- both coaches whose team are relying heavily on their physicality especially on the defensive end.

Norman Black, for one, despite losing to Compton’s Alaska Aces, 103-98, shared his observation that the game was being officiated a “little bit” differently and even took note that more contact between players was allowed on the court.

Alex Compton, for his part, has said that he’s liking the new direction that the PBA is taking when it comes to the officiating of the games. The American coach even said that allowing more physicality to come into play is good for the game.

Conclusion

The best thing about the reinstatement of the “No Harm No Foul” rule is that more coaches and players can do their defensive assignments better because they are now lesser worried about being called for a foul.The only side effect of this is that we’ll see more flopping players but then again, we just have to accept that flopping has been a part of the game, right? And so is physicality.  

Leethal Weapon is still Lethal: Earns PBA Player of the Week Recognition

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Paul Lee adds another recognition after leading Magnolia to back-to-back wins

Paul Lee, despite the tons of injuries that hampered his performance in the last several seasons and even made him miss most of the Star Hotshots’, now known as the Magnolia Hotshots, semifinal series against the Meralco Bolts during the previous Governors’ Cup.

Now healthy and free of injury, Paul Lee is ready to lead his Hotshots as they attempt to end their semifinals upsets over the past season. And he is already making noise early on the 43rd season as he was named as the Player of the Week after leading his team to two consecutive wins after dropping their season opener against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. 

Just how good was Paul Lee?

Paul Lee, AKA The Angas ng Tondo, averaged 17 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and, 1.5 blocks in their first two games of the new year. His brilliance started off against the winless, Kia Picanto when he scored all of his 13 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter alone which enabled the Hotshots to run away for good. Then, he took the super rookie, Kiefer Ravena to school as Lee scored 21 points to help Magnolia beat Ravena’s NLEX Road Warriors. 

By taking the recognition, Paul Lee just beat some of the big shots in the league such as 4-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo, Stanley Pringle, Vic Manuel, JP Eram, among others. If he can keep on playing this good, we shouldn’t be surprised if he is to become one of the leading candidates for the Best Player of the Conference award for the All-Filipino conference. 

Conclusion

The Magnolia Hotshots are currently tied with the Gin Kings as both squads have a 3-1 record which is good for second place just behind the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen and one of the reasons why the Hotshots are hot is because of the brilliance of Paul Lee. And like it or not, Paul Lee is more than just about “angas”. 

Scrutinizing Dubs: KD Slowly Outshining Steph

Is Steph Curry still the leader of the reigning Golden State Warriors? Or is it the great Kevin Durant who lift them to their recent championships?

Stephen Curry is an original player of the Dubs and has been the core of the ever since. He plays offense well as well as leading and directing it. Steph is a full package point guard that boosted the team for a title over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But so as KD.

Kevin Durant is an offensive monster just like Steph. just juat differ in size but in production, there is an almost negligible difference between the two. Curry has 27.8 points a game while Durant has 26.3. They both do their jobs as aces of the team especially in clutch times. They deliver winning shots in the final seconds and all varieties of ways to let their team win.

Nevertheless, it seems like Durant’s light is getting even brighter and brighter that it eventually it would make Steph a little bit unnoticeable.

Why is that so?

We all know that KD played a single season with the Dubs and already had a title with the team. Most will view this phenomema in a way that it is Kevin Durant that led the Dubs to this championship. Why? Because he spells the difference from an old to the new Warriors.

What makes his addition even more catchy is that he was crowned as the finals MVP last season. 

A clear and concrete evidence of him being the spear header of the title shot recently won.

Another thing is Durant was already a superstar way back the OKC days. He’s not just a typical player who got some skills to play. His name would echo in every corner there is in the world where basketball fans do exist. And besides, his game mixed quite well with the Warriors eversince he was added.

Would it be beneficial for the Dubs?

Regardless of whoever shines the brightest, what’a important is the team’s victory. Whether it is Curry or Durant or somebodyelse. Everyone exerts efforts just to win a single game, therefore it is not just KD or Steph. Warriors is Warriors, because of all of them. 

A Better Kyrie Without LeBron or a Better LeBron Without Kyrie?

Before this season commenced, the phenomenal duo of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving parted ways.

How are they doing separately so far?

Kyrie Irving with the Boston Celtics is already on fire or should I say, already set a fire. They ran a jaw-dropping 16 straight wins and is holding on the eastern top quite tight until the current time. They’re just so strong despite Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder’s departure to the Cavs. What’s even more amazing is they withstood an unfortunate scenario of Gordon Hayward being seriously injured.

It is Kyrie Irving who defines Celtics’ success this season so far.

On the other hand, Lebron and the Cavs have been in a swamp on the opening of their season. They stayed for a little bit of time on the lower part of the standings at the number but slowly found their way up to number 3 currently. They also lost to a Curryless Warriors. A very painful defeat tastes against their rivals.

Nevertheless, the Cavs beat Kyrie and the Celtics on their 1st game.

If we would judge LeBron and Kyrie in terms of their performance with their teams, the favor would obviously be on Irving’s side as the Celtics are sizzling hot on this phase.

But how about their performance in individual terms?

Based on my observations, it is and will be both beneficial for LeBron and Kyrie. Why? They are both offensive monsters and both score by themselves most of the time. Two players like this should not stay on one team as it would lead to lack of team play. Them being separated would lead to the maximization of their skills in isolation plays and clutch times. Anyone could score, but in terms of clutch times, it would take a Kyrie or a LeBron to take and make that winning basket.

But as of now, Kyrie with the Celtics is having a great season as compared to King James with the all-out Cavs. In fact, LeBron was deprived of the separation benefits mentioned above because the Cavs had a lot of players that mostly play and finish individually like Derick Rose and Dwyane Wade.

Individually the betterment is in equilibrium but the holistic improvement slid down to the Celtics land. 

Geje Eustaquio Sacrifices Christmas Family Time in Pursuit of Decisive Victory

Sacrifice means to give up something cherished in order to get something even more valuable in the future.

This concept also applies to the constantly-evolving world of martial arts as the path to becoming a celebrated world champion is paved with much sacrifice.

To set foot on the pinnacle of success, all competitors must go through blood, sweat and tears in training.

Furthermore, martial artists have to be separated from their families for months to dedicate their lives to the craft that they seek to perfect.

Filipino striking ace Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio had to undergo the same process as he had to give up numerous special occasions with his family and friends to fully focus on his training.

“The life of a professional martial artist is difficult, but I understand that in order to be the best, we have to make certain sacrifices. Spending time away from friends and family to train isn’t easy,” he said.

Eustaquio is slated to face former titleholder Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov for the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship in the co-main event of ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 26 January.

For his highly-anticipated second encounter against Akhmetov at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES, Eustaquio did not have the chance to fully savor Christmas and the rest of the Yuletide season.

According to Eustaquio, the most painful sacrifice is not being able to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with his beloved family, but he knows that there is a reward waiting for him.

“It’s part of being a professional martial artist. A lot of sacrifices have been made. Training in December was one of them. I had to give up Christmas celebrations for this fight. I missed a lot of family activities such as birthdays and reunions,” he stated.

“If I want to consider myself as a championship-quality athlete in this sport, I have to make that sacrifice. In the end, I will reap the fruits of my labor. Hard work cannot be denied forever,” Eustaquio added.

On 26 January, the 28-year-old Baguio City native aims to turn his sacrifices into gold as he is looking to exact some revenge and claim a world title in front of his treasured countrymen.

The headlining flyweight clash between Eustaquio and Akhmetov at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES serves as a rematch of their grueling collision four months earlier, where the Kazakh dynamo defeated the Filipino standout by way of razor-thin split decision.

“It was a learning experience for me, the first time I met Kairat,” Eustaquio recalled. “I knew going into the match that it would be one of the biggest challenges of my career, given that he is a former world champion. Honestly, I was a little flustered. I thought I could have pushed the pace more, and maybe forced him to defend my strikes.”

Eustaquio admitted that there were lapses on his part when he first fought Akhmetov in September of last year.

“I lost focus of the game plan and allowed myself to operate at Akhmetov’s pace instead of dictating the action on the feet. I also could have had better takedown defense. I would have loved to have won, but it is what it is,” he explained.

With five rounds to duel and an interim ONE Flyweight World Championship title on the line, Eustaquio vows to bring more intensity to the cage when he crosses paths with Akhmetov at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES.

“Kairat is a tricky opponent. After three rounds with him, I have gotten to know him a little bit better. I am able to understand what makes him a great martial artist,” he mentioned.

Eustaquio is known for his fluid Wushu striking game with the distinct ability to remain calm under duress.

Moreover, Eustaquio has faced some of the most talented martial artists in the world, with notable triumphs over Kentaro Watanabe, Gianni Subba, Anatpong Bunrad and reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex Silva.

The 5-foot-5 Team Lakay veteran even previously challenged current ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes for the inaugural title in September 2014, losing via guillotine choke in the second round.

Eustaquio receives the second world title opportunity of his professional career, and a victory over his Kazakhstani rival would line up a future showdown with Moraes for the undisputed title of best flyweight in the world.

As he shares the ONE Championship cage with Akhmetov once more, Eustaquio bared that he working on correct the mistakes he committed in their initial meeting in order to pick up the victory.

Eustaquio believes that a superb takedown defense should prove handy against a wrestler of Akhmetov’s caliber.

“One of the aspects of my game I am working very hard on is my takedown defense,” he revealed. “Every day, we drill very hard in training. We all work to improve our ground game and takedown defense, so we can better showcase our Wushu. After every bout, I aim to get better, win or lose. Every bout is a learning experience.”

Despite falling on the wrong side of a split decision to Akhmetov in September 2017, Eustaquio remains optimistic that he will walk out of the SM Mall of Asia Arena with his hand raised and the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship belt around his waist.

“He he has a big heart. Kazakhstani martial artists have big hearts, and lots of pride. They do not go down easily, and are very tough. I am expecting another difficult bout. That is why I am preparing very well. A victory over Kairat would land me a rematch against Adriano. I believe I have what it takes to become the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit:
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Too Good to Happen: Anthony Davis to GSW

Apparently, the Warriors are willing to give up two stars for Davis

As it is right now, the Golden State Warriors are headed for another top-seeded finish and are seasoned for another Finals trip, their 4th straight trip if ever they make it that far. They have the Splash Brothers in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson who can make it rain from deep at any given time. They also have Draymond Green, a workhorse who does all the dirty works, figuratively and literally. But there’s one player who makes the Warriors a better team. His name is Kevin Durant- a guy who was acquired by the Warriors just a few months after the Warriors blew a 3-1 Finals lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And as it is right now, they are not yet done building a super team, just yet. Apparently, the Warriors were willing to send Draymond Green and Klay Thompson in exchange for one star, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans. While  many pundits believe that the deal won’t happen and ESPN’s Trade Machine has already stated that such deal involving the mentioned players will fail due to the complex cap space issues plus tons of luxury taxes that will be penalized upon the Pelicans, a few believers think that this deal could actually happen in the future.

Here’s the catch, Anthony Davis is just in the 2nd year of a 5-year deal to stay in New Orleans. Klay Thompson is expected to stay until 2019 while Draymond Green’s contract expires in 2020. While the trade would not happen this season or even in the next season, this deal could actually make sense two seasons from now because both teams will have someone to gain instead of letting the players walk away into the free agency.

Now, assuming that the trade does happen two seasons, this will be the starting line up of the Warriors after trade:

• Steph Curry
• Nick Young
• Kevin Durant
• ANTHONY DAVIS
• Zaza Pachulia 

Or, Steve Kerr could start Kevin Durant at the power forward position then start Andre Iguodala at 3 then Davis at the 5 spot. Now that’s a super 5, right? 

Conclusion

While Anthony Davis has said that he wants to remain a Pelican until such time when he finally calls it a career, we all know that nothing is certain when it comes to the NBA. As scary as the potential star power that the Warriors could gain, there’s also the potentiality of a chemistry issue that could run down Golden State. But yeah, Anthony Davis in a GSW uniform could also mean that Golden State could become a legitimate super team even without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. 

Lakers to Sign Gary Payton II

Payton II is expected to play back-up to a still questionable Lonzo Ball

In any basketball league, if a player is blessed enough to have a son who will inherit his father’s undying passion towards the game of basketball, chances are that boy is already destined to make a loud noise when he steps into the big league and we have seen it happen in the PBA. For starters, we have Kiefer Ravena, the famous son of Bong Ravena. We also have the Teng Brothers of Jeric and Jeron, sons of known PBA defensive specialist, Alvin Teng. Internationally, we also have Kobe Paras, the son of the only Rookie MVP, so far in the history of the PBA, Benjie Paras.

While having a basketball-famous name can be beneficial, it’s not always the case, especially in the NBA. Take a look at the case of Gary Payton II, son of 1-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, Gary Payton. Payton II wasn’t selected by any team during the 2016 Draft and only got a deal with the Houston Rockets after the latter decided to sign Payton II as a free agent. He then played a grand total of 18 games over the course of the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before the Bucks released him last December.

Ever since Payton II was released, several teams were rumored to be interested in acquiring him and among those teams is none other than the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the teams which his legendary father has played for during his decorated career. And now, the word has it that the Lakers are set to sign Gary Payton II in a two-way contract which means he will be playing extended minutes for both the Lakers and their G-League affiliate, South Bay.

This could be a welcome development for the Lakers who are riding on their 4-game winning despite missing Lonzo Ball due to soreness in his left knee and is currently listed as questionable for their next game.

Conclusion

With their prized and hyped rookie questionable, the Lakers are hoping that the arrival of Gary Payton II will provide a more balanced attack from the point guard position because signing someone like Gary Payton II means that the Lakers want more point guards to back-up Lonzo Ball aside from Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso. 

Question: Is this a great deal for the Lakers? It will be seen once Payton II hits the floor for the Purple and Gold. 

Kia Still Winless in 4 Games, Loses by 37 to Alaska

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Kia absorbs 16th straight defeat- the third-longest losing streak in the PBA

Ugly. That’s probably the best adjective you can describe the early goings of the 43rd season of the PBA for the Kia Picanto. For starters, they threw away their future by trading the top pick who happened to be Christian Standhardinger. Then, just two defeats into the new season, Chris Gavina resigned which promoted Ricky Dandan as the new head coach. Unfortunately, that move didn’t do the Picanto any good as Kia dropped their first game under a new coach.

Things weren’t about to get better any time soon for the Kia Picanto as they sustained one of their worst losses in franchise history as they got blown out anew, this time by the Alaska Aces, 102-65. This, folks, is Kia’s 4th straight defeat and 16th consecutive since last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.  This is also Kia’s third consecutive blown-out loss and they were defeated by a margin of 35 points per game.

What were the things that doomed Kia anew? Below are those nasty things:

5 Points in the Third Quarter

To begin with, Kia was actually in the game after the first quarter as they held a 21-20 to end the quarter. They also managed to keep the score as close as possible despite being down, 49-34 at the halftime break. But when the third quarter came along, that’s when things went further south for Kia as they would have gone scoreless if not to Eric Camson, Rashawn McCarthy and Reden Celda who combined for all of Kia’s 5 points in the 3rd quarter. And that’s the reason why Alaska won the game.

Alaska’s Pressing Defense Worked to Perfection

Alaska has been feared despite their 2-2 record for their suffocating pressing defense and it worked to the max against the Picanto. The Aces only allowed Kia to make 32% of their attempts, 34% from the two-point area and 30% from the three-point territory. They also forced 29 turnovers from Kia which the Aces converted to 32 points on the other end.

Conclusion

Will Kia’s streak break Ginebra’s losing streak which reached 17 back in the 1995 Commissioner’s Cup? They will. Probably. Especially if they continue to play the way they have been playing in their last 3 games.

4 Reasons Why Filipino Basketball Remains Standing in the Global Arena?

We Filipinos admit we aren’t the best in the basketball world but still, our game soars high and threatens any team we face. How do the Gilas Pilipinas Squad withstand all the hardships and challenges they encounter in their path?

Despite being an underdog in terms of global basketball, Gilas Pilipinas shone exceptionally even against the mightiest of the teams they’ve ever fought.

Here are some of Gilas’ characteristics every basketball fan would love if they happen to watch one Gilas game.

1. Small but terrible

If there’s one thing that makes as an extreme underdog, it would be our size of course. It is so ridiculous that some of the team’s point guards are as big as our forward players. I mean, how much more are the center players? It seems that when they play zone defense, it would be a lights out for the one who holds the ball. The vision is completely blocked.

But not really.

We may not beat them with size and strength but we could outwit them with quickness — a great weapon relative to guys bigger than you.

2. Asian Domination

In the biggest continent there is in the world, there lies a tiny country where we all reside. But who could ever imagine that this tiny country with tiny people could be the king of Asian basketball?

We can claim it, we are always on top whenever there are continental basketball events.

If not the champion, we would always stick on top with Iran and China. These two are the biggest of teams there is in Asia but they aren’t unbeatable because we have the quickness to make their super sizes work against them.

3. Asia’s best point guard in the house

We all know the blur Jayson Castro is the finest point guard in Asia. Having the top guard within the team is like having the best team because we have the greatest playmaker.

It’s not just playmaking but Castro could score humongous all by himself. Jayson Castro’s one of the main gunners of Gilas. He’s the core and people love him blur out with his extraordinary stopping and sudden accelerating pace.

4. Rising Superstar

Philippine Basketball was long lost on the global stage but it made a comeback a few years ago. As a result, it would be all eyes on them and Gilas would surely not be ashamed to show off before these eyes with numerous questions and expectations.

We’re long gone, we come back, and we are here for redemption and domination.

Magnolia Wins 2nd Straight Game, Beats NLEX

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

The Hotshots use a big 3rd quarter to run away for good.

There’s no denying the fact that Kiefer Ravena has made the NLEX Road Warriors a better team overall since his grand arrival to the team. And he wasn’t all hype either as he backed his popularity with decent numbers as he led the Road Warriors to straight victories to open the PBA Philippine Cup. Then, he was limited to 8 points against the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Everybody had one thought after that game: Kiefer Ravena will come back better.

And that’s what he did. Kiefer Ravena scored 31 points on 12 for 20 field goal shooting but the Magnolia Hotshots came out victorious, 105-94 after running away for good in the 3rd quarter. That, by the way, was Magnolia’s 2nd straight victory as they hiked their record to 3-1, good for second place behind the still unbeaten San Miguel Beernen. On the other hand, NLEX absorbed its second straight defeat.

To begin with, both teams are filled with star power and the talent but what enabled Magnolia to win the game? Below are the things that gave the Hotshots the win:

Paul Lee’s 3rd Quarter Run

To begin with, the Hotshots were already up 51-43 at the halftime as they outscored the Road Warriors, 30-18 in the first quarter alone. Then, with the Hotshots hanging to a single-digit lead, the boys of Chito Victolero went on an offensive onslaught in the third quarter that was led by none other than their star guard, Paul Lee who scored 12 of his 21 points in that decisive quarter which took away the life out of the Road Warriors when the Hotshots scored 34 points while limiting NLEX to only 25 points. 

54 Points from the Bench

Sure, Kiefer Ravena had 31 points and Kevin Alas had 13 for the starting unit of the Road Warriors while JR Quinahan had 22 points while coming off the bench for Yeng Guiao but it was the bench of Victolero who did the better job of taking off some of the offensive load away from their starters as they scored 54 points. Rome dela Rosa had 14 points while veteran big man, Aldrech Ramos had 11 points. PJ Simon and Jio Jalalon had 9 points apiece. Now that’s a balanced effort, folks. 

Defensive Effort

If anything, it was the defensive work of the Hotshots that did the wonders for Magnolia against an offensive-minded team as the NLEX Road Warriors were limited to under 100 points for the second consecutive team. In addition to this, the Hotshots also limited NLEX to only 20% shooting from the three-point line who only made 5 of their 24 ATTEMPTS from deep.

Conclusion

This game proved one thing: no matter how great your numbers are, it’s meaningless if you don’t get the big W. And for the Magnolia Hotshots, this one was definitely a big win for them because according to Chito Victolero, having two straight wins to open 2018 sets the right mindset into their players that they can beat any team no matter what the odds are.

For NLEX, riding on a 2-game losing streak will mean more yells from Yeng Guiao especially during practices but the beauty of it, they can learn from this experience because now that the teams have cracked their weakness, they just need to overcome their horrible offensive performance during their last two games to score over 100 points but they will need more help because Kiefer Ravena can’t lead them to wins every single time. 

Motivated Indeed: Blackwater hands First Loss to Ginebra, What Was the Formula?

Elites use efficient scoring to dominate the Gin Kings

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

When you look at the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings who have Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson, you would think that this has been the best Ginebra team that was assembled in the past years and frankly, this Ginebra core has brought wonders to the league’s crowd darlings as they have won two of the last Governors’ Cup championships against all odds. With Slaughter now healthy and Tenorio free of his injury problems, Ginebra looked like a team that will challenge the supremacy of the San Miguel Beermen in the All-Filipino conference after winning their first two games.

Then, the Gin Kings ran head-to-head against the Blackwater Elites who were STRONGLY MOTIVATED to become the first team to beat Ginebra this season. And that’s exactly what happened, folks. In a stunning turn of things, the Elites beat the Gin Kings, 94-77.

What happened? Here are the things that happened:

Good Second and Fourth Quarters

After both squads ended the first quarter with the score tied at 19 apiece, the Elites locked down on D as they limited Ginebra to only 14 points in the second quarter while scoring 22 points of their own. The Gin Kings managed to fight back in the third quarter as they outscored Blackwater, 28-23 but that was the best Ginebra could come up with against Leo Isaac’s motivated players as Ginebra could only manage 16 points in the final quarter which was a far cry to Blackwater’s 30 points. The two quarters that Blackwater defended well proved to be the difference in the game.

Better Shooting

On paper, Ginebra is considered as a super team in the PBA but against Blackwater, that “super” transformed to “mediocre” as Blackwater was the better team in terms of making the most out of their opportunities and their numbers didn’t lie either. Overall, the Elites made 46% of their 78 shot attempts including a 38% shooting from beyond the three-point line. These were far better compared to Ginebra’s 36% field goal shooting and 15%  shooting from rainbow country. 

The only place bright spot for Ginebra: They outshot Blackwater at the free throw line, 72%-71%.

Conclusion

The good news for Ginebra though, it’s just one game. One bad game doesn’t take away the fact that they among the title contenders for this conference. They will bounce back from this setback one way or another.

On the other hand, Blackwater can use this big win to continuously believe that they can compete against the league’s bests. Can they keep it up? That’s up to them. 

Opinion: The Lakers SHOULD Retire Pau Gasol’s #16

Like it or not, he played better than Dwight Howard and helped LA win championships.

When your team retires your jersey number, your greatness will forever be immortalized not just by your team and your fans but by the league that you’ve been playing for a long time. A jersey retirement ceremony is definitely an emotional occasion for any player because it means that the team is making sure that your legacy as a player will forever hang among the team’s greats. 

Just last month, the Los Angeles Lakers retired not one but two of Kobe Bryant’s jersey numbers that he wore during his 20-year stint with the Purple and Gold. And frankly, the Black Mamba deserves all of the praises that he continues to receive even though he’s long retired from the NBA. Who could score 81 points in a game? Or, who could finish his career by pouring in 60 points in his final game? Only one player did those things. His name is Kobe Bean Bryant.

Back in the 2007-2008 season, the league was shocked when the Memphis Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol and a draft to the Lakers in exchange for 4 players which include KWAME BROWN and the draft rights to Marc Gasol. That trade benefited the Lakers early on as they went on to the NBA Finals that season only to lose to the Boston Celtics in 6 games. But, the Lakers came back stronger, winning the next two NBA championships, with the last one being against the Celtics in a series that went to a classic Game 7 at Staples Center.

The Lakers then parted ways with their Spanish giant as Gasol bounced from the Chicago Bulls until finding a new home with the San Antonio Spurs where he recently signed a 3-year deal. Unfortunately, Gasol’s numbers have been on a downhill drive as he’s only averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds this season. He’s the 4th leading scorer of the Spurs behind LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gay.

After beating the Spurs for their third straight win, current Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton has said that the Lakers should indeed retire Pau Gasol’s #16.

Question: Should the Lakers retire #16 beside #8 and #24?

While it’s debatable that Pau Gasol isn’t among the best players to play for the Purple and Gold, just imagine if he wasn’t traded to Hollywood back in 2008, would the Lakers have gone to 3 straight Finals and won 2 NBA championships during that span of time? Nope!

Frankly, this pundit on wheels really thinks that Pau Gasol’s number should be retired by the Lakers for one good reason: he helped Kobe Bryant win 2 more championships while averaging 18 points for 3 seasons. 

Statistically, Pau is ranking among the greats of the Lakers. He’s in the 9th place in the all-time’s rebounding average while he’s also in 7th place in the blocks per game.

Conclusion

While Pau Gasol has been repeatedly criticized for his being “soft” on defense, there’s no denying the fact that he was fully utilized by Phil Jackson during their stint together in LA and it produced 2 championships. Is Pau among the Lakers’ great? Debatable. Does he deserve a jersey retirement ceremony? Definitely. 

Popovich: LaMarcus Aldridge Asked to be Traded before the Season

But Pop and  LMA came to an understanding. Eventually.

Gregg Popovich has been connected with some of the greatest legends to ever play the game. Greats like David Robinson, Tim Duncan and now, Kawhi Leonard has seen their respective games improve on a tremendous rate ever since they came over to the San Antonio Spurs and play under the guidance of one of the greatest coaches in the NBA.

Nowadays, with both David Robinson and Grandpa Tim Duncan both long retired and Kawhi Leonard who only recently returned is dealing with another injury, the attention shifts to LaMarcus Aldridge. To give credit to this man, LMA has been leading the Spurs this season, averaging 22 points, 8 rebounds and 1 blocks while playing 41 games- starting all 41 games. This has helped the Spurs who despite playing most of the current season without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, holds the 3rd best record in the Western Conference at 28-15. And frankly, LMA deserves the praises that he is getting nowadays.

However, did you know that LaMarcus Aldridge was almost traded prior to the season?

Almost.

According to none other than Gregg Popovich himself, he revealed that LMA asked to be traded during the summer prior to this season. The usually-too serious Popovich even joked that if an LMA trade can get the Spurs a Kevin Durant, he would even help Aldridge pack his bags, drive him to the airport and will even make sure that LMA is well seated in the plane. Fortunately, the two eventually agreed to figure things out and LMA wasn’t traded, for now.

To Gregg Popovich, the moment Aldridge requested for a trade was for him, the main catalyst for the two gentlemen to come to a better understanding which eventually helped LMA have a resurgent season. Mind you, folks. his numbers this season are way better compared to his first two seasons with San Antonio when he averaged 18 and 17 points per game respectively.

Conclusion

Imagine if LaMarcus Aldridge was traded before the start of the season, the Spurs would have been in a much worst situation because it would have meant that the Spurs would only have Manu Ginobili and Pau Gasol to start the season. Fortunately, LMA stuck around and the Spurs are gunning for another deep run come the playoffs.  Despite his struggles, LaMarcus is still among the league’s elite power forwards. 

Rene Catalan eyes first 2018 win for the Philippines in ONE Championship

With 2018 bringing in a whole new set of good opportunities for local talents in the Philippines, homegrown Filipino combatant Rene “The Challenger” Catalan is looking to kick off the Philippine mixed martial arts scene’s promising new year with a sweet win as he dons the country’s colors on the undercard of ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE.

Catalan squares off with China’s Peng Xue Wen in a three-round strawweight affair at ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE, which takes place at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia on 20 January.

A highly-decorated Wushu practitioner, Catalan seeks to continue his winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage after picking up two noteworthy victories in 2017.

Catalan started his 2017 on a high note by submitting Indonesian prospect Adrian Matheis via a second-round armbar in January before routing China’s Bu Huo You Ga by way of unanimous decision seven months later.

As the lone Filipino representative at ONE Championship’s first live event of 2018, Catalan seeks to tally the country’s first win in Asia’s premier martial arts organization this year.

“I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training. I want to keep on winning,” he said. “I am inspired to win my match this coming January 20 because I am representing the Philippines. It is always an honor to fight for my country. My goal in this bout is to win and bring pride to my nation.”

For Catalan, his first trip to the ONE Championship cage this 2018 is another step in his evolution as a martial artist, hoping to keep up his winning streak and inch him closer to a potential shot at the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

“My goal is to compete for the ONE Strawweight World Championship. I know before I get to that stage, I still have a lot of work ahead of me,” he stated.

Catalan had a rough beginning to his tenure in ONE Championship, but over the past year and a half, he has completely turned his career around.

Despite a tough promotional debut under the ONE Championship banner, which saw him lose to now-reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva, Catalan has rallied back.

Catalan has strung together three consecutive victories since September 2016 and will look to break into the upper echelon of the division when he meets Peng at ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE.

“I have a certain game plan, but I am prepared to defend against his wrestling,” he shared.

Peng is a 2014 Chinese National Youth Grecco Champion who made his promotional debut at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD in Manila, Philippines last November.

The Chinese standout leaned on his impeccable grappling to overwhelm Cambodia’s Phat Soda before knocking him out with an awe-inspiring suplex halfway through the opening stanza.

Catalan is well aware of his opponent’s grappling expertise and is diligently training to refute his bread-and-butter as well as his explosive skill set.

“I am preparing a solid defense against him, but of course I am mixing in some offense as well. I am not sure if he will expect that I will add a twist to my game, but 80 percent of my preparation is in strength and conditioning,” he explained.

“For this match, I think the strategy will flow once I am in the cage. I will just do my best to get the win, but also provide an exciting bout for the audience to enjoy,” Catalan added.

Catalan expects that if he secures a decisive win over Peng at ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE, it will grant him a rematch with Silva for the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt.

“Every fighter dreams to become a world champion. I really hope that ONE Championship will give me an opportunity to vie for the title in the future. This bout might be the door to a world title contest. Let us all hope for the best,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Nike NBA City Edition Uniforms Unveiled

When Nike and the NBA formalized their partnership earlier this year, both brands focused on bringing change to game day.

With the introduction of uniform Editions, Nike and the NBA shook up tradition. Rather than fall to home, away and alternate conventions, each Edition has a purpose: celebrating elements of the league’s 30 franchises.

Following the reveal of the Association, Icon and Statement Editions, Nike unveils the fourth uniform category, The City Edition. These designs honor the fans – those who, 41 times a year, take pilgrimage at their local arena, and whose passions help define each respective team’s identity.

The Nike NBA City Edition uniforms represent insights and emotion from the court to the upper deck to the cities’ streets, in pursuit of a unique way to capture each team and its city in a way that respects the past and present of the clubs while also positioning them for the future.

The following is an in-depth look at a few of the City Edition uniforms for this season.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Since 1960, the Lakers have propelled countless athletes to stardom, each helping to rally the city around the purple and gold. With this in mind, the franchise has turned over the City Edition designs to honor some of its most famous players as part of the “Lore Series.”

Kobe Bryant is the first Laker legend to inspire the team’s City Edition design. The uniform features a signature Black Mamba print and LA/24 on the belt buckle. The organization’s winning tradition is referenced by the inclusion of 16 stars on the uniform’s side panels to represent every NBA Championship the Lakers have won.

  

BOSTON CELTICS

Since 1957, the Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, more than any other team in the league. Whether led by one of the game’s most dominant big men ever, a sharp shooting “legend”, or a clutch scorer who always told the “truth”, the Boston Celtics define the word “dynasty.”  While Boston has seen many different leaders and legends, all of the franchise’s success happened under the same roof.  The parquet floor of “The Garden” has become synonymous with the Celtic green and white.

The Celtics City Edition uniform pays tribute to this unique hardwood floor and the man credited with starting the dynasty, Red Auerbach. The belt buckle is accentuated with the iconic banner design to match the crowded TD Garden rafters and highlights the Celtics’ most recent NBA Championship in 2008. Gray, the color of unity, was incorporated in the uniform to signify the large regional fan base spread across New England that rallies behind the Celtics year in and out.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

It is safe to say the basketball gods have smiled on the Golden State Warriors. The franchise has prospered more than any other club in recent years, thanks to a coach with a championship pedigree and a collection of new age stars.

Proud residents of Oakland, the Warriors have represented the entire Bay Area since their arrival on the West Coast in 1962. The Warriors relocation coincided with the birth of San Francisco’s Chinatown, a population that brought diversity to the city and quickly grew in size and impact — and is a central influence for the team’s City Edition uniform, which pays tribute to Chinese culture in the Bay Area and icons of prosperity. The Chinese characters for prosperity are proudly placed on the belt buckle while the chest logo combines the Golden Gate Bridge and classic Chinese symbolism. The suspension bridge detail is shared with the club’s other uniform Editions.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

The Cleveland Cavaliers represent what hard work can achieve. Inspired by the pride and spirit of an entire community, the team is united by an all-for-one-and-one-for-all attitude to protect and “Defend The Land” and its home court together.

For more than 75 years, the iconic giant “Guardians of Transportation” sandstone sculptures have stood guard over Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge to protect travelers entering and leaving the city. The side panels of the Cavaliers City Edition uniform represent the Guardians but with a team-specific twist: The Cavs shield logo is inset as the head of each sculpture. Further graphic inspiration from the Guardians’ robes and a belt buckle featuring the silhouette of the state of Ohio symbolize the team’s stature as a regional protector. If those features aren’t clear enough, “The Land” is emblazoned across the chest to offer direct tribute to the entire Northeast Ohio area.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Milwaukee is defined by two things: the cold winters that roll in off the edge of Lake Michigan and Cream City brick, formed from the clay found in the Menomonee River Valley. While the latter is a hallmark of the local area’s architecture, the former is responsible for fostering the unique grit and determination of its populace. The city’s current Bucks, young, ambitious and fittingly idiosyncratic, know that these characteristics are critical to their success.  

Just as the distinctive clay is the foundation upon which Milwaukee was built, the color is the foundation for the Bucks Cream City Edition uniform. The uniform draws additional color inspiration from the full palette of the city and its surrounding region. The Cream City rainbow pattern brings the blending of the urban landscape, with a green ode to Wisconsin’s lush landscapes and a blue that pays tribute to Milwaukee’s etymological designation as a gathering place by the water, to the forefront. There is no escaping the Buck head proudly displayed on the jersey, while a silhouette of the state of Wisconsin appears on the belt buckle graphic. All of the elements combine to honor the hardworking and passionate fans that have supported the team since 1968.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

The Memphis Grizzlies, who revealed their City Edition uniforms as a part of their Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration earlier this month, will be one of the first teams to wear their uniform on court when they face the Los Angeles Lakers on January 15, the birthday of the Civil Rights icon.

  

ALL THE JERSEYS

All 30 teams in the NBA will get a new City Edition uniform every year, with influences coming from a myriad of places, but always focused on the fans and city that support them. As you will see from the full lineup below, each team’s uniform honors an important part of their lineage.

Check out full details here: All the Jerseys

Can Blackwater Beat Streaking Gin Kings?

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Leo Isaac says the Elites are “STRONGLY MOTIVATED” to beat Ginebra

For any team to be able to beat a well-coached, a well-oiled team like the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, you will need more than just a talented team. You will need a disciplined team because you are talking about a Tim Cone-coached Ginebra squad that has won the last two of the Governors’ Cup championships so you’ll definitely need all the help you can get especially if you’re a mid-field team like the Blackwater Elites.

According to Head Coach Leo Isaac, the Elites are STRONGLY MOTIVATED to start 2018 by handling the Gin Kings their first win of the conference. Coming off a victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to end their 2017 campaign, the Elites are hoping to move to 2-1 record after tonight’s game although Blackwater knows for themselves that they are faced with a daunting task of defending the powerful Twin Towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.

Question: Can the Elites actually beat the Gin Kings fair and square?

Realistically and statistically, the odds are against the Elites but if we are to look at the performance of their notable players against Rain or Shine, you will see that Blackwater MIGHT have a shot at taking down the Gin Kings. Why? Mac Belo played one of his best games since coming into the PBA after leading his team with 25 points which included 5 for 9 shooting from the three-point line. Mike Digregorio added 23 points while rookie Reymar Jose totaled 12 points. Allein Maliksi had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists although he went 3 for 12 from the field while coming off the bench. 

Key to victory for the Elites: Bench Production

While Blackwater has a continuously re-emerging Mac Belo plus a promising rookie in Reymar Jose, the Elites must work as a complete unit meaning the bench players must produce more than 17 points- the numbers they had against Rain or Shine. And they won despite 53 points from the bench of Rain or Shine. 

You can’t just rely on your starters to carry your team and save the day. Especially not against Ginebra. 

Prediction: Ginebra will win against Blackwater. 

One: Global Superheroes Happening in Manila on January 26

10 January 2018 – Manila, Philippines: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced its return to the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, 26 January. ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES is set to showcase the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent. In the main event, Team Lakay’s Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio will take on Kairat Akhmetov for the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Ticket information for ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES is available at http://www.onefc.com.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “This is the first in four blockbuster events in Manila in 2018, and ONE Championship is looking to kick things off with a spectacular show. Fans of martial arts in the Philippines are among the most passionate in the world, and it is our honor to present the best in local and global martial arts talent. The Mall of Asia Arena will be pulsating with excitement as hometown hero Geje Eustaquio takes on Kairat Akhmetov in a highly-anticipated main event rematch. This time, it’s for the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship.”

GEJE EUSTAQUIO TAKES ON KAIRAT AKHMETOV IN THE MAIN EVENT

Top flyweight contender and former world title challenger Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of  Baguio City, Philippines, is one of the most skilled martial artists in Asia, and a highly-decorated wushu practitioner. His solid striking and grappling skill set has led to huge victories over the course of a seven-year professional career. Training in the high altitudes of the Philippines’ Summer capital, Eustaquio hones his craft alongside world-class teammates at the fabled Team Lakay. Known for his incredible ability to keep calm in the face of adversity, Eustaquio is set to headline ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES opposite former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov.

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov is a veteran martial artist from Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 30-year-old boasts a solid 24-1 professional record amassed during a stellar martial arts career which has seen him dominate his opponents with tenacious wrestling and powerful striking. In his most recent appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, Akhmetov defeated Geje Eustaquio via closely-contested three-round split decision. Now he faces Eustaquio in a rematch, this time for the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship.

22-year-old Joshua Pacio of Baguio City is one of the fastest rising martial arts stars from the Philippines. He is one of the promotion’s most talented strawweights and a proud member of the famed Team Lakay. Pacio is a wushu practitioner with a solid grappling repertoire. All but one of his 10 career victories have come by spectacular finish, which includes five wins by submission and four by devastating knockout. In his most recent bout, Pacio knocked out veteran Roy Doliguez with a second-round spinning back fist. A former ONE Strawweight World Championship Title Challenger, Pacio is looking to bring himself back to title contention with another victory. A tough task is ahead of Pacio, however, as he is slated to lock horns with Pongsiri Mitsatit.

21-year-old Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit is an undefeated martial artist from Chiang Mai, Thailand, and was previously a North Thailand Muay Thai champion with a 72-17 record, which included 49 KOs. Since making his professional debut in the cage, the strawweight has amassed an unblemished record of 9-0 with seven knockout triumphs and one submission victory, and made an immediate impact in ONE Championship with first-round finishes over Ye Thway Ne and Rabin Catalan. In his next outing, Mitsatit will share the ONE Championship cage with Joshua Pacio of the Philippines in a three-round strawweight contest.

Featherweight standout Eric “The Natural” Kelly of Baguio City is widely considered one of the best homegrown martial arts athletes to come out of the Philippines. The wushu practitioner combines solid striking techniques with high-level grappling skills, which has resulted in nine impressive submissions and one knockout out of 12 total victories. Kelly’s most impressive showing to date came in a submission win over Rob Lisita in 2014, a performance which earned him the US$50,000 ONE Warrior Bonus. In his next bout, Kelly will face Rafael Nunes.

20-year-old Rafael Nunes is a martial artist from Sao Paulo, Brazil with a 10-1 record. He is the former Premier FC Lightweight Champion and has steamrolled through the competition in his home country with a knack for winning by an exciting finish. All but one of Nunes’ 10 wins have ended within the distance. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, Nunes is equally comfortable finishing his opponents by submission or by strikes. He looks to showcase his multifaceted skill set in his next bout, and will face a tough challenge when he takes on veteran Eric Kelly.

27-year-old Bulgarian martial artist Sotir Kichukov is a ONE Championship flyweight contender and former Max Bantamweight Champion. Representing Saigon Sports Club, Kichukov made his promotional debut in December of 2016 at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION against Mark Striegl. Kichukov, who lives and trains out of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is set to return to the ONE Championship cage to take on China’s Ma Hao Bin.

24-year-old Chinese national freestyle wrestling champion “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin is unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage. Making his professional debut in 2016, Ma took home the ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (CHANGSHA) Flyweight Tournament Championship, defeating Wu Ting Shen and Bu Huo You Ga in a single evening of action. Since then, Ma has strung together an impressive 7-1 professional record which includes four wins by submission and one by knockout. In his last bout, Ma needed just one round to force Eugene Toquero to tap from an armbar. He takes on Sotir Kichukov next.

25-year-old Yago Bryan of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a former Shooto South American Strawweight Champion who took on former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in his promotional debut. A Muay Thai practitioner and wrestler, Bryan features both striking and grappling skills in his arsenal. Making his way back to the ONE Championship cage, Bryan is set to take on Hayato Suzuki.

31-year-old Hayato Suzuki of Saitama, Japan, is a veteran martial artist with an impressive professional record of 17-1 with two draws. Spending the majority of his career competing in his native Japan, Suzuki is known as a highly-skilled competitor with the ability to finish his foes with heavy knockout power and technical grappling skills. Out of 17 wins, Suzuki has finished 12 of his opponents, including seven by submission and five by knockout. He will face Yago Bryan in his next contest.

27-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Bruno “Pucci Bull” Pucci is a No-Gi world champion from Brazil who is based out of Singapore. Training at Evolve, Pucci is one of ONE Championship’s most skilled featherweights. With an inherent ability to source high-level submission maneuvers from any position in the cage, Pucci is looking for his second straight victory. Famous for finishing all his bouts via rear naked choke, Pucci will take on Emilio Urrutia in his next contest.

Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia is an American martial arts talent from Miami, Florida. The 31-year old made his professional debut in 2013, and has since produced a solid 10-4 record. He the former SFC Bantamweight Champion. A skilled grappler, four of Urrutia’s 10 total victories have come by submission. In his last bout, Urrutia scored a unanimous decision victory over the highly-regarded Edward Kelly. Training out of the renowned Tiger Muay Thai gym in Thailand, Urrutia will now take on Bruno Pucci.

Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly is a 33-year old Filipino martial arts talent and one of the brightest featherweight prospects to emerge from the Philippines. With a complete striking and grappling skill set, Kelly brings Team Lakay’s world-renowned wushu to center stage as he looks to showcase his expertise inside the ONE Championship cage. Kelly has won three of his last four bouts, all by spectacular finish. He will take on Meas Meul.

27-year-old Meas Meul of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is an undefeated martial artist with a professional record of 6-0. Meul made his ONE Championship debut in 2014, submitting countryman Chan Heng via rear-naked choke. A former KW 2 Champion, Meul is set to put his highly-regarded khun khmer offensive skills on full display when he takes on Edward Kelly.

Rajinder Singh “Knockout” Meena of India is a martial artist competing in the ONE Championship lightweight division. A former SFL Lightweight Champion, all eight of Meena’s victories have come by exciting finishes. With a robust grappling skill set, Meena owns five impressive wins by submission and three by knockout. In his next bout, Meena is set to take on rising Chinese star Zhang Ze Hao.

“The Ghost” Zhang Ze Hao of Shanghai is a martial artist from China and one of the top Chinese lightweight prospects He made his promotional debut at ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SHANGHAI in early September of 2017, finishing compatriot Li Cheng Chao via technical knockout in the third round. Zhang, a proponent at the AMA Shanghai Gym, is a sanda and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and sanda practitioner. He is set to do battle against Rajinder Singh Meena in a three-round lightweight contest.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

10 Awesome Bouts in "Brawl in the Mall: 10th Edition"

There will be a total of 10 bouts in the “Brawl at the Mall: 10th Edition” slated on January 21 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in General Santos City.

“Since it’s the 10th edition of our Brawl at the Mall, we will also be featuring 10 exciting bouts,” said promoter Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, Chief Executive Officer of Sanman Promotions.

The main event is the championship fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Youth flyweight title between unbeaten Jayson Mama (8W-0L, 4 KOs) of Gen. Santos City and Michael Camelion (10W-6L-1D, 8 KOs).

Pitted in the main supporting bout is popular Japanese model-boxer Tomoki Takano against Filipina fighter Joan Ambalong of Zamboanga for the interim OPBF female bantamweight crown.

Mama’s twin brother Jerven (3W-0L, 2 KOs) is also seeing action in the undercard against veteran Romulo Ramayan of Valencia City for 8 rounds. Fights will be shown live with Sanman Live via Sanman Promotions facebook page.

The other bouts in the undercard:

Dave Apolonario vs. Frankie Batuon (6rds.-109 lbs)

Ben Mananquil vs. Alvin Bais ( 8rds.-118 lbs.)

Jake Bornea vs. Jestoni Makiputin (8 rds.-118 lbs.)

Daniel Placeres vs. Jp Macadumpis (6rds .-130 lbs.)

Joey Canoy vs. Rodel Tejares (8rds.-105 lbs.)

Jhun Rick Carcedo vs. Holly Quinones (6rds.-130 lbs.)

Judy Flores vs. Ramil Antaran (6rds.-114 lbs.)