Six players – led by Rome dela Rosa – scored in double figures as the Hotshots seized solo top spot in the preseason tournament with a pristine 5-0 record, breaking their tie with fellow unbeaten squad Rain or Shine (4-0).

Dela Rosa finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds, Joseph Eriobu chalked up 14 points, while Mark Barroca, Jerrick Ahanmisi, David Murrell, and James Laput chipped in 11 points apiece.

Laput also delivered 13 rebounds and 3 blocks as he continues to make a case for an increase in playing time when the PBA season opens in October.

Bucking a relatively lethargic start, Magnolia erased a 15-18 deficit at the end of the opening quarter and banked on Dela Rosa in the second frame to build a 43-31 halftime lead.

With star teammates Paul Lee and Calvin Abueva sidelined, Dela Rosa erupted for 11 points in the second period, where the Hotshots held the Tropang Giga to just 13 points.

Magnolia then pulled away for good in the final salvo and outscored a TNT side missing stars Jayson Castro, Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram, and Calvin Oftana, 31-11, in the quarter.

The blowout, though, still had its thrilling moments thanks to Murrell, the reigning PBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.

Murrell treated the sizable crowd at the Ynares Sports Arena to an aerial show as he slammed home a pair of breakaway dunks in the final four minutes.

Glenn Khobuntin put up 23 points and 5 rebounds for the Tropang Giga, who have yet to win after three games.

Without its core, TNT filled its roster with San Beda players Peter Alfaro, Clifford Jopia, Damie Cuntapay, and JV Gallego.

The Scores

Magnolia 96 – Dela Rosa 19, Eriobu 14, Barroca 11, Laput 11, Ahanmisi 11, Murrell 11, Mendoza 8, Corpuz 8, Corpuz 5, Jalalon 4, Reavis 2, Sangalang 0.

TNT 63 – Khobuntin 23, Cruz 11, Varilla 10, Marcelo 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Cuntapay 3, Gallego 2, Tungcab 0, Jopia 0, Alfaro 0.

Quarters: 15-18, 43-31, 65-52, 96-63.

– Rappler.com

Tiongson scattered 22 of his game-best output in the last two quarters to steer the Dyip to their second win in five games in the preseason tournament.

Catching fire from three-point land on a 7-of-13 clip, Tiongson shot 13-of-26 overall and added 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in 35 minutes of action.

The Road Warriors still led 53-52 at halftime thanks to Kevin Alas’ buzzer-beating triple before Tiongson and the rest of Terrafirma hit their stride.

Four more Dyip players scored in double figures, with Gelo Alolino and Andreas Cahilig backstopping Tiongson with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Cahilig pulled down 14 rebounds to complete his double-double effort and recorded 2 blocks in the rout that saw Terrafirma lead by as many as 20 points, 107-87, off a Tiongson triple with under three minutes remaining.

Eric Camson and Allen Mina chimed in 12 points apiece for the Dyip.

Don Trollano showed the way with 20 points and 4 rebounds in the loss that dropped NLEX to the second-to-last place at 1-4 in the 12-team tiff.

Alas finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds for the Road Warriors, while Ben Adamos put up 13 points and 9 rebounds.

The Scores

Terrafirma 110 – Tiongson 37, Alolino 14, Cahilig 13, Mina 12, Camson 12, Go 6, Calvo 6, Ramos 4, Alanes 3, Taladua 3, Gomez de Liano 0, Grospe 0.

NLEX 96 – Trollano 20, Alas 15, Adamos 13, Pascual 10, Doliguez 10, Rosales 9, Anthony 9, Fajardo 8, Nieto 2.

Quarters: 18-22, 52-53, 85-76, 110-96.

– Rappler.com

Pacquiao unveiled the Junior Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), where kids can test and hone their skills against other young athletes nationwide starting next month. 

“We want to discover our homegrown, grassroots players who are into basketball,” MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao said in a media event on Thursday, June 15 at Vivere Alabang.

“Filipinos are really in love with basketball, and that is why we are giving these kids a chance, accommodate them and be able to showcase their basketball talent.”

The Junior MPBL, set to launch on July 9, will feature three age groups – U18, U16, and U14 – as 18 teams to date have confirmed participation. 

Set to be televised over their MPTV channel on the Cignal pay TV service, the Junior MPBL plans to hold games regularly during the school break, before shifting to a weekend-only affair when classes start.

Teams from Antipolo; Batangas City; Bauan, Batangas; Caloocan; Cavite City; Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Imus City, Cavite; Las Piñas; Leyte; and Malabon will see action, said league commissioner Keith Picazo. 

Mandaluyong; Marikina; Muntinlupa; Pampanga; Quezon City; Quezon Province; Rizal Province; and San Pedro, Laguna also confirmed participation, while Iloilo is in talks to join.

Games will be played in different venues, including the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City, Batangas City Coliseum, Bauan Sports Complex in Batangas, Ynares Center Antipolo, Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas, and the Malabon Sports Complex.

Pacquiao to support Gilas in World Cup

Pacquiao, the eight-division world boxing champion known as a longtime basketball fan, said the MPBL will also give way to the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup from August 25 to September 10.

“We will stop to support the Philippines and stop the MPBL and Junior MPBL so we can watch the games personally,” said Pacquiao.

The former senator said he’ll support Gilas Pilipinas and watch at least one of its games in Group A action, where Filipinos will battle the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola.

While Pacquiao remains focused on his basketball league and other business, he admitted he is still on the fence when it comes to a political comeback.

Based on a recent SWS survey conducted last April 15 to 18, the former solon was the most preferred choice of local voters if the midterm elections were to be held today.

“I thank… the support of the people, we are always committed to serve the people properly,” said Pacquiao, who was a distant third in the 2022 presidential elections.

“But currently, I am focused on expanding my businesses, especially my family but we continue to help the less fortunate.”

Aside from politics, Pacquiao admitted he’s also not ruling out a return to the boxing ring. – Rappler.com

The SBP on Friday, June 16, announced that ticket holders for the August 25 opening games at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan can avail of free shuttle service from major transportation hubs.

According to the SBP, 400 buses will be deployed on August 25 with hopes of encouraging fans to watch Gilas Pilipinas’ duel with Dominican Republic and shatter the FIBA attendance record that has stood for nearly three decades.

The current FIBA record is the 32,616-strong crowd that watched Team USA clobber Russia, 137-91, in the 1994 World Cup championship game at the SkyDome – now the Rogers Centre – in Toronto, Canada.

Gilas Pilipinas’ match against Dominican Republic at the 55,000-seater venue is set at 8 pm, after fellow Group A teams Italy and Angola duke it out at 4 pm.

Filipino fans who will watch in Bulacan are expected to play a key role as the Philippines – ranked No. 40 in the world – looks to capitalize on its home court advantage as it eyes an upset against No. 23 Dominican Republic.

A win over Dominican Republic will bring Gilas Pilipinas towards its goal of advancing to the second round and finishing as the best-placed Asian team, a feat that merits a coveted berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Philippines will then play the rest of its group stage matches against Italy and Angola at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ranging from P999 to P18,899, tickets for the August 25 games at the Philippine Arena are available for purchase online at https://philippines-ticketing.worldcup.basketball/. – Rappler.com

James Payosing made it rain from beyond the arc as he knocked down all his four three-point attempts to wind up with a game-high 21 points, to go along with 9 rebounds and 3 assists for the Red Lions.

Like Payosing, Damie Cuntapay flirted with a double-double of 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Yukien Andrada added 10 points in the wire-to-wire victory.

Fresh off a 74-51 demolition of the Knights in Game 2 just two days ago, the Red Lions picked up where they left off and opened the game with a quick 10-0 blast.

It was Cuntapay who set the tone for San Beda early on as he dropped 8 of his 11 points in the first quarter alone.

The Knights managed to pull within 7 points in the early stages of the second period, 15-22, but that was the closest they could ever get as the Red Lions’ lead ballooned to its largest at 21 points, 43-22, off a layup by Payosing with 2:18 to play in the first half.

Fatigue caught up with Letran in the lopsided affair as it was playing on its second game of the day and fourth game in three consecutive days as the Knights are also seeing action in another preseason league.

Kurt Reyson paced the Knights with 19 points on a dismal 4-of-17 shooting, while Deo Cuajao and Neil Guarino had 13 and 10 markers, respectively.

Although Marinerong Pilipino is fielding in a completely different lineup, the 2023 PBA D-League finals will be a rematch of last year’s championship, where La Salle captured the crown in a Game 3 blowout.

Before it turned into a school-based team, Marinerong Pilipino was led by Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kemark Cariño, and the core of the Mapua Cardinals last season.

The best-of-three finals between San Beda and defending champion La Salle will begin on Thursday, June 22.

The Scores

Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda 79 – Payosing 23, Cuntapay 11, Andrada 10, Alfaro 7, Jopia 7, Gallego 6, Puno 6, Visser 4, Cortez 3, Royo 2.

Wangs-Letran 65 – Reyson 19, Cuajao 13, Guarino 10, Santos 7, Tolentino 5, Morales 5, Go 4, Bojorcelo 0, Laquindanum 0, Ariar 0, Brillantes 0.

Quarters: 22-12, 46-29, 61-50, 79-65.

– Rappler.com 

Nards Pinto did it all in 37 minutes, leading all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go with 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals as Ginebra spoiled Javee Mocon’s On Tour debut with Phoenix.

Aljon Mariano also had his way in nearly 42 minutes of floor time, tallying an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with 3 dimes.

Leading by just 5, 91-86, with 1:44 left in regulation, the Gin Kings controlled the endgame well as Raymond Aguilar sank a jumper with 1:18 left for the 93-86 lead, before Mariano drove home the dagger layup with 33 ticks left for the 95-86 separation.

Former Ateneo reserve JC Fetalvero then drilled one last trey for the Fuel Masters to set the final score.

RJ Jazul lived and died by the three-ball in the loss as he recorded a team-high 18 points off a 6-of-16 clip, all attempts coming from downtown.

Reden Celda scattered 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals as Mocon chipped in 14 points and 9 boards off the bench in 29 minutes.

Much to Phoenix’s dismay, Ginebra hacked out a win despite fielding a skeleton crew without MVP Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Stanley Pringle, and LA Tenorio.

The Fuel Masters, meanwhile, were without top gunners Tyler Tio, Jason Perkins, RR Garcia, and Sean Manganti.

Meanwhile, the Blackwater Bossing outgunned the Converge FiberXers, 102-97, in the first game of the double-header.

Do-it-all veteran Rashawn McCarthy cranked up his scoring touch for the day with a 30-point bomb on 10-of-17 shooting and 5-of-7 from three to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

This, along with 12 points apiece from gunners Baser Amer and Rey Suerte, was just enough for Blackwater to nullify the herculean efforts of Converge rising star Justine Arana, who exploded for a 32-point, 17-board double-double with 4 assists and 3 blocks in the close loss.

Alec Stockton backstopped Arana with 15 points, 5 dimes, and 3 rebounds, while Jerrick Balanza led the bench with 14 points, 6 boards, and 2 assists. – Rappler.com

As La Salle played without top point guard Evan Nelle, Prince Alao stepped up and led all five double-digit scorers of the Green Archers with 22 points built on six triples.

Jan Macalalag added 11 points, while Bright Nwankwo, Kevin Quiambao, and EJ Gollena scored 10 each in the wire-to-wire victory.

Nwankwo and Quiambao also recorded double-doubles with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

Similar to their lopsided Game 1 win, where they led by as many as 33 points at one juncture of the ball game, the Green Archers dominated the Altas from the tip-off and never looked back the rest of the way.

La Salle rose to an early 30-17 advantage over Perpetual at the end of the first period, before their lead ballooned to its biggest at 28 points, 90-62, off back-to-back baskets by Alao in the opening seconds of the final frame.

John Abis paced the Altas in the loss with 21 points, while Christian Pagaran and Carlo Ferreras had 19 markers apiece.

Meanwhile, the Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda Red Lions lived to fight another day and forced a rubber match against their rivals Wangs-Letran Knights following a dominant 74-51 Game 2 triumph.

Peter Alfaro guided the Red Lions to the bounce-back victory with a game-high 20 points on an efficient 7-of-10 clip from the field, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

After squandering a huge 24-point lead in their 93-87 Game 1 loss, the Red Lions made sure to prevent a repeat of their mistake and never allowed the Knights to pull within a single possession after building a 16-point edge late in the third frame.

Letran only managed to get as close as 9 points at the start of the fourth period, 49-40, before San Beda pulled away and extended its lead to 20 points, 65-45, midway through the quarter.

James Payosing chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds for the Red Lions, while Clifford Jopia posted a double-double of 11 markers and 13 boards.

Jacob Cortez also had an all-around outing for San Beda with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

No player breached double-digit scoring for the Knights as Kyle Tolentino topscored with 9 points.

Kurt Reyson, who erupted for 32 points in Game 1, was held to just 8 points on an awful 1-of-9 shooting.

San Beda and Letran will face off anew in a do-or-die match on Thursday, June 15, for the right to face La Salle in the finals.

The Scores

First Game

EcoOil-La Salle 108 – Alao 22, Macalalag 11, Nwankwo 10, Quiambao 10, Gollena 10, Phillips B. 9, Austria 9, Phillips M. 8, Nonoy 7, Cortez 5, Escandor 3, Manuel 2, Abadam 2, David 0.

Perpetual 91 – Abis 21, Pagaran 19, Ferreras 19, Razon 11, Ramirez 8, Roque 5, Nitura 4, Sevilla 2, Boral 2, Barcuma 0.

Quarters: 30-17, 51-36, 86-59, 108-91.

Second Game

Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda 74 – Alfaro 20, Payosing 12, Cortez 11, Jopia 11, Cuntapay 6, Visser 4, Royo 4, Gallego 2, Andrada 2, Puno 2, Tagle 0, Alloso 0, Teruel 0.

Wangs-Letran 51 – Tolentino 9, Reyson 8, Monje 8, Cuajao 6, Bojorcelo 4, Santos 4, Javillonar 3, Fajardo 3, Ariar 2, Brillantes 2, Morales 2, Laquindanum 0, Go 0, Guarino 0.

Quarters: 17-9, 34-26, 49-40, 74-51.

– Rappler.com

That is how the FIBA World Cup local organizing committee (LOC) is treating the next three months before the big show starts on August 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“We’re at around 80%,” said deputy event director Erika Dy during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, June 13.

“It all boils down to execution. It will be a matter of following through with the plans that we have laid [down],” she added.

According to Dy, the LOC will be hosting a test run by following the FIBA-mandated play times at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Arena, the two main venues in the country.

On June 27 and 28, they will stage games starting at 4 pm and 8 pm on the first day, and 4:45 pm and 8:30 pm on the second.

Both dates will feature NCAA and UAAP teams, who will be brought from their respective accommodations to the playing venues, and vice versa.

“Transportation simulation will also be done, which means all plans have been laid out, it’s just a matter of the execution process,” said Dy.

John Lucas, joint management committee head, has continued to push for a package deal for fans who may have been turned off by the exorbitant ticket prices.

He added that there is something special in store for the attendees of the Gilas Pilipinas-Dominican Republic game on August 25 in Bocaue.

“There will be an opening ceremony as well as halftime shows. As soon as we confirm the celebrities that will appear in the opening show, we will announce it,” said Lucas.

Alongside the Philippines-Dominican Republic tiff will be Angola facing Italy in the first game of the double-header event.

A total of 16 teams, including Gilas, Serbia, Greece, Italy, and Lithuania, will be playing in Manila in the group stage, with the successful teams from Okinawa, Japan, and Jakarta, Indonesia, heading to the Philippines for the playoffs.

Malacañang directed the interior, transportation, tourism, and health departments to help in the hosting, along with the Philippine National Police.

Two meetings have been staged, according to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann, incidentally the former LOC head prior to his appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The PSC is the official caretaker of the P1-billion fund allocated by the government for the FIBA World Cup hosting.

The commission’s two venues – the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City – will serve as practice sites.

Meanwhile, hotel rooms will be assigned to players individually instead of in pairs for the first time ever, with billeting already identified.

The FIBA World Cup, last hosted by the Philippines in 1978, will be held from August 25 to September 10 and will be co-hosted by Japan and Indonesia. – Rappler.com

Star center Ian Sangalang inspired a team-wide effort with 4 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench – his first stretch of playing time since recovering from a thyroid issue that sidelined him since the first game of the 2023 Governors’ Cup back in January 29.

Mark Barroca, meanwhile, led the Hotshots’ charge with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while young gunner Jerrick Ahanmisi paced the bench mob with 17 points on a 5-of-9 clip from three.

Jio Jalalon and Jackson Corpuz chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the nip-and-tuck affair that only broke away late in the fourth quarter, as a final 7-0 Magnolia run off a small 84-80 lead set the final score with still a minute left to play.

Reserve big man Raymond Aguilar led Ginebra’s skeleton crew in the loss with 22 points on a near-perfect 9-of-10 clip. Former Perpetual guard Kim Aurin chipped in 12 points off the bench, while Nards Pinto and Von Pessumal scored 11 apiece.

So far, the Gin Kings have not fielded key cogs Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio, and MVP Scottie Thompson in the no-bearing series.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine ran roughshod over hapless Terrafirma, 121-95, in the Dyip’s first On Tour game without core piece Kevin Ferrer, who has since started a yearlong recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

Rey Nambatac led seven Elasto Painters in double-digit scoring with 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 3-of-8 from downtown in 26 minutes.

Gian Mamuyac powered the bench with 16 points on an 8-of-13 clip, while his former UAAP rivals Andrei Caracut and Shaun Ildefonso added 14 points each.

Terrafirma leading scorer Juami Tiongson went down swinging as always with a game-high 25 points on an 11-of-22 clip and 3-of-7 from deep, as the Dyip trailed by as many as 28 points, 93-121, in the waning seconds of their wire-to-wire defeat.

The Scores

First Game

Rain or Shine 121 – Nambatac 21, Mamuyac 16, Caracut 14, Ildefonso 14, Belo 13, Asistio 11, Santillan 10, Ponferrada 9, Demusis 9, Norwood 4. 

Terrafirma 95 – Tiongson 25, Alolino 13, Ramos 12, Camson 11, Daquioag 10, Gomez de Liano 8, Go 7, Grospe 2, Taladua 2, Alanes 2, Calvo 1.

Quarters: 29-24, 65-47, 85-69, 121-95.

Second Game

Magnolia 91 – Barroca 20, Ahanmisi 17, Jalalon 12, Corpuz 11, Mendoza 8, Laput 8, Lee 7, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 4, Murrell 0.

Ginebra 80 – R.Aguilar 22, Aurin 12, Pinto 11, Pessumal 11, Gray 8, David 6, Mariano 5, Dillinger 3, Gumaru 2, Onwubere 0, Salcedo 0, Cu 0.

Quarters: 25-23, 44-38, 67-58, 91-80. 

– Rappler.com

Catching fire off the bench, Maliksi shot 5-of-10 from deep and scored 21 points as the Bolts notched their second straight win and stayed at third place in the preseason tiff, just behind Magnolia (3-0) and Rain or Shine (3-0).

Maliksi knocked down timely triples in the final frame, opening the period with a trey that cut their deficit to 72-73 and draining another one for a 90-84 lead with under three minutes left to give Meralco enough breathing room.

Bong Quinto finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win, while Raymond Almazan put up a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Anjo Caram supplied 11 points and 7 rebounds as he continues to step up for a Bolts side that is missing guards Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero.

Newsome is expected to miss the entire PBA On Tour due to his Gilas Pilipinas commitment after cracking the 21-man pool for the FIBA World Cup.

Jericho Cruz showed the way with 19 points and 4 assists for the Beermen, who absorbed their second loss in a row and dropped to 2-3.

Allyn Bulanadi and Marvin Lee added 18 points each in the defeat.

Like Meralco, San Miguel played with a couple of its key players in CJ Perez, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, and Terrence Romeo.

The Score

Meralco 92 – Maliksi 21, Quinto 19, Almazan 14, Caram 11, Pascual 8, Pasaol 5, Rios 4, Jose 3, Johnson 3, Hodge 2, Torres 2.

San Miguel 89 – Cruz 19, Lee 18, Bulanadi 18, Brondial 14, Tautuaa 12, Saldua 6, Lazarte 2, Baclao 0, Faundo 0.

Quarters: 25-24, 47-46, 69-73, 92-89.

– Rappler.com