Philippine Sports News and Updates

Puerto Princesa City – KG Canaleta, Mark Macapagal and Jonas Villanueva stunned their highly-favored rivals on Friday to win the side events of the PBA All-Star weekend Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan.

Canaleta, the Derby Ace swingman, won his fourth slamdunk crown while Macapagal of Coca-Cola stole the show in the three-point shootout and San Miguel’s Villanueva excelled in the skills challenge. Canaleta reclaimed the 2007 slamdunk title after beating the league’s best rim-rattlers.

He upstaged top favorites Kelly Williams and last year’s champion Gabe Norwood to rule this exciting event for the fourth time in six years. He won three straight, from 2005 to 07, while Williams won the crown the following year.
Norwood was the 2009 slamdunk champion.

Canaleta repulsed Williams’ challenge in a slam off after both high-flyers scored 96 points in the two-round finals match.

Leaping over three Derby Ace ball boys, Canaleta completed yet another perfectly-executed dunk and his third perfect score (50) for the night, enough to beat Williams’ 45 points after a thundering double-pump slam.

MANILA, Philippines -- Shawn Daniels delivered an all-around performance for Talk ‘N Text to lead his team to a 100-92 win over Alaska Wednesday night in the KFC-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Daniels finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks as the Tropang Texters improved to 2-2 and spoiled the impressive debut of Aces import Diamon Simpson.

Simpson recorded 36 points and 25 rebounds to be the first import to debut with a 30-20 mark since Barangay Ginebra’s Chris Porter (31 points and 24 boards), who achieved the feat in 2005-06 season of the same tournament.

But the former St. Mary’s standout failed to get the needed support from the locals as Alaska fell behind by as much as 26 points late in the 3rd period.

“As I’ve said, we approached this game as adventure because we didn’t know what to expect from their import and Sam Eman,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes.

Former La Salle Green Archers coach Franz Pumaren was one of those who helped Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players get free education for their kids through the PBA Players’ Trust Fund.

Although inactive from the league, Pumaren remains the PBA Players Union president and he wants to play an active role after hearing concerns about his fellow retired players.

Pumaren said that more players now are not receiving the same amount which were given to some of the retired and active players in the previous years.

“Sabi nga nu’ng iba, halos P10,000 na nga lang daw kada semester ang natatanggap nila," Pumaren told GMANews.TV. “Maybe I should look into the matter since I am still the president of the Players’ Union dahil wala pa rin namang nangyayaring election."

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios didn’t deny the fact that players now receive less than the previous years since more kids became league scholars.