After June Mar Fajardo wrapped up a six-minute scrum with journalists, the 6-foot-10 San Miguel Beer center was approached by a familiar figure who played a key part in enriching the Beermen’s PBA history. The man was the legendary Ramon Fernandez, the multifaceted center whose deep bag of skills, hard-to-break statistical achievements and championships collected
MANILA, Philippines–LA Tenorio won his opening game as Magnolia coach after frustrating Barangay Ginebra, 80-73, in a low-scoring start to the PBA’s 50th season before a big crowd on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Zavier Lucero anchored the Hotshots’ big night with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, giving Tenorio an auspicious
MANILA, Philippines–June Mar Fajardo captured a record-extending ninth Most Valuable Player award which he received in Sunday’s PBA Leo Awards at Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City. The San Miguel Beer star garnered 3,041 points compiled through statistics and votes from the media and players to beat out NLEX’s Robert Bolick and former NorthPort gunner
UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 88 basketball tournament MANILA, Philippines—The duo of Dominic Escobar and Kymani Ladi made the most of their first and last taste of the storied Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. Bolstered by the efforts of the one-and-done cogs, the Blue Eagles escaped Green Archers, 81-74, after squandering a commanding lead in the UAAP Season 88
ATLANTA — After a flurry of offseason moves and a reshaping of the NBA Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks are poised to be a factor this year. And while four-time All-Star Trae Young is still the team’s fulcrum, a second All-Star will need to emerge if the Hawks are to fulfill expectations. Enter Jalen Johnson.
Magnolia’s new era under coach LA Tenorio comes with sweeping changes—and Paul Lee hopes those adjustments finally lead to the end of the team’s seven-year title drought and its reputation as the PBA’s “Introvoys.” “I hope Coach LA is the answer to those questions,” Lee said in Filipino as the Hotshots prepare to open their
TNT finally signed Jio Jalalon to a contract after he was not offered an extension by Titan Ultra, the new team that took over the franchise of NorthPort. Jalalon inked on the dotted line before his agent Danny Espiritu and Tropang 5G team manager Jojo Lastimosa, finding a PBA team on the eve of the
As the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) enters its second season with a four-point line, commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the arc is here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future. “I think it will stay forever,” Marcial said, before backtracking: “As long as I’m commissioner, the four-point line will be used.” The 2024-25 season served as
MANILA, Philippines–Finally winning not just his first but also his second PBA championship—and getting Finals Most Valuable Player honors in one of those triumphs–is something Rey Nambatac will remember in his maiden season with TNT. But Nambatac also admitted there were “what-ifs” from that campaign after an injury kept him from helping out in the
When Ateneo notched its second straight victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, coach Tab Baldwin was more relieved than anything. “I’m really happy we’re getting wins in tough situations,” he said after a 62-60 victory over University of the East last week. The Eagles share the lead with National U, both with
