UAAP Season 87 is Stronger, Better, Together with EastWest Ageas

EastWest Ageas continues bringing Filipino athletes to television screens nationwide in its second year as the UAAP broadcast sponsor of the Men’s Basketball team.

#PULLUPYOURSOCKS! and support the Philippines Men’s National Basketball Team at a Free Watch Party hosted by Baygon

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vivo to host meet and greet with 5x NBA Champion Derek Fisher on April 17 at SM Megamall

Want to witness five-time NBA champion, a former Los Angeles Lakers guard, Derek Fisher, up close and personal? You can, because vivo will be hosting the upcoming meet and greet on Wednesday, April 17!

Smart powers NBTC nationwide tournaments via Smart LiveStream App

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PUMA Signs Promising UAAP Basketball Athletes to Form First-Ever PUMA PH Hoops Squad

Global sports brand PUMA today announces the latest additions to its growing roster of Pinoy talents to represent the brand in the market.

Delivering on its promise to solidify its presence in the Philippine basketball scene, PUMA has signed rising University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball athletes to officially mark the arrival and presence of PUMA Hoops in the country.

Forming the brand’s first-ever PUMA PH Hoops Squad are UP’s Malick Diouf and Chicco Briones, NU’s Patrick Yu and Jolo Manansala, FEU’s Xyrus Torres and Jorick Bautista, and UE’s Gjerard Wilson and Jack Cruz-Dumont. This exclusive group of student-athletes, who exemplify PUMA’s ForeverFaster mantra, will represent PUMA in  a number of campaigns starting this year.

“The PUMA PH Hoops Squad consists of young athletes who are arguably deemed the future of Philippine basketball,” remarked Paolo Misa, PUMA Philippines Country Manager. “Recognizing the exceptional skills of the new breed of Pinoy hoopers in shaping the future of Philippine basketball, PUMA intends to play an active role in carving their path and etching their names in the country's sports history by providing them a support system to help them grow and develop as athletes,” he added.

PUMA PH Hoops Squad: The Future of Philippine Basketball

PUMA Hoops houses the brand’s official basketball collection or product line represented by a global squad of elite basketball athletes such as LaMelo Ball, Scoot Hendersoon, and Pinoy hooper Kai Sotto. The Philippine iteration of the brand’s global squad boasts eight of the most promising UAAP basketball athletes who are deemed the future of Philippine basketball.

Donning the wide array of PUMA Hoops apparel released this year, PUMA’s All-Star Basketball Squad of 2023 was featured in their first-ever brand campaign. The student-athletes showed off and used their LaMelo Ball signature shoes, PUMA MB.02 and MB.03 La France, and the All-Pro NITRO – all of which are built with the best technologies for an unparalleled fit and comfortable cushioning designed to hit the court hard. The first visuals of the squad also feature PUMA on-and-off-the-court looks designed for comfort and flexibility, enhancing both their performance and style.

Leading the first-ever Pinoy PUMA PH Hoops Squad are 6-foot-11 Senegalese Malick Diouf and 6-foot-6 rookie guard Chicco Briones of the UP Fighting Maroons, who emerged as runners-up in the recently concluded UAAP basketball tournament. In addition to season 84 championship and a season 85 MVP title, Diouf boasts two Mythical Five accolades under his belt. And despite his limited court time, Cebu-native Briones is inspired by the Fighting Maroons’ run this year and is gearing up to take on a bigger role and create more impact for the team.

Joining them are NU’s team captain Patrick Yu, who hails from Cebu, and Pampanga-native Jolo Manansala. A licensed engineer, Yu captained the NU Bulldogs in securing their recent UAAP bronze finish.

UE’s Fil-Am guard Gjerard Wilson and Fil-Canadian shooting guard Jack Cruz-Dumont also signed with PUMA. Despite cutting his UAAP debut due to a shoulder injury, Wilson vows to come back stronger and rally his team for a better finish next year. Scoring 35.95 efficiency1 in his first UAAP season, Cruz-Dumont helped lead the Red Warriors to their 6th-place finish.

Completing the squad are FEU’s power forward Xyrus Torres and former Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Jorick Bautista. 5-foot-11 guard Bautista was one of the season’s top 10 scorers and led the three-point scoring board, recording 43.21% efficiency in 13 games1.

PUMA noted that this is only the beginning for the PUMA PH Hoops Squad. “We aim to grow this exclusive group of elite basketball athletes. We will sign more athletes in the near future to further solidify this talented crop of players. Our commitment to these athletes, who are no doubt some of the future of Philippine basketball, and the sports will live on,” Misa added.

Watch out for the exciting projects and campaigns with the new members of the #PUMAFam #PUMAPH through the official Instagram pages @pumahoops @puma.

Melo in Manila: PUMA Unveils Philippine-Exclusive LaMelo Ball Shirt

Celebrate your Filipino heritage with the newest PUMA drop Melo x MNL Tee. Features the iconic Pinoy mode of  transportation, the jeepney and tricycle, mixed with colors and symbols, that will definitely stand out!

NBA, vivo announce multi-year marketing partnership in the Philippines

The NATIONAL Basketball Association (NBA) and vivo today announced a multi-year marketing partnership that sees vivo return as the Official Smartphone of the NBA in the Philippines.

How Gatorade, the official electrolyte drink of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, becomes a part of athletes’ winning legacy

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Hawks’ Bey, Wizards’ Morris, NBA Veterans Gibson and Mcgruder to Coach Top Prospects at Basketball Without Borders Asia

The 13th BWB Asia Camp will bring together 80 of the Top High-School-Age Prospects from more than 20 countries across Asia and the Middle East. It be will be held at the New York University campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from  June 2 June 5 (Friday-Monday).

Basketball coach is Mang Inasal’s 2018 Gawad Pilipinoy’s new hero

Basketball is the most-loved sport in the Philippines. For Filipinos, the ball game is more than just a pastime – it is training ground for discipline and sportsmanship, as well as for building friendships and camaraderie.

Slam Dunk Hanamichi Sakuragi Real-life/ True story: Truth or Hoax

Hanamichi Sakuragi, a Power Forward for the team Shohoku, is a well-known anime character in the TV series Slam Dunk.

FOX Sports Writer apologizes to Lebron James

When Lebron James left the Cavs for Miami Heat, a lot of his  hometown fans turned against him. Others even burnt down his Cavs Jersey. It didn't end there. The Cavs owner even predicted that James won't even win a championship.

A lot of personal and negative words were thrown to James when he left his hometown. It was like he just did a sinful deed that no one could ever forget.

Lebron James covers SLAM ish 106

But, that was long time ago. He won 2 championships with the Heat, then after the season decided to move back to his hometown, Cleveland. This time he will win championships as Cavalier, the Cavalier of Akron!

One of his former fans, who turned into a detractor, then became a fan again, not just because Bron came back, it's more than that. He was able to understand the King's decision and was able to reflect that he made the same decision to leave home to chase his dreams. 

Here's his heartfelt story and apology to Lebron James:

“AKRON, Ohio -- When I turned 25 years old, I left my hometown of Akron in search of a better opportunity.

No one burned my jersey. No one posted angry messages on the Internet. The only letter my boss wrote was one of recommendation to my new employer. My own parents even seemed excited I was leaving.

Nor was I taking my talents to South Beach.

Instead, I was trudging off to Wyoming -- as a sportswriter who had finally landed a full-time gig. Yes, Wyoming. Yes, I would soon cover rodeos and sled-dog races and high school golf. But that wasn't the goal. The goal was to someday return to my native Northeast Ohio and cover the NBA. Perhaps, also, to leave for a while to get a better understanding of what it takes to become a more-accomplished man, a better man.

As for actually someday covering pro basketball while living in my hometown -- well, it seemed like a pipedream. But I knew if it was ever gonna happen, I probably had to leave.

I eventually returned, as a considerably more seasoned journalist, at the age of 29. The experiences are ones I will never forget. Wyoming will always hold a special place in my heart. But it wasn't Akron. It wasn't home.

At the age of 25, fellow Akron native LeBron James took a similar approach to his career.

He left his hometown, his home team, in search of a better situation. His fantasy, his pipedream, was to win an NBA championship.

He too returned home at the age of 29. He too seems like a changed man, a man with some regrets, for sure, but a man with plenty of reasons to feel proud. That makes LeBron James no different than I was then -- no different than so many men who experience key emotional growth between the ages of 25 and 30.

So why was I so hard on James when he left for the Miami Heat in 2010?

Why did I feel so betrayed? Didn't I do the same thing? Didn't I myself depart for what I viewed as a better opportunity? Didn't I leave at the same age James did? Didn't I have a similar approach to life?

Now, I'm not trying to compare myself to the greatest basketball player in the world. I'm just a lowly sportswriter, and while I wear that badge with pride, it's all I'll ever be. James will likely be the King of Akron, the King of Cleveland Basketball, for quite some time.

And I ripped him good in 2010. I ripped him on Twitter, I ripped him in columns, I ripped him to family and friends. I didn't care so much that LeBron left -- I cared how he went about it. I was irritated with his national television special, with how James danced on a stage alongside Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Heat.

But here's what I say about that now: Thank heavens there were no TV cameras on me at the age of 25. Thank heavens there aren't any today, and I'm a lot older now than James was then.

You know what James did at the age of 25? He acted like a 25-year old.

Today, LeBron is back. I've been here for four years, covering the Cavaliers, covering the entire NBA, watching James become someone who I'm proud to say is from my hometown. And yes, I would say that regardless of the team for which he plays.

The fact he returned to the team I primarily write about, the team with which his career began, and how he went about all of it, makes me respect him that much more.

But mostly, I just think LeBron should know, that as a fellow Akron guy who left for a chance to polish my craft and bring the best of me back to Akron -- man, I completely get it.

Mostly, I owe LeBron James an apology, and this is it: Sorry, LeBron, and welcome back. It's good to be 29 and home. I've been there. I know.”

-Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio

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