Epic Final Four duels loom: Beermen, Gin Kings face off; TnT eyes 2-0

source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT NOW MANILA, Philippines – The Final Four protagonists shake off the holiday stupor in a pair of expected epic matches marking the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup with Talk n Text battling B-MEG Derby Ace and San Miguel Beer colliding with Barangay Ginebra at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. The Texters beat the Llamados, 98-91, in Game One of their showdown but TnT coach Chot Reyes said they’re practically starting all over again because of the nine-day break.The resumption of play will be marked by the unveiling of the “Big Cube” at the Big Dome.The Big Cube is a giant four-screen high definition LED Cube the Araneta Coliseum management has procured from Florida. It’s said to be the biggest in the world and, at 10mm pitch, clearer than...

Read more »

Roach to Pacquiao: Don’t take Shane lightly

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM MANILA, Philippines – The biggest mistake Manny Pacquiao can commit against “Sugar” Shane Mosley is to underestimate the former world champion.This is why Pacquiao’s boxing trainer, Freddie Roach, keeps convincing his fighter not to take Mosley, a 5-time world champion, lightly.“I just need to get Manny to stop listening to those people who see that this will be an easy fight. That's the worst thing in the world that they could tell him,” Roach told 8 Countnews.com's Brad Cooney.The boxing trainer, who molded the Filipino champion from a one-dimensional boxer to a complete fighter, said there’s no easy fight...

Read more »

Asian football observer sees promise in RP soccer

Source: GMANEWS.TV MANILA, Philippines – Philippine football has a lot of things going for it, which, if properly harnessed and handled, can enable the sport to take off in the country in the next few years, according to Brendon John Menton, Vision Asia coordinator of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). "We see a lot of positive elements in your football. All it needs is to come up with a organized development plan then put it into action. That’s what we’re here for," Menton said on Tuesday at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue branch in Manila. Joining Menton in...

Read more »

Iraq set to defend the Asia Cup title in Qatar

Source: GMANEWS.TV BAGHDAD — Iraq was the feel good story of the last Asian Cup, winning an unlikely title to give its war-weary residents something to celebrate. Four years later, it comes in as defending champion aiming to prove that title was no fluke. Since its historic victory, Iraq football has fallen victim to political infighting that got the national federation suspended by FIFA from world football and inconsistent form from the team, which has slipped from 58th to 101st in the world rankings. But with the arrival of coach Wolfgang Sidka in August, the team appears to have found some of the magic that contributed to its...

Read more »

China gets shot at redemption at Asian Cup

Source: GMANEWS.TV BEIJING — China's much-maligned footballers get a shot at redemption at the Asian Cup after being drawn into a group that offers a decent chance of qualification into the knock-out round. China is in Group A with host Qatar, traditional Central Asian power Uzbekistan, and Gulf stalwart Kuwait, all teams ranked beneath the underperforming Asian giant. A smooth qualifying campaign that included a 6-1 thumping of Vietnam and back-to-back wins over Lebanon should further boost China's confidence. Wins over Macedonia, Latvia and Estonia in recent friendlies hasn't hurt confidence, either. China's improved performance is credited in part to coach Gao Hongbao, who has brought a steadying influence to the team in the almost two years since his appointment. China has climbed...

Read more »