Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- National team head coach Yeng Guiao had a measured take after Gilas Pilipinas absorbed a 98-92 setback to visiting Jordan on Monday, their first tune-up game for the upcoming window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The national team battled back from an early 12-point deficit in front of a partisan crowd at the Meralco Gym, but succumbed to the hot shooting of Zaid Abbas in crunch time. "We're a little bit rusty," said Guiao afterward. "There's a lot of room for improvement." He noted that they had "good stretches, but we also had some bad stretches." The team caught up when he sent in a line-up composed of four San Miguel players -- Christian Standhardinger, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos -- along with Rain or Shine's Beau Belga late in the first frame. That same five-man unit propelled them to a 38-32 second quarter lead, before the visitors caught up and turned the game into a tight contest. "I think we did not play well today," Guiao … [Read more...] about Yeng Guiao takes the good with the bad in first Gilas Pilipinas tune-up

MANILA, Philippines -- Playing limited minutes in the second quarter, Ricci Rivero did enough to impress coach Yeng Guiao in his first game for the Philippine men's national basketball team. One of the youngest members of the national team pool, Rivero saw action in Gilas Pilipinas' tune-up game against Jordan on Monday night. He entered late in the second quarter, and showed flashes of the talent that compelled Guiao to put him in the pool in the first place. He wowed the crowd at the Meralco Gym with his trademark side-stepping lay-up, and showed no fear in driving against the big men of Jordan and fishing for fouls. Rivero finished with four points in the Philippines' 98-92 loss. ICYMI: 'A little bit rusty': Gilas bows to Jordan in first tuneup game "Masaya kasi ayun nga, I'm getting to play alongside my kuyas, to play under Coach Yeng, Coach Ryan (Gregorio), and Coach Caloy (Garcia)," Rivero said after the game. "Sobrang achievement na siya for me." "Maging part lang ng pool na … [Read more...] about Guiao impressed with Ricci Rivero: ‘He can play at this level’

The Red Sox have several roster questions to address this offseason. Here’s a look at where they stand with various players: Nathan Eovaldi The righthanded pitcher is garnering widespread interest. The Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reports eight teams, in addition to the Red Sox, are pursuing Eovaldi: The Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. More are likely to be added to the list, per Cafardo. According to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, multiple clubs have expressed interest in acquiring Eovaldi as a closer. Over the course of his seven seasons in the league, the 28-year-old has been used primarily as a starter. Joe Kelly Kelly has been vocal about wanting to remain with the Red Sox through the rest of his career. During a recent appearance on “The Jim Rome Show,” Kelly said he doesn’t even feel like a free agent because he … [Read more...] about Red Sox rumor roundup: Here’s the latest on the team’s offseason moves

The Eagles suffered their worst loss of the year in a decade possibly of this millennium on Sunday when they were embarrassed by the Saints, 48-7, in New Orleans. The defeat sent the Eagles to 4-6 on the season, and put them a loss to the Giants on Sunday away from a last-place tie in the NFC East. That's not exactly where Eagles fans expected their team to be two and a half months into the NFL season. Not by a long shot. "I think the message to the fans, just like I told the team after the game, first of all, you can't hang your heads. And if anybody does, and anybody begins to doubt, quite frankly, you don't need them because we believe and I believe in those players, I believe in those coaches. "And it's a group that is hurting, quite frankly. And it's a group that will pick themselves up this week. They're not going to feel sorry for themselves, and we're going to get ready for the Giants."And when the coach says his team is hurting, he doesn't just mean … [Read more...] about Eagles avoided any major injuries despite players dropping like flies against Saints