PROTAGONISTS in the crossover semifinals of the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara were made known on Wednesday following the conclusion of the single-round group play.

AROUND fifty children and teens learned basketball fundamentals from the TNT KaTropa team during its Basketball Hoops Camp in Barangay Silangan, Quezon City.

HOUSTON -- All-Star guard James Harden, Clint Capela and P.J. Tucker recorded double-doubles as the host Houston Rockets breezed by the short-handed Golden State Warriors 129-112 on Wednesday.

In September 2017, the National Basketball Association approved rules designed to prevent healthy players from skipping nationally televised matches. That the Board of Governors would thumb up the changes underscored the alarming rate with which otherwise-fit marquee names chose to sit out high-profile set-tos. Ratings were down, and with reason; casual observers stayed away because of a lack of incentive to tune in. And so the body, composed of franchise owners traditionally loath to disrupt the status quo, acted accordingly; in their desire to protect their principal product, they even granted the commissioner the power to impose fines of at least $100,000 to those found violating the spirit of the provisions.

THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers advanced to the next flight of the step-ladder semifinals of UAAP Season 82 after surviving the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 81-71, in their knockout match on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

CHICAGO -- LeBron James registered a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers stormed back from an 19-point second-half deficit for a 118-112 win over the host Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

THE San Miguel Beermen are back on the winning track in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup after defeating the Blackwater Elite, 99-96, in overtime in league action on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

THE most unique golf course in the world will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2020. This was revealed by Dakak Golf Club president Rick Gibson after numerous inquiries from interested clubs and tournament organizers.

FILIPINO BOXING champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. returns to the ring today to take on hometown bet Naoya “The Monster” Inoue in a high-stakes clash in Japan.

FURTHER underscoring its commitment to championing inclusion in sports, and society in general, Citi Philippines recently unveiled a marketing campaign supporting the country’s para-athletes seeing action in next year’s ASEAN Para Games happening here.

Jeffery Xiong is one of the new heroes of American chess. In September 2015, at the age of 14, he was awarded the title of International Grandmaster by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). He followed this up by winning the US Junior Championship the following year. In September, Xiong played in the FIDE World Cup. Although he was seeded no. 31^st he made it to the quarter-finals (final 8) by upsetting Anish Giri and Jan-Krzysztof Duda.

For a while there, the Bulls looked like legitimate contenders. Despite sporting anemic advanced numbers and claiming just two victories through seven games to start the season, they managed to outperform the vaunted Lakers for much -- make that most -- of the first three quarters of yesterday’s match. Playing inspired ball from opening tip, they had the overflow crowd at the United Center engaged and primed for an upset. They were making shots and, more importantly, acting like ungracious hosts to keep the visitors, and especially hometown hero Anthony Davis, at bay.