MEDIA covering the top collegiate leagues in the country are to hold their annual awards on May 27 at the Amelie Hotel Manila in Malate, with the awardees headlined by champion basketball teams Ateneo de Manila University and San Beda University.

MADE a name for herself in Women’s National Basketball Association while playing in Sacramento, guard Ticha Penicheiro shared that those years with the Monarchs were the best years she had in the league and something she still cherishes even now in retirement.

Twenty-one draws in a row. Magnus Carlsen did not take part in the Batumi Chess Olympiad last year and instead participated in the less stressful European Club Cup where he peacefully drew all five of his games. His next event was the World Championship Match in London versus Fabiano Caruana where, for the first time in history, all 12 games were drawn and they had to resort to rapid tie-breaks to determine who the next world chess champion would be. That’s 17 consecutive draws. When at the start of the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee Magnus Carlsen drew his first four games the friendly ribbing escalated and the press was writing about Carlsen forgetting how to win, that he is the new “Leko,” the drawing master. And then came the game with Jorden van Foreest.

The Lakers haven’t had a good year. In fact, they’ve arguably gone through one of the worst seasons in their storied history -- a development made even more shocking in light of the promise it had at the beginning. To be sure, much of their travails can be traced to sheer bad luck; their campaign for their first playoff stint in six years was beset by a rash of injuries to key players, prized recruit LeBron James included. On the other hand, even more is attributable to self-inflicted wounds that showcase their capacity to be their own worst enemies.

OPENED their campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup with a victory, the Alaska Aces look to continue rolling when they trek back to the court today and take on the debuting Northport Batang Pier.

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Curry and Draymond Green capped triple-double performances by combining on the game-clinching hoop in overtime Monday night as the Golden State Warriors completed a four-game sweep of the host Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals with a 119-117 victory.

Their “Kami Naman” (Our turn) push did not go all the way but there is no denying how successful the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 campaign of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses was, and how the future is bright for them.

In crucial moments the other day, the Raptors appeared to be finding ways not to win. Down zero to two and with their backs against the wall in the Eastern Conference Finals, they came up with a crucial adjustment that allowed them to battle the otherwise-superior Bucks to a standstill until crunchtime of Game Three: They solved the problem that was Giannis Antetokounmpo by slotting top defender Kawhi Leonard on the presumptive Most Valuable Player along with a consistent blitz, and it worked. Unfortunately, their own offense continued to sputter, and especially with the outcome of the match on the line in regulation.

THE IMPORT-laden Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup kicked off at the weekend and for reinforcement Justin Brownlee of the defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, he is ready to lead his team anew even as he said the field is going to be tough.

ARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- A coronation almost turned into a calamity but Brooks Koepka survived to win the PGA Championship for a second consecutive year on Sunday and establish himself as golf’s new top dog.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Brooks Koepka has gone from being an afterthought to the most dominant player in golf over the last two years, the quiet assassin who speaks softly but carries a big stick.

FOR the second straight year the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour will make a stop in the Philippines, which is made all the more significant and historic as it will take place on the island of Boracay.