To argue that Carmelo Anthony has had a controversial 2018-19 campaign would be to understate the obvious. Following a season with the Thunder in which he wound up an ill fit as a third option, he found himself traded to and bought out by the Hawks (in the process literally earning an unused jersey), and then signing, to much fanfare, with the Rockets. Unfortunately, his welcome lasted all of three weeks; he was decommissioned after 10 games, and then traded to the Bulls, who also saw fit to promptly cut their ties with him. All the criticisms about his outdated style of play aside, he deserves a better finish to his Hall of Fame career.

‘If you play casually, people are like savages.’

THE Columbian Dyip put a stop to their three-game losing streak in the PBA Philippine Cup, defeating the Meralco Bolts, 86-85, in the league’s return after a two-break on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

DEFENDING University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball champions De La Salle Lady Spikers kept their unblemished record intact in Season 81 with a four-set win over the National University Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

PHILIPPINE champion Ceres-Negros FC began its 2019 AFC Cup campaign on a winning note, defeating Myanmar’s Shan United FC, 3-2, in their Group G opener on Tuesday night at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.

ONE of the celebrated athletes in 2018 after helping the Philippines to two gold medals in the Asian Games in Indonesia, amateur golfer Yuka Saso said she is looking forward to continue making the country proud as she competes in various tournaments even as she said she is hoping for an improved program for the sport of golf.

Mr. Florencio “Campo” Campomanes was the moving spirit behind the participation of the Philippine national team in the 1956 Moscow Olympiad. He did everything -- organized the team, arranged for funding, coordinated with the Russian organizers and a hundred and one other tiny details.

The Celtics didn’t sound too alarmed when they lost on the road to the lowly Bulls over the weekend. Forget that their opponents were third to last in the so-called Leastern Conference. Or that they had hitherto waxed the very same hosts by a record score. Or that it was their second straight setback coming off All-Star weekend. As far as they were concerned, it was an off-night that could easily be explained away. “You’re going to have clunkers in the (National Basketball Association),” head coach Brad Stevens argued. Meanwhile, top dog Kyrie Irving exhibited supreme confidence in declaring that the seemingly lethargic play wouldn’t be carrying over to the playoffs. “Because I’m here,” he noted.

FOLLOWING a two-week break to give way to the campaign of the national team in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Philippine Basketball Association returns today with a double-header set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

THE number of winless teams in Season 81 women’s volleyball of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines gets narrowed as struggling University of the East Lady Warriors and Adamson Lady Falcons collide in league action today at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

REIGNING Copa Paulino Alcantara champion Kaya FC-Iloilo gets its 2019 AFC Cup campaign rolling today, taking on Lao Toyota FC in opening Group H action at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.

THE PHILIPPINE Sportswriters Association is set to acknowledge the best of Philippine sports in the previous year at the SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night late yesterday.