Sports PH News | JS DEV Site

Category: Basketball

  • Terrafirma set to sign Geo Chiu to max rookie deal

    Terrafirma set to sign Geo Chiu to max rookie deal

    The Terrafirma Dyip have secured a three-year maximum contract with Geo Chiu, the top overall pick from the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft.

     

    Spin.PH first reported that the deal is a “done deal” and that Chiu’s formal signing and presentation will take place within the next few days.

     

    Chiu represents the Dyip’s most significant investment in recent years. 

     

    Selected No. 1 overall in the draft after a standout amateur and semi-professional run, Chiu brings much-needed size and length to a Terrafirma roster that recently finished with a 1-10 win-loss record in the Philippine Cup.

     

    Before entering the PBA, Chiu had an eclectic basketball journey that included playing collegiately for Ateneo de Manila University and stints overseas, including time in Japan’s B.League Division 2 and with the Taiwan Mustangs. 

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

    His experience against international competition and his physical tools helped elevate his stock leading up to draft night.

     

    Terrafirma’s decision to commit to a maximum deal signals confidence in Chiu’s potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone. While some analysts and fans have questioned whether the big man is worthy of No. 1 billing based on his statistical production, his combination of size, mobility, and basketball IQ are seen as a strong foundation to build around.

     

    The three-year contract aligns Chiu with Terrafirma through the early stages of the Dyip’s rebuilding efforts.

     

    As part of his transition to the PBA, Chiu will be expected to compete immediately for minutes in Terrafirma’s frontcourt rotation. The Dyip have historically lacked size and interior presence, and Chiu’s arrival offers a rare opportunity to compete physically against bigger frontlines in the league

     

    Terrafirma head coach and management have yet to outline their full plans for Chiu’s development, but early indications suggest they are prepared to provide him with meaningful playing time and a clear role as part of the club’s long-term vision.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

     

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate basketball fans.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

  • NBA Injury Report: Victor Wembanyama avoids major injury

    NBA Injury Report: Victor Wembanyama avoids major injury

    San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama suffered a left knee injury Thursday night but has avoided serious damage, the team confirmed. 

     

    The 21-year-old All-Star exited San Antonio’s 134-132 win over the New York Knicks after hyperextending his left knee late in the fourth quarter and will miss at least Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

     

    Wembanyama was injured with just over 10 minutes remaining while chasing an offensive rebound against Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns. 

     

    Replays showed the French big man landed awkwardly, causing his left knee to hyperextend, and he immediately signaled for help before limping to the Spurs’ locker room.

     

    Team officials described Wembanyama’s condition as a mild hyperextension and listed his status as day-to-day, meaning no long-term structural injury was detected.

     

    Despite the scare, Wembanyama briefly returned to the bench later in the game, visible without a limp as the Spurs rallied to secure the narrow victory.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

    Before his exit, he had already delivered an All-Star performance with 31 points and 13 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play.

     

    Wembanyama himself downplayed the injury in postgame comments, describing it as “just a hyperextension” and expressing confidence in a quick return. He noted that, while his body felt sore, he was optimistic about being available in San Antonio’s next game.

     

    The setback comes amid a strong season for the young superstar as Wembanyama has been a driving force for the Spurs, averaging stellar numbers and anchoring both ends of the floor. 

     

    San Antonio announced that Wembanyama will remain in San Antonio to continue rehabilitation and will not travel with the team for their next game against the Indiana Pacers, a move aimed at closely monitoring his knee and ensuring he is fully ready for upcoming matchups.

     

    As the Spurs prepare for a stretch of games without their All-Star, the coaching staff is expected to lean more heavily on role players to fill the production gap – just like they did early in the season when Wembanyama was suffering from a calf injury.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate basketball fans.

  • Chris Newsome sees an MVP path for Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum

    Chris Newsome sees an MVP path for Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum

    What stood out to Chris Newsome in Meralco’s hard-fought quarterfinal clash against Rain or Shine wasn’t just the final score—it was the presence of a young guard who played with no hesitation, no fear, and plenty of promise.

     

    Adrian Nocum’s emergence in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup did not go unnoticed, especially by one of the league’s most respected backcourt leaders. 

     

    After seeing the Mapua product up close in their knockout encounter, Newsome offered rare praise that went beyond surface-level admiration, pointing instead to Nocum’s long-term potential as a franchise cornerstone.

     

    “He’s definitely a stud, man. He’s a hooper for sure,” Newsome said. “I think one thing that Adrian is going to have to figure out is how to lead his team, and that’s just going to come with a matter of time. Talent-wise, the basketball skill, everything is all there already.”

     

    Nocum backed up those words with production throughout the conference. The Rain or Shine guard averaged 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while delivering his best outing when it mattered most—dropping a season-high 29 points in a do-or-die game against Meralco on December 29. 

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

    Even in defeat, his willingness to take responsibility and push the pace reflected a player eager to shoulder a bigger role.

     

    For Newsome, the next phase of Nocum’s growth has less to do with scoring and more to do with command. Leadership, he believes, is the final piece that could elevate the young guard from rising star to elite status in the league.

     

    “Once he becomes a really good leader for his team, he’s going to be unstoppable and can potentially be an MVP someday,” Newsome said.

     

    Coming from a veteran who has navigated pressure-packed playoff battles and international stages, the endorsement carries weight. 

     

    And if Nocum continues to marry his scoring instincts with leadership maturity, Rain or Shine may already have its future leader in place.

     

    Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

     📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!  

  • PBA veteran Vic Manuel says title only a matter of time for up-and-coming Converge

    PBA veteran Vic Manuel says title only a matter of time for up-and-coming Converge

    Veteran forward Vic Manuel is bullish on the future of the Converge FiberXers despite the team’s heartbreaking exit from the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

     

    Converge saw its bid for a first-ever semifinal appearance slip away dramatically with Stephen Holt’s buzzer-beating triple lifting Ginebra to a 99–98 overtime victory that ended the FiberXers’ season. 

    The loss came after Converge squandered a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round, including a lopsided 105–85 defeat in Game 1 of the matchup.

     

    Despite the crushing finish, Manuel believes the combination of youth and size on Converge’s roster will pay dividends in future campaigns. 

     

    Manuel, who returned to PBA action late in the season on a short-term deal with Converge, said he was impressed by how the team’s twin towers, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar, along with rookie Juan Gomez de Liano, have emerged as foundational pieces. 

     

    “May future ‘yung team,” Manuel said. “Sobrang talented nila, ang lalaki. Nanlilit ako sa team na ito lalo na sa mga big guys. Ang lalaki lahat, halos 6-6 pataas. Ako lang yung pinakamaliit na big man dito.”

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

    He noted that their size and skill blend give the FiberXers distinct advantages, especially in physical matchups against more experienced teams.

     

    The timing of his signing was strategic, coming just before the playoffs, but his contract ends with the conference, and Converge has yet to announce whether he will return.

     

    For now, Converge will regroup in the offseason, armed with a roster that Manuel believes has the talent and physical tools to eventually compete for championships, potentially sooner rather than later. 

     

    “Tingin ko naman kaya. “Bago naman ako dumating dito lumalaban na ito e,” he said.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

  • Newly naturalized Benny Boatwright released by Taipei Fubon Braves

    Newly naturalized Benny Boatwright released by Taipei Fubon Braves

    Bennie Boatwright, one of the leading candidates for Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player spot, has been released by the Taipei Fubon Braves, the Taiwanese club announced.

     

    The Braves confirmed that both sides mutually agreed to part ways, ending Boatwright’s stint with the team midway through the season. 

     

    Boatwright joined Taipei Fubon earlier this year after initially signing a tryout contract, quickly making an impression in international play. 

     

    He delivered a strong debut in the East Asia Super League (EASL), finishing with 21 points highlighted by five three-point conversions, a performance that helped earn him a full roster spot with the Braves.

    In P.League+ action, Boatwright appeared in four games and averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, providing floor spacing and frontcourt depth for the Braves. Despite showing flashes of his offensive versatility, his role remained limited as the team continued to adjust its import rotation.

     

    The former USC standout’s release has drawn attention in the Philippines, where he has been closely monitored as a potential naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas. 

     

    Boatwright has been on the radar of national team stakeholders due to his size, shooting ability, and familiarity with international competition, qualities seen as a strong fit for the Philippines’ system.

     

    Boatwright previously expressed openness to representing the Philippines if given the opportunity, and his name has been mentioned in discussions involving future FIBA tournaments, including Asian competitions where a naturalized big man is often a key component of the national team lineup. 

     

    His availability following the split with Taipei Fubon could potentially keep him in contention for Gilas duties, as it opens the door for him to sign with another overseas club or even explore opportunities in leagues with strong ties to Philippine basketball.

     

    For now, Boatwright remains a free agent, with his next move likely to play a significant role in shaping both his professional career and his chances of eventually suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas on the international stage.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate basketball fans.

  • Tim Cone: Ginebra ready to run It back against San Miguel

    Tim Cone: Ginebra ready to run It back against San Miguel

    For Barangay Ginebra, the road to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals has been anything but smooth—and that may be exactly why the Gin Kings feel dangerous heading into another collision with San Miguel. 

     

    After clawing their way out of the brink with a dramatic 99–98 overtime escape against Converge, Ginebra now finds itself staring at a familiar foe, one that ended its All-Filipino campaign a season ago.

     

    The semifinal pairing, set to begin January 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, revives one of the league’s most intense modern rivalries. Last season’s seven-game war still lingers in memory, highlighted by LA Tenorio’s iconic Game 6 dagger before San Miguel ultimately closed the door in the decider. 

     

    That history has not been lost on Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, who sees the rematch as both a challenge and an opportunity.

     

    “We know them, they know us,” said Cone.

     

    “We took them to seven games the last time, so we’ll see if we can flip the script this time around. That’s what we’ll try to do this time, flip the script.”

     

    Momentum, however, is no longer exclusive to the Gin Kings. San Miguel enters the semifinals riding a 10-game winning streak, a remarkable turnaround after opening the conference with back-to-back losses.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

    That surge included an 83–81 win over Ginebra during their lone elimination-round meeting in Dubai, as well as a composed 101–94 quarterfinal victory over NLEX powered by a dominant 20-point, 20-rebound showing from June Mar Fajardo.

     

    “The Beermen are on a 10-game winning streak after starting the conference with a 0-2 record,” added Cone.

     

    Ginebra, though, has quietly built its own rhythm. The overtime triumph against Converge capped a seven-game winning run, featuring two do-or-die victories against the twice-to-beat FiberXers—wins that reinforced the team’s resilience under pressure. For Cone, the Gin Kings’ path to the semifinals has only sharpened their edge.

     

    “We know it’s going to be tough,” according to Cone.

     

    “We don’t play until after the New Year. So we have to think about it, focus on it, and put a game plan all together.”

     

    “The fact that we came from dead to the semifinals, we’re ecstatic about that.”

     

    As the calendar turns and the stakes rise, Ginebra’s latest showdown with San Miguel feels less like a sequel and more like a test of evolution—two powerhouse teams, both peaking at the right time, with history waiting to be rewritten.

     

    Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

     📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!