Tim Cone, Scottie Thompson shift focus to Gilas duties

Inquirer.net - Nov 11, 2026

ANTIPOLO—Scottie Thompson and coach Tim Cone immediately shifted their focus after Barangay Ginebra survived San Miguel Beer in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals. And it isn’t Rondae-Hollis Jefferson and TNT just yet. Thompson, Cone and the Gin Kings turned back the Beermen, 110-94, on Tuesday at Ynares Center in the deciding Game 5 of their

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PBA admits wrong call in Ginebra-San Miguel Game 4, suspends ref
Nov 10, 2026

PBA admits wrong call in Ginebra-San Miguel Game 4, suspends ref

ANTIPOLO—The PBA acknowledged it made an erroneous call in Game 4 of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, and said it has suspended one of its referees for the remainder of the playoffs. Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the official, whom he did not name, should have called

NCAA: San Beda claims Group A top seed with Benilde rout
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UAAP: Louie Alas laments ‘inappropriate’ actions in Ateneo loss to UP
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MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo coach Louie Alas apologized on Tuesday after an on-court confrontation with University of the Philippines player Jacob Bayla on Saturday. With less than a second left in the Blue Eagles’ 82-74 loss to the Fighting Maroons, Alas entered the court, pointed at Bayla and cursed at him following the forward’s dunk with the

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Cesar bags PH’s first medal at Dakar Youth Olympics
Nov 10, 2026

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Alas apologizes for behavior in UAAP game
Nov 10, 2026

Alas apologizes for behavior in UAAP game

ATENEO de Manila University Blue Eagles head coach Louie Alas on Tuesday apologized for his behavior at the conclusion of last Saturday’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) game against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Alas was involved in a heated confrontation at the end of Saturday’s Blue Eagles 82-74 loss against the Maroons. He was suspended for two UAAP games as a result. “Regardless of the circumstances, my actions were inappropriate. I should have exercised greater restraint and better judgment. I take full responsibility for my conduct and accept the consequences,” Alas said in a statement posted on the Ateneo website. “I understand the disappointment my actions have caused, particularly among those who expect everyone representing Ateneo to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, respect and self-discipline. These are expectations I share and deeply respect,” he added. Ateneo will next play the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Wednesday. ARIC JOHN SY CUA

Gilas sets formidable frontcourt for FIBA tilt
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IF plans don’t miscarry, Gilas Pilipinas expects a loaded front court for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Coach Tim Cone is keeping his fingers crossed that no injury bug will hit big men led by Kai Sotto, Quentin Millora-Brown, AJ Edu and Mike Phillips, as all four players are expected to be available for the November window. “Yes, barring any injury between now and then,” Cone said, when asked by The Manila Times about the availability of the four big men. The 7-3 Sotto has returned to action for his Japan B.League team Altira Chiba after missing seven games due to a knee issue. He played the first four games for the season, before being held back due to the injury. The Filipino big man has played in the team’s last two games, averaging six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of play. Sotto’s size, coupled by the presence of QMB, who currently plays for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, along with Phillips (Kyoto Hannaryz) and Edu (Gunma Crane Thunders), will give Cone the luxury of a stratospheric frontline heading to the penultimate window of the FIBA Asian Qualifiers. Cone recently said Gilas will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov. 21, with the team, while Bennie Boatwright, the team’s new naturalized player, will follow on Nov. 23. The PBA is scheduled to halt the playoffs for the Season 50 Governors’ Cup after Tuesday’s sudden death Game 5 of the quarterfinal series between San Miguel Beer and Ginebra to give way to Gilas’ FIBA tournament. Gilas has less than a week to prepare before plunging to action on Nov. 27 against Syria, followed by Iran on Nov. 30 in Seremban, an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Tigers growl for Final Four push
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Tigers growl for Final Four push

LOOKING to stay in the thick of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball Final Four spot hunt, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) faces University of the East (UE) at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. The fifth-running Growling Tigers take on the already-eliminated yet dangerous Red Warriors at 2:30 p.m. While the 5-6 UST snapped its three-game skid to boost its Final Four bid with an 86-85 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) last Sunday, repeating against the cellar-dwelling 1-10, UE doesn’t look easy to pull off. The Red Warriors finally took their first win of the season last Saturday, ending a 30-game skid dating back to Season 87 with a 53-47 win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons. Facing a loose UE side that just came off its first win in two years to begin its three-game semis push, the Pido Jarencio-mentored UST knows it will face a tough challenge. “If you look at our practices, they became harder. They became more intense. They became more focused more than anything, and that’s the spirit that we want to continue,” said Growling Tigers assistant coach Peter Martin. “Even if we win the last three games, we’re not assured of a Final Four spot yet. We just want to finish well, one game at a time. We know that UE already has won, so that’s actually terrifying.” Firing 23 points last timeout, Amiel Acido looks to lead the charge anew for the Growling Tigers and sweep their elimination round series against the Paolo Hubalde-coached Red Warriors. Opposite Acido as well as Landyn Jumawan and Mark Llemit is Toper Lagat, whose offensive exploits finally translated to a UE victory last Saturday. Lagat punched 14 points, four rebounds and two steals against Adamson, while also drawing help from Mo Tañedo and JM Edoukou, who added 14 and 13 points, respectively. “I think they started to believe in what they can do,” said Hubalde. “On top of that, they’re starting to believe in the system. I told them that as long as you give everything on the court, basketball will love us back.” Tied with the Growling Tigers in fifth place with a 5-6 slate, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles are likewise making their final push for a Final Four spot. Ateneo takes on the seventh-running, 4-7, and desperate Adamson side, which is essentially on the brink of elimination at 5 p.m. The Blue Eagles are coming off a 74-82 loss to the top seed and 9-2 UP Fighting Maroons last Saturday, while the Soaring Falcons fell victim to the Red Warriors to suffer their fourth straight defeat. NIEL VICTOR MASOY

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