How Stockport County became ‘bigger than Manchester United’ in China

South China Morning Post - Oct 22, 2026

Around six years ago, during one of his 105 visits to China, Steve Bellis was approached by a Scotsman at a British Council function. “He said, ‘Remind me to tell you my Stockport County story before I leave’,” Bellis said. “I said, ‘Hang on a minute, I do the Stockport County stories around here’.” The president of the high-flying League One club, which he first joined 37 years ago, Bellis does indeed boast an endless stream of tales about his beloved Stockport. The man from Glasgow’s was...

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SMB stuns NLEX; Magnolia seals top seed in Group B
Oct 22, 2026

SMB stuns NLEX; Magnolia seals top seed in Group B

San Miguel Beer completed a stunning 135-133 comeback win on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City as the Beermen prepare for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup playoffs. Robert Bolick was called for a goal-interference after pulling the net following a two-point attempt by San Miguel import George King with 5.2 seconds. The infraction pushed the Beermen ahead for good, 135-133. NLEX rookie guard LJ Gonzales then missed a  three-point attempt in the dying seconds with SMB veteran Chris Ross grabbing the rebound to complete the Beermen’s comeback from a 20-point deficit. While San Miguel tied NLEX at 9-3 to close the elims, the Road Warriors still secured the top seed in Group A heading to the playoffs due to a superior quotient. Thus, NLEX will take on the fourth-ranked team from Group B in the next round. King led the Beermen with 27 points, June Mar Fajardo had 26 and 10 rebounds, while Don Trollano 23. In the second game, Magnolia squeaked past Rain or Shine, 107-103, to secure the No. 1 seed in Group B. The Hotshots ended the elims with  7-3 record to top Group B and will face No. 4 seed TNT from Group A, the defending champion, in the quarterfinals. Javi Gomez De Liano led Magnolia with 19 points on six triples, Peter Alfaro had 17, while Jerome Lastimosa and import KJ Buffen 16 each. The Elasto Painters on the other; hand, dropped to a tie for second spot at Group B with the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 5-4 with the final playdate this Friday, determining the final seeding. Adrian Nocum led Rain or Shine with 25 points, while Aaron fuller added 18. The Beermen, who lost by 14 points to the Road Warriors the first time they met, have to settle for the No. 2 slot and will battle the third-ranked Group B team in the best-of-five quarterfinals.