The Philippine Basketball Association opens its 37th Season on Sunday with the same teams listed as favorites headed by Talk ‘N Text, which is boosting its stock with Japeth Aguilar.

Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 beanpole who played collegiate ball with Western Kentucky in the US NCAA, will play his first full season as a pro with the Tropang Texters, who came within two wins of pulling off a grand slam last year.

Aguilar was picked first overall by Burger King three years ago but held out and was later traded to Talk ‘N Text.

“With Japeth joining the squad, we are looking forward to another great season,” Pato Gregorio, the alternate member of the board for the PLDT franchise, told reporters during the launch on Thursday at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

Petron Blaze, the squad that fought tooth-and-nail to hold off the Talk ‘N Text grand slam bid in the Governors’ Cup, remains a powerhouse even without Jay Washington and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

And B-Meg, which will be coached for the first time by the multi-titled Tim Cone, is listed as one of the teams to beat with the compliment of a complete, healthy lineup.

“I can’t be modest, we have a strong lineup,” said Rene Pardo, the former chair and B-Meg board member, during the launch.

The Llamados will welcome back Kerby Raymundo and former Rookie of the Year Rico Maierhofer into the lineup.

B-Meg will continue to be led by two-time MVP James Yap and gunslinger Peter June Simon, who will play under the triangle offense for the first time under Cone.

“Sheer talent alone can bring us to victory,” Pardo said, as his squad debuts on Friday against the rock-solid Boosters at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

Rain or Shine clashes with Barangay Ginebra in the only game scheduled on Sunday at 6 p.m. with the Gin Kings also to play under a new coach in the returning Siot Tanquingcen vice Jong Uichico.

The Texters and Aguilar, who completed two years of national duty with the Smart-Gilas program, will see action on Friday against sister squad Meralco.

I'm SORRY

BEIJING—World number one Novak Djokovic apologized to his fans on Twitter Friday after pulling out of the China Open with a back injury he aggravated during Serbia’s Davis Cup semi-final defeat.

“Because of my back injury, which is very particular, and restrains me from rotating my upper body in serve motion, I am not able to compete on the professional level”, he tweeted.

“I have tried to hit a couple of balls to test my body, but unfortunately, I still feel pain”, the Serb added, who had needed treatment on his back during his US Open final win.

After the Davis Cup semi-final earlier this month, Djokovic was told by doctors that he would need a month of rest.

But he was seen running around a Belgrade football pitch this week in a charity exhibition match.

His participation in the Shanghai Masters starting on October 9 appears to be in doubt. World number three Roger Federer has already withdrawn from that event due to injury, insisting he needs rest after a gruelling year.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet is also out as he battles a wrist injury, organizers said.

Gasquet suffered the injury playing in the Davis Cup semi-final loss to Spain though he played through the pain barrier in reaching the last eight on home ground at Metz last week.

Djokovic could be joined as an absentee from next week’s WTA-ATP tournament by Maria Sharapova.

The second-ranked Russian rolled her ankle on Thursday in a Tokyo loss to Petra Kvitova and quit trailing 4-3 in their quarter-final.

http://sports.inquirer.net

Sports Trivia Questions Answers 

What sport used the term "home run" long before baseball?
Answer: Cricket.

Who was the first U.S. volleyball player to win three Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Karch Kiraly.

What was the only team to win two World Series in the 1980's?
Answer: The Los Angeles Dodgers.

What NFL team is known as the "ain'ts" when on a losing streak?
Answer: The New Orleans Saints.

What's an NBA player deemed to be if he's received the Maurice Podoloff Trophy?
Answer: The most valuable player.

What Washington Capitals goalie earned the nicknames "Ace" and "Net Detective"?
Answer: Jim Carey.  Sports trivia questions answers.

What NBA team plays home games in the Alamo dome?
Answer: The San Antonio Spurs.

Who graciously switched to number 77 so Phil Esposito's number 7 could be retired in Boston Garden?
Answer:  Raymond Bourque

What company's logo is called the "swoosh"?
Answer: Nike's

What Red Sox catcher's erect posture earned him the clubhouse nickname "Frankenstein"?
Answer: Carlton Fisk's

What sport did Herve Filion top with a record of 14,084 wins?
Answer: Harness racing.

What team hired the NFL's first professional cheerleading squad, in 1972?
Answer: The Dallas Cowboys.

Funny sports pictures of animals doing competitive sports and printed on mugs, t shirts and other products. Amazingly Funny Animals!  Cat Wrestling, Dogs arm wrestling, Elephants on Tightropes and more incredible animal antics!

What Native American language was Super Bowl XXX the first to be broadcast in?
Answer: Navajo.

What nickname do boxing fans call 300-pound Eric Esch, King of the Four-Rounders?
Answer: Butterbean.

What 1995 World Series teams were both picketed by the American Indian Movement?
Answer: The Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians.

What diet drink was hyped by Coca-Cola for having only only calorie, in 1963?
Answer: Tab.

What comic actor scored huge sales with his Bad Golf Made Easy instructional videos?
Answer: Leslie Nielsen

What country fielded 1996 Olympic women's teams that won gold in basketball, soccer and softball?
Answer:  The U.S.

What Grand Slam golf tournament has the most clubhousers sipping mint juleps?
Answer: The Masters.

Who is the only tennis player to have won each of the four grand slam events at least four times?
Answer: Steffi Graf.

What decade saw names first appear on the backs of NFL jerseys?
Answer: The 1960's.

Who was able to set NFL rushing records because of his "big but" according to Chicago Bears trainer Frank Caito?
Answer: Walter Payton.

What position must college footballers play to receive the Davey O'Brien Award?
Answer: Quarterback.

What disorder did Muhammad Ali develop after years of catching blows?
Answer: Parkinson's syndrome.

What are the only three European countries to have won soccer's World Cup?
Answer: England, Italy, West Germany.

What is  the common term for the tennis ailment "lateral humeral epicondylitis"?
Answer: Tennis Elbow.

What racing competition became a best-of-nine series in 1995?
Answer: The America's Cup.

Who was the first athlete to rap at a Pro Bowl musical gala in 1995?
Answer: Deion Sanders.

What woman won five U.S. figure skating titles from 6 to 173, but never an Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Janet Lynn.

Who was the first female jockey to win five races in one day at a New York track?
Answer: Julie Krone

What teams played in the first all-California Super Bowl?
Answer: The San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers.

What two players are tied for second behind Ty Cobb in total career runs?
Answer: Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.

You Got it!

Mikee Cojuangco is one of the few artists that I really admire. Aside from her beauty, intelligence and poise, she is known to be a great horse rider athlete. She has competed in many international competitions already. I really do admire her a lot. Even when she already got married, she still pursued her number one love, horse riding. I guess she is doing it not for money or for fame, but most importantly to prove something to herself and most of all to do what she loves doing. There was a time wherein she joined a horse riding competition, and she almost fell on her saddle while riding on the horse. Do you still remember that? I was so nervous for her at that time. Good thing it went just fine in the end, because she simply never gave up. I’m not interested in horse riding, cause I don’t think I can communicate to the horse and manage him. But, while looking at www.theequestriancorner.com, it just made me want to do horse back riding. They do sell horse riding apparel, including saddles, riding boots, helmets, clothes, blankets and a lot more. They got all you need. I wonder where Mikee bought the saddle for her horse? Mikee? She’s the woman in a saddle.

PHILIPPINE VOLCANOES FIRES UP

Philippine Rugby Team

The official rugby team of the Philippines brought home the silver medal from the Borneo Sevens last September 25, 2011.

Although the team known as the Philippine Volcanoes lost the game to Japan with the score of 0-46, the team was still happy to bring home the silver medal and proved to the world that Filipinos can win in prestigious competitions like the Borneo Sevens.

This win made Philippine Volcanoes ensured a slot for the Hong Kong Sevens. The team is expected to perform well as said by sports analysts just like what they did in Borneo.

It was the first time that RP’s rugby team made it to the finals of Borneo Sevens. Rugby, despite of being a foreign sport in the country, is now making a big mark in Filipino games just like football.

According to Volcanoes’ members’ in an interview, rugby is a good sport for the Filipinos because it does not require height different from other sports like basketball and volleyball.

The team is now training after their return from Borneo for their next competition weeks from now.

         

       Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No. 1, he is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated $90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010. Woods has won 14 professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player (Jack Nicklaus leads with 18), and 71 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour. Additionally, Woods is only the second golfer, after Jack Nicklaus, to have achieved a career Grand Slam three times. Woods has won 16 World Golf Championships, and has won at least one of those events each of the 11 years they have been in existence. Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record ten times.

http://www.tmz.com/

The game of sepak takraw has long been dominated by Thailand and Malaysia, with the former getting the upper hand in the last few years.

IMHO, the greatest / at least the most famous sepak takraw players from these 2 countries include the following individuals:

Thailand

(i) Suebsak Phunsueb, some say the greatest ever, the Pele / Maradona of sepak takraw. Famed for his “horse service” which can reach 100mph (160kmh). This type of service was introduced relatively recently, in 1995, and it’s a much more aggresive type of service compared to the traditional one. It has been used to devastating effect, perhaps best exemplified in the 1998 Asiad when, in the final, Malaysia’s top regu was convincingly beaten 3-15, 8-15 by Suebsak and team. Suebsak’s influence is such that he’s still in the Thailand team at he 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou!

This guy’s shoes must have traction the equivalent to brembo brakes to prevent him from slipping while doing high-speed serves like this

(ii) Kriengkrai Mutalai

(iii) Pakdee Dangwatanapaibul (1980s)

Malaysia

(i) Adnan Saidin, perhaps the greatest sepak takraw player ever produced by Malaysia. Together with master blocker Rehan Mat Din and Ku Halim Ku Musa, they were perhaps the greatest regu ever: often frustrating their great Thailand arch-rivals led by Pakdee.
(ii) Raziman Hassan
(iii) Rehan Mat Din
(iv) Zabidi Shariff
(v) Nordin Sabaruddin
(vi) Norani Adnan
(vii) Ku Halim Ku Musa
(viii) Iskandar Arshad

http://worldrec.info