UAAP Season 76 opens this Saturday: NU, UE tagged as favorites

BOBBY RAY PARKS. Source: http://ph.sports.yahoo.com

The National University (NU) Bulldogs and the University of the East Red (UE) Warriors, finalists in the recently concluded FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup, are among the favorites to win the men's basketball crown in Season 76 of the UAAP.

In a press conference held at the Mall of Asia Arena Tuesday, nearly all the UAAP coaches agreed that the Red Warriors and the Bulldogs should be considered as top title contenders.

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury visits Manila

FORMER NBA STAR STEPHON MARBURY. Source: http://bucketsoverbroadway.com

Former NBA star and current Chinese Basketball Association standout Stephon Marbury is in Manila to promote his “Starbury” shoe and apparel line and also to announce his support for the Ahon Pamilyang Lansangan Foundation Inc., an organization which helps liver transplant patients.

In a press conference dubbed as “Bigger than Basketball” at the NPC office in Intramuros, Manila on June 25, Marbury greeted young basketball fans as he was welcomed by National Press Club (NPC) President Benny Antiporda.

Nadal suffers recurring Wimbledon nightmare

RAFAEL NADAL. Source: http://www.fanpop.com

LONDON (Reuters) - From green and pleasant land, Wimbledon's grasscourts must now resemble a minefield for Rafa Nadal who, for the second year in succession on Monday, suffered a shock defeat by a modest opponent playing the match of his life.

A year after Czech Lukas Rosol ambushed the 12-times grand slam champion in the second round, Nadal came up against inspired Belgian Steve Darcis in the first and was soundly beaten 7-6(4) 7-6(8) 6-4.

Chris Bosh may be the odd man out

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BOSH? Source: http://solecollector.com

Just days after the Heat won their second consecutive championship, and many are wondering what’s next for this super-team.

It’s a certainty that LeBron James will remain as the franchise’s, and planet Earth’s, top player. Meanwhile, Dwayne Wade is the most loved player in Miami. He earned the right to decide for himself where and when will he leave, if ever he wanted that.

Which leaves the Big 3’s Game 7-scoreless third member, Chris Bosh, the hot topic on what the Miami Heat should do next to achieve a historic three-peat.

Confirmed: Doc Rivers to coach LA Clippers

COACH DOC RIVERS. Source: http://bleacherreport.com by Harry How/Getty Images

Days of on-again, off-again negotiations to move Celtics coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers has finally been completed as reported at NBA.com.

For the rights to Rivers, the Clippers agreed to send the Celtics a first-round draft pick in 2015. The pick will not be lottery-protected.

This is the first significant move to confirm that the Celtics organization is in a rebuilding mode; it also shows the Clippers remain set on winning a title.

Kobe on Dwight: ‘Lock Him In’

ALL LOCKED UP. Source: NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant told ESPNLA 710 radio that the team needs to re-sign center Dwight Howard, who is set to be a free agent this July 1.

“It’s not like you have guys like Dwight Howard walking around every day. Those guys are hard to find. They don’t grow on trees,” Bryant said of Howard. “When you have somebody like that with his talent level, you have to be able to keep him and lock him in with this franchise.”

“With the history this franchise has with great centers, this, in my opinion, would be the perfect spot for him,” Kobe added.

Kobe Bryant Radio Transcript

THE BLACK MAMBA. Source: http://blog.lakers.com

Kobe Bryant joined Lakers.com's Mike Trudell and John Ireland on ESPN LA710 radio to discuss various topics, including his progress after surgery, Dwight Howard's impending free agency decision, as well as the NBA Finals. Below is a transcription of the interview:

Tim Duncan introspection: ‘Game 7 is always going to haunt me’

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY. Source: http://www.sbnation.com by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Duncan is a symbol of basketball stability. He is the foundation of one of the steadiest, most consistent and disciplined teams in the NBA.

That’s why we couldn’t paint his face after Miami’s 95-88 Game 7 win yesterday. Even as he answers the media questions, Duncan, looking more like a devastated widower than a face of a franchise, found it difficult to verbalize his thoughts.

Duncan and the Spurs had to win just one of two games to claim the 2013 NBA championship. One game for title No. 5 and a place of glory only a few has ever reached.

Instead, San Antonio’ mighty cornerstone tasted defeat for the first time in the NBA finals. Something he is very unfamiliar with.

LeBron gets his 2nd straight ring

King James. Source: csnwashington.com by Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James can rest as long as he wants.

He's now a two-time NBA champion and a two-time Finals MVP.

After two years of almost-constant basketball, James still found a way to be at his absolute best in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and simply controlled everything down the stretch, as the Heat won the title with a 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

Heat cools off Spurs in epic Game 7 to win 2013 NBA title

CROWN HIM KING AGAIN! Source: espn.go.com by David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald/MCT

The Miami Heat are the 2013 NBA champions. And the Spurs made them earn every last bit of that second straight title.

In a game fitting of what we’ve come to expect from these two teams in this series, LeBron James put on a jump-shooting display that resulted in his scoring 37 points, and being named the Finals MVP in leading the Heat to the championship in a dramatic 95-88 Game 7 win over the Spurs.

“It was odd, all year he had been the best perimeter jump shooter in the league, even though he’s an attacker and got to the rim, to the free‑throw line,” Erik Spoelstra said of LeBron’s outside shooting. “By the numbers he was phenomenal from 15 to 22 feet, and even from three. But their game plan was to really keep him out of the paint at all costs, and that meant giving him wide‑open looks. That was the case, and it probably messed with us a little bit. It takes you a little bit out of your normal rhythm. But eventually he was able to figure it out.”