Isports ATBP.

University of Perpetual Help System Dalta coach Aric Del Rosario believes his Altas do not hold any advantage and are evenly matched with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers as they shoot for their second straight win in the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament. "We are evenly matched. Wala naman akong itinatagong players. Kung ano ang line-up namin sa Filoil (preseason tournament) iyon na ‘yun,” said Del Rosario, who will try to steer the Altas against the Heavy Bombers in the 6 p.m. main game of a scheduled double-header on Monday at The Arena in San Juan City. Both Perpetual Help and JRU won their respective opening day matches against separate foes. The Altas are fresh from a 69-49 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday while the Heavy Bombers kicked off their campaign with an 83-72 drubbing of Mapua. Veterans Earl Thompson and Harold Arboleda, along with Nigerian big man Nosa Omorogbe and rookie Juneric Baloria are again...

An injured Denver Cuello failed in his first title bid, losing to World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Xiong Zhao Zhong of China via majority decision on Friday at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 26-year-old Cuello, who holds a three-and-a-half-inch edge in reach and three-inch height advantage, managed to knock down the Chinese champion in the first round but was forced to finish the fight using one hand after sustaining a torn rotator cuff on his right shoulder. Xiong, who is defending his 105-pound title for the first after beating Mexican Javier Martinez Resendiz via unanimous decision last November, came back and dropped the challenger in the fourth round. Judge John Keane saw the fight on even terms at 113-113, while Roman Filimonov and Sergio Izonzo scored it for the champion at 115-112 and 113-110, respectively. The southpaw from Cabatuan, Iloilo suffered only his fifth loss against 33 wins and six draws with 21 of his vi...

We  don't depend on one individual player alone to win us games. Kent Cruz   San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson believes having no superstar player on their roster for the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season is working to their advantage. "What's special with this team is we don't depend on one individual player alone to win us games. It is a collective effort," said Robinson after his Golden Stags escaped with a 78-76 win over a powerhouse Arellano University side on Thursday. On Paper, the Chiefs have the edge after finishing a strong second in Group A of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Premier Cup with a 6-2 card even beating three-time NCAA champion San Beda in the elimination round. Arellano made it to the quarterfinals stage of the said preseason tournament but the University of Santo Tomas Tigers quashed the Chiefs' hopes of entering the semis. The Chiefs even have a much-experienced lineup composed of P...

Denver Cuello is armed, ready and confident to finally become a world boxing champion when he takes on World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title holder Xiong Zhao Zhong of China on Friday night at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 26-year-old Cuello has waited for almost three years for this title shot as he hopes to join a dwindling list of Filipino world champions that include World Boxing Organization (WBO) strawweight titlist Merlito Sabio (22–0–0 with 11 knockouts), WBO light-flyweight holder Donnie Nietes (31–1–4 with 17 KOs) and International Boxing Federation king John Riel Casimero (18–2–0 with 10 KOs). "I’ve waited for the past three years for this moment. I’ve always wanted to fight a top contender and now finally Dubai has made my dream come true," said Cuello (33-4-6 with 21 KOs) in an interview with GulfNews.com. His eight-week training camp, which concluded at the K.O. Gym in Dubai Marina, included hours of watching tapes...

Teen star Bea Binene takes on a new role as Wushu Federation of the Philippines' (WFP) Wushu Ambassador to help the national sports association with its development program and promote the upcoming 2013 Asian Junior Wushu Championships, set August 8 to 12. Part of Binene's duty as Wushu Ambassador is to go around the country and promote the sport that she learned to love three years ago. The Kapuso youngster is no stranger to the sport after winning a bronze medal in the changquan event during the 2010 National Wushu Championships, the same year she started training under coach and former world champion Michael Co of Team Discovery. Binene, who will turn 16 on November 4, is aiming to find time to return to training in the hopes of someday representing the country in an international competition. "I would love to return to training daily. I just could not find the time with my busy showbiz schedule. You need at least eight hours every day to train,” said Binen...

Young golf prodigy Sean Dominique Granada's family wants him to enjoy every moment of each golf tournament to avoid pressure. Winning a crown is just an added bonus. From his parents, Chrisaram Villacrusis Granada and Leriza Yumang Granada to grandfather and coach Vic Granada, the eight-year-old has their full backing. "We just want him to live his dream and be proud of whatever he has achieved," said Vic a Philippine Golf Association of the Philippines member. Sean beating 13 other bets in his division to win the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship Qualifier International last May 15 to 17 is another proud moment for their family. The Don Bosco Technical College third grader earned a qualifying spot for the 2013 tournament to be held at the Dr. Leroy Culver and John Dunn Tucker-designed layout from July 29 to August 5 at Pinehurst No. 1 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Granada is aiming to join the list of five-time winners Dottie Ardina, Clare ...

Fitness coach Hazel Chua assists fellow mentor Ken  Benton in showing how a proper push-up is done. Jumping jacks, squats, push-ups and lunges. These may seem like easy and ordinary exercises to you. The same boring exercises you've been doing every gym class during your elementary years. But try doing three intense sets in four minutes and it will surely test your fitness level. I had the chance to try the so-called Metabolic Fitness Program developed by coach Jim Saret after I got invited a few days ago to attend the Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp. It was easy at first but the fun really started when you feel your heart rate increase and, coach Hazel Chua and Irene Rafil egged you on to do as many repetitions as you can. The lively group that joined the late afternoon session of the  Medicard-Metafit  Fitness Boot Camp at Medicard Lifestyle Center in Makati City. I can already feel a burning sensation in my leg and calf muscles, hal...