SPORTS

COTABATO CITY -- Two Filipino boxers make their presence felt in the scene after they separately demolished their opponents in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday (Sunday, Manila time).

Flyweight Genisis Libranza has overwhelmed American Carlos Maldonado in the dying seconds of fourth round, scoring big as the referee stopped the fight in favor of the Davao City-based fighter.

Libranza’s record has improved to 19-1 with 10 knockouts.  Maldonado now has 4 losses and 11 wins in his career.

COTABATO CITY --- Residents of Basilan’s adjoining Lamitan and Isabela cities can view for free Sunday’s bout between global boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman in public gymnasiums.

Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay announced Friday residents can watch the fight, to start 9:00 a.m. Sunday, at the public gymnasium behind their city hall.

She said the gymnasium shall jointly be secured by soldiers and police personnel based in Lamitan City.

KIDAPAWAN CITY  -- North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco today vowed to push her sports and youth development programs by opening the North Cotabato provincial gymnasium to all sports enthusiasts.

This is after the former administration closed the facility to public use and limited its use solely to government functions.

“Opening the provincial gymnasium is my administration’s gesture of pushing for massive sports program in the province,” Catamco, a first termer governor, said in a statement.

Calvin Abueva of the Phoenix Fuel Masters was indefinitely suspended by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and was fined P70,000.00 (P20,000.00 for engaging with a fan in a verbal altercation and for making obscene gestures, and P50,000.00 for a F2 against Terrence Jones). Abueva figured prominently in the last two games of the Fuel Masters, but on the negative side.

FIVE rings to adorn this San Miguel dynasty.

The Beermen extended their reign in the PBA Philippine Cup in dramatic fashion, overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat Magnolia, 72-71, in a Game Seven to remember on Wednesday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

June Mar Fajardo collared a PBA-record 31 rebounds while Alex Cabagnot hit the game's biggest shot, converting a fall-away jumper with 57.2 seconds for what proved to be the marginal basket, 72-71, in a see-sawing game of wildly changing fortunes.

COTABATO CITY - Athletes from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) bagged a total of 19 medals in the recently concluded 2019 Palarong Pambansa.

The Palarong Pambansa was held in Davao City from April 27 to May 4.

To recognize the efforts of the athletes, the Bangsamoro Government awarded today, cash rewards to those who won medals in the national games.

P20,000 cash were given to each of the gold medalists, P15,000 each to silver, and P10,000 each to bronze medalists.

DAVAO CITY -- Hindi makapaniwala ang dose anyos at T’boli Player na si Hazel Domocum ng Banga, South Cotabato na makasungkit ito ng Gold medal sa huling sabak sa Palarong Pambansa na ginaganap ngayon sa Davao City.

Hindi lamang simpleng tagumpay ang natamo ni Domocum dahil nabuwag nito ang 5.07 meters record sa long jump girls/elementary na naitala ng taga Western Visayas na si Alyssa Marie Andrade sa Palarong Pambansa sa Tarlac noong 2010.