Pinoy Pride 7 on ABS-CBN

AJ Banal stakes his seven-fight winning streak against Canadian brawler Tyson Cave at the newly constructed Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The 22-year-old banal tangles with Cave on July 30 in a 12-round fight for the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight title.

Toting a 24-1 card, including 19 by KOs, Banal has won his last seven bouts since suffering a 10-round knockout loss to former world title challenger Rafael Concepcion in 2008.

The Banal-Cave showdown will headline `Pinoy Pride 7: Battle at Mactan,’a fight card being held under the partnership of ALA Promotions and network giant ABS-CBN.

Support Azkals With ABS-CBN Merchandise

“We Believe!” ... for the Philippine National Football team or the Azkals.

Now that the Azkals is about to face team Kuwait, they’re once again calling for our countrymen’s support by wearing Azkals merchandise such dog tags, emblem and logo caps, watches, and men's padded shirts, which are now available in the ABS-CBN Store, http://abscbnstore.multiply.com. Reservations and bulk orders can also be made through store@abs-cbn.com. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Sports airs live the leg two of Philippines versus Kuwait match on Studio 23 at 5:30pm, with replays on July 29, 3p.m. on Balls Channel and on July 30, 7a.m. on ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Football Fever Heats Up on Studio 23

Mistulang fiesta bukas (Hulyo 28) para sa mga Pilipinong football fans dahil ihahatid ng ABS-CBN Sports ang dalawang malalaking laban tampok ang mga sikat na football superstars na sina David Beckham at Thierry Henry at ang sarili nating Philippine Azkals football team sa Studio 23.

Bago pa man sumipa sina Phil Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, at Neil Etheridge para sa Azkals laban sa Kuwait, haharapin muna ng mga Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Stars na sina Beckham at Henry ang premyadong koponan na Manchester United ng English Premier League para sa MLS All-Star game ngayong taon.

Ikalawang sunod na pagsabak na ito ng Manchester United Red Devils, sa pangunguna nina Wayne Rooney, sa MLS All-Star Game. Noong 2010, tinalo nila ang All-Stars sa score na 5-2.

Alamin kung makakabawi ang MLS All-Stars sa kanila via satellite mula sa Red Bull Arena sa New Jersey, USA sa Studio 23 ng 8:30am.

Samantala, susubukan ding gumanti ng Philippine Azkals sa Kuwait sa ikalawang leg ng kanilang World Cup Qualifying match bukas din (Hulyo 28) sa Rizal Memorial Stadium naman.

Kailangang bumawi ang Team Azkals sa 0-3 na pagkatalo nila sa unang paghaharap nila sa Kuwait. Malakas naman ang kumpiyansa ng koponan at ng kanilang mga taga-suporta dahil magbabalik na ang mga nasuspindeng player na sina Stephan Schrock at team captain Aly Borromeo.

Abangan ang makasaysayang pag-atake ng Azkals sa Studio 23 ng 5:30pm. Panoorin muli ang kanilang laban sa replays sa Biyernes (Hulyo 29) ng 3pm sa Balls Channel at sa Sabado (Hulyo 30) ng 7am sa ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Tuloy ang football fever sa bansa bukas. Huwag palampasin ang MLS All-Stars vs. Manchester United sa ganap na 8:30am at Azkals vs. Kuwait naman sa 5:30pm sa Studio 23.

Philippine Azkals Vs. Kuwait Live on ABS-CBN!

The Philippine Azkals football team tries to make history anew as they go head-to-head with Asian football powerhouse Kuwait in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Catch the first leg of this exciting match-up tonight (July 23) as ABS-CBN Sports beams the match live from Kuwait on ABS-CBN Channel 2 at 11:30pm. The match will be aired again on Sunday (July 24) at 9:30am on ABS-CBN, 3pm on Balls Channel, and 10pm on Studio 23.

Fresh from a triumphant effort against Sri Lanka in the first round, the team led by the Phil and James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Chieffy Caligdong, and Angel Giriado went straight to training and preparation for Kuwait, which is currently ranked 102nd in the world.

Although entering the field as underdogs, the 159th ranked Azkals are dead set in continuing their rise in the international football scene and bringing glory to the nation.

The current success of the Azkals has boosted the popularity of the sport of football in the country. While more and more people are gaining interest in playing and/or watching the sport, the team’s players are also enjoying celebrity status, with some of them already becoming product endorsers.

ABS-CBN Sports is also credited for bringing the Azkals’ matches to free TV, enabling Filipinos to see and support the team whether in home or away games.

Leg two of Philippines versus Kuwait will happen on July 28 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. ABS-CBN Sports will air this match live on Studio 23 at 5:30pm with replays on July 29, 3pm on Balls Channel and on July 30, 7am on ABS-CBN Channel 2.

UAAP Season 74 Kicks Off!

The 74th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) kicks off with an Olympic-style opening ceremony today at 4 p.m. at the Marikina Sports Park.

Over 12,000 athletes, program participants, students, alumni, and fans are expected to attend the event.

All athletes in 15 sports will march around the Marikina Sports Park’s track oval to highlight the affair.

UAAP President Ricky Palou and secretary-treasurer Emmanuel Fernandez will head the guest list that includes Ateneo President Fr. Jett Villarin, the entire UAAP board, the 8 member-schools’ top officials, alumni and students.

Former Ateneo standout and PBA superstar Olsen Racela will light the cauldron to signify the opening of the season that will carry the theme “All Heart. All Out.”

Another highlight of the affair is the solemn entry of colors where the cadets of host school Ateneo will bring in a 60-x-30-feet flag.

University of Santo Tomas (UST), the perennial general champion, has the most number of athletes who will join the parade with 627, followed by University of the East (UE) with 512.

University of the Philippines (UP) will bring in 425 athletes, De La Salle University with 417, Adamson University with 300, Far Eastern University with 300, and National University (NU) with 260.

According to Palou, the idea for a 2-hour Olympic-style ceremony was brought up 3 years ago.

“But the serious work started in January this year and the actual rehearsals began in April,” said opening ceremony project head Benjo Afuang.

Afuang said they will use around 4,000 color-coded umbrellas in the event of rain.

Fernandez said only a storm will be able to stop the ceremony.

The ceremony will end with a free concert featuring Sponge Cola, The Itchyworms, Kjwan, and a fireworks display.

In men's basketball, three-peat champions the Ateneo Blue Eagles remain the favorite to win the tournament.

Fans are also eagerly awaiting the debut of several rookies. These include Keifer Ravena and 7-footer Greg Slaughter of Ateneo, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr., son of former Philippine Basketball Association import Bobby Parks, who is suiting up for the NU Bulldogs.

Norman Black, coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, said they are ready for the season.

"One of the key things this year is going to be the fact that we have to remain hungry. When I say that, it really starts in practice. We have to work hard, and practice every day, [and] understand that all the teams would be trying to shoot us down," he said.

Eric Altamirano, coach of the NU Bulldogs, on the other hand, said, "I expect our team to be fighting it out. We're gonna give it our best shot. We're confident. We're optimistic that we'll be able to compete with the top teams."

The men's basketball games start on July 10.