Unbeaten Eaglets, Bullpups collide

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University and vastly improved National University put their unbeaten records on the line today as they battle for supremacy in the UAAP juniors basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Both sporting identical 4-0 cards, the Eaglets and the Bullpups dispute the top spot when they meet in the 9 a.m. curtain-raiser of another thrilling four-game bill halfway into the first round of competition.

Later in the day, Far Eastern University-FERN takes on Adamson University at 10:45 a.m., followed by the 1 p.m. clash between the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the East. De La Sa-Zobel and the hard-luck University of the Philippines Integrated School wrap up today’s hostilities in the main game at 2:45 p.m.

The Eaglets are coming off a 78-61 whipping of the unpredictable Baby Falcons on Saturday behind the 23-point explosion of Ateneo big man Von Pessumal, who ably relieved main man Kiefer Ravena of the scoring load via an impressive 8-of-13 clip from the field.

Alaska Tops Talk-N-Text in Game 1

QUICK UPDATE:

ALASKA coach Tim Cone knew his bench players needed to come in and contribute in order for them to beat Talk N Text.

Even he was as surprised as the next person with the kind of games his relievers put in as the Aces manhandled the Tropang Texters 104-88 Wednesday at the start of their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Adamson Falcons escape UST Tigers

Adamson University survived the high-wire three-point sniping of an unrelenting University of Santo Tomas (UST) down the stretch to eke out a tough 75-71 win yesterday in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Veteran point guard Lester Alvarez typified the Falcons’ endgame composure in a break-neck second-half duel with the Tigers, who held a 63-60 lead with less than five minutes gone by in the pay-off period.

The third-year Adamson sentinel nailed five straight points anchored on a triple and a squeeze-in lay-up in the crucial 1:34 mark of the fourth to wrest the upperhand for the Falcons, 67-65, before finalizing the count from the stripe.

Celtics to sign Jermaine O'Neal

Danny Ainge, the Boston Celtics general manager confirmed that the Celtics have agreements in place with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen that would keep Boston's new Big Three intact for a run at a third NBA finals in four years. Ainge also said he expects to sign free agent center Jermaine O'Neal to fill in while center Kendrick Perkins recovers from knee surgery.

Pierce agreed last week to a four-year deal worth about $61 million, and Allen agreed on Wednesday to a two-year deal worth $20 million. O'Neal's contract is reportedly for the midlevel exception, about $5.76 million in the first year of a two-year deal.

Kevin Garnett, the other member of the new Big Three that led the Celtics to their record 17th NBA title in 2008, is under contract for two more years, and emerging star Rajon Rondo is locked up through 2014-15. Coach Doc Rivers also put off a long-debated sabbatical to keep the team together.

Source: NBA News

Stoudemire is Ready

The New York Knicks have lost long enough. Amare Stoudemire is ready for what he calls the "start of a new era.''

Stoudemire joined the Knicks on Thursday, coming to a team that has never had a winning season since he entered the league out of high school in 2002.

"It's about challenges and this is definitely the ultimate challenge for myself to eventually bring the Knicks back to where they rightfully belong,'' Stoudemire said at a news conference at Madison Square Garden.

The All-Star power forward agreed to a deal Monday with a team looking to win again after a franchise-worst nine straight losing seasons.

Source and Continue reading: http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/08/amare.signs.ap/index.html

Ray Allen Returns to the Boston Celtics

Ray Allen confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that he has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to return to Boston. With Kevin Garnett under contract, Paul Pierce on the verge of a new four-year deal and coach Doc Rivers also agreeing to return, the Celtics can keep together the core of the 2008 NBA champions for at least two more years.

Clippers introduce Del Negro as their new coach

Vinny Del Negro could have taken it easy after being fired by the Chicago Bulls. They still owe him money, so there was no pressing need to jump back on the NBA coaching carousel.

Still, he couldn't resist.

Del Negro agreed to a three-year deal to coach the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, taking over a team that went 29-53 last season and missed the playoffs for the 15th time in 17 years.