Kevin Durant joins Stephen Curry, Warriors

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant confirmed Monday he is leaving the club to join the Golden State Warriors.
Durant, the most coveted NBA free agent in basketball, announced his move on the Players Tribune website after what he described as the “most challenging few weeks in my professional life.”
The 27-year-old forward said he was joining the Warriors to enhance his growth as a player and a person.

“The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction,” Durant wrote.
“But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth.”
Durant, a seven-time NBA All Star and the NBA’s MVP in 2014, gives Golden State a formidable weapon as they build towards next season ... click for more http://sports.inquirer.net/215540/kevin-durant-joins-stephen-curry-warriors

THE SECOND GREATEST BALLER OF ALL TIME

by Toto Mortillero

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is widely regarded as the GOAT (greatest of all time) of basketball and I believe that he really is. I also believe that all of the active basketball players in the planet are contesting only for the second greatest. Now the question is this ... who is the second greatest basketball player of all time?

I believe that LeBron James is the second greatest player the basketball world has ever seen, at nineteen years of age he entered the most prestigious basketball league of the world which is the National Basketball Association (NBA) as one of the youngest and he eventually won the Rookie of the Year Award the same year he entered the league.

At 31 LeBron has already reached the NBA finals seven times six of which happened successively which seldomly happens in the league. James also became the youngest NBA player to ever reach 5,000 points, 10,000 points, 15,000 points, 20,000 points and 25,000 points respectively and is expected to be the youngest to reach 30,000 points in NBA history.

LeBron James is a four time regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awardee of the National Basketball Association and just recently got his third Most Valuable Player Award at the NBA Finals. During the 2016 Finals he captained his illustrious NBA Team the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure the NBA Championship after trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-1 and overtake the same and won over the former, bear in mind that no NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-1 deficit.

Because of these reasons I believe that the prediction of those basketball pundits that the then teenager from Akron, Ohio, LeBron James would be the future of basketball came true for I really believe that he really is the second greatest basketball player of all time next to the great Chicago Bull Michael Jordan.

Kobe Paras UCLA disqualification

MANILA, Philippines – Basketball prospect Kobe Paras was reportedly devastated by the news that he did not meet the academic requirements of UCLA, the main reason for his withdrawal from the school’s men’s basketball team.
Speaking recently to Los Angeles-based ABS-CBN reporter Steve Angeles, Kobe’s father Benjie said his was broke down upon hearing the news, which caught them by surprise.
"It was really a surprise for us and of course Kobe was really devastated. I was talking to him, and honestly, he was crying,” the former PBA star said.
Meanwhile, Paras’ Cathedral High School coach William Middlebrooks also said they were shocked by the sudden twist.
"That was a shock to the entire athletic department. Our understanding was as long as he's a full qualifier academically, he'd be in school and for whatever reason, the head of admissions made a different decision. It was taken out of context. I think it came across strange to people. Various people interpret it the way they interpreted it but we don't know what the reason is. Even the principal has not talked to anybody at UCLA admissions so therefore whatever the reason is they chose to make this decision we don't have a fact to as why they made the decision," Angeles quoted Middlebrooks as saying ... click for more > http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/07/04/1599438/kobe-paras-devastated-ucla-disqualification

BP: Arum: Bradley, muling makakaharap ni Pacquiao sa April 9, 2016

Nonito Donaire outslugs Cesar Juarez to win WBO junior featherweight title

FILIPINO FLASH. Nonito Donaire Jr scored two early knockdowns but had to survive the desperate rally of Cesar Juarez to hang on to victory. File photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. survived a life-and-death challenge from tough Mexican Cesar Juarez to win the vacant WBO junior featherweight title by a unanimous decision at Coliseo Roberto Clemente on Saturday, December 12 (Manila time). The scores were all in favor of the Filipino-American boxer, 116-110, 116-110 and 117-109, as Donaire closes 2015 once again a world champion.

Donaire, who has won titles in 4 weight classes, appeared on his way to an early blowout victory, landing a counter right hand in the opening round that stunned Juarez as much with speed as it did with power. Donaire scored two knockdowns in the fourth round, the product of his trademark left hooks, but Juarez rose up each time and continued to apply pressure in hopes of wearing his opponent down. Click for more ...
http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/boxing-mma/115731-donaire-outslugs-juarez-wbo

Donnie Nietes outclassed Mexican foe Juan Alejo in his U.S. debut

Manila (AFP) - After extending his reign in the light flyweight division Sunday, Donnie “Ahas” NIetes has pound for pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez on his radar. Showcasing his full arsenal, Nietes beat Mexican Juan Alejo by lopsided unanimous decision to lead fellow ALA stalwarts Jason Pagara, Mark Magsayo and Jason Pagara to a sweep of their foreign opponents in Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs the World at StubHub Center in Carson, California ...click for more
http://sports.inquirer.net/196646/filipinos-sweep-pinoy-pride-33-nietes-eyes-chocolatito/img_3230

FIBA ASIA 2015 Philippines VS Japan Semi Finals 1st Half