ALLAN THE MAN

Gilas did the hard work and brought a measure of redemption to the Philippines’ once-revered status in Asian basketball. That frees us up to goof around and imagine what would happen if the country sent some of the PBA’s most colorful characters and unique talents to compete in FIBA Asia events. Let’s do this.

PART 2: INIS PILIPINAS. 

The on-again, off-again, on-again with conditions bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao looks to be off again, after the undefeated American boxer told Michigan Live reporter David Mayo, 

"He's [Pacquiao] not going to get a chance to fight me."

Speaking in an interview in Las Vegas, where Mayweather is training for his upcoming bout against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, Mayweather said, "Me and Pacquiao had a chance to make a fight in the past, and basically that's the best place I'd like to leave it [in the past].

It was a match full of drama, especially on the third set, but eventually it was Belarussian Victoria Azarenka that prevailed at the Western & Southern Open 2013 in Cincinnati after the world number two defeated top-ranked Serena Williams 2-6, 6-2, 7-6.

 It was a match reminiscent of the US Open 2012 final between these two ladies but this time it was Williams who served for the match but was broken to force a tiebreaker in the third set.

Rafael Nadal’s resurgent 2013 campaign continued on Sunday with a 7-6(8), 7-6(3) victory over John Isner to clinch his maiden Western & Southern Open title. Nadal claimed a 26th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and 59th overall.

Nadal extended his career-best hard court winning streak to 15-0 in 2013, while joining Novak Djokovic as the only players to win five Masters 1000 crowns in a single year.

The past week, the coaching staff and players of Gilas Pilipinas has been showered with well-deserved accolades for its historic accomplishment in the FIBA-Asia tournament. 

Against all odds, the team finished second and booked a much-appreciated ticket to the World Cup of Basketball in Spain next year. So far, Iran, the Philippines, Korea, the USA and host Spain have qualified. We’ll have to wait for the rest of the 24 slots to be filled.

BIG man Japeth Aguilar makes his highly-awaited debut with Barangay Ginebra when the Kings open their PBA Governors Cup campaign opposite sister team Petron Blaze Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

[ WATCH PBA GOVS' CUP FREE LIVE STREAMING HERE ]

The acquisition of the 6-foot-9 Aguilar during the season break has created excitement within the Ginebra camp, especially in the light of the former Ateneo stalwart’s improved showing with Gilas Pilipinas in the recent 27th Fiba-Asia Championship.

Rafael Nadal ousted Tomas Berdych in their Cincinnati semi-final, prevailing 7-5, 7-6(4). Nadal converted on his second match point to extend his winning streak on hard courts to 14-0 in 2013 and improve to 15-1 against Top 10 opponents. 

The Spaniard is into a 37th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final, where he will be seeking a 26th title.