ALLAN THE MAN

Senator Pia Cayetano on Friday lashed out at officials of UAAP schools over the non-participation of athletes in swimming events, calling it “a sad sad day in Philippine sports.”

Swimmers from University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University did not compete on Thursday reportedly in protest of a court ruling allowing University of the Philippines swimmer Mikee Bartolome to compete in the UAAP.

Manny Pacquiao isn’t the only international celebrity in the family. His outspoken mother Dionisia Dapidran, 64, was mentioned in Adam Smith’s book “Beautifully Brutal – the Family Ties at the Heart of Boxing,” published in London last year.

Mommy Dionisia went to the US for the first time to watch her son fight Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas in 2009. 

Ateneo guard Kiefer Ravena will be a man on a mission in the next two years as he strives to win the UAAP championship in his final two seasons in the league.

Ravena and the rest of the Blue Eagles ended their season a lot earlier than they would like after losing to the University of Santo Tomas in their last game of the elimination round, which allowed the Growling Tigers to snatch the last berth in the Final Four.

After a difficult campaign that saw them fail to make the Final Four in the UAAP Season 76 tournament, the management of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors is hoping to see reforms in the collegiate league next year.

The Red Warriors entered the season as a contender after winning the FilOil tournament in the pre-season, but stumbled out of the gate. 

LIKE most of us, James Yap is excited to see the Philippines play once again in the world basketball championships.

But that does not mean the 31-year-old pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental pride is longing to play for the Gilas Pilipinas team bound for Spain next year, even if an offer will be on hand.

World number three Andy Murray may likely miss the rest of the 2013 season after it was revealed that he will be undergoing a “minor” surgery to resolve a lingering problem/injury in his lower back.

Murray has already pulled out of the Thailand Open 2013 tournament which begins on September 23 and is expected to skip the entire Asian swing of tournaments.

THE list of teams eyed for tune-up matches by Gilas Pilipinas in preparation for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is widening, thanks to the goodwill the Philippines has generated from its successful hosting of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship last month.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes bared this on Thursday, posting on his Twitter account @coachchot: “RP FIBA hosting goes all the way to EuroBasket. NBA scouts, Euroleague officials, agents - have nothing but great feedback for Manila."