ALLAN THE MAN

Former Ateneo slotman and many-time national player Greg Slaughter heads the initial cast of applicants for the 2014 PBA Annual Rookie Draft set on November 3 at Robinson’s Place Ermita in Manila.

The 6-11 Slaughter, a key figure in the Blue Eagles’ UAAP championship run the past few years, beat the deadline set for Fil-foreigners on September 12 to become the first of an expected bumper crop of quality big men to adorn next season's draft pool.

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom throws its support to the mEducation initiative of GSM Association as it signed a joint collaboration agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other industry players to bring education opportunities to over six million out-of-school youth in the country.

“This is something that clearly requires the effort of everybody and we believe that this collaboration to explore and pursue mobile education programs has a great potential to impact more disadvantaged Filipino youth,” said Gil B. Genio, Head of Globe Corporate Strategy and Business Development in a speech delivered during the Memorandum of Understanding signing activity at Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

Hosting duties for the National Basketball Association's 2015 All-Star Game will be shared between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, the league said on Wednesday.

The newly renovated Madison Square Garden, home to the Knicks, will host the midseason exhibition on Feb. 15 while the $1 billion Barclays Center, which opened a year ago and is home to the Nets, will showcase the popular slam dunk contest and the weekend's other events.

Bad news for Manny Pacquiao fans. His Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez is contemplating retirement after his world title fight against WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on October 12.

This means, Manny Pacquiao may no longer be able to avenge his sixth-round knockout loss to Marquez last December.

The De La Salle Green Archers became the first team to book a seat in the UAAP Season 76 finals after surviving a tight contest with FEU, 71-68, to win their final four matchup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

La Salle, which advanced to the title series for the first time since 2008, is playing its best basketball at just the right time and will be entering the finals on a nine-game unbeaten streak.

They swept the second round of the elimination round and defeated FEU in back-to-back playoff games to enter the finals.

Unbeaten American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. said his deep resolve and desire to win will be his advantages when he takes on Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez in a welterweight showdown on October 12.

In his training blog for HBO, Bradley said these are the qualities that will help him in his mission to “retire the great Juan Manuel Marquez.”.

“I definitely agree that my will and determination is something which differentiates me from other fighters,” said Bradley. “I may not be the most skilled or most loved fighter, but I am a warrior and that cannot be taken from me.”