ALLAN THE MAN

DESPITE the lack of relatively better-quality opponents, the Philippine Football Federation still expects tough competition for the national team when it defends its Peace Cup title from October 11 to 15 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

After higher-ranked African squads Uganda (81st in the world) and Rwanda (131st) declined the PFF invitation due to varying reasons, the football body was forced to tap Pakistan and make do with a three-team cast along with the Azkals and Chinese Taipei.

NBA. Dwight Howard made his Houston Rockets debut against the New Orleans Pelicans, and had an impressive 19 points and 9 rebounds. New Orleans Pelicans beat Houston 116-115.

THE SCORES:

San Mig Coffee 79 - Blakely 23, Yap 19, Pingris 16, Barroca 7, Mallari 4, Devance 4, Acuna 3, Simon 3, Reavis 0.

Meralco 73 - West 22, Cardona 13, Hugnatan 13, Ross 9, Dillinger 6, Salvacion 6, Cortez 4, Hodge 0, Wilson 0, 

QUARTERS: 27-16, 45-38, 66-56, 79-73

Miguel Cotto is back, or at least that's going to be the hype coming out of tonight's win over Delvin Rodriguez. Recalling the young Cotto of old, the Puerto Rican iceman with the ferocious body attack who made for a scary opponent, Cotto ripped through Rodriguez tonight in just over two rounds, scoring a TKO-3 victory and looking sharp and sensational in the process.

Cotto (38-4, 31 KO) had a pep in his step that hasn't been seen for a while now, and it appears that owes to the new professional relationship with trainer Freddie Roach. Roach, as someone said in the live thread, has his flaws like all trainers do. But when it comes to maximizing a fighter's offensive ability, Roach may have no peer. He said he wanted to see the old Miguel Cotto back, throwing vicious left hooks to the body and wearing out his opponents. He brought that monster back out of the 32-year-old veteran tonight in Orlando.

THIRDY Ravena has yet to decide where to play in college, but considering the controversial UAAP residency requirement for transferees and a possible partnership with elder brother Kiefer, the rising star may just stay put at Ateneo.

Thirdy said that aside from his father, former pro Bong Ravena, big brother Kiefer was a key factor in the development of his game and the younger Ravena is open to the possibility of being teammates with the current King Blue Eagle.

NATIONAL coach Jamike Jarin said on Saturday he plans to keep intact the Gilas youth team that finished second to China in the Fiba Asia Under-16 championships, leaving rising star Kobe Paras out of the loop ahead of the youngsters' stint in next year's world championships in Dubai.

Speaking just hours after the Gilas youngsters lost to China, 78-85, in the Under-16 final late Friday night, Jarin said he wants to reward the 12 players who played courageously and defied the odds in Tehran, Iran with a trip to the Under-17 world championships next year.

IF Barangay Ginebra hits the jackpot and gets the top pick overall in the 2013 PBA rookie draft, team coaches and officials are 'almost unanimous' in choosing Ian Sangalang over seven-footer Greg Slaughter.

That is, unless Bobby Parks changes the Gin Kings' plans.

A team insider said Ginebra coaches and officials, except for one or two exceptions, prefer to draft the versatile and mobile Sangalang if the team gets to dip its hands into the draft pool ahead of everybody else.