ALLAN THE MAN

They’re not going to Spain in August to watch a bull fight, try its famous cuisine, troop to its crowded beaches or visit its ancient basilicas.

The Gilas players will be there to vie in the FIBA World Cup and if possible win a game or two.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan has given members of Gilas Pilipinas, from the coaches down to the players, their marching orders.

“MVP (Pangilinan) told the whole team he does not want them to be tourists in Spain,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios yesterday.

adidas today announced a partnership with NBA point guard Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.

“I’m really excited to join the adidas family,” said Lin. “They’ve changed the game with new technology and style and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Lin joins the adidas basketball roster which includes teammate and seven-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and a lineup of elite point-guards highlighted by Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, John Wall of the Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.

J.R. Smith unties Shawn Marion's sneakers in between Dirk Nowitzki free throw attempts as the New York Knicks beat the Dallas Mavericks 92-80. Check the video below.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel forward Japeth Aguilar has been making believers out of people all conference long.

Count his Gilas Pilipinas teammate and San Mig Super Coffee Mixers star Marc Pingris among them.

“Hindi naman siya ganyan dati. Mga past game niya before, struggle. Ngayon, laging best player. Parang NBA player eh. Yun na yata yung sinasabi nila,” he said.

THE fighter they call the 'Russian Rocky' aims to lock horns with his old sparring partner Manny Pacquiao in April. Ruslan Provodnikov has had a storming rise through the rankings and claimed the WBO light welterweight title in October.

He beat Mike Alvarado in Colorado and is now hoping to challenge eight division world champion Pacquiao.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao said it would be impossible for him to give in to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s demand for him to leave Top Rank and seal a deal for their proposed superfight.

“Floyd has also been saying, he will only fight me if I separate from Top Rank and Bob Arum, imposible ‘yun kasi ang kontrata ko valid hanggang ngayong taon na ito pa. So how ? (That’s impossible because my contract is still valid this year)” Pacquiao said in an interview with Philboxing’s Eddie Alinea.

Except for a few hardcore basketball fans online, few Filipinos have heard the name Christian Standhardinger.
But if he keeps up his performance in the US NCAA, he may not be unknown for long in this basketball-crazy nation.

The 24-year-old Filipino-German forward has emerged as a star for University of Hawaii, the same school that produced Meralco Bolts wingman Jared Dillinger.