Donaire Lost to Rigondeaux via unanimous decision

Nonito Donaire lost his superbantamweight championship to Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux via a unanimous decision.

All three judges scored it for the former Olympic gold medalist and World Boxing Association titlist, with the scores reading 114-113, 115-112 and 116-111.

Donaire scored the bout’s only knockdown in the 10th when he landed a crunching left that dropped Rigondeaux for the first time in his professional career, but the Cuban came back storng int eh last two round to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Rigondeaux proved to be an elusive target for the hard-hitting Donaire, frustrating the Filipino with his speed and body movement. The Cuban, who was fighting in just his 12th professional bout, took control early and never gave Donaire a chance to get into rhythm.

The Filipino Flash appeared to have turned things around with that 10th-round knockdown, but instead of capitalizing on his newfound momentum, slowed down in the 11th and allowed Rigondeaux to steal the round. In the 12th, Donaire injured his right eye after both fighters fell to the canvas, and whatever chance he had to steal a win evaporated as he spent the rest of the round covering his right eye and unable to go on the attack.

The punch statistics showed that Rigondeaux was the more active and accurate boxer: he threw 396 punches and connected on 129 of them for a 33% rate, while Donaire threw 352 and landed only 82 for 23%.

It was the first loss in 30 fights for the Filipino Flash, and comes just eight days after Brian Viloria lost his flyweight belts via split decision to Juan Francisco Estrada and four months after Manny Pacquiao lost via knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez.

Donaire fell to 31-2 with 20 knockouts, while Rigondeaux stayed undefeated in 12 bouts. Around an hour after the bout ended, Donaire posted a message on his official Twitter account, thanking his supporters and congratulating Rigondeaux.

Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico Decisions Brian VIloria's WBO/WBA titles

Mexico's Juan Francisco Estrada was victorious via split-decision against Philippines Brian Viloria during their WBO/WBA World Flyweight title match at Cotai Arena, inside the Venetian resort-hotel in Macau, Saturday.

Araneta expects bigger things for Azkals

BUOYED by the recent success of the Philippine Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers, football chief Mariano Araneta Jr. is optimistic the Nationals would figure prominently in next year’s main tournament in Maldives where a spot in the Asian Cup is at stake.

“It was a well-deserved victory for us, and you saw they have the talent. If they work together for a long time, the teamwork will be there, and I hope we can qualify for the Asian Cup,” Araneta said.

He said the PFF would “move heaven and earth” to have the Maldives Challenge Cup held on International Football Federation “match dates since this tournament is already a qualifier for the Asian Cup.

“I have talked to three members of the Asian Football Confederation executive committee explaining that just like the other countries in the upper Asian bracket, the Maldives (competition) is a direct qualification for the Asian Cup. There should be no discrimination as with the other qualifiers.”

Araneta said the AFC executive members he talked to were sympathetic to his appeal, with the issue to be taken up when the AFC Executive Committee meets in May.

“At the very least, what the AFC can do is to have the tournament fall on FIFA match dates,” said the football chief, pointing out this would enable strong overseas players such as Stefan Schrock, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara to suit up for the national team.

He added this was a major reason why the PFF requested the AFC to reschedule the Group E competition from early March to March 22 to 26 because the schedule fell on FIFA match dates, freeing players from club commitments to play for their respective national squads.

This enabled coach Michael Weiss to assemble a formidable squad that won two straight games, capped by a stirring 1-0 win over 2012 AFC Challenge Cup runner-up Turkmenistan. It marked the first time Azkals beat the squad from the former Soviet Republic in three outings.

National team manager Dan Palami echoed Araneta’s sentiments, saying with the present crop of players his main challenge would be “to allow this group to play longer together.”

He said they would take advantage of all the FIFA friendly dates in their build-up for the Challenge Cup, beginning with a friendly match against Hong Kong in the former British colony on June 4, a possible clash with Vietnam on June 7 in Cebu and on June 12 against “a quality opponent” in Manila.

“We will probably play more outside the Philippines to take advantage of our overseas players,” Palami said.

Bobby Parks' Died

Bobby Ray Parks Sr. 51, the legendary PBA import and father of reigning UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr., passed away early Saturday afternoon following complications stemming from a long battle with laryngeal cancer.

The 51-year-old died with his family by his side at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

Parks was selected in the third round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks but he never got to play in that league. Instead, he later found success as an import in the PBA where he won a record seven Best Import awards and was later inducted into the local professional league's Hall of Fame for his accomplishments, last September 2009.

The 6'5" product of Memphis State University debuted in the PBA for the San Miguel Beermen in 1987, and also played for the Shell Turbo Chargers.

Together with his family, Parks moved back to the Philippines in 2010. He accepted an offer to be the assistant athletic director of a retooled National University squad as his son also signed up to be the anchor of the school's basketball team.

Parks also had a stint as an assistant coach of the Petron Blaze Boosters, and coached the San Miguel Beermen in the Asean Basketball League, piloting them to the Finals in the squad's maiden season. However, he was unable to continue the latter role, handing the reigns over to Leo Austria, as his health deteriorated.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. on Saturday tweeted his condolences over the death of legendary Philippine basketball player and coach Bobby Ray Parks Sr.

In a post on his Twitter account, Thomas lauded Parks as one of the greatest players of the Philippine Basketball Association - and a good person.

"Rest in Peace Bobby Parks Sr, one of the greatest PBA players ever, and a good person," he said.

Thomas also posted a photo of Parks wearing a uniform of the Rockford Lightning in the Continental Basketball Association, where he played guard in 1989-1990.

Former Rain or Shine import Jamelle Cornley in hot water for alleged assault on QC cop

Another PBA import found himself in hot water on Wednesday for allegedly making a scene at a hotel in Quezon City, and assaulting at least one policeman who tried to pacify him.

Former Rain or Shine Elasto Painters import Jamelle Cornley was detained at the Quezon City Police District Station 10 after refusing to cooperate with police investigators and running amok, station commander Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr. said.

"Yung pulis ko sinapak niya... Napakalaking tao nito. Ifa-file natin ng direct assault (He assaulted one of my men. He's a big guy. We'll file direct assault charges against him)," Pedrozo said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Police are also eyeing charges of alarm and scandal and for damage to property against Cornley for making a scene and breaking items at Sir Williams Hotel along Timog Avenue.

A separate report by dzBB's Manny Vargas said the charges of direct assault on a person in authority referred to Cornley's hitting PO2 Anselmo Lazatin, who was one of those who had gone to where Conrley had been making a scene.

Lazatin was rushed to the emergency unit of the East Avenue Medical Center after being on the wrong end of a punch by the import, who stands 6'5" tall.

At the station, Cornley was heard saying, "they can file whatever they want" when told by reporters that police may file charges against him.

Rain or Shine player Gabe Norwood went to the police station supposedly to talk to Cornley, who had calmed down after being locked up.

But before he calmed down, the report said Cornley even removed his clothes and sat on the police officer-on-duty's desk.

Reports had Cornley causing a scene at the hotel, where he had brought three women back with him after coming from a KTV bar. But after the women had left, Cornley realized that his wallet with documents, IDs, and about $1400 was missing, and demanded that hotel management find the three women.

At the station, Cornley wanted to talk to Pedrozo but Pedrozo refused to talk to him. When he got mad and ran amok, it took several policemen to subdue him and take him to the detention cell.

Cornley helped the Rain or Shine franchise to its first PBA title last year, during the Governors' Cup, which has a height limit on imports. He normed 22.62 points, 11.62 rebounds and 3.05 assists, earning him Best Import of the Conference honors.

He remained in the Philippines following that tourney, undergoing treatment for a knee injury, and was actually slated to leave the country on Sunday.

With Wednesday's incident, he is the third PBA import in recent weeks to give the league's image a black eye.

Earlier this year, Petron Blaze Booster import Renaldo Balkman was banned for life from the league for a meltdown during a game where he pushed aside even his own teammates and coaches, before strangling team captain Arwind Santos.

Another PBA import, GlobalPort Batang Pier Walter Sharpe, was sent home after photos showing him allegedly sleeping on the sidewalk went viral on social media sites. - AMD, GMA News

Former NBA Player Walter Sharpe fired from Philippine league for drunkenness

Manila -  Walter Sharpe, who had short stints with the Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons, and the Denver Nuggets, was fired from his PBA team, the GlobalPort Batang Pier, for violating the rule that a professional player should be a good role model for the youth.

Globalport owner Mikee Romero ordered the dismissal Tuesday after he was photographed drunk and sleeping on a parking lot near the place where he was staying.

This happened a week after former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets player Renaldo Balkman was banned from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for choking his teammate.

Former NBA player Renaldo Balkman pushes and choke a teammate

Former NBA player Renaldo Balkman who used to play for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets has apologized for choking a teammate during a game with his new team in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Balkman, 28 6'8" playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters, argued with a referee  and shoved the referee's arm then pushed away an assistant coach and a couple of other teammates. When Arwind Santos intervened they exchanged shoves before Balkman wrapped his hands around Santos' neck and choked him.

After a cooling-off period in the locker room, where the team held a private meeting, Balkman sent out a series of apologies on Twitter:

"I wld like to apologize to the fans, Petron Blaze, my teammates, the PBA and especially @tubidronald71 and @Arwind029," he tweeted, adding, "I got caught up in the moment of a very intense game. I respect @Arwind029 as a person & player. I am proud to be part of @PetronBlaze fam."