Some reminders to those watching the PHL Azkals-Kuwait Al Azraq match on July 28

(Image via SoccerCentral.ph)

Many of you already gotten their tickets for the home football match of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers between Philippine Azkals and Kuwait Al Azraq. Indeed, the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium will be packed and loud once more. To those ticket holders who are dying to see the Azkals in action on Thursday, here are a few reminders (straight from the Philippine Football Federation) before y'all troop to the Rizal Stadium:

NBA Fit 2011 brings healthy lifestyle to schools

NBA FIT PHILIPPINES 2011 KICKS OFF SCHOOL CLINICS AT DON BOSCO-MANDALUYONG
Above, NBA Asia Country Manager Carlo Singson (third from right) with Don Bosco-Mandaluyong rector Fr. Martin Macasaet (second from right) and other Don Bosco sports officials.
(Photo courtesy of NBA Philippines)

The NBA Fit 2011 officially began on a Monday of July 25, brought their health and wellness program to select schools. It's first stop was at Don Bosco Technological College in Mandaluyong city. The NBA will be conducting clinics till August 3. More schools have joined in for the NBA Fit program. Then on August 1, Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra will be in the Philippines to helm the NBA Fit clinics along with his coaching staff.

UAAP 74 Games Roundup

La Salle players high 5'in for their first W.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Last week has been a crazy one for UAAP hoops. With all the sports events happening in that week alone -- like the Ultimate All-Star Weekend and the 1st Leg of the Azkals-Kuwait match -- College basketball is still the hottest thing in the country. In case y'all missed all that UAAP action, here's a look back at the games that made heads turn:

Ultimate All Star Weekend 2011

(Image via Niketalk.com)

The NBA's Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Derek Fisher, Kevin Durant, Derrick Williams, Tyreke Evans, James Harden and Javale McGee will be dropping by the Philippines for 2 days of hoops action against select PBA players and Smart-Gilas Pilipinas on July 23-24 at the Araneta Coliseum.

NBA Fit is back to promote a healthy lifestyle in the Philippines

Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra will be returning to the Philippines
to helm the NBA Fit program this August.
(Photo courtesy of NBA Philippines)

We all know that the lockout of the world's most popular hoops league is in full effect but keeping a healthy lifestyle shouldn't stop 24/7. Last year, the Philippines had it's first ever and successful NBA Fit week to promote health and wellness. It was spearheaded by Filipino-American and Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra along with his assistant coach Dave Fizdale and NBA Asia Head of Basketball Operations Jama Mahlalela. The event aims to not only spread the gospel of basketball but also to have a healthy and active lifestyle on a daily basis.

Growling Tigers on the prowl

Karim Abdul of UST is a dominant force in the paint.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

In 2006, the University of Santo Tomas captured their UAAP title under then first time coach Pido Jarencio. His team defeated another rookie coach at the time in the form of Norman Black with the Blue Eagles. It was a different story when the return of DLSU in UAAP basketball coming off a year of hiatus the following year -- their hopes of a two peat began to fade. The Green Archers were shooting arrows once more and rekindled their rivalry with the Blue Eagles. UST remained a Final Four team but then it has been a tough mountain to climb for the Tigers ever since.

Green Archers missing their mark twice

DLSU's Simon Atkins chillin' too much?
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The De La Salle Green Archers are one of the best teams in the UAAP and this season hasn't been a good one for them. Their opening day game loss against FEU should be a wake up call but that wasn't the case. Last Saturday, rivals Ateneo and La Salle faced once more for another classic match-up. Everybody expected the Archers to give the Blue Eagles a run for their money and get that much needed W.

Kobe keeps coming back to Manila

The Black Mamba is back in Manila.
(Photo by Ricky Castillo)

Last month's announcement of Kobe Bryant's much awaited return to Manila was abuzz among Kobe-heads and hoops fans alike. The tickets were completely sold out. Those given away by Nike BHS and Titan were gone in about an hour of July 2. Perhaps the fans that missed out on his 2009 visit made sure they get to see him this year. Nike Philippines knew that fan attendance would double for Kobe's one-day visit, so they decided to get the Big Dome as their venue.

The day UE got Maroon'd

Paolo Romero of UP secures the rebound.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons obviously would like to forget last season. So they decided to get a new coach and recruited new players to beef up their roster hoping to erase the "whipping boys" tag on them. Fil-Am Swingman Mike Silungan doesn't appreciate his team being called as such let alone having to go through thing for the upcoming season. A player like him with incredible talent is hungry for just one thing: Win.

Some UAAP 74 games recap

DLSU's Arnold Van Opstal (no. 7) and Mark Bringas of FEU (no. 6) tries to grab the loose ball.
(Photo by Paul Ryan Tan)

A lot of stuff happened in the first few games of the UAAP Season 74. College basketball have always been the most popular among hoops fans and the UAAP is no exception. New players, new coaches mean more drama and excitement. While many are dying to see the much anticipated Ateneo-La Salle match-up on July 16, let's take a look back at the winners (and losers) from the opening game to other hoops action of the Women's and Juniors division.

3-on-3 Ballin' 7.1-3.2011

Jr. NBA alumni, including pioneer batch (2007) MVP Kiefer Ravena (fifth from right) together with his brother who made it to the latest batch (2011) Thirdy (fourth from right) had some basketball fun with NBA Legend Horace Grant at the NBA 3-on-3 Philippines 2011 presented by Sprite. (From left) – Dawn Ochea (2011), Kobe Paras (2011), Jared Lim (2011), Hubert Cani (2010), Alfred Sajulga (2011), Tsaddy Tabaldo (2011), Kiefer, Thirdy, Lorenzo Navarro (2011), Patrick Go (2010) and Thristan Laman (2010).

(Photo courtesy of NBA Philippines)

The NBA lockout may have inevitably taken it's course but here in the Philippines though, the most globally popular hoops league's season never end -- sort of. Before all that, the NBA Finals happened -- which lead to the Dallas Mavericks winning their first title -- and NBA Asia announced that the Philippines would hold it's inaugural NBA 3 on 3 in cooperation with Sprite. That somehow gave Filipinos another reason to get into playing basketball. Plus, 4-time NBA champion and Legend Horace Grant was thrilled to visit the country.

All systems go for the Opening Ceremonies of UAAP 74

(Image via Wikipedia.org)

The much anticipated 74th season of the UAAP will be in full blast on July 9. The opening ceremonies will go Olympic style at the Marikina Sports park will officially begin at 4 pm. The event won't have the usual double-header hoops action but will instead have a parade of UAAP athletes from their respective schools and have torch relay run featuring PBA Legend and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Olsen Racela.

Where the Azkals PWN3D the Brave Reds in Manila happen

The team celebrates after Chieffy Caligdong scored the first goal for the Azkals.
(Image via talakayanatkalusugan.com)

Football has been making some noise in the Philippines. Yes, the beautiful game definitely touched the hearts of every Filipino and now everybody wants to get into it. Basketball will always be numero uno in the country but football or soccer to some, the popularity of the sport is just contagious. With the Philippine Azkals getting that much needed away goal in Sri Lanka last June 29, a win in Manila would book them a ticket to the second round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.