Spain’s Juan Carlos Navarro scored 22 points in an 80-72 victory thus eliminating Greece from the basketball World Championships on Saturday.

The Spaniards made a barrage of 3-pointers (8 of 18) and used a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to push ahead during the game in the round of 16.  This will be the seven straight times that Greece lost to Spain.

Greece closes in at 72-68 on Vasileios Spanoulis’ layup with still 1:01 left in the game, but Ricky Rubio answered with two free throws. (more…)

Source: Businessmirror.com.ph

After getting Mark Cardona from the trading block, Meralco is now eyeing Coca-Cola center Asi Taulava as part of its efforts to make an impressive showing in its maiden season in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this October.

Tigers board representative JB Baylon admitted that the newest team in the league is seriously working to strike a deal with Coke for the services of the six-foot-nine Fil-Tongan although there are still no offer yet from the camp of Meralco. (more…)

Another Nuggets player is reportedly on the trading block. Guard J.R. Smith have limited future with the team who got him from Chicago Bulls.

A close source said the Nuggets are looking to trade Smith, a six-year veteran, who is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $6.03 million. (more…)

US uses a 2-3 zone defense in the closing seconds to eked out an 86-85 win over Spain in a warmup game for the world championships.

The decision to go to the zone defense as suggested by assistant coach Jim Boeheim to go “Orange” for the last play caught Spain off-guard after Derrick Rose put the Americans ahead with two free throws. (more…)

The United States team overcame a shaky first half to beat Lithuania 77-61 in a warmup for the basketball world championships.

Kevin Durant topscored for the US with 15 points as they overcame a poor shooting start where they trailed 15-7 through a 3-0f-21 shooting and six turnovers in the first period.

With same poor-shooting of their opponent, the US were able to regained their composure taking the lead for good at 54-49 after a technical and flagrant foul slapped on Mantas Kalnietis near the end of the third period.  (more…)

Meralco, the newest member in the Philippine Basketball Association after acquiring the franchise of Sta. Lucia went busy in the trading block as it acquired franchise player MacMac Cardona.

In addition to acquiring Cardona, Meralco also got forward Beau Belga from  Air21.

Meralco’s new head coach Ryan Gregorio and at same time head of its basketball operations, confirmed this new development to GMANews.TV. (more…)

According to Sports Illustrated, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is open to long-term deals with either the Houston Rockets or New jersey Nets if they can work out a trade with the Nuggets.

In recent days, Anthony has been rumored to be traded to New York Knicks in line with the indication that he will not sign extension with the Nuggets. His contract with the Nuggets runs until 2010-11 season and he is not expected to exercise his player option for 2011-12. (more…)

Serbia’s Nenad Krstic was released from police custody following a brawl during their game against Greece at the Acropolis tournament.

With still 2:40 to go and Greece leading 74-73,  Fotsis moved against Serbia guard Milos Teodosic, after a hard fouled. After awhile
Serbian and Oklahoma Thunder center Nenad Krstic grabbed Greek center Antonis Fotsis by the throat as Fotsis exchanged heated words with Serb guard Milos Teodosic. After awhile fists began to fly and violence violence erupted. (more…)

The Alaska Aces dumped the San Miguel Beermen in preserving a 102-88 victory in Game 6 and winning the PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven series 4-2 last night, Wednesday (Philippine time) at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was the 13th championships of the Alaska Aces matching the legendary Crispa Redmanizers and becoming the second winningest team in PBA history. At same time, Alaska coach Tim Cone tied former coach Baby Dalupan for the most number of titles with imports with a total of nine championships. (more…)

Will Carmelo Anthony still play for Denver Nuggets or maybe he has already played his last game for the Nuggets ?

Anthony can opt out of his contract after the upcoming season and become the headliner of the 2011 free-agent class or he could play out the final two years of his contract.

He could also be dealt before the season starts if team owner Stan Kroenke decides to jump-start a rebuilding program or might choose to deal the face of his franchise at the February trade deadline, too. (more…)

Miles Plumlee, a 6’10″ forward/center of Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team, uses his 6-foot-10 brother as a props in a dunk contest.

After he performed a dunked over a line of five kids at a Duke summer basketball camp two months ago, Miles Plumlee again performed a dunk but this time incorporating his younger brother, Mason who stands as tall as he is, as his props. (more…)

Far Eastern University guard RR Garcia, a top candidate for the Most Valuable Player award came to the rescue in the extension period.

The heady Far Eastern University play maker delivered the dagger in overtime to squelch University of the East’s upset bid and tow the Tamaraws to a hard-earned 83-77 overtime triumph in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena Sunday.

Garcia’s floater with 19.7 seconds left in the extra period kept the rallying Warriors at bay and had his Tamaraws averting their first back-to-back setbacks of the season.

The Warriors were in fact having the last offensive crack in regulation play. Guard Paul Lee drove down the lane and made a perfect feed to Raffy Reyes who failed to score an easy short stab that could have give them their second upset of the season.

Garcia and Reil Cervantes took charge in overtime as their baskets carried FEU on safer ground.

In one play during the extension period, Cervantes, gave a driving Lee a clothes-line tackle while attempting to stop the UE guard’s penetration. Lee landed hard and grimaced in pain while picking himself up. He was replaced by Paul Zamar to take the two free throws but Zamar only made 1 out of 2.

Garcia finished with 23 points while Cervantes contributed 19 markers on top of nine boards.

FEU improved to 8-1 and continued their hold of solo lead in the eight-team cast while UE ended with 2-7.

In the second game, Adamson Falcons win over UST Growling Tigers in double overtime.

The 73rd UAAP Men’s Basketball Season 2nd round continues with Adamson University Falcons seeking solo second place against the slumping University of Santo Tomas Tigers.

After their latest conquest of the league leading unbeaten Far Eastern University Tamaraws, the Falcons are now in a position to extend their two-game winning streak and gain the no. 2 spot at the Philsports Arena. (more…)

Host Lebanon fight their way out past Philippines to enter final. Fadi El Khatib scored a game-high 25 and Jackson Vroman added 23 as Lebanon kept a fighting Philippines at bay with a 81-80 result, and enter the finals of the 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup on Saturday.

Marcio Lassiter of Philippines too had 25 points for the game.

Chris Tiu brought the score close 77-78 with 1:32 left on the clock, but Vroman collected a defensive rebound and set El Khatib on the run, which calmed the hosts’ nerves. (more…)