HERE are the top sports news from Thursday.
Sports news December 15
Nick Rakocevic on Game 1 ejection
Nick Rakocevic broke his silence about getting thrown out of Game One of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, admitting he lost his cool that led to a second technical foul and an automatic ejection.
The Magnolia import apologized to the rest of the team for tripping Christian Standhardinger, incident that was called flagrant foul 1 and led to his ejection midway through the quarter of the game that Barangay Ginebra won, 87-84.
"When you have guys throwing cheap shots all game long and nothing's done about it, I feel like anyone would lose their temper," he explained.
"I do feel responsible for us losing Game One and it killed me to see my teammates give everything they had and know I couldn't do anything about it. I made sure I apologized to each and everyone of them," he added.
Rakocevic, though, vowed to stay composed in Game Two on later in the day (Friday) at 5:45 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.
Zavier Lucero injury update
University of the Philippines is holding its breath on the status of Zavier Lucero, who went out with a non-contact injury on his left knee in Game Two of the UAAP men’s basketball Finals on Wednesday.
UP program director Bo Perasol is bracing for the possibility of the Maroons playing without their star forward in the deciding Game Three on Monday.
"I have yet to get an update from our medical staff, but everyone naman saw the play that led to the injury. We all know it looked bad," said Perasol. "So the team now is preparing like there won't be a Lucero in Game Three."
However, Perasol said he was assured that the team's medical staff will do everything to help Lucero be fit enough to play in the title decider.
But Perasol clarified it’s Lucero who has the final say.
UP vs Ateneo Game 3 schedule
In a rare occurrence, the deciding game of a UAAP men’s basketball Finals will be played on a Monday.
University of the Philippines and Ateneo will have to dispute the trophy on December 19 – a day after the game’s supposed staging due to scheduling conflict.
Both the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena were already booked well beforehand for concerts Dec. 18, forcing the league to hold its men's basketball finale a day later.
Korean boy band Super Junior is holding a two-day Super Show 9 Road in Manila this weekend at MOA Arena.
Filipino boy band SB19, on the other hand, will stage its WYAT Homecoming concert at the Big Dome.
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