HERE are the top sports news from Thursday.
Sports news March 31
UAAP results
Three teams sustained their winning streaks, while University of Santo Tomas finally barged into the win column of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday.
Ateneo continued to flex its muscles with a 78-47 rout of Adamson for its third straight victory – and 29th overall – behind Ange Kouame’s 13 points and 10 rebounds.
With Justine Baltazar leading the way, La Salle rolled past Far Eastern University, 75-65, to also get a hat-trick of victories and grab a share of the lead with the Blue Eagles ahead of their rivalry game on Saturday.
University of the Philippines, for its part, built its first winning streak with an 80-70 decision against National University for back-to-back wins after starting the season with a loss.
Ricci Rivero scored nine of his 19 points in the payoff period to lead the late surge.
UST likewise leaned on late pull-away, frustrating University of East, 74-62, behind Sherwin Concepcion’s dagger three-pointers to snap a two-game losing streak.
Magnolia vs Meralco Game 5 preview
Mike Harris is demanding even more from himself after carrying Magnolia to a 94-73 win in Game Four of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals against Meralco.
The Hotshots import scattered 34 points on 16-of-22 shooting, and 18 rebounds, but focused on his three missed free throws.
"I have to do better,” the NBA veteran said. “I have to be more accountable. I have to take advantage of more opportunities out there.”
As Harris continues to shine, Meralco's Tony Bishop struggled in Game 4 with just 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting while committing six turnovers.
Whoever wins the import battle in the deciding game on Friday is likely going to have a seat in the Finals.
Donaire vs Inoue
Nonito Doniare Jr. gets his chance for payback against Naoya Inoue when the two bantamweight champions face off for the unified belt on June 7 in Japan.
The 12-round bout is dubbed the ‘Drama in Saitama,’ in the wake of their gripping November 2019 title fight also in the same Japanese prefecture where Inoue emerged victorious via unanimous decision but only after overcoming the best challenge yet in his career courtesy from the ‘Filipino Flash.’
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