Sports year-ender 2018 (Part 3)

AS ANOTHER historic year is about to close, let us revisit some of the biggest sports stories that we have covered, witnesses and enjoyed this year. Third part of this series will cover the months of August and September.

AUGUST

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings turned back San Miguel Beermen to capture the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship. Earl Scottie Thompson was named as the Finals MVP for the Kings.

Alaska Aces has let go of its former franchise player Calvin Abueva in a one-on-one trade with the Phoenix Fuel Masters in exchange for Karl Dehesa and a future first round pick.

Tanauan Little League of the Philippines banked on the heroics of Ilongga Royevel Palma to capture the country’s first ever Senior League Softball World Series title at the Lower Sussex, Delaware.

Batang Gilas earned a slot in the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup after reaching the semifinals round of the 2018 FIBA U-18 Asian Championships held in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson was given a green light by Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA to play for the Gilas Pilipinas in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was Clarkson’s first time to play for the national team.

Ceres Negros FC repeated as championship in the 2018 Philippines Football League after finishing the elimination round campaign with 60 points on 19 wins, three draws and three losses.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go and skateboarder Margielyn Didal delivered four gold medals for Team Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

SEPTEMBER

Negrense boxer Rogen Ladon have to contend with silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games men’s flyweight category gold medal match after a controversial loss to Jarusbek Latipov of Uzbekistan in Indonesia.

Negrense boxers Donnie Nietes and Aston Palicte settled for a split draw in their match for the vacant WBO world super flyweight championship at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Ilonggo Ferdinand “Bong” Ravena has been named as the new head coach of TNT KaTropa in the PBA. Ravena replaced Nash Racela, who struggled to steer the team to the crown.

Filipino mixed martial arts fight Joshua Pacio captured the ONE Strawweight Championship after a unanimous decision win over Japanese Yoshitaka Naito in Indonesia.

Jerwin Ancajas managed to keep the IBF super flyweight belt after settling for a split draw with Mexican Alejandro Santiago at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. It was the sixth title defense of the Panabo, Davao del Norte native boxer Ancajas./PN