Zamboanga is all set to play in the Asia Pacific Basketball Tournament 2026, scheduled for April 3-5 at the Waverley Basketball Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Bannered by former PBA big man Greg Slaughter, the Valientes will compete in the Premier Division of the three-day cage wars organized by Minh Dat Tram in partnership with Universal Athlete Centre Keysborough and the Australian Basketball Association Melbourne.

This marks the Valientes’ second consecutive international tour this year, following their stint at the 2026 Dubai International Basketball Championship last January.

“After our successful stint in Dubai, wherein we were able to beat the defending champs Beirut Lebanon, mas maraming invitations kaming natanggap, and isa na ang Asia Pacific Basketball Tournament, and of course, thanks to coach Van Halen Parmis,” said Valientes team owner Junnie Navarro.

“Siyempre nakita namin, this is an opportunity and experience. We have been competing in international tournaments for the last five years after naka-tsamba tayo na mag-champion sa Asian tournament noong 2023 with former NBA star Demarcus Cousins tinalo natin ang Macau Black Bears. 2022 din tinalo natin ang Eastern Hong Kong sa ABL with former NBA player Mario Chalmers,” he added.

In Australia, Slaughter will play alongside former NBA G-League player Malik Miller, Doug Kramer, Mike Tolomia, Peng Concepcion, Rudy Lingganay, Adam Dahingo, Eric Miraflores, Jake Afoa, Luni Lien, and Matt Johns.

Other teams in the tournament include touring squad BSBL Guardians and community teams BTO MBL All Stars and Black Rhinos.

“We will just play and give our best for our city of Zamboanga and our country,” said Navarro.

“Alam naman natin ibang level etong Asia Pacific Australia, but positive tayo, and we will try our best to win every game. We also want to give our local athletes, especially players from Zamboanga, an opportunity to showcase their skills and at the same time promote our city here in Australia,” he added.

After Australia, Navarro said the Valientes will likely participate in other overseas leagues in Indonesia, China, and Dubai. Supporting the team are former Mayor John Dalipe, Cocogen, MLV Accounting, Midas, and Kings Manpower.

The post Slaughter banners Valientes in Melbourne tourney appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

It’s been a long road back to the UAAP for Mike Reyes.

After leading Ateneo High School to the top of the junior ranks in 1998, he went all over the country.

He coached Iloilo in the defunct MBA, became an assistant coach in the PBA, before eventually moving to Cebu.

In Cebu, he coached the University of San Carlos and Southwestern University, leading the latter to the CESAFI championship in 2019.

Before UAAP Season 88, Reyes returned to Manila to serve as both the head of basketball operations of Far Eastern University and the head coach of the Baby Tamaraws.

On Monday, his journey back to Manila culminated in a championship, steering FEU-Diliman back to the top after three years with an epic 106-102 overtime win over the NUNS Bullpups.

“It’s a very, very different feeling because 28 years back, medyo iba ang basketball eh. Di ba?” shared the younger brother of TNT head coach Chot Reyes.

“The evolution of basketball ngayon, iba na.”

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

That is why, when Reyes stepped in as Baby Tamaraws head coach, he made sure to first gather his assistant coaches, led by Muriel Garcia.

“From day one, pagpasok ko dito, sa first meeting with all the coaches, sinabi ko sa kanila, ‘Ang magiging success ng lahat nitong year na to ay dahil sa inyong lahat.’ I will lead this, pero kayong lahat ang pag-asa para makuha natin ang championship.”

FEU-Diliman ended the elimination round tied with Ateneo for second place.

The Baby Tamaraws then won the playoff for second before eliminating the Blue Eagles on their home floor.

FEU-D capped its campaign with three hard-fought games against NUNS, securing the school’s 10th championship in the division.

But more than the championship, Reyes is glad to have provided a platform for his other seniors.

Of course, the duo of Cabs Cabonilas and Marc Burgos is already given.

But it was the likes of Sam Hall, Yosef Rañeses, and John Santos who were able to showcase themselves to college coaches.

“Ang talagang pinakamasayang nangyari with this championship is we all know Cabs and Burgos, may kukuha sa kanila sa college, but sila Sam, Rañeses, and John Santos, nakita ni Coach Sean (Chambers) kung anong magagawa nila,” said Reyes.

“So, maybe, they will be given a shot in our college team.”

The post Mike Reyes finds fulfillment beyond title, shines spotlight on FEU-D seniors’ futures appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

National Basketball League | Result

• UCU Lady Canons 80-46 Nabisunsa Girls

UCU Lady returned to winning ways after falling to the JT Lady Jaguars in their previous league game.

UCU Lady Canons secured a well-deserved 80-46 victory against Nabisunsa Girls in the National Basketball League encounter at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday.

Mariam Asacha’s 3-point jumpshot concluded the opening stanza as the Lady Canons opened the 20-point (28-08) commanding lead.

The second period started slowly until Mariam Asacha lit up the floor with another shot beyond the paint.

Melissa Kisakye responded with one from downtown as Nabisunsa Girls but it turned into a shooting party as Asacha dropped another long shot.

Martha Yikuru’s driving layup capped the second stanza as the Nabisunsa Girls trailed by 21 points going into the long break.

Coming from a long break, Christine Saima dropped two long shots as the Lady Canons extended their lead to 32 points (66-34).

In the final quarter, the Lady Canons contained the game, thus bagging a 34-point victory.

Doreen Nakibuuka (11 points), Mariam Asacha (11 points) and Christine Saima (10 points) led the Lady Canons’ scoring chart in double digits.

Melissa Kisakye (16 points) and Abigail Mpoza (12 points) scored for the Nabisunsa Girls in double digits.

The post NBL 26: UCU Lady Canons thump Nabisunsa to return to winning ways appeared first on Kawowo Sports.