MANILA — Of the less than a month that Muhammad Ali stayed in the Philippines for his historic trilogy with “Smokin” Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975, the then reigning world heavyweight champion had earned the respect and love of the entire nation.

YANGON — Myanmar will host the 11th Southeast Asian Bodybuilding Championships in Yangon on Saturday.

ORMOC CITY — Sammy Gello-ani, the promoter of Ormocanon Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero, said that he will claim Casimero’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight championship belt in Argentina next month.

ILOILO CITY — The first day of the 2012 State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) National Olympics at the refurbished Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district here was off to a good start Monday despite minor glitches in the gathering of games results early on, with defending champion National Capital Region (NCR) showing the way in several events to serve notice that they intend to keep the overall crown for the nth time.

BACOLOD CITY — Central Philippine University (CPU) has captured this year’s 9th National Women Beach Volleyball Tournament at Villa Regatta Resort in Iloilo City during the weekend.

ILOILO CITY — Western Visayas dribblers dumped Region 10-Northern Mindanao in the elimination round in men's basketball during the first day, Monday, of the 2012 State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA) national Olympics hosted by this city.

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 20- (PNA)- Local seafarers from Arevalo district here and Tigbauan and Leganes in the province of Iloilo dominated the almost 25-kilometer sea race in the recently concluded 40th edition of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival held at Tatoy’s Manokan in Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City on Sunday.

ADDIS ABABA — Nardos Yihune, a 19-year-old, was crowned Miss Coffee Ethiopia at the Ethiopian Coffee Queen of the Year Beauty Contest at Hilton International Hotel here Sunday night.