TEXTERS GUN FOR 2-0 LEAD
DEFENDING champion Talk ‘N Text will gun for a 2-0 lead when it faces challenger Rain or Shine today in Game Two of the 38th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup best-of-seven championship series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Tropang Texters, who are aiming for their third straight All-Filipino crown and their sixth overall, said that they are expecting Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao to make more adjustments, “The second game would be the beginning of the fun. Coach Yeng Guiao is a good coach. I know he will make several adjustments based on what happened in the first game. Now, I want to see what his adjustments would be so that I can also make my own re-adjustments,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black, who already have nine conference titles under his belt including a Grandslam with San Miguel Beer in 1989. Game time begins at 6:45 p.m. FRANK CALAPRE

CAGAYAN CLIPS BIG CHILL IN PBA D-LEAGUE
Cagayan Valley Rising trounced Big Chill Supercharger, 77,59, in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup on Thursday at the Arellano University Gym in Legarda, Manila. With the win, Cagayan’s card improved to 4-3, and moved to the fourth to fifth spot with Fruitas Shakers behind Big Chill and Blackwater Sports which both carry 5-2 slates and occupying the second to third spot. JIM LEMUEL WILSON

RADWANSKA FORGES BATTLE WITH LI
SYDNEY: Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska clinched a seventh straight victory to reach the semifinals of the Sydney International on Wednesday, as she builds toward next week’s Australian Open. The world No. 4 and tournament top seed overcame Italian world No. 16 Roberta Vinci, 6-4, 7-5 in just over an hour and a half to move into the last four. Radwanska, coming off a victory in Auckland last week where she beat Yanina Wickmayer in the final, will now face 2011 winner Li Na of China. Li took two hours and 19 minutes to down teenage American qualifier Madison Keys, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in a night match. AFP

NIKE SET TO ANNOUNCE MCILROY DEAL
DUBAI: Rory McIlroy’s big-money switch of sponsors to Nike is set to be announced in Abu Dhabi on Monday, press reports have said. The deal, which is believed to be worth a massive $250 million (190 million euros) over 10 years, has been in the making for the last few months at a time when the 23-year-old Ulsterman has cemented his position as the top golfer in the world. AFP

JOHNSON HOPES TO CARRY MOMENTUM OVER
HONOLULU, Hawaii: Dustin Johnson, Carl Pettersson and Mark Wilson are some of the top contenders at the Sony Open as the PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the season begins Thursday. Johnson is fresh off his victory at the weather-plagued Hyundai Tournament of Champions, which wrapped up Tuesday at the Kapalua course. The seven time PGA Tour winner is hoping to carry the momentum from the Kapalua event over to the Waialae Country Club where he has finished no worse than tied for 16th in seven Sony Open appearances. Johnson will be paired in the first round with defending champ Johnson Wagner and Zach Johnson who won the event three years ago. AFP

REDSKINS GRIFFIN UNDERGOES KNEE SURGERY
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair ligament tears in his right knee. Doctors operated on both his lateral collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments and Griffin is expected to undergo an extensive rehab program in an attempt to be ready to play next season. Team doctors said the operation on the 2012 No. 2 overall draft pick was a success. AFP