JRU CRUSHES FRUITAS IN PBA D-LEAGUE
Jose Rizal University (JRU)-Air21 nipped Fruitas Shares 100-94, on Tuesday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Trinity Gym in Quezon City.

With the victory, JRU-Air21 collected their fourth straight win to move up to 4-4 while Fruitas dropped to 4-4 for a three-way tie with idle Café France Bakers for the fifth to seventh spots. JIM LEMUEL WILSON

FOUR PH BETS TO SEE ACTION IN MALAYSIA BADMINTON OPEN
Young shuttlers Joper Escueta, Peter Magnaye, Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas will be competing in the star-studded 2013 Malaysia Badminton Open beginning today in Kuala Lumpur. Reigning world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and former Olympic gold medalist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia are leading the men’s singles participants. EMIL C. NOGUERA

NETTER MENDOZA LOSES TO AUSTRALIAN FOE IN TRARALGON INTERNATIONAL
Junior netter Jurence Zosimo Mendoza suffered a 5-7, 5-7 loss to Harry Bourchier of Australia in the first round of the AGL Loy Yang Traralgon International held in Victoria, Australia. EMIL C. NOGUERA

PH LOSES TO JORDAN IN DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Smart Gilas Pilipinas absorbed its second loss on Monday night from Jordan’s Sporting Amarex in the 24th Dubai International Basketball Tournament at Ah Ahli gym in United Arab Emirates. The Philippine team dropped to No. 3 in Group B and will battle Group A’s No. 2 squad Sagesse Beirut of Lebanon in the crossover knockout quarterfinals on Wednesday. JOSEF T. RAMOS

MCILROY JOINS NIKE IN BLOCKBUSTER DEAL
ABU DHABI: World No.1 Rory McIlroy on Monday confirmed he had signed on with sportswear and equipment giant Nike in a deal believed to be one the biggest sponsorship contracts in sport. With the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque lit up in the background, McIlroy stepped onto a stage wearing the Nike swoosh and revealed the clubs he will take into competition starting at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE capital. No exact details of what the deal was worth were released, but press reports have estimated it could bring the 23-year-old Northern Irishman up to $250 million over 10 years. AFP