Sports Writing

Ariel L. Abel
Bolbok National High School
Division of Lipa City
Ang sports events results' para yang
si forever na paasa...
Alam mong
niloloko ka na,
ini-enjoy mo pa...
Yang favorite team para
yang si ex mo..
Ang dami ng dumating,
andami nang nabago,
pero ang totoo, nanatili
pa rin sya, jan sa puso
mo..
Ang sports writing parang
boyfriend o girlfriend yan,
dapat palagi
mong
binibigyan ng
time.
Ang sports para yang love
story,
napaka-unpredictable ng
ending, minsan victory
which calls for a
celebration, minsan naman
defeat and disappointment
which lead to tears.
Ang sports parang teleserye
yan,
dapat lagi mong
nasusubaybayan,
kung hindi OP ka
sa kwentuhan.
Ang sports article parang love letter yan ,
kapag malaman, may drama at
kiliti, siguradong wagi yan,
pero kung walang kakwenta-
kwenta dahil wala na sa
huwisyo ay wala pang dating,
siguradong panapon yan......sa
basurahan....
Where are you
now, as far as
sports writing is
concern?
1. I know where the 2020 Summer
Olympics will he held.
2. I know the four teams from Asia who
qualified in the 2019 FIBA U17
World Cup to be hosted by
Argentina.
3. I know that the four team captains of
the UAAP Season 78 finalist in
Volleyball are all Batanguenos.
4. I know who is the most dominating
High School basketball player today in
the country.
5. I know the 8 teams competing in the
second round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
6. I know who is the most sought after
Filipino mixed martial arts today, in
terms of winning by knock-out accuracy
and fierceness inside the octagon.
Score:
6 – You are one of the best in our
division. You should represent Batangas
Province in the RSPC Tertiary Level
this year.
5 – You’ve got passion with sports.
Never cease learning. You are a
contender and so does your journalist.
4 – You are interested with sports. Take
time to learn more. You’re in the right
track.
3 – You’re too busy with so many things.
Take time to rest, sit in front of your TV
set, you better watch sports.
2 – You’re not into sports. You’re into
something else.
1 – Good luck. Your journey had just
begun.
What is Sports Journalism?
It is one of the fastest growing
sections in the mainstream
media. It is also considered one
of the most interesting forms
of Journalism.
(Joel Orellana-Business Mirror)
DUES of Sports Writing
D - Drama
U - Unpredictability
E - Excitement
S - Sensation
Sports writing is considered
as a specialized form of
writing
Sports t writing
Sports enthusiast mastery of
(former varsity or the language
Frustrated player)
What are the
common errors in
Sports Writing?
1. Inappropriate headline
Ex.
• De la Cruz nagpasikat sa
Division Meet!
• De Guzman bumandera
sa table tennis
• De la Cruz sinikwat ang ginto
sa Badminton Singles ng
Division Meet, aariba sa
STCAA
• De Guzman nagreyna sa
Table Tennis Singles, pasok na
sa Regional Meet
2. Some are used to have
featurized headline
Ex.
•Bolbok NHS moments of victory
in the Division Athletic Meet
•Lipa City Colleges’ sorry loss in
the 2016 Palaro
• Bolbok NHS brings home the
2016 Division Athletic Meet
Volleyball Girls title for a rare 5-
peat
• LCC High School Dept. falls
short of 2016 Palaro Volleyball
Boys title, succumbs to CoC in
the finals
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
The headline consists of the
competing players/team. It must
include the event being competed
with. It must clearly tell who wins
the match and includes the
importance of the game/match.
EXAMPLES:
•Gilas takes down Japan,
advances to FIBA Asia final
•Gilas falls to China, settles for
FIBA Asia silver
•NCR trounces Calabarzon for
back-to-back secondary girls
volleyball title (www.rappler.com)
• Gritty FEU rallies late to upset La
Salle, extends Final Four series
• La Salle drops Ateneo in 3 sets to
win UAAP Finals Game 1
• Aces capitalize on third quarter
run, extend PBA Final Series
against the Painters
2. Inappropriate use of verb in the headline
Ex.
•Ateneo narrowly escapes UP in
three straight sets, barges in the
UAAP Season 78 Finals
•Warriors ambush Blazers in Game 5
OT, reaches Western Conference
Finals
• Ateneo dominates UP in three
straight sets, barges in the
UAAP Season 78 Finals
• Warriors eliminate Blazers in
OT, reach Western Conference
Finals
REMEMBER:
The use of verb(sports lingo)
can make or break your
chances of winning in the
higher level competition.
Always make sure that sports
lingo we are to use is suited with
the sports being covered, suited
with the development of the game
and suited with our chosen angle
of the story.
Come up with sensational and catchy headlines to
encourage readers to read the article.

•Ex: Playingin Champions

League final like losing
virginity, says Madrid's
Ramos
 MADRID, Spain - Hero of Real Madrid's
Champions League triumph two years ago, defender
Sergio Ramos compared his first final experience to
losing his virginity ahead of Saturday's clash with
Atletico Madrid in a rematch of the 2014 final.
Ramos broke Atletico's hearts with his stoppage
time equalizer to deny Diego Simeone's men a first ever
European Cup before a rampant Real ran out 4-1
winners after extra-time.
"The first time is like when you make love, you
always remember it, but after it is true you can
improve," said the Spanish international on Tuesday,
May 24.
3. We have limited knowledge in
choosing the right angle of the story
to make a sensational and appealing
sports article. One’s chosen angle
begins with the development of the
lead and must be properly
supported by facts (numbers,
statistics and statistical comparison).
Ferrer nanalasa sa Game 2,
Winner take-all Game 3 ng UAAP Season 78
Finals kasado na

Sumandig ang University of Santo Tomas (UST)

Growling Tigers sa maiinit na shooting ni Kevin Ferrer
upang itakas ang 62-56 na panalo kontra sa Far Eastern
University (FEU) Tamaraws sa Game 2 ng kanilang
best-of-three Finals ng UAAP Season 78 kanina sa
Araneta Coliseum.
Humablot ng 26 puntos si Ferrer sa ikatlong kanto
tampok ang kanyang anim na tres upang lamunin ang
hangarin ng Tamaraws na pabagsakin na ang lobo sa
kisame ng di mahulugang -karayom na arena.
 “Basta naramdaman ko na lang na parang
magaganda yung mga bitaw ko sa labas kaya tinuloy
tuloy ko na, nagpapasalamat ako sa trust ng mga
teammates ko at ng coaching staff ng UST”, pahayag
ni Ferer matapos ang laro.
Kayod-marino ang kamador ng Tigers na
kasama rin sa mythical five team ng UAAP.
Sinamantala niya ang kanyang nag-iinit na kamay at
hindi halos nag-mintis sa kanyang unang anim na
pukol mula sa labas.
Samantala, nagtangka pang humabol ang
Tamaraws at naitabla pa ang iskor sa 50 mula sa three
pointer ni Achie Inigo at lay-up ni Mac Belo 5:58 na
lamang ang nalalabi sa orasan.
Subalit isang left corner three-pointer ang
isinagot ni Francis Bonleon sa tangkang
paghabol ng Tamaraws na naging dahilan ng
paglabo ng tsansa para sa FEU.
Malamya ang naging laro ng ace player ng
Tamaraws na si Mike Tolomia na hindi
nagawang maka-field goal sa loob ng 14 na
tangkang tira, walo dito ay mula sa tres.
Nagtala ng 30 puntos si Ferrer, habang
nagdagdag naman sina Karim Abdul at Ed
Daquioag ng 11 at 10 puntos ayon sa
pagkakasunud-sunod.
 Nanguna naman si Belo para sa FEU na may 14 na
puntos at 20 rebounds, samantalang may 12 puntos naman si
Roger Pogoy, subalit ang matinding depensa ng mga
gwardiya ng UST kay Tolomia ang labis na nagpahirap sa
kanya at nakagawa lamang siya ng anim na puntos na lahat
ay nagmula mula sa free throw line.
Dahil sa panalo ng Tigers, kasado na ang winner-take-
all game three sa Miyerkules.
Muling aasahan ng Tigers si Ferrer samantalang
susubukan naman ng Tamaraws na balasahin ang koponan
at maibalik sa dating kundisyon ang top gunner nito na si
Tolomia. (Jhon Danielle Joseph V. Abel)
EXAMPLE:
Gilas upsets defending champion Iran behind
Castro's 26

Gilas Pilipinas used a strong third quarter run to

upset rivals and defending champions Iran, 87-73, in
the second round of the 2015 FIBA Asia
Championship on Monday, September 28 in
Changsha, Hunan, China.
Jayson Castro, known internationally as Jayson
William, shot 11-of-18 from the field to post a game-
high 26 points. Naturalized big man Andray Blatche,
who sprained his ankle a day before the game still
played and finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
 Gunner Terrence Romeo added 15 points on 3-
of-5 shooting from downtown as he helped buoy
Gilas' third quarter burst.
Calvin Abueva contributed 13 points, 6
rebounds and a steal but his true value goes beyond
the stat sheet with his effort and hustle. His relentless
aggressiveness and mind games resulted in Iran's 7-
foot-2 behemoth Haddadi fouling out with under 4
minutes to go with a regular foul and a technical for
complaining.
 With the win, the Philippines secured a
quarterfinals slot and may end up as the top seed
entering the playoffs should they defeat India on
Tuesday. Gilas currently sits at the top spot of
Group E with a 3-1 record.
Gilas took down 17th ranked Iran for the
first time since the 2012 William Jones Cup, but
without Hamed Haddadi. The last time they beat
Iran with Haddadi was in the 2011 Jones Cup.
This is the first loss of Iran at this year's FIBA
Asia tournament.
(www.rappler.com/sports)
Lowry stars as Raptors down Heat to make history
LOS ANGELES, USA – Kyle Lowry is relishing the
prospect of taking on LeBron James and the
Cleveland Cavaliers after leading the Toronto
Raptors into the Eastern Conference finals for the
first time in franchise history on Sunday, May 15
(Monday, May 16 in Manila).
Lowry scored 35 points as Toronto completed
a 116-89 win over the Miami Heat to seal a 4-3
series victory – and set up a showdown with James
and the Cavs on Tuesday.
(www.rappler.com/sports)
Reviewing the lead...
The sports story lead is
critical to the story.
•Use the most dramatic, yet
most specific verb that best
describes the quality of
action
• Impact of the game result to the
persons- player(s), team(s), and
community involved
• Never hesitate to experiment with
your lead as long as it would still
appeal and make impact to the
reader.
The sports lead
The Lead is the KEY to any
story.
The classic 5 W's and 1 H
appear in the sports' lead as:
1. WHO won 2. HOW did
they win? 3. Against
WHOM? 4. By WHAT
score? 5. WHERE? and 6.
WHEN?
Example:
(1)Bolbok National High School
(2)poured 10 points in the final two
minutes to tame (3)Bulacnin
National High Scool, (4)81-70 (5)at
the latters homecourt (6)yesterdy
morning.
Best Player Lead
The focus of the lead is with
the player who played the key
role for the team’s victory. It is
always applicable with team
events but not with individual
event.
Example:
(2)Terrence Bill Romeo awed the
world as he led the crowd favorite,
(1)Manila West against the (3)heavily
favored Kobe of Japan, (4)21-18 en route
to a thrilling conquest and barged at the
semi-finals of the FIBA World 3x3
Championship-Manila Masters (6)last
night at (5)Robinson’s Galleria.
Best Play/Execution Lead
The focus is how the player
executed or carried out a
spectacular move or play to win
the game or match. It is both
applicable in individual and team
event.
Example:
(1)Albert “The Prince” Pagara (2)landed
a crisp uppercut to the chin (3)of the
previously undefeated Mexican slugger,
Jesus Rios (2)that sent the latter to the
canvass for a (4)technical knock-out and
retained his World Boxing Council Super
Featherweight Championship belt in Pinoy
Pride 32 (6)last night (5)at Casino Royale,
Dubai, UAE.
(2)Calvin “The Beast” Abueva defied the
gravity as he scored an alley hoop dunk
with just .5 of a second left in regulation
over the outstretched arms of (3)Ginebra’s
behemoth Greg Slaughter pulling out an
(4)89-88 come-from-behind victory
completing its Cinderella run in the semi-
finals and secured the (1)Aces’ another trip
to the Finals of the PBA Governors’ Cup
(6)last night (5)at SM MOA Arena.
Sometimes we have to think
outside the box, there’s nothing
wrong if we go out of our
comfort zones. Always
remember, sports is very
unpredictable.
Punch lead
A catchy statement that
would summarize the
game itself, including its
drama and significance.
Ateneo completes epic comeback to force Game
3
Call it the heart of a champion.
The Ateneo De Manila Lady Eagles
rallied from a 0-2 deficit in Game 2 of the
UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball finals to
defeat the DLSU Lady Spikers, 18-25, 26-28,
17-25, 25-16, 15-11 and force a Game 3 for the
championship on Wednesday, April 27, at the
Mall of Asia Arena. (www.rappler.com)
Contrast Lead
It views that the game result
is opposite of every body else’s
expectation. It also connects the
significance of the game result
with the previous match
between the competing teams.
EXAMPLE
Two years ago, coach Chot Reyes
languished in a disappointing loss, but
yesterday he cried in jubilation as Smart
Gilas Pilipinas has finally ended the Korean
curse, defeating the latter in the semis in its
own territory to book a finals showdown
with Iran in the 2013 FIBA Asia at SM MOA
Arena.
So, what’s
new?
Composite Sports News
A sports article where the
focus of the story is not only
with the two competing
players/teams but four or
more.
 In writing the composite
sports news, we decide based on
our chosen angle who will be
mentioned first. If its team sports,
we mention first the more
important match, the same with
the individual match.
Iran blows out India as Gilas clobers
Lebanon advances at Asiad
Iran once again showed itself to be one of the
most dominant basketball teams in Asia, blowing out
India, 76-41, in Group E as the Philippines pummeled
Lebanon, 95-83 in Group D of the Asian Games
men’s basketball tournament in Incheon, South Korea.
Former Phoenix Suns center Hamed Haddadi
led Iran with 18 while team captain Samad Nikkhah
Bahrami scored 16 and Mohammad Jamshidi
contributed 14 points in just 17 minutes.
 Center Amritpal Singh led India with 10 points
and 4 rebounds in a game that was never close.
Meanwhile, Jason Castro has another monster
game as he ditched 27 points and 9 assists in
anchoring the second half outburst of the Chot
Reyes mentored squad.
Naturalized Andray Blatche has a double
double performance of 24 points and 16 caroms,
towering over the less-El-Khatib Lebanese squad in a
complete domination.
Mohammed Sikh Saad led his team with a
tournament high 35 points on top of seven triples
but got a limited support from his teammates.
Kobe bids NBA farewell as Golden
State chases history
Kobe Bryant will play his 1,566th and
final game in LA as the Warriors look to win
their 73rd game of the season in Oakland
The eyes of the basketball world will turn
to California on Thursday, April 14 as the NBA
regular season draws to a close with Kobe
Bryant preparing to bid farewell to the sport as
the Golden State Warriors chase a place in
history.
 A perfectly scripted finale will see
Bryant play his 1,566th and final game as
the Lakers host the Utah Jazz at the
Staples Center for what is certain to be an
emotionally charged occasion.
A sell-out 18,000-capacity crowd
packed with celebrities will be on hand to
salute the last game of the 37-year-old
Bryant's two-decade career.
 Meanwhile, Golden State will set out to
clinch a record-breaking 73rd regular season
victory, making them past the mark of 72 set by
the Jordan-era Chicago Bulls in the 1995-1996
campaign.
After stumbling last week with a home defeat
to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Warriors have
gone on a formidable charge to the finish line,
beating their closest Western Conference rivals the
San Antonio Spurs home and away to equal the
Bulls' 72-win season and give themselves a chance
at basketball immortality.
 Golden State star Stephen Curry said the
Warriors are now determined to finish the job in
Oakland against the Memphis Grizzlies by
claiming win number 73 - even if the priority
remains a successful defense of their NBA
crown.
"We are in the moment and enjoying the
ride, but the goal is to win a championship,"
Curry said.
"We've put ourselves in a great position to
do something no other team has ever done.
(www.rappler.com)
Raptors dinungisan and malinis na kartada ng
Cavs sa Play-offs, Thunders pinulbos ang
Warriors, lamang na sa serye

Winakasan ng Toronto Raptors ang sampung

sunod na panalo ng Cleveland Cavaliers sa playoffs,
matapos muling magbida sina Demar DeRozan at
Kyle Lowry, 99-84 sa Eastern Conference Finals
habang giniba naman ng Oklahoma City Thunders
ang Golden State Warriors, 133-105 upang kunin
ang 2-1 kalamangan sa Westernn Conference Finals
kahapon.
 Muling sinandigan ng Canadian-based franchise
sina DeRozan na gumawa ng 32 at 20 puntos upang
hiyain ang perpektong kartada ng Cavs sa play offs, at
itakas ang panalo sa sarili nitong teritoryo sa Air
Canada Center.
Kumamada naman ng husto si Raptors center,
Bismack Biyombo na humablot ng play off career high
26 rebounds dagdag pa ang apat na blocks.
Pinangunahan naman ni Lebron James ang
Cavaliers sa kanyang 28 puntos at walong rebounds
subalit maalat ang shooting ni Kyrie Irving na mayroon
lamang 16 puntos sa kanyang 4-of-28 shooting.
 Samantala, muling nangibabaw ang tikas ng Thunders
matapos nitong paluhurin ang Warriors sa likod ng ganadong
laro nina Kevin Durant na nagtala ng 33 puntos at walong
rebounds, habang nag-ambag naman si Russell Westbrook ng
30 puntos, 10 assist at walong rebounds.
Ito na ang ikalawang panalo ng Thunders at
kasalukuyang hawak ang kalamangan sa serye, 2-1.
Samantala, gumawa si back-to-back MVP Stephen
Curry ng 24 puntos ngunit mayroon lamang siyang 3-of-11
shooting mula sa tres. Nagdagdag din si Klay Thompson ng 18
puntos.
Nagbabadya ang Thunders na kunin ang ikatlong
panalo sa Game 4 na gaganapin pa rin sa kanilang home court
habang pakay naman ng Raptors na itabla ang serye sa sarili
ring home court nito.
Gilligan’s Sisig Queen at Foton Tornadoes, pinataob
ang mga kalaban sa semis, itinakda ang paghaharap sa
PSL Beach Volleyball Finals
Kapwa umugit ng krusyal na panalo ang
Gilligan’s Sisig Queen kontra sa Foton
Hurricanes at ang Foton Tornadoes kontra
naman sa Cignal HD sa semis upang ilatag
ang kanilang paghaharap sa kampeonato ng
Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball
kahapon sa SM Sands by the Bay.
 Hindi na pinahirit pa ng tambalang
Norie Diaz at Danika Gendrauli ng Gilligan’s
ang tandem nina Bea Tan at Pau Soriano ng
Hurricanes sa loob lamang ng dalawang set,
21-15, 21-18.
Nagsimulang mamaga ang kalamangan
ng Gilligans sa kalagitnaan ng unang set, 11-
4 at hindi binigyan ng pagkakataong
makalamang ang Hurricanes sa kabuuan ng
laro.
 Sa kabilang semis match, sinamantala ng
tambalang Fiola Ceballos at Patty Orendain ng
Foton Tornadoes ang maraming error ng tandem
nina Wensh Tiu at April Hingpit ng Cignal HD,
upang itakas ang dikit na laban, 18-21, 21-19 at
21-17.
Nagtala nagtala ang Cignal HD ng 13
unforce errors sa kabuuan ng laro kumpara sa apat
lamang ng Tornadoes.
Dahil sa hiwalay na panalo, nakatakda na
ang paghaharap ng Gilligan’s at Tornadoes sa
kampeonato ng liga na gaganapin bukas sa
kapareho ring lugar.
Thank You.