2017 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONS CUP : ISAIAH AUSTIN ARRIVES IN MANILA TO REINFORCE CHOOKS TO GO PILIPINAS

Isaiah Austin has arrived in Manila to reinforce the Chooks To Go Pilipinas Team in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Chenzhou, China starting on September 22.

Austin is a 23 year old 7'1" center from California, USA. He applied for the 2014 NBA draft and was one of the prized prospect that year. Unofrtunately, he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome and had to withdraw from the draft. He recently played for the Guangxi Rhinos. He brings with him not just height and length but also an agile, athletic center with perimeter and outside shooting.

He is also being considered as a candidate for naturalization to be part of the Gilas Pilipinas team. He really fits the guy that we need - an athletic young big man that can adapt with the dribble drive offense that Coach Chot Reyes is running. This most probably be his acid test. If he performs well, there will be a big possibility that he will be naturalized.

He was welcomed in this post from Coach Chot Reyes' Twitter page:

Welcome to Manila @IsaiahAustin ! See you in a bit pic.twitter.com/PUyEbOXbiu

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 12, 2017

Welcome to the Philippines Isaiah!

AVC WOMEN'S SENIOR VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP : JAPAN WINS GOLD, DAWN MACANDILI NAMED 2ND BEST LIBERO

Japan was named the champion of the 2017 AVC Women's Senior Volleyball Championship after their come from behind victory over Thailand. The Japanese overcame a 2 set lead of the Thais and win the last 3 sets en route to a thrilling 5 set victory: 26-28, 20-25, 25-16, 25-16 and 15-7.

Korea won the bronze after beating East Asian rival China in an earlier game. The Philippines finished in eight place after bowing to Kazakhstan in a 5-set thriller as well.

The final standings are as follows:

2017 Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship final standings

🏐 #AVCWomensSCH pic.twitter.com/c6PRSWTJl7

— VolleyMetricsPH (@VolleyMetricsPH) August 17, 2017

Individual awards were also given out. And for the surprise of everyone, a 2nd best libero award was given out and it went to Philippines' Ms Everywhere Dawn Macandili. Here is the list of individual awardees:

#AVCWomensSCH individual awards @spinph pic.twitter.com/pp1dlcqqDk

— Mei-Lin Lozada (@meilinspin) August 17, 2017

Congratulations to all winners! To the Philippine girls, let's now win that bronze in the SEA Games!

DISNEYLAND SHANGHAI IS NOW OPEN

The biggest Disneyland theme park just opened in Shanghai, China last June 16, 2016. Having built for 5 years after the 2011 ground breaking, the theme park si huge, covering approximately 4 square kilometers.

The opening was shown live in Disney's Facebook page. Here is the video of how the park was made and how it was uniquely made to cater to the Chinese audience from Disney's official YouTube channel :

The park is divided into 6 lands - Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle and Tomorrowland. Ticket prices is reportedly at approximately CNY499 or approximately USD75.