Sports Writing

ARIEL L. ABEL
Bolbok Integrated National High School
SDO LIPA CITY
Let’s Play First.
Write the correct answer on
the comment section. You
have 10 seconds to answer .
He is now the leading
sixth man of year
candidate in the NBA
He is the first ever Filipino
baller to play in the Japane
se Basketball League or
B League as an import.
She is the winner of the recen
tly concluded Australian Open
Championship and currently
the World No. 1
Female tennis player.
He is the first Filipino
pole vaulter to qualify
in the Olympics
In what particular sports
did the Philippines win a
medal in the last
Olympics.
He is the first ever Filipino
boxer to win a medal in
the Olympics.
He is now one of the
world best chess player
the Philippines never
had.
Winner of the game
shall be given a
special prize……..
 Why Sports Writing?
Sports Journalism is one of the fastest gro
wing sections in the mainstream media. It
is also considered one of the most interes
ting forms of Journalism.
(Joel Orellana-Business Mirror)
Sports writing is considered as the
most popular form of journalistic
writing. It is where we can play
with words and we do not define
words literally, but how a certain
sports lingo is used in a particular
sports or game.
DUES of Sports Writing
D - Drama
U - Unpredictability
E - Excitement
S - Sensation
(Rex Arcadio A. San Diego)
Sports writing is considered as a
specialized form of writing

Sports ＋ writing
Sports enthusiast mastery of
(former varsity or the language
Frustrated player)
When writing sports article,
consider these:
1. Verb Tenses (in the headline)
Beermen outlast Texters via huge
comeback, take 3-2 Series lead
Magnolia nilaklak ang Gin Kings
tsansa sa semis buhay pa
Remember: Never use verb in the
past tense in your headline.
Always use transitive verb in the
headline(in English).
2. Avoid double verbs in your headline,
especially in Filipino where the second
verb usually appears at the end of the
headline.
Example:

Lipa City Stallions ginulantang ang Dasmarinas Monarchs

tiket sa Palarong Pambansa sinikwat

Stallions ginulat ang Monarchs sa Volleyball Finals ng STCAA

pasok na sa Palarong Pambansa
2. Follow the inverted
pyramid style.
Endgame situations and
highlights are more important
than those of the
start of the game highlights.
Example
Not competitive:
Sa simula pa lamang ng laro kaagad
nang nakitaan ng gilas ang Tanauan
High matapos umugit ng eight-to-
nothing blitz upang kunin ang agarang
kalamangan, 8-0 kontra Lipa Cityhenyos.
Competitive:
Sumargo ng 10-to-nothing blast ang
Tanauan High kontra Lipa Cityhenyos mula
sa dalawang magkasunod na tress ni Arjay
Reyes at top-of-the-key jumper ni Leo
Atienza upang agawin ang kalamangan, 7
7-72 dalawang minuto na lamang ang
nalalabi sa laro.
Not Competitive
Subalit agad namang bumawi ang
Lipa Cityhenyos matapos umiskor ng
12 magkakasunod na puntos upang
agawin ang kalamangan, 12-8 sa
kalagitnaan ng unang kanto
.
Competitive:
Rumesbak naman ang Lipa Cityhenyos
ng six-to-nothing-run at kaagad ring inagaw
ang kalamangan, 77-78 mula sa isang
converted four-point play at baseline drive
ni Arthur Gomez resulta ng dalawang
krusyal ng turn-over ng Tanauan High dahil
na rin sa magandang depensa ng una.
3. Focus on the highlights.
Give much emphasis on your
highlights or key plays, but make it
very specific to properly convey
your ideas.
Not competitive:
Nagpakawala ng mga puntos
si Bryan Castro upang panguna
han ang kanyang koponan
kontra Lodlod National High
School.
Competitive:
Kumana ng 36 puntos si Bryan Castro,
tampok ang tatlong magkakasunod na
tres sa kalagitnaan ng fourth quarter
upang igiya sa panalo ang kanyang
koponan kontra Lodlod National High
School.
What else should
be our focus?
1. Player / team statistics.
In any game or match, it isn't enough
that we used loaded sports lingo, we
have to justify it with accurate facts
and statistics. It will serve as your
strong support to your highlights as
you develop your sports story.
Example 1:
STA. CRUZ, Laguna - Brent Ydward Maralit provided a much needed
spark for the Junior Stallions to subdue the erstwhile San Pablo
City, 2-0 for his team’s two consecutive victory in the preliminary
round of the Volleyball Boys’ Elementary Division at Laguna Sports
Complex, February 13.
The Junior Stallions team captain delivered 13 points in the game
with his 7 attack points and 6 service aces mostly in the second set
to shutdown the potential comeback of the San Pablo City-based
team en route to 25-21 and 25-11 domination.
Troy Asufre, a prize recruit from San Sebastian Eleme
ntary School had his own show in the spotlight as
he made 7 crushing spikes down the line, penetrating
the vulnerable defense of the team from the famous
City of Seven Lakes.
Meanwhile, ace setter Jomari Diaz, accounted for 21
excellent sets and five service aces in delivering the
goods for the De La Salle Lipa-based team, which saw
itself on top of Group A on the second day of a week
long competition.
Example 2
STA CRUZ, Laguna - Aeron Lupac chipped in 22 points and 11
rebounds for his another double double performance leading the
Stallions charge rolled past Tanauan City Bravehearts, 83-59 to top
Group A with two victories in Men’s Basketball elimination round
at Laguna Sports Complex, February 14.
The Stallions team captain played key role in anchoring the De La
Salle Lipa -based team’s second and final quarter blitz to seal the
victory over their longtime rival whose hassle kept them within
the distance but stumble to the pressure defense of the much
better Stallion squad.
Meanwhile, Bjorn Abueg contributed 17 markers on 5-
out-of-6 triple attempts and added 5 steals as power
forward Ian Abila dropped 16 points and 7 rebounds for
the Stallions which is now on top of Group A with 2-0
clean slate.
Bravehearts’ Joven Carandang led Tanauan City with 14
points and three shot blocks but the Stallions 2-3 zone
defense and effective trap cause the team to commit 17
turnovers as Kyle Roxas and Jonathan Ruiz added 10
points apiece in their loosing effort.
Example 3
Stephen Rieley Javier led Stallions’ five players in double
figures with his 17 markers and 3 steals, while Raphael
Dimayuga chipped in 16 points and dished out 7 assists
in a game that was so vital because it will hugely affect
the team’s fate comes next day’s knock out phase.
Ian Abila had a double double of 12 points and 11
rebounds while Paul Kenneth Larosa and Bjorn Abueg
contributed 11 and 10 points respectively for the
Stallions balance scoring.
Meanwhile, Grant Timog had a monster game with 23
points and Renz Anthony De La Cruz had 13 markers,
but they were the only two players in double digits as
most of their teammates were got bothered of the
pesky defense of the Stallions.
The Stallions made 11 out of 19 triple attempts, while
Laguna only managed to sink in 4 of their 21 attempts
beyond the arc. The latter also have more turnovers
with 23 compare with the Stallions only 11.
Be accurate with your stats.
Highlight on the team/player’s scoring
runs, offensive and defensive
adjustments thru stats.
Crucial errors, defensive stops and
decisive moves including the exact time it
happened really matters in the story if it is
ballgame and combat sports.
2. Make a brief but meaningful interview.
Interview is very important. We
have to get the emotions and
feelings of the players/coaches,
their strategies / gameplan and
their key offensive and defensive
adjustments in the match straight
from them.
Interview is also one justification
of the sports writers' analysis of
the game or game results. It will
also support the writer's angle
even his/her statistics of the
game.
Not all quotes from the players
and coaches will be included in
the article, only those which
are relevant and those which
could support your angle of
the story.
3. Knowledge in doing the running score is important
2021 NBA All Stars: Team Lebron vs. Team KD
First Quarter Second Quarter
Gianis dunk – 2-0 Sabonis baseline jumper – 56-50
Irving lay-up – 2-2 Lillard’s triple – 59-50
Harden triple – 2-5 (via Irving’s assist) Tatum’s triple – 59-53
Curry triple – 5-5 Doncic triple – 62-53
Lebron’s dunk – 7-5 (via Fastbreak) Curry’s logo triple – 65-53
Leonard’s jumper – 7-7 Lillard’s midcourt triple – 68-53
Tatum’s dunk – 7-9 (via Harden’s assist) Curry’s buzzer beater triple 71-53
Curry’s second triple – 10-9 Cris Paul’s dunk – 73-53 (via Curry’s assist)
Let’s have 5 minutes
health break.
Let’s talk about sports
headlines…
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.
The sports writer is free whether
the headline is one line or two lines
as long as the basic elements of the
headline is there. Everything
changes and improves, and so does
our style.
Different styles of headline for gamer:

With Kicker - It is place at the

upper left-hand corner of the
article. In sports, it is usually
the event, or the tournament
being competed with.
 2021 NBA ALL-STARS

Team Lebron dominates Team KD

PBA ALL FILIPINO CUP

Ginebra Nilowbat ang Talk N Text

With Deck

It is also called the secondary

headline and usually appears in
the second of the one or two-
line head. It is where the game
significance is indicated.
FAB Spikers survive near collapse against Bolbok Smashers
nail a historic 3-peat in PSSAM 2018

Laylay-Mores tandem steers Bolbok

to 3-peat PSSAM over-all plum in Table Tennis
The Hammer Head
This is usually one or two-word headline
that sums up the article, but a deck is
needed to better establish the purpose
. Coming up with a hammer head
requires deep analysis of the game or
match.
 SUNKEN MARINERS
Bolbok Spikers upend Inomara Mariners reach PSSAM Finals

KAMPEON MULI
Barangay Dos at Cumba kinubra ang titulo sa MAS Summer Sports League
Hammer head is not always applicable
in any sports event. It is only done to
highlight a very significant achievement
of a player or a team. If the game is not
that significant, don't risk. Prefer the
headline which you are more
comfortable with and you are more
confident of winning.
Straight Sports Headlines

It is the safest and most common

headline many sports writers use.
This is use in consideration of your
target reader. That is why, it is
commonly used by many tabloids
and school papers.
Grade 11 ginitla ang Grade 10 sa Intrams
Kampeon sa Basketball

Crisostomo tinudla ang ginto sa Boys Single A

ng Badminton sa Intrams
Remember:
In sports writing competition, (the
writers') target reader is not the
students or ordinary readers,
that is why they have to use
a convincing, substantial and
competitive headline.
There are many other kinds of lead
but there is one kind of lead that
gains popularity nowadays and is
used by many major newspapers
even sports media platforms.
Delayed Lead
It is a little similar with background
lead- which focus on the game’s
background. But, delayed lead
focuses both on the background
and the game result.
40 is just a number.
Manny Pacquiao made thrash talker
Keith Thurman ate his words as the 40-year
old fighting Senator and only 8-division world
champion put on a boxing clinic to the
previously unbeaten American via split
decision and snatched the WBA Super World
Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Las
Vegas, Nevada earlier today.
It took 40 years before Philippines U19 team
finally barged in the winners’ column after
thrashing fellow Asian, China and carved its first
victory in the world’s biggest competition
featuring young and talented ballers.

Kai Sotto led-Gilas U19 team drubbed Asian

powerhouse China, 86-72 en-route to its first win
in the FIBA World Cup U19 Championship at
Heraklion, Greece last night.
Remember:
Though we are using the
delayed lead as our primary
lead, the secondary lead must
still consist the classic 5 Ws
and 1 H.
Example:

HISTORY MADE
BolPin Warriors crash West District for its first win in 3 conferences
The curse is finally broken.

Bolbok-Pinagtungulan (BolPin) Warriors’ long

wait is over as it finally broke its curse and
registered its first victory in three years of
participating in DepEd Employees Basketball
Tournament, pulverizing West District, 88-63
at Lipa City Youth and Cultural Center, August
19.
Example 2:
INTRAMS 2018

Faculty All-Stars stun Varsity

Selection in Exhibition game
Bolbok Integrated National High School faculty
rested from their classroom routine and taught
the varsity selection team the hardest lesson,
this time in the basketball court.
Backed by two practice teachers and a lone
overage player from the Varsity team, the Faculty
All-Stars seemed to find the fountain of youth as
they put on a basketball clinic against the Varsity
Selection, 106-96 to highlight the 2018 Intramural
at the school gymnasium, August 23.
Example 3:
FAB Spikers survive near collapse against Bolbok Smashers
to nail a historic 3-peat in PSSAM 2018
In a grueling neck-and-neck finals showdown between
the last two teams left standing in the tournament, the
heart of the champions prevail.
Fernando Airbase Integrated National High School
almost scrambled after squandering its twice-to-beat
advantage against the gritty Bolbok Integrated National
High School, but managed to close out the match, 1-2;
2-1 to salvage the championship crown and clinched its
historic three-peat at the 2018 Public Secondary School
s Athletic Meet (PSSAM) at Pinagtungulan Integrated
National High School, Sept. 18.
Bolbok Cagers stamp Academia De Lipa Dribblers
clinch first District Meet title
Winners stay focus, but losers complain.

Marred by series of complain from non-calls of

the referees, in their elimination encounter, Bol
bok Integrated National High School Cagers m
ade a historic feat after drubbing Academia De
Lipa, 116-87 in the championship match of the
South District Athletic Meet at BINHS Gym, Au
gust 24.
DYNASTY OVER
Stonyhurst Southville ends De La Salle Lipa’s Basketball reign
The long unbeaten run of De La Salle Lipa
Basketball team finally came to an end in the hands
of unheralded yet determined underdog ready to
slew a giant.
Stonyhurst Southville International School
selection team of the North District finally ended De
La Salle Lipa’s long reign as Basketball dynasty in
Lipa in a pulsating come-from-behind victory, 89-80
in the championship match of the 2019 Stallions
League held at De La Salle Sentrum, October 3.
THANK
YOU…