2017 TOP MEN OF SPORTS

Sports in 2017 was filled with a lot of highlights from every field there is. While some of the more prominent sports figures have already retired from their respective sports they still continue in helping the sports community in simple ways they could. 2017 was indeed a big year and here are the Top Men from the year that was.

1. LEBRON JAMES

Cleveland Cavalier's main man Lebron James is definitely the toast of NBA and his accomplishments are more to speak of him as a basketball player. He is a 3 time NBA champion, 3 time Finals MVP, 4 time MVP, 14 time All Star and 2 time NBA All-Star Game MVP. His huge salary together with endorsements like Nike makes him one of richest sports figure in the past year. It is either you love him or hate him but for me there is nothing not to love about Lebron. He makes the sport much more interesting.

2. RAFAEL NADAL

Vamos. Rafael Nadal is definitely one of the best tennis stars of today. He added more glory to his illustrious career with his 15th and 16th Grand Slam in 2017 winning the US Open and of course taking his 10th French Open in what we all know as "La Decima". He ended the year as No.1 in the Men's game and with recent form he is sure to still be in the mix this 2018.

3. STEPHEN CURRY

Steph is one of highly regarded NBA stars of this generation. This 2 time NBA Champion, 2 time MVP and 5 time NBA All Star has become one of the more cheered fans in the sports. He also represented USA twice at the World Championships and at both occasions helped in winning the gold. This GSW star is saying there's more in the years to come. Endorsements like Under Armour has kept him in the modeling world as well.

4. TOM DALEY

British diver Tom Daley is here both for his achievements in sports as well as his colorful life. His most recent medal came at the FINA World Championships where he grabbed the gold at the 10m platform event. He is often the toast of the media as well as one of the few "out" gay sports personalities there is. And we can't help to mention his relationship with American screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.

5. CRISTIANO RONALDO

Another football superstar, Ronaldo is definitely one name people would not miss when discussing of greats in their field of sports. This Portuguese hunk is also one of the more in demand models in the field of sports with several endorsements and magazine covers here and there.

6. DAVID BECKHAM

Football star David Beckham was not just a major influencer in his sport but is also one of the most established models and entrepreneurs of this era. Beckham is one of the best players in England and all over the world. And with a marriage as high profiled as him with Victoria Beckham, he is sure to stay. And his humanitarian efforts in UNICEF makes him more loved by everyone.

7. LEWIS HAMILTON

2017 was another great year for Lewis. The British Formula 1 driver won his 4th World Championships. He remains to be with the Mercedes team and is arguably the best driver currently at his sport. This 2018, he will try to win his 5th title to move him further ahead of the rest of the field.

8. KOBE BRYANT

It was one year already since Kobe left basketball but his presence and influence in the sport remains strong as ever. He is still doing rounds on several events and endorsements and continues to be one of the well regarded basketball players in NBA and the world.

9. BLAKE GRIFFIN

Despite not doing so well in 2017, Blake continues to topbill sports magazines. This slam dunk phenom continues to play for the Clippers and continues to have flock of fans all over the world.

10. JOSEPH SCHOOLING

Singapore's top swimmer stunned the whole world when he won 2016 100 m butterfly edging out legend Michael Phelps in the process. 2017 was a bit of a down for him in the FINA World Championships as he placed only 3rd. He went back dominating SEA Games to continue his supreme at the biennial meet.

Here are the rest of the sportsmen that made waves in 2017:

11. Sebastian Vettel     12. Kevin Durant     13. Roger Federer

14. Novak Djokovic     15. Michael Phelps     16. Kohei Uchemura

17. Rory McIllroy     18. Dwayne Wade     19. Russel Westbrook

20. Kevin Love     21. Lionel Messi     22. Usain Bolt

23. Manny Pacquiao     24. Paul Ruggeri     25. Phil Dalhauser

26. Jake Dalton     27. Floyd Mayweather     28. James Harden

29. Aaron Gordon     30. Bruce Irons     31. James Magnussen

32. Rich Froning     33. Chris Weidman     34. Mike Trout

35. Maxim Trankov 

    

2017 TOP PINOY GROUPS

2017 was a slow year for groups in the music industry but there were still some that managed to steal some success in the past year. Here are my Top Pinoy Groups in 2017.

1. SUD

SUD was in the music industry since 1992 but critical and commercial success was overflowing in 2017. Their eponymous tune "Sila" became a household tune at the radios and streaming apps. Sub Ballecer and his crew made people see how talented they were giving us a well penned song that wins a lot of our hearts.

2. HALE

It was 2004 when we fell in love with this group led by Champ Lui Pio and they gave one hit after the other. But like most groups in the biz, they disbanded in 2010 and all members ventured into their individual interests. It was not until 2015 that the team went back together and their 2017 song "Alon" which was used in the movie Siargao made us see that they are really back.

3. BOYBANDPH

These quintet was a product of the reality show Pinoy Band Superstars. The group is composed of Ford Valencia, Joao Constancia, Niel Murillo, Russell Reyes, and Tristan Ramirez. 2017 saw them release their hits "Unli" and "Somebody". They also joined recent Kapamilya Jona in one great collaboration "Til The End of Time".

4. SILENT SANCTUARY

Releasing their 6th studio album in 2017 Malayo Na Tayo, the band has certainly shown how far they come. Even up to these days the group are a relevant fixture in the OPM Music Industry. Since 2001 and up until now, the band is making music and we are not complaining.

5. ITCHYWORMS

Itchyworms have not released any new albums but with their front man Jugs Jugueta very visible at the noontime show It's Showtime they have managed to keep a following. In 2017 they have continuously toured the country and continues to play great music. And Jugs is just a musical genius that is one of OPM's gems. 

6. TAKEN BY CARS

Sarah Marco and her band Taken By Cars is one of the few bands that manage to thrive the indie route. 2017 saw them release a new studio album, "Plagues" which is a great set of wonderfully written pieces like Floods, Nomad and the title track Plagues. TBC fills the void left by the past bands led by female acts.

7. 4TH IMPACT
4th Impact is composed of sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina Cercado. The group rose to popularity after competing in the 12th X-Factor UK where they finished 5th. Their catchy tune "Unleash The Diva" was their first big hit of their career and is soon to lend their singing chops via the theme song of the upcoming movie Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes.

8. ROCKSTEDDY

Teddy Corpuz is the other half of the duo Jugs and Teddy doing their hosting jobs in "It's Showtime". Even without new albums in the past year, Rocksteddy kept themselves busy with event and provincial shows all throughout the year.

9. 1:43

1:43 has been in several member changes through the years. 2017 saw 4 brand new members in emerging actor and singer Art Artienda, Filipino-American model and dancer Jason Allen, and Filipino-Canadian dancer and model Wayne Avellano; and Filipino-Chinese model Ced Miranda. The new group released their comeback single "Trapik Tralala," a cover of an APO Hiking Society and released their 2nd comeback single titled "Pasensya Na" later that year.

10. HASHTAGS

Perhaps attributing their success to their exposure in "It's Showtime", Hashtags is an all male dance group that got introduced in 2015. While the team tried their luck at singing they focused more on the dancing part and the individual member's acting careers.

The rest of the groups that made some noise in the past year are as below:

11. Spongecola

12. Ben & Ben

13. Ezra Band

14. Parokya Ni Edgar

15. The Juans

KATARINA RODRIGUEZ COMES CLOSE

Filipina bet Katarina Rodriguez came agonizingly close at the recently concluded Miss Intercontinental at Egypt. The stunner came just a tad short as she finished 1st Runner-up behind Mexico's Veronica Salas Vallejo.

Rodriguez was one of the favorites early on and she was somehow expected to win after a very convincing Q&A wherein she wowed the audiences showing how well conversant she is. Her poise and elegance during the pageant night was really spot on and her fans were expecting her to take the ever elusive crown.

Katarina first came to fame with Filipino fans when she joined cycle 2 of Asia's Next Top Model wherein she finished second place as well. Congratulations and we are very proud of you.

TOP 20 SONGS: JANUARY 20, 2018

BTS made a big charge as it snags the top spot in this week's charts. Ed Sheeran's Perfect skids to No. 4 while Camila Cabello continues to rise and moves up a spot at No.2. Bruno Mars and Cardi B debuts at No. 3 with Finesse while Justin Timberlake makes his entry at No. 10. Meant to Be by Bebe Rexha returns into No. 15.

THE REVENGERS SQUAD LEADS MMFF BOX-OFFICE

The 2017 MMFF was a success commercially with combined box-office of over Php 1 Billion. That big box-office haul was predominantly driven by Vice Ganda's The Revengers Squad which has already earned over 500 million. Rounding up the Top 4 are the following: Coco Martin's Ang Panday at No.2 , Siargao at No.3 and Haunted Forest at No.4. Vic Sotto's film Meant to Beh was surprisingly out of the Top 4 movies for this MMFF.

MALE HOTTIE: TONY LABRUSCA

Welcome our first male hottie for the year - Tony Labrusca. Tony is a son of actor Boom Labrusca and singer Angel Jones. Hw was born in Houston, Texas. He flew to the Philippines to pursue his career in show business.

His first taste of the biz was when he get to star in the McDonald's commercial who broke a girl's heart in 2016. he then went on to join Pinoy Band Superstar and was one of the favorites to win. He finished in the Top 7 but failed to make it to the Top 5 and missed a chance to be part of BoyBandPH. But it seems like it was fate as he is destined to become something better. He re-appeared in the McDo commercial focusing more on himself. Later on he joined the cast of La Luna Sangre and serve as the love triangle to the Kathniel pair where he showed his acting chops and he is really good for a newcomer enabling him to win the Best New Male TV Personality at the PMPC Star Awards for TV in 2017.

He is a constant eye candy and graced several magazine covers along the way. Who would not like to see him. Tony is dashing and very handsome plus he has a body to die for. He now has legions of fans and became one of most searched celebrities in the past year. We are hoping to see more of him in 2018.