sports newsbits

Woods forces playoff with 18th-hole birdie
SAN DIEGO — Tiger Woods, facing defeat in the 108th U.S. Open, summoned one more dramatic shot Sunday – a birdie putt on the final hole from 12 feet to tie Rocco Mediate at 1-under-par 283 and send the Open into a playoff Monday for the first time since 2001 at Southern Hills.

Pacquiao vs Hatton eyed for Nov. date
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) are poised to co-host a proposed November showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton of England.

Desperate Welcoat taps Compton
Languishing in the cellar and again in danger of missing the wild card phase, Welcoat has decided to put its fate in the hands of a familiar face.

Ateneo still a work in progress
Despite a strong performance in the pre-season tournaments, coach Norman Black believes Ateneo is still far from the team he envisioned it to be.

Luna falls to Taiwanese in pool tour qualifying
Jeffrey de Luna’s hopes of entering the main draw suffered a blow yesterday when he lost to Dang Jin-hun of Taiwan, 9-8, to fall into the loser’s bracket of the Philippine Pool Tour’s qualifying stage for the Puerto Princesa 10-ball championship.

Helterbrand named PBA player of week
If one thought Jayjay Helterbrand was already a dangerous player before, then the Barangay Ginebra point guard should be given a closer look now.

RP wrestlers target Doha
Philippine wrestling team hopes to do better this time around as the new breed of young but talented wrestlers will make up the RP squad that will compete in the 2008 Asian Junior Wrestling Championships set July 4 to 6 in Doha, Qatar.

O ye of little faith
"Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"