SportsCenter Philippines

History

Before SportsCenter Philippines, Sports5 produced several sports news shows, mostly airing as halftime shows of the PBA. The first was AKTV Center, which began on October 2, 2011 on IBC as part of the AKTV block. It served as pre-game, halftime, and post-game show for PBA games, hosted by Patricia Bermudez-Hizon with Mico Halili and Magoo Marjon as alternates. Starting the 2011-12 Philippine Cup Quarterfinal round, the format resembled Inside the NBA, using a three-man panel of Halili, Marjon, Bermudez-Hizon, Aaron Atayde or Dominic Uy, with occasional special guests. Segments included parodies of NBA players such as "Kobesaya" (Kobe Bryant), "Jeremy Lin-ta" (Jeremy Lin), and "J.R. "Pepe" Smith" (J. R. Smith). AKTV Center aired from IBC studios in Broadcast City, sometimes from the playing venue for special occasions. During the 2012 Commissioner's Cup, AKTV introduced "Home Court" hosted by Lia Cruz, airing during halftime of the second game, but it lasted only four episodes before returning to the original format. AKTV Center ceased on May 31, 2013 when the AKTV block ended. No formatted show aired during the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals when games moved to TV5 and AksyonTV. For the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship (August 1–11, 2013), a pre-game show named Sports5 Center was used, continuing for the PBA's 2013-14 season on Sundays only. Sports5 Center was replaced by Sports 360 in November 2014. In November 2016, the pre-game show was renamed Sports5 Center again, retiring Sports 360. Sports5 Center continued after Sports5 became ESPN5 on October 13, 2017, ending on Game 7 of the 2017 PBA Governors' Cup finals on October 27. With the launch of SportsCenter Philippines, ESPN5 replaced Sports Center with PBA Halftime Show for PBA halftime breaks.