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PBA: Rain or Shine gets new outfitter in Phenom

FOR the past four years, Rain or Shine has been experiencing a changing of the guard, turning younger and younger and embracing the next generation of cagers.

With this, the Elasto Painters have tapped a new outfitter for the 45th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in Phenom Sportswear.

Certainly, this is the biggest break for the five-year-old brand so far and is a dream come true for Phenom President Jax Chua.

“We started Phenom Sportswear mainly because basketball is our first love and we wanted to be involved in the game in some capacity. In God’s perfect time and our team’s hard work and sacrifice, we were able to achieve our ultimate dream of someday making jerseys for a PBA team,” said Mr. Chua.

“And such a blessing that of all teams, we were given an opportunity with Rain or Shine, a perennial contender with a winning attitude despite always being the underdog which happens to share our company’s same ideals.”

For the past 12 years, Rain or Shine has been a model for PBA franchises, winning two PBA championships against a stacked field. This is the same journey Phenom has been going through in the sportswear industry.

“With the PBA’s strong following here and abroad, it solidifies our company’s reputation and challenges us further to continuously level up our quality and service. That is why we are so thankful to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for giving us this opportunity,” expressed Mr. Chua.

This upcoming season that begins this March, Phenom will not be making drastic changes in Rain or Shine’s kits, still sticking to a white, blue, and red theme. What Mr. Chua is guaranteeing is that his company will be incorporating new technology in the Elasto Painters’ pre-game kits.

“In the meantime, we will be sticking to their iconic design as their jerseys are one of the best-selling PBA jerseys with players such James Yap, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood and Rey Nambatac,” disclosed Mr. Chua.

“But we will be incorporating new designs on their warmers and apparels which will be really exciting.”

US NCAA Division I coaches zero in on young talent

JUNIOR tennis players who joined the DreamBig Gold Series Tennis Camp at Manila Polo Club, Makati on Jan. 11 and 12, 2020 caught the eye of US NCAA Division I coaches.

Ezequiel Gils of Rice University, Rob Raines of Cornell University and Jesse Frieder from Boston University were more than pleasantly surprised by the Philippine tennis landscape when they watched the tennis players participate in the extremely intensive tennis training camp.

Twenty young tennis players were given the rare opportunity to be trained by the Division I Tennis coaches and underwent extensive, hands-on training that gave them an insight on of how US colleges run their athletic programs.

“Talent is everywhere. I’ve seen a lot of players who can play at a really high level if they just commit to spending time on the court and practicing. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on the Philippines in terms of tennis. It’s a place a lot of coaches are missing out on and it’s certainly a place that I’ll keep in mind as I’m recruiting,” added Cornell University Coach Rob Raines.

The coaches were impressed with the campers and their eagerness to learn, with Boston U coach, Jesse Frieder specifically praising the student-athletes for their coachability. “The players here are very coachable, which leads me to believe that if they to end up in any of our teams, we could help them reach for the sky because they’re open to learning and improving.”

The coaches were particularly impressed with several of the country’s up- and-coming tennis sensations including, the 16-year-old son of former Olympian Bea Lucero — Sebastien Lhuillier — who participated in the camp. According to the coaches, almost all the players showed potential to play at the Division I level.

“Physicality and fitness are so important. It’s so easy to lose to somebody when they hit the ball harder than you because they’re bigger than you are. But if you consistently beat higher-ranked players while winning 3-set matches, you prove to us that you are really tough and gritty. We want to see you in more and more matches because it makes your UTR more accurate and it makes you a tougher tennis player. We want players in our team who are tough; who are not scared of pressure and not scared of the moment.” Coach Frieder said.

Overall, however, the coaches said it will take more than talent to compete at the world level. With resources becoming readily available, it will take proper mindset, grit, and support from the country for young players to dream big and achieve big.

“It’s more mindset than perhaps even resources. Having someone who is hungry as a child — and I mean hungry to learn — is crucial. We need somebody who wants to be better today than they were yesterday regardless of what their floor is, in terms of talent and athletic ability,” said Rice University Coach Ezequiel Gils

Akshay Maliwal, Founder and CEO of DreamBig Events said DreamBig is bringing in more camps and tournaments for tennis, golf and soccer this year, to give local junior athletes the opportunity to be discovered by Division I US universities coaches who can help them reach their personal goals and the country’s dream to have Filipino players compete at the international stage.

John Collins pours in 33 points as Hawks top Clippers

LOS ANGELES — John Collins scored 33 points, and reserve Brandon Goodwin scored all of his 19 points in the second half to help the short-handed Hawks erase a 21-point deficit and defeat the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 102-95 on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Collins was 12 of 22 from the field and added 16 rebounds, matching his season high. It was his ninth double-double and third 30-point effort of the season.

However, it was Goodwin who came up with the big baskets down the stretch. He had a three-point play to give Atlanta a 93-91 lead with 3:56 left and made all three free throws after a three-shot foul to stretch the lead to 96-91 with 3:23 to go.

The Hawks also got 12 points and seven rebounds from Kevin Huerter plus 10 points and eight rebounds from Cam Reddish.

“Our competitive nature kicked in,” Collins said. “We turned it around, played selflessly, and good things happened.”

The Hawks were without leading scorer and floor leader Trae Young, a game-time scratch due to a right thigh contusion. Young, who averages 29.2 points, was coming off a 42-point, 15-assist night against the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

Los Angeles was led by Montrezl Harrell with 30 points and seven rebounds, but he made only 6 of 13 from the foul line and missed 5 of 6 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Clippers got 18 points from Lou Williams, but he was an uncharacteristic 0-for-7 from 3-point range. Landry Shamet scored 13.

The Clippers were playing without starters Kawhi Leonard (load management), Paul George (left hamstring strain) and Patrick Beverley (groin), but it didn’t seem to matter in the first quarter. The Clippers used a 20-0 run in the first quarter to take what appeared to be a commanding lead and led by as many as 21 in the second quarter. Los Angeles was ahead 60-41 at halftime.

Atlanta inched closer in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 28-15 to cut the Los Angeles lead to 75-69 entering the final quarter.

DAVIS, LEBRON LEAD LAKERS PAST KNICKS
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis scored a game-high 28 points Wednesday night for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who held off the New York Knicks 100-92.

Davis was 7 of 14 from the field and 13 of 13 from the free-throw line, matching his most conversions without a miss in a game this season. He also was 13 for 13 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 3.

LeBron James had 21 points and six rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Lakers, who won for the 11th time in 13 games. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (13 points) and Kyle Kuzma (10) each scored in double figures off the bench for Los Angeles.

Marcus Morris Sr. scored 20 points and Damyean Dotson came off the bench to add 17 for the Knicks, who have lost four of their past five and are 2-9 in a stretch beginning with a loss to Phoenix on Jan. 3. Julius Randle had 16 points and Taj Gibson 12 for New York, which got 12 rebounds from Mitchell Robinson.

The Lakers led 28-25 at the end of the first quarter before the Knicks opened the second quarter on a 12-2 run capped by consecutive 3-pointers by Dotson. James responded by scoring nine points in an 11-4 run that gave Los Angeles a 42-40 lead with 5:11 left in the second quarter. The teams were never separated by more than two points before winding up tied at halftime at 48.

Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer 40 seconds into the third gave the Knicks their final lead at 52-50. A layup by JaVale McGee gave the Lakers the lead for good at 56-54 and keyed a 7-0 run by Los Angeles.

The Lakers scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to open their biggest lead at 83-70. The Knicks got as close as six points twice in the final minute on two baskets by Randle, but Alex Caruso hit two free throws with 20.7 seconds left and New York’s last hope evaporated when Dotson missed a turnaround jumper 10 seconds later. — Reuters

WGM Frayna in Chooks-To-Go National Rapid Chess tourney

WOMAN GRANDMASTER (WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna will spearhead a strong cast clashing in the 3rd Chooks-to-Go National Rapid Chess Championships as it gets under way on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

Opening starts at 10:30 a.m.

The former Far Eastern University chess standout looms as the player to beat in the one-day rapid tournament owing to her recent achievement in the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games last December.

Ms. Frayna along with Woman International Master (WIM) Catherine Perena Secopito and Woman Fide Master (WFM) Shania Mae Mendoza pocketed silver in the women’s division chess team problem solving event (demonstration sports).

Other notable masters participating are IMs Ronald Bancod, Daniel Cuizon and Michael “Jako” Concio, Jr. and FM Christopher Castellano.

A top purse of P20,000 to the Open champion. The second to fifth placers will receive P10,000, P7,000, P5,000 and P3,000 respectively. Also on tap Executive, Junior and Kiddies division with the winner pocketing P12,000, P7,000 and P5,000, in order. — Marlon Bernardino

Eli Manning

It was, in retrospect, the only choice that made any modicum of sense for Eli Manning. Even though he pledged to thoroughly examine his options after finishing the current campaign with a win last month, he couldn’t but have known even then that retirement could no longer be put off. Not with his avowed refusal to continue serving as backup to a draft pick, and not with his best days long behind him. His father certainly thought so: Archie was, if nothing else, emphatic in declaring that he would never wear colors other than those of the Giants.

And so there was no surprise when Manning formally acknowledged his decision to hang up his cleats for good. There was no surprise, either, when the Giants — for whom he toiled all 16 years he played in the National Football League — made the announcement. It was typical of him to deflect the limelight, never mind his uncanny capacity to rise to the occasion when stakes were highest. Indeed, to argue that he finished with middling regular-season numbers would be to understate the obvious; his first eight years were great, and his next eight not so — leading to a neither-here-nor-there 117-117 record. Oh, but did he save his finest for the grandest stages; not for nothing did he twice lead the march to the championship against all odds.

To those from the outside looking in, the dichotomy may be striking. Manning never got close to being an All Pro selection, and yet has Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards from the Giants’ 2007 and 2011 campaigns — a distinction accorded only a handful in the history of the league. And he earned it by beating the powerhouse Patriots, with Tom Brady, arguably the greatest of all time under center, on both occasions. Among others, his was the throw that led to the remarkable “helmet catch” during the game-winning series of Super Bowl XLII; the completion of a wild-card run to the top foiled a perfect season by the overwhelming favorites. And, among others, his were the passes that began a productive, if bizarre, final scoring drive in Super Bowl XLVI; his 296-yard, one-touchdown, zero-interception aggregates turned a 9-7 season into yet another triumph by the vast underdogs.

Clearly, Manning has reason to hold his head high. He thrived under extreme pressure, not often surrounded by talent while invariably subjected to intense scrutiny in the media capital of the world. Fellow Giants quarterbacks Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler did so, too — but, really, he deserves to be named alongside such all-time greats as Joe Montana, Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, and, yes, Brady even more. He did his best and exceeded outsized expectations with a work ethic that underscored his refusal to give in to common thresholds. He played even when his body told him he shouldn’t have — and he gave his all every single time. Few can say the same, and fewer still while blessed with success.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Cebu Pacific Hong Kong flight told to see doctor

CEBU PACIFIC on Thursday urged passengers of a Hong Kong-Manila flight on Wednesday to seek medical help if they experience flu-like symptoms, amid a coronavirus outbreak in China.

In an advisory, the carrier said it had been alerted to media reports in Hong Kong that four of its passengers on the flights might have been exposed to a person infected with coronavirus.

“All passengers and the crew aboard the flight were screened by the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival in Manila, and none of them were held for further observation,” it said.

“Nonetheless, we are trying to coordinate with Hong Kong authorities to verify information in media reports,” it added.

The airline said that as a precautionary measure, passengers aboard flight 5J 111 should seek medical help if they exhibit flu-like symptoms including runny nose, cough, sore throat or fever.

“We have also disinfected the aircraft following our standard practice for all inbound international flights,” it said.

Cebu Pacific said passengers should postpone air travel if they feel unwell, and stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever subsides.

In a separate advisory, Philippine Airlines said it was also “closely monitoring” reports on the novel coronavirus even if it does not operate flights to and from Wuhan, the city where the virus was said to have originated.

The airline said it was coordinating with the Health department, Bureau of Quarantine and other health authorities “in taking sensible precautionary measures for the safety and protection of our passengers.”

This includes unobtrusive screening at specific airports.

PAL passengers were advised to follow preventive measures such as washing hands with soap and water and using alcohol-based hand rub.

Travelers should cancel their trips if they are experiencing symptoms such as respiratory problems, cough and colds, flu, high body temperature and shortness of breath, the airline said.

Airports worldwide have tightened security protocols after reports that hundreds in China have been infected with the deadly virus.

Senators on Wednesday asked the Health department and other agencies to draft an emergency plan after a Chinese boy in Cebu City tested positive for coronavirus, days after Japan and Thailand confirmed their first case of infection from a new strain that originated in Wuhan, China.

The virus, in the same family as the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), has killed at least 17 patients and sickened hundreds in China.

The boy tested positive for coronavirus but was negative for SARS and MERS, the Health department said on Tuesday.

Also yesterday, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had tracked down the family of the infected Chinese boy. Immigration and National Bureau of Investigation agents can find the people they have interacted with in the Philippines, he added.

Meanwhile the Health department said it had yet to determine the strain of coronavirus the boy was infected with.

“”The Department of Health wishes to clarify that it has yet to receive the confirmatory results for the five year-old boy under investigation for 2019-nCoV,” it said in a statement.

“As such, the child will remain as a person under investigation,” it added. Samples from the patient were sent to Australia for further testing.

World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines Country Representative Rabinda Abeyasinghe earlier said they were working with authorities in China, where majority of the cases occurred, to monitor the new virus strain.

Senator Nancy S. Binay on Wednesday filed Senate Resolution 293, seeking to inquire into the measures and funding requirements needed in case if an outbreak.

While coronavirus cases are normally transmitted from animals to humans, the new strain was said to have been transmitted between humans.

Health authorities have advised the public to observe proper hygiene and cough etiquette, including covering the mouth when one coughs or sneezes. — with C.A. Tadalan

Large-scale Taal Volcano eruption not ruled out

TAAL Volcano emits ash. — REUTERS/ELOISA LOPEZ

STATE seismologists on Thursday said a large-scale eruption of Taal Volcano could not be ruled out as magma continues to build up below the volcano.

“Magma may continue going up and there would be a big explosion,” Renato U. Solidum, Jr., director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said at a briefing streamed on Facebook.

Phivolcs measured an average of 141 tons of sulfur dioxide, according to its 8 a.m. report. This was slightly lower than the 153 tons it measured on Wednesday morning.

The agency has recorded “weak to moderate emission of white-steam laden plumes” that went as high as 500 meters in the past 24 hours.

Phivolcs has also recorded 731 volcanic earthquakes since Jan. 12, 176 of which were felt with intensities 1 to 5.

About 81,000 families in Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite were affected by Taal Volcano’s eruption, according to the local disaster agency’s 6 am report.

More than 39,000 families were taking temporary shelter in 500 evacuation centers while 30,325 families were being served outside them, it said.

Taal Volcano remained under Alert Level 4, which means “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.” — Genshen L. Espedido

More Filipino families rate themselves poor, says SWS

FILIPINO families that rated themselves poor rose to their highest in more than five years in December, according to a poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), SWS said 54% of families considered themselves poor, 12 points higher than in September and the highest since the 55% recorded in September 2014.

The estimated number of self-rated poor families reached 13.1 million in December from 10.3 million in September.

The annual average self-rated poverty rate for last year was 45%, 3 points lower than in 2018.

Self-rated poverty was 41% in Metro Manila, 47% in the rest of Luzon, 67% in the Visayas, and 64% in Mindanao.

SWS interviewed 1,200 adults in December for the poll, which had an error margin of ±3 points. — NPA

4 Chinese nabbed for kidnapping, illegal detention

FOUR CHINESE nationals have been arrested in Manila for kidnapping a fellow Chinese over alleged gambling debts, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported on Thursday. “We received information that a certain Chinese national was abducted on January 18. He was held against his will after he was able to incur P200,000 gambling debt from other Chinese nationals,” Czar Eric M. Nuqui, chief of the NBI Environmental Crime Division, said in a briefing streamed online. The suspects were identified as Chen Zhimin, Luo Canfeng, Li Jai Huang and Wang Yiping. They were nabbed after the NBI received a complaint from a Chinese employee working in the offshore gaming industry. During the operation, two other victims, who were physically maltreated and threatened with death if they could not produce P600,000, were also rescued. The victims subsequently filed a complaint against the suspects. In a statement, the NBI said the suspects have been presented for inquest proceedings before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. — Genshen L. Espedido

Flight attendant with Wuhan travel discharged from hospital but under monitoring

Kalibo Airport
The Kalibo International Airport is one of the gateways to the popular tourist island Boracay.

THE 24-year old flight attendant who was unwell and had a cough following travel in Wuhan, China, the ground zero of the novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, has been discharged from hospital but will continue to be monitored, according to the Aklan Provincial Health Office (PHO). Cornelio V. Cuachon Jr., chief of the PHO, said the flight attendant initially consulted a private physician and was referred and admitted to the Dr. Rafael Tumbukon Provincial Hospital. “She had cough so eventually she was admitted… and was discharged this morning,” he said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Blood samples of the patient were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for testing on Thursday. Mr. Cuachon also said that they are continuously monitoring the three Chinese nationals who were quarantined after showing symptoms upon arrival at the Kalibo International Airport. The first quarantined passenger was a 29-year-old female who arrived Jan. 17, and discharged from hospital the next day as she no longer had a fever. The two others, a three-year-old girl who arrived Jan. 18 and a 65-year-old male on Jan. 20, showed signs of fever and colds. The child was discharged after being diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection, while the senior male was treated as an outpatient after observations indicated that he has already recovered. “While we allowed the three Chinese nationals to proceed to Boracay, we are closely monitoring them as part of surveillance because once their symptoms progresses, they will be advised to seek medical attention,” he said. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Maranao cultural town Taraka chosen as showcase area for poverty reduction program

THE SMALL lakeside town of Taraka, considered an important Maranao historical and cultural preservation area, has been chosen as a showcase site for an agriculture-based poverty reduction program. Among the initial projects identified for implementation involve dairy goat, duck, cattle, backyard chicken farming, egg production, sorghum, rice, corn, and cattle fattening, according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). The project is a joint undertaking of MinDA, Department of Interior and Local Government, Development Bank of the Philippines, and the local governments of Taraka and Lanao del Sur. Among other components, beneficiaries will be trained to adopt modern farming methods and solar-power irrigation system. A learning site for farmers, to be called Maranao New Hope Agricultural Learning Center (MAHAL Center), is also planned for construction. “It will serve as an informal school for farmers in Lanao del Sur where they could see actual models of livelihood projects and learn how to do it in their farms,” Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, chair of MinDA, said.

67% POVERTY LEVEL
Taraka, based on MinDA data, is classified as a 4th class municipality with a population of about 25,000 and poverty level at 67%. “We are very thankful because not all local government units are given this opportunity,” Taraka Mayor Nashida G. Sumagayan is quoted in a MinDA statement. The town, located along Lake Lanao, is home to the Baab Ur-Rahman Masjid, the second oldest mosque in the country. Displayed in one of the old houses in Barangay Gapao Balindong are big Chinese stoneware jars called abdans or gusis, which attest to the town’s history as a trade destination and affluence. It’s lakeside torogans — antique royal houses with high roofs that have intricate carving — have been declared as heritage sites. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Cebu’s ‘Suroy-Suroy’ tourism program highlights northern towns

THIS year’s first leg of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tourism program, intended to promote towns outside the Metro Cebu area, kicked off this week with the northern area getting the spotlight. Suroy-suroy is the Cebuano word for gallivanting while Sugbo is the old name of Cebu. The program organizes group tours led by the Cebu provincial government. This week’s trip — covering the municipalities of Consolacion, Compostela, Carmen, Sogod and Daanbantayan — attracted 249 paying guests, composed of leisure and business travelers. “It feels exciting, it feels amazing to be able to cater and to welcome tourists from different parts of the world,” Consolacion Mayor Joannes P. Alegado told reporters during the Suroy-Suroy’s first stop. He added that their participation in the program is in line with the goal to be upgrade into a city classification. Carmen Mayor Carlo T. Villamor, for his part, said the program is a boost to local businesses. Cebu Tourism Office head Maria Lester Ybañez said they actually had to turn down some interested participants for this trip due to limited accommodations in the destinations. The other Suroy-Suroy trips scheduled this year are the Camotes Escapade on April 25-26, and the Midwest on June 12-13. — The Freeman

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