Toned-down Pacquiao form still to deal with in the ring

January 21, 2019 | 8:04 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
HE may no longer be the Manny Pacquiao of old that bamboozled all comers but the Filipino boxing superstar at 40 years of age still carries a punch and someone to deal with in the ring.
Such is how local combat sports analyst Nissi Icasiano is viewing the eight-division champion Pacquiao following another impressive performance on Sunday against American Adrien Broner to retain his World Boxing Association welterweight title.
“For a 40-year-old boxer who is way past his prime to triumph over a boxer who is 11 years his junior and in good physical condition, you will be a complete hater if you weren’t impressed. Yes, it’s toned-down version of the old Manny Pacquiao that on numerous occasions put us at the edge of our seats. But it’s safe to say that this 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao is a grizzled veteran who will give the young lions and up-and-comers a decent spanking before they earn their stripe,” Mr. Icasiano said in an online correspondence with BusinessWorld following Mr. Pacquiao’s unanimous decision victory over Mr. Broner in their headlining fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“There were some rounds in the fight that reaffirmed his age, especially in stringing together combinations or reacting to an opening. It’s normal because it’s not the prime Manny Pacquiao,” the analyst said.
Against Mr. Broner, “Pacman” was dominant right from the start with solid and steady jabs, proving himself too much to handle for “The Problem” en route to the convincing UD victory, 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112.
Mr. Pacquiao (61-7-2) sizzled in the seventh and ninth rounds, in particular, where he connected jabs and combinations that hurt Mr. Broner, 29, and had him on the ropes.
The latter though managed to survive both times by holding on to the Filipino champion.
In the championship rounds, Mr. Pacquiao tried to go for the finish but Mr. Broner would be reluctant to engage and was seemingly content on just surviving the contest, forcing Mr. Pacquiao to just pick his openings and settle for the unanimous decision win.
The victory was in follow-up to Mr. Pacquiao’s technical knockout win over erstwhile WBA champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in July.
Mr. Icasiano said that while the fights were different, there is still no denying that Mr. Pacquiao, also a sitting senator of the republic, was downright impressive.
“We shouldn’t compare his performance in his fight with Lucas Matthysse to his victory over Adrien Broner. Broner and Matthysse are completely different boxers. But winning at least nine rounds against a counterpuncher, which is no secret, a style that Manny had difficulties handling in the past, is quite impressive,” the analyst said.
Following his victory over Mr. Broner, focus immediately shifted to a possible rematch between Mr. Pacquiao and undefeated world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Mr. Icasiano said he is not necessarily high on having a rematch between the two boxing legends but something he thinks is highly possible to happen.
“The rematch against Floyd Mayweather doesn’t need to happen, but by the looks of it, I think it could. Rumors say that it will happen in July. Manny is looking for another good payday. For Floyd, as long as it has astonishing numbers, he is up for it. I don’t see any obstacle that can hinder them from ironing out a deal since both men are now in the watchful eyes of Al Haymon,” said Mr. Icasiano, referring to longtime Mayweather adviser Haymon, who recently signed Mr. Pacquiao.

2020 ASEAN Para Games: Ensuring event is accessible

January 21, 2019 | 8:03 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
ON Friday, Jan. 18, the one-year countdown to the country’s hosting of the 2020 ASEAN Para Games officially began with organizers and proponents highlighting accessibility of the event for the athletes as one of the keys to a successful staging.
In ceremonies held at the Novotel Manila at the Araneta Center in Quezon City, officials of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) and the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) and para athletes began the countdown to the Games which will happen in January 2020, following the holding of the 30^th Southeast Asian Games which the country is hosting as well in December.
Earlier on Friday, the PPC and APSF, too, made an ocular inspection of where the games will be held in the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.
The country’s hosting of the biennial sporting meet for differently abled athletes would mark the second time that the Philippines would take on the job and something that local organizers said they are looking forward to.
“The Philippines is grateful for the opportunity to host the 10^th APG, an event that will give all differently abled athletes in the region a platform to override their limitations and achieve the seemingly impossible. At the same time it will inspire our local para athletes to exceed their recent achievements and show that they can aspire for greater glory and give pride to our country,” said Michael Barredo, PPC president, during the countdown ceremonies.
But Mr. Barredo said to host is one thing and to be a successful host is another, which is why they said they will do everything they can to make the 10^th edition of the Para Games a standout one, particularly in making it accessible for the athletes.
Primary are the venues where the sporting events will be held.
During the ocular inspection, officials of the PPC and APSF made their concerns known as far as how they want things to be handled.
And these did not fall on deaf ears as MTD Philippines, an infrastructure development company tasked to lead in the building of the sport facilities in the New Clark City, expressed its willingness to consider all their suggestions as they go about construction, which includes the 20,000-seat stadium and the Athletes Village.
“We are designing it to be very inclusive. We’ve taken all comments during this visit, they’re recommending a few things that we need to add so that it will be very accessible,” said MTD Philippines president Nicholas David.
The MTD Philippines official went on to say that it has been a challenging build for them but they are not allowing it to stop them from delivering from their end and producing a world-class facility that athletes of all forms and shapes would be comfortable using and the entire country would be proud of.
Apart from the venues, Mr. Barredo said in the lead-up to the hosting they would work on various aspects as well like transportation and security.
The ASEAN Para Games 2020 begins on Jan. 18, a few weeks after the completion of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
At least 1,400 differently-abled athletes from the 11 member countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste, and the Philippines are expected to participate in the week-long sporting festivities.
Fourteen sports to date have been short-listed for the Games, namely archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, cycling, volleysitting, wheelchair-basketball, goalball, judo, powerlifting, swimming, tenpin bowling, and table tennis.
Participants in the ASEAN Para Games include athletes with physical, vision, and intellectual disabilities.

Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran eases past Oman into final eight

January 21, 2019 | 8:03 pm

ABU DHABI — Three-times champions Iran came through an early scare before marching confidently into the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the 13^th time in 14 attempts with a 2-0 victory over a spirited Oman team on Sunday.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved an Oman penalty in the opening minute but a goal from winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and a successful spot-kick from captain Ashkan Dejagah put them firmly in control at halftime.
The Iranians were unable to add any more goals in the second half but there was never any real doubt they would return to the same stadium on Thursday to meet Marcello Lippi’s China, 2-1 winners over Thailand in Al Ain earlier on Sunday.
“It started with an unusual situation and a great save (but) we controlled the whole game and we could have stopped it earlier with a third or fourth goal,” said coach Carlos Queiroz.
“We can’t miss those kind of chances. We need to play with a killer instinct, we need to put those opportunities in the net.”
Oman, in the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the first time and roared on by a large part of the 32,000 crowd, never flagged and will forever ponder what might have been had Ahmed Mubarak converted the early penalty.
Striker Muhsen Al-Ghassani, Oman’s best player, was hauled down by centre back Majid Hosseini but Beiranvand dived low to his right to deny the Oman skipper, just as he had Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo at last year’s World Cup.
The quality of Iran’s forward line was always going to cause Oman problems and Sardar Azmoun had the first of many shots at goal as early as the fourth minute.
Jahanbakhsh was soon causing the Oman defence problems down the right flank but it was from a more central position that he opened the scoring in the 32^nd minute, pouncing on a defensive error and poking the ball into the net.
Dejagah doubled the lead five minutes before the break after Mehdi Taremi had been bundled over in the box but Al-Ghassani quickly gave a reminder that Oman were not done with a powerful shot that Beiranvand tipped over the bar.
Oman coach Pim Verbeek switched to a 4-4-2 formation at the break to chase the game but that opened up more space at the back and only the profligacy of the Iran forwards kept the lead at two goals.
Taremi and Azmoun vied for the title of worst offender but the Iran defence, yet to concede a goal in four matches, ensured Team Melli remained on track to end the 43-year drought since their last continental title in 1976.
“The penalty would have helped (but) we tried everything possible to score a goal and Iran kept us under control,” said Verbeek, adding that he would be staying on as coach of Oman. — Reuters

Federer knocked out by Greek wunderkind Tsitsipas

January 21, 2019 | 8:03 pm

MELBOURNE — — Roger Federer’s bid for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles was crushed on Sunday as Greek wunderkind Stefanos Tsitsipas rose up to floor the Swiss master and become his nation’s first Grand Slam quarter-finalist.
In a match pitting the oldest and youngest players left in the men’s draw, the 20-year-old Tsitsipas overhauled Federer 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5) under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, sparking delirium among Greek fans out in force at Melbourne Park.
The 37-year-old Federer, 20 times a Grand Slam champion, will rue his chances, having failed to convert any of the 12 break points he took from Tsitsipas over the course of a riveting clash laden with sparkling shot-making.
Instead, it was Tsitsipas showing a wise head on young shoulders in a final tiebreak of unrelenting tension.
When given a match point after Federer slapped a forehand long, he converted it clinically, forcing a backhand error from the Swiss to announce himself on one of the game’s biggest stages.
He raised his arms in triumph and roared at the terraces, bringing tears of joy to his brother’s eyes in the players’ box.
“There’s nothing I can describe, I cannot describe it, I am the happiest man on earth right now,” Tsitsipas said in his courtside interview.
“Roger is a legend of our sport, he showed such good tennis over the years. I have been idolising him since I was six.
“I didn’t lose my patience, stayed in those rallies. It was very important to save those breakpoints.”
Tsitsipas may be set for even bigger prizes, with a semi-final on offer should he beat 22^nd-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
When the dust settles, Federer will note that he has been upset in the last 16 at the last two Grand Slams, having fallen to unseeded Australian John Millman at the US Open.
“Definitely didn’t go the way I expected with the breakpoints,” Federer told reporters.
“I have massive regrets tonight. I might not look the part, but I am. I felt like I had to win the second set. Cost me the game tonight.”
Federer saw something of his old self in Tsitsipas, a rangy tyro with flowing, blond locks and an unswerving confidence.
“He has a one-handed backhand and I had long hair, too. So yeah, a little bit,” he remarked.
There was no easing in to the intergenerational battle, with Tsitsipas having a first serve cancelled for twice falling foul of the clock in the opening game. He had to stave off two break points to hold.
Sparkling winners sang off both racquets as the first set flew into an epic tiebreak of blown chances and brave saves.
Tsitsipas finally relented when he pushed a forehand wide, having been wrongfooted by a deep and venomous shot.
Lesser opponents might have fallen into a funk against the front-running Swiss but Tsitsipas stayed brave under fire.
He saved eight break points in the second set to keep Federer at bay yet had no such gifts on his opponent’s serve.
The Greek stared down four set points when serving at 5-4 and finally held with a net-rush and a volley.
He fired a backhand crosscourt into the net-bound Federer’s sneakers to earn three set points in the tiebreak, then converted the first with a crushing forehand winner that kissed the line in the corner.
Federer became concerned as more break points went begging in the third set, and he was soon clinging desperately on serve.
It came to a head at 6-5 down, with Federer’s first serve going missing in four successive points and the set lost with a trio of unforced errors on forehand.
The Swiss held on until deep into the decider but it seemed time was catching up with him.
Tsitsipas, 17 years his junior, never dropped his guard, and Federer will leave Melbourne Park without a quarter-final appointment for only the second time in 18 years. — Reuters

Svitolina masters Keys to battle Osaka in last eight

January 21, 2019 | 8:02 pm

MELBOURNE — Elina Svitolina recovered after dropping the second set to secure a place in the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-2 1-6 6-1 victory over American Madison Keys on Monday.
The sixth seed, who has claimed 13 tour titles including at last year’s WTA Finals in Singapore, has struggled to make an impact at the Grand Slams but the Ukrainian is now hoping to progress beyond the last eight at a major for the first time.
“(Singapore) gave me a huge boost of confidence, so I don’t think about the other, the past anymore,” the 24-year-old Svitolina, who has reached two quarter-finals in Melbourne to go with two more at the French Open, told reporters.
“I only look forward. I look for next challenge. I try to win as many matches as I can, as many titles as I can, and this is the goal for the year.”
Reaching the last four will be a tough task, however, with Svitolina next meeting U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka after the Japanese fourth seed defeated Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 4-6 6-3 6-4 in their fourth round encounter.
Svitolina started brightly and raced to a 4-0 lead with two early breaks of serve as her 17^th-seeded American opponent struggled to find her range and rhythm.
After returning to the court from a medical timeout to have her toe taped up, Svitolina converted her second set point when Keys found the net with a return as she registered her 11^th unforced error of the match.
Keys, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year, roared back in the second set as she finally managed to tame her powerful groundstrokes, sprinting to a 5-0 lead before converting her second set point to level the match.
Svitolina was wobbling but the tenacious base-liner dug deep to save five break points in a marathon third game of the decider lasting more than 16 minutes, the vital hold giving her the impetus to kick on for victory.
“I knew that I had to be strong mentally and physically in that point, because the sun was very strong in that side, and I knew that I’m going to have a chance on the next game on her serve,” Svitolina added.
The inability to secure the break appeared to knock the stuffing out of the 2017 U.S. Open finalist in the next game as the American committed three more unforced errors and served a double-fault to hand Svitolina the break. — Reuters

2018 Combination of the Year

January 21, 2019 | 8:02 pm

Early 2018 in the Gibraltar Masters the Bulgarian GM (Grandmaster) Ivan Cheparinov won a brilliancy against Alan Pichot, an Argentinian GM. This game was recently adjudged “Best Combination for 2018” by the top chess website www.chessbase.com. Of added interest is that it came about from the Sicilian Poisoned Pawn Variation, a very popular line here in the Philippines due to the influence of Bobby Fischer.
Before we look at that game here is something I wrote in 2016. It is one of the earliest games in the Poisoned Pawn Variation played by the “Magician from Riga” Mikhail Tal. I will try to keep my comments brief.

Tal, Mikhail — Tolush, Alexander V. [B97]
URS-ch23 Final Leningrad (17), 06.02.1956

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 Qxa2
Taking the e5 pawn is too dangerous: 12…Nxe5? 13.Nb5 is an attack on black’s queen as well as threatens checkmate on d8. There is only one reply: 13…Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 axb5 15.Bxb5+ Bd7 16.0–0 Black is in a very bad way. Take note that White is threatening Bxd7+ Nxd7 Rxf7!
13.Rb3 Qa1+ 14.Kf2 Qa4 15.Bb5?!
Later on it was discovered that 15.Nxe6! is even stronger: 15…fxe6 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Rf8+ 18.Kg3 Nf6 (18…Rf7 19.Qxe6+ Kf8 20.Bc4) 19.exf6 gxf6 20.Be2! White has a decisive advantage.
15…axb5 16.Nxb5 f6
[16…Qxe4?? 17.Nc7#]
17.exf6 gxf6 18.Re1! Ra6
[18…fxg5 19.Nc7+ Kd8 (19…Ke7 20.Qxg5+; 19…Kf7 20.Rf3+ Kg8 21.Qxg5+ Bg7 22.Nxe6 mates) 20.Nxe6+ with forced mate. Here is a sample line: 20…Ke7 21.Qxg5+ Kxe6 22.Nc5+ Kd6 23.Rd1+ Kc7 24.Ne6+ Kc6 25.Qd5#]
19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Nxf6+ Kf7 21.Rf3! Qh4+
[21…Qxb5 22.Nd5+ Ke8 23.Nc7+ etc]
22.Kf1 e5
[22…Qc4+ 23.Kg1 Bc5+ 24.Kh1 Qxb5 25.Nd5+ Kg6 26.Rf6+ the end]
23.Qd5+ Be6 24.Nd7+! Kg6
[24…Ke7 25.Qc5+ Ke8 (25…Kxd7 26.Rd1+ leads to mate) 26.Qc8+ Ke7 27.Qxb8 material is equal but Black’s king is too exposed]
25.Nxe5+ Kg7 26.Rg3+ Qxg3
[26…Kf6 27.Qd8+ Be7 28.Qxh8+ Kf5 29.Rf3+ Kg5 30.Qg7+ Kh5 31.Qxh7+ Kg5 32.Qg6#]
27.Qxb7+ Nd7 28.hxg3 Rb6 29.Qc7 Bc5 30.Nxd7 Bc4+ 31.Re2 [31.Re2 Re8 32.Nxb6+] 1–0
Later on it was discovered that Black can improve his chances in this line by inserting the moves …h6, Bh4. Amongst other reasons the combination used by Tal in the game above would not work anymore. Let us retrace our steps:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nfd7 13.Ne4 Qxa2 14.Rb3 Qa1+ 15.Kf2 Qa4
We now have the position as in the game above with 7…h6 8.Bh4 inserted. Tal’s combination doesn’t work as 16.Bb5 is refuted by 16…axb5 17.Nxb5 Bc5+! Because now the white bishop is unprotected on h4. 18.Nxc5 Qxh4+ 19.g3 Qd8 20.Nd6+ Kf8 21.Qf4 Qe7 White still has an attack but Black’s bishop and pawn advantage weigh in heavily.
OK, this explains why nowadays the Poisoned Pawn Variation starts with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6. Now it is time to look at the Pichot-Cheparinov game.

Pichot, Alan (2552) — Cheparinov, Ivan (2699) [B97]
Gibraltar Masters, 2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Qd2
White also has the option 9.a3 hoping for 9…Qxb2?? 10.Na4
9…Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 g5
The other main line is 12…Nfd7 13.Ne4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 with a very complicated position. Najer, E (2687)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2798) Dortmund 2016 0–1 36.
13.exf6 gxh4 14.Be2 Qa5 15.0–0 h3
A new wrinkle. Previously 15…Nd7 was almost exclusively played.
16.Bf3 Nd7 17.Kh1
You have heard of “Freestyle” online tournaments, right? These are tournaments where the participants are allowed to use computer assistance. Anyway, this position was tried out in one of them and White decided to win the pawn on b7. This was some sort of reversed poisoned pawn since the shoe is now on the other foot — it is white who grabbed a pawn and black will try to prove it is too dangerous to take. That is exactly what happened. 17.Bxb7!? Bxb7 18.Rxb7 Rg8 19.g3 Qc5 20.Rf2 Ne5 21.Na4 Qd5 22.Rb3 Rd8 23.c3 Rg4 24.Qc2 Rxd4 25.cxd4 Qxd4 (threatening to capture the a4–knight, which is the one protecting c5) 26.Rb1 Ba3 27.Rbf1 Ng4 28.Qc6+ Kf8 29.Qc3 Qxc3 30.Nxc3 Bc5 31.Ne4 Be3 32.Rb1 Kg8 0–1 (32) EnjoyTheSilence (2439)-Rodo (1832) playchess.com INT 2008.
17…Ne5 18.Rfe1
The pawn on h3 is dangerous to capture because after 18.gxh3 Nxf3 19.Rxf3 (19.Nxf3? Bd7 followed by Bc6) 19…b5 White always will have to watch out for the black bishop fianchettoing into the dangerous h1–a8 diagonal.
18…Nxf3 19.gxf3
[19.Nxf3 hxg2+ 20.Kxg2 Bd7 same idea as in the previous line — Black will follow-up with Bc6]
19…Rg8 20.Nxe6?
GM Pichot sees a combination but it has a big hole.
20…fxe6
[20…Bxe6? 21.Rxb7 (threatening Qd7 mate) 21…Rd8 22.Rxe6+ fxe6 23.f7#]
21.Rxb7 <D>
POSITION AFTER 21.RXB7
Now we get our “Combination of the Year”
21…Rg1+!!
[21…Bxb7 22.Rxe6+ Kf7 23.Qd7+ Kg6 24.f7+ wins for White]
22.Kxg1
[22.Rxg1 Bxb7 23.f7+ Ke7–+ It is Black who is winning]
22…Qc5+ 23.Kh1
[23.Kf1 Qc4+]
23…Bxb7 24.Rxe6+ Kf7 25.Qd7+ Kg8!
Not 25…Kg6? 26.Qxb7 Qxc3 27.Qe4+ Kf7 28.Qd5 Kg6 29.Qe4+ draw.
26.f7+ Kg7
Black can still go wrong: 26…Kh8? 27.Qxb7 Qg5 (27…Qf2 28.Rg6!) 28.f4! Qxf4 29.Ne2 Qf1+ 30.Ng1 Ra7 31.Qd5 Rxf7 32.Qd4+ Kg8 33.Qg4+ Rg7 34.Rg6 Rxg6 35.Qxg6+ Kh8 36.Qc6= once again, the clear win is gone.
27.Qd3
[27.Ne4 Qd5]
27…Qg5 28.Qd4+ Kxf7 0–1
A great tussle which does credit to both players.
Here is something for Filipino fans. Among the eight finalists is the Le Quang Liem vs. Paulo Bersamina encounter last month during the Asian Continental Chess Championship held here in Makati. Here it is again with some notes I wrote at that time.

Le Quang, Liem (2714) — Bersamina, Paulo (2444) [C50]
17^th Asian Continental Chess Championship
Makati City (1.3), 10.12.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.h3 h6 6.Nbd2 a6 7.c3 d6 8.Bb3 Be6 9.Bc2 Ba7 10.Nf1 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Ng3 Qd7
It looks to me like White’s set-up is too slow and Black is at least equal.
13.0–0 0–0–0 14.Re1 Nf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Nh5 Bxh3! 17.Nxf4 Bg4! 18.d4 Qd6 19.Nd3 f6 20.Re4 h5 21.Qe2 Bf5 22.Re3 Bg4 23.Re4 Bf5 24.Re3 Bg4 25.Qf1 Ne7 26.Nd2 c6 27.Nc4 Qc7 28.Nc5 Nd5! 29.Re4 Kb8 30.Rae1 Ka8 31.Ne3! Nf4 32.Qc4 Bb8 33.Nf1 h4 34.Re7?
Correct is 34.Nxa6 Qd6 (34…bxa6 35.Rxf4! it is now White who is winning. Black cannot take the rook because of 35…Qxf4 36.Qxa6+ Ba7 37.Qxc6+ Kb8 38.Be4) 35.Qa4 It is still anybody’s game, but White thought that after the text move he is winning…
34…h3! 35.Rxc7
[35.g3 h2+ 36.Nxh2 Rxh2 37.Kxh2 Rh8+ 38.Kg1 Bf3 the end]
35…hxg2
Threatening Rh1 mate.
36.Nh2 Bf3! 37.a3 Nh3# 0–1
A nice finish.
One of the arbiters told me that the two Vietnamese participants had come to the Philippines immediately after the Vietnamese National Championship and were exhausted. Quality really shows though and Le Quang Liem scored 6.5 out of the final 8 rounds to tie for first with Wei Yi and the Iranian M. Amin Tabatabaei. Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son qualified as well so overall it was quite a successful outing for them.

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.
bobby@cpamd.net

Poor public servant

January 21, 2019 | 8:00 pm

Manny Pacquiao had no business being in the boxing ring the other day. It wasn’t because he no longer had the speed, the skill, or the stamina to rank among the best in the welterweight class; his advancing age notwithstanding, he proved in his bout against decidedly overmatched Adrian Broner that he deserved to retain his secondary title. Rather, it was because he had a day job, and it should have required him to be some 12,000 kilometers from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Indeed, Pacquiao is a sitting senator of the Philippines, and with Congress in session, he needs to tend to the responsibilities 16 million voters in the 2016 elections looked to him to fulfill. It’s bad enough that he seems to have forgotten his campaign promise; when he ran for the position, he pledged to retire from organized pugilism and concentrate on being a lawmaker. Almost immediately after being elected, however, he amended his promise to say he would fight only when the Senate is in recess. In any case, it’s telling that he has already had four bouts while managing to shepherd only one bill he solely sponsored into law. Parenthetically, he is last among peers not named Leila De Lima (who is in detention and therefore cannot attend sessions) in attendance.
Following the convincing victory, Pacquiao wasted no time looking forward to his next contest. And, in this regard, he has not coincidentally set his sights on a rematch versus the retired Floyd Mayweather, with whom Haymon continues to have a working relationship. In his post-fight interviews, he likewise mentioned in passing that he has no plans to run for president, and that “I’m happy serving the people as a senator.” There’s just one problem, though: He isn’t. And for as long as he continues to make boxing his priority, he won’t be.
Considering how easily Pacquiao is able to set aside the work for which he earns taxpayers’ money, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be any good at it anytime soon. And while he’s bent on keeping at something else he still excels in, the answer is clear: It will be fruitless for the citizenry to hope. He’s an outstanding sportsman, but a poor public servant. Forget about his statements, which he honors in the breach. He will aspire for higher elective posts — and win. Which means that, in the here and now and the there and then, everybody else loses.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Kumu appoints long-time partner KC Montero as marketing vice president

January 21, 2019 | 7:00 pm

Following their successful $1.2 million seed round led by Summit Media with participation from Foxmont Capital in late 2018, Kumu has now appointed long-time partner KC Montero to vice president of marketing.
While many celebrities in the Philippines support local tech companies as endorsers, the event host and DJ will be taking on a strategic role in the company, joining Kumu co-founders Roland Ros, Rexy Dorado, Andrew Pineda, Clare Ros, and Angelo Mendez as a full shareholder and managing partner.
After rising to fame as MTV’s longest running VJ, Montero has gone on to work as a host and producer on Celebrity Car Wars, Survivor Philippines, GMA 7, and Fox Sports, and Discovery Channel’s Worst Vacation Ever, and GOOD TIMES on Magic 89.9, among others.
Now, Montero will be leveraging his broad media network in his new role leading a company built around livestreaming content.
“While viewership growth on Kumu across all demographics is high, it is particularly high among Gen Z and Millennial viewer,” Montero said. “This popularity shows the inherent appeal of the platform. Fans and content creators alike enjoy interacting live with one another in a way that is not scripted or filtered like television, but identical to the authenticity and intimacy of a one-on-one conversation between close friends.”
Montero’s involvement in Kumu is part of a growing worldwide trend of celebrities taking increasingly larger roles in the tech ecosystem, starting with US-based actor Ashton Kutcher, who built a $250 million portfolio investing in the likes of Uber, Airbnb, Spotify, and Pinterest. Even post-NBA retirement Kobe Bryant is setting his sights on Silicon Valley with his venture capital firm, Bryant Stibel. Still others are becoming founders, such as Jessica Alba, who founded The Honest Company in 2011 and at one point reached a billion dollar valuation.
“It would be great if more local celebrities could take on a larger role at up-and-coming tech companies,” Montero said. “I believe the story of Kumu will convince many of them to do so. In Kumu, they’ll witness a scrappy startup innovate a traditional field that has gone unchanged for far too long. They’ll want skin in the game once they see how we democratize the media landscape.”

Poll bares muted GDP view for 2018

January 21, 2019 | 12:32 am

ECONOMIC OUTPUT growth likely missed the official goal in the fourth quarter and full-year 2018, even as it is expected to remain above six percent, results of a BusinessWorld poll showed.
A poll of 16 analysts conducted late last week yielded a gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimate of 6.3% for both the October-December period and full-year 2018.

The quarterly estimate was faster than the third quarter’s 6.1% but slower than the 6.5% of 2017’s final three months.
The annual estimate, meanwhile, was below 2017’s 6.7% actual pace and the downward-revised 6.5%-6.9% target set by the government for 2018.
Nevertheless, the fourth-quarter estimate would extend the economy’s streak of at least six-percent growth to 15 straight quarters should it be realized. For the 2018 estimate, it may extend to seven straight years.
Official GDP growth data will be released on Thursday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a day after the release of the PSA’s fourth-quarter data on farm production, which has historically contributed nearly a tenth to GDP.
GDP growth slowed to 6.3% in last year’s first three quarters from the 6.8% in the same period in 2017 on account of easing household consumption amid a surge in the prices of widely used goods.
Earlier this month, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a mobile phone message to BusinessWorld that the target is “still to hit 7-8% economic growth this year and thereafter.” In the National Economic and Development Authority’s year-end press briefing last month, Mr. Pernia — who heads the agency as director-general — said GDP growth should have hit seven percent in the fourth quarter in order to hit the revised 2018 target.
Capital Economics penciled in a six-percent GDP growth estimate for the fourth quarter in a research note, citing “another weakening in the economy” due to higher inflation that weighed on purchasing power.
ANZ Research gave a six percent estimate for the same quarter.
The poll’s 6.3% median estimate for 2018 compares with the World Bank’s 6.4%, the International Monetary Fund’s 6.5%, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 6.7%, and the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office’s 6.4%.
Economists cited the country’s inflation last year as a factor for the slowdown. Inflation averaged 5.2% in 2018, faster than 2017’s 3.3%, with October sustaining September’s nine-year-high 6.7% before the pace eased in November at six percent and December at 5.1%.
Inflation experienced by poor households — which put heavier weight on food, which was a key driver of 2018’s multiyear-high inflation, as well as other basic needs — was higher. It reached up to 9.5% in October, its fastest since 12.3% in the first quarter of 2009, before easing to 8.2% in November.
“In the early part of 2018, when inflation was rising, GDP growth slowed. Now that inflation has started to go down from the peak of 6.7% in October 2018 (the highest in nearly a decade), GDP growth could be faster starting 4Q 2018, assuming all other factors are the same,” said Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. economist Michael L. Ricafort, who pegged fourth-quarter 2018 GDP growth at 6.5% and the full-year rate at 6.4%.
He noted that global crude oil prices have already dropped by more than 30% after hitting a peak on Oct. 4 last year, and that prices of food items started to ease in 2018’s fourth quarter following state measures to facilitate food distribution.
Sun Life Financial economist Patrick M. Ella noted “that price adjustments of households and businesses have largely been over as these have been seen in the [second quarter] and [third quarter] GDP numbers, which reflected a marked slowdown in consumption growth.”
“Furthermore, seasonal spending coincided with price declines in energy and food, which should be positive for consumption growth in [the fourth quarter of 2018].”
Mr. Ella expects a year-on-year GDP growth rate of 6.5% in the fourth quarter and 6.1% for full-year 2018.
Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch, gave a 5.9% growth estimate for the fourth quarter and 6.2% for the entire 2018, saying that higher-than-expected inflation figures had sapped the country’s “consumption momentum” along with the central bank’s 175-basis point hike. These factors led Mr. Mapa to “expect [fourth quarter] 2018 GDP to slip below six percent.”
Ling-Wei Chung, principal economist at IHS Markit, cited the country’s inflation spike last year for her fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 estimates of six percent and 6.2%, respectively. “Although inflation is easing and the central bank kept its policy rates on hold in December, their previous impact will continue to feed through the economy and take some toll on consumer and business spending,” Ms. Chung said.
For University of the Philippines economist Jefferson A. Arapoc, the economy likely grew by 6.3% in the fourth quarter and 6.4% last year. “[E]ven though our GDP continues to grow beyond six percent for the past 14 quarters, it must be noted that the Philippine economic performance for 2018 is far below market expectations…,” he said, adding that “inflation can still be considered as one its major culprits. In fact, inflation is cited as a major reason for the declining consumer and business outlook.”
At the same time, analysts said improved public sector spending fueled overall economic growth on the demand side, while manufacturing and services expansion drove the supply side.
“Economic expansion may have been largely driven by strong manufacturing demand, as evidenced by the [fourth quarter] as the strongest quarter for 2018 in terms of the seasonally adjusted Nikkei Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index that measures manufacturers’ business and demand appetite,” said Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc.
“Furthermore, the improvement of domestic consumption due to easing inflation, coupled with holiday spending, pushed [fourth quarter] higher in spite of the weakness in agriculture production,” Mr. Asuncion noted.
“Government spending may have also driven economic growth as it has in much of 2018.”
For University of Asia and the Pacific economist Cid L. Terosa: “Fourth-quarter GDP growth looks promising because of stronger manufacturing production, consistent service sector growth, high remittances and lower petroleum product prices.” He gave the fourth quarter and full-year GDP estimates of 6.3-6.4%.
The government spent a total of about P3.095 trillion as of end-November last year, 24% more than the P2.494 trillion spent in the same 11 months in 2017.
Furthermore, Department of Budget and Management data showed infrastructure and capital outlays growing 49.7% to P728.1 billion from P486.5 billion in the same comparable 11 months.
On the other hand, foreign trade remained a GDP damper, as the country posted a trade deficit of $37.687 billion in January-November, with imported goods growing by 15.8% versus a 0.9% contraction of merchandise exports. — Marissa Mae M. Ramos

Analysts share expectation of slowing price increases

January 21, 2019 | 12:31 am

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez
Senior Reporter
BANK ANALYSTS expect inflation to slow in the next two years but to still clock in close to four percent, a recent central bank survey showed, with most seeing above-target readings over the next six months.
Results of the Private Sector Economists’ Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed median inflation forecasts of four percent in 2019 and 3.8% for 2020. This will mean a huge drop from last year’s actual 5.2%, even as the estimates hover near the ceiling of the 2-4% target band set for those years.
Twenty-seven bank analysts took part in the December survey, which showed that they expected 2018 inflation to clock in at 5.3%, slightly higher than the actual figure released earlier this month.
Their 2019 and 2020 forecasts are substantially higher than those of the BSP which stood at 3.2% this year and three percent in 2020 as of their December review.
The same survey showed economists see inflation averaging five percent in January-March before easing to 4.4% next quarter.
In contrast, the central bank said inflation will sustain its sharp decline observed since November. Prices declined to six percent from October’s 6.7%, and further slid to 5.1% for December.
BSP Assistant Governor Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. said monetary authorities are “comfortable” with the pace of inflation easing, saying that their estimates showed a return to below four percent as early as the end of this quarter. “While analysts expect inflation to remain elevated in the near term, their assessment of the balance of risks to the inflation outlook has shifted toward the downside,” the BSP said in its fourth quarter inflation report published last Friday.
The bank economists cited the declining global oil prices, lower food and non-food item prices, expectations of further policy rate hikes by the BSP and the recovery of the Philippine peso against the dollar as the key reasons for a better inflation outlook.
At the same time, they said risks remain from potentially volatile world crude prices and trade tensions between major economies. At home, concerns include possible depreciation of the peso, an expected rise in transport fares and utility rates, as well as increased demand during the enrolment and holiday seasons which could push prices up faster.
“[I]nflation is anticipated to moderate over the medium term and revert to within the inflation target band as global oil prices decelerate and as monetary and non-monetary policy measures to temper inflation take effect,” the BSP added.
The Monetary Board raised benchmark rates by 175 basis points in 2018, which was an attempt to temper inflation expectations and prevent future price spikes. The government also took action by streamlining distribution of rice, meat and vegetables to rein in food cost pressures that fueled inflation’s surge in 2018.

Analysts’ Q4, Full-Year 2018 Growth Estimates

January 21, 2019 | 12:30 am

Economics and politics of the Bangsamoro vote

January 21, 2019 | 12:30 am

By Carmelito Q. Francisco and Tajallih S. Basman Correspondents
and Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan Reporter
DAVAO CITY/COTABATO CITY/MANILA — Today’s plebiscite for a new law that will expand the geographic coverage and economic authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) comes at a period when significant growth has been recorded in this part of the country that has otherwise been afflicted by poverty and armed conflict.
ARMM’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate in 2017 jumped to 7.3% from 0.4% the preceding year. The blossoming of ARMM’s economy has yet to grow its contribution to national production, staying at 0.6% in 2016 and 2017, but sustaining that GRDP growth momentum is expected to create a positive ripple effect on Mindanao and the Philippines as a whole.
“What is good for Bangsamoro is good for the entire Mindanao,” said Romeo M. Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority, the lead agency for promoting and implementing socioeconomic growth policies for the country’s southern provinces.
“In fact, if we will be able to see accelerated growth in the Bangsamoro, definitely that could trigger accelerated growth for the entire Mindanao, because many times, investors look at the autonomous region as a barometer as to whether or not there is stability for investments,” Mr. Montenegro said in an interview last week.
For the period 2012-2018, the ARMM Regional Board of Investments reported P20.07 billion in investments from 35 companies, creating more than 15,000 jobs.
The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), contained in Republic Act No. 11054 that was enacted last year, “is going to be a game changer,” Mr. Montenegro said.
Salient points of RA 11054, which will establish the new Bangsamoro ARMM (BARMM), include an annual block grant in the first five years, subject to review after, and a 75%-25% wealth-sharing agreement in its favor with the national government.
From a national standpoint, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that securing a “yes” vote in the plebiscite is a crucial step in kick-starting a new growth engine for the Philippine economy.
“It is very important because it will unlock the major economic potential of the region,” NEDA Undersecretary for Regional Development Adoracion M. Navarro said in a phone interview on Friday.
Mr. Navarro noted that the BARMM will receive approximately P70 billion in the first fiscal year, which would cover not only basic social needs but also allow the region to catch up on infrastructure.
“I expect na mas magiging (that it will be more) vibrant, ‘yung (the) public investment program connectivity. Infrastructure, mga roads, bridges, information and communications technology, and also the social infrastructure, especially for water supply, sanitation — this region has the lowest indicator with respect to sanitation and safe water,” Ms. Navarro said.
“(T)hen we expect that the private sector will be more interested in investing. That’s our hope.”
THE COTABATO VOTE
However, there are reservations about the BOL, based largely on its implementation and the governance capacity of political leaders.
This resistance is most telling in Cotabato City.
Cotabato City — not to be confused with the provinces of South Cotabato and Cotabato (formerly and still often referred to as North Cotabato) — is the seat of the ARMM government.
The city is geographically at the heart of Maguindanao, an ARMM province, but it is administratively under the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City) region as majority of its population voted against becoming part of the ARMM, both in the first plebiscite in 1989 and the second in 2001.
Today’s vote will determine if the city will opt to remain outside the autonomous region for a third time.
Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, a vocal critique of the inclusion of Cotabato city in the new BARMM, said the main reason for her opposition is the “credibility of those who will take over.”
“Are they credible enough to bring peace, progress and prosperity in Cotabato City if they cannot control their own people now? The provisions are there; compliance is another thing. It’s all a question of credibility” Ms. Guiani-Sayadi said in an interview last Jan. 15.
The mayor said she fears that the city would lose the gains achieved so far in terms of economic growth, peace and security. “We used to be a third-class city and now we are first class. Cotabato City used to be branded as the bombing and kidnap capital in central Mindanao,” she noted. “We changed that… If not for the recent bombing…”
A blast hit a shopping mall in the city last Dec. 31, killing two people, wounding more than 30 others and prompting the Commission on Elections to put the city under its control for the election period until June 12.
Ms. Guiani-Sayadi also said that she consulted various sectors before going public with her position. “I am really campaigning for ‘no’ to inclusion because I know it is the feel of the people.”
University of Asia and the Pacific economist Bernardo M. Villegas, in an e-mail on Friday, pointed out that BOL’s success depends on leadership. “It will really completely depend on the kind of leaders they will have. The Autonomous Region of Mindanao did not work because they got the wrong leader in (Nur) Misuari,” Mr. Villegas said, referring to the founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Commissioner Omar Yasser Sema of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), on the other hand, expressed confidence of a “yes” vote in Cotabato City, where President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself campaigned last Friday in a last-ditch call for support. “As a local and as a resident of Cotabato, I believe that demography-wise and sentiment-wise the people of the city will vote for its inclusion in the new BARMM,” said Mr. Sema, son Muslimin Sema, a former Cotabato City mayor and previous chairman of the biggest faction of the MNLF. “Those who waged the armed struggle in the 1970s are residents of Cotabato… Historically Cotabato City is the heart of the Bangsamoro.”
Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former chairperson of the government panel that negotiated the peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that paved the way for the BOL, said Cotabato’s growth is tied to the peace process. “Cotabato City developed fast in the last 10 years alongside the progress in the peace process. Note that the last kidnapping incident of a business person was solved with the security cooperation of the MILF. Under a Bangsamoro government, it will remain a hub. If it opts out of the Bangsamoro, the autonomous region can relocate its capital, build a new airport and Cotabato City will lose out,” she said.
It must be noted that in the May 13 mid-term elections, Ms. Guiani-Sayadi is running for reelection where she is up against Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, wife of Muslimin Sema.
Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a nonresident research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, said that although replacing traditional political families in the region will be “impossible to achieve,” the parliamentary form for the BARMM government will give more representation for the marginalized, including sectoral organizations, former combatants and ethnic groups. “Ostensibly, the new governance structure offered by the BOL presents a better chance at addressing the long-standing socioeconomic inequality plaguing the region,” Mr. Yusingco said in an e-mail.
However, he added, the technical capacity gap of local leaders in managing an autonomous region remains a challenge. Knowledge gaps like those on parliamentary procedures, inter-agency relations and management, values-based leadership, fiscal policy formulation and sustainable development management need to be bridged within short time frame.
“A case of ‘business as usual’ will bring disastrous results to the BARMM. Bangsamoro politicians and voters alike must embrace and understand their respective responsibilities in the new regional governance system. So education and training for the needed changes is absolutely necessary,” he added.
NEDA acknowledges this, and has started to map-out solutions.
“The would-be technocrats here needs to absorb the additional resources to implement the projects. So they will really need help in terms of capacity building. First is public financial management… accountability and transparency,” Ms. Navarro said.
“Right now, nag uumpisa na ‘yung different government agencies and ODA (official development assistance) partners (have begun) in analyzing and assessing what kind of assistance in capacity-building they will give. Once the Bangsamoro Transition Authority is already there, then we implement na all kinds of capacity building. It will prepare the leaders of the Bangsamoro region, the development planners, and the implementers,” she said.
The BTA, as provided under the law, will be an 80-member multi-sectoral team that will handle the transition from the current ARMM government to the new BARMM set-up.
Mr. Villegas said it is crucial to have local managers who will competently tap the region’s rich natural resources. “They have a lot of resources, especially in agriculture. We will need leaders who will focus on improving agricultural productivity through the construction of farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, post-harvest facilities. Those leaders must also be able to expand the experience of bananas and pineapples to a larger number of high-value crops like coffee, cacao, palm oil, rubber, and other fruit trees,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, for his part, said the BOL’s success in laying down peace and order first would be the crucial factor in ensuring that the new law would eventually translate to economic development. “If a ‘yes’ vote results in stability and peace, it’ll be good for the economy of the region and the country,” Mr. Pernia said via text message on Friday.
Mr. Yusingco said that, by-and-large, there is strong support for the BOL.
“I believe the entire country is rallying behind this landmark law because many are hoping that this new shot at regional autonomy will be successful this time around. Indeed, it is an integral component of a broader state effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism. This truly gives credence to the assertion that the success of the BOL, both in the plebiscite and its implementation, is in the best interest of the entire nation.”

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