Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 10443

San Beda surges to 13th win in a row

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

MAKE it baker’s dozen in the win column for the defending champions San Beda Red Lions in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 after they continued with their unbeaten run with a 91-76 victory over the San Sebastian Stags in league action on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Got their fluid rhythm that was missing in their previous games back, the Lions (13-0) channeled the unstoppable as they exacted their will over the Stags (7-5) all game long and moved a step further closer to a sweep of the elimination round of the ongoing season of the country’s oldest collegiate league.

San Beda was in its solid element right from the start.

Guard James Canlas was on fire in the opening half, going 5-of-5 from the field for 15 points, to help the Lions to a 30-17 lead in the opening quarter and a 51-43 advantage at the break.

In the third quarter, the Stags came out with more fight on the lead of veterans RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi.

They kept themselves close but the Lions stayed in command, up, 71-62, heading into the final canto.

San Beda steadied its attack in the final quarter with guys like Evan Nelle and Calvin Oftana making their presence felt further.

The Lions outscored the Stags, 20-14, for the full 10 minutes en route to bagging the victory.

Canlas led six players in double digits for the Lions with 20 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting clip.

Donald Tankoua had 18 points and seven rebounds while Oftana had 15 and eight.

AC Soberano finished with 14 with Nelle adding 11 points and seven assists.

Clint Doliguez was the other Lion in double figures with 10 points.

As a team the Lions shot 48.5% from the field and had more assists than the Stags, 20-14, and rebounds, 45-34.

For San Sebastian, which dropped its second straight game, it was Ilagan who top-scored with 16 points followed by Bulanadi with 14 and Rommel Calahat with 12 markers.

“I just have to give credit to my players. We had been struggling to get our game going in the previous games and sometimes I was hard on them. But today they really stepped up as a group. It was a total team effort,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez after their win.

“We have Perpetual Help on our next game and it’s going to be a tough game. But if we continue to play the way we did today I think we are going to be in good position to win more games and fortify our position in the top two, which is really our goal,” he added.

San Beda plays the Perpetual Help Altas on Thursday while San Sebastian returns on Friday against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

Brandon Vera looks to turn to experience in quest to become double-champion

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

ON Oct. 13 mixed martial arts veteran star Brandon “The Truth” Vera will take on one of the biggest challenges in his career, going for a second ONE Championship world title. And he intends to go about it by digging to his bag of experience as a fighter.

To take on “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang for his light heavyweight title at ONE’s two-part “Century” event at the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Mr. Vera (16-7-1), the reigning heavyweight champion, said with the opportunity to be a double-champion in Asia’s biggest sports media property presenting itself, he just had to go for it.

“I wasn’t very comfortable doing that inside the cage. It was Aung La N Sang‘s time to shine, but I’ve been wanting to become a double titleholder — a champ-champ — and I’ve always wanted to challenge for the ONE Light Heavyweight World Title,” said Mr. Vera, referring to the moment when he asked Aung La N Sang for the title fight back in March in Tokyo following the Burmese’s successful title defense against Japanese Ken Hasegawa.

“I just happened to be in Tokyo, the next event I wanted to compete on is in Tokyo, and I think it would be a beautiful main event or co-main event,” the Filipino-American champion added.

Mr. Vera, 41, however, said that getting past Aung La N Sang, who he has high regard for and describes as a “man among men,” would not be easy and that he has to come in to the fight with his A-game armed with the experience he has accumulated through years of fighting top martial artists in the world.

“I think the biggest difference between us is our experience. During his matches, I look for those little holes he still has because of his lack of experience. I’m not going to outpace Aung La, I’m not going to outwork Aung La. I’m not going to be a bully because that’s impossible. He’s been through the same system,” said Mr. Vera, who previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting prior to coming to ONE Championship.

“I have to find holes in Aung La’s game and exploit them while he’s doing the same thing to me. We come from the same school, the same train of thought, so this is why I’m super excited for this match,” he added.

Aung La N Sang is currently sporting a professional record of 25-10-1 and is riding a six-bout winning streak, five coming by way of knockouts.

The Aung La N Sang-Vera fight headlines the second part of ONE: Century, which marks the 100th show of the promotion since opening shop in 2011.

Under it are three world-class co-main events led by the world bantamweight championship fight between reigning champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil and former champ Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the Philippines.

The flyweight muay thai world championship fight between champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon of Thailand and Walter Goncalves of Brazil as well as the featherweight kickboxing world grand prix championship final between Italy’s Giorgio Petrosyan and France’s Samy Sana are the two other co-main events.

Part one of the offering, meanwhile, has the atomweight world championship fight between reigning champion Angela “The Unstoppable” Lee and challenger and women’s strawweight champ “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China.

UAAP: La Salle takes on streaking UP

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FRESH from their victory in their last outing that halted for them a two-game losing streak in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the De La Salle Green Archers look to sustain their winning form when they collide with the streaking University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Playing in the 4 p.m. match of the scheduled triple-header, the Archers (2-3) are out to build on their 68-61 victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sept. 21 and gain some lost ground as the first round of the eliminations nears completion.

Against the Falcons, La Salle bucked a shaky start and then held tough in the end to make its way to the much-needed victory.

Graduating player Andrei Caracut stepped up big for the Archers late in the game, burying two triples inside the final minute of the contest to fend off the Falcons, who competed all the way to the end.

Caracut finished with 15 points while Justine Baltazar (21 points and 14 rebounds) and Jamie Malonzo (12 and 11) had double-doubles for La Salle.

After the win, La Salle coach Gian Nazario said it was a big relief for them to end a two-game losing streak, seeing how the path for them moving forward would not be easy.

“Thank you, Lord, for the game. It’s been tough for us. We really felt the pressure as a team, coaching staff, players, everyone in the team, we felt the pressure… Just seeing our schedule in the first round, it’s been really tough. We play then we have two days, we play again the next day, two days, we play again the next day… I think we just have to not worry about the schedule but focus on what we’re good at as a team,” said Mr. Nazario.

Meanwhile, out to stop the Archers are the Maroons (4-1), winners of their last three games.

The most recent of UP’s win was over the University of the East Red Warriors, 62-56, also on Sept. 21.

The Maroons struggled against the Warriors but managed to pull off the win in the end.

Bright Akhuetie led UP in the win with 16 points followed by Javi Gomez De Liano with 15 points.

Kobe Paras finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Maroons.

Recognizing that they had many lapses in their last game, UP coach Bo Perasol said they would try to cut down on them and play more fluid when they face La Salle.

“La Salle has a tough team. We know the kind of personnel they have. We hope to improve on this game to have a better chance against a powerhouse team like La Salle,” Mr. Perasol said.

Also playing today are the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (2-3) against the National University Bulldogs (0-5) at 10:30 a.m. and the Ateneo Blue Eagles (5-0) versus UE (1-4) at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Paras was named UAAP player of the week after helping UP to three straight wins since joining the team, including victories over NU and UE.

In winning the award, given by media covering the league, Paras topped Ateneo’s Angelo Kouame, University of Santo Tomas’ Sherwin Concepcion, and La Salle‘s Caracut and Baltazar.

Generika-Ayala wins in opener of PSL Invitational tournament

By John Bryan Ulanday

Games on Saturday
(Ynares Sports Arena)

4 p.m. — F2 Logistics vs Petron

6 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs PLDT Home Fibr

GENERIKA-AYALA kicked off its campaign in style, scoring a 25-19, 25-23, 25-17 romp of Marinerang Pilipina in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference opener at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite on Tuesday.

Veteran hitters Fiola Ceballos and Mean Mendrez led the way with 12 points apiece as the Lifesavers registered win no.1 in Pool B that also has powerhouses F2 Logistics and Petron.

Patty Orendain backstopped the two with 10 markers of her own for Generika-Ayala which still missed the services of captain Angeli Araneta due to a left knee injury she suffered in the All-Filipino Conference in August.

Jamie Lavitoria facilitated with 13 excellent sets and 15 digs while backup Bia General stepped up with 28 digs and six excellent receptions for starting libero Kath Arado.

Arado played limited minutes as she just arrived yesterday morning following her stint with the Philippine women’s volleyball team that took home a bronze medal in the inaugural ASEAN Grand Prix held in Thailand over the weekend.

“It always feels good to win the first game. It’s a good momentum-builder for us,” said Player of the Game Ceballos as the Lifesavers needed only 85 minutes to dispatch the Lady Skippers and open their campaign with a bang after a fifth-place finish last conference.

Minus star spiker Chiara Permentilla who is still recovering from an ACL injury she sustained last All-Filipino tourney, Marinerang Pilipina banked on Cesca Racraquin who tallied 14 points and 21 digs that went down the drain in this three-set defeat.

It was the the 16th straight defeat for the expansion squad Lady Skippers dating back to last conference where they failed to nab a single win in 15 outings.

Fabio Makisig and local wrestlers strike back vs ‘Foreign Invasion’ at MWF 11: Road to Fate

FILIPINO wrestlers of the Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) dominated their foreign foes in the recently held “MWF 11: Road to Fate” at the Newport Mall, reversing the domination of the latter during the previous edition of the event last July.

Fabio Makisig stood up for friend and country by saving the then-Number One contender, Khayl Sison, from an unsportsmanlike attack at the hands of the reigning MWF champion, Ho Ho Lun of China, seconds after the Chinese’s first successful title defense.

Makisig gave Lun a taste of his own medicine, much to the satisfaction of the hometown crowd.

The Filipino star began the night by defeating WWE legend Tajiri, also known as “The Japanese Buzzsaw,” in the rematch from their first clash last May 18. Unlike in the events of the MWF Championship bout later that night, Tajiri and Makisig showed mutual respect and sportsmanship.

Meanwhile, the tag-team of Frankie Thurteen and Morgan Vaughn, also known as “Youngblxxd,” made the score 2 – 1 for the Philippines by dethroning the Hong Kong- based Man Bros for the Asian Wrestling Grand Crown (AWGC) Tag-Team Title.

The MWF also announced the Oct. 2 launch of its AksyoNovela TV, the very first weekly online TV show in Philippine wrestling, featuring the wacky, colorful, and uniquely Pinoy characters of the Federation.

AksyoNovela TV combines everything Filipinos love in their entertainment: drama, comedy, suspense, and action!

To follow all the characters and stories of the Manilaverse, subscribe to the following: Facebook: Facebook.com/ManilaWrestlingFederation and YouTube: “Manila Wrestling Federation.”

Bears break out early, beat Redskins

LANDOVER, MD. — Veteran safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had an interception return for a touchdown, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel caught three touchdown passes from Mitchell Trubisky, and the Chicago Bears recorded a 31-15 win over the Washington Redskins on Monday night in Landover, Md.

Chicago (2-1) jumped to a 28-0 lead and held on for its second consecutive victory on the road. The Bears’ defense combined for three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four sacks.

Wideouts Terry McLaurin and Paul Richardson had one touchdown reception apiece from Redskins quarterback Case Keenum. Washington (0-3) is off to its worst start since 2013.

The Bears opened the scoring on a pick-six by Clinton-Dix with 9:42 to go in the first quarter. He intercepted an overthrown pass from Keenum and weaved 37 yards through traffic for his first career touchdown.

Trubisky then put the Bears on top 14-0 with his first passing touchdown of the season. He rolled left and made an easy toss to a wide-open Gabriel for a 3-yard touchdown with seven minutes left in the second quarter.

Another dominant defensive play set the stage for the Bears’ third touchdown. Pro Bowl linebacker Khalil Mack sacked Keenum and forced a fumble, which defensive tackle Akiem Hicks recovered at the Washington 11-yard line.

Three plays later, Trubisky found Gabriel again for a 1-yard score that made it 21-0 with 5:42 left in the half.

Gabriel hauled in his third touchdown on a highlight-reel play with 43 seconds to go before the break. He relied on skillful body control as he twisted toward the ball and got two feet in bounds just inside the front-right pylon. — Reuters

Ricky Yanson to run for president of the PHL Football Federation

RICKY Yanson, president of the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) and a strong advocate of grassroots football development has officially declared his intention to run for president of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

Mr. Yanson made the announcement at the launch of the first ever Mindanao Cup, a tournament that NOFA is organizing with the Davao Football Association. The Mindanao Cup, which is patterned after the NOFA Cup, will gather teams of players born 2008–2009 from Mindanao to participate in 9-a-side matches; the Mindanao Cup will be held from October 22 to 26 this year.

Speaking before 15 heads of Mindanao’s regional football associations who were gathered at the Seda Hotel in Davao City, Mr. Yanson said, “Football is my passion… I would like to serve. I would like to ask for your support for my presidency of the Philippine Football Federation.”

He also revealed that he has been in talks with current PFF President Mr. Mariano “Nonong” Araneta who had shared to him that the latter will not opt for another term, but instead run for vice-president of PFF. “I hope with Sir Nonong running for vice-president, (we) will have a good partnership.”

National team coach Cone

Had itself knocked off big time in the recently held FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has begun picking up the pieces to start regaining its footing.

Changes in the country’s basketball program had initially been made in the aftermath of the rough World Cup campaign of Gilas Pilipinas that saw it finishing dead-last in the 32-team field, with more plans being crafted by the federation to set the country’s hoops push back on the right track.

Among the most recent of the changes was the naming of Tim Cone as national team coach, which was announced by SBP on Monday.

The SBP said that Cone was interested in taking on the challenge of handling the Gilas men’s team when the idea was presented to him and just needed to talk to his family and bosses at San Miguel Corporation, including president Ramon S. Ang, first to get their thoughts on it.

Having gotten the nod that he was asking for, Cone agreed and the SBP did not waste much time announcing it.

The SBP, though, cleared that for now the agreement with Cone is only for the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country is hosting later this year and that plans for him to coach beyond that would still have to be discussed and threshed out further.

Cone will be taking over from Yeng Guiao, who stepped down from his post following the last-place finish of the Philippines in the World Cup.

The coaching development marked a return to national team duty by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach, who called the shots for the Philippine squad, known as the “Centennial Team,” in 1998 which won the William Jones Cup trophy and the bronze medal in the Asian Games in Thailand.

Considering where it was coming from, the SBP did well in naming Cone as Gilas coach to get its “rebound” move going.

Forced to go over the country’s basketball program, who better to help SBP for the task than the Philippine Basketball Association’s most successful coach.

Of course, by this, I do not mean that Cone’s PBA success will translate to automatic windfall for Gilas in international competitions. But one thing going for him is he does know winning, as attested by 21 league titles, and if he could infuse such mindset to Gilas at this stage of its existence the better.

Cone also champions working within a system, customizing it with the personnel at his disposal and the environment he has to much success.

And if SBP would be able to surround him with the right people to work with and given the needed time to develop a workable thrust, I believe Cone could set the tone for the national team being competitive anew in the high-profile international arena.

While for now Cone’s involvement with Gilas is limited to the SEA Games, still it is a move in the right direction for the country’s basketball program.

After the World Cup we had, something surely had to happen and change, and this coaching move should help moving forward.

 

Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.

msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Repairing image

Antonio Brown didn’t do himself any favors when he began Sunday with a series of tweets against notable National Football League personalities. Evidently still smarting from his release by the Patriots in the wake of news he sent a woman he had allegedly propositioned “intimidating” text messages, he vented on social media and directed his ire at the league and team owners in regard to existing policy on the voiding of guaranteed money. Alluding to a double standard on the enforcement of rules, he specifically mentioned Patriots honcho Robert Kraft and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s brushes with notoriety and the resulting penalties, or lack thereof, they incurred.

Brown was, needless to say, incensed because supposedly secure portions of his salary were withheld by both the Raiders and Patriots after they severed ties with him. The latter will likely be required to defend their position in a grievance slated to be filed by the NFL Players Association — obliged to defend him in order to protect the rights of its members — on his behalf. At stake in their case is the payment of close to $10 million, which they deem invalidated given his off-field transgressions. Apart from uniform provisions guarding against the failure to disclose material information, they’re keen on enforcing contract language pertaining to the tarnishing of the reputation of the franchise and its figures, Kraft included.

Which, in a nutshell, is why Brown saw fit to delete the social media postings once he calmed down, or at least summoned enough sense to offset his anger. He was also probably advised to do so in light of prospective arbitration proceedings. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Once it’s out there, it out there; there are myriad ways for quarters, some of whom may actually have an investment on the outcome of the legal battle, to preserve contributions to the Web by those on either side.

To be sure, no one comes out of the Saga unscathed. Not Brown, who was arguably the best wide receiver in the pro ranks before he imploded and went through a summer of heck. Not the Patriots, who could have been more circumspect and vetted him first; instead, they giddily signed him and thought to exploit him until the very last minute. Not the league, who could have acted with decisiveness, particularly after a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape was filed. And not the fans, who dared pillory Sports Illustrated’s Robert Klemko for unearthing details of his missteps.

Life goes on, of course, and, soon enough, the NFL and the Patriots will move past the whole affair — perhaps with record revenues and yet another trophy, respectively. Even Brown figures to dust off the debris; already, he’s in the process of repairing his image, enrolling in online religion, management, sociology, and English classes at Central Michigan. Meanwhile, his alleged victims, armed with far less resources to cope, continue to bear the trauma of having crossed paths with him.

 

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.

Exemption of military deals from aid ban sought

THE Defense department wants to be exempted from President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to reject loans and grants from 41 countries that had backed a probe of his deadly war on drugs that has killed thousands.

The aid ban could affect some loan agreements for the military’s modernization program, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana told a briefing in Pasig City near the capital yesterday.

Mr. Lorenzana said the Philippine military is now in talks with Australia — one of those that voted to have the Duterte government investigated for alleged human rights violations — for the construction of six offshore vessels.

The aid ban won’t cause a problem if the military were to buy the equipment using “our money,” the Defense chief said.

“We will wait for the recommendation of the Secretary of the National Defense,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said at a separate briefing. “I’m certain the president will evaluate it.”

The Palace has said existing loan deal won’t be affected by the president’s Aug. 27 memo.

Mr. Lorenzana last month said the Philippine Navy would avail itself of the Australian government’s financing for offshore patrol vessels as part of the nation’s military modernization program.

The ships will be ordered through a government-to-government deal because the Philippines wants to avail itself of financing from Australia, he said.

The United Nations Human Rights Council on July 11 ordered its human rights office to present a comprehensive report as it expressed concerns about human rights violations in the Philippines in connection with Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The body adopted a resolution that Iceland proposed and 17 other nations voted for. Twenty-four other nations who co-sponsored the resolution did not vote.

The Iceland-sponsored resolution drew the ire of Mr. Duterte, who writhes at Western condemnation of his drive that is widely supported by Filipinos.

Philippine police have said they have killed more than 6,000 people in illegal drug raids, many of them resisting arrest. Some local nongovernmental organizations and the national Commission on Human Rights have placed the death toll at more than 27,000.

The council urged the government to cooperate with UN offices by allowing visits by its officials and by “refraining from all acts of intimidation or retaliation.”

The resolution also called on the Philippines “take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to carry out impartial investigations and to hold perpetrators accountable.”

Countries that voted for the resolution aside from Iceland and Australia were Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The co-sponsors that did not vote were Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia and Sweden.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address in July, Mr. Duterte said drug traffickers must be put to death, noting that the illegal drug menace persists despite his deadly war on drugs.

Majority of Filipinos remained satisfied with Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs despite worldwide criticism, according to the Social Weather Stations’ June poll. — Arjay L. Balinbin

PMA chief quits after hazing death

THE head of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) resigned after a cadet died from hazing, the presidential palace said yesterday.

“I’d like to commend Lieutenant General Ronnie S. Evangelista for showing his kind of delicadeza by resigning as superintendent of the PMA,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters.

He said Mr. Evangelista’s gesture was the“right step” to maintain the integrity of the military academy.

Authorities will continue investigating the death of cadet Darwin D. Dormitorio, who was found unconscious at his barracks on Sept. 18. He was rushed to the hospital and died more than an hour later, according to the PMA.

The Office of the President “guarantees that there will be no whitewash and expects that justice will be rendered to those responsible for the PMA plebe’s fatal death,” he added.

The PMA has said it had relieved officers responsible for the death of the cadet “to pave the way for an impartial investigation.”

Police have identified three cadets as suspects, two others as so-called persons of interest and nine more as witnesses. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Court affirms indictment of former Makati mayor

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the indictment for corruption of former Makati City Mayor Elenita S. Binay over the purchase of P36.4 million of equipment for a Makati hospital in 2001.

In a 10-page decision dated Aug. 7 but release only yesterday, the court’s Third Division dismissed Ms. Binay’s petition, saying the Office of the Ombudsman had not abused its authority when it found probable cause in the case.

“Mere disagreement with the Ombudsman’s findings is not enough to constitute grave abuse of discretion,” the court said.

“It is necessary for the petitioner to prove that the Ombudsman conducted the preliminary investigation in such a way that amounted to a virtual refusal to perform a duty under the law,” it added.

The court said Ms. Binay’s failure to receive a copy of the motions for reconsideration of her co-respondents did not violate her right to due process.

The court noted that during a preliminary investigation, a respondent may examine the evidence submitted by the complainant but does not have rights over evidence submitted by her co-respondents.

The high court likewise rejected Ms. Binay’s claim that her right to a speedy disposition of her cases had been violated.

The Ombudsman in 2011 found probable cause to indict 15 officials of Makati for graft and malversation.

The case stemmed from the payment of P36.4 million of hospital beds and bedside cabinets to a supplier, which was awarded the contract without public bidding. The manufacturer’s invoice showed the sales amounted to only P2.4 million.

Audit also showed that the distributor of the equipment was from the United States but the beds came from a Taiwanese company. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

1...10,44210,44310,444...14,238Page 10,443 of 14,238
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube