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Driving on plastic

Our oceans are dying partly because of plastic waste, and I used to think that limiting plastic production as well as banning single use would be the more effective remedies particularly against marine plastics. But I have started to see things in a different light, especially after I attended a forum co-hosted by the World Bank and the Norwegian Embassy in Manila.

I give credit to one presentation, in particular, from a private sector representative who noted that the Philippines did not produce nearly as much plastic products as other countries, and yet it was among the top producers of plastic waste in our oceans. In a sense, the issue is not our production or use of plastic, but our inability to properly dispose of our plastic waste.

In this line, I believe our incumbent as well as incoming lawmakers should give this issue more consideration. We desperately need measures to ensure strict enforcement of existing solid waste management policies, and the will to take “politics” and “corruption” out of garbage collection and disposal.

As the World Bank had noted, “millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, a significant volume of which comes from the Philippines.” It had also noted that there were “no official statistics” as to “the magnitude of plastic waste thrown on land and ending up in rivers, lakes, and the oceans,” but “what is known is that the amount of mismanaged plastic waste is continuously increasing, and this crisis requires urgent action.”

What I hope can be among the viable local solutions to proper disposal of plastic waste is their use in energy production, and in construction. At this point, please allow me to tackle primarily the latter, considering the ongoing construction boom in the country as well as long terms plans for improving public infrastructure.

One study, out of the University of Baghdad, by researchers Zainab Ismail and Enas A Al-Hashmi, used waste plastic in concrete mixture as aggregate replacement. After 86 experiments and 254 tests, the duo concluded that reusing waste plastic as a sand-substitution aggregate in concrete could reduce the cost of construction materials and address plastic waste problems.

Research at the University of Bath also concluded that plastic waste could be a viable partial replacement for sand in structural concrete. The study, done in partnership with Goa Engineering College in India, showed that plastic waste in place of sand in concrete could help in the reuse of plastic waste as well as address India’s national sand shortage.

A study by Ahmad Jassim of the University of Basrah, meantime, concluded that “plastic cement” could be produced from mixing high density polyethylene waste (used plastic bottles and food crates) and Portland cement. He also noted that this cement’s “density was decreased, ductility increased, and workability improved,” resulting in the production of “lightweight materials.”

garbage trash
KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

All these point to the viability of repurposing plastic waste into something productive and useful. More important, it also points to at least one of the ways to keep plastic waste from ending up in our oceans. At the same time, this approach cuts down on the need to further exhaust natural resources like sand, river pebbles, and rocks for use as concrete aggregates for construction.

What I would like our policy makers to consider is something similar to the effort in India, where a government order in 2015 has since required all road developers in that country to use plastic waste for road construction. Plastic waste is mixed with bitumen, using a technology first credited to Professor Rajagopalan Vasudevan of Thiagarajar College of Engineering in Madurai.

Some literature indicate that plastic-bitumen composite roads actually have better wear resistance than standard asphalt concrete roads. Also, they do not absorb water, have better flexibility which results in less rutting and less need for repair. Road surfaces also remain smooth, are lower maintenance, and absorb sound better. Moreover, the addition of plastic in asphalt can reduce the viscosity of the mix, allowing for a lower working temperature.

Waste from plastic product packaging are sorted, cleaned, dried, and shredded. The shredded plastic is then mixed and melted at a high temperature. Hot bitumen is then added and mixed with the melted plastic. After mixing, the mixture is laid as one would with regular asphalt concrete when building roads.

In the Indian cities of Pune and Bengaluru, for instance, they already have about 40 kilometers of roads that were built with recycled plastics. About 100 metric tons of waste were repurposed for road construction, which were said to be equivalent to about 25 million plastic flexible pouches — waste that could have instead ended up in landfills and perhaps in our oceans.

“Plastic” roads have also been built in Jamshedpur in India, and Indonesia’s Bali, Surabaya, Bekasi, Makassar, Solo, and Tangerang. Last year, the Dutch company Volkerwessels built a bicycle path made of recycled plastic in Zwolle, in northeast Netherlands. And just last January, the UK Department of Transport announced a £1.6 million trial of a plastic road technology developed by Scottish reinforcement company MacRebur.

Locally, in March, San Miguel Corporation announced that it would partner with Dow Chemical to start looking into building roads out of recycled plastic waste. The aim is to produce an alternative to asphalt using plastic materials that are “hard-to-recycle.” Dow has reportedly worked with partners in India, Indonesia and Thailand to use plastic waste in roads.

Beyond this effort, which is mainly private sector led, I hope that policy makers will consider providing support and incentives for industries effectively repurposing plastic waste. Moreover, I hope they will seriously look into a national call or government order, by legislation or by executive fiat, to utilize plastic waste technologies particularly in road construction.

 

Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council

matort@yahoo.com

Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction with education

Just recently, an earthquake shook different parts of the country that killed people and damaged properties, especially in Pampanga. The Philippines, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Pacific Typhoon belt, is most affected and highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, typhoons and volcanic eruptions. In a span of a century from 1900s, 355 disasters have occurred in the country. On average, we are hit by 900 earthquakes and 20 cyclones yearly. In 2010 alone, Php25 million worth of damage to properties have been reported and affected 3 million people. From 1997 to 2007, billions worth of damage in agriculture, infrastructure and private property have been caused by typhoons. Indeed, disasters hurt people, especially the poor.

Essential to the task of attending to the needs of the population, the Philippine government should ensure a safe environment for the people through disaster risk reduction programs and initiatives. Faithful to this task, as early as 1978 under then President Ferdinand Marcos, risks, vulnerabilities and disasters have been put in the political agenda through the promulgation of laws. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) was created by virtue of Presidential Decree 1566 and was tasked to enhance the nation’s disaster control capabilities and establish community disaster preparedness programs all over the country. In 2010, the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo enacted Republic Act 10121 which sought to strengthen the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system through a paradigm shift from just disaster preparedness and response to disaster risk reduction and management. It also renamed the NDCC to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The National Disaster Risk and Management Plan (NDRMP) from 2011 to 2028 was also framed and formulated.

Disaster risk reduction is the design and implementation of policies, strategies and practices to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risk or to limit adverse impacts of hazards. It is an emerging field of study that emanated from various disciplines such as Environmental Studies, Engineering, Geography, Sociology and Public Management in the early 1990s. According to the NDRMP, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management covers 4 areas: Prevention and Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response and Rehabilitation and Recovery. While the field is interdisciplinary, principles of business management can well be applied for an effective and efficient civil service. Business techniques that analyze costs, efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness can be employed.

Recently, there also have been initiatives from Congress through the leadership of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Congressmen Karlo Alexei Nograles, Xavier Jesus Romulado, Amada Espino and Joey Salceda to create a Disaster Management Department to replace the NDRMMC. These came as a result of President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) making a call to Congress to create a Disaster Management Department. This entails a value assessment of effective public management, specifically, pertaining to organizations, resources, programs, rules and information and communication. The effectiveness of disaster management efforts depend on the dynamics of interactions among mutually interdependent individuals and organizations at the community, local and national levels.

In the light of these developments, there is an ever more urgent need to systematize Disaster Risk Reduction as a body of knowledge. It calls for the development of a curriculum that will build the capacity of practitioners with knowledge and skills. I am privileged to take part in the conduct of the Master of Crisis and Disaster Risk Management program under the Philippine Public Safety College. In its third batch, this pioneering program has put together academics from leading universities such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University to train professionals from private sector entities and local government units.

Mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is also being done in the Basic and Higher Education through the establishment of Campus-Based Emergency Response Teams, Incident Command Systems and incorporation into the Curriculum specifically in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) subject. Disaster response such as water rescue, rescue management and high angle rescue are gradually being taught to NSTP Coordinators and Deans in schools nationwide by service providers.

I believe that with sustainable and persevering efforts from all levels of our society especially education, we are on our way to the goal of a“safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Filipino communities toward sustainable development.”

 

Maria Victoria P. Tibon is an associate professor and Chair of the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University.

maria.victoria.tibon@dlsu.edu.ph

Ending the discussion

By Tony Samson

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES in traditionally autocratic hierarchies like corporations are always a challenge to implement. A participative management style requires a lot of meetings. Decisions are arrived at by getting all or a majority to discuss an issue and buy into the agreed course of action. The approach involves consultations with all those affected, which in big decisions like parking assignments, reporting relationships, acquisitions, and inclusion in foreign trips involve emotions and lots of raised voices.

There are difficulties with the participative approach (one clerk, one vote) when it comes to issues with unpleasant outcomes for certain stakeholders as in the matter of headcount reduction (any volunteers?). It is unrealistic to expect objective inputs or even a calm discussion over such contentious topics. Also, the level of information and quality of insights are not evenly distributed. Still, employees can be consulted on office layout and canteen offerings: Should we have more carrots, and less sticks? Compromise solution: carrot sticks for all.

Large organizations, with hierarchies already much flattened by restructuring and the regrouping of large departments into separate companies to improve the cosmetics of the bottom line, make consensus-building difficult. Too many people must coordinate their schedules to have the town hall gatherings for the problem-solving exercise.

Is the democratic approach feasible in small organizations of less than thirty people?

The small company comprises more than 90% of registered enterprises. There are very few organizations with over a thousand employees. Still, even for the small company in a single location, calling a meeting to discuss company problems (that’s how even neutral issues are viewed) is even more of a hassle.

Multi-tasking is too prevalent in smaller companies with job descriptions thrown out the window — what do you mean this is not part of your job description? You don’t have one. So how can anyone rope in enough employees to give their inputs when they’re “busy with the clients?” Few will vote for meetings after office hours or on weekends, unless this is in Bora. And then, the break times are longer.

With the difficulty of a participative approach, autocratic management is no longer as anathema as it used to be. MacGregor’s Theory X and Y in the sixties, for management styles leaning towards despots (X) and nice guys who can’t decide (Y), may no longer be appropriate in a fast-changing management scene, where disruption is routine.

There are issues that are too complicated anyway with only a few knowledgeable employees in the field. Issues like the selection of a software system for the network is just not open to uninformed opinions.

Efficient organizations, like the military and religious orders, form small task forces to evaluate contentious issues, be it guerrilla warfare or the high turnover of priests. The study group then comes out with its confidential report, submitted to the boss.

The once fashionable quality circles of Japan were successfully used in manufacturing automobiles and cameras. They rest on the premise that line people, understanding the process intimately, can contribute to its improvement. This approach may still be applicable in some sectors. But the growing complexity of the service industry reduces the availability of expertise and limits the number of resource persons on most subjects. Then, there is the rise of artificial intelligence to combat genuine stupidity. Thus, any discussion needed for consensus spends an inordinate amount of time just explaining what the issue is in 26 slides.

The best model for decision-making is the family. It’s easy enough to call a meeting of two, or even getting the children in. Should we sell the house and just move to a small condo unit now that the kids have migrated? This discussion is not as simple as it sounds, as it affects lifestyle changes and where to send for laundry. Still, it is possible to get intelligent votes on it. In the end, even if there is no deadlock or even when there is a consensus favoring one option, someone ends the discussion. Let’s wrap this up — prepare to move.

But the family model of consensus-building does not seem to work even in family corporations. There are at that point too many non-family participants and the rise of factions.

In practice, even large companies have individuals at the top who have loud voices. They don’t bother with the fiction of debate. And if somebody raises an objection, do they even deign to reply? They just end the discussion with a parting note — I’ll send out the memo this afternoon.

 

Tony Samson is Chairman and CEO, TOUCH xda

ar.samson@yahoo.com

BARMM must not be treated like a regular LGU

By Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM has been described as a “radical transformation” from its predecessor, the ARMM. The former is a creation of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (hereafter referred to as BOL), while the latter came to be via the now superseded Republic Act No. 6734 as amended.

But while there are truly innovative features in the BOL, the promise of a revolutionary change depends heavily on whether the polity can adopt a different view of the new regional government of the BARMM. From its traditional classification as a regular local government unit (LGU) to an updated designation as a unique political subdivision of the state. Crucially, a plain reading of Article X of the 1987 Constitution justifies such a paradigm adjustment.

Article X is essentially divided into two parts. Sections 1 to 14 are the first part covering regular LGUs such as provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. On the other hand, Sections 15 to 21 cover Autonomous Regions only and refer specifically to Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. Therefore, the regional government apparatus for these two autonomous regions is a totally distinct constitutional prescription.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court in the case of Disomangcop vs. Datumanong [G.R. No. 149848, November 25, 2004] ruled that:

“The idea behind the Constitutional provisions for autonomous regions is to allow the separate development of peoples with distinctive cultures and traditions. These cultures, as a matter of right, must be allowed to flourish.”

More to the point, the Court also ruled that:

“The objective of the autonomy system is to permit determined groups, with a common tradition and shared social-cultural characteristics, to develop freely their ways of life and heritage, exercise their rights, and be in charge of their own business. This is achieved through the establishment of a special governance regime for certain member communities who choose their own authorities from within the community and exercise the jurisdictional authority legally accorded to them to decide internal community affairs.”

It is worth recalling that the purpose of the BOL is to fulfill the mandate of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) to strengthen regional autonomy for the Bangsamoro.

The CAB specifically provides that the relationship between the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government shall be asymmetric. This prescription aims to distinguish the Bangsamoro regional government from other local government units. Meaning, its relationship with the national government should be fundamentally different from the relationship of other local governments to the central bureaucracy.

Whilst the word “asymmetric” to describe the relationship of the national government and the Bangsamoro government is not found in the BOL, the statute itself is proof that the Bangsamoro regional governance infrastructure vastly differs from the current local government structure under the Local Government Code of 1991.

First of all, the BOL establishes a ministerial regional government structure with a strong mandate for a disciplined political party system. This framework is unique to the Bangsamoro. Critically however, when employed for the purpose it was designed for, the parliamentary structure makes maintaining good governance over region more probable.

Moreover, the BOL also institutes a robust fiscal autonomy regime, the centerpiece of which is the block grant. This fiscal framework is also unique to the Bangsamoro and when utilized properly and strategically, can indeed lead the Bangsamoro to genuine self-governance.

Therefore, the word “asymmetric” may be absent in the BOL, but the regional governance structure established by this law is certainly distinct from the regular local government apparatus. The political and fiscal autonomy of the Bangsamoro government is clearly more substantial than other local governments.

More critically, the creation of various intergovernmental relations (IGR) bodies such as the National Government-Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, Fiscal Policy Board, Joint Body for Zones of Joint Cooperation, Infrastructure Development Board, Energy Board and Sustainable Development Board are the features of the BOL which clearly demonstrate that the Bangsamoro government has an elevated status over other local governments in terms of its relationship with the central government.

Through these IGR mechanisms the Bangsamoro government can be at par with the national government when it comes to the decision-making process involving particular development and governance mandates. This is so contrary to the status of other local governments where most often than not, decisions have been made for them by the national government.

Furthermore, the BOL specifically commands that the Bangsamoro government shall be represented in the departments, offices, commissions, agencies and bureaus of the national government that implement and enforce policies, programs, and projects of the national government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Such a statutory command essentially characterizes the Bangsamoro government as a partner of the central bureaucracy within the Bangsamoro region. Contrary to the treatment of local governments as mere agents of the national government.

Crucially, given its access to the block grant, it is paramount for the Bangsamoro government to have a firmer claim on its autonomy than the regional government it is set to replace. Otherwise, this vastly increased fund transfer may also fail to deliver the development outcomes many of the people in the Bangsamoro region are hoping for.

In sum, the innovations in the BOL cited here require both the national government and the Bangsamoro community to view the new BARMM regional government not as a regular LGU. And only when both sides make this adjustment will genuine and meaningful regional autonomy be truly achieved.

By design, the fiscal autonomy provisions and the IGR mechanisms in the BOL are venues for the Bangsamoro government to assert true autonomy against the traditional domination of the central government. But if the new generation of Moro leaders will not see themselves as equals with the national politicians and bureaucrats, then the pathologies of the past regional regime will persist.

Correspondingly, the national government must now fully internalize this judicial admonition in the Disomangcop case:

“Regional autonomy refers to the granting of basic internal government powers to the people of a particular area or region with least control and supervision from the central government.”

Without a doubt, a business-as-usual frame of mind will really not make the BARMM any better than ARMM.

 

Michael Henry Yusingco, LL.M is a non-resident research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center of the Ateneo School of Government.

Ateneo Lady Eagles claim last finals spot

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE ATENEO Lady Eagles are heading back to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament finals after defeating the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in four sets, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23 and 25-14, in their Final Four do-or-die on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Pushed to the limit by FEU in their semifinal pairing, top seed Ateneo made sure no upset would be fashioned out as it had the better of the Lady Tamaraws, riding on its collective experience especially down the stretch.

Ateneo was the steadier team to begin the contest, led by veterans Maddie Madayag and Bea De Leon.

The Lady Eagles edged the Lady Tamaraws, 8-7, by the first technical break and then created further separation midway, 16-11.

FEU tried to claw its way back after but had little success as it slumped to the set defeat.

The Lady Tamaraws started the second set with more swing on the lead of graduating player Heather Guino-o. They raced to an 8-3 lead early on.

But the Lady Eagles would not stay down for long as Kat Tolentino started to make her presence felt and spearheaded an Ateneo rally.

They tied the count at 14-all and then seized a 16-14 advantage at the halfway juncture.

FEU though would counter in a big way with setter Kyle Negrito and Jerrilli Malabanan providing the needed jolt.

The Morayta-based Lady Tamaraws pulled even at 18-all and then built a 21-18 advantage.

They would not look back after as they moved on and send the contest to a stalemate with a set apiece.

In the third set, the two teams fought tooth and nail, going on runs and counter-runs.

Ateneo had control of the set in the early goings, holding a 16-12 advantage halfway into the frame but not without serious challenge from FEU.

The Lady Eagles sped to a 24-20 lead in the close out but the Lady Tamaraws did not go down sans a fight, inching their way to within a point, 24-23.

But Ponggay Gaston would save the set for Ateneo with a hit that found an angle near the net to push her team to a 2-1 lead for the match.

Got some momentum heading into the fourth set, Ateneo started like house on fire, soaring to an 8-1 lead by the first technical timeout.

The Lady Tamaraws showed some fight to narrow the gap at 16-10 by the halfway point.

Ateneo, however, had its eyes fixed on the finish line from there, taking every scoring opportunity it could get and connecting to race to a 24-11 lead.

Tolentino put the finishing touches when she punctured in a kill for the winning point.

Tolentino led all scorers with 19 points, 17 of which off kills.

FEU was paced by Malabanan with 18 points. Malabanan, Negrito and Guino-o all played their last game in the UAAP after exhausting their eligibility.

“I’m speechless with the win. FEU put up a good fight and we are just thankful for this win and to be back in the finals,” said Tolentino after their win over FEU.

Ateneo is making it seventh finals appearance in eight years in the UAAP and will face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in the best-of-three finals which begin on May 11.

Liverpool stuns Barca with 4-0 comeback win

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND — Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history to beat Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit and advancing to their second successive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Two goals each from stand-in forward Divock Origi and halftime substitute Georginio Wijnaldum left Lionel Messi and Barcelona utterly shell-shocked after a Liverpool performance full of passion, belief and determination.

Juergen Klopp’s side will play the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur, with the Dutch side leading 1-0 from the first leg in London.

“It was overwhelming. I would say it’s impossible,” said Klopp, amid wild celebrations at the final whistle when his team stood in front of their famous Kop stand to sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with fans.

“Playing against the best team in the world. Winning with a clean sheet, I don’t know how the boys did it. It’s unbelievable,” added the German.

“I saw James Milner crying after the game on the pitch. It means so much to all of us. There are more important things in the world but creating this emotional atmosphere together is so special.”

Liverpool became only the third team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League to come from three goals down after the first leg of a semi-final and progress after Panathinaikos in 1970-71 and Barcelona themselves in 1985-86.

It was a night that will be remembered by Liverpool fans alongside their fifth European Cup win in Istanbul in 2005, when they came back from 3-0 down at halftime to win on penalties.

For Barca, who went out on away goals to AS Roma in the quarter-finals last year, after winning the first-leg 4-1, it was a bitter occasion that will raise many questions for coach Ernesto Valverde.

MESSI SUBDUED
Messi, whose two goals in the first leg had given his team a seemingly comfortable advantage, was unable to influence the game with an away goal that would have been decisive.

The scoreline was remarkable enough in itself, but the fact that Liverpool overcame five-times European champions Barcelona without two thirds of their usual strike force made it extraordinary.

With inspirational Egyptian Mohamed Salah and key Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino injured, Juergen Klopp had to play Belgian reserve Origi alongside Sadio Mane, with Swiss attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri also given a rare start.

Klopp had said before the game that he wanted his side to “fail in the most beautiful way” if they were to go out of the Champions League

Yet the Anfield crowd wanted glory — they roared their team on to the field and greeted Barcelona, especially their former Liverpool players Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, with boos.

The Liverpool players responded, taking the game to Barca and then grabbing a seventh-minute lead when a poor headed clearance from Jordi Alba fell at the feet of Jordan Henderson, who burst goalwards.

His low shot was parried out by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but straight to Origi who slotted home.

QUICKLY-TAKEN CORNER
Barca had openings in the first half but when Messi twice got space around the box he fired wide of the target and when Jordi Alba burst through just before halftime, Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker was out quickly to nullify the danger.

Yet the game took a remarkable turn following the introduction at the break of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for injured left back Andy Robertson.

The Dutchman drove home a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, which Barca keeper Ter Stegen should have saved, to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Two minutes later Wijnaldum rose to meet a Shaqiri cross with a powerful header to make it 3-3 on aggregate.

Liverpool then grabbed an extraordinary fourth goal with a quickly-taken corner from Alexander-Arnold, catching the Barca defense asleep with a low ball that was turned in at the near post by Origi.

That sent Anfield wild and meant Klopp’s side suddenly needed to switch mindset and defend a lead as Barca slipped, belatedly, into their trademark possession game.

Yet with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip outstanding in the centre of defense and Brazilian Fabinho making some crucial interventions in midfield, Liverpool held on for one of their most famous wins.

Klopp’s side, who lost to Real Madrid in last year’s final in Kiev, remain in with a chance of a double triumph as they head into Sunday’s final round of Premier League games trailing leaders Manchester City by just a point.

After their defeat in Barcelona, Sunday was expected to be the conclusion of a Liverpool season that promised so much but would ultimately conclude with Klopp’s side finishing empty-handed.

Now their campaign has been extended until the June 1 final in Madrid where they will have a chance of a sixth European Cup — which would move them above Barca on the all-time winners list. — Reuters

Beermen tie series with Hotshots; SBP makes changes in structure

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE defending champions San Miguel Beermen levelled their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup finals series with the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok at 2-2 after winning Game Four, 114-98, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Using a strong effort in the middle quarters, the Beermen created cushion and built momentum to hold off the Hotshots and pull abreast in the championship series of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino conference.

June Mar Fajardo led San Miguel in the win with 31 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Terrence Romeo with 18 points.

Chris Ross had 15 points with Christian Standhardinger adding 13 points and 14 boards.

Arwind Santos had 12 markers and Alex Cabagnot 11.

For Magnolia it was Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon who showed the way with 22 points apiece. Ian Sangalang had 19 points

Game Five of the PBA Philippine Cup finals is on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fajardo earned his eighth best player of the conference award for the ongoing tournament in ceremonies held before the start of Game Four.

The San Miguel big man, the reigning five-time league most valuable player, won the plum over NorthPort’s Sean Anthony and TNT’s Roger Pogoy.

Mr. Fajardo garnered 1,165 total points to Mr. Anthony’s 641 and Mr. Pogoy’s 522.

It was the sixth BPC award for Mr. Fajardo in the Philippine Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas logo
The new Gilas Pilipinas logo

SBP RESTRUCTURES
Also prior to the start of Game Four, the country’s basketball federation bared changes in its structure and shared it plans moving forward.

Led by president Al Panlilio, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), in a press conference at the media room of the Big Dome, unveiled the changes the basketball body had made, including a new logo for Gilas Pilipinas, which is no longer confined to the men’s basketball team but also to be used to refer to other national basketball teams of the country.

The new logo has the Philippine Eagle incorporated with a basketball, underscoring the Filipino’slove for the game. The words Gilas Pilipinas in italicized font is meant to show the forward-looking mindset the body is taking from here on as well as the hope for a brighter future for the sport.

SBP also unveiled the program heads under its stewardship.

National coach Yeng Guiao is still tasked to spearhead the thrust for the Gilas Men’s Team with multititled University Athletic Association of the Philippines coach Patrick Aquino heading the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team.

Former Gilas men’s coach Tab Baldwin is the program director of Gilas Pilipinas youth, PBA legend Ronnie Magsanoc for Gilas 3×3 basketball, PBA champion coach Jong Uichicois as head of the Gilas Academy for coaches and tournaments, and UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag as head of Gilas Academy for referees and table officials.

Partnerships with SMART, Cignal, TV5, Excite, Unilab, San Miguel Corp. and Mighty Sports were also announced by SBP during the press conference, which was graced as well by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

Mr. Panlilio said the changes were made to help the SBP function more fluidly across various levels.

“The restructuring is to ensure that we are headed towards the right direction,” the SBP president said.

Good old resiliency, determination power Filipina Joyette Jopson to conquer 42-km Arctic marathon

AS AN ELITE triathlete and cyclist overcoming adversities is nothing new to Joyette Jopson.

So when put in another situation that required such, she delivered, banking on good old resiliency and determination to power her.

Took part in the 42-kilometer FWD ‘78° North” Marathon held near the North Pole on April 16, Ms. Jopson and the rest of the field faced a lot of obstacles but those did not stop them from forging ahead, with the Filipina finishing as one of the best performing by topping the women’s category and ending third best overall with a time of four hours, 10 minutes and 59 seconds.

Backed by FWD Philippines, Ms. Jopson, 39, was part of FWD Team Asia, joined by other representative FWD runners from Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.

In a homecoming media conference hosted for her by the insurance group on Tuesday at The Grill in Manila House at the Bonifacio Global City, Ms. Jopson, who is also an FWD financial wealth officer, shared her experience in the lead-up and during the marathon, describing it as both challenging and fulfilling.

Apart from the elements, the runners faced the possibility of not being able to run as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine barred any activity to be held on the North Pole itself.

Determined not to let their preparations go to waste, organizers of the North Pole Marathon, where FWD was the title sponsor for a third straight year, decided to push ahead but tweaking the event as the ‘78° North” marathon and holding it near the supposed area where the original run was to be held.

Ms. Jopson admitted to have panicked when she heard of the cancellation of the North Pole Marathon but eventually settled down and kept her focus on her way to conquering the rejjiged Arctic marathon.

“I’m extremely happy and grateful for the whole journey. Winning is just a bonus. Though the North Pole Marathon was cancelled, the 78° North Marathon was just as rewarding because it reminded me of the determination and resiliency within me all leading to overcoming adversities. It was an honor and privilege to represent FWD and the Philippines in this,” said Ms. Jopson.

She went on to thank the people who were part of her journey from FWD and outside of it, including fellow accomplished athletes Romi Garduce, Margielyn Didal and Carmela Pearson, who served as guides and inspiration for her as she prepared for the marathon in the Arctic.

“For the whole journey FWD wanted me to have a squad that would act as a support group and it was important to me because I’m going there by myself,” said Ms. Jopson.

“So Romi is an accomplished athlete who conquered the Seven Summits and I was going to somewhere where the conditions I had never gone to but he has. So he was very helpful in recommending the proper gear to bring and what to do in certain situations. Margielyn I was inspired by her. I saw parallelism between us as far as not having a place to train. It never stopped her from going for her goal which was truly inspiring. Carmela, meanwhile, is a good friend and was truly a big help in so many ways,” she added.

For her efforts and accomplishment, FWD Philippines hailed Ms. Jopson as an inspiration.

“We’re very proud of what Joyette has accomplished. Her experience as a triathlete and her sheer determination to succeed despite the challenges along the way indeed makes her the perfect representative for the Philippines,” said FWD Philippines President and Chief Executive Peter Grimes at the media conference.

“How she pushed on and performed excellently despite the uncertainties and sudden changes was truly admirable. At FWD, we’re all about celebrating life and doing your best no matter what life throws at you,” the FWD official added. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Raptors rout Sixers for 3-2 lead

TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 125-89 Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The Raptors can clinch the best-of-seven set by winning Game 6 (on Friday, Manila time) in Philadelphia. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Monday in Toronto.

Pascal Siakam had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry added 19 points, Danny Green had 17 points, Marc Gasol contributed 11 and Serge Ibaka scored 10.

Ibaka needed stitches after getting elbowed in the forehead by Leonard in the first quarter, but the center returned to start the second quarter.

Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and added seven assists for the 76ers. Tobias Harris contributed 15 points, Joel Embiid had 13 and Mike Scott chipped in with 10. Embiid committed a game-high eight turnovers.

The Raptors took command of the game by outscoring the Sixers 37-17 in the second quarter, and Toronto led by 22 points entering the fourth quarter.

The margin increased to 31 points when Gasol hit a 3-pointer two minutes into the fourth period.

Ibaka’s layup and free throw bumped the lead to 33 with 6:32 to play. Norman Powell’s running dunk got the advantage to 40 with 2:24 to go. The Raptors used a 7-0 surge to establish a 27-26 edge after one quarter.

Toronto had an eight-point lead early in the second quarter on Gasol’s 3-pointer.

The Raptors continued to pull away, and when Green made a 3-pointer with 40.5 seconds to play in the first half, they led by 19 points. Leonard made two free throws with 29 seconds left to increase the gap to 21. Toronto led 64-43 at halftime. — Reuters

Nuggets a win away of West finals

NIKOLA Jokic had 25 points, 19 rebounds and six assists, Paul Millsap scored 24 points, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-98 in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night.

Denver, which took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, also got 18 points and nine assists from Jamal Murray. Gary Harris finished with 16 points, and Malik Beasley and Will Barton scored 10 points apiece.

Game 6 is Friday in Portland, where the Nuggets won Sunday in Game 4 to take back home-court advantage. Game 7, if necessary would be played Sunday in Denver. One more win by the Nuggets would put them in their fourth Western Conference finals and first in 10 years.

Damian Lillard scored 22 points for Portland, who face an elimination game for the first time in this year’s playoffs. Rodney Hood and Zach Collins scored 14 points each, and CJ McCollum added 12 points.

The Nuggets never trailed, led by as many as 31 and outscored Portland 62-40 in the second and third quarters.

Millsap hit a floater in the lane and Will Barton made two 3-pointers an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, extending Denver’s lead to 14. Lillard hit a 3-pointer to get the Blazers back within 43-36 midway through the period.

Murray hit two reverse layups and a 3-pointer to push the lead to 61-43. After two free throws by Lillard, Millsap was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit the free throw to convert the four-point play with 15.1 seconds before halftime. — Reuters

UAAP college wars

UAAP Season 81
2018-2019 UAAP Chess Team Tournament (Men)
1st Floor, QPAV Building, UST, España St., Manila
Sept. 19-Oct. 28, 2018

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY (FEU), 40 points, 24 match points

bd01 IM John Marvin Miciano 8/10, bd02 Jeth Romy Morado 11/14, bd093 John Jaspoer Laxamana 8.5/14, bd04 Romy T. Fagon 10.5/13, bd05 Kristian Glen Abuton 1/4, bd06 Albert Kenth Cabiles 1/1. Team Captain: John Jasper Laxamana, Head Coach: GM Jayson Gonzales, Asst. Coach: Luffe Magdalaga, Team Manager: Atty. Ruel Canobas.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (NU), 34.5 points, 19 match points

bd01 IM Paulo Bersamina 12/14, bd02 Rafael Caneda 0/1, bd03 Ahmad Ali Azote 0/1, bd04 Robin Ignacio 6/14, bd05 Ryan Christian Magtabog 9/14, bd06 Arnel June Iligan 7.5/12. Team Captain: Ryan Christian Magtabog, Team Coaches: Jose Aquino Jr, Mark Anthony Bernales, Team Managers: Samson Go, Manny Go.

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY (AdU), 32 points, 16 match points

bd01 Jayson Levin Tapia 10/14, bd02 Khristian Clyde Arellano 8/13, bd03 Godfrey Villamor 7.5/13, bd04 Alji Cantonjos 2/8, bd05 Remark Bartolome 4.5/10. Team Captain: Godfrey Villamor, Team Coach: Christopher Rodriguez.

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST (UE), 30.5 points, 17 match points

bd01 Michael Suacillo 2/14, bd02 Eliseo Budoso 10/14, bd03 Keneth Flores 8.5/14, bd04 Sean Andrew Olan 10/14. Team Captain: Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Head Coach: John Perzeus Orozco.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST), 25 points, 14 match points

bd01 Jerlyn Villanueva 2.5/9, bd02 Brylle Gever Vinluan 8/14, bd03 Lance Cave 0.5/1, bd04 Antonio Almodal III 8.5/14, bd05 Jeffu Dorog 3/10, bd06 Ven Dwight Kwan 2.5/8. Team Captain: Lance Cave, Team Coach: IM Ronald Dableo, Team Manager: Michaela Concio.

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (UP), 24.5 points, 11 match points

bd01 John Edward Vito Cruz 3/9, bd02 Brent Lenard Alanan 4/10, bd03 MacQuay Labasano 2/10, bd04 Joshov Alekhine Rosarda 7.5/14, bd05 Fernando Mendoza 8/10, bd06 Gabriel Angelo Galpo 0/3. Team Captain: MacQuay Labasano, Head Coach: FM Leonardo Carlos, Asst. Coach: WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito, Team Manager: Sol Marfori

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY (ADMU), 19.5 points, 8 match points

bd01 Joshua Glenn Dy 0/2, bd02 Gavin Lloyd Ong 6/11, bd03 Vince Oliver Edralin 4/13, bd04 Tristan Jared Cervero 6/14, bd05 Alexander Santos 3.5/12, bd06 Keefe Elbert Tan 0/4. Team Captain: Gavin Lloyd Ong, Team Coach: GM Darwin Laylo, Team Managers: Paco Rivera, Andrea Borbe, Bernice Ty, Janice Manto, Christian Deuna, Tiffanee Tan.

DELA SALLE UNIVERSITY (DLSU), 18 points, 3 match points

bd01 Justine Robert Co 0/5, NM Giovanni Mejia 9.5/14, bd03 Richmond Lloyd Young 1/9, bd04 Raymond Albert Ng 1/14, bd05 Tristan Frech Ibaoc 6.5/13, bd06 Davenson Co 0/1. Team Captain: NM Giovanni Mejia, Team Coaches: FM Randy Segarra, Susan Grace Neri, Team Managers: Family Aurelio, George Barcelon, Gerardo Achacoso.

Individual Medal Awardees

Most Valuable Player: IM Paulo Bersamina NU

Rookie of the Year: Jeth Romy Morado FEU

Board 1
gold IM Paulo Bersamina NU 12/14
silver IM John Marvin Miciano FEU 8/10
bronze John Edward Vito Cruz UP 3/9

Board 2
gold Jeth Romy Morado FEU 11/14
silver Jayson Levin Tapia AdU 10/14
bronze Eliseo Budoso UE 10/14

Board 3
gold Khristian Clyde Arellano AdU 8/13
silver John Jasper Laxamana FEU 8.5/14
bronze Keneth Flores UE 8.5/14

Board 4
gold Romy Fagon FEU 10.5/13
silver Sean Andrew Olan UE 10/14
bronze Godfrey Villamor AdU 7.5/11

Board 5
gold Fernando Mendoza UP 8/10
silver Ryan Christian Magtabog NU 9/14
bronze Tristan Frech Ibaoc DLSU 6.5/13

Board 6
gold Arnel June Iligan NU 7.5/12
silver Remark Bartolome AdU 4.5/10
bronze Veen Dwight Kwan UST 2.5/8

First of all I’d like to apologize to our readers for the lateness of our reporting. Usually the UAAP chess team tournament is held around towards the end of the school year, around February-March. This year they decided to advance the tournament to the first semester and it happened Sept.-Oct. of 2018. Somehow it never entered my consciousness that the competition had been rescheduled. Anyway, better late than never.

Remember what I said last year that FEU’s high school team was strong enough to be playing in the collegiate ranks? Well, I have just been proven right. FEU lost some of their top players to graduation but International Master John Miciano and Jeth Romy Morado graduated from their high school ranks to the men’s team and they both scored very well, enough for the FEU Tamaraws to win the Men’s Team Championship for the 14th time.

[UP] ALANAN, Brent Lenard B. — [FEU] IM MICIANO, John Marvin S. [E81]
2018 — 19 UAAP Chess (MEN) 1st Flr., QPAV Bldg., UST, Es (2.3), 22.09.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0 — 0 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Nge2 c5 8.Qd2 a6 9.Ng3 cxd4 10.Bxd4 b6

Historical footnote: 10…Ne5 11.Be2 Be6 12.Nd5 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Bxb5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.a4 e6 17.0 — 0 Qh4 18.Ne2 Rfc8 19.Be3 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Qxc4 21.Rfc1 Qa6 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Nc3 Bc4 24.f4 d5 25.Bd4 Bxd4+ 26.Qxd4 Qb7 27.Qf2 Ba6 28.Rd1 Rc4 29.Rd2 Rxc3 0 — 1 (29) Aaron, M-Fischer, R Stockholm 1962.

11.Be2 Bb7 12.0 — 0 Rc8 13.Rac1 Re8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Nf1 Qb8 16.Nd5 e6 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6

In hedgehog formations (you know, both bishops fianchettoed with pawns on the 6th rank like Black’s set-up here) White always has to be on the look-out for …b6 — b6 and …d6 — d5 pawn breaks. White fails to do this and Miciano gives a good demonstration of Black’s dynamic potential.

18.Qc3? <D>

POSITION AFTER 18.QC3

Putting the queen on the same file as the enemy rook is like waving the red flag for Black’s …b5 or …d5.

18…e5 19.Be3

Well, he could have taken the b6-pawn with 19.Bxb6 Bxe4 20.Bf2 (20.Be3 Nd5; 20.fxe4? Qxb6+ 21.Qe3 Qxb2 22.Rxd6 Bf8! followed by …Bc5) 20…Bb7 followed by …e5 — e4. Black is doing very well.

19…d5! 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Qb3 Nxe3 22.Nxe3 Qc7 23.c5 Bh6

And Black could have simply taken the c5 — pawn, but he had a diabolical plan in place.

24.cxb6 Qxc1!

Who can resist a queen sacrifice? Well, this is not really a sacrifice for he gets two rooks, but it still looks good!

25.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 26.Kf2 e4 27.Ng4 Bg7 28.f4 e3+ 29.Kg3

[29.Nxe3 Bd4]

29…Rg1 30.Kh4

[30.Bf3 e2!]

30…Rxg2 31.Qd3 h5 32.Nxe3 Bf6+ 33.Kh3 Rxe2 34.Qxe2 Bd4 0 — 1

The defending champion National University Bulldogs lost last year’s gold medalist FM Austin Literatus and that blow proved to be too much to bear. International Master Paulo Bersamina still scored 12/14 to win the individual gold medal on top board, but that was not enough to carry the team and they had to settle for the silver medals this season.

[FEU] IM MICIANO, John Marvin S. [NU] IM BERSAMINA, Paulo S. [A46]
2018 — 19 UAAP Chess (MEN) 1st Flr., QPAV Bldg., UST, Es (3.2), 23.09.2018

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0 — 0 e6 6.a4 b4 7.Nbd2 c5 8.c4 bxc3 9.bxc3 Nc6 10.Ba3 Rc8 11.Re1 Be7 12.dxc5 Na5 13.Ne5 Bxc5 14.Bxc5 Rxc5 15.Qb1

Inviting Black to take his c3 — pawn.

15…0 — 0!

Taking the pawn is bad: 15…Rxc3? 16.Qb5+ Bc6 17.Qb4 wins a piece. Let us explore further: 17…Rc2 (17…d4 18.Ndc4! (idea of Nd6+) 18…Rxc4 (of course not 18…Nxc4 19.Bxc6+) 19.Nxc4 Bxg2 20.Nxa5 White is clearly winning) 18.Rec1 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1! Bd7 20.Rc5 Nc4 21.Ndxc4 dxc4 22.Nc6 this is not going to end well for Black.

But now that Black’s king has castled into safety White is left with a chronically weak c-pawn, and IM Bersamina pounds on it.

16.Qb4 Qc7 17.Rab1 Rc8

With his rook on c5 secured Black is now threatening …Qxe5

18.Qd4 Ba6 19.g4 Ne4 20.Nb3 20.Nxb3 21.Rxb3 Rxc3 22.Rxc3 Qxc3 23.Qxc3 Nxc3 24.Bf3 Nxa4 25.Ra1 Bb5 26.e3 f6 27.Nd3 Bxd3 28.Rxa4 a6

Black is two pawns up and wins easily.

29.Kg2 Kf7 30.Rb4 Bb5 31.e4 Rc4 32.Rb2 dxe4 33.Be2 Rc5 34.Bxb5 axb5 35.Rb4 f5 36.h4 Kf6 37.Rd4 Rd5 38.Rb4 Ke5 39.g5 Kf4 40.Rb3 Kg4 41.g6 hxg6 42.Rg3+ Kh5 43.Kf1 f4 44.Rb3 Kxh4 45.Rb4 Re5 46.f3 exf3 47.Rxf4+ Kg3 48.Rf7 g5 49.Rxg7 g4 50.Rd7 b4 51.Rd1 b3 52.Rb1 Re3 53.Rb2 e5 54.Kg1 Re1# 0 — 1

Last year’s runner-up Dela Salle University did even worse — they lost Christian Nanola, Denzel Amar and Jeazzir Surposa and even though National Master Giovanni Mejia still remained on top board the team crashed to last place, its worse finish ever.

I have a great deal of respect though for the La Salle coaching staff and am sure that they would bounce back, perhaps as early as next year, to contend once more for the title.

 

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 (UST) for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Stifling defense

Kawhi Leonard was decidedly mortal yesterday. Compared to the insane numbers he had been putting up throughout the playoffs, his stats in Game Five of the Raptors’ semifinal-round series were far more modest: He had 21 (on seven-of-16 shooting from the field), 13, and four in 36 minutes of play. In part, it was due to a conscious decision by head coach Nick Nurse to add more variation to an offense that had hitherto been focused on him. In larger measure, it was simply because he missed shots he had been making even in the face of tight coverage.

Still, Leonard looked none the worse for wear in the aftermath of his mediocre effort. If anything, he’ll arguably take depressed personal lines for as long as the Raptors end up as they did yesterday: with a blowout victory. For all his containment, he still wound up with a plus-20 rating in the time he burned rubber. And so complete was the collective effort that every single one of his teammates save for Malcolm Miller (who went in for two minutes with the outcome already well decided) finished on the positive side of the ledger.

For the record, Leonard didn’t even need to be on the floor for the last seven minutes and 22 seconds of the match; the Raptors were then ahead by 30 and certain of prevailing, prompting Nurse to call in the scrubs. In fact, so dominant were they yesterday that they won every single quarter, and especially the second; up by 21 at the half, they went on Cruise Control from there. On aggregate, they shot much better, made more field goals and free throws, had more rebounds, assists, and steals, and had less fouls and turnovers.

Not that the Raptors shot the lights out of the Scotiabank Arena. On any other night, their 48.8% clip might well have led to a closer score. Not yesterday, though, and for the most part due to a stifling defense that made the Sixers — with the exception of Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and Mike Scott — look like junior-varsity reserves. All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons had eight and five turnovers, respectively. JJ Redick canned just one of six attempts. James Ennis III went zero of four. And for a supposed powerhouse banking on an inside-out plan of attack, hitting just a fourth of 24 three-point shots won’t go anywhere near to cutting it.

Tomorrow, the Raptors will be going for a third straight win and, accordingly, a second conference finals berth in four years. They may have the momentum, but the task won’t be a cakewalk. Not if the Sixers, who seem to play best when desperate, prove true to form. In front of hometown fans, Embiid, for instance, could be extra motivated to overcome conditioning issues and put up monster numbers anew. Nonetheless, the visitors will be prepped and primed. They have Leonard. Better yet, they have themselves.

 

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

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