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This year’s 7-Eleven Tour attracts 3,000 cyclists

OVER 3,000 professional and recreational cyclists joined one of the largest bike events of the year, the 7-Eleven Tour 2019 which took place last April 7.

The event saw elite and weekend cyclists bike from Clark Global City passing through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), then to Subic and back.

7-Eleven Tour 2019 drew cyclists of all ages, from as young as 16 years of age to cyclists as old as 75 years.

Participants raced on either the 48-kilometer or 106-kilometer course.

Each course posed different challenges depending on the skill level of the participant, and though the route was quite difficult at times, participants of the 7-Eleven Tour 2019 enjoyed the scenic views in Central Luzon as they passed through via the SCTEX.

The 48-kilometer category’s turnaround point was in Floridablanca in Pampanga while the 106-kilometer category’s turnaround point was in Tipo in Zambales.

Mark John Galedo was named the overall winner of the 7-Eleven Tour 2019.

He finished with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds, taking home a P20,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, Michael Jan Farre and Rench Michael Bondoc clinched the second and third spots, both clocking in at 2 hours, 29 minutes and 53 seconds.

VIBRANT CYCLING COMMUNITY
“We are heartened by the outcome of Tour 2019,” Philippine Seven Corporation President and CEO Jose Victor Paterno said.

“This is a testament to the vibrant cycling community here in the Philippines, one we have proudly supported over the years. We believe that events such as the 7-Eleven Tour 2019 contribute greatly to the training of professional cyclists and the discovery of young and up-and-coming athletes that can hopefully bring greater pride to our country. Aside from this, the event is the perfect opportunity for recreational cyclists to have an enjoyable ride while taking in the sights of Central Luzon,” Mr. Paterno added.

The 7-Eleven Tour was made possible in partnership with NLEX, SCTEX, and Clark Global City.

Rose ticks all the boxes for a Green Jacket at Masters

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA — World number one Justin Rose is the man to beat at this week’s Masters, where recent history suggests the sport’s heavyweights will populate the leader board by Sunday at a major championship that is more predictable than any other.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is the second favorite from a formidable European contingent, while Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas are the best American bets, even if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will loom larger in the public imagination.

There has been no long-shot winner at Augusta National since 69th-ranked Angel Cabrera collected the Green Jacket in 2009, though even the Argentine’s victory was far from a huge shock given his pedigree as a US Open champion two years earlier.

Nobody ranked outside the top 30 in the world has won since then, and even Patrick Reed, though not one of the favorites last year, was still ranked a healthy 24th and not a completely unexpected champion.

An Augusta winner must be able to draw his driver, fade his irons from hanging lies and have the artistry to hit great recovery shots. He must also be on form and mentally resilient.

Englishman Rose ticks all these boxes.

It is almost as if Augusta National was designed with him in mind.

He has finished top-15 each of the past five years, including a pair of runner-up finishes, most notably a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017.

Rose has been a machine from tee to green at Augusta, and if the putter cooperates it will take a mighty performance from someone else to beat him.

But to win, he will have to put out of his mind the thought that the clock is ticking.

Though playing as well as ever at age 38, Rose cannot realistically expect too many more chances.

MCILROY IN FORM OF HIS CAREER
Waiting to pounce could be McIlroy, though he too has plenty of pressure as he tries to complete the career grand slam at a tournament where he wilted in the final round last year after starting three strokes behind Reed.

McIlroy’s stock drive is a right-to-left draw, ideal for Augusta, and he has been working with his irons on hitting the soft, high fade that is required with many approach shots.

He has been the best player in the world in 2019 and top-10 finishes the past five years is all the proof needed to be confident he will be in contention again.

However, can he expunge the demons from last year’s collapse and take the final step to the pinnacle?

World number two Johnson is also in sizzling form. His game is not a perfect match for Augusta, but he is good enough to win anywhere, anytime.

The same goes for Thomas.

Others capable of victory include Europeans Francesco Molinari, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood, and Americans Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson.

Australians Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman, and South African Louis Oosthuizen are also capable.

It would be foolish to write off 43-year-old Woods and 48-year-old Mickelson given their respective records at Augusta, where the former has won four times and the latter three.

That said, time waits for no man and age is not on their side.

A victory would make Mickelson the oldest Masters champion, supplanting Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won in 1986, while Woods would become the second-oldest champion.

A victory by either would be monumental, but a herd of lean and hungry young bucks stand in the way, none of them interested in letting a couple of middle-aged guys steal the show.

Even if those middle-aged guys have seven Green Jackets between them. — Reuters

Fuel Masters are legit contenders

For the first time in its young Philippine Basketball Association history the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters are in the semifinals of a league tournament.

After making short work of the Alaska Aces in the quarterfinals of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup, the Fuel Masters assured themselves of a spot in the Final Four.

It was continuation of what has been a solid campaign for Phoenix to date that also saw it topping the elimination round with a 9-2 record to earn the top seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, which it found no need to use as it eliminated eighth-seeded Alaska at the first instance.

And the thing about this run by the Fuel Masters, it seems like they are not yet done.

Never mind if in the semifinals they could either face the San Miguel Beermen or TNT KaTropa, the traditional powerhouse teams in the PBA, they have been playing well and have positioned themselves as legit contenders.

Key for the team in the ongoing tournament is the firm grip it has on what it is a team, allowing it more fluidity of play on both ends of the court.

Credit should be given to coach Louie Alas and the rest of the Phoenix think tank for fostering a system where everybody can flourish and contribute.

Confidence, as exemplified by the triumvirate of Calvin Abueva, Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins, has done wonders for the team as well.

Abueva has given team the spunk it needed since joining the team last season, this is apart from his solid numbers of 15.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and a block a game to help Phoenix take any challenge head-on in the Philippine Cup.

Wright has been steady as well for 18.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 4.6 apg while Perkins (13 ppg and 7.9 rpg), last season’s rookie of the year, has been rising some more in his second year.

Through the lead of the three, the rest of team is also responding.

Guys like Justin Chua, RJ Jazul, Alex Mallari, LA Revilla, Dave Marcelo, Jaypee Mendoza and Doug Kramer never fail to contribute each time they are fielded in on the court.

With more legs to draw a sustained fight from, the sight of a team that gets rattled or has it eyes wide open when a difficult challenge stares it on the face is no longer the case for Phoenix.

When you punch, the Fuel Masters punch. When you kick, they kick back.

That has been the case for the team in its first 12 games as they churn out an impressive .833 winning percentage.

At this point, it is anybody’s guess how far Phoenix would go in the Philippine Cup. But it has made a strong claim at going deeper up to this stage of the competition. Legit contenders, you say? Sure the Fuel Masters are.

 

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

msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Unpredictable Masters

It’s never easy to predict winners in golf, and it’s infinitely harder at the Masters. Forget about the points system the organized tour has had in place since 1986; only four times in the history of the sport’s preeminent tournament has the designated World Number One managed to claim the coveted Green Jacket. Not coincidentally, Tiger Woods was the last to do so; in 2002, he succeeded in defending his title as the prohibitive favorite. And not coincidentally, his odds are pegged at 12/1, the same as that of current rankings pacesetter Justin Rose.

To be sure, form has as much to do with oddsmakers’ assessments as function. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson are seen to be in the best position to excel given their recent performances, followed by Rose. That said, Woods’s addition to the mix seems to be more a reflection of both sentiment and experience; his sterling resume backstopped by undeniable knowledge of Augusta National’s challenging fairways and greens make him a certified threat. The same with two-time winner Jordan Spieth, whose inconsistency of late is seen to be offset by his familiarity with the layout.

It bears, noting, though, that the Masters is nothing if not unpredictable. It’s why final-nine charges have been a staple, and why proceedings have invariably made for compelling, edge-of-seat fare. Patrick Reed, last year’s winner, was not a pre-event name being bandied to contend. Neither was he a popular choice, given his penchant for courting controversy with seemingly unsportsmanlike actions. And yet he delivered in the clutch, no doubt drawing on his me-against-everybody-else mindset to silence naysayers.

Which, in the end, proves one thing: When it comes to guessing the outcome, it’s always safest to choose the field. And for all the wattage of those angling for a podium finish, they’re winding up second, anyway. Augusta National’s the star. Always has been, and always will be.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.

Peso seen moving sideways versus dollar

THE PESO may edge sideways for the rest of the week.

THE PESO is seen to move sideways against the dollar for the rest of the week due to mixed signals locally and abroad.

On Monday, the peso declined to P52.14 versus the greenback from Friday’s P52.10 finish following the better-than-expected jobs report in the United States.

In an e-mail, a market analyst said the dollar is seen to move sideways with an upward bias on Wednesday until the end of the week “amid mixed signals” domestically and offshore.

“Locally, the softer-than-expected inflation for March 2019…gives the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) more room to cut policy rates this year and accelerate the reduction in the reserve requirement ratio,” the analyst said.

Last week, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that inflation was at 3.3% in March, marking the fifth straight month of easing and slower than the 3.8% print in February.

Market participants said the slower inflation print last month gives the central bank leeway to adjust key interest rates and big banks’ reserve requirements.

However, BSP officials said the central bank still needs to be cautious in setting interest rates in the context of a global economic slowdown as well as the El Niño episode.

“Likewise, in the US and the Eurozone, developments are expected to amplify dovish policy expectations and fuel concerns on slowing global growth,” the analyst added.

The European Central Bank is expected to affirm its view of steady policy rates this year, as it might continue to flag concerns on slowing growth.

On the other hand, the minutes of the March meeting of the US Federal Reserve as well as speeches of various central bank officials might echo a dovish tone.

During their March meeting, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee opted to keep federal funds rate steady, signalling that no more rate hikes will be coming for the rest of the year.

According to a Reuters poll taken last month, the US Federal Reserve is done raising interest rates until at least the end of next year. Economists gave a 40%chance of at least one rate cut by end-2020.

For this week, the analyst expects the peso to move between P51.90 and P52.60, while a foreign currency trader gave a P52-P52.50 range. — KANV with Reuters

Shares seen sideways as market hunts for leads

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

SHARES MAY continue trading sideways this week as investors wait for new leads that could help lift sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed 0.53% or 42.45 points to close at 7,915.63 on Monday, marking its second day in positive territory.

Turnover remained thin at P5.40 billion on Monday, slightly higher than the previous session’s P5.04 billion.

Market breadth on Monday was on the positive side with 107 advancers versus 91 losers, while 50 names ended flat. Foreign investors have been on net buying mode for two straight sessions, posting net purchases of P496.59 million on Monday.

Financial markets were closed yesterday for the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) holiday.

“Moving forward, the local market may move sideways for the remainder of the week still under thin trading. We don’t have much local catalysts so investors would be looking offshore for clues this week,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a mobile phone message.

Mr. Tantiangco pointed to the release of the minutes of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting last March 19 to 20, as well as the result of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) policy review.

“Both of these will provide hints on the direction of the global monetary condition which is highly considered in equity markets,” he explained.

The minutes will show how the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady this year, while hinting at one increase in 2020. This is amid fears about the health of the US economy.

Meanwhile, the ECB will hold its policy meeting on Wednesday, which analysts expect to be uneventful except for speculations that ECB President Mario Draghi may introduce a tiered deposit system to lessen the impact of negative rates on banks.

Happening on the same day as the ECB policy meet is the European Union (EU) summit, which is set to discuss Brexit. The EU will also be holding a summit with China to discuss trade relations.

Locally, investors will be watching out for the release of February trade balance data on April 11, Thursday.

Wall Street indices were mixed on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by 0.32% or 87.93 points to close at 26,341.02. The S&P 500 index gained 3.03 points or 0.10% to 2,895.77, while the Nasdaq Composite index added 15.19 points or 0.19% to 7,953.88.

“Trading resumes on Wednesday after [Tuesday]’s holiday — movement should be taken from how US markets move the next two nights,” Papa Securities Corp. Sales Associate Gabriel Jose F. Perez said in an e-mail.

The PSEi is set to have another shortened trading period next week, as investors pause for the Holy Week break on April 18, Thursday, and April 19, Friday.

DoLE: Voluntary repatriation from Libya on

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) announced that they are preparing for the voluntary repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya, following escalating violence there, as reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“We have to prepare for that and convene the board of the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration),” Mr. Bello said of DoLE’s attached agency in a radio interview on Tuesday. “Because as soon as we receive that official report from the Department of Foreign Affairs alleviating the alert level to 3, we will have to come up with a board resolution of POEA, declaring a total ban of deployment to Libya.”

DFA reported last Monday that it had raised the crisis level from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3, which signals voluntary repatriation of OFWs and total deployment ban to Libya. This also means OFWs in the strife-torn country will not be allowed to return there.

The DFA has called on OFWs in Tripoli to avail themselves of repatriation. OFWs within a 100-kilometer radius from Tripoli are also urged to be repatriated. The said areas are Tajoura, Ghot Romman, Qaraboli, Qasr Khiyar, Esbea, Tarhuna, Bani Waled, Gharyan, Aziziya, Warshifana, Zawia, Surman, and Sabratha.

Mr. Bello said OFWs who wish to be repatriated can go to the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Libya as repatriation is free of charge. “Kung gusto nilang umuwi na (If they want to go home), they can just go to our office and we will immediately facilitate their repatriation,” he said. — G.M.C.

Nationwide round-up

Palace dares PCIJ, Sereno to file charges vs Duterte family

PCOO

MALACAÑANG ON Tuesday said former chief justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) “should file appropriate charges if they believe that the increases in the income of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s family are ill-gotten wealth.” “The law requires public officials to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN). PRRD already did that,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement he forwarded to BusinessWorld via phone message on Tuesday. He added: “The law does not require the filer to explain the increases in their income, if there are. If PCIJ and (Ms.) Sereno believe that the increases are ill-gotten wealth, they should file the appropriate charges instead of nitpicking and using media to create intrigue and put him in a bad light.” Ms. Sereno has said that Mr. Duterte should explain his family’s wealth. PCIJ Executive Director Malou Mangahas, for her part, said in a statement on April 7: “PCIJ had wished only for the Dutertes to offer clear, direct, straightforward replies to our queries. Instead of blaming PCIJ for the report. The PCIJ and Ms. Sereno were sought for comment but have yet to reply as of this posting. — Arjay L. Balinbin

PDEA director denies protecting Michael Yan

PHILIPPINE DRUG Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron N. Aquino denied the accusation of dismissed cop Eduardo P. Acierto that he was protecting former presidential adviser Michael Yang, whom he had alleged to be linked to the illegal drug trade. “Acierto’s claim that I am a protector of Michael Yang is a blatant lie. His accusation is completely baseless. I may say that this is the work of a desperate man,” said Mr. Aquino in a statement on Monday evening. He added that he is open to any probe from other law enforcement and investigation agencies. Last week, Mr. Acierto claimed that President Rodrigo R. Duterte, together with senatorial bets Christopher T. Go and Ronald M. Dela Rosa, and Mr. Aquino are “protecting” a drug group led by Mr. Yang. The PDEA chief also said that the regional offices of his agency are still investigating Mr. Yang. “How can he say I am a protector when I initiated investigations on Michael Yang activities from Day 1 that I was told about it? In fact, until now my Regional Directors are still gathering data about Michael Yang,” he said. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Faces of valor

THE PHILIPPINES commemorated the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan yesterday, April 9, an annual remembrance of the valor of those who suffered the Bataan Death March during World War II and for recognizing the sacrifices and bravery of all Filipino war veterans around the country.

Over 4,000 caught in anti-littering campaign

trashTHE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported on Tuesday that 4,316 violators were apprehended during its anti-littering operations in the first quarter of the year. The MMDA Health, Public Safety and Environmental Police Office said of the total, 965 litterbugs were caught in Jan., 1,053 in Feb., and 2,298 March. MMDA said the common materials thrown by offenders were candy wrappers, cigarette butts, papers, and plastics. Violators, who will either pay a fine of P500 or render an eight-hour community service, are given three days to settle their penalties. Those who fail to do so will be sent a summon, and those who ignore this will be included in the National Bureau of Investigation alarm list. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Families of 14 farmers killed in Negros Oriental should file charges, says Malacañang

MALACAÑANG ON Tuesday said the families of 14 farmers killed in police operations in Negros Oriental “should file charges.” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said this in response to the findings of a human rights groups’ probe that the farmers, suspected by authorities to be supporters of the communist movement, were “summarily executed.” “We assure the families of the fourteen farmers who died during the simultaneous police operations in Negros Oriental that President (Rodrigo R.) Duterte will not allow police brutality nor will he tolerate police abuse,” Mr. Panelo said in a statement on Tuesday. He added: “The Palace is waiting for the official copy of the report on the investigation, which the Philippine National Police is now currently doing with a team from its national headquarters now in Negros Oriental to start the probe.” He further said that there is a “presumption of regularity on the police action as the operations were backed by search warrants.” “The families, however, can always file criminal charges against the police officers, and they should if the circumstances warrant, as this is the proper and legal recourse available to them,” Mr. Panelo said.— Arjay L. Balinbin

10 Ceres buses suspended after accident that killed 3

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Western Visayas (LTFRB-6) has put on 30-day suspension 10 Ceres bus units operated by Vallacar Transport Inc. on the Iloilo-Antique route following the tragic accident that killed three people and injured seven in Hamtic, Antique last April 5. LTFRB-6 Regional Director Richard Z. Osmeña said they are now considering the issuance of special permits to other bus companies to cover the route given the expected influx of travelers during the Holy Week holiday. “I am thinking of talking to other bus companies to give them special permits to make augmentation to buses para hindi apektado ang biyahe (so it won’t affect travel),” he said. Meanwhile, LTFRB will be conducting an investigation on the accident. The Ceres bus, with 11 passengers, was heading to Antique from Iloilo when it fell into the 30-meter ravine in Barangay Igbucagay, according to Police Major Adolfo Pagharion, Hamtic municipal police chief. “When we interviewed the driver, he told us that he lost the brake resulting in mechanical failure. But according to some of the passengers, the bus was traversing the road very fast before plunging into the ravine,” Mr. Pagharion said. Vallacar Transit, in a statement, assured full support and immediate assistance to the victims’ families and all the injured passengers. The company also said they would conduct their own investigation and take appropriate actions. The three who died were Evangelyn Chicano, public school teacher Vivien Omanio, and her son Earl Aron, who just graduated from senior high school. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

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