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San Beda underscores how deserving it is as champion

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
SOME may view their latest championship with reservation, believing that they had it “easy” since they battled a team that did not have a full complement in the games played in the finals. But the three-peat-winning San Beda Red Lions will have none of that argument as they underscored they are deserving champions who won the title fair and square.
Defeating the Lyceum Pirates, 71-66, in Game Two of their best-of-three National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 finals series on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Lions completed a sweep of the Pirates and book another title, their 22nd overall in the country’s longest-standing collegiate league.
The victory thrust San Beda to its third three-peat and saw it shut out Lyceum in the finals for the second straight year.
In winning their third straight title, the Lions proved to be the steadier team amid the stiff challenge posted by the Pirates, who played with top man CJ Perez, back following his suspension in the series-opener after being found to have violated league rules on applying for the Philippine Basketball Association rookie draft.
Graduating Perez, Lyceum’s leading scorer and heart and soul, reportedly submitted his rookie draft application in time for the deadline set for players considered as Filipino-foreigners without informing the league.
As per NCAA rules, it is mandated that student-athletes inform the NCAA in writing of their intention to be part of a professional league prior to submitting their application.
The league found Perez in violation of that particular rule and after careful evaluation decided to suspend him a day before the series-opener set for Nov. 6.
Some parties viewed the suspension as giving the already-loaded San Beda team an “easy pass” in Game One en route to winning, 73-60, and moving a win away from the NCAA title.
For Lions coach Boyet Fernandez though, such assumptions were unfair as it was not the case and that they worked hard to deservingly get the two victories in the finals even as he said what happened to Perez and his suspension was not San Beda’s fault.
“If you would remember, we beat LPU in the second round with CJ there, and he only scored nine points. It’s not the fault of San Beda that he was suspended. Rules are rules. Lyceum should have known that the draft is coming and CJ being considered as Fil-Am was to file early than local players. They should have checked it. But they did not,” said Mr. Fernandez in the post-game press conference following their title conquest.
“Again it’s not the fault of San Beda. We never participated in the deliberation and the voting on the suspension. But you have to give credit to my players. My players played well in the series. Don’t take that away from them. If you lose one player, somebody has to step up. They did not play well in Game One and it’s not our fault. But I give credit to them for coming back in Game One from 27 points down. But give my players credit. They continued to show they deserve to be champions in this game,” he added.
Mr. Fernandez, nonetheless, acknowledged the good season that Lyceum once again had and gave props to Pirates coach Topex Robinson and the program they have built.

Paul Desiderio out to finish roller-coaster UAAP ride on a high

WITH the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 eliminations in its final stretch, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are keeping their fingers crossed about finally booking a Final Four seat this year. It has been an elusive semifinal slot for the Diliman-based team since the Paolo Mendoza-led squads of 1996 and 1997 last booked it.
“The last time UP made the Final Four was 21 years ago. I was just born then. If we make it to the semifinals we will make history. We have been working hard for this and we’re hoping to get a spot,” said UP Fighting Maroons team captain Paul Desiderio.
Playing his final UAAP season, the 6’0 shooting guard from Liloan, Cebu, has had his fair share of ups and downs while having “Unibersidad ng Pilipinas” inscribed on his jersey.
He was part of the 0-14 UP team in 2013, his rookie year, before missing UAAP Season 77. He was back in 2015 and won three out of 14 games.
Desiderio was part of the UP team that had three different coaches in three seasons before Coach Bo Perasol took over in 2016.
In Season 80, the UP team captain was clutch, leading the team in scoring while providing golden moments by draining two heroic ‘Atin ‘to’ three-pointers.
The Maroons though fell short in their Final Four quest with a 6-8 record.
Showing much improvement last season, UP supporters were hopeful in UAAP Season 81.
But after opening the current UAAP season with a huge win against the University of East Red Warriors, the Maroons’ resurgence tapered off.
They ended the first round of the eliminations with three wins and four losses, far from what they envisioned to have this year.
With UP sporting a 3-5 slate early in the second round, Desiderio was seen wearing a black shirt with “16 STRONG” written on the back. UP won that game against UE and snapped a two-game losing skid. They did it with a total team effort, working as 16 Strong.
“As their team captain, I let my teammates be themselves off the court but on the court I’m strict. I want everybody on the same page, ‘16 Strong,’” said Desiderio of the relationship he has with his teammates.
“Actually, ‘16 Strong’ started in training. Before the season started we were not sure if David [Murrell] will be able to play because of injuries. We prayed that everybody was healthy and able to play so we will be 16 Strong,” he added.
Desiderio went on to say that he is very proud of wearing the Maroon and White and thankful of the confidence and trust the school has given him.
“I’m proud to carry the school color. I appreciate what they have given me since I stepped on UP. Coach Ricky [Dandan] was the coach in 2013 and he personally went to UV (University of Visayas) to get me and play for the Maroons,” said Mr. Desiderio, who made a name for himself while at UV and was part of the youth national team which saw action at the 2013 FIBA Asia U-16 Championship.
Having seen the UP program take root and grow during his tenure with the team, Desiderio said he wants nothing more but to gift the Maroons a winning finish on his final year with at least a Final Four appearance.
“Jett [Manuel] started the winning culture for the team. He played his last collegiate playing year with us. That’s the same legacy that I want to leave the team, a winning attitude,” said Desiderio, referring to former UP captain Manuel who now plays in the Philippine Basketball Association with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Desiderio and the Maroons return to action today against the De La Salle University Green Archers in an important match that has a lot of playoff implications. The game is set for 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City
Playing in the 2 p.m. opening game are the league-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles versus the already-eliminated University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers. — Myrhen Inovejas Jamo

Philippine Azkals open Suzuki Cup bid with 1-0 win over Singapore

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup campaign of the Philippine men’s national football team got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Singapore in its tournament opener on Tuesday night at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.
Playing under new coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Azkals did not disappoint in their tournament debut as they showed a spirited fight, punctuated by a 78th-minute goal from Patrick Reichelt that turned out to be the marginal goal.
The match was tightly fought in the opening half with both teams having their chances but could not consummate them, resulting in a nil-nil score at the break.
In the second half, the Azkals came out more aggressive, taking the fight to Singapore and in the process found themselves in solid scoring opportunities.
Their effort eventually paid dividends in the 78th minute when Mr. Reichelt converted a pass from captain Phil Younghusband, going through traffic and puncturing the goal, sending the hometown crowd to celebration.
Singapore tried to get back the goal for the remainder of regulation and in the added five minutes and had its chances, but the Philippine defense would hold its own to preserve the win and earn the three points that go with it.
“We got the three points but it was not an easy game. Singapore has very good players and they played very direct. It’s very difficult to play against them but I think we had a very good game technically and we had good fighting spirit and I’m very happy for the whole country and our team,” said Mr. Eriksson after their win.
For game hero Reichelt, the win was a good start for them and he was very happy to have scored what turned out to be the winning goal.
“We had problems in the beginning but it was awesome to play at home here in Panaad and for me to score a goal was very fulfilling and it’s a good start for us in the Suzuki Cup,” the Ceres-Negros player said.
Next for the Azkals is a meeting with Timor-Liste on Nov. 17 in Malaysia.

Suppliers refuse to meet NFA price as rice auction fails again

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said it rejected the bids of Thailand and Vietnam in the second government-to-government (G2G) auction for 203,000 metric tons (MT) of long grain rice at the 25% broken grade, with bids much higher than the $447.88 per MT reference price.
On Tuesday morning, Thailand initially offered $480.50 per MT for 100,000 MT, while Vietnam offered $483 per MT for 203,000 MT of rice.
The initial offers were rejected, as were second offers by Thailand at the same price and Vietnam at $481.50 per MT.
The 203,000 MT represents the unawarded portion of an initial volume of 250,000 MT bid out in October. The NFA was authorized by its governing NFA Council to import 750,000 MT this year, divided into three equal shipments of 250,000.
The initial volume of 250,000 MT was originally intended to arrive by the end of the year as a means of relieving pressure on food prices and potentially easing the impact of inflation. The refusal of suppliers to meet the NFA price indicates that the G2G sourcing route is failing to provide the volumes needed to stabilize the market, which was disrupted in 2018 when the NFA allowed the depletion of its inventories, which poor consumers and calamity zones rely on.
NFA Administrative Assistant and chairwoman of the agency’s committee on government-to-government (G2G) procurement Maria Mercedes G. Yacapin told reporters: “We want to evaluate (the auction result) and report to the council for necessary direction.”
According to Ms. Yacapin, the reference price set of the NFA is based on the agency’s study of world prices.
“This is based on our study on the trends of the international market. We do our own world market monitoring of prices,” Ms. Yacapin said.
Asked about adjustments to the delivery period of the rice which was originally set for Dec. 15, Ms. Yacapin said: “We will know later, because when we review, we just do not review one thing. We review everything — the price, the delivery schedule.”
Meanwhile, an open tender for the remaining 500,000 MT of rice is scheduled for Nov. 20. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

Maternity bill bicam process stalled by improper insertions

THE House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday reconvened their bicameral conference committee session on the expanded maternity leave bill following the discovery of improperly inserted tax exemption and appropriations provisions.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said some provisions were inserted during the bicameral conference committee, which the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) objected to.
“During the bicam, there was a provision inserted that added appropriations and tax exemptions which was objected to by the DoF and DBM. Those were not approved by both chambers in plenary,” he told reporters in a mobile phone message, without providing details.
In a statement, Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, who chairs the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said the bicameral conference committee will take into consideration the comments of the DoF regarding the proposed measure.
“We will review the law once again so that we truly ensure its quality before we transmit it to the Executive branch,” she said.
The bill passed the bicameral conference committee in October with both the House and Senate panels agreeing to 105 days of leave for qualified workers. An additional 15 days of leave credit was also be given to solo parents.
“The Department of Finance wanted the bill to be clear that there will be no appropriation measure because it only provides the ceiling of SSS (Social Security System) for maternity benefit at P16,000 for women earning minimum wage and below,” Ms. Baraquel told reporters.
“The advocates have allowed us to consider the concerns the Department of Finance that is not really the heart and soul of the bill,” she added.
She expressed confidence that the bill will be signed into law by the end of the year. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Alaska levels semifinal series with Meralco

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE best-of-five Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup semifinal series between the Alaska Aces and Meralco Bolts has been reduced to a race-to-two wins after the former levelled the series with a 100-95 victory in Game Two on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ended on the raw side in the series-opener two days prior, the Aces made sure not to get buried deeper with a steady showing throughout the contest notwithstanding the determination showed by the Bolts to get the win and take a commanding series lead.
Import Mike Harris led the Aces in the win with 37 points and 19 rebounds with Simon Enciso adding 23 points.
Chris Banchero had a near triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
For Meralco it was import Allen Durham who showed the way with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds,
Nico Salva had 20 points while Baser Amer finished with 14.
The contest was tightly fought right from the start with Alaska just managing to post a two-point lead, 23-21, at the end of the first quarter.
The nip-and-tuck affair continued to begin the second quarter as the two teams went back-and-forth.
Guard Enciso though would wax hot late in the frame to help Alaska to a 47-40 advantage by the halftime break.
Alaska showed no letup on both ends of the court to begin the third canto, extending their lead to 15 points, 59-44, in the first four minutes.
It was a leverage the Aces would use to create further distance, with their lead ballooning to 20 points, 66-46, by the 4:31 mark.
Mr. Salva kept Meralco in the game after as they narrowed their deficit to just 13 points, 70-57, inside the last two minutes of the quarter.
The Aces eventually regained their bearing and ended the frame with a 74-60 advantage.
Meralco began the fourth canto looking to gain more headway in its comeback bid.
Mr. Durham and Reynel Hugnatan would push the Bolts to within eight points, 80-72, with 6:36 to go.
The Bolts kept coming back after and put the pressure on the Aces.
A breakaway lay-up by Mr. Durham with 50 seconds left pushed them to just two points away, 92-90.
Import Mike Harris though drained a jumper with 34 seconds left to give the Aces more breathing space only to be answered back by Mr. Durham 11 seconds later to push the count to 94-92.
Meralco chose to foul with 18 ticks remaining but JVee Casio was steady on the line to make it 96-92 for the Aces.
Chris Newsome hit a triple with 14 seconds left to make it a one-point ball game, 96-95.
Meralco once again fouled Mr. Casio who continued to make his free throws to give the Aces a 98-95 lead with seven seconds to go.
The Bolts had a chance to tie the contest but a triple attempt by Mr. Amer failed to connect and Alaska held on for the victory.
“That’s basketball and they are a great team. We expect nothing less from them and we had to match up with them,” said Mr. Harris of the near comeback of the Bolts.
Game Three of the series is on Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

37th PCA Open tennis tourney

ALL the best tennis players in the country will see action once again in the 37th edition of the PCA Open that will be held from Nov. 16 to Dec. 9. Considered as the most prestigious tournament in the local tennis calendar, this Group 1 level event will be held at the Philippine Columbian Association Tennis Courts in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.
Expected to defend his crown in the Mens’ Open event is defending Champion Bryan Otico. Last year’s runner-up and two-time champion John Patrick Tierro and the legendary 8-time champion Johnny Arcilla are among the favorites this year to wrest the crown. Others expected to participate are reigning RP’s top-ranked player Francis Casey Alcantara, no. 2 Jeson Patrombon, and no. 3 and 2015 champion Alberto Lim.
Reigning Ladies’ Open and five-time champion Marian Jade Capadocia will be tested once again as she faces the likes of last year’s runner-up and two-time champ Clarice Patrimonio and doubles specialists veteran Bambi Zoleta and Akiko de Guzman.
Events this year will be the Men’s and Ladies Open Singles and doubles (Qualifying Nov. 26-29: Main Draw Nov.30-Dec 9); Juniors 10-under and 12-under (Nov. 16-18) ; Juniors 14-,16-,18-under (Nov 23-26), and the Seniors Doubles Mens 40-above and 55-above and Senior Women’s Doubles 40-above and 55-above.
This Group 1 event is supported by PHILTA, Dunlop (official ball), Longmarch Roadlux, HEAD, Mary Grace, Stronghold Insurance, Coca-Cola, Mr. Freeze and the Members and Directors of PCA.
Participants may register thru text to Tournament Referee IlynHupano at 0917-794-1354 or via email to philippineten@yahoo.com.ph, or register at Philippine Columbian telephone no. 563-8501 local 116 and look for Chris Cometa. Deadline of Entries for the Open and Juniors is Nov. 10, while the Senior doubles will be on Nov. 20.

Government revenue, spending at record levels as collections surge

THE GOVERNMENT’S fiscal deficit was right at the 3% target set for it in the first nine months of the year with revenue and expenditure as a share of the economy hitting fresh highs, the Department of Finance (DoF) said on Tuesday.
In an economic bulletin issued by the DoF chief economist, Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran, the national government deficit was 3% of gross domestic product during the period, off a revenue effort of 16.9% of GDP, up from 15.9% a year earlier.
The revenue effort target for 2018 is 16.1%.
The DoF said the 16.9% result was “the highest ever achieved for the first three quarters of the year.”
The rise in revenue as a share of the economy was attributed to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, or Republic Act No. 10963, which came in effect in January.
“Fiscal space expanded by TRAIN 1 and tax administration (reforms) enabled government to boost investment and growth in the first semester,” Mr. Beltran said in the bulletin.
Tax effort grew to 15.2% in the nine months to September, from 14.5% a year earlier.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s collections as a share of GDP rose to 11.6% from 11.5%, while the Bureau of Customs’ tax effort expanded to 3.5% from 2.9%. Other agencies’ take relative to economy meanwhile was unchanged at 0.1%.
The non-tax revenue effort rose to 1.7% from 1.4% a year earlier.
Expenditure effort meanwhile rose to 20%, from 17.8% a year earlier, which is “the highest three-quarter expenditure effort, thus boosting its contribution to GDP growth.”
It was also ahead of the pace on the 19.1% expenditures-to-GDP target for 2018.
The DoF said increased spending effort was due to national government capital outlays, which expanded by 42.6% year-on-year during the nine months.
“Strong macroeconomic fundamentals backed by tax reforms and the ‘Build, Build,Build’ program will continue to boost economic growth as the competitiveness of the economy rises and more jobs are created,” the DoF said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Gov’t pushing for improved protections for seafarers

trainees seamen
THE labor department said a regional conference for seafarers in Asia that it co-organized will help ensure their work conditions are acceptable.
On Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said it teamed up with Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI) at the first Regional Meeting of Seafarers for Asia to come up with a declaration on seafarers’ rights.
The partnership produced a “Manila Declaration on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers” to help establish broader concern for the rights of seafarers. The declaration will also seek recognition for seafarers as a special category of worker.
The meeting follows up on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Workshop on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers held in London last year.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in a message read by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello at the meeting, said that the Philippines’ partnership with SRI will benefit Filipino workers in the maritime industry.
Mr. Duterte said “I am confident that with this event, we can build a strong partnership that will bind us in even stronger collaboration for the protection and welfare of our seafarers.”
Mr. Bello told reporters on Tuesday that the Manila Declaration will “provide seafarers with maximum protection.”
IMO Maritime Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas said efforts to improve treatment of seafarers will benefit the entire industry.
“We should never allow any mistreatment of any individual which includes our global maritime profession,” Mr. Salinas said.
DoLE said that the Philippines accounts for more than a third of the 1.5 million seafarers worldwide according to 2015 data. — Gillian M. Cortez

Mobile number portability bill clears bicam

cellphone
THE BICAMERAL conference committee approved on Tuesday the mobile number portability bill, permitting the retention of phone numbers by users that switch providers.
Both House and Senate representatives on the committee agreed to include provisions of the Senate version which removes interconnection charges or the added fee imposed by mobile networks for calls and messages across various networks.
They also set a deadline for the transfer process of 48 hours. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Corporate Code amendments hurdle 3rd reading at House

THE PROPOSED Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, which extends corporate life indefinitely, was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives on Monday.
House Bill No. 8374, which hurdled the chamber with 165 affirmative votes and zero negatives, will also remove the minimum requirement of five incorporators, thereby allowing single-stockholder corporations.
The 38-year-old Corporation Code of the Philippines, contained in Batas Pambansa 68, provides a corporate life of up to 50 years, which may be extended for another 50 years.
The new code will remove the 25% requirement for subscribed and paid-up capital stock for incorporation, currently required under BP 68. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Mining industry backs profits-based royalty regime

THE Chamber of Mines has signalled its support for a royalty system based on profits.
“We will support a profits-based tax structure that we believe is progressive and will maintain the Philippines’ competitiveness vis-a-vis other mining jurisdictions,” CoMP Vice-President for Communications Rocky G. Dimaculangan told BusinessWorld in a phone message on Tuesday.
The statement follows third-reading approval at the House of a bill on the mining fiscal regime, imposing a 1 to 5% royalty on mining operations, depending on whether they are within or outside mineral reservations.
House Bill 8400, An Act Establishing the Fiscal Regime for the Mining Industry, will lower the royalty of mining companies within mineral reserves to 3% of gross output from the current 5%.
“The Chamber of Mines does not believe that any further taxes imposed on the industry are warranted… Nevertheless, given the pressure for further tax increases, the Chamber is of the opinion that a structure based on a profits-based royalty and a windfall profits tax as passed by the House, with the rates thereon tied to operating margins, is the most equitable manner in achieving this,” he added. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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