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Peso weakens as investors price in inflation bets

A TELLER counts $100 bills at a money changing establishment. — PHILSTAR/KRIZJOHN ROSALES

THE PESO weakened further against the dollar on Tuesday as investors continued to price in a likely faster September inflation print.
The local unit ended Tuesday’s session at P54.25 versus the greenback, 14 centavos weaker than the P54.11-per-dollar finish on Monday.
The peso traded weaker the whole day, opening the session at P54.18 against the dollar, which was its best showing for the day. Its intraday low stood at P54.29 versus the US currency.
Dollars traded rose to $655.4 million from the $385.7 million that switched hands the previous day.
Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at UnionBank of the Philippines, said downward pressure is expected for the peso this week until the release of September inflation number.
“The market, I think, is slowly pricing the expectations in,” Mr. Asuncion said in a text message.
The market expects a faster inflation print last month from August’s 6.4%. A BusinessWorld poll of 13 economists yielded a 6.8% median forecast for headline inflation last month, matching the estimate given by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Department of Economic Research.
“The peso depreciated amid lingering expectations of stronger local inflation reading for September…which increased safe-haven demand for the dollar,” a trader said in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, another trader said the peso weakened due to corporate demand.
“We saw some corporate demand as it was the reason why the peso was pushed to around P54.29,” she said in a phone interview, noting that the level of resistance around P54.30-P54.35 still remained.
For Wednesday, Mr. Asuncion expects the peso to move between P54.20 and P54.50 versus the dollar, while the second trader gave a P54.10-P54.30 forecast.
PESO RECOVERY SEEN
Meanwhile, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. expects the local unit to end the year stronger at P53.80 on the back of dollar inflows.
Michael Gerard D. Enriquez, Sun Life Financial chief investments officer, said San Miguel Food & Beverage, Inc. is expected to enter the local bourse in November to raise $150 million.
“Half of that will be sold to investors, so we would expect inflow of dollars to come in by next month,” Mr. Enriquez said.
The capital inflow, he added, will be coupled with the surge in remittances from overseas Filipinos in time for the holiday season.
“The seasonality where [overseas Filipino worker] remittances will be heightened. Towards the last two months of the year. So we would expect the peso to strengthen from where it is at the moment because of these things.” — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Nation at a Glance — (10/03/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

EAC Generals win two in a row, send Chiefs packing

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals notched their second back-to-back wins in Season 94 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association after beating the Arellano Chiefs, 78-70, on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre that also ended the playoff hopes of the latter.
While already eliminated from the playoff race, EAC (4-11) showed much competitiveness, using a strong start against Arellano (4-10) and hanging tough in the end to win two in a row while also pulling down the Chiefs from the Final Four race.
The Generals went for an early pullaway led by Jerome Garcia and JP Maguliano, outscoring the Chiefs, 11-2, in the first three and a half minutes of the opening quarter.
Arellano’s backcourt of Levi Dela Cruz and Ian Alban tried to rally the Chiefs only to have limited success as they went trailing, 21-11, after the first 10 minutes of the contest.
EAC picked up where it left off in the first canto to start the second frame, led anew by the hot-shooting Garcia.
The Generals fired from all cylinders as they continued to hold the Chiefs at bay and extended their lead to 18 points, 48-30, by the halftime break.
In the third period, Arellano came out with more aggressiveness on both ends of the court, going on a 9-6 run to cut into the lead of EAC, 54-39, midway into the quarter.
Michael Canete and Archie Concepcion towed the Chiefs even closer to 12 points, 58-46, with less than two minutes to go.
The Generals eventually survived the Arellano charge back to carry a 13-point cushion, 63-50, heading into the payoff quarter.
Undeterred by the constant fending-off by EAC, the Chiefs continued to claw their way back to begin the final canto.
Dela Cruz and Canete thrust their team to within five points, 64-59, with 4:34 left on the clock.
Two free throws by EAC big man Hamadou Laminou stopped the bleeding for the Generals only to be answered by a drive from Alban with 3:37 to go to keep Arellano within striking distance, 66-61.
Laminou though would use his height advantage over his defenders to power his team to a 72-63 lead with two minutes remaining.
The Chiefs made a last-ditch effort to salvage the victory to come within six points, 76-70, with 27 seconds left but that was the closest they would get as they slumped to the defeat and kissed their playoff hopes goodbye.
Garcia led EAC with 25 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists followed by Maguliano with 15 points and 10 boards.
Laminou finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the Generals, who defeated the College of St. Benilde Blazers in their previous game.
Dela Cruz, meanwhile, paced the Chiefs with 15 points while Alban added 14.
Guilmer Dela Torre had 12 and Concepcion 10 for Arellano, which needed to win to say in the playoff hunt.
“We sort of collapsed in the fourth period as we became complacent with the big lead. But we told each other not to panic and thankfully we hang on for the win,” said Garcia, named player of the game, after their victory.
EAC next plays on Oct. 5 against the Mapua Cardinals while Arellano faces off with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on the same day.

Rain or Shine looks to arrest bad start in Governors’ Cup

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
HAVING opened their Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup campaign with two straight losses, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters look to break through the win column when they take on the Alaska Aces today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Set for 7 p.m., the Elasto Painters (0-2) are parading a new import in Terrence Watson when they collide with the Aces (3-1), replacing original import J’Nathan Bullock.
Rain or Shine said they are going for more ceiling in bringing in Mr. Watson, who played last season for the San Miguel Beermen.
The most recent of the losses of the E-Painters was against the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, 92-76, on Sept. 26 where they had a slow start from which they could not recover from.
Mr. Bullock only had 15 points in said game with Gabe Norwood adding 12 of his own and Maverick Ahanmisi and Ed Daquioag finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Mr. Watson was also a replacement import for San Miguel in the same tournament last season and led the Beermen to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Out to keep Rain or Shine winless in the season-ending PBA tournament are the Aces, who are coming off a long layoff, having played last on Sept. 2 and losing to Barangay Ginebra, 109-101.
Import Mike Harris is leading the Aces with averages of 21.3 points, 17.3 rebounds and a steal.
Backstopping him is guard Chris Banchero who has been good for 17 points, 9.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game while Vic Manuel and Simon Enciso have been chipping in 16 points apiece a game.
The Aces are currently at solo fourth place heading into today’s contest.
Preceding the Alaska-Rain or Shine game is the clash between Magnolia (4-1) and Columbian Dyip (0-6) at 4:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Meralco Bolts came up short in their attempt to barge into finals of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, losing to Petrochimi of Iran, 79-74, in the semifinals on Monday night in Thailand.
The loss relegated the Bolts, which represented the Philippines in the tournament, in the battle for bronze later yesterday against SK Knights of South Korea.

De La Salle Green Archers face off with Ayo-coached UST Growling Tigers

FOR the first time since parting ways late last year, the De La Salle Green Archers will face off with former coach Aldin Ayo when they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the curtain-raiser of University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 action today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Led the Archers to the UAAP title in Season 79 on his first year of coaching La Salle, Mr. Ayo left the Taft-based school following last year’s campaign where they finished runner-up to coach UST, rendering their 2 p.m. encounter with another subplot to take note of.
The Archers (2-2) are coming off a 67-61 loss to the University of the Philippines on Sept. 30 that effectively ended their two-game ascent.
It was a close match between the two teams before La Salle lost some steam in the second half, allowing UP to get some leverage to book the victory.
Justine Baltazar led the Archers with 13 points, followed by Aljun Melecio and Santi Santillan with 12 points apiece.
It was not enough though to tow La Salle to the win over UP.
UST (1-3), meanwhile, is off a deeper hole, having lost back-to-back matches, the last one against Ateneo de Manila University, 85-53, on Sept. 29.
The Tigers were totally outplayed by the Eagles in said game despite getting 19 points from Renzo Subido and 15 from CJ Cansino.
Mr. Ayo said they are “taking the loss as men” and will try to bounce back against the Archers today even as he said that they will treat it as another game.
Following the La Salle-UST tiff is the matchup between the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (2-2) and National University Bulldogs (1-3) at 4 p.m.
MANGANTI IS UAAP POW
Meanwhile, Sean Manganti of league-leading Adamson University was named UAAP Player Of the Week (POW) by the league press corps after helping the Falcons to two wins in a row last week to keep them spotless in the ongoing tournament.
Manganti thrust Adamson to the victory over UP, 69-68, on Sept. 26 after draining the winning basket with seventh-tenths of a second left on the clock.
He then followed it up with a 14-point, three-rebound, four-assist and two-steal effort against NU on Sept. 29 as the Falcons won, 63-58.
Despite his splendid play of late, the Adamson skipper said work continues for him and that hopefully he can continue helping the team.
“I just want to be consistent, help carry the team, and do everything to carry the team,” Manganti said.
In winning the weekly plum, Manganti beat out University of the East’s Alvin Pasaol, UP’s Bright Akhuetie, and Ateneo’s Angelo Kouame. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Chess Olympiad: Philippine men’s team beats Albania, 2.5-1.5

THE Philippines survived a feisty Albania, 2.5-1.5, to slowly creep back into the thick of things after seven rounds in the men’s division of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Monday night.
Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra and International Master Haridas Pascua bested IMs Dritan Mehmeti and Ilir Seitaj on boards one and four, respectively, while IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia turned a losing position to a draw with FIDE Master Franc Ashiku on board three as the Filipinos escaped with the win.
The Philippines, which is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by NCFP president Butch Pichay, thus moved further up the standings in the top 60 with eight points after lurking outside the top 100 two rounds before.
GM John Paul Gomez blundered away a pawn and then a rook and fell to untitled Llambi Pasko on second board.
Thankfully, Garcia came to the country’s rescue by coming through with a miraculous draw.
The Philippines was playing Uruguay in the eighth round at press time hoping to climb further up in this biennial, 11-round tournament being currently led by Azerbaijan, Poland, and the United States with 13 points apiece.
Interestingly, one of the spearheads of the Americans is Caviter-born GM Wesley So, who has a perfect six points on five wins and to draws.
In women’s play, the Pinay chessers absorbed a 1-3 beating at the hands of the Georgian’s second team to drop out of the top 20.
A day after upsetting 15th seed Spain, the Philippines ran out brilliancy as Woman IMs Shania Mae Mendoza and Bernadette Galas lost to WGMs Inga Charkhalashvili and Miranda Mikadze on boards two and four, respectively, while WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego halved the point with IM Salome Melia and EIM Sofia Gvetadze on boards one and three, respectively.
The stinging defeat sent the Philippines from a share of No. 13 to a 20-country pack at No. 24 with nine points.

PHL out to improve on Asian Para Games campaign

PHILIPPINE para athletes begin their 2018 Asian Para Games campaign later this week with the hopes of improving on their last showing at the quadrennial sporting event after being shored up by more support from stakeholders.
Happening in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Oct. 6 to 13, the third Asian Para Games will see 57 para athletes from the Philippines competing in 10 disciplines with the end goal of topping their five-silver and five-bronze medal haul in Incheon, South Korea, in the 2014 edition of the Games.
The Filipinos, who will be part of the more than 3,500 athletes from different parts of Asia descending on the Indonesian capital, will compete in archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cycling, judo, powerlifting, table tennis, swimming and tenpin bowling in the week-long competition.
Leading the Philippine contingent are bemedalled para athletes Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta of powerlifting and Josephine Medina of table tennis.
Ms. Ancheta holds the record for being the first Filipino to win a medal in the Paralympics after bagging a bronze medal in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 while Ms. Medina won a bronze medal in 2016 at the Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Joining them in donning the national colors are Agustina Bantiloc and Giovanni Ola (archery); Prudencia Panaligan, Andy Avellana, Jerrold Pete Mangliwan, Joel Balatucan, Evaristo Carbonel, Jeanette Acebeda, Marites Burce, Arman Dino, and Cendy Asusano (athletics); Jonas Matados, Paz Lita, and Kathleen Pedrosa (badminton); Sander Severino, Henry Roger Lopez, Jasper Rom, Minandro Redor, Israel Peligro, Arman Subaste, Francis Ching, Rodolfo Sarmiento, Cecilio Bilog, Fe Mangayayam, Jean-lee Nacita, and Cheryl Angot (chess); Arthus Bucay and Godfrey Taberna (cycling); Gener Padilla, Deterson Omas, and Carlito Agustin (judo); and Achelle Guion, Agustin Kitan, Marydol Pamatian, and Romeo Tayawa (powerlifting).
Also part of the team are Minnie Cadag, Benedicto Gaela, Pablo Catalan, Darwin Salvacion, and Smith Billy Cartera (table tennis); Ernie Gawilan, Gary Bejino, Roland Subido, Arnel Aba, and Edwin Villanueva (swimming); and Kim Ian Chi, Samuel Matias, Angelito Guloya, Christopher Yue, Francisco Ednaco, Jaime Manginga, Augusto Hernandez, Crisostomo Yao, Noel Espanol and, Ruben San Diego (tenpin bowling).
RICHER DELEGATION
Believing that the country will be represented by a “richer delegation” in the Jakarta Asian Para Games, Philippine chef de mission Francis Carlos Diaz said the country’s campaign could be a breakthrough one, where the Philippines’ first gold medal could be notched.
“Coming from the Incheon Asian Para Games in 2014 we have a richer delegation this time around in terms of experience and skill, after all it’s four years of athletic competition. Our training has been all year long like the ordinary athletes,” Mr. Diaz told reporters at the send-off for the team on Sept. 28 hosted by the Philippine Paralympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission at Kamayan EDSA.
“We improved a lot in terms of support. I wouldn’t say the numbers but by far the grant that the Philippine Sports Commission gave to this bunch of athletes is really astronomical in terms of figures. The fund was for their training and equipment, training supply and uniforms. All of these were given by the government. In terms of private support, we have had some support from small companies which have somehow contributed for our athletes’ campaign. They are not yet major sponsors but they have been a big help,” he added.
With more support coming in for the country’s para athletes and the paralympic movement, Mr. Diaz said there is more pressure to deliver but they are not letting it hamper their performance.
“Definitely there is pressure to deliver after all the support given. But in the numerous meetings we had with the coaches and athletes, everybody is aware that really the objective is to produce a better outcome than the Incheon Asian Para Games where we had five silvers and five bronzes. And hopefully we get our first gold medal,” he said.
Ms. Ancheta also shared the same view while also vowing to do her best in her event.
“Surely there is more pressure. When not much attention was given to us we were pressuring ourselves to do better to get the support, and now that we have support all the more we need to show that we deserve to get the support they have been giving us,” she said.
Adding, “It’s hard to make a prediction. As my coach would like to say ‘Anything can happen.’ But we are hoping for the best. We have trained hard and it’s all now about performing.”
As mandated by law, para athletes who bring home a medal are due for cash incentives like regular athletes.
In the 2014 Asian Para Games, China was the overall winner with 174 gold, 95 silver, and 48 bronze medals, followed by host South Korea (72-62-77) and Japan (38-49-56).
The Philippines placed 24th out of 32 participating countries. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

US Ryder Cup loss raises old questions

LOS ANGELES — A change in PGA Tour scheduling will ensure the American players are fresher at future Ryder Cups, but that alone will not guarantee future success, particularly when the biennial event against Europe is held away from home.
It certainly did not help that 11 of the 12 members of the losing United States team at Le Golf National arrived jet-lagged directly from the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour.
But several Europeans also played in Atlanta, including Francesco Molinari who won all his five matches in Paris.
So scheduling cannot take all the blame for the American team’s performance, except perhaps for the poor form of Tiger Woods, who was a shadow of the player who clinched his memorable victory at East Lake last Sunday.
The PGA Tour schedule from next year will be condensed to finish by the end of August, a month before the Ryder Cup, so everyone should be rested and raring to go for the 2020 event at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
More problematic when the 2022 event is staged in Rome is whether the American players will be familiar with the course.
Half the team had never set foot on Le Golf National before last week and only one, Justin Thomas, had played it in competition.
For all the mountains of statistical data the American leadership employed an analytics firm to provide, nothing helps more than knowing a course inside out.
Losing captain Jim Furyk defended his troops, pointing out that several had visited the course before the British Open.
But half the team did not, a situation that could arise again unless the Americans make a reconnaissance visit a prerequisite for future team selection.
Europe will continue to set up the course to the perceived strength of their team, but knowledge of the layout would help nullify any home advantage.
TASK FORCE
Four years ago, at the team news conference after losing in Scotland, Phil Mickelson issued a thinly-veiled criticism of Tom Watson as his captain sat awkwardly at the same table.
Mickelson said things had strayed from the winning formula used by 2008-winning captain Paul Azinger.
“He got everybody invested in the process,” Mickelson said of Azinger.
The criticism set in motion soul searching at the PGA of America, which created a task force including Furyk, Woods and Mickelson to examine what could be changed to ensure future success.
Victory on home soil in 2016 appeared to validate the process, but this year’s heavy loss could raise questions of whether that result was merely an aberration which had little to do with the task force.
Mickelson could hardly have been more supportive of his skipper on Sunday.
“Our captain is one of the best people in golf,” Mickelson said, praising Furyk for bringing the players into the decision-making process. “We just didn’t quite execute.”
Furyk vowed to do what he could to help.
“I’ll work with the PGA of America and our Ryder Cup committee and I think we’ll keep improving,” he said. — Reuters

Predictions (1)

First of three parts
The new season of the National Basketball Association is just weeks away and all indications point to yet another interesting run following landscape-altering moves across varying levels in the offseason.
While it is going to be tough to pinpoint how exactly things would pan out in The Association for the 2018-19 season, this space will nonetheless try to throw its take on things all NBA, beginning with how teams in the Eastern Conference would stack up.
With LeBron James deciding to take his talent to the Western Conference, which team takes hold of the East remains very open but this writer sees the Boston Celtics emerging with the best record in the conference.
Continuity and stability under coach Brad Stevens are key for this team which welcomes back erstwhile injured All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.
The Celtics have a good mix of veterans and young players that could put up a sustained fight throughout albeit I expect them to have some hiccups here and there early in the season as they assimilate back into the system their returning stars.
The Toronto Raptors should finish second with possibly the best two-way player in the conference, if not in the NBA, in Kawhi Leonard in their fold.
Much depends on the mindset and conditioning of “The Claw.” If he is committed to playing up North and brings the tremendous skills set and motor that he showed in San Antonio then upside for the Raptors could be tremendous.
Having its core, that led the team to the second-best record in the NBA last season, intact is key for the Raptors, who are now handled by Nick Nurse. The addition of journeyman big man Greg Monroe I also like as he further shores up the team’s frontline.
The Philadelphia 76ers had a breakthrough season last year as the “process” finally bore fruit.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have proven themselves to be solid cornerstones for the team and judging from the preseason game I saw of them, this year could well see them further underscore that the future is now for the “City of Brotherly Love.”
Top rookie pick last season Markell Fultz finally gets to play after sitting out the rest of his supposed rookie year, giving coach Brett Brown another promising piece to build his team around.
Milwaukee should wind up fourth led by do-it-all forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and now coached by Mike Budonholzer.
The Bucks lost some key pieces but also got some good ones like Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova but the proven record of Budonholzer of turning programs around (remember the Atlanta Hawks a couple of years back?) should do wonders for the “Greek Freak” And Company.
Washington comes in fifth for this space with the addition of big man Dwight Howard.
Howard has taken much flak for his play in the last few years but I still believe he still has it in him to make things happen given the right conditions.
Whether those conditions are in the Capital with John Wall and Bradley Beal and under coach Scott Brooks remains to be seen but with Howard and what he could potential bring I am not outrightly sleeping on the Wizards.
Indiana I expect to supplant the Wizards and the Bucks if things do not pan out for the last two teams as expected, a testament to the collective ability of the Pacers.
They have a sure identity now with All-Star guard Victor Oladipo leading and coach Nate McMillan at the helm, assuring a team with stability to compete.
This year would mark the farewell tour of Heat great Dwyane Wade but do not expect Miami to just go through the motions.
The Heat have the pieces to slug it out but need to have them working, notably Hassan Whiteside, who had a relatively down year last season.
He has to see eye-to-eye with coach Erik Spoelstra to get the needed result from him, which would go a long way in helping his team.
With Cleveland may be hard-pressed to get over the departure of James, Detroit fills in at eighth.
Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond can be solid but after them I do not see anybody steadily coming in day and day out, leaving sustained fight in suspicion.
Reigning coach of the year Dwane Casey is now manning the sidelines for the Pistons and he will definitely be tested.
The rest of the East I see Charlotte, Cleveland, Brooklyn, New York, Orlando, Chicago, and Atlanta on the basis of still lacking the needed pieces, including because of injuries, and/or still just in the process of regrouping.
Next week the Western Conference
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Reed’s revelations

In retrospect, Patrick Reed speaking out was, perhaps, the most predictable offshoot of a forgettable Ryder Cup experience. Christened “Captain America” for his unabashed, if over the top, displays of partisanship, he failed to live up to the promise borne of his two previous stints and was relegated to the far end of Team USA’s understandably somber post-event press conference. He wasn’t heard from then, but he clearly had a lot on his mind, and barely had an hour passed before he pounced on an opportunity to get his points across.
The interview with The New York Times’ Karen Crouse showed Reed in his typical candid self, aiming at specific targets, but, in shooting from the hip, likewise producing collateral damage. He lashed out at teammate Jordan Spieth, who, he argued, set aside a productive pairing with him in order to play with longtime buddy Justin Thomas. His pronouncement stemmed from the very last query in the Team USA presser that he hinted he was prevented from responding to.
Reed’s quotes on the Times pictured him as a jilted partner. And because they bore the same sentiments his wife Justine expressed via a series of Tweets earlier in the day, he had evidently been stewing in them for quite a while. Apart from Spieth, he likewise took aim at Team USA captain Jim Furyk, contending that “I don’t think it’s smart to sit me twice.” In the process of unloading his fusillade, he wound up zinging erstwhile idol Tiger Woods as well. The all-time great, he recounted, apologized to him for their twin losses, with his train of thought indicating that the failures were not his.
Whether or not Reed will dial down his criticisms remains to be seen. History seems to point to him standing his ground. From his college transfer to his estrangement with his family to his playing style to his off-the-cuff pronouncements, he has refused to apologize for being, well, himself. In part, it’s because taking on a steely countenance is how he has long responded to controversy. In larger measure, it’s due to his capacity to turn adversity to his advantage. And, admittedly, his me-against-the-world view has led to results on the course.
No doubt, there will be a lot of pushback on Reed’s revelations. Team USA’s chartered flight to Atlanta from Paris could not have been pleasant. If there’s anything stalwarts of the old red, white, and blue have proven time and again, its their capacity to weather even self-induced tempests. Then again, the fact that compartmentalizing is ingrained to them can’t be all good. And the negatives are, lo and behold, especially apparent in the Ryder Cup — where heart is most important, where head is often flummoxed, where humility is sometimes mistaken for surrender, and where homework is never a guarantee of favorable outcomes.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Prized Points: BAIC unveils two hopefuls for SUV, MPV categories

Text and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila

THE sports utility vehicle (SUV) and multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segments are two of the fastest-growing and selling formats in the automobile industry. On Sept. 28, BAIC Philippines unveiled two new models in the aforementioned categories in a bid to stake a claim in the niches. The car brand (which opened shop here in 2014) is the fourth-largest auto group in China, where it is based in Beijing. The BAIC Group is ranked 124th on the Fortune Global 500 list, with an operating income of $69.6 billion, according to a company statement. Its design center is located in Turin, Italy.
The BJ20 compact crossover is the company’s first SUV offering locally, an entry-model into its Bravo line, while the M50S is an upgrade of the popular M20 platform.
Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation (distributor of BAIC in the Philippines) president and CEO George S. Chua said in a speech during the twin launch that “thanks to the implementation of the China ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, bringing down customs duties from 20% to 5% on certain vehicle models,” BAIC now has a “fighting chance to compete in certain categories in the domestic market.”
And, despite the “negative image of China-made products,” Mr. Chua said the company has been able to thrive — outpacing the double-digit growth of the Philippine auto industry from 2015 to 2017. In choosing the nameplates to bring to the local market, the executive maintained that the priority is to “look for models that the Philippine motoring public wanted and needed, at a price that would still be affordable.”
Replying to a question from BusinessWorld, the executive revealed, “Given the chance, we’d like to expand our product line into the more popular segments such jeepney replacements… electric vehicles, and delivery [truck] segment. All of these things are in the plans.”
BAIC Philippines currently has nine dealerships and 21 accredited service centers. The launch of the two additional vehicle models now pushes the number of local offerings to 10.
BJ20: ‘HIGH-PERFORMANCE’ FEATURES
The BJ20 was globally presented to the public in August 2016 — bannering a “futuristically functional, classically boxy, and ruggedly lived-in look.” The front-wheel drive crossover is powered by a Euro5-compliant, turbocharged Mitsubishi 4A91T 1.5-liter gasoline engine with MIVEC variable valve timing. The system generates 147 hp (at 6,000 rpm) and 210 Nm of torque (from 2,000 — 2,500 rpm). BAIC maintains that because the engine is turbocharged, it is fuel-efficient and powerful — “delivering the power of a 2.25-liter engine” when needed. The power plant is mated to a CVT transmission with a “deep starting ratio for heavy-hauling situations.”
BAIC claims a fuel economy figure of 13.15 kilometers per liter on “comprehensive driving conditions through inter-city highways and inner-city streets.”
The BJ20 clears the ground by 215 millimeters, and rides on 225/55 tires mounted on sporty 18-inch alloys. It features an electric power-assisted steering, auto-hold parking, an electronic parking brake, climate control with air filtration, and an infotainment system predicated on a 10.1-inch interactive touch screen.
“The BJ20 [has a] totally modern design you would expect from a much more expensive luxury vehicle, such as having a panoramic sunroof,” declared Mr. Chua. “Personally, the most endearing feature… is that it is turbocharged, and [has] a dual exhaust system — something you see only in high-performance vehicles.”
The BJ20 is priced at P1.148 million for the 1.5-liter turbo CVT Standard variant, and P1.288 million for the 1.5-liter turbo CVT Luxury edition.
M50S: ‘VERSATILE FAMILY CAR’
The sequel to BAIC’s three-row M20 boasts a “roomy cabin, rugged construction, responsive engine, and refined ride.” The brand positions this new vehicle with an updated series designation as a “versatile family car” with the qualities of a people mover and a utility vehicle.
Also boasting three rows, the M50S is tall and boxy, capable of a 2+3+3 seating configuration with a middle-row bench, or a 2+2+3 formation with individual seats in the middle. BAIC bestows some premium touches — such as microfiber synthetic leather-covered seats, electrically assisted steering, and an infotainment system with a reversing camera.
The rear-wheel-driven MPV has body-on-frame construction, and is motivated by a DAM15DL 1.5-liter, Euro5 gasoline engine with advanced dual variable valve timing promising 114 hp and 150 Nm. BAIC insists there is enough room for cargo even if the rear bench is not collapsed (the second row is foldable, too).
“With the introduction of the M50S, you get something much more than the M20,” continued Mr. Chua. “[It] is bigger, better, more advanced, and with more features. The best part is that if you consider the devaluation of the peso and the increase in excise tax rates, the introductory price of the M50S… is actually cheaper than the old price of the M20.”
The M50S seven/eight-seater Luxury variant costs P638,000; the Ultra-Luxury variant goes for P668,000.

New-generation Continental GT is latest Bentley in PHL


FUSING together sport and opulence, speed and long-distance coziness, has been the Bentley Continental GT’s brief from Day One — or since 2003, when the original model debuted. Three generations later, the car faithfully keeps to its reason for being, all while packing the latest in car-making technologies. The all-new Continental GT, launched in September last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is a rolling-sculpture proof of this. And, now, it has arrived in the Philippines (it’s now available at the newly refurbished Bentley Manila showroom in Bonifacio Global City).
The Continental GT gets a body wholly crafted from aluminum, which Bentley said has allowed its coach builders to sculpt the car’s iconic shape, not to mention its “power line,” which originates from between the head lamps, spears through the doors, and fades out as it reaches the rear haunches. This feature is an evolution of that which also graced the body of the R Type Continental from 1952.
Rakish than ever, the new Continental GT wears a swept-back silhouette, and is also lower and wider than the model it replaced. But the car retains the nameplate’s signature cues, albeit reinterpreted, such as the matrix grille that’s flanked by a pair of round head lamps on either side. The head lamp units are pieces of automotive jewelry — they’re made up of 82 LEDs, creating a cut-crystal effect. This treatment is echoed at the back by the elliptical tail lights.
The car’s cabin is a mixture of Old World craftsmanship and new technologies — think swaths of quilted leather and the finest forest veneers combined with touch screen panels, instrument displays that can switch between digital or analog readouts, and a 2,200-watt Naim audio unit that pump out tunes to 20 speakers scattered around the interior, including an active pair embedded in the seats. Every piece of furniture in there is power-operated, too.
Propelling the Continental GT is a 6.0-liter W12 — that’s 12 cylinders in a “W” formation — engine that, through two turbochargers, produces 635 hp and 900 Nm. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission sends this output over to all four wheels. Top speed? 333 kph.
In Mulliner spec, the Continental GT is hauled down from speed by the largest brake discs ever to be fitted on a production car, which are grabbed by 10-piston calipers. The car rolls on 22-inch, open-spoke, hand-polished alloy wheels, which are suspended by Bentley’s Dynamic Ride System. This feature lets the car ride as comfortably as possible, yet still be agile to drive.
When Bentley said the Continental GT is designed and engineered to be the best grand touring car in the world, it was not spouting empty marketing slogans. The Continental GT is the best grand touring car in the world. — Brian M. Afuang

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