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Draft ASEAN chairman’s statement raises questions as bloc’s 31st summit winds down

THE 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit — the second this year while the Philippines chairs the bloc — was set to end last night with a draft statement showing a blank section on the South China Sea and silent on the plight of Rohingya Muslims fleeing from Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

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The draft chairman’s statement — a version dated Nov. 11 and circulated among journalists — did express ASEAN leaders’ “grave concern over DPRK’s (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea) ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction — including nuclear and chemical weapons and ballistic missile technologies — which are in contravention of UNSC (United Nations Security Council) resolutions,” adding that they “strongly urged the DPRK to fully and immediately comply with its obligations arising from all the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.”

The same draft showed a section on the South China Sea maritime dispute merely baring the inscription “Chair to provide,” while a section on maritime security and cooperation said only that ASEAN “underscored the importance of strengthening linkages in maritime cooperation to further promote mutual trust and confidence to ensure security, peace and stability including in ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflight.”

It compared to the draft of the 30th summit statement in April that cited “land reclamation and militarization that may further complicate the situation…” in a clear reference to China’s building of an artificial isle and installation of weapons systems, as well as runways and other facilities a little more than 200 kilometers west of Palawan that could accommodate military aircraft. The final version then struck out that mention but retained a reference to division among ASEAN leaders on how to deal with Beijing’s assertiveness in that vital sealane. “We took note of concerns expressed by some leaders over recent developments in the area,” it had read.

Mr. Duterte tried to keep the South China Sea dispute off the table for talks — saying in a speech last Sunday that “the South China Sea is better left untouched” — but Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing on Monday that “at least two to three” ASEAN leaders raised the matter.

The Nov. 11 draft statement did not even contain a section on the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya. Mr. Roque had said, however, that the issue was raised “by two member states” of ASEAN with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was quoted as merely responding that her country would “welcome humanitarian assistance.”

Over 600,000 Rohingya are estimated to have fled to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military launched attacks in response to Rohingya militants’ raids on security posts in August. Media on the ground have since reported accounts of massacres and rapes, leading the United Nations to brand the military operations as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

For political analyst Richard F. Heydarian, “what stands out [in the draft chairman’s statement] is what’s not there.”

“As far as I know, I don’t think that the Rohingya issue has been discussed in a way that it has to be discussed,” Mr. Heydarian said in an interview yesterday.

“What’s happening in Myanmar is a clear systematic persecution of a minority — bordering on genocide and already in the territory of ethnic cleansing — but you don’t see any of those international legal terms being reflected in the draft,” he noted.

“I think the draft is extremely soft — if not completely tangential — on dealing with the issue of Rohingya. So I am a little bit disappointed with that.”

Any reference to a South China Sea code of conduct, he added, should be scrutinized for “clear timetables” and whether anything will be legally binding on all parties. — with A.L. Balinbin

SE Asian businesses eye tech role in SME boost

By Krista A. M. Montealegre
National Correspondent

AS SOUTHEAST ASIA looks to the next half decade, technology will play a pivotal role in unlocking the economic potential of small and medium enterprises (SME), serving as catalysts for unparalleled growth and development in the region.

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At the conclusion of the three-day ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2017 in Parañaque City on Tuesday, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, currently legislative representative of Pampanga’s second district, cited the importance of harnessing the potential of financial technology in leveling the playing field and reducing greater income disparity — considered the “paramount challenge for development and globalization.”

“This is where SMEs can thrive other than wither under the pressure of economic integration,” Ms. Arroyo said in her speech.

The digital economy is expected to add an incremental $1 trillion to the gross domestic product of Southeast Asia in the next decade, said Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia, citing a study made by international consulting firm AT Kearney.

Start-ups and even big companies are finding opportunities in the digital age by engaging in financial technology since 70% of the population in Southeast Asia are unbanked.

Philippine start-up Lenddo uses non-traditional data for credit scoring and online verification, while leading Internet platform Sea Group, Inc. provides e-wallet services to consumers and small businesses.

“ASEAN is able to solve problems through rural entrepreneurship that will take other countries decades to fix,” said Nick Nash, group president of Sea, formerly Garena and now the leading internet platform in Greater Southeast Asia.

For PLDT, Inc. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, establishing payment infrastructure and logistics systems as well as changing the consumer mindset are the key obstacles to realizing the potentials of the digital economy. PLDT has ventured into the mobile payments business through Paymaya. “Part of the challenge of ASEAN, as a community, is to inculcate the consciousness and practice of using digital methods… We have to get more and more people to adopt the digital mindset,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

Southeast Asia has shown tremendous promise because of its young population, growing internet penetration and high mobile ownership, but the varying levels of development across the 10-member states poses a challenge in this period of integration.

While technology will lead to improved productivity and sustained robust economic growth in the medium term, Mario Pezzini, director of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Development Center, pointed out that access to the digital economy is uneven across Southeast Asia.

“If countries in Southeast Asia develop at different speeds in the absorption of these opportunities, it will create tension,”Mr. Pezzini said.

“All these technological innovation will facilitate the entry of small-scale investments and if you don’t support SMEs in exploiting this, it will create tension.”

For e-commerce to take off in the region, issues on logistics and customs procedures, Internet infrastructure and lack of capable human resources must be resolved, according to a study by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Addressing these challenges is crucial to harnessing the opportunities brought about by cross-border e-commerce since most small businesses are focused on their domestic markets, JETRO Executive Vice-President Yuri Sato said.

Filinvest, JGS tap Changi for Clark proposal

FILINVEST Development Corp. (FDC) and JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGS) submitted a new unsolicited proposal worth P839 billion to develop Clark International Airport as the country’s second international gateway.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, FDC said the consortium is proposing a joint venture for the long-term development of Clark airport with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

The Gotianun-Gokongwei consortium also tapped Singapore’s Changi Airports International (CAI) as its technical partner for the project. CAI, a global aviation consultant, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airport Group which operates Singapore’s main gateway.

“This proposal is different from the one earlier submitted by the consortium as it does not include the construction of the second terminal building but instead proposes the long-term development of the airport into the country’s second international gateway and also includes the operation and maintenance of the existing and new terminals under a joint venture with BCDA,” the consortium’s statement read.

Under the proposal, FDC-JGS consortium will also build future capacity augmentation, expand airport facilities such as terminals and runways, alongside operating and maintaining the existing and new passenger terminals.

The consortium also offered to develop, operate and maintain Clark airport’s commercial assets, such as facilities for general aviation, fixed-base operations and real estate.

In January, Filinvest and JG Summit submitted to the government a P186.64-billion unsolicited proposal for the expansion of Clark’s passenger terminal building. The unsolicited proposal had a concession period of 50 years and covers the improvement of current facilities at the Clark International Airport; capacity augmentation in five phases to accommodate 36 million passengers annually; and operations and maintenance of the airport.

However, the DoTr rejected the unsolicited proposals for Clark airport. Instead, it opted to build the infrastructure, and to  bid out the operations and maintenance contract to the private sector.   

The BCDA has already started the bidding for the selection of the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the first phase of expansion for Clark airport. The BCDA earlier said 12 local and foreign firms bought the bid documents, with the deadline for submission set on Dec. 5. The winning bidder will be announced on Dec. 15.

The bidding for the operation and management of Clark airport is also expected to commence before the end of the year.

Other firms that have expressed interest in Clark airport are Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Megawide Construction Corp., and MacroAsia Corp.

Clark airport is seen as an alternative to congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which has four terminals and two runways. NAIA was built to handle 30 million capacity, but passenger traffic hit a total of 39.5 million in 2016.

With the construction of a new passenger terminal, Clark airport is set to accommodate 12.2 million passengers annually, up by 8 million from its current capacity of 4.2 million passengers.

The BCDA’s long-term vision is for Clark airport to handle 80 million passengers every year, once the fourth phase of the airport’s expansion is completed. — A.B. Francia

New clearing house live by 2018

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez,
Senior Reporter

A SECOND DIGITAL clearing house meant to process real-time money transfers is eyed to go live by early 2018, central bank officials said, which is expected to push more Filipinos to use online channels for payment transactions.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said the InstaPay platform — which will process fund transfers across banks and e-wallets in real time — is being targeted for rollout sometime within the “first quarter of next year.”

This would be the second automated clearing house that would cater to interbank fund transfers done through electronic fund transfers (EFT) which was rolled out last week.

A group of 33 banks and financial technology service providers have signed up for the Philippine EFT System and Operations Network (PESONet), which will serve as an industry-run clearing house that will conduct daily batch processing for online fund transfer orders from one account to another.

The PESONet will accept digital payment instructions which are processed through a central server hosted by the Philippine Clearing House Corp. This system is eventually seen to replace paper-based checks, which currently takes one business day to complete a fund transfer.

On the other hand, the InstaPay will allow the immediate transfer of money across bank accounts and electronic wallets, provided that the transactions are worth less than P50,000.

The two clearing houses were initially eyed in place during the third quarter of 2017, but it took a while for financial firms to pin down inter-operability agreements.

BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said separately that financial players are still discussing the need for a guarantee fund which will be used for the express clearing.

“There will be a fund that will be ready to clear the transactions anytime, so a bank must have it ready,” Ms. Fonacier told reporters.

She added that industry players are also studying transaction fees to be imposed for interbank transfers and remittance charges.

During the Business and Investment Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Monday, Mr. Espenilla said the central bank has been embracing digital platforms for a more efficient financial system, citing the need for industry players to embrace cooperation while remaining competitive.

Electronic money transactions in the Philippines totalled P1.1 trillion last year, marking an all-time high as more financial firms offered the digital services to consumers.

The BSP has formally adopted the National Retail Payment System framework, with the goal of raising the share of digital payments to 20% of total transactions by 2020 from a 1% share in 2013.

The faster deployment and access to money is seen to spur increased economic activity, the central bank said.

AirAsia eyes integration of ASEAN operations

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-Editor

REGIONAL low-cost airline AirAsia Berhad is moving towards the next phase of its business, its founder and CEO Tony Fernandes said, as he envisioned a deeper integration for its operations within the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“The second phase now is to integrate AirAsia into more of an ASEAN company — so mixing of our staff, create policies that resonate throughout all the airlines, and then the next stage is to try and make travel in ASEAN easier,” Mr. Fernandes in a press conference after the launch of the airline’s campaign that promotes the economic bloc’s logo and branding on its aircraft.

He said the first phase for AirAsia was to create connectivity that allows people within the region to move, but this remains an unfinished journey.ASEAN 50 logo

“There’s lots to do,” he said. “Phase one was just providing connectivity and proving that we are an ASEAN company. Now, we move into deeper integration.”

Mr. Fernandes said integrating means going into secondary and tertiary cities where economic development has taken place.

“Infrastructure is not just about the mega airport and the mega highway. There’s lot of really good airports that could be developed, that could create lots of jobs and a lot of economic growth,” he said.

In the Philippines, Mr. Fernandes said AirAsia was looking at new routes from outside Manila to other regional destinations.

“Our first kind of new route on that from ASEAN would be Davao, where we will launch on the 21st of December. There’s never been a flight between KL (Kuala Lumpur) and Davao. We’re connected also from Kota Kinabalu to Davao,” he said.

“We are looking at Puerto Princesa from various parts in Southeast Asia,” he said, but did not give a timeline.

The AirAsia founder suggested the Philippines should look outside Metro Manila for a new airport, adding a bigger airport should be built in Clark, Pampanga where land area is extensive.

“But in the interim period, while that decision is being made, I believe infrastructure can be built outside — in Davao, in Bohol, in Puerto Princesa. Philippines is one of the best kept secrets in ASEAN. Until I came here I didn’t know Boracay existed,” he said. “And now we have so many flights to Boracay, bringing people from different parts of ASEAN. Very soon, we’ll do Phuket to Boracay as well, linking to great resorts.”

Mr. Fernandes said AirAsia’s aspiration is to create a holding firm that would house the different units in the region.

“We can create an ASEAN holding company that owns all the airlines 100%. That would be my ultimate dream. Then we’d be more efficient. Flying under an ASEAN flag would be great,” he said.

To be efficient, he said AirAsia should have a single ownership structure “as opposed to five ownership structures.

“Chinese airlines can fly to here quite easily, for us we still have 10 countries to deal with, and 10 aviation authorities and 10 regulations. They just deal with ASEAN,” he said.

So far this year, he said AirAsia’s passenger count reached about 73 million, a far cry from the 200,000 passengers it served when the airline started out from Malaysia. It also now has 200 planes from only two when Mr. Fernandes took over and eventually turned around a debt-ridden company.

For 2018, he said his goal is “to put more ASEAN products on the plane.”

“We are the people’s airline and we should have the people’s product on the airline,” Mr. Fernandes said. “And when you put the ASEAN product on our aircraft it’s gonna get so much more exposure.”

Banks told to craft cyber risk management strategies

BANKS must craft new strategies on information security to manage, detect, and respond to cyber-attacks which could bog down operations, as part of tighter rules imposed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The BSP has upgraded its standards on cyber-risk management through Circular 982, which details the regulator’s expectations for banks and other financial players in addressing and mitigating security threats.

“In line with their growing technology usage and dependence at the back of a dynamic operating and cyber-threat environment, BSFIs (BSP-supervised financial institutions) should establish robust and effective technology risk management processes, governance structures, and cybersecurity controls,” read the circular issued on Nov. 9.

“This is to ensure that the benefits derived from technological innovations can be fully optimized without compromising financial stability, operational resilience, and consumer protection.”

As a practice, all financial players must have systems to identify and counter a wide array of digital attacks, which include skimming, phishing, malware, and persistent threats to their systems through an established information security program that is “commensurate” with the complexity of a firm’s reliance to digital tools.

Banks and BSFIs also need to introduce minimum baseline security standards to be followed across their back-end systems and branches, which cover the use of operating systems, access to databases and mobile devices.

The strategic plan must regularly identify, prevent, detect, respond, recover, and test attempts to hack into internal systems or to steal from its clients, the BSP said. Entities must also get into cyber threat intelligence and collaborate with fellow industry players and regulators to share notes on emerging trends to boost industry-wide protection.

The same circular requires financial firms with “complex” information technology systems to set up 24/7 security operations centers to monitor potential cyber attacks.

In cases where a firm’s firewalls are breached, banks must have an established incident response plan ready to “minimize and contain” the financial and reputational damage, which would also allow the restoration of critical systems and facilitate an investigation on the case.

Periodic testing schemes must also be in place to evaluate security levels, which include simulated attacks and breach assessments.

Banks are given one year following the issuance of the circular to fully comply with these provisions. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

GFNi inks agreement with Russian firm

GLOBAL FERRONICKEL Holdings, Inc. (GFNi) has inked an agreement with Russian firm Vi Holding LLC, whose expertise involves low-cost mineral processing.

In a statement, the country’s second-largest nickel producer said the memorandum of cooperation and partnership was signed by its Chairman Joseph C. Sy and Vi Holding Chairman Valery N. Krasnov. President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry Medveded witnessed the signing during the Philippines and Russia bilateral meetings in Manila.

The agreement aims to “enhance mutually beneficial business cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of mining, metallurgy and energy,” GFNi said.ASEAN 50 logo

GFNi is looking to tap Vi Holding’s patented technology of processing nickel-bearing ore that requires lower capital investments and involves lower production costs.

“This technology makes it possible to quickly and efficiently build mining and metallurgical complexes comprising independent coal-fired power supply facilities. The two companies are now in the process of forming a joint working group to undertake initial testing of ore samples and conduct feasibility studies,” the company said.

Mr. Sy said the company supports the government’s push for industrialization of the mining industry. “Going into value-added processing has long been part of our business objectives and we are very excited at the prospects this new technology brings,” he said.

The nickel miner has recently concluded its full-year shipment of 5.970 million wet metric tons (WMT) or 109 vessels of nickel ore in 2017, which was above the 4.309 million WMT exported a year ago. — Janina C. Lim

Peso strengthens against dollar ahead of US data

THE PESO moved sideways against the greenback on Tuesday ahead of US economic data.

The local currency closed at P51.18 against the dollar yesterday, 2.5 centavos stronger than its P51.205-per-dollar finish on Monday.

The peso weakened to P51.20 at the open, with the intraday high at P51.07 and the low at P51.21.

Trading volume was at $476.78 million, inching up from $464.7 million the previous day, as most investors were anticipating updates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit for a decision that can affect the foreign exchange market.

Traders attributed the sideways movement to buying interest intraday.

“It opened at P51.20 but in the morning, it was quickly sold off to a low of P51.07 but as we switch those support level at P51.10. We saw a lot of buying interest again. A lot of banks were buying the dollar,” a trader said.

Another trader, meanwhile, said there was also profit taking during the session.

The first trader added that market players are adopting a wait-and-see stance ahead of the release of US consumer price index (CPI) data.

“Market will be looking at the US CPI data…, so we could expect the peso to trade at P51.10 to P51.30 [today],” the trader said.

The second trader, meanwhile, gave a wider range of P51.08 to P51.35 against the dollar.

Most other Asian currencies likewise firmed slightly on Tuesday, shrugging off weak China data as the dollar traded cautiously ahead of inflation data due this week that could set the tone for  impending US interest rate hikes.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.02% despite a rise in US Treasury yields, usually a source of strength for the dollar.

“The key data that market is looking out for is the US inflation numbers that are due tomorrow. They will be important not for the December rate hike as from all accounts it is a done deal but more for the potential path of Fed rate hikes over the course of 2018,” Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ, said on Tuesday.

A Reuters poll forecast the US CPI would rise 0.1% in October after advancing 0.5% in September.

A Federal Reserve official said on Monday he expects to back an interest rate hike next month despite caution over low inflation because US monetary policy needs to be positioned to deal with future economic shocks.

The dollar was also pressured by worries over possible delays to US President Donald J. Trump’s tax plans as Congressional Republicans pushed ahead on Monday with their tax code overhaul, but risks remain with major intraparty disputes unsettled. — KANV with Reuters

Azkals and Nepal play to a goalless standoff

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES’ date with the AFC Asian Cup has to wait after the Azkals were held to a goalless draw by Nepal yesterday in a key Group F qualification game in Kathmandu.

Needing to secure the win to get the full three points that go with it and officially book a spot in the prestigious continental tournament, the Azkals instead need to have a favorable outcome in their home game in March next year to finally join the main draw of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.

With the draw, the Philippines, sporting a record of two wins and three draws with nine points, is still on top of its grouping but for good measure, and to be safe, has to win in its final game against Tajikistan.

As per tournament format, the top two teams in each of the six groups in the third round of qualification advance to finals phase of the Asian Cup, joining 12 others teams which have already qualified previously.

The match started rough and physical, marked by multiple head collisions that momentarily halted play.

Each team had its chances to score a goal but none would be consummated en route to a goalless draw at the halfway point of the contest.

The host team came out aggressively on both ends to start the second half.

Nepal early on tested the defense of Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with some solid shots at a goal but the Cardiff City FC player proved to be up to the challenge each time.

Simone Rota gave the Azkals a good opportunity at breaking through but it was deflected in the 60th minute while the rebound by Phil Younghusband went wide.

Nepal maintained its aggressiveness thereafter just as Philippine coach Thomas Dooley made a couple of substitutions to give the team a different look.

With Nepal keeper Kiran Kumar Limbu hurting in the 70th minute, the Azkals tried to capitalize on it with a number of shots but they failed to connect off them.

The host team eventually managed to change keeper, sending in Bikesh Kuthu to replace Mr. Lumbu.

A series of headers in the 83rd minute by Daisuke Sato and Mike Ott gave the Azkals further chances at the goal but the Nepal defense was ready for them.

The two teams tried to desperately get the go-ahead goal for the remainder of regulation and in the four minutes of injury time, including Mr. Etheridge attempting a free kick at midfield, but no goals were to be scored as time expired.

As of this writing, Tajikistan (2-0-2) and Yemen (1-3-0), tied at second spot with six points apiece, were to do battle in Hisor, where a win would pull them to a tie with the Philippines.

The Azkals and Tajikistan match is set for March 27, 2018 at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.

James rallies Cavs over Knicks

WASHINGTON — LeBron James scored 23 points and reserve guard Kyle Korver added 21 as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 24-point deficit Monday to edge the New York Knicks, 104-101.

Four-time National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player James added 12 assists and nine rebounds for the visiting Cavs, who were down by two dozen points in the third quarter before storming back for the victory.

Trailing 97-92, the Cavaliers went on a 10-0 run to grab the lead, James sinking a step-back 3-pointer to give Cleveland a 100-97 edge with 83 seconds remaining, their first lead since 25-24 in the second quarter.

“I thought his defense is what turned it,” Korver said of James. “He’s always going to get in the paint and make plays. That is where he is really special. He is able to do everything. And he showed that in the fourth quarter.”

Korver, who sank two 3-pointers in the last 4:35, made four late free throws to offset baskets by Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway, Jr. James missed two late free throws but Jeff Green grabbed the rebound for Cleveland to deny the Knicks a potential tying shot at the buzzer.

Dwyane Wade added 15 off the bench for Cleveland while Hardaway led New York with 28 points and Porzingis added 20.

“King” James bumped French teen guard Frank Ntilikina early in the game and New York teammate Enes Kanter, a Turkish center, stood toe-to-toe with James, continuing a spat that began on social media that extended to postgame comments.

“You can’t just come in and mess with a rookie like that. Mess with a grown man,” Kanter said. “You can call yourself King, Queen, Princess, whatever, but you can’t punk us.”

Told of the remarks, James said, “We got the win. I’m not going to say that guy’s name again.”

Even with star guard Stephen Curry out with a bruised thigh, the defending champion Golden State Warriors dumped visiting Orlando, 110-100. Kevin Durant had 21 points and Draymond Green added 20 to lead the Warriors.

SIXERS OUTLAST CLIPPERS
Joel Embiid scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while Robert Covington added 31 points and Australia’s Ben Simmons added 22 points to power the Philadelphia 76ers over the host Los Angeles Clippers, 109-105.

A 10-1 Sixers’ run capped by two Simmons free throws put the 76ers ahead, 105-101. Austin Rivers sank a 3-pointer for the Clippers but Covington, whose 3-pointer put the 76ers ahead for good, made four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the victory.

In other games, Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 110-103 victory over visiting Memphis. John Henson and Khris Middleton each added 17 for Milwaukee.

New Orleans forward Darius Miller, meanwhile, sank four 3-pointers in the final 5:45 and netted 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lift host New Orleans over Atlanta 106-105. – AFP

La Salle’s Mbala named UAAP player of the week

SOLIDIFYING his standing as the most dominant player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) right now, De La Salle University big man Ben Mbala snagged another accolade by being named player of the week.

Punctuated by his all-around performance in their 79-76 win over rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday that effectively derailed the latter’s bid to sweep the elimination round and earn a direct pass to the finals, Mr. Mbala got the nod for the weekly plum given by the UAAP press corps.

Hitting 50% (10-of-12) of his field goals, Cameroonian Mr. Mbala wound up with a game-high 28 points to go along with 19 rebounds, six steals and six blocks to thwart Ateneo in its push.

Just as the defending champions Archers found the going tough early in the fourth period, Mr. Mbala came to the rescue to steady their ship, allowing them to come up big in the closeout to secure the win. “We just wanted to win. We didn’t quit. Coach [Aldin Ayo] told us, never give up,” Mr. Mbala said as he spoke of what did it for them in the crucial game.

“Coach told me to never quit on defense, to just always be there … He told me to stay composed and not overdo everything,” he added.

In winning the weekly award, which is considered by many as a prelude to him winning his second straight league most valuable player award, Mr. Mbala beat out Paul Desiderio of University of the Philippines, Steve Akomo of University of Santo Tomas, and Arvin Tolentino of Far Eastern University.

Mr. Mbala and the Archers right now are preparing for the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their Final Four encounter beginning on Saturday. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Boracay-based dragon boat teams do well in their second international race

KUCHING SARAWAK, MALAYSIA — Boracay-based dragon boat teams recently made waves at the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta 2017, bagging a pair of gold medals and a silver medal in different categories they participated in.

The Boracay Dragonflies (women’s division) and Boracay Dragonforce (men’s division), competing in only their second international race, ruled the 400-meter event International 12 crew Ladies boat competition as well as the 400-meter event International mix team.

They also bagged a silver in the 400-meter Masters.

In winning the International 12 crew Ladies boat competition, the Boracay Dragonflies clocked in 2.04 seconds.

Winning two golds and one silver out of five categories in the competition held from Nov. 10 to 12 at the Kuching Waterfront in Sarawak, team officials viewed it as a great achievement for the team’s 2nd international race participation.

“The Philippine team had overcome its competition, consistently ahead of the teams from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Brunei, Thailand and India by over a boat in every heat,” Team Coach Von Navarosa said in an e-mail from Sarawak.

The Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta was also held in conjunction with the official opening of The Golden Bridge, in Sungai Sarawak, an important event in the tourism calendar of countries involved in dragon boat races around the world.

Remy Aquino-Nation, team vice-president, said the Philippine contingent had been considered a potential champion before in view of its achievement during the 2017 Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival where it won numerous gold medals.

She hoped the team could continue to be groomed with the help of the government so that it can continue with its achievements competing and winning races internationally. Making every Filipino proud!

REMARKABLE RECORD
Often overlooked by the media, Boracay Dragonforce and the Boracay Dragonflies have earned the reputation on local races as a team to be reckoned. With overall impressive awards within four years — 18 gold awards, 10 silver awards, and five bronze awards to date. Their competitive reputation is now being recognized around Asia making them well celebrated in the last Dragon Boat Festival in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The biggest challenge that the team faced during the race was the new terrain and the difficult draw lanes. The water condition of the river is very different compared to the salt water that the Islanders train in Boracay. The Team had to adjust and come up with a different strategy to create a game plan that works with paddling against the river current, according to the Team Manager/Coach Thomas Müeller.

For now, the team is celebrating the end of the Dragon Boat Festival in Malaysia at Grand Margherita Hotel, with city tour generously provided by the Malaysian government.

They will return to the Philippines (Kalibo) today where a congratulatory ceremony awaits them.

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