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Philippines calls for ‘needs-based’ priority system for climate finance

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE Environment Secretary called access to climate finance an urgent matter and pressed the government to work towards international agreements that will unlock funding to help address the climate “emergency” faced by developing countries.

“Without global transformation and adequate financial resources dedicated to solving the climate change problem, which has reached emergency status, any agreement will be meaningless,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Y. Loyzaga said in a statement issued by the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the CCC has engaged technical experts in a dialogue that hopes to address the needs of developing countries for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

The previous administration has staked out a position that the developed world, which has produced the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions as it industrialized, must provide aid to developing countries facing most of the consequences of climate change.

“Urgent delivery of needs-based climate finance on loss and damage is crucial to transformative climate actions by at-risk developing nations. Gone are the days of empty commitments, now is the time to implement, to deliver action with results,” CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said.

Mr. Borje said the dialogue is an “opportunity to advance inclusive climate finance, driven by a process that ensures balanced geographical participation, particularly of developing states in the Asia-Pacific region.”

He said the dialogue also allows participants “to be influenced by the best available science, to rectify past mistakes on not considering uncertainties, costing for externalities, and affording ample space to innovate, so that rehabilitation is not the norm.”

Mr. Borje said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has declared climate change a priority and expressed his support for climate-mitigation efforts.

“Under Mr. Marcos’ administration, there is a proposal to increase national budget allocation for climate change-related programs, projects and activities,” Mr. Borje said.

“The Philippines will continue to do its part, while pursuing stronger collaboration with partners and stakeholders toward climate justice,” he added.

Mr. Borje called for pragmatic solutions, noting that the Philippines is expected to be one of the countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

The Philippines is considered the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index.

“This is what we mean by build right at first sight: to build justly and efficiently at first sight, with a long-term horizon in mind. Our discussions will go beyond dollars and cents,” Mr. Borje said.

“There will be recommendations for actions that will affect the lives and livelihood of nations. Today is an opportunity to get things right. To secure climate equity and justice for all,” he added.

The Ad Hoc Work Programme on New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance created under the Paris Agreement is tasked to conduct four technical exchange dialogues annually until 2024. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Hybrid work schemes raise work quality, study finds

A MAJORITY of employees in the Philippines perceive the quality of their work to have improved under hybrid arrangements, according to a study conducted by technology company Cisco Systems, Inc.

In a statement on Monday, Cisco said 79% of Filipino respondents reported an improvement in work quality, while 89% reported that the flexible work arrangements improved their sense of well-being.

Some 92% reported they were pleased to have access to a hybrid work set-up, while 29% said their companies are prepared to transition to hybrid work.

“Employees and employers in the Philippines are experiencing tangible benefits from hybrid work, stemming across improved employee well-being to better productivity and work performance,” Zaza Nicart, managing director of Cisco Philippines, said.

Hybrid work implies a level of investment in critical technology, with about 73% of respondents considering connectivity issues to be “career limiting.”

“Having a strong networking infrastructure and cybersecurity posture can solve such connectivity issues, and overall deliver seamless and secure work experience for employees,” Ms. Nicart said.

Some 71% of respondents said they expect fully remote workers to face challenges in communicating or engaging with colleagues, compared to those who work on-site. Seventy-one percent of employees also reported that micromanaging increased with hybrid work. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

LGU borrowing applications decline in first eight months

NEW DEBT sought by local government units (LGUs) declined by 72.53% year on year to P21.04 billion in the eight months to August, the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) reported.

The proxy indicator for LGU indebtedness is the issuance by the BLGF of 116 certificates of net debt service ceiling and borrowing capacity to LGUs, which included seven amendments, against 294 issued a year earlier.

These certificates were issued to 83 municipalities, 23 cities, four provinces, and six barangays.

Cities applied to borrow P8.16 billion, followed by municipalities (P8.02 billion), provinces (P4.83 billion), and barangays (P24.65 million).

The certifications are a leading indicator for the borrowing intentions of local governments, whose capacity for taking on debt must be certified by the BLGF, an arm of the Department of Finance.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort attributed the decline to the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling and the tight fiscal space.

“More funding allocated to LGUs would fundamentally reduce their borrowing requirements. Furthermore, this may also have to do with the need to reduce the government’s expenditures through more disciplined spending after the huge debt of P5 trillion incurred since the pandemic,” he said in a Viber message.

The Supreme Court ruled that LGUs are entitled to 40% of all national taxes, including those not collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, effectively increasing the tax take that subnational entities are entitled to.

The ruling raised the LGU allocation to P959 billion this year, up 37.89%.

In the eight months to August, LGUs’ total borrowing capacity was P49.44 billion, down 75.13% from a year earlier.

Cities had a borrowing capacity of P26.15 billion, followed by municipalities (P17.2 billion), provinces (P6.05 billion), and barangays (P37.24 million). 

In August, the BLGF released three certifications to LGUs, including one amendment, covering proposed loans worth P235 million, against P4.02 billion from a year earlier.

Bangar, La Union was the leading availer of loans in August with P200 million. The Cordillera Administrative Region availed of P35 million, while the request of barangay Turod in Sudipen, La Union is undergoing amendment.

The government registered a debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 62.1% as of the second quarter, above the 60% debt-to-GDP ratio considered manageable by multilateral lenders for developing economies. The ratio eased from 63.5% at the end of the first quarter.

The government estimates the debt-to-GDP ratio to drop to 61.8% at the end of the year. — Diego Gabriel C. Robles

UnionBank, GLS sign on as gov’t partners in AI research center 

REUTERS

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has signed a partnership agreement with UnionBank of the Philippines and Global Learning Solutions (GLS) to establish a research center for artificial intelligence (AI).

In a statement on Monday, the DTI said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GLS and UnionBank on Sept. 9, outlining the three partners’ intent to establish and operate the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR) and Industry 4.0 Pilot Factory (I4PF).

“With the support of private sector partners, the CAIR will serve as a hub where data scientists and researchers can perform collaborative AI research and development. Complementary to the CAIR, the I4PF will host pilot, demonstration, and learning laboratories for relevant technologies. These include robotics, intelligent manufacturing, and cyber-physical systems,” the DTI said.

“The facilities will also support the development of the digital economy and the creation of new activities in trade, agriculture, manufacturing, and services and encourage entrepreneurship through the adoption of advanced digital technologies in these sectors,” it added.

According to the MoU, the DTI will manage the collaboration, while UnionBank will provide assistance in establishing and operating the CAIR and I4PF. The bank will also house the two facilities in its UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna for free.

The GLS will serve as the training and learning partner for upskilling and reskilling activities of small and medium enterprises.

“DTI recognizes the need to embrace Industry 4.0 technologies and will continue to pursue digital transformation to enhance productivity and competitiveness, develop new industries, create more and better jobs, and attract new investments,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Manufacturing jobs seen key to PHL recovery

REUTERS

INCREASED manufacturing investment is considered a key condition for bringing about a recovery because of the volume of jobs the sector can potentially generate, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said on Monday.

“I think it’s important for us to pursue manufacturing, where you can generate more employment. At the same time, the agriculture sector must be looked into. More often than that, we try to encourage more people to invest in our country in the sector of manufacturing, knowledge space, or services,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said on the BusinessWorld Live program on One News channel.

Mr. Barcelon said agriculture investment is also needed to wean the Philippines from its dependence on imported food.

“We have to craft our laws to allow foreign companies to come in and also invest in agriculture. On the agriculture side, imports to meet our food requirement are high. We are realistic (about not being able to) produce enough. Now, if companies can come in and help us through investment (in) proper irrigation, proper information systems, that would really be beneficial to all,” Mr. Barcelon said.

“We have the market here. We are 110 million in population. Demand is high,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Removal of the 5-year validity period for receipts and invoices

The Philippine tax system is mostly driven by supporting documents. The deductibility of allowable expenses and claiming of input value-added tax (VAT) rely heavily on valid official receipts and sales invoices. Hence, it is paramount for every business to ensure that the documents they issue are free from error.

For a receipt/invoice to be valid, the taxpayer should first secure an Authority to Print (ATP) or Permit to Use (PTU) a computerized accounting system (CAS), cash register machines (CRM), point-of-sale (POS) machines, and other sales receipting software from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Based on previous revenue issuances, official receipts and invoices have a five-year validity from date of ATP or PTU.

Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 18-2012 provides that a taxpayer with expiring ATP for its receipts/invoices must apply for a new ATP not later than 60 days prior to the expiry date. The use of receipts and invoices beyond the five-year validity renders the receipts/invoices invalid; hence, the issuing party is imposed a penalty and the expense of the party claiming such deduction is disallowed. However, not all taxpayers know this and are issuing receipts/invoices even beyond their validity, making it one of the most common issues faced by taxpayers.

Fortunately, the BIR revisited its policies and removed the five-year validity period for receipts and invoices, which is also in line with Republic Act (RA) No. 11032 otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. This new revenue issuance relieves taxpayers of the burden of continuously incurring costs of reproducing their receipts/invoices every five years. This move also promotes sustainability as it reduces paper consumption caused by destruction of expired invoices and receipts and repeated reprinting.

PERPETUAL VALIDITY OF RECEIPTS AND INVOICES
The removal of the five-year validity of receipts and invoices took effect on July 16, which is 15 days from the date of publication of RR No. 6-2022 on July 1.

As a result, all taxpayers with unused manual principal and supplementary receipts/invoices with ATP may continue to use such until fully exhausted. The phrases “THIS INVOICE/RECEIPT SHALL BE VALID FOR FIVE (5) YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE ATP” and “VALID UNTIL (MM/DD/YYYY),” printed at the bottom of the receipt/invoices shall be disregarded. Subsequent production of manual receipts/invoices will no longer require a validity date printed on the bottom portion.

Taxpayers with PTU or Acknowledgment Certificate (AC), as applicable to CRMs, POS machines, and CAS, may continue to use the previously approved receipts/invoices. Like manual receipts/invoices, the five-year validity may also be disregarded. In addition, the system/software generating receipts/invoices from CAS, component of CAS and CRMs and POS machines must be reconfigured to omit the phrases on validity period.

Unlike manual receipts/invoices, computer-generated receipts/invoices are not “exhausted” because these are not printed or bound by booklets. Hence, all PTUs become perpetually valid unless revoked by the BIR based on the following grounds:

• Tampering of sales data/integrity of the data and/or software specification/features to alter/avoid the recording of sale transaction;

• Any major repair, upgrade, integration, and modification/alteration without prior notification and approval by the BIR office concerned, including the items enumerated in Section V, Item No. 8 of Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 9-2021, to wit:

– Change in the functionalities of the system, particularly enhancements that will have a direct effect on the financial aspect of the system that includes modified computations and other financial-related issues that were considered;

– Addition or removal of modules or submodules within the system that will have a direct impact on the financial aspect of the system;

– Change in the system/software version or release number that will have enhancements on the financial aspect of the system; and

– All other enhancements that will be deemed major system enhancements based on the recommendation of the technical evaluators of the BIR; and

• Any violation(s) on the policies and procedures for registration under RMO No. 10-2005 and RMO No. 9-2021, and other related revenue issuances.

RECEIPTS/INVOICES PRINTED PRIOR TO RR NO. 6-2022
Since perpetual validity of the receipts/invoices took effect on July 16, all receipts/invoices expiring on or before July 15 are no longer valid. However, worry not because it was clarified that upon the issuance of RR No. 6-2022, taxpayers with ATP expiring on or before July 15 who failed to apply for subsequent ATP not later than the sixty-day mandatory period prior to expiration are not liable to pay the penalty for late application of ATP.

The receipts/invoices which are unused and expiring on or before July 15 must be surrendered together with an inventory to the BIR Revenue District Office (RDO) where the Head Office or Branch is registered on or before the 10th day after the validity period of the ATP for the destruction of such receipts/invoices.

MODIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM/SOFTWARE GENERATING THE RECEIPTS/INVOICES
Due to the perpetual validity of receipts/invoices which is now in effect, the system/software generating the receipts/invoices for taxpayers employing CRMs, POS machines, and CAS shall be modified to remove the phrase indicating the five-year validity. This modification is considered a minor enhancement because such was mandated upon the effectivity of RR No. 6-2022. Only major modifications require prior written notification before such modifications are made.

Doing business is no easy feat — you must consider, among others, the profitability of your products/services, your target consumers, the way you will market your business, and most especially how you will take care of your clientele. Thanks to the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and the efforts of government agencies in helping improve business processes, ministerial tasks like renewing your receipts/invoices every five years are now removed. Taxpayers and entrepreneurs can devote more of their energy and resources on their core businesses. Here’s to a big win towards total ease of doing business and promoting environmental sustainability.

Let’s Talk Tax is a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.

 

Runell Alvyn V. Sarmiento is a senior in charge from the Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com

Embiggen launches corporate venture builder focused on strategy execution

UNSPLASH

The Embiggen Group, a Filipino-led innovation consulting agency, recently launched a venture builder to help clients execute their strategies.

“Employees are not comfortable with the process and speed of execution that startups usually have to go through every day. You can outsource that to us, an organization that already has the expertise of scaling a startup or venture from an idea,” said Embiggen co-founder Rolan Marco U. Garcia, at the virtual launch on Sept. 8. 

Embiggen, which partnered with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and the innovation standard certification body Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) in 2021, counts among its clients Telstra Philippines, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., and Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd. 

“We started as a consulting company, then more and more companies asked help with how they can actually execute, more than just giving them strategies,” said Mr. Garcia. 

Embiggen’s ongoing corporate venture building projects include a Philippine insurance company creating a platform for mental health, work-life balance, and financial literacy for millennials and Gen Zs; and a food and manufacturing company that wants to solve logistics problems for Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 

“This is a call to action for conglomerates who want to go into innovation because maybe the pandemic gave them an existential crisis that ‘we need to have other options than what we are currently doing,’” said Embiggen co-founder Paul A. Pajo, who also pointed out that the Philippines ranked 51st out of 132 economies in the 2021 Global Innovation Index, dropping one spot from its ranking the year prior. 

In its own 2021 study “The Future of Corporate Innovation in the Philippines,” Embiggen highlighted that support and investments from government, incubators, and venture capitalists can further enrich the startup economy. 

“Beyond strategy, we’ve seen some conglomerate lines really asking for help with execution,” Mr. Pajo said. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Alcaraz, 19, wins US Open and becomes world No. 1

CARLOS Alcaraz of Spain poses with the victor’s trophy after beating Casper Ruud of Norway in the men’s singles final at the US Open tennis tournament in New York on Sept. 11, 2022. — REUTERS
CARLOS Alcaraz of Spain poses with the victor’s trophy after beating Casper Ruud of Norway in the men’s singles final at the US Open tennis tournament in New York on Sept. 11, 2022. — REUTERS

NEW YORK — Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz completed his rapid rise to the top of the tennis world on Sunday, claiming his first Grand Slam title and taking the number one ranking with a 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 win over Norway’s Casper Ruud in the US Open final.

Mr. Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face before jumping up to embrace Mr. Ruud at the net. He then climbed past photographers and into the stands to celebrate in his box with his team.

“This is something I dreamed of since I was a kid, to be number one in the world, to be the champion at a Grand Slam,” Mr. Alcaraz said in an on-court interview.

“All the hard work that I did with my team, with my family. I’m just 19-years-old so all of the tough decisions are with my parents and my team as well.

“This is something that is really, really special for me.”

“Bravo Carlitos!” was displayed on a banner inside the stadium for the tennis prodigy from El Palmar.

The electrifying Alcaraz, who thrilled fans over the two-week tournament in New York with his explosive speed, booming forehand and acrobatic shotmaking, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.

He is the youngest world number one since the ATP rankings began in 1973, breaking the mark set by Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 when he became number one in 2001.

Mr. Alcaraz had a difficult path to the title.  He battled from a break down in the fifth set to beat Marin Cilic in the fourth round, played the latest finishing match in tournament history to defeat Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the quarters, and faced down American Frances Tiafoe in the semis.

“I always say that there is no time to be tired in the final round of a Grand Slam or any tournament,” said Mr. Alcaraz, who spent 23 hours and 40 minutes on court over his seven matches.

“You have to give everything you have inside.”

Rafa Nadal, the winner of men’s record 22 Grand Slam titles, took to Twitter to offer his congratulations to his countryman and predicted more success was on the way.

“Well, I have one. He has 22,” a beaming Alcaraz told reporters. “I’m in the row.”

NOT TOO BAD
Mr. Ruud was trying to become the first Norwegian to capture the top spot but was unable to match Mr. Alcaraz’s firepower under the closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

French Open finalist Mr. Ruud will rise to second in the world from number seven.

Sunday’s final was the first featuring two men competing for both their first Grand Slam title and the world number one ranking.

“We knew what we were playing for, we knew what was at stake,” said Mr. Ruud. “Number two is not too bad either. I will continue to chase for my first Grand Slam and the number one world ranking.”

Fan favorite Mr. Alcaraz rode an early break to take the first set but his serve began to falter in the second and Mr. Ruud found the range with his forehand to level the contest.

The Norwegian did not have the momentum for long as Mr. Alcaraz broke in the first game of the third with a deft drop shot but Mr. Ruud responded again, saving a break point on his serve and breaking back on a backhand error by Mr. Alcaraz for 2-2.

Mr. Alcaraz saved two set points in the final game of the third set and fans jumped from their seats when he smashed an overhead to force a tiebreak.

Mr. Ruud, who had been solid in the second and third sets, blinked in the tiebreak, shanking a couple shots and struggling to make returns as Alcaraz reeled off seven straight points to move a set away from the trophy.

Mr. Alcaraz, who bellowed “Vamos!” and pumped his fist after big points, continued to crush forehands and aces in the fourth set to wear down Mr. Ruud and he sealed the win with a mighty serve on match point.

THE FUTURE
Before the match, a moment of silence was held to honor the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks for Sept. 11, 2001. The date of the attack was written on the court and both players began their on-court remarks by acknowledging the sombre anniversary.

This year’s US Open broke the event’s attendance record and marked the first time that every session at the 23,859-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium sold out, tournament organizers said.

The two-week main draw attendance was 776,120, surpassing the previous record of 737,872 set in 2019.

While for many years the Flushing Meadows spotlight has shone on the ‘Big Three’ of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, it was the future of the men’s game — Alcaraz, Ruud, Sinner and Tiafoe — thrilling the crowds this time around.

Mr. Alcaraz said he is hungry for more after getting his first taste of Grand Slam glory.

“I want to be in the top for many, many weeks. I hope many years,” he said.

“I’m going to work hard again after this amazing two weeks. I’m going to fight to have more of this.” — Reuters

Philippines rules the 2022 Predator World 10-ball Team Championship

PREDATOR PRO BILLIARD SERIES’ FACEBOOK PAGE

THE PHILIPPINES’ Rubilen Amit, Carlo Biado and Johann Chua turned back Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher, Jayson Shaw and Darren Appleton to rule the 2022 Predator World 10-ball Team Championship in Klagenfurt, Austria over the weekend.

Ms. Amit bested Ms. Fisher, 4-3, and Mr. Biado outlasted Mr. Shaw in the singles and Ms. Amit and Mr. Chua routed Ms. Fisher and Mr. Appleton, 4-1, in the mixed doubles to claim the country’s first crown after a pair of runners up finishes in 2010 and 2014.

For their feat, the troika pocketed the €40,000 top purse, or a cool purse worth P2.3 million.

On their way there, the Filipinos waylaid the Germans, 4-2, in the shootout victory and bested the Swedes, 3-1, Brits, 3-2 in the elimination round and then the Poles, 3-1, in the quarters.

They ran into Great Britain again in the finale after the latter made it through that far via the loser’s bracket.

But there was just no stopping Ms. Amit, Messrs. Biado and Chua, who just overpowered Ms. Fisher, Messrs. Shaw and Appleton.

It was redemption of sort for Ms. Amit, who had a forgettable performance in the women’s side while avenging countrywomen Chezka Centeno’s quarterfinal defeat to Ms. Fisher. — Joey Villar

EJ Obiena tops the Golden Fly event in Liechtenstein

KNOWING this would be his last attempt in his final competition in the second outdoor season of the year, Filipino pole-vault dynamo EJ Obiena courageously went for the one plateau he had a hard time breaching — six meters.

It wasn’t his night though.

But the World Championship bronze medalist came eerily close to eclipsing his Mount Everest of clearances if not for his right knee barely hitting the bar on the turn.

It was, however, a sign that he’s slowly but surely getting there.

The World No. 3 though didn’t go home empty-handed as he topped the Golden Fly in Schaan, Liechtenstein Sunday after he cleared 5.71m and bested American Olen Tray Oates (5.61m) and Austrian Riccardo Klotz (5.51m).

It was the Asian record-holder’s fifth gold medal and seventh straight podium in the past three weeks.

It included a memorable triumph in the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium a week ago when he shocked for the first time Olympic and world champion and world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.

Interestingly, the recent effort came exactly a year when Mr. Obiena first broke the 29-year-old Asian record by vaulting ton 5.93m in the Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria a year ago.

He later smashed it with a 5.94m in the Worlds in Eugene, Oregan last July.

“Exactly one year ago today, I broke the 29-year-old Asian record in outdoor pole vault by jumping 5.93m. A lot has happened since then, and just a few hours ago, almost did 6m. As usual, we keep on trying and keep on fighting, for the country,” said Mr. Obiena. — Joey Villar

San Sebastian faces first day winner Arellano

Games today
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. — SSC-R vs AU
3 p.m. — San Beda vs EAC

ARELLANO University (AU) tries to show its opening day win over host Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) was no fluke while San Sebastian eyes to set in motion to its Final Four bid as the two collide today in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Given little chance after playing with eight rookies on their roster, the Chiefs proved their doubters wrong and pulled the rug from the Generals, one of the pre-season favorites, in a 63-58 win Saturday at the Big Dome.

Journeyman Darrel Menina, who played for Mapua, National University and University of Cebu before ending up at AU for a “one-and-done” stint, led his team to victory with a clutch 15-point effort.

A win over the Stags in their 12 p.m. duel would put the Chiefs on top, which would be a shocker to most since a lot of experts belittled the latter entering the season.

“We just want to play with pride each game,” said AU coach Cholo Martin.

AU though will have its hands full against San Sebastian, which is out to make a big dent and improve on its eight-place finish a season ago.

Surprisingly though, the Stags are tipped to finish big this season after solid performances in pre-season tournament.

“Our goal is always to win every year. Hopefully we could finish big this season,” said SSC mentor Egay Macaraya.

Meanwhile, EAC and San Beda aim to bounced back from their stinging losses as they tackle each other at 3 p.m.

The Lions, brandishing their rookie coach Yuri Escueta, succumbed to the Mapua Cardinals, last year’s runners up, in a 66-55 result Saturday.

Meanwhile, San Beda has secured the commitment for talented high school recruit James Payosing to play for the team next year, according to team manager Jude Roque.

Mr. Payosing is a 6-1 shooting guard from Bislig, Surigao and should be a great add for the Lions. — Joey Villar

Own goal sends Union Berlin to top of Bundesliga

COLOGNE, Germany — Union Berlin moved to the top of the Bundesliga standings for the first time in the German club’s history after they came away from Cologne with a 1-0 win on Sunday thanks to an own goal early in the game.

In a whirlwind opening to the match, Union were fortunate to take the lead in the third minute when Cologne defender Timo Huebers’s attempted block on a low cross was deflected past his goalkeeper at the near post.

Cologne were unlucky to concede a penalty five minutes later when a header came off the back of Luca Kilian’s elbow but goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe saved Jordan Siebatcheu’s tame spot kick to deny Union a two-goal cushion.

Union had their opportunities to double the lead, with Bundesliga top scorer Sheraldo Becker’s smart finish from an acute angle ruled out for offside by VAR while Christopher Trimmel saw his chipped effort come off the crossbar.

Kilian’s afternoon got worse when he was sent off for a second yellow card trying to stop a Union counter-attack and 10-man Cologne could not find a way past the visitors who held on for the win.

Freiburg could have spoiled Union’s party later on Sunday by going top with a win over Borussia Moenchengladbach in the weekend’s final game, but they were held to a 0-0 draw to leave them second in the standings after six rounds.

With 14 points, Union are a point ahead of Freiburg and two clear of champions Bayern Munich, who slipped to third. — Reuters

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