KAYA FC-Iloilo is to play its AFC Cup 2021 matches in Singapore, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Monday.
The AFC said the island city-state will host ASEAN Zone group stage play including those in Group I which has Kaya, along with Myanmar’s Shan United or Ayeyawady United (which will play in the preliminaries), Terengganu FC of Malaysia, and Geylang International FC of Singapore.
Singapore will also host matches in Group H which has Kedah Darul Aman (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Saigon (Vietnam) and the ASEAN Zone Play-off 2 winner.
Kaya finished runner-up in the pandemic-hit season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) last year.
AFC Cup preliminary play will take place next month with the group stage beginning in June.
Kaya is to first play Geylang on June 22.
The team, however, can be plucked from the competition if it manages to qualify for the AFC Champions League.
It will face Australia’s Brisbane Roar FC on April 7 in preliminary play.
If Kaya moves past the first test, it then meets China’s Beijing FC in the next stage of the playoff with the winner there, booking a spot in the AFC Champions League group play in Group F.
Reigning PFL champion United City Football Club has already qualified for the AFC Champions League, playing in Group I along with Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, two-time champion Guangzhou FC of China and a still-to-be-determined team coming from a playoff between teams from Thailand and Korea. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
FITNESS start-up FlexBox was born amid the pandemic, but it is not stopping it from seeing its vision of elevating how personal training service is done in the country.
A brainchild of boxing enthusiast JM Siasat, FlexBox, which opened shop in March last year just as quarantine restrictions were raised in the country, combines fitness and technology but also gives premium on a more service-oriented approach to fitness.
While most on the fitness spectrum have been limited to offering workout guides through an app for now, FlexBox goes beyond that by providing on-demand personal training service that allows one to book a workout session anytime and anywhere.
“FlexBox is really a culmination of my years of experience as a boxing coach abroad and gym owner,” said Mr. Siasat of the beginnings of FlexBox.
“Personal training with FlexBox allows you to train anywhere at any time at a less expensive price tag. All you have to do is book a session with us and then a trainer will come to your location of choice, bringing with him all the equipment needed for a full-body workout,” he added, likening it to the concept behind Uber and Grab.
Mr. Siasat said such an approach proved to be more effective as he witnessed firsthand while working as a boxing trainer in Singapore.
“I noticed how excited my clients get whenever we hold our training by the beach. I mean, why not? It was fun! I did not even realize how fun and productive it could be until I have experienced it for myself,” he said.
Adding, “So we bring our equipment, utilize the beach, and park in the area to give our clients the best outdoor training ever. We try to do even better with the FlexBox training program. You can book us at the nearest park or even at home and we guarantee to get you sweating in an hour.”
Among those who have tried the services of FlexBox are reigning IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and current ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio.
Mr. Siasat shared that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges to how they conduct business, but they firmly believe in what they offer and they are staying resilient and go-getting.
“We offer a safe yet fun approach to fitness this new normal. The idea of FlexBox was already that even before the pandemic, we offered convenience so you don’t have to suffer from traffic or maybe you’re feeling lazy to drive yourself to the gym,” Mr. Siasat said.
“Then the pandemic came, which only highlighted my belief from the very beginning that this is the future of the fitness industry. We are very careful too as our coaches are regularly tested for COVID-19 and our equipment is sanitized after every use.”
And it is only the beginning for FlexBox as it is planning to offer its services beyond Metro Manila and go to different parts of the country and even abroad down the line.
FlexBox personal training rates start at P600. For booking and inquiries, visit www.facebook.com/flexboxtrainingph or www.instagram.com/flexboxtraining.ph. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
ZION Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 26 points each as the host New Orleans Pelicans held on to defeat the Utah Jazz (129-124) on Monday night.
Lonzo Ball added 23 points, JJ Redick had 17, Josh Hart 13 and Eric Bledsoe got 11 as the Pelicans cooled off the team with the NBA’s best record. New Orleans had a 53-39 rebounding advantage, led by Steven Adams’ 11 boards.
Bojan Bogdanović scored 31, Rudy Gobert had 22, Donovan Mitchell added 21, Jordan Clarkson had 20, and Mike Conley 10 to lead the Jazz.
Utah, which had won 23 of its past 26 games, including two home victories against New Orleans, fell to 1-2 on a road trip that ends Wednesday in Philadelphia.
The Jazz cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to one late in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t pull even.
Utah led five by points at half time, but Williamson scored 10 quick points to pull New Orleans even at 73 midway through the third quarter.
The score was tied three more times before Redick’s 3-pointer gave the Pelicans an 82-79 lead.
Ball added two free throws and Williamson followed with a driving layup and a three-point play to complete a 10-0 run as the Jazz went scoreless for nearly three minutes.
Williamson scored 15 of his team’s 40 points in the period and New Orleans held a 99-88 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Pelicans scored the first four points of the fourth quarter and Redick’s four-point play pushed their lead to 107-90.
Utah chipped away and got within seven got within 11 points, but Ball answered with a 3-pointer with 3:54 left.
The Jazz made eight consecutive free throws before Royce O’Neale’s 3-pointer got them within 125-124 with 47 seconds left.
Ingram missed a jumper and Utah could have taken the lead, but Mitchell missed a layup. — Reuters
NOVAK Djokovic equalled Roger Federer’s all-time record for most weeks as ATP world number one on Monday, holding the top spot for the 310th week.
Djokovic’s ninth Australian Open title last month guaranteed that he would surpass Federer’s record on March 8.
Having reached another milestone in his illustrious career, Djokovic had said he would look to adjust his calendar and make overhauling Federer and Rafa Nadal’s joint-record of 20 Grand Slam titles his top priority.
“Now, after achieving the historic number one for the longest weeks at number one, it’s going to be a relief for me because I’m going to focus all my attention on Slams mostly,” the Serb had said after his title triumph at Melbourne Park.
“When you are going for number one ranking, you kind of have to be playing the entire season and you have to be playing well, you have to play all the tournaments.
“My goals will adapt and will shift a little bit, which means that I will have to adjust also my calendar — not have to, but I will have an opportunity to do that which, as a father and a husband, I’m really looking forward to that.”
This is Djokovic’s fifth stint atop the world rankings. The 33-year-old Djokovic reclaimed the top spot from Nadal in February last year and finished as the year-end number one for the sixth time — tying the record set by American great Pete Sampras. — Reuters
Pro hoops fans who weren’t able to see the Sixers make short work of the Pacers yesterday may well consider Joel Embiid’s 24-13-5 output underwhelming at best. After all, he had been putting up stout numbers prior to the homestand — so stout, in fact, as to install him a frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award. Never mind that he managed to burn rubber for only 27 minutes, six less than his season average. As far as statheads are concerned, the bottom line is what counts — outside, that is, of his efficient 10-of-17 clip from the field and his second-best plus-22 line.
To be sure, Embiid isn’t engaging in a sprint. To the contrary, he’s running a marathon, and not simply because of his seeming susceptibility to injury. And if he’s deemed to be among the best of the best, it’s precisely because he has learned to make the most of the time he’s on the court. That he’s dominating from the post — a place on the floor all but eradicated from the systems of head coaches operating in the pace-and-space era — serves to further underscore the weight of his singular contributions. He has become all but unstoppable in the face of single coverage; heck, he has even developed a reliable three-point shot.
Little wonder, then, that the Sixers find themselves at the top of the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star break. They’re by no means perfect; over the weekend, for instance, they bowed in overtime to the severely undermanned and supposedly overmatched Cavaliers. The good news is that they’re quick to learn from their missteps. The setback certainly gave them the impetus to assert themselves early on as opposed to plod on and keep the Pacers hanging around yesterday; they were up by 17 at the half and 28 after three quarters, rendering the payoff period irrelevant and giving Embiid much-needed rest.
Make no mistake: The Sixers remain a work in progress under first-year bench tactician Doc Rivers. Often, they wind up relying too much on their acknowledged cornerstone. To be fair, Embiid has dutifully produced as expected. Then again, the playoffs are a different matter. In best-of-seven affairs, repeatedly turning to an obvious crutch is damning predictability. Which is why they’re wisely exploring their depth and learning to use it to full advantage. How they do so, and when they get it down pat, figures to determine the outcome of their campaign for the hardware.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
After reaching a major milestone last year with the rehabilitation of 100 rural health units, BDO Foundation continues to help improve health facilities across the country. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank recently completed the rehabilitation of six rural health units as part of its contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal no. 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of all people of all ages.
Despite constraints caused by the pandemic, the foundation renovated the Municipal Health Office of Aurora in Isabela, Calbiga Rural Health Unit and Birthing Facility in Western Samar, and Rural Health Unit Dapa in Siargao, Surigao del Norte. In Iloilo, it renovated Dueñas Municipal Health Office, Barotac Viejo Municipal Health Office, and Birthing Facility, and Mina Municipal Health Center.
According to Dueñas municipal health officer Dr. Rodney Labis, “Understanding the financial capacity of our local government unit, I knew that our only chance to renovate Dueñas Municipal Health Office would be through BDO Foundation. Learning that the foundation will rehabilitate our building made me hopeful. Our staff were also excited because they have seen the foundation’s work in other rural health units in Iloilo.”
“The rehabilitation of our rural health unit not only made our building presentable, it also motivated our health workers to deliver services effectively to all Dueñasanons especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the doctor added.
BDO Foundation improved the layout and interior design of the six health centers, their lobby and waiting areas, offices, clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms,
and facilities. The foundation installed new furniture and fixtures to help health workers accommodate more patients. It also constructed play areas where children can read books or play with toys. In Mina Municipal Health Center and Rural Health Unit Dapa, available space enabled BDO Foundation to build waiting areas for the comfortable use of senior citizens.
With these improvements in place, the doctors, nurses, and midwives of the rural health units in Aurora, Barotac Viejo, Calbiga, Dapa, Dueñas, and Mina are now better equipped to provide primary healthcare services to thousands of constituents. BDO Foundation’s corporate citizenship initiatives in the aforementioned municipalities are expected to help improve the health and well-being of more than 197,000 people from 198 barangays.
Globe is the 5G leader in the country with nearly half a million customers using 5G devices as of end-February 2021. 5G is the latest in wireless technology that promises faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and stable internet connection.
Globe is a pioneer in 5G supremacy in the Philippines with 1,069 areas across the country now with this latest generation in wireless technology. Owing to the telco’s aggressive network builds and site upgrades, Globe’s 5G coverage is present in 848 locations in Metro Manila and Rizal; and in 221 areas in Visayas and Mindanao as of January this year.
“We see our customers consuming more data as their needs change especially with the pandemic. We want them to unlock the many possibilities and potential that 5G technology brings, and Globe is committed to giving them superior technology to create the quality of lives they want,” said Coco Domingo, Globe’s VP for Postpaid and International.
5G’s unbeatable speeds and almost real-time latency opens a world of countless possibilities that its customers can look forward to as more and more international destinations transform themselves into 5G-powered smart cities, delivering new experiences in retail, entertainment, and healthcare.
On top of that, Globe has also made its 5G service available abroad with the launch of 5G Roaming in Thailand via AIS. Soon, the 5G roaming service will be rolled out in more key markets in Asia, Middle East, North America, and Europe. For more information on 5G Roaming, go to glbe.co/5GRoaming.
To learn more about 5G’s possibilities in healthcare, entertainment, and more, please listen to the Globe podcast on Spotify: glbe.co/PossibilitiesPodcast. To learn more about 5G please visit: globe.com.ph/5g
BEIJING – China and the United States should remove all barriers to travel between the two countries if the United States achieves herd immunity for COVID-19 with 90% of its population vaccinated, potentially by August, a Chinese epidemiologist has said.
The United States is the worst-hit nation in the world by case count, with nearly 30 million infections so far, though new cases have been declining. As of Sunday, 15% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of a vaccine.
“By August it could be reach 90% to reach herd immunity, so if that’s the case, if we could remove all political barriers, just based on the science, the two countries could possibly be the first two countries to remove all barriers for free travel,” Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of China’s Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, said on Monday.
China has COVID-19 largely under control, with relatively small clusters of new local infections in recent months. No new community cases have been reported in mainland China since late January.
“China is the safest country in the world in terms of COVID-19,” Wu told an online forum organised by Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution, a U.S. think tank.
Wu said he hoped the vaccination rate in the United States could reach over 80% by June.
China, with a population of around 1.4 billion, has administered 40.5 million doses as of Feb. 9. – Reuters
HONG KONG – The proceedings for 47 Hong Kong democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion resume on Tuesday, following a marathon hearing that extended well past midnight before it was adjourned after one of the defendants fainted.
Lawyers for the defendants are challenging a prosecution bid to deny them bail and keep them in custody for up to three months while police investigate.
Democrat and district councillor Clarisse Yeung fainted in the courtroom after midnight and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Her condition was not immediately disclosed.
Local media reported three other defendants fainted after the hearings were adjourned.
On Monday, about 1,000 supporters gathered outside the West Kowloon courthouse as the defendants, charged under the Chinese-ruled city’s contentious national security law, faced charges after their arrest over the weekend.
The crowd chanted slogans such as “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” and with many dressed in black, the images were reminiscent of scenes during anti-government demonstrations that roiled the city in 2019.
The activists are accused of organising and participating in an unofficial primary poll last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election that the government later postponed, citing the coronavirus.
Authorities said the informal poll was part of a plan to “overthrow” the government, stoking concerns alarm that Hong Kong has taken a swift authoritarian turn since Beijing imposed the security law on the former British colony in June.
The detentions have drawn international condemnation and accusations that the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing are using the law to crush dissent and stifle the opposition.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday Washington called on Hong Kong authorities to release those still held and drop charges against them.
Beijing has said the security legislation, which punishes what it broadly defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, is necessary to restore stability in Hong Kong. – Reuters
HONG KONG/NEW YORK – Asia extended the global rally in stocks on Tuesday as a halt in a recent bond markets sell-off eased investor nerves and lifted riskier assets, although oil prices were on the defensive on fears of slowing Chinese energy consumption.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan firmed 0.97% while Japan’s Nikkei was slightly down 0.12%.
Australian shares continued their climb on Tuesday, with S&P/ASX 200 index rising as much as 1.05%, its highest since Feb. 19, as a rollout of another vaccine in the United States and optimism over a coronavirus relief package boosted hopes of a quicker global economic recovery.
Chinese blue-chips gained 0.58% in early trade while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.9%, helped by steady and robust demand from investors in mainland China for shares in the Asian financial hub.
China will begins its annual session of parliament on Friday in Beijing, which is expected to chart a course for economic recovery and unveil a five-year plan to fend off stagnation.
U.S. stocks rallied overnight, with the S&P 500 posting its best day in nearly nine months, as bond markets calmed after a month-long selloff.
For now, all eyes will be on Australia’s central bank, which holds its monthly policy meeting on Tuesday. Analysts expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to hold key rates at a historic low but focus will shift to commentary about its quantitative easing programme.
“There’s everything to like about the rally in EU and U.S. equity markets,” said Chris Weston, the head of research at Pepperstone Group Ltd in Australia.
“Financials outperformed, with 95% of stocks in the S&P 500 gaining on the day,” he said, adding that “clearly investors are seeing the world in a new light”.
U.S. stocks were roiled last week when a sell-off in Treasuries pushed the 10-year Treasury yield to a one-year high of 1.614%. The 10-year yield was edging lower in early trade at 1.4204%.
However, demand for riskier assets did not slug the dollar, usually regarded as a safe-haven currency, as investors bet on fast growth and inflation in the United States. The U.S. dollar index gained 0.14% in early trade against a basket of currencies to stand at 91.142, within sight of a three-week high hit overnight.
The Australian dollar was down 0.25% at $0.77510 ahead of the RBA meeting.
A stronger greenback weighed on gold, and the precious metal was on the defensive at $1,711.4100 an ounce early Tuesday.
The exuberance in risk assets did not help energy markets. Oil prices fell more than 1% overnight after data showed China’s factory activity growth slipped to a nine-month low in February, owing in part to disruptions over the Lunar New Year holiday. There were also fears among energy investors that OPEC may increase global supply following a meeting this week.
Brent crude fell 1.27% to $62.88 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 1.3% to $59.85. – Reuters
MANILA (UPDATED) – The Philippines has documented six cases of the South African coronavirus variant, its health ministry said on Tuesday, raising concern among its experts that the current vaccines might be less effective.
The Philippines started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Monday, an important milestone for a country among the hardest hit by the pandemic in Asia, but the discovery of another variant could complicate its recovery effort.
“While there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease, the pattern of mutations within this variant suggests higher transmissibility and may have an impact on vaccine efficacy,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Of the six cases with the South African variant, three were detected locally and two were Filipinos returning from overseas. The origin of the other case was still being verified.
The Philippines has so far found 87 cases with the more transmissible variant.
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would lift restrictions on businesses and public transport in the capital Manila once the government has secured 20 to 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines.
Although the Philippines has been in talks with most major manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines to buy a combined 161 million doses, it has struggled to conclude deals, while stiff competition has tightened supply.
Its first shipment of 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines on Sunday was a donation from China, part of which will be used to inoculate military personnel.
It is expecting delivery of 1 million more doses of Sinovac shots this month, which according to a Brazil institute is effective against the British and South African variants. — Reuters
THE Philippine Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was unchanged at 52.5 in February. — REUTERS
MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY in the Philippines remained in expansionary mode for a second straight month in February, as demand picked up with the reopening of more businesses, a survey conducted by IHS Markit showed.
The Philippine Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in February was unchanged at 52.5, and remainedabove the neutral 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.
The latest PMI reading was the highest in more than two years or since the 53.2 logged in December 2018.
“Latest PMI data shows further progress across the Filipino manufacturing sector, with another solid overall expansion recorded during February. Output and new order growth persisted, whilst an acceleration in pre-production inventories suggests a commitment towards greater production in the months ahead,” IHS Markit Economist Shreeya Patel said in a statement.
The Philippines’ PMI reading was better than the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) average of 49.7, which slipped below the neutral 50 mark for the first time since October.
It was also the second best in the region, after Singapore (55.2) but ahead of Vietnam (51.6) and Indonesia (50.9). Other Southeast Asian economies saw a contraction in manufacturing activity, such as Malaysia (47.7), Thailand (47.2), and coup-stricken Myanmar (27.7).
“The rate of decline (in ASEAN) was only slight, however, reflective of only mild reductions in both output and new orders… On the whole, the data only suggest a slight bump in the road to recovery during February,” IHS Markit Economist Lewis Cooper said in a separate statement.
OUTPUT UP IHS noted the Philippines saw a “modest” rise in output in February, albeit softer than the pace in January. Firms noted the increase in production was supported by higher orders and strong demand.
New orders went up, “with firms mentioning the resumption of business at client firms following easing restrictions,” IHS said.
“The local PMI is benefiting from inventory rebuilding,” Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces said in a text message.
However, IHS noted there was a drop in export orders, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to hobble demand recovery in international markets.
“COVID-19 continues to pose a large threat with material shortages and transportation delays as a result of pandemic restrictions. Exports were also hard-hit with overseas demand heavily subdued in February,” Ms. Patel said.
IHS also noted companies increased purchasing activity last month, anticipating growing demand.
Companies also continued to cut jobs although it was the softest rate in a year. IHS said employment fell for the 12th straight month, mainly due to voluntary resignations and sufficient capacity.
IHS said input price inflation saw the sharpest rise since October 2018 due to shortage in raw materials. Companies indicated they will pass on the higher costs to consumers by hiking prices.
“For now, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic remains at the heart of the Philippines’ agenda, and whilst vaccines have been secured, delivery delays have severely hindered efforts to vaccinate the nation,” Ms. Patel said.
IHS said the survey also showed Philippine companies continued to have a positive outlook for the year ahead, with the degree of optimism picking up from January.
“As the Philippines continue to relax its quarantine protocols and as consumer confidence continues to kick in, we can expect this [demand for manufactured goods] to recover further,” Asian Institute of Management Economist John Paolo R. Rivera said in a Viber message.
Mr. Rivera said the widespread rollout of the vaccination program will also help restore consumer confidence. — Luz Wendy T. Noble
