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Japan’s Coast Guard diplomacy in Southeast Asia

In light of recent regional maritime disputes involving China and the Philippines, Japan’s maritime strategy to calm tensions cannot be ignored.

For Japan — which is dependent on the sea for its economic growth and for its survival — the protection of its trade routes has always been a priority. However, unlike other highly developed states which can rely on their navy, Japan has to be innovative in ensuring that its sea trade routes are safe, clean, and secure. Japan’s pacifist constitution and sensitive Japanese public opinion are the reasons why none of its leaders in the post-World War II period have resorted to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, its navy, for protection of its trade, despite its potent capabilities.

Moreover, Japan’s imperialist past has made it more complicated and sensitive to deal with the sovereign Southeast Asian countries whose maritime domains serve as the nautical highway for Japan’s commerce and energy requirement.

For almost 50 years, the country has relied on the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to protect its trade routes by basically performing functions related to maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime law enforcement. Said differently, the Japanese government has used “coast guard diplomacy.”

Japan’s “coast guard diplomacy” has been successful in stimulating cooperation with Southeast Asian countries because such an approach serves both the interests of Japan and the region. This cooperation is continuously evolving and has been demarcated by various factors domestically and internationally.

Employing the JCG to spearhead Japan’s maritime diplomacy was not a clear-cut plan in the beginning. JCG’s initial role was to improve the safety of navigation of the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). This was the main concern in the 1960s.

The grounding of the supertanker Showa Maru in the SOMS in 1975 and alarming oil spills in different parts of the globe led to making marine environmental protection a critical JCG function.

In the 1990s, piracy and armed robbery at sea triggered Tokyo to shift JCG’s attention to maritime law enforcement.

Through the years, JCG has performed these three roles simultaneously, with the emphasis depending on specific conditions.

However, since the return of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister at a time of China’s rising and indisputable assertiveness, there is a new fourth phase of “coast guard diplomacy” — maritime security.

Learning from his predecessors and acting in line with Japan’s pacifist constitution, Abe has recognized that the utilization of gray ships cannot be the best course of action in responding to the threats within its maritime jurisdiction and along sea trade routes. The established cooperation of Japan’s coast guard in the region, which was laid down long before Abe became the prime minister, has emerged as the new foundation of Abe’s maritime diplomacy.

There are four striking actions that define the maritime security phase of JCG as initiated by Abe: JCG’s institutional reforms; the utilization of official development assistance (ODA) to support coast guard organizations in Southeast Asia; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-sponsored education and training; and the utilization of a mini-lateral approach to strategize Abe’s coast guard diplomacy.

WWW.KAIHO.MLIT.GO.JP

The JCG’s institutional reforms are defined in terms of its annual budget increase and the change in the customary means of selecting its commandant. Moreover, the JCG has been given a seat in the annual cabinet deliberation to discuss the ways to address and improve maritime security domestically and internationally.

Secondly, Abe is the first Japanese prime minister to use ODA to provide coast guard vessels and capacity building to Southeast Asian countries. This arrangement has not only improved the capability of these coast guard organizations; it has also boosted the trust and cooperation of these countries vis-a-vis Japan.

Thirdly, Japan has been building a network of officers in the region who receive the same indoctrination and education in their respective roles as its coast guard officials.

Lastly, Abe has “mini-laterally” pushed for maritime security through the revitalization of coast guard diplomacy. Japan’s utilization of coast guard ships has strengthened deeper cooperation since military action is not something that Tokyo and Southeast Asia will choose as an option.

The use of JICA funds can best justify why Abe has employed JCG as an instrument for Japan’s maritime diplomacy. There are three plausible reasons behind such a claim.

First, Japan’s pacifist constitution restricts many areas of defense cooperation. However, it does not prohibit Tokyo from providing coast guard vessels to other countries using ODA. Relatedly, it is easier for Abe to justify to the Japanese public that the coast guard vessels that they are funding are needed to support the safety and security of Japan’s trade.

Second, the long-established cooperation of the JCG with Southeast Asia in the context of maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime law enforcement, provides the most robust foundation for maritime cooperation. The recipient Southeast Asian countries trust that Abe’s coast guard initiatives have no hidden agenda and that the maritime order they are encouraged to support is for the benefit of the entire region.

The third reason is that strengthening coast guard cooperation has other benefits beyond security. It addresses significant concerns of the region like search and rescue, pollution prevention, counter piracy operations, and the safety of life and property at sea.

The JCG’s role in Southeast Asia has genuinely evolved. From a mere agency which constructs lighthouses, conducts the hydrographic surveys in relation to cleaning oil spills, and trains others in maritime law enforcement to prevent piracy, the JCG has become a diplomatic tool for Japan to strengthen its cooperation with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Without a doubt, Abe is now galvanizing coast guard diplomacy to define maritime security. However, it should not be interpreted as a confrontational challenge against China’s assertive behavior. Rather, it is an indirect strategy to set the norm in the region that maritime order can better be maintained through coast guard cooperation and not through military provocation.

The views expressed in this article are his own. Action for Economic Reforms has a collaboration with Filipino scholars under GRIPS.

 

Jay Tristan Tariela is a commissioned officer of the Philippine Coast Guard with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and a Japan International Cooperation Agency scholar at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) under the GRIPS Global Governance (G-cube) Program in Tokyo.

A solution to Metro Manila’s garbage problem

The world’s leading climate scientists agree that the planet’s greenhouse situation has reached crisis levels. This is mainly due to the uncontrolled amount of waste generated by our cities and from the hazardous contaminants resulting from overusing fossil fuels.

It is scientifically proven that the earth’s average temperature increased — according to NASA, by 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century, with most of the warming occurring in the last 35 years as an offshoot of carbon emissions. Global temperatures are seen to rise even further unless mitigation programs are put in place.

Exacerbating the situation is the amount of garbage we generate. In Metro Manila alone, the amount of garbage generated is an astonishing 12,500 tons per day. This puts Metro Manila among the top five most severe waste-ridden cities of the world. Quezon City is the largest generator of trash, spewing-out some 3,600 tons a day, followed by the cities of Manila and Caloocan, each generating about 1,200 and 913 tons daily, respectively.

While exiting laws mandate that non-organic waste like metals and plastics be segregated and channelled to recyclers, the reality is that the country does not have enough recycling facilities to absorb the city’s entire load of non-organic waste. What happens is that the bulk of metals and plastics are directed to junk shops who try to repurpose them. Those unsold are simply dumped in open trash pits and in our waterways.

Organic waste, on the other hand, is buried in landfills. There are three landfills that currently absorb Metro Manila’s waste, they are: the 40-hectare landfill in Navotas, the 19-hectare landfill in San Mateo, and the recently expanded 70+-hectare landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal.

The practice of dumping in landfills affects our air quality as it produces massive amounts of methane gas, a byproduct of decomposing waste. It also affects our water quality as toxic bacteria and chemicals seep into our water table. Ultimately, dumping of waste in or out of landfills affect our wildlife and the health and well-being of our people. The toxic effects of our waste will remain for generations to come.

What we need are sustainable solutions.

The world is not short of technologies that can convert waste to energy or even waste to fuel. Many have tried to set up shop in Metro Manila but only one has succeeded — a waste-to-energy facility in the Rizal landfill owned by the Montalban Methane Power Corporation. The Metro Pacific Group has also established a partnership with Quezon City to convert the city’s waste into power. However, the plant has yet to break ground.

Standing in the way of sustainable solutions to Metro Manila’s garbage problem is the financial structure and politics of the city’s waste management systems. At the heart of the conflict is what is called “tipping fees” or the amount government pays a landfill owner for the right to dump trash in its facility. The current rate is P600 per ton, and this is paid by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to the landfill owner. It is the means by which the landfill owner recoups its investment and how it finances its maintenance costs.

The conflict lies in the fact that sustainable solutions like waste-to-energy plants also rely on trash to serve as their feedstock (the main input to generate power). With the trash channelled to the waste-to-energy plant instead of the landfill, the latter is deprived of its main source of income. Worse, waste-to-energy plants also require the collection of tipping fees as it forms a part of its business model.

The squabble over the tipping fees is the reason why waste-to-energy solutions have not prospered in the Philippines.

While it is true that government regulators can intervene and arrange a split of Metro Manila’s waste so that both the landfill owners and the waste-to-energy plants have enough tipping fees to be viable, the reality is that certain powerful politicians have a stake in the landfills and they refuse to give up a portion of their tipping fees. It is a classic case of corruption standing in the way of the greater good.

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
I recently came in contact with an American company that is hoping to solve Metro Manila’s garbage conundrum. The company is called Wastefuel of America and they specialize in converting municipal solid waste into aviation fuel (or diesel). Wastefuel has existing plants in various stages of development in the US, Mexico, Columbia, Panama, and Brazil, among others. The Philippines is a prime investment destination for Wastefuel.

The Philippines was singled-out for these reasons: Its abundance of waste, the local demand for aviation fuel which last year topped 628 million gallons, and our strategic position to export fuel to key aviation hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. The Philippines is between one and three hours away from these hubs. Annual demand for aviation fuel across Asia is at 50 billion gallons.

As I write this, talks are ongoing between Wastefuel, the landfill owners, the MMDA, and the Department of Trade and Industry to sort out the tipping fee issue and other legal concerns.

Wastefuel’s intention is to build a bio-refinery with the capacity to process 3,500 tons of waste a day. This will yield some 22.9 million gallons of aviation fuel a year which could either be used to serve local or regional demand. This translates to P7.43 billion worth of import saving or export earnings, whichever the case may be. Wastefuel has plans to scale-up as more waste becomes available.

The investment to build Wastefuel’s bio-refinery is in the region of $700 million. Not only will an investment of this scale have an impact on the nation’s balance of payments, its financial ripple effect among Filipino contractors, equipment suppliers, and service providers will be enormous. The project is also seen to generate some 200 jobs for Filipino engineers and scientists.

As far as taxes are concerned, government stands to earn approximately P415 million in income taxes, annually, after the 8th year. This does not include business and local government taxes.

Wastefuel’s technology is fully compliant with the Clean Air Act in that its process does not involve incineration or combustion. Instead, it uses steam and pressure to convert waste into gassious form and, then using the Fischer-Tropsch process, it converts the gas to liquid. The outcome is what is called a “syncrude” and this is what is refined into aviation fuel.

What is remarkable about Wastefuel’s technology is that aviation fuel produced with its methods has a carbon content that is less than 20% of that made from fossil fuel. To put its environmental impact into context, for every minute of commercial flight using fuel made from garbage, we prevent one ton of trash from inundating our landfills and avoid the equivalent of four truckloads of CO2 from polluting our air.

Aviation fuel made from renewable sources or sustainable aviation fuel, as it is called, is seen to disrupt the petroleum industry. Not only does it leave a lighter carbon footprint, it is also cheaper. Lower carbon emission and a cheaper cost — the value proposition is too compelling to ignore. This is why analysts consider sustainable aviation fuel the wave of the future.

There’s a more compelling reason why sustainable aviation fuel makes sense.

In 2016, the international Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, pledged to “make all growth in international flights after 2020 ‘carbon neutral’” (according to CarbonBrief). The commitment was made before the United Nations through a climate initiative called the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation or CORSIA.

To date, 73 nations have volunteered to comply with the CORSIA initiative. Collectively, the airlines of these nations represent 76% of total air travel. By 2026, participation in CORSIA will be mandatory for all air carriers.

To meet their carbon emission commitment, airlines will have to use sustainable aviation fuel in whole or in part. Even today, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific are already making purchase orders for their long term supply of sustainable aviation fuel. With this global accord in place, quantum growth in the demand for sustainable aviation fuel is expected.

The Philippines is in the position to be a major beneficiary of the CORSIA accord if Wastefuel succeeds in overcoming the tipping fee issue and politics surrounding Metro Manila’s garbage management. It will also provide a permanent solution to the city’s garbage problem. It will be a win-win situation for the country.

Lets hope greed and politics does not get in the way of this game changing project.

 

Andrew J. Masigan is an economist.

The pyramiding of Faith, Hope and Trust

In the sustained anxiety of society from three years of relentless fault-finding and finger pointing on the past mistakes and sins of previous political administrations (plural), fate has taunted all with still more alleged anomalies, scams, even possible crimes — recidivist, it would seem, to “past” wrong doing. Alas, Philippine politics is like that.

It seems the inordinate preoccupation of leaderships to be popular and to convince the people that they have chosen well. To curry favor by popular measures like “financial inclusion,” or economic “trickle-down” ensures good popularity ratings. Anything and everything to be popular. Isn’t it so fearfully similar to the building up of faith, hope, and trust to clinch the final buy-in for those malevolent pyramid scams?

One cruel irony is that of the “revenge of the dengue,” when 2019 started with an alarming 67% upsurge in the number of dengue cases, and parents did not want their children to be vaccinated. The Department of Health (DoH) warned of the epidemic, saying “Dengue is the fastest spreading vector-borne disease in the world, endemic in 100 countries.” Wasn’t that the reason why past DoHs had to decide on preventive vaccines such as Dengvaxia — the “scam” for which former Health Secretary Janette Garin was grilled and smoked by Congress to find charges of scams to be filed on her?

Current Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who convinced many that Garin was wrong, himself had to buy Dengvaxia to fight the epidemic. By the way, Duque, who is ex-officio chairperson of PhilHealth, is now facing plunder and graft complaints filed by some Dengvaxia victims’ parents before the Office of the Ombudsman for conflict of interest over an allegedly onerous lease agreement with PhilHealth (ABS-CBN News Jun 24, 2019). Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta said that Duque’s family has gotten “easily exceeding P50 million from Philhealth” for 20 years while Duque was serving in various positions in the DoH and Philhealth in the Arroyo, Aquino, and Duterte administrations (Rappler, Dec. 10, 2017).

Meanwhile, Janet Garin ran, and won, as Representative of Iloilo First District in the May 13, 2019 elections. End of the alleged vaccines scams? But the DoH was not let off on explanations yet.

Elsewhere, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, a defeated party-list candidate, was approached and “hired” by two whistleblowers who went on TV news about what they had formally complained about to the DoH a year before — that a small health provider, their former employer, WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Centre Corp. (Wellmed) was processing dialysis claims for deceased patients and claiming these from PhilHealth, a government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) under the DoH. It was a scam, from whatever angle one looked at it.

PhilHealth officials confirmed that they were able to monitor fraudulent acts involving WellMed, finding 28 of the medical cases that have been filed involved dead patients while 12 others are under investigation (GMA News June 6, 2019). The fraud could cost PhilHealth from P19.65 million to P28.08 million for three years since the scam started in 2016.

FREEPIK

“Arrest the idiot,” Mr. Duterte said in an interview on Saturday (June 8) on the television program of an ally (The Straits Times June 10, 2019). Dr. Brian Sy, an ophthalmologist and major owner of Wellmed and six family members, together with two whistleblowers, former WellMed employees Liezel Aileen De Leon and Edwin Roberto, are accused of estafa and falsification of public documents in violation of the Revised Penal Code. The NBI explained that the whistleblowers will have to be charged first before prosecutors can ask the court to discharge them as state witnesses (mb.com.ph Jun 14, 2019).

President Duterte asked for the resignation of Dr. Roy Ferrer as PhilHealth president and that of the entire PhilHealth board, together with all presidential appointees there, and is now scouting for replacements (PhilHealth is now being temporarily run by secondary officials). Remember that Ferrer, when he was just acting PhilHealth president and CEO, was accused by 12 employees for violating the Code of Conduct of Public Officials for failing to divest from businesses that engage with the government’s health insurance program; they also complained to the Ombudsman that he was reimbursed by PhilHealth as a private doctor while receiving salaries and allowances as its board member (Rappler.com Nov 12, 2018). Another scam? Well, Ferrer stuck to PhilHealth, despite.

Scams and anomalies in the DoH must have riled President Duterte to lurid anger and embarrassment that weekend of June 8-9. In a talk with his close friend Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy on the TV program Give Us This Day aired over Quiboloy’s Sunshine Media Network International early Saturday, “he ordered the closure of Kabus Padatoon (Kapa) Community Ministry International for allegedly collecting illegal investments in the guise of religion” (mb.com.ph June 8, 2019).

What is Kapa’s scam? It is supposed to be engaged in a pyramiding fraud, like the notorious 1920s Ponzi scheme that entices “investors” with unbelievably high returns which would be paid to them from the enlarging pyramid base of later investors who are likewise lured by the high returns. “Kapa leader/founder Pastor Joel Apolinario was found to be inviting people to invest in their company every month for as long as they please, in exchange for a 30% interest income at the end of the month. The investment is then labeled as a Deed of Donation or Certificate of Membership” (BusinessWorld Oct. 5, 2018).

The Kapa members love and protect their leader, Apolinario, who is now in hiding from a warrant of arrest. He has successfully pyramided on the faith, hope, and trust of his followers. “Faith” being Apolinario’s main business as a “non-sectarian religious organization” — he claims that the 30% return from the members’ “donation” is not a financial return but “blessings” from God. Or from future “love offerings” or “donations” ala Ponzi?

“I will drag you to hell!” Pastor Quiboloy of the rival religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), who calls himself the “Appointed Son of God,” threatened Kapa Pastor Apolinario (politics.com.ph Jun 12, 2019). “Have you attracted members because you are religious? They are queueing to your offices because of your promise of 30%,” he said. “Apolinario said he believes he has gotten under Quiboloy’s skin after poaching a big chunk of the latter’s church membership” (Ibid.).

Both organizations operate out of Mindanao, Duterte’s home region. Of course, Kapa is as wrong as wrong can be for the pyramiding scam. Could there be the sinister thought that somewhere out there, others might be asking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

In government and politics, the pyramiding of faith, hope, and trust is a much-used tool for that most important buy-in of the people for the support and popularity of the leadership. Let it not be a sham and a scam that the people will be deprived of the promised high returns of peace and development in the country.

 

Amelia H. C. Ylagan is a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.

ahcylagan@yahoo.com

Just a little accident

By Tony Samson

PARKING LOTS, especially in building basements of condos, have their share of little accidents. Because of the tight slots allocated even for small cars, as well as the constricted turns allowed for backing into or out of parking, mishaps are bound to happen. Entries and exits may cause dings and whacks on side mirrors and such. It’s a maneuvering challenge, especially for inexperienced drivers. Maybe some financial settlements for repairs and detail-work are quietly negotiated, if these incursions are admitted in the first place. And the matter is quickly forgotten.

Risks of collisions are high. This is to be differentiated from ramming which has a hint of malice and premeditation to assert territorial imperatives and possibly qualifying under the same category as road rage and all the violence that can entail, as well as the publicity and litigation. But parking-lot incidents involving slow-moving vehicles, albeit with the same impatience as road-bound counterparts to get on with life’s hurried pace need not be contentious events.

It is a bit surprising then that an otherwise routine matter in a basement parking lot has caused such a commotion. Here are some aspects of the parking lot brouhaha that stirred not just the members of the condo association, but some other nosy neighbors dipping into what should have been just a day at the office, or parking lot.

The bump in this case was quite severe, taking out the rear lights and bending the fender (also known as a “fender-bender”) and in the process puncturing one of the tires beyond the ministrations of a vulcanizing shop. The car was also loaded with some farm produce which all spilled out into the garage, even rolling down to the lower basement. This financial loss was estimated to be high.

The offending vehicle (let’s call it the “rammer”) was from another condo building and simply sneaking into this basement parking as an intruder. The driver of this car is presently unidentified but already known to also stray into other basement parking areas of other condo buildings.

The CCTV in the parking basement only caught a blurred view of the car speeding away after the incident. The plate number was still temporary and by now might possibly have been replaced. Representatives of the other condo unit who felt alluded to as possible cohorts of the renegade rammer are pleading for calm and offering an alternate theory. Might the rammer not have been surrounded by the other cars in the basement and threatened with a sticker removal? And could he not have bumped into the complainant’s car in his hurry to get out of the scene?

The first reactions from the security chief and the spokesperson of the “invaded” condo were all self-righteous assertions of the right to park in one’s own parking basement, invoking the UN-sanctioned “law of the parked vehicles.” There is no negotiation where sovereignty is concerned.

Further queries into what happens next after such an incursion seemed to have turned the page of the hymn book. Is the “mutual parking pact” binding certain condo building going to be activated? Is this incident to be considered a form of aggression and a violation of the right to park after paying the condo dues? Will this lead into the declaration of a no-park zone?

The silence of the condo head was baffling. There was no immediate statement coming from a usually unfettered source of directives laden with expletives. His representative has explained this unaccustomed meditative stance as the deportment of a member of the bar careful with his judgment, like the blindfolded symbol of justice with the weighing scales of pros and cons.

How can we act without all the facts? The representative was almost pleading after his emotional U-turn. The parking lot attendant is saying one thing — yes, the ramming was deliberate and unprovoked. The other condo building head is saying another — it’s self-defense. Let’s look at that busted CCTV again.

The word was out — get the facts. Some subordinate unaccustomed to this use of the “F” word may even have tried to clarify — Sir, is that for carnal knowledge or data-gathering?

Yes, everybody must calm down over this little bump in the road. It’s just a parking lot after all. And of course, it was just a little accident. Can we now move on to business?

 

Tony Samson is Chairman and CEO, TOUCH xda.

ar.samson@yahoo.com

Dyip edge Beermen

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE COLUMBIAN DYIP handed the San Miguel Beermen a huge loss in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, fashioning out a 134-132 victory in overtime on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Finding the composure down the stretch, the Dyip (2-6) made things happen to escape with the victory over the Beermen (2-5), who with the loss slid further down the standings.

Columbian had control for much of the opening half with import Lester Prosper and rookie CJ Perez leading the charge.

The Dyip seized the first quarter, 33-26, before fending off a ferocious battle from the Beermen in the second canto to stay on top things by the half, 59-53.

San Miguel came out of the third quarter with more focus and aggressiveness on both ends of the court, looking to make up for lost ground.

It came to within a point, 63-62, at the 9:15 mark following a triple from guard Alex Cabagnot.

But much like what they were able to do in the previous quarter, Columbian found ways to keep its opponent at bay.

The Dyip responded with a 21-8 run in the next six minutes, on the lead of guard Rashawn McCarthy, to build a 14-point cushion, 84-70.

San Miguel sued for time after, which paid immediate dividends as it was able to narrow its deficit to eight points, 86-78, in the next minute on the strength of the two triples from Von Pessumal.

It was able to push itself forward as the period drew to a close, down by just six points, 88-82.

The Beermen continued with their charge back to begin the fourth canto with backup big man Kelly Nabong making his presence felt.

They were able to overtake the Dyip, 92-90, with 9:04 to go in the game.

The two teams swung at one another after, fighting to a tied count of 105-all with four minutes remaining on the clock.

Columbian then went on 7-4 run to go up, 112-109, entering the final two minutes.

Mr. Prosper made it a five-point cushion, 114-109, for the Dyip with a minute and 44 seconds left.

San Miguel, however, was undeterred by the hole it was in, answering with five straight points between import Charles Rhodes and guard Chris Ross to tie the score, 114-all, by the 1:13 mark.

Mr. McCarthy responded with a basket with 41 ticks remaining for the Dyip to go on top, 116-114.

The Beermen had a chance to level the count with 33 seconds left but Mr. Rhodes split his free throws to leave the Dyip ahead, 116-115.

Columbian made San Miguel pay for it as it set a charge and found valuable two points from Glenn Khobuntin, who hit a jumper with 10 seconds remaining and made it a 118-115 game.

San Miguel though was not out of it as it turned out with Arwind Santos draining a three-point-tying basket with a second left to level things at 118-all.

The Dyip set up a play to win the game but the desperation heave by Mr. Perez failed to hit the mark, sending the game into overdrive.

The game continued to be nip-and-tuck in the extra period.

Columbian held just a one-point lead, 129-128, with 1:40 remaining before Mr. Khobuntin extended it to four points, 132-128, with 42 seconds remaining.

Mr. Santos cut Columbian’s lead to two, 132-130, with a under-goal stab seven seconds later.

The Dyip pushed themselves four points clear anew, 134-130, with Mr. Perez finding the basket with 12 ticks left.

It was a hole the Beermen were not able to claw their way out from as Columbian held on for the win.

Mr. Proper top-scored for Columbian with 40 points to go along with 13 rebounds while Mr. Perez finished with all-around numbers of 34 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Mr. McCarthy had 27 points and 14 assists in the Dyip’s big win.

For San Miguel it was Mr. Rhodes who led with 26 points, followed by June Mar Fajardo with 24 markers.

The loss has the Beermen, the Philippine Cup champions, lagging behind further the playoff race.

Irving and Walker set to change NBA teams

THE BROOKLYN Nets and former Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving are “motivated to move quickly toward” a four-year, $141-million deal when they meet in New York on Sunday shortly after the beginning of free agency, ESPN reported Saturday.

Irving has long been connected to the Nets, a connection that only grew stronger when he changed agents to be represented by Roc Nation earlier this month. Free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, though contracts can’t be officially signed until noon on July 6.

According to ESPN, Irving’s expected addition will lead to the Nets parting with restricted free-agent guard D’Angelo Russell, whom they tendered with a qualifying offer earlier this week. Brooklyn could renounce Russell’s rights or work with him and another team on a sign-and-trade deal, with his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, among reported suitors.

Irving, 27, was long expected to leave the Celtics, who acquired him in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in August of 2017. He opted out of his contract and has reportedly avoided contact with the organization since.

A six-time All-Star, Irving averaged 23.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 67 games with the Celtics last season. He has career averaged of 22.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds in his eight-year career.

Meanwhile, three-time All-Star Kemba Walker will be in Boston on Sunday to confirm his agreement to join the Celtics on a four-year, $141-million deal, according to multiple reports.

Walker, who spent eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, will become a free agent Sunday.

He has informed the Hornets of his decision, The Charlotte Observer reported.

The Celtics have prioritized Walker as a replacement at point guard for Irving, whom the Celtics did not expect to re-sign.

Just a few weeks ago, Walker said he would take less than the five-year, $221 million “supermax” contract only the Hornets could offer him to stay in Charlotte.

The Observer reported on Saturday, however, that team officials were set on paying less than $170 million because of concerns about the NBA luxury tax in the future.

In Boston, Walker will be counted on to bring veteran leadership to a team that suffered from dissension in the locker room in the 2018-19 season.

The 29-year-old Connecticut product averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists while starting all 82 games for the Hornets last season. Those numbers are above his eight-year career averages of 19.8 points and 5.5 assists.

Walker could anchor a starting lineup featuring Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. — Reuters

PFL: Kaya FC makes it five straight victories

KAYA FC-ILOILO made it five wins in a row in the ongoing Philippines Football League (PFL) tournament after defeating Philippine Air Force FC, 5-0, in league action on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Jordan Mintah had a brace with Alfred Osei, Jovin Bedic, and Darryl Roberts adding a goal each to help their team to the victory that took Kaya to a 5-0-0 record and 15 points for solo leadership in the standings.

Kaya took control right from the get-go with Mr. Osei breaking through for a goal just after a quarter of an hour into the match.

Six minutes later it was Mr. Mintah on the scoring end to double their lead.

Kaya kept the pressure up but Air Force would hold its own to make it just a 2-nil deficit by the halftime break.

In the second half, Kaya was at it again, attacking the Airmen’s defense and eventually puncturing through care of Mr. Bedic.

The team’s lead was stretched to 4-0 when Mr. Roberts, off the bench, made his presence felt on offense, slotting in a goal in the 69th minute.

Kaya put on the finishing touches with another Mintah goal seven minutes from time to complete the shutout victory.

“I’m happy for the five straight wins, and I’m looking forward to how we can continue. We have three crucial games in the first two weeks of July, so it’s very important for us. It’s going to be a real test on whether or not we can continue the streak,” said Kaya coach Noel Marcaida postgame.

Also victorious last Saturday were Stallion Laguna FC and Ceres-Negros FC.

Stallion beat Global Cebu FC, 5-1, while Ceres was a 4-0 winner over Mendiola FC 1991.

The wins pushed Stallion (3-2-1) and Ceres (3-1-0) to 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the tournament, good for second and third place to date. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Gilas Youth drops first game at FIBA U19 World Cup against host Greece

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

GILAS PILIPINAS Youth fought hard in its first game at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup but came up short in the end against host Greece, losing, 85-69, early Sunday morning (Manila time).

While it held its own in the early goings of the contest at the Heraklion Indoor Sports Arena, the Philippine national youth team struggled to keep in step with the Greeks in the second half as the latter created separation on their way to the victory.

Gilas Youth played undermanned for much of the contest after big man AJ Edu suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter.

With a little less than eight minutes left in the opening canto, Edu drove to the basket but fell on the floor and immediately clutched his right knee. He was later carried off the court by his teammates.

Injury report after confirmed Edu suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscal tear which have ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.

In his absence, Kai Sotto and the rest of the big guys of the Philippine team tried to hold the fort but foul trouble eventually caught up with them, limiting what they were able to do the rest of the way.

Nikolas Arsenopoulos paced the Greeks with 18 points while Aristotelis Sotiriou had 16 points and nine rebounds.

For the Philippines it was Sotto who led the way with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Gerry Abadiano also had 13 points with Dave Ildefonso adding 12 points of his own.

Following their loss, Gilas Youth coach Sandy Arespacochaga said that the loss of Edu early disrupted their game plan but nonetheless gave credit to the players for their effort to keep fighting despite the tough situation they were forced into.

He also expressed hope for the fast recovery of Edu.

“We gave it our best but some details, especially on defense, we gave up too many offensive rebounds. We fouled too much and sent them to the line. It’s a tough loss. Hopefully we can recover and learn from this game and be better than this game,” Mr. Arespacochaga was quoted as saying by the official FIBA Website.

Gilas Youth looks to bounce back when it takes on Argentina early Monday morning.

Teams Phenom and Gilas rule Red Bull Reign PHL

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL staging of Red Bull Reign Philippines was staged at the weekend with Team Phenom and Team Gilas ruling the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.

Held at Kerry Sports Manila last Saturday, Red Bull Reign, the energy drink brand’s popular 3-on-3 street basketball tournament, gathered once again some of the top teams in the land in a day of competitive action which served as a qualifier for the global finals later this year in Toronto, Canada.

After a series of competitions, Team Phenom emerged as the winner in the men’s division while Team Gilas ruled the women’s side.

They will compete in the global finals and pit their skills against squads from other countries like Belgium, Canada, India, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Russian Federation, Turkey and United Kingdom.

In last Saturday’s finals, Phenom, composed of Michole Sorela, Junjie Hallare, and Shaq Alanes bested a Prince Eze-bannered Team Basilan, 22-19.

It did so in dramatic fashion with Mr. Sorela draining the two points from beyond the arc that clinched for them the victory.

Over at the women’s side, Janine Pontejos, Clare Castro, Jack Animam, and Afril Bernardino steamrolled their way to the title, with Team Gilas beating Team Zamboanga, 22-6.

Misses Pontejos, Castro, Animam and Bernardino are staples in the women’s national team and recently competed at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in May in China.

“We’re very excited for what has been happening and the future as well. Red Bull has been active in promoting 3×3 not just in the Philippines but also abroad. This is a qualifier and the Philippines is making its mark not only in the world but also in the Red Bull map,” said Vince Hizon, tournament director, in an interview with BusinessWorld as he spoke of the traction Red Bull Reign has made in the country since 2017.

He went on to share that he believes that Teams Phenom and Gilas will be competitive in the global finals but should expect a tough challenge from the rest of the field.

“Our women are really good. They are tall and athletic and they play cohesively and together. So they have a fairly decent chance. The men, if they can shoot the way they did, they can beat anybody. In this kind of tournament, the teams that get hot at the right moment generally win so you’ll never know,” Mr. Hizon said.

Mr. Hizon also said that for next year they hope to secure the rights to bring the Red Bull global finals here in the Philippines where some 30 teams are expected to participate. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Milo Marathon ‘19 gets SEA Games significance

THE ANNUAL National Milo Marathon kicks off its 2019 edition later this month with the theme “One Team. One Nation. Go Philippines!” in support of the country’s athletes seeing action at the 30th Southeast Asian Games this year, which the Philippines is hosting.

Building on the anticipation of the country’s hosting of the biennial SEA Games, Milo said it hopes this year’s staging of the national marathon takes added significance and inspires participants to give their best.

“We call on the entire nation to get involved and rally behind our athletes as they compete in our home soil for this significant sporting event,” said Lester Castillo, Milo Sports Manager, at the marathon’s media launch on Friday at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

“The SEA Games marks an exciting time for Philippine sports. May this event serve as an inspiration to all our runners to aspire for greatness throughout the season,” he added.

In partnership with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), Milo said it will send six-time Milo Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabala and Milo Marathon runner-up Jerald Zabala to the SEA Games and represent the country in the marathon event.

Mr. Zabala took the place of 2018 Milo Marathon King Rafael Poliquit, who passed away early this year.

The 2019 Milo National Marathon is expected to attract over 150,000 runners.

After the kickoff leg in Manila, the marathon goes to Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Aug. 4, Lucena (Sept. 15), Batangas (Sept. 22), Cebu (Sept. 29), Iloilo (Oct. 6), General Santos (Oct. 13), Davao (Oct. 20) and Cagayan de Oro (Nov. 17).

The national finals, which usually takes place in December, has been moved to Jan. 19, 2020 to give way to the hosting of the SEA Games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 13. The national finals is hosted by Tarlac, which expressed its readiness to host at the event’s launch.

For more information on the 2019 National Milo Marathon, log on to www.milo.com.ph or at the Milo Philippines Facebook page. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Defending champion Novak Djokovic prepares for Wimbledon with tiring ‘seven-hour’ meeting

LONDON — Preparing to try and retain a Wimbledon title is arduous enough but men’s top seed Novak Djokovic says he has spent as much time in the past few days playing politics as hitting tennis balls.

As president of the ATP Player Council, Djokovic has had his hands full of late dealing with the fallout from the resignation of ATP Board member Justin Gimelstob, who in April was sentenced to three years probation and 60 hours community service on an assault charge.

Following a Player Council meeting on Friday to vote on a replacement for Gimelstob, as well as discuss Grand Slam prize money and the distribution of prize money at lower levels, Dutch player Robin Haase quit from the Board, saying it had been an “unproductive” year and that the Council had “not moved the game forward.” Andy Murray’s brother Jamie followed suit.

At his pre-tournament news conference Djokovic revealed the previous night’s meeting had gone on until midnight as splits within the game, widened by ATP chairman Chris Kermode being denied a contract extension in March, were thrashed out.

“For all of us taking part in this tournament, staying for seven hours and not going through the whole agenda yet, is quite tiring,” Djokovic told reporters.

“But there’s a larger picture and larger issues that Robin was addressing. I think it’s a system and a structure that keeps on failing us. I’ve been saying this before.”

Djokovic said he respected Haase’s decision to step down, saying the “leaking” of information from Player Council meetings over the past 10 months had been a contributory factor.

“That was a trigger because of which Robin decided to step down, and many others,” the Serb, who is bidding to a fifth Wimbledon title, said.

Djokovic, who in May complained that “everyone holds me accountable for everything that happens in tennis at the moment,” says his team would prefer it if he stepped away and just focused on winning more Grand Slams.

“I mean, I’ve obviously considered various options. I did consider also stepping down,” Djokovic, 32, said.

“I think my team wants me to step down, honestly. It’s obvious. But I feel something is telling me from inside that I’m supposed to still stay there because I feel that we are part of the big transitional phase in tennis at the moment.

“Having a top player, I feel it means a lot to the group.

“So I still feel I can make my contribution, even though it goes against probably my schedule, certainly tennis at times, but I feel there is a greater good, I guess. That’s why I’m there.” — Reuters

Bowler Tan wins in Singapore

MERWIN TAN bagged the boys’ Masters youth championships in the 51st Singapore International Open 2019 over the weekend, proving his early success in the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships in Malaysia was no fluke.

Tan, 19, claimed the championship by rolling a leading 1,687 pinfalls in eight games to beat Malaysian Megan Zaqrul Haiqal by five pins, while Japanese Keita Tokushia settled for third place with 1,657 pinfalls at the Singapore Bowling Tamasek Club in Rifle Range, Singapore.

The country’s emerging national junior bowler supported by the Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF) won last April the boys’ singles gold in the Asian Youth Championships followed by the men’s open masters title in the recent Philippine International Open in Mandaluyong City.

“I’don’t want to put pressure on Merwin but he is favored to win the title because of his performances in the last few months. Merwin has very good work ethic, trying to improve himself everytime and master his craft. He’s always practicing what he does. He is a good example to other youth bowlers” said head coach Biboy Rivera.

Bea Hernandez, meanwhile, came out short by seven pins (1,667) in the girls’ youth masters to settle for 2nd place against winner Yuen Hui Shan Natalene of Singapore (1,674). Singaporean Tay Kai Lin Arianne finished third with 1,643 pin falls.

The Filipino bowlers were supported by PAGCOR, Smart and the MVP Sports Foundation, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Besides Tan and Hernandez, the other members of the team are Alexis Sy, Liza Del Rosario, Kenzo Umali, Grace Gella, Kenneth Chua, Lara Posadas, Dyan Coronacion, Patrick Nuqui, Mades Arles, Raoul Miranda, Enzo Hernandez, Rachelle Leon, Alyssa Ty, Norel Nuevo, Emerson Gotencio and Kayle Abad.

The Singapore Open is one of the PBF’s international exposures to hone the skills of the Philippine bowling team for the upcoming hosting of 30th Southeast Asian Games in the country.

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