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State of calamity recommendation to be submitted to Iloilo provincial council Monday

THE RECOMMENDATION to declare a state of calamity in the entire Iloilo province is expected to be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) on Monday, April 22, following an assessment that about 22% of the 117,000 rice farmers have been affected by the prevailing El Niño phenomenon. The recommendation was approved by the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) last week. PDRRMO head Jerry V. Bionat said the declaration is necessary with more than 20% of the population in the towns and municipalities affected. Mr. Bionat said the recommendation will include proposed mitigating measures from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and Department of Trade and Industry. Ildefonso T. Toledo, head of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), said, “The huge damage is on the rice crops. About 7,000 hectares of rice farms are totally damaged while 19,000 hectares are partially damaged.” The municipal governments of Bingawan and Lambunao have already declared a state of calamity while the towns of Janiuay, Maasin, and San Dionisio have signified their plan to make the same declaration. A state of calamity declaration paves the way for the release of emergency funds. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Nigerians arrested, P18M worth of shabu seized in Naga City

OVER P18 million worth of the drug methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, was seized from Nigerian nationals in two separate buy-bust operations during the weekend in Naga City. “The two day back-to-back intensified operation against illegal drugs resulted in the arrest of a Nigerian businessman identified as Azubuike Obiaghanwa Onwigbolu… on April 21, 2018… Investigation disclosed that Onwigbolu, has entered Naga City 3 days ago,” the Philippine National Police-Regional Office 5 in Naga City reported on Sunday. During the arrest, police operatives found shabu worth an estimated P17.36 million. In another operation, another Nigerian national identified as Mbaneto Sopuluchukwu was arrested for selling 100 grams of shabu worth P100,000. A plastic bag containing the illegal drug worth about P680,000 was also found in his possession. The police said they have also taken into custody one Judith Balaquiao-Camacho. — Gillian M. Cortez

DENR removes illegal drainage pipe connected to a hostel in El Nido

THE ILLEGAL drainage pipe discovered along El Nido’s beachfront has been removed, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported on Sunday. In a statement, the department said the pipe, which was discharging dirty and foul-smelling liquid directly into the Bacuit Bay, was found to be connected to the Outpost Beach Hostel. The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has issued a notice of violation against the establishment. “DENR Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado ordered the immediate removal of the sewage pipeline, which measured six inches in diameter and six meters in length, after its source was traced to a chamber of the hostel,” DENR said. The regional director also noted that the hostel showed a “blatant disregard for the environment” and was a clear violation of the Water Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree 1067, and Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.” The DENR has been undertaking measures to restore one of Palawan’s famous beach and diving destinations since last year. On March 18 this year, it started a survey using DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s ground penetrating radar along the coastal areas to be able to detect hidden waste pipeline that harm the bodies of water. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

13 NPA members, several supporters surrender during Holy Week, EastMinCom reports

SEVERAL MEMBERS and supporters of the communist armed group New People’s Army (NPA) in different parts of the eastern Mindanao area surrendered to the military last week as the country observed the Holy Week holiday, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) reported. In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, EastMinCom listed the following surrenderers: three NPA members in Matanao, Davao del Sur on Friday; six NPA and 14 Militia ng Bayan members along with 30 supporters of the underground mass organization from several barangays in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur on Thursday; one NPA in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on Wednesday; and three in Impasugong, Bukidnon, also on Wednesday. Several firearms, other weapons, and various supplies were also turned over to authorities. EastMinCom said units in charge are now conducting interview and debriefing in preparation for their enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) and other government assistance. “Let us continue to be ambassadors of peace by letting those who were lost understand the effort of the government to bring peace and change in the lives of every Filipino and facilitate the resolution of push and pull issues of people joining the armed group,” Lt. Gen Felimon T. Santos Jr., EastMinCom commander, said in the statement.

Magnolia seeks to level series with Rain or Shine

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FINALLY broke through the win column in their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok seek to repeat over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and level their series in Game Four today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Set for 7 p.m., the Hotshots, who thrust themselves back in the series with an 85-74 victory in Game Three on April 16, try to tie the series and reboot it to a best-of-three affair as the two teams jostle to book a spot in the finals of the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.

The win broke back-to-back losses for Magnolia, which had a hard time keeping in step with the Elasto Painters in the first two games of the series to go down 0-2.

In Game Three, big man Ian Sangalang stepped up for the Hotshots in the second half to give his team the boost it needed to finally get the better of Rain or Shine.

Mr. Sangalang went scoreless in the opening half but poured in all of his 16 points in the second fold, 10 coming in a key run in the fourth period where they created separation for the win.

The former San Sebastian College standout also peppered his performance in the win with 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Also stepping up for Magnolia was Paul Lee with 16 points and six boards while guards Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca combined for 14 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.

For Rain or Shine, it was rookie Javee Mocon who led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds with Beau Belga and Norbert Torres adding 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“We just got back to Magnolia basketball. Defensively we were there and many players stepped up,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero as he assessed their game after the match.

“This is just one win though. But good thing we have a break and the players can rest. We really need this break,” he added.

For Mr. Sangalang, he said he hopes the win could propel them all the way to the end.

Meanwhile, later yesterday the defending champions San Miguel Beermen were to go for a third straight win over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in their own best-of-seven semifinals.

Holding a 2-0 series lead, the Beermen were angling to bury the Fuel Masters deeper as they go for a fifth straight All-Filipino title.

Phoenix, for its part, seeks to get back in the series, its first semifinal appearance in the PBA.

Harden, Rockets rally past Jazz, now up 3-0

JAMES HARDEN had 22 points, 10 assists and six steals to rally the Houston Rockets to a 104-101 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Chris Paul added 18 points for Houston. The Rockets took a 3-0 series lead. Game Four is Monday night in Utah.

Donovan Mitchell scored 34 points to lead the Jazz. Derrick Favors added 13 points, while Rudy Gobert chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, and seven blocked shots.

The Jazz couldn’t overcome 14 turnovers and 13 missed free throws.

Harden went 0-of-14 from the field through the first three quarters. He missed 15 straight shots overall before scoring on a dunk with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter. Harden finished 3-of-20 from the field but made hay at the free-throw line by sinking 14 of 16 attempts.

Houston weathered Harden’s shooting slump by getting key contributions from multiple role players. Clint Capela had 11 points and 14 rebounds, while PJ Tucker had 12 and 10, respectively.

After Georges Niang hit a jumper to extend Utah’s lead to 80-76, Gerald Green put the Rockets in front with back-to-back three-pointers. That sparked a 13-3 run that Harden finished off with back-to-back baskets to give Houston an 89-83 lead with 6:57 remaining.

Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 96-95. Harden answered with a 3-pointer on the other end and hit a pair of free throws to put Houston up 101-97 in the final minute.

Mitchell missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have sent it to overtime.

The Jazz jumped out to an 8-0 lead 94 seconds into the game. Mitchell threw down a hammer dunk and converted a four-point play on back-to-back possessions to lead the charge.

Houston settled things down and tied it at 15-15 on a three-pointer from Danuel House that capped off a 12-4 run. The Rockets tied it twice more in the quarter. The Jazz responded with baskets each time to keep the Rockets from taking the lead.

Houston did not get its first lead until Green hit a three-pointer to open the second quarter for a 31-30 advantage. After the teams traded treys, the Jazz didn’t trail the rest of the first half following Favors’ back-to-back dunks to put Utah ahead 37-34.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks also moved to 3-0 up in their own first-round series with the Pistons with a 119-103 victory in Game Three on Saturday in Detroit.

Khris Middleton recorded 20 points and nine rebounds to help Milwaukee while

Brook Lopez recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in the win. — Reuters

UST’s Sisi Rondina hopes to exit UAAP on a high with help from teammates

PLAYING IN HER final year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, captain Sisi Rondina of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses is hoping to make it a farewell season to remember as she tries to lead her team deeper into the ongoing tournament.

And the star outside hitter said she is bullish of them achieving their goals, more so with her teammates delivering from their end as well.

Already assured of a Final Four spot with a 9-4 record and a game left in their elimination schedule, the Tigresses on the lead of Rondina are in solid form, something the latter is excited about.

“Aside from making into the Final Four, the great thing about it is that my younger teammates are very responsible and listening and we are helping each other out,” said Rondina, the league’s leading scorer with an average of 18.3 points per game.

“It is really paying off for us,” added the senior player, who is also the reigning UAAP player of the week.

Apart from Rondina, also doing it for UST are top rookie Eya Laure, the league’s second-leading scorer with an average of 16.7 points, KC Galdones, Caitlin Viray, Dimdim Pacres and, of late, Ysa Jimenez.

Including their last victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on April 14, the Tigresses have won three straight and are to play their last game in the elims against the National University Lady Bulldogs on April 27.

“I always wanted to reach the championship and I will try everything to achieve that. Hopefully all our efforts and hard work will pay off,” Rondina said.

Currently the Tigresses are at third place but they still have a shot at catching up with second-running and defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers (9-3) if they win their game against NU and La Salle lose at least one of their two remaining matches.

In winning the player of the week honors, which is given by media covering the league, Rondina beat out NU rookie Princess Robles, La Salle freshman Jolina Dela Cruz and University of the East’s Judith Abil and Mean Mendrez.

Volleyball action in UAAP Season 81 resumes from its Lenten break on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City with La Salle battling UE (3-9) at 2 p.m. and league-leading Ateneo Lady Eagles (10-2) colliding with the Adamson Lady Falcons (1-11) at 4 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Kaya rues loss vs PSM, vows to bounce back

KAYA FC-ILOILO missed out on the opportunity to go on solo lead in Group H of the ongoing AFC Cup after losing to PSM Makassar of Indonesia, 2-1, in their reengagement in Bacolod City on April 17 where a tough first half doomed it in.

But the team has vowed to learn from it and continue working so as to see its goal of progressing to the next round of the tournament through.

In their clash of top Group H teams at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium, Kaya saw its cause derailed significantly after going down 0-2 in the opening half.

While the team tried hard to make up for it in the second half, it was a hole that proved to be too hard to claw itself out from as it slumped to the defeat.

PSM midfielder Rizky Pellu opened the scoring for his team after finding the net in the 21st minute off a nifty cross from teammate Wiljan Pluim.

Three minutes later, the visiting side made it 2-0 with forward Eero Markkanen on the scoring end.

In the second half, Kaya was presented a great advantage after PSM defender Abdul Rahman was given his second yellow card for the game and was sent off.

The home team looked to capitalized on it only to find an opponent who did a good job in adjusting to it.

Kaya put pressure on PSM but the latter’s defense held tough against it.

Jovin Bedic connected on a penalty in the 91st minute to narrow the gap, 2-1, but Kaya would not move past that as time expired.

In his assessment of the match after, Kaya coach Noel Marcaida highlighted their shortcomings in the first half as greatly stymieing their push in the game.

“The real talking point was the span between the 20th and 30th minute where I think we switched off. We gave them the space and we weren’t compact enough,” said Mr. Marcaida.

“We dominated and controlled the second half, but we had trouble breaking their defensive line. That was our big problem. All throughout the second half we failed to identify the space in between. It took us so long to get that first goal,” he added.

The coach went on to say that they hope to recalibrate and do better in their coming games.

With the loss, Kaya (1-2-1) slid all the way to third place in the grouping with five points, behind PSM (2-2-0) with eight points and Home United FC (2-1-1) of Singapore with seven.

Kaya next plays on April 30 against Lao Toyota FC (0-1-3) of Laos still at Panaad while PSM faces off with Home United also on the same date in Bogor. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Hunt on the prowl for more cliff diving titles

MULTIPLE times a winner in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Great Britain’s Gary Hunt is not about done and is still in search for more titles.

The first-leg winner of the 2019 cliff diving world series that was recently held in El Nido, Palawan, Mr. Hunt said he will try use the victory as a jump-off point to propel his quest for an eighth Red Bull title even as he said the competition has become tougher.

Finishing with 427.25 points in the Palawan leg of the seven-stop cliff diving world series, Mr. Hunt topped the men’s division, joined by Constantin Popovici (409.40) of Romania at second and Jonathan Paredes (408.05) of Mexico at third on the podium.

The 34-year-old Briton said he is happy with the result and that he looks to stay consistent for the remainder of the season to put him in a better position to win the overall title.

“In every competition I intend to win but ultimately the goal is to stay consistent. Some of the divers now have great dives and even if I have a good dive they can still win at any time. I just want to stay consistent and keep my scores high,” Mr. Hunt shared following his first-leg victory on April 13.

He went on to say that in the last couple of years he has had his struggles but has moved past them and that he is now competing with a newfound love for the sport.

“Definitely I have my ups and downs. Last winter it was definitely tough for me. I lost the title in 2017 and had some problems with my dives. I managed to solve those problems through the course of last season and it gave me love for the sport once again. And I enjoyed every training session I had and it showed in my performance today,” said Mr. Hunt, who won the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series from 2010-2012, 2014-2016 and in 2018.

Moving ahead, Mr. Hunt said he expects the competition to get tougher with new divers like Mr. Popovici and Ukraine’s Oleksiy Prygorov positioning themselves as forces to reckon with apart from steady challenge from veterans Steven LoBue and Andy Jones of the United States, Mr. Paredes, and Great Britain’s Blake Aldridge.

“It’s going to be a challenging season once again,” Mr. Hunt said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Tan wins gold at Asian Youth Championships

MERWIN TAN ended the country’s seven-year gold medal drought in the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships over the weekend by topping the boys’ singles event at the Megalanes Sarawak, Batu Kawa, Kuching City in Malaysia.

Tan, 19, won the gold by hitting 1,352 pinfalls in six rounds to outclass Australia’s William Clark’s 1,334 and South Korea’s Park Sang-Hyeok’s 1,326 in the tournament participated in by 40 boys and 36 girls from all over the Asian region.

“I just did my best in every game, every frame and every shot. I really needed to score at least a 200 in the last game and I’m really happy I was able to do just that,” said Tan, who is playing his last Asian Youth Championship. “This gold medal is a blessing for me especially that I’m playing my last year here.”

The last time the Philippine youth team won a gold medal in the Asian Youth was in 2012 when Alexis Sy snatched the gold medal in girls’ Masters event in Egypt.

Tan, a member of Phil Team & Team Prima, who just finished his K-12 study in Marist school, was also a member of the team that won a bronze in the boys’ team event in the 2018 World Youth Championship in Detroit, Michigan, USA, the first medal after almost 26 years since the country last won a medal.

Besides the boys’ singles event, Tan will also play in the boys’ doubles, team and possibly in the masters events.

National teammate Kenzo placed tenth in the boys’ singles with 1,261 pinfalls while Alyssa Ty ended 18th among the girls’ singles participants with 1,092 pinfalls.

The other members of the Philippine junior team are Kenzo Umali, Patrick Nuqui and Kayle Abad for the boys and Bea Hernandez, Norel Nuevo and Grace Gella for the girls.

Gella had recently won the bronze medal in the girls’ singles event while Nuevo settled for bronze in the masters event in last month’s inaugural World Junior’s Championship held in France. Hernandez, who studies in the US, was recently declared as Southland’s newcomer of the year and the national rookie of the year for bowling, by the US NCAA.

Recent achievements can be attributed to the continuing programs of the Philippine Bowling Federation in uplifting the sport of bowling in the country.

The team is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and coached by Biboy Rivera and Jojo Canare, mental skills coach Marcus Jarwin Manalo and their strength and conditioning coach Albert Gerald Rolle.

Go For Gold riders brace for ACC in Uzbekistan

THE Go For Gold Philippines Continental Team is focused on developing its young riders in preparation for bigger races ahead.

Some of these promising Go For Gold cyclists will be tested in the forthcoming Asian Road Cycling Championships 2019 on April 23-28 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Ismael Grospe Jr. and Daniel Ven Carino will spearhead the country’s under-23 squad together with Joshua Mari Bonifacio while Ean Cajucom, Efren Reyes Jr. and Marc Ryan Lago are the talented bets in the junior road race.

“I believe that this group is even more talented than our last group, so I have the expectation that they will surpass our experience last year,” said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

Mr. Carino is also scheduled to race in the junior individual time trial event with Lago.

Messrs. Reyes, Grospe and Carino gamely showed a glimpse of their potential on the scorching roads of Filinvest City in Alabang in a well-planned race during the recent PRUride Criterium 2019.

“From the start, we are really focused on developing our riders for the future of Philippine cycling,” said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.

According to Ms. Hualda, the Go For Gold riders are bound for more international races after the ACC as they aim to earn a shot at qualifying to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Other members of the squad are team captain Ronnel Hualda, Jay Lampawog, Rex Luis Krog, Ronnilan Quita, Elmer Navarro, Jericho Jay Lucero and Boots Ryan Cayubit.

Aside from cycling, Go For Gold already has a stable of champions in skateboarder Margielyn Didal, the Philippine dragonboat team from the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Dragonboat Federation and reigning Southeast Asian Games men’s triathlon champion Nikko Huelgas.

Go For Gold is also backing the national athletes from wrestling, sepak takraw and the Philippine Air Force volleyball squad.

San Juan Knights go for jugular in MPBL finals

HISTORY COULD rewrite itself on Monday as San Juan shoots for the national championship of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup with a win against Davao Occidental in Game Four of their best-of-five finals series today at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The Knights have a chance to repeat the feat it once did in Year 2000 when it won the national championship in the then fledgling basketball league Metropolitan Basketball Association.

Almost two decades since, San Juan could be a national champion anew with a win against Davao Occidental in their 9 p.m. encounter.

Preceding the game at 7 p.m. is the awarding ceremonies where the league’s best individual performers will be feted.

San Juan head coach Randy Alcantara and his troops can sense the Knights’ ascension back to the throne, but they need to slay their opponents who are bent on stopping them and fight for another day.

The Knights are banking on their veterans John Wilson and Mac Cardona as they try to go for the closeout.

For his part, Davao coach Don Dulay said he believes Game Four will down to a game of possessions.

“Each possession is important and we intend to win every one of them,” said Mr. Dulay. “That’s our way of winning Game Four to send the series back to Davao.”

To win, Mr. Dulay knows he needs a more consistent game from his ex-pros.

Mark Yee, an MVP candidate, has been on and off, so is Leo Najorda. Billy Robles has yet to play a breakout game in the series while Bogs Raymundo and Bonbon Custodio have to check their emotions in what has been a highly emotional, highly physical encounter. — Rey Joble

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