Batang Gilas wallops Thailand, moves to 2-0 in FIBA Asia U16

The Philippines now leads Group C

MANILA, Philippines – A day after making quick work of Bahrain, the Philippines’ national under-16 basketball team faced a tougher challenge but still managed to come away with a one-sided victory over Thailand, 70-51, on Friday, October 30, at the Britama Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The win improved the team, called Batang Gilas, to 2-0 in the 2015 FIBA Asia Under-16 championship.

Kris Harvey Pagsanjan and Samjosef Belangel led the winning team win 10 points each, while Jonas Raphael Tibayan finished with 9 points. Batang Gilas shot just 38.4% from the field and missed all 16 of their attempts from downtown, but out-rebounded their opponents 63-42 and forced them to 31.3% shooting, including a 2-of-26 display from downtown.

The Philippines now leads Group C of the tourney, where Bahrain and Thailand and tied for 2nd and 3rd with 0-1 records. All 3 teams will immediately advance to the next round thanks to the withdrawal from the competition of North Korea.

In the next round, the trio will be placed in Group F along with the top 3 teams from Group D (China, Korea, Iraq, and India). The Philippines’ next game will come in the second round.

The top 3 finishers of the 2015 FIBA Asia under-16 tourney will earn spots in the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Spain. – Rappler.com

(c) Naveen Ganglani

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Stallions sign Josh Grommen

CAGAYAN DE ORO City — Stallions FC team owner and coach Ernie Nierras today confirmed that they have signed Australia based Filipino-Dutch defender Josh Grommen in preparation for the United Football League (UFL) season next year.

“We have signed him recently,’’ said Nierras who is also the main benefactor and coach of the Philippine women’s football team, the Malditas.

He added that he signed the Filipino-Dutch defender because he is athletic and has good football knowledge. “He has however to play the Stallions way which requires a high work rate for players,’’ he said.

The former Meralco standout, Grommen is also thankful for Stallions and Nierras for giving him a one year contract. “It was my own decision to join Stallions as I have heard a lot of good things about them. They can compete against the top teams in the league. I expect great things for myself and the club this season as I believe that the team is strong,’’ he said.

He is also excited to work with Nierras. “I have not met him but we talked on Skype. I really like his vision for young players and the development of football in the Philippines. I also heard a lot of great things about him, the club and the quality of coaching,’’ he added

He is also hopeful that his signing for the Stallions will give him an opportunity to get spotted by Azkals coach Thomas Dolley and give him a chance of playing for the Azkals.

Josh is one of the young defenders who could break into the Azkals in a short time. He is tall and athletic and has good ball vision. He can partner with Amani Aguinaldo at the central defense to replace the current aging and ailing defenders.

The 19-year-old son of Dutchman Rudy Grommen and Filipina Alma Bulan has played for the Philippine U23 Philippine squad in Bangkok last March in the AFC U-23 Championship qualifying tournament.

He was supposed to play for the Philippine team in the Singapore Southeast Asian Games last June but was cut before the tournament started. In two years time he will be very ripe for the next SEGames.

He signed for the Loyola Meralco Sparks last year in the UFL but had to pay out his contract after leaving the club in the middle of the season. He left because his boyhood club the Brisbane Roar offered him a contract in Australia.

Now, he is back in the UFL and is expected to dominate the Stallions’ defense with the come backing Simone Rota.

The UFL will start their 2016 season at the end of January according to league manager Rely San Agustin.

Ten teams will compete in the the 1st division while five have already confirmed their entry in the second division.

Aside from the Stallions, other clubs in the 1st division are Ceres La Salle FC, Global FC, Green Archers United FC, JP Voltes FC, Kaya FC, Laos FC, Loyola FC, Manila Jeepney FC, and Pachanga Diliman FC.

So far only five teams have signed up for the second division. They are Aguila FC, Forza FC, Mendiola FC, Pasargad FC, and Sigla FC (formerly Team Socceroo).

The armed forces teams, Army, Navy and Airforce still have to confirm their participations in the second division. They used to be superpowers in the local leagues but have been struggling with the UFL the past years.

Source: Sun.star Cagayan de Oro

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BMX championships draw Olympic hopefuls to Myanmar

photo from flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vividphotographybywayne/11112095646

The 10th Asian Continental BMX Championships will be held in Nay Pyi Taw on October 31, the first time the annual international cycling event has come to Myanmar.

The racing will take place on the 2013 SEA Games BMX track at Mount Pleasant, and medals will be awarded in four categories: Junior Women, Junior Men, Elite Women and Elite Men.

According to the Myanmar Cycling Federation, 56 athletes and 20 coaches from 10 countries have registered for the championships, with teams flying in from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Myanmar will be represented by eight riders – six men and two women – who have been training under Indonesian coach Amir Mahmud since the beginning of the year, but who are untested in international competition.

At last year’s championships held in Indonesia, Japan swept the Elite Men’s medal table. All three riders – defending champion Yoshitaku Nagasako, silver medalist Kohei Yoshii and bronze medalist Jukia Yoshimura – are on the Japanese roster for Nay Pyi Taw.

But the star attraction will be Thai-American racer Amanda Carr, 25, who last year claimed victory for Thailand in the Elite Women category not only at the Asian Continental BMX Championships but also at the 17th Asian Games in South Korea.

Currently ranked 13th in the world among Elite Women BMX racers, Carr’s fame extends far beyond Asia.

Born in the United States to an American father and a Thai mother, Carr started racing BMX at the age of five. As an amateur she won the 2005 World Championships in the 15-year-old girls category, and repeated the feat the following year among the 16-year-olds.

In 2008 Carr was invited to join the US women’s BMX Olympic development squad in Chula Vista, California, but after four years of training she missed the cut for the 2012 Olympic team. In 2013 Carr changed residency to her mother’s home country with the aim of representing Thailand in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Another rider to watch is 17-year-old Filipino-American rider Sienna Fines, currently 36th in the Junior Women world rankings and aiming to represent the Philippines in the Rio Olympics.

The racing in Nay Pyi Taw is scheduled to take place on October 31 from 8am to 3pm, followed by the awards ceremony at 4pm.

Source: Douglas Long of Myanmar Times

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Dave Ildefonso stars as Batang Gilas rips Bahrain in Fiba-Asia Under-16 debut

THE Philippines beat Bahrain, 98-58, on Thursday at the start of the 2015 Fiba-Asia Under-16 Championship in Jakarta.

Dave Ildefonso topscored for the Batang Gilas cagers with 16 points while Juan Gerardo Gomez De Llano had 15 in the lopsided victory to start their campaign in Group C play.

Batang Gilas, coached by Mike Oliver, opened a 22-13 lead after one quarter before outscoring Bahran, 33-13, in the second period behind eight points from Ildefonso, son of two-time PBA MVP Danny.

Will Gozum had 14 points and nine rebounds for Batang Gilas, who will next face Southeast Asian neighbor Thailand on Friday to end the preliminary phase. Another member of the group, North Korea, backed out of the tournament.

The Philippines, mentored by Jamike Jarin, lost to China in the gold medal match in 2013 in this tournament that serves as a qualifier for the 2016 Fiba-Asia Under-17 Championship.

Batang Gilas made the tournament the last time.

The scores:

Philippines (98) — Ildefonso 16, Gomez De Llano 15, Gozum 14, Tibayan 12, Mamuyac 12, Pagsanjan 9, Credo 7, Publico 6, Belangel 5, Escalona 2, Flores 0.

Bahrain (58) — Abdulhusain 21, B. Ali 8, Aboukuora 7, Salman 7, Alsaffar 7, H. Mohamed 4, Khan 2, Almajed 2, M. Mohamed 0, H. Ali 0, F. Ali 0, M. Abdulkarim 0.

Quarterscores: 22-13, 55-26, 79-40, 98-58.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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US Open 9-Ball Championships 2015

  Team PHILIPPINES  

Athletes: 128 total participants

Filipino players: Carlo Biado, Warren Kiamco, Dennis Orcollo, Francisco Felicilda, Roberto Gomez, Jundel Mazon, Jeffrey Ignacio, Ramil Gallego

Format: Double Elimination - a player is eliminated when he loses twice

Carlo Biado

 - First Round: vs. G. Ramsey (USA) || WON 11-2

 - Winners Round 1: vs. B. Shuff (USA) || WON 11-5

 - Winners Round 2: vs. T. Hohmann (GER) || WON 11-3

 - Winners Round 3: vs. G. Shaw (ENG) || LOST 7-11

 - Losers Round 6: vs. D. Appleton (ENG) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 7: vs. C. Deuel (USA) || LOST 10-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 13th

Warren Kiamco

 - First Round: vs. A. Hopkins (USA) || WON 11-6
 - Winners Round 1: vs. F. Felicilda (PHI) || WON 11-9
 - Winners Round 2: vs. J. Klatt (CAN) || WON 11-9
 - Winners Round 3: vs. R. Souquet (GER) || LOST 4-11
 - Losers Round 6: vs. D. Orcollo (PHI) || LOST 4-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 17th

Dennis Orcollo

 - First Round: vs. S. Shaw (ENG) || WON 11-3 

 - Winners Round 1: vs. Nam PP (VIE) || WON 11-1

 - Winners Round 2: vs. J.H. Dang (CHN) || LOST 8-11

 - Losers Round 4: vs. K. Uchigaki (JPN) || WON 11-7

 - Losers Round 5: vs. S. Woodward (USA) || WON 11-4
 - Losers Round 6: vs. W. Kiamco (PHI) || WON 11-4
 - Losers Round 7: vs. M. Dechaine (USA) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 8: vs. O. Ortmann (GER) || WON 11-10
 - Losers Round 9: vs. H. Liu (CHN) || LOST 6-11

--ELIMINATED--- Rank 7th

Francisco Felicilda

 - First Round: vs. S. Moore (USA) || WON 11-6
 - Winners Round 1: vs. W. Kiamco (PHI) || LOST 9-11
 - Losers Round 2: vs. E. Dominguez (MEX) || WON 11-9
 - Losers Round 3: vs. J. Rodriguez (USA) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 4: vs. K. Corr (IRL) || WON 11-5
 - Losers Round 5: vs. T. Hohmann (GER) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 6: vs. R. Morris (USA) || LOST 10-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 17th

Roberto Gomez
 - First Round: vs. J. Siekkinen (FIN) || WON 11-9
 - Winners Round 1: vs. S. Van Boening (USA) || LOST 9-11
 - Losers Round 2: vs. F. Hernandez (USA) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 3: vs. TN Nguyen (VIE) || WON 11-3
 - Losers Round 4: vs. M. Daigle (CAN) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 5: vs. D. Grabe (EST) || LOST 8-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 25th

Jundel Mazon
 - First Round: vs. J. Sossei (USA) || LOST 7-11
 - Losers Round 1: vs. J. Padron (USA) || WON 11-2
 - Losers Round 2: vs. M. Wong (USA) || WON 11-7
 - Losers Round 3: vs. B. Shuff (USA) || WON 11-4
 - Losers Round 4: vs. N. Ekonomopoulos (GRE) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 5: vs. J. Klatt (CAN) || WON 11-5
 - Losers Round 6: vs. J.H. Dang (CHN) || WON 11-9
 - Losers Round 7: vs. J. Ignacio (PHI) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 8: vs. R. Chinakhov (RUS) || LOST 5-11

---ELIMINATED--- Rank 9th

Jeffrey Ignacio
 - First Round: vs. K. Brisbon (USA) || LOST 10-11
 - Losers Round 1: vs. R. Ferry (USA) || WON 11-1
 - Losers Round 2: vs. E. Strickland (USA) || WON 11-5
 - Losers Round 3: vs. S. Wilkie (VIE) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 4: vs. A. Kazakis (GRE) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 5: vs. M. Teustcher (NED) || WON 11-6
 - Losers Round 6: vs. M. Imonen (FIN) || WON 11-8
 - Losers Round 7: vs. J. Mazon (PHI) || LOST 8-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 13th

Ramil Gallego
 - First Round: vs. R.Chinakhov (USA) || LOST 4-11
 - Losers Round 1: vs. C. Rocha (USA) || WON 11-7
 - Losers Round 2: vs. R. Babica (POL) || WON 11-7
 - Losers Round 3: vs. E. Richadson (USA) || WON 11-1
 - Losers Round 4: vs. J. Klatt (CAN) || LOST 5-11
---ELIMINATED--- Rank 33rd

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FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2015 #6 Tokyo, Japan

photo (c) Tempo Sports

Day 1 RESULTS
 - event - time - rank - OQT/"A" Time - OST/"B" Time  

*max of 2 entries from each NOC is allowed for athletes passing the OQT (Olympic Qualifying Time)
*max of 1 entry from each NOC is allowed for athletes passing the OST (Olympic Selection Time)

Joshua Hall
  - Men's 50m Breaststroke - 28.69 - 19th/45 - not an olympic event

Jessie Khing Lacuña
  - Men's 400m Freestyle - 3.59.91 - 20th/35 - 3.50.44 - 3.58.51

Jasmine Alkhaldi
  - Women's 50m Freestyle - 26.87 - 30th/39 - 25.28 - 26.17

Jeremy Lim
  - Men's 50m Butterfly  - 26.54 - 44th/48 - not an olympic event
  - Men's 200m Butterfly - 2.11.07 - 38th/39 - 1.56.97 - 2.01.06

Hannah Dato
  - Women's 100m Butterfly - 1.03.08 - 34th/39 - 58.74 - 1.00.80
  - Women's 200m Individual Medley - 2.23.10 - 31st/32 - 2.14.26 - 2.18.96


Day 2 RESULTS
 - event - time - rank - OQT/"A" Time - OST/"B" Time  

*max of 2 entries from each NOC is allowed for athletes passing the OQT (Olympic Qualifying Time)
*max of 1 entry from each NOC is allowed for athletes passing the OST (Olympic Selection Time)

Hannah Dato
  - Women's 100m Freestyle - 58.46 - 33rd/43 - 54.43 - 56.34
  - Women's 50m Butterfly - 28.33 - 31st/46 - not an olympic event

Jasmine Alkhaldi
   - Women's 100m Freestyle - 57.06 - 18th/43 - 54.43 - 56.34
   - Women's 50m Butterfly - 28.53 - 37th/46 - not an olympic event

Axel Steven Ngui
  - Men's 200m Freestyle - 1.56.08 - 42nd/46 - 1.47.97 - 1.51.75
  - Men's 50m Freestyle - 24.18 - 34th/39 - 22.27 - 23.05

Joshua Hall
  - Men's 100m Breaststroke - 1.04.22 - 45th/59 - 1.00.57 - 1.02.69

Jeremy Lim
  - Men's 100m Butterfly - 57.69 - 41st/44 - 52.36 - 54.19
  - Men's 50m Freestyle - 25.37 - 39th/39 - 22.27 - 23.05

Jessie Khing Lacuña
  - Men's 200m Individual Medley - 2.06.49 - 20th/32 - 2.00.28 - 2.04.39
  - Men's 200m Freestyle - 1.52.46 - 20th/46 - 1.47.97 - 1.51.75

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FIBA Asia U16 Championships for Men

  TEAM PHILIPPINES  

Under 16 FIBA World Rank: 27
2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championship: Silver Medal

RESULTS:

Preliminary Group C | vs. Bahrain - 98-58

Preliminary Group C | vs. Thailand - 70-51

Preliminary Group C | vs. North Korea *cancelled as North Korea withdrew from the tournament

END of PRELIMINARY : Rank #1 with 3-0 Standing

Second Round Group F | vs. Iraq - 78-69

Second Round Group F | vs. Korea - 74-77

Second Round Group F | vs. China - 78-72

END of SECOUND ROUND : Rank #2 with 4-1 Standing

QUARTERFINALS : Lost to Japan 66-73

5th-8th Classification : Won over Thailand 81-46

Battle for 5th Place : Won over Lebanon 89-74

Final Team Ranking

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Manny Pangilinan, SBP going all out in bid to win hosting rights to Olympic qualifier

THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is going all out in its bid to win the hosting rights for one of three Fiba tournaments in July that will stake the final three places in the basketball competition of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said Manny V. Pangilinan has gathered his top basketball lieutenants to map out the Philippine bid which will once again be spearheaded by a foreign consultant and launched hand in hand with the tourism and foreign affairs department.

"We all know our boss MVP, basta para sa bayan, he won't hold anything back," Barrios told Spin.ph. "We're putting our best foot forward, as always."

Barrios said the SBP remained confident that it will win the rights to host one of the three wildcard qualifiers despite the late entry of Iran, which, if Fiba decides to spread the tournaments to its geographical zones, loom as the biggest rival of the Philippines in the Asian region.

Iran and the Philippines are among 10 countries which have expressed an intention to bid for the tournaments slated from July 4-10. The others are Germany, Greece, Czech Republic, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, and Turkey.

The Philippines, Barrios pointed out, has successfully hosted the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship as well as two Fiba 3x3 tournaments before losing out to China in a bidding war for the 2019 Fiba World Cup.

The former PBA commissioner is also confident the country will pass the five-point evaluation criteria set by the Fiba in determining the host countries, which include state-of-the-art facilities, experience in handling first-class events and providing the 'best possible conditions' for players.

Still, Barrios admitted the bidding war won't be easy.

This early, SBP has been busy putting together all the hard copies of pertinent documents which Fiba wants to have by November 11. The Fiba board is expected to make a decision on the hosts as well as the groupings of the 18 teams in the three tournaments during its executive meetings on November 23-24.

Among the requirements is the bidding fee pegged by Fiba at a minimum 1.75 million euros (about P90 million) which, although lower than the minimum of 8 million euros for the World Cup bidding, still entails a huge expense for a tournament that will run for just six days.

The tournament, in fact, will feature just six teams and five game days with a rest day squeezed in between, but Barrios said Pangilinan is sparing no expense for the chance to have Gilas Pilipinas play before a home crowd in a bid to make it back to the Olympic Games.

Source: Spin.ph

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Foreign players in Superliga under fire

photo (c) ABS CBN Sports

Officials of the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) decried the blatant disregard and abuse of Philippine laws by Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) for allowing foreign players to see action in the ongoing Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix without proper documentation.

PVF President Edgardo Boy Cantada particularly put to task PSL top executive and also LVPI official Tats Suzara for allowing this mockery of Philippine immigration and labor laws.

“While we have a pending case against the LVPI for its unjustified claim as the legiti¬mate volleyball national sports associa¬tion after Suzara, along with few others, masterminded the disenfranchisement of PVF before the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), they are at it again and this time made a mockery of our ph laws,” said Cantada.

“We cannot let this pass unnoticed, even with the slow action of the Bureau of Immigration. We don’t even expect the POC to act on this. But we will keep on questioning the LVPI and Suzara for the answers they owe not only to PVF but to the whole Philippine volleyball community,” Cantada stressed.

There are more than 10 foreign volleybelles who are playing in the PSL.

“There have been numerous violations by these imports that have been validated by immigration personnel, print media and television. Not even a tap on the wrist on the part of the Bureau of Immigration. The least the BI could do is to stop these foreign players from playing until they comply with requirements and pay the corresponding fines,” Cantada added.

Recently, the BI released a memorandum circular saying all foreign players working in the country without ‘working permits’ might face sanctions under the Philippine law.

Source: The Manila Times

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2015 World Gymnastics Championships

At stake in Glasgow are not only World titles but team and individual qualification berths to both next spring’s Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) and next summer's Olympic Games. The top 24 teams from the 2014 World Championships in Nanning (CHN) will compete in Glasgow, where the top eight men's and women's teams from the team qualification round will automatically earn team berths to the Olympics. Teams ranked 9th through 16th will advance to the Rio Test Event in April 2016, where the top four teams (also from the qualification round) will also punch their ticket to the summer Games.

Gymnasts who earn a medal in Individual Apparatus Event Finals in Glasgow also qualify directly to the Games, provided they come from a country that has not already qualified a team. Teams ranked 17th-24th at the 2015 Worlds will be allowed to send two individual gymnasts to the 2016 Test Event, while other national federations with a gymnast who participates in All-around qualification at the World Championships will earn the right to send one gymnast to the Test Event based on the gymnast’s ranking. In this way, 40 male and 40 female gymnasts will qualify to the Test Event.

Source: http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/site/figNews/view?id=1243

RESULTS

Ava Verdeflor

Rank		NF	Vault	Uneven Bars	Balanced Beam	Floor	Total
122 out of 192	VERDEFLOR, Ava	PHI	13.7333	12.366	10.666	12.066	48.831

Rank		NF	Vault	Uneven Bars	Balanced Beam	Floor	Total
69	ABDUL HADI, Farah	MAS	13.866	12.566	12.5	13.033	51.965
82	TRACIE, Ang	MAS	13.766	11.466	12.733	13.166	51.131
85	PHAN, Thi Ha Thanh	VIE	14.4	10.233	13.3	13.1	51.033
108	NATHAN, Nadine Joy	SIN	13.533	10.933	12.366	12.766	49.932
122	VERDEFLOR, Ava	PHI	13.7333	12.366	10.666	12.066	48.831
123	LAU, Ashly	SIN	12.9	11.833	11.533	12.5	48.766
126	IRFANALUTHFI, Rifda	INA	12.966	9.8	12.366	13.2	48.332
140	TAN ING, Yueh	MAS	13.233	10.433	11.333	12.6	47.599
164	DO, Thi Van Anh	VIE	13.633	9	10.7	12.366	45.699

Reyland Capellan
- Floor Exercise (201 participants)

Rank		NF	Difficulty	Execution	Penalty	Total
89	CAPELLAN, Reyland	PHI	6.5	7.7333	-0.3	13.933

- Vault (33 participants)

				Details 1st Jump				Details 2nd Jump
Rank		NF	Total	Score	Difficulty	Execution	Penalty	Score	Difficulty	Execution	Penalty
33	CAPELLAN, Reyland	PHI	12.383	13.1	5.6	7.6	-0.1	11.666	3.2	8.466	0

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PH to host 2016 AVC Women’s Club C’ship

photo from http://asianwomenclub2015.asianvolleyball.net/

The country is set to stage the Asian Volleyball Condeferation (AVC) Asian Women’s Club Championship next year with the Philippine Superliga leading the formation of the national team.

This was revealed by Philippine Super Liga president Ramon “Tats” Suzara Friday after his meeting with officials from the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas.

Suzara said the club that will emerge as champion in the on-going PSL Grand Prix will represent the Philippines in the meet that will also feature top clubs from Japan, China and Thailand.

Cignal, powered by dynamic imports Ariel Usher and Amanda Anderson, has been lording it over the eliminations with four victories in as many games. Philips Gold is also looking good at 3-1 through reinforcements Bojana Todorovic and Alexis Olgard.

The Philippines is also bidding to host the FIVB (international federation) World Women’s Club Championships next year.

Source: Marc Anthony Reyes of Inquirer.net

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Amit finishes 2nd in Beijing Miyun 9-Ball

photo (c) news.xinhuanet.com

Former world champion Rubilen Amit settled for the runner-up honors in the 2015 Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) Beijing Miyun 9-Ball International Tournament held in Beijing, China.

The 34-year-old Mandaue, Cebu pride absorbed a close 9-11 decision at the hands of World No. 2 Chen Siming of China in the championship match.

Chen started strong with a 5-2 lead when Amit unleashed powerful breaks and flawless ball placing in the next frames to take an 8-6 advantage.

The Chinese player, however, capitalized on Amit’s costly errors to regain the lead, 10-8. Amit cleared the 19th rack to save a match point, 9-10, but Chen kept her composure en route to winning her second-straight CBSA title.

Amit, a two-time World Women’s 10-Ball champion, made it to the finals by ousting Chinese Gao Meng in the semifinals, 9-5.

She also defeated South Koreans Eunji Park in the first round, 9-5, and Ga Young Kim in the quarterfinals, 9-8.

It was Amit’s third runner-up finish this year after placing second in the Amway World Pool-Billiard Association Women’s 9-Ball World Open held in Taipei, Taiwan in April.

Amit also wound up second in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games 9-Ball event held in Singapore where she lost to compatriot Czeska Centeno in the gold-medal match.

Source: Emil C. Noguera of The Manila Times

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ISTAF Super Series Thailand 2015 Finals

This is why you have wild-cards! Much as I agree with the ISTAF SuperSeries format where the elite eight in the men’s and the super six in the women’s game fight it out at every tournament, I think there needs to be a wild-card or two at each event, provided that they can raise their game and prove they belong.

Here in Nakhon Pathom, we have two wild-cards in the men’s event. China and Indonesia were unable to attend, and it was decided to invite India and Philippines, who are very much the best of the rest. India struggled to get going, but they showed on Thursday that they have potential in beating Singapore in a three-set classic in the opening 5 – 8 place play-off. They have also had some good news from the Indian government recently with sepaktakraw now being upgraded to a “priority sport” in the country, which will afford them more support, both in terms of finances and infrastructure.

photo (c) ISTAF Sepaktakraw Facebook Page

As for the other wild-cards, well… Let’s hear it for the Philippines! Not only did they take it to both Thailand in the group stages and Malaysia in the semis (and how!), they played with the kind of spark that can be missing from the game at some times. The country is sepaktakraw-mad, and to have them involved on a regular basis would boost the sport both internationally (as the fans around the globe would love to see them) and back in The Philippines, who would benefit from seeing their heroes play on the biggest of stages on a regular basis.

Even the names of the players are evocative – Ronsited Gabayeron, Jason Huerte and Rheyjey Ortouste are a commentator’s dream when they’re buzzing around the court, firing down aces and flying through the air at the net! Their names are as flamboyant as their style of sepaktakraw, and they play with a Spanish flair which matches their heritage.

“We feel confident going into every match,” said Karen Caballero, secretary general of the Philippines Sepaktakraw Association. “We came here as wild-cards but we like to think of ourselves as dark horses – the kind of team that can do well at any tournament.”

Here’s hoping – from my perspective at any rate – that we see a lot more of these dark horses at ISTAF tournaments in the future. After Thailand and Malaysia, we now regularly have a good Myanmar team on hand after they finally came into the ISTAF fold. The top Korean players can beat – and have beaten – anyone on their day, so with a strong Philippines, we could have groups and knock-out games on a knife-edge every time we come together for a tournament.

Source: http://istafsuperseries.com/

Athletes:

Jason Huerte, Emmanuel Escote, Rheyjey Ortouste, Arnel Isorena, Ronsited Gabayeron

Results:

Preliminary: Pool A

October 20: vs. India | WON 2-0

October 20: vs. Myanmar | WON 2-1

October 21: vs. Thailand | LOST 0-2

Semifinals: vs. Malaysia | LOST 1-2

Battle for Bronze: vs. Japan | WON 2-0

Team Rankings:

1st - Thailand

2nd - Malaysia

3rd - Philippines

4th - Japan

5th - Myanmar

6th - India

7th - Singapore

8th - Korea

Highlights: 

Preliminary | vs. India

Preliminary | vs. Myanmar

Preliminary | vs. Thailand

Semifinals | vs. Malaysia

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55 swimmers earn Universiade berths

Fifty-five tankers have qualified to the 29th Summer World University Games scheduled in 2017 in New Taipei City in Taiwan.

The swimmers were selected based on their showing in the 85th Philippine Swimming League (PSL) National Series dubbed as the All-School Swim Challenge held at the Diliman College swimming pool with Presidential Trophy awardee Andrea Jheremy Pacheco of College of Saint Benilde heading the list of qualifiers.

Pacheco was also a member of the Benilde 4x50m freestyle relay team that won gold medal in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Bulacan State University has the most number of qualifiers with 20 followed by Arellano University (13), Assumption Golden Titans (8), Bataan Peninsula State University (8), Grace Christian College (2), Colegio de San Agustin (1), Diliman College (1) and Philippine Merchant Marine School (1).

The other qualifiers were Julian Agar, Ian Bandeling, Erithe Denila Jr., Apple Enquito, Billy Gamaya, Sitti Goff, Mojel Jaapar, Najrimar Kassim, Almorahar Ladjnanang, Zyrill Lifio, Joshua Regalado, Nathaniel Ruste, Jonel Ventura, Martina Borce, Therese Caparros, Macie Del Mundo, Melissa Do-mingo, Andrea Jalandoni, Gloryen Limbo, Asha Noronha, Eunice Yap, Dahrel Angel, Joy Bernardo, Marianne Crisostomo, Ronalene Delos Reyes, Girome Eugenio and Joreen Flores.

“The swimmers are getting excited, a lot of college swimmers are now knowledgeable of the World University Games. We will not deny them of participation, we want to give opportunities to college student to experience this once in a lifetime event. I will help the swimmers to cross the bridge easier,” said PSL President Susan Papa.

Also making it to the list were Merry Sampang, Jeiel Yambao, Judy Apostol, Maverick Belarmino, Patrick Ellsworth, Benedict Lastrollo, Angelica Mendoza, Jayvee Monding, Maricar Obejas, Joshua Palacio, Enric Portes, Enrique Portes, Lenard Reyes, Roderick Ronidel, Jolina San Jose, Aira Santos, Regina Santos, Maricon Sebastian, Red Sumilang, Jeff Tecson, Karen Vergara, Ivan Vertudazo, Blu Encarnacion, Gabriell Soriano, Geff Meridores, Charlize Sanhi and Maverick Vicente.

PSL is a national sports swimming association for Universities and Colleges accredited by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (Fessap), internationally affiliated member of Federation of International Sports University (FISU).

Source: Emil C. Noguera of The Manila Times

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Tab Baldwin hopes to have Blatche, Clarkson as Gilas joins its 'toughest tournament'

Baldwin welcomed the availability of what he believes is the best available talent for Gilas Pilipinas given the quality of competition awaiting the national team in next year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Now if he can only have naturalized player Andray Blatche and potential national team player Jordan Clarkson with the team.

Unfortunately, the Gilas mentor could only talk about the case of Blatche at the moment as Clarkson’s situation remains hanging in the balance.

“We don’t know the status of Jordan’s inclusion. But we expect Andray to be there. We expect him to continue become a part of the program,” said Baldwin prior to the start of the PBA 41st season opening ceremony.

“Jordan is still up in the air as far as I know.”

Baldwin was in the US for a well-deserved rest when the PBA board relented to the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to make 17 players available to the Gilas national pool from which the 12-man roster for next year’s Olympic qualifier will be culled.

The 57-year-old American-New Zealander appreciated the gesture of the league board, stressing the team will need the best talent it can have especially playing against some of the best basketball squads in the world.

“It’s the toughest tournament that can ever be assembled because it has so few teams, so few games. And the opportunities to progress, you have to be at your best right from the start,” he said.

“If we do another Palestine, we’ll be out,” added Baldwin, referring to Gilas stunning 77-75 loss to Palestine to start its campaign in the recent Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship. “We have to avoid that, we have to be at our best from the start.”

Ranged against the best in the world during last year’s Fiba World Cup, Gilas proved it can be at par with basketball powers from Croatia, Greece, Argentina, and Puerto Rico by playing competitive against them.

But Baldwin said the Filipinos need to be more than just competitive this time.

“Yes, we’re competitive in Spain and that’s a testament to what we can achieve, what we can aspire to,” said the Gilas coach who arrived in the country from the US last week. “But we can no longer go to where we want to be by just being competitive. We got to win.”

Nonetheless allowing the 17 players to be included in the national pool could be the start of what Baldwin has been projecting for Philippine basketball since he first took over the Gilas job at the start of the year.

“It’s a great sign for Philippine basketball and the fans. It looks like we’ll be able to tap in to the quality of talent we have in the country.

“It seems everybody in the sport is gonna support the national team and the national program. We do appreciate the support and we wanna honor that by working hard and doing the best that we can,” he stressed.

Source: Gerry Ramos of Spin.ph

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Philippines bids to host 2016 Olympic Wildcard qualifiers

Some of the world’s top teams could gather in Manila after the Philippines has signified its intent to bid in the hosting of one of three Olympic qualifiers slated next year.

Sonny Barrios, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director, said that the cage body submitted its interest to host on Friday.

Barrios added that having powerhouse teams like Greece, France, Turkey and Serbia flaunt their world-class form at home will be a treat to Filipino fans apart from the experience Gilas Pilipinas will earn in sharing the court against quality opposition.

“It would be good Pinoy basketball fans here at home to be able to watch top caliber national teams play vs one another and our very own Gilas team.” Barrios told INQUIRER.net in a text message. 

“Also good learning experience for our own RP team to play vs world class teams.”

The Philippines is among the 18 teams who finished as runners-up in their respective continental tournaments that will be fighting for three Olympic slots.

The 18 teams will be divided into three groups with the champion in each bracket moving on to the 2016 Rio Summer Games.

The three hosts will be known when Fiba makes its announcement on November 23.

The Olympic qualifying tournaments are scheduled from July 5 to 11.

Source: Mark Giongco of Inquirer.net

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