Abueva: ‘I gave my all but it still wasn’t enough’

It may be a painful pill to swallow, but Calvin Abueva knows he did all he could for the national team.

Along with LA Tenorio, the energetic Kapampangan forward were the last two cuts from Gilas Pilipinas as head coach Tab Baldwin finalized his 12-man roster last Sunday.

In a report from Sports5, Abueva detailed the pains he felt as the news broke in Bologna, Italy.

“Kinutuban na ako pero alam kong di naman ako nagkulang sa ginawa ko. Lahat naman binigay ko pero kulang pa pala,” said Abueva, who was a key member of the national team that bagged the silver medal in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in China.

It was truly a deep wound to heal from, especially for someone like Abueva, who laid everything out whenever he was on the floor.

“Ramdam ko lahat ngayon. Yung sakit ng katawan, yung pagod, yung miss mo yung pamilya mo. Dati kasi iniisip ko lang para sa bayan naman. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman lahat,” he said.

The Gilas Pilipinas contingent is set to return home late Tuesday, and though it hurts, Abueva will now set his sights on his PBA ballclub Alaska.

Abueva has powered the Aces to three consecutive Finals appearances, all resulting to runner-up finishes.

He also nabbed his first Best Player of the Conference award in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.

“Masakit pero kailangang tanggapin,” Abueva said. “At least ngayon pwede na ako mag-focus ulit sa PBA team ko.”

Source: Randolph Leongson of Inquirer.net

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High hopes for Rio gold after Eric Cray's World Challenge silver

Cray smashes the Philippine national record at 48.98 in the 400-meter hurdles at the IAAF World Challenge Cup in Madrid

MANILA, Philippines – After Eric Cray's performance at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Challenge Cup in Madrid where he nearly bagged the gold in the 400-meter hurdles, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) expressed high hopes of a gold medal finish in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In a neck-and-neck finish at the Moratalaz Sports Complex in Madrid, American hurdles specialist Jeshua Anderson needed a strong finish to hold off Cray for the gold.

Anderson clocked in a 48.96 while Cray smashed the Philippine national record at 48.98. Spain's Sergio Fernandez claimed the bronze at 49.02, just a mere 0.02 shy of their national mark.

PATAFA president Philip Juico expressed joy and hope at Cray's performance.

"That was a huge triumph for the country. That was a breakthrough time of under 49 seconds," said Juico.

"It shows that Eric is heading into Rio with his morale and confidence at an all-time high. Eric's coach, Davian Clarke, believes that he can realistically aim for a 48.50 time for a possible gold. Should this target be hit, we could be in line for the country's first-ever gold medal in the Olympics and in athletics."

The Texas-born Cray's latest finish is ranked by the IAAF as the 11th best finish for 2016.

"We're not yet done," added Juico. "We still have Marestella Torres-Sunang still in the running for a spot in the Philippine contingent for Rio. She wasn't able to qualify for Rio when she was measured at 6.52 meters in an athletics meet in Kyrgyzstan. The qualifying mark is set at 6.7 meters. There is one more chance for her to qualify and that is a tournament in Kazakhstan in the next few days."

Juico added that qualifying for Rio would be a nice parting shot for Torres-Sunang who is now 35 years old.

The bemedalled long jump specialist from Negros Oriental has won 5 golds, one silver, and two bronze medals, representing the country since the 2002 Asian Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka. – Rappler.com

Source: Rick Olivares of Rappler.com

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Only two Pinoy boxers left to vie for Olympic berths as Mario Fernandez pulls out with eye problem

ONLY two Filipino fighters are seeing action in the final Olympic qualifying tournament as Mario Fernandez pulled out from the lineup due to cataract in his left eye.

Flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial seek to clinch berths in the Rio Games through the tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan starting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Fernandez, a bronze medalist in the 2014 Asian Games, will undergo more tests.

Bautista and Marcial, set to leave on Tuesday, are looking to join light flyweight Rogen Ladon and lightweight Charly Suarez, who have qualified for the Rio Games through the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China.

Fernandez also saw action in the China qualifiers two months ago, but wound up fourth as the top three in the division earned slots to Rio.

Fernandez first complained of double vision while training in Baguio last week and was diagnosed with cataract in his left eye.

“It was Mario himself who decided he could not concentrate fully with the thought of his eye condition in the back of his mind,” said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines executive director Ed Picson.

“Although it is not life-threatening nor a serious condition, this is boxing and the cause of the condition was trauma so we didn't want to take the risk. We would rather he continue with the tests and treatment the doctors have lined up for him and hopefully he can fully recover and fight another day.”

Source: Spin.ph

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Patafa, Tabal iron out issues on marathoner's Olympic bid in 'fruitful' meeting

MARY Joy Tabal personally met with Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) officials led by president Philip Ella Juico on Monday in Manila to iron out issues on her request for reinstatement to the national team and gain the endorsement needed to join the Philippine contingent in the Rio Olympics.

According to a Patafa statement, athletics officials met Tabal, together with Jonel and Chipi Borromeo of her major backer Motorace Philippines, to discuss her bid for reinstatement, weeks after she surpassed the Olympic standard in women’s marathon that made her eligible to compete in Rio.

Tabal clocked two hours, 43 minutes, and 31 seconds in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in Canada, a time that is below the Olympic standard of 2:45:00. But she resigned from the national team last year, which makes  a Patafa endorsement necessary for her to race in Rio.

Patafa, however, said a decision on Tabal's request will come in a few days following the meeting, which it described as 'fruitful.'

“We will process all that we took up during what was a fruitful discussion and will need a few days to promulgate our final position on her reinstatement,” said Patafa.

The Patafa statement also noted that Tabal has agreed to comply with the athletics organization's rules and regulations, both current and still to be promulgated, as certain matters remain unresolved, including where she will train and who will be her coach.

Patafa added that Tabal underwent a mandatory doping test at the Philippine Sports Commission Sports Science Center headed by Dr. Alex Pineda as part of requirements by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Tabal, for her part, said she will wait for Patafa’s decision.

“They are asking me a few more days to finalize everything, and then come up with an agreement,” said Tabal after the meeting.

Juico lauded the efforts of Tabal and her camp to discuss the issue with Patafa personally.

“This forms part of the so-called confidence and trust building that we have to go through after what happened in the past,” said Juico.

“We are happy that she came here along with her two benefactors who are both gentlemen. They have been active in sports so they know where we are coming from,” he added.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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Gilas avoids late collapse to win tune-up against Iran

photo (c) Josh Albelda

The national team gets a big win before leaving for Europe.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine national basketball team nearly blew a double-digit lead in the second half but managed to get enough stops and baskets down the stretch of the fourth quarter to defeat Iran, 81-70, in a tune-up game on Wednesday, June 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A big basket with continuation off a broken play by naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche proved to be the biggest shot of the game, giving Gilas Pilipinas a victory before embarking on their training camp in Europe.

The national team leaves on Friday for Greece where it will have a 10-day training camp, to be followed by tune-up games against the Turkish national team in Turkey and then versus China, Canada, and Italy in Italy.

Gilas will be back in Manila on June 28.

Blatche played well for Gilas with 20 points and 11 boards while Terrence Romeo and Ray Parks provided 12 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench. Ryan Reyes also played well with 12 points.

Despite missing Marcio Lassiter and Jeff Chan, Gilas shot relatively well from downtown by going 9-of-23 and also limited its turnovers to 12.

Iran, who was playing with a younger core than the Philippines has become accustomed to, was led by the 16 points and 3 boards of Behnam Yakhchali.

The Iranians were without long-time players Hamed Haddadi, Mehdi Kamrani, and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami. – Rappler.com

Source: Naveen Ganglani of Rapper

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Filipino golfer Miguel Tabuena qualifies for US Open

Miguel Tabuena, ranked 117 in the world, will compete against Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Justin Day after ruling the qualifier

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino golfer Miguel Tabuena will realize his dream of playing against global big guns like Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Justin Day after ruling the rigorous 36-hole US Open sectional qualifiers over two different courses in Daly City, California on Tuesday, June 7, (Monday in the US) with an 11-under par 132.

His performance earns him a ticket to the prestigious US Open tournament, scheduled June 16-19 at the Oakmont Club in Plum, Pennsylvania.

Starting in the morning at the Lake Merced course, Tabuena, 21, opened with a scorching 8-under 64 before capping an unforgettable day with a 3-under 68 at the Olympic Club Ocean Course 3, a former US Open venue, in the afternoon.

He totalled an 11-under 132 over the two courses, securing medal honors, two shots in front of Mark Aguanio, and paced 5 others into booking a ticket to the US Open golf championship’s 121st edition at the par-70, 7,225-yard Oakmont Club.

The only Filipino campaigner in the field, Tabuena, currently No. 3 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, made the most of the easier Lake Merced layout, anchoring his start on the back 9 with an eagle on hole No. 4, a par 5, to go with birdies on the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes, good for a 7-under 29.

In a near-flawless display over two courses he played for the first time, the Filipino par-buster mustered two eagles and 10 birdies against two bogeys over 36 holes.

“I told myself that Merced was the easier course and I needed to go low there, which I did,” Tabuena told the USGA website. ” I’m just happy with my rounds. I’m still in shock.

“This will be my first major and I just can’t wait to have fun next week.”

Tabuena’s father, Luigi, said that his son called him up from the US early Monday morning “practically screaming about his accomplishment after the tournament.”

The elder Tabuena revealed that his wife Lorena and some of his son’s cousins were on hand to provide Miguel with moral support and witness his golfing milestone, while his coach, Jaythree Alteha, caddied for him.

“I believe that this is the first time that a Filipino has topped a US Open qualifier, which makes me even prouder,” the elder Tabuena said.

He added that Miguel had received offers to compete in the US Open sectional qualifier for being ranked No. 117 in the world professional golf ratings. “Only the top 150 or 200, I’m not certain, in the world professional rankings are invited to qualify.”

The elder Tabuena also cited golf patron and ICTSI head Enrique Razon, a club member at Lake Merced, in helping his son get a practice round at the course and having the chance to familiarize himself with the layout at the Olympic Club, a former US Open venue.

“We only wanted my Miguel to qualify but we were not expecting that he would do this well in the qualifiers,” the elder Tabuena said, “which is nothing short of miracle.”

He said that his son would skip the next Asian Tour leg this week to focus on his preparations for the US Open. – Rappler.com

Source: Manolo Pedralvez - Rappler

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Richardson stays on track for Rio Olympics berth

photo (c) Inquirer Sports/ Raffy Lerma

ANOTHER Filipino runner could make it to the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Southeast Asian Games 100-meter dash champion Kayla Richardson came close to achieving the Olympic qualifying standard in her event and has two more international races to pull off the feat.

The Filipino-American sprinter equaled her personal best of 11.79 seconds in the century dash of a recent school competition, strengthening Richardson’s aspiration to join fellow tracksters Eric Cray (400m hurdles) Marestella Torres-Sunang (long jump) in Rio.

The 17-year-old Richardson attempts to run faster than the Olympic qualifying time of 11.70 in two races over the next two months, including the prestigious IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. in July.

She has until July 5 to qualify along with the other Filipino Olympic hopefuls.

“We’re hoping that she’ll come up with her best performance to get to Rio,” said Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association secretary general Renato Unso.

Richardson became the first Filipino sprint queen in the SEA Games last year held in Singapore since the legendary Lydia de Vega-Mercado retired almost three decades ago.

Unso said her twin sister, Kyla, is also set to compete in the world U20 championships after recently clocking 11.85 seconds.

Patafa president Philip Ella Juico said the universality spot awarded to Torres-Sunang was already confirmed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) even if Richardson qualifies for the Aug. 5 to 21 Summer Games.

Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal also achieved the Olympic qualifying mark in women’s marathon but has yet to get the confirmation from the IAAF and the Patafa.

The Philippines could send as many as five track and field athletes once Tabal, Richardson and pole vaulter EJ Obiena all make the grade to Rio.

Source: June Navarro of Inquirer Sports

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2016 AFC U14 Girls Regional Championship 2016 (ASEAN)

For complete results: http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?view=all&id=184&type=Stage#ui-tabs-4

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2016 3x3 U18 World Championships

For complete
results: http://www.fiba.com/world/3x3u18/2016/final-standings

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Michael Martinez says bid to qualify for 2018 Winter Games right on track

EXPECT an improved Michael Martinez in the next figure skating season.

This was what the Filipino Olympic figure skater said during a press conference on Tuesday where he announced his collaboration with SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. (SMLEI) and SM Skating in holding a 3-day camp on June 15-17 at Mall of Asia and June 30 - July 1 in SM Seaside City Cebu.

“I’m really on track, yes,” said the 18-year old skater from Muntinlupa City.

Martinez assessed himself as '50 percent' better compared to his skill level last year.

“I risked really a lot especially sa bagong program ko right now. Yung kulang na lang po is yung quad jump, which took me last season to complete. The only problem is I need to land the jump. It will make the difference in the coming season,” explained Martinez.

While he's unimpressed with how he started last season, Martinez closed out strong with his performance in the World Championship, and eventually winning two gold medals and improving his scores.

Martinez is in intense training to qualify in the 2018 Winter Olympics and improve on his performance that earned him the world’s attention in Sochi four years ago. His target? To place in the Top 5 of what has traditionally been a tough men’s figure skating field.

He also assured the country that he would win a gold medal in the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia.

Coming from a country that's unheralded in the winter sports circuit, Martinez has had to participate in twice the number of tournaments as his contemporaries to remain in the radar and recognition of judges and event organizers. But despite the physical toll he's dealing with in the competitions he joins, Martinez remains unfazed.

“I will still compete in the same amount of competitions,”he shared.

“The injuries nandoon na. Hindi maiiwasan iyun. My previous injuries nandoon na talaga," added Martinez, who makes regular therapy sessions to keep his knees, hips, and back in condition. "I'm holding up pretty well."

When SPIN.ph asked what injury bothers him the most, Martinez pointed to his back. To keep his spine strong, Martinez has been receiving electric tens and ultrasound as part of his therapy.

“Nakikita niyo yung back bendings ko and mga splits? Sinuggest nga po ng doctor ko and the coaches na don’t do it anymore because it’s going to be a big stress on your back kasi nga yung L4 and L5 ko are really close na, there’s no more space,” bared Martinez, who has also been told to eat more and bulk up to support his back. 

“My doctor said I should eat 5,000 calories a day!" he added, laughing. "Hindi ko kaya pero kailangan ko talaga because I am burning way too much calories."

For now, Martinez looks forward to the camps where he will share his knowledge and experience to aspiring figure skaters. Starters will be taught how to maintain balance on the ice while the more advanced students will be taught techniques on how to jump and execute spins.

“It’s just really different kasi while I’m training in the US, focus ako sa kailangan kong gawin from the start, 7 a.m. I have to skate and train, train, train hanggang sa matapos, wala focus ka lang. Pero kapag nandito ka, it’s like people here cheer for you. It’s like family here,“ he said.

SMLEI, a constant partner in Martinez's competitions, expressed their full support to the effort by the world-class figure skater to pay back to his fans and young athletes.

“We at SM Skating would like nothing more than to support Michael in his dream to develop budding skaters into Olympic athletes,” noted SMLEI Sports and Development Head CJ Suarez. “We hope to have this camp in place annually during Michael’s off-ice seasons."

"We are also creating full-production, free ice shows starring Michael and the 2015 Philippine national champs. There will be a meet and greet after each show. We hope that this doesn’t only create an interest in the sport, but also create a bigger spark in skaters to give them a push towards training harder for the gold medal,” he added.

Suarez said the camp would be able to accommodate up to 80 participants of all ages. Registration fee for the 3-day camp is P3,500.

After the last leg of the camp and ice shows in July, Martinez will head back to the United States to prepare for the next competition season in August for the Asian Trophy.

Source: Rhoel Fernandez of Spin.ph

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