Philippines seeking ASEAN ME Cup road victory at Vientiane

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team are eager to get maximum points when they face-off against Laos on Sunday evening, 6:30PM PST, at the New Laos National Stadium. Having drawn their opener in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, the Filipinos require victory in opposition territory in order to boost their chances of progressing into the semifinals of Southeast Asia’s biggest tournament.

“We had only two days of preparation, and one was for traveling, so we only have today to really prepare for the game. It’s a very short time, but of course we are professionals, so the players will deliver their best,” said Philippine Head Coach Albert Capellas.

“They are dangerous in front. Boundphachan [Bounkong] is a good player - dangerous. I expect they will try to find him as much as they can. That is part of what we have to try to do. — he cannot receive too many balls in good positions on the field. I also expect a team that will be aggressive. Even if they’ve had a long trip as well from Indonesia, we are more or less in the same position physically,” he continued “If we want to win this game, we’ll need to be good in offense, but also very organized in our rest defense so they cannot play quick counterattacks, which they do very well."

Laos enter the match full of confidence after managing an impressive 3-3 draw away from home against highly favored Indonesia in their last outing. Zico Bailey, who impressed in his first appearance in front of the Filipino fans, is expecting a tough challenge.

“We have a lot of respect for them, they have a lot of good players. They had a good result in their last match, so we’re not taking them likely. We’re just going to go over how we’re going to play, our tactics, the formation of the players, and we’ll give our best tomorrow,” he said.

The match will be available LIVE on Matchday.ph and on One Sports+. It will also be available on a delayed basis on One Sports, Pilipinas Live, and on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s Facebook page.

Collegiate Champions to be determined in the UAAP

c/o UAAP

Games today at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

10 a.m. - JHS Boys' Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

11 a.m. – UST vs UE (JHS Finals)

1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)

5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)

DE LA SALLE guns for a second straight title, while University of the Philippines seeks to flip the script to reclaim the throne in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Finals before an expected jampacked crowd tonight (Sunday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers-Fighting Maroons championship goes for a decider for a second year in a row, as both teams will leave everything on the floor in the 5:30 p.m. contest to close out the year on a high.

Last year, the rubber match drew 25,192 fans -- a Big Dome record for basketball.

After dropping a 65-73 decision in the series opener, De La Salle's title-retention bid barely got a lifeline following a 76-75 Game 2 victory last Saturday.

Making its fourth consecutive Game 3 appearance, UP hopes to redeem itself from its two Finals defeats and secure the crown it last won in Season 84 (May 2022) ending a 36-year championship appearance.

The Green Archers, the fifth most successful team in the league, are eyeing their 11th title overall and the first back-to-back title run since completing a four-peat from Seasons 61 to 64 (1998 to 2001).

A title contender since Season 81 (2018) after decades of being perennial also-rans, the Fighting Maroons will shoot for a fourth championship.

For coach Topex Robinson, it's all about relishing the moment and not about thinking about De La Salle's future after the Finals.

"You know, we're just going to enjoy it. The crowd will be crazy, but that's what we're here for. You know, the reason why you play the Finals is for this kind of moment. You know, you prepare for those moments and nobody could take that away from you. So we just keep on enjoying it. We're just going to be approaching it the way we used to approach it," said Robinson.

"You know, this is the second time we're going to play in a Game 3 Finals, and at this point, we don't have to worry about it yet, but it's going to be an exciting ballgame. You know, whatever the result, it's, you know, it's all about the UAAP, how the branding was, you know, that's going to be good for, I guess, college basketball and Philippine basketball as well. So it's just going to be an exciting Sunday for everybody," he added.

The Green Archers will play Game 3 for a record 10th time. De La Salle is 5-4 all-time in winner-take-all games.

As UP stares in another do-or-die situation, coach Goldwin Monteverde simply wanted his troops to just focus and value every possession to get back on top.

"I guess, yung reality: Life goes on. Ganoon naman talaga ang buhay kung minsan it will go your way, it would not. Ang importante kunng ano ang ginawa mo to achieve ang gusto mong gawin. But then if you fall short siyempre… I think yung basketball is the perfect ano naman for them to be stronger, for them to learn. And definitely with this loss matututo kaming lahat," said Monteverde said.

"We’ll come back stronger Sunday. Basketball is basketball, di ba? Minsan mananalo. Minsan matatalo. Ang importante yung bangon. Alam namin na hindi pa naman tapos ang series. Alam namin na you know, we just have to keep our heads up," he added.

For a second straight women's Finals, University of Santo Tomas and National University face off in a no-tomorrow match at 1 p.m.

The Tigresses hope to reprise last year's epic championship comeback, while the Lady Bulldogs hope to get the job done after their bid to complete a perfect 16-0 season was foiled in last Wednesday's 68-78 defeat.

"Last year kasi we won the first game, then lost the second. I think, walang advantage or disadvantage na samin sa NU. We will just play harder para makuha namin yung Game 3. It's all in our mindset na we'll do our best para makuha namin ulit yung do-or-die game on Sunday," said UST coach Haydee Ong.

"Regardless sa Game 3, sabi ko nga sa mga bata, sobrang proud ako sa kanila, even in the first game kahit talo kami. Malungkot lang kami though walang regrets talaga. Even we're undersized, undermanned, no foreign student-athlete, pinakita ng mga bata na kaya namin," she added.

The Tigresses are gunning for a 13th championship and are eyeing to win consecutive titles since a four-peat from Seasons 50 to 53 (1987 to 1990).

The Lady Bulldogs seek to become the third-winningest program in the league by annexing their eighth crown overall.

UST eyes to bag the junior high school title and sweep top-ranked University of the East in Game 2 of the Finals at 11 a.m.

The Tiger Cubs seek to not only claim the first-ever regular UAAP JHS title, but to also put an end to a 23-year futility in UAAP high school basketball championships, which began in 2001 when they were led by Jun Cortez.

"Malaking bagay ito especially sa grupo namin, pati sa akin. Dahil nung 2001, Team B player pa ako ng UST, ‘yon yung time na nagchampion yung juniors. Ngayon, mas gusto ko makuha para naman matapos yung ilang years na hindi nagcchampion. Sana makuha na namin next game, magpprepare kami, papagalitan ko ulit sila, dapat huwag kami maging complacent. Viewing, lahat," UST head coach Noli Mejos said.

All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports (Ch. 6) and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (Ch. 263 on Cignal TV).

Ateneo, FEU set to dispute men's football crown

c/o UAAP

Match tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Stadium

5 p.m. — Ateneo vs FEU (Men’s)

After a grueling campaign with 44 matches played across the elimination round and Final Four, Ateneo de Manila University and Far Eastern University have earned the right to face off for the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament championship tomorrow (Sunday)  at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Kick-off time is at 5 p.m.

Both teams enjoyed one win each over the other back in the elimination round.

The Blue Eagles prevailed 2-1 in the first round last October 6. On the other hand, the Tamaraws bounced back 1-0 in the second round last November 21.

Moreover, this is the second time in three seasons both teams have clashed for the gold with FEU emerging victorious 4-1 back in the Season 85 final on May 18, 2023.

Ateneo, which topped the elimination round with 28 points, booked its ticket to the big dance by edging fourth-seed University of Santo Tomas 2-1 last Sunday behind Leo Maquiling and Jet Dela Cruz’s goals. The Blue Eagles also have the division’s top two scorers, Dov Cariño and Maquiling, who have 11 and eight goals respectively.

JP Merida — now in his sixth final as the Blue Eagles’ mentor with championships won in Seasons 75, 79 and 81 — said it is back to the drawing board considering how Ateneo and FEU traded wins earlier this season and how both schools will be eager to reclaim lost glory.

“It's a tough game for me,” said Merida. “It’s an even (game). We won (in the) first round, we lost (in the) second round. For me, this is a good match. (We’re) looking forward to playing well of course.”

“On the opposite side, we are looking forward to FEU playing as well (as us). So right now, the best thing is to prepare. We need to go back to the screen to check their style going into  the very last game.”

Compared to Merida, this Sunday’s clash will be FEU coach Roman Oliver’s first trip to the UAAP men’s football final. However, this situation is nothing new for the Spaniard’s Tamaraws, who are on their third consecutive trip to the big dance.

FEU is coming off an intense and fight-marred 1-0 victory over the dethroned University of the Philippines, which saw Season 85 Rookie of the Year Karl Absalon score a 76th-minute winner and Fighting Maroons coach Popoy Clarino and Tamaraws defender Mel Anthony Baylon sent off for their roles in a first-half scuffle.

“Well, it's a very good feeling,” said Oliver. “It was a tough match (and a) very emotional match. We played the second half with all the best players. They fought like warriors so even I don't have to describe the feelings. (I’m) so happy, but now we have a final to prepare for next weekend.”

The Blue Eagles are gunning for their ninth championship in the men’s division. Ateneo last won the gold back in Season 81 at the expense of its archrival De La Salle University courtesy of striker Jarvey Gayoso’s late equalizer and Julian Roxas’ stoppage-time winner.

For the Tamaraws, it may not only be a 12th championship at stake by the time both teams face off on Sunday but also a collegiate double with the FEU Lady Tamaraws and De La Salle Lady Booters facing off in the final of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament on Saturday.

FEU, La Salle to dispute women's football title

c/o UAAP

Match on Saturday at Rizal Memorial Stadium

5 p.m. — FEU vs DLSU (Women’s Final)

For the fourth consecutive campaign, Far Eastern University and De La Salle University will face off in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament championship late Saturday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Final will kickoff at 5 p.m.

In their elimination round encounters, the two teams were evenly matched.

Judie Arevalo’s late equalizer salvaged a 1-1 draw for FEU on October 30, while an own goal from La Salle’s Chenny Dañoso handed the back-to-back defending champions a narrow 1-0 win on November 30.

The Lady Tamaraws, winners of the Season 85 and 86 titles, secured their finals berth with dominant performances in the elimination round, amassing 22 points from seven wins and one draw in just five matches.

Captain Inday Tolentin, the league's top scorer with seven goals, will lead the charge as FEU aims to continue its remarkable run.

Despite their recent dominance, FEU head coach Let Dimzon is cautioning her players against overconfidence, reminding them of the unpredictability of finals football.

“Kailangan lang talaga maging composed yung players, and again, they have to stay on the ground,” said Dimzon. “Di porket nakuha na namin from the last season and we were able to win the games last season. Kailangan pa rin we have to be focused and kunin kung ano yong objective namin for this season. Kailangan talaga mag-champion.”

Meanwhile, La Salle enters the final as underdogs. The Lady Booters finished second in the elimination round with 14 points from four wins, two draws, and two losses. However, they are coming off a surprising 1-0 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons last Saturday, which could serve as a wake-up call for the squad.

Lady Booters head coach Alvin Ocampo remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of mindset over form as his team seeks its first championship since Season 81.

“So they have to put their mindset already that no matter what system you play, no matter what football you are doing, no matter what, it all boils down to who wants it more, right,” said Ocampo.

“Everything is mental. Everyone's playing football, but a mindset is a big factor in football. It’s a good matchup. The team is always tested as the players’ levels in the women’s division pick up every game.”

The Lady Tamaraws are chasing a historic 13th championship and their first three-peat since Seasons 75–77.

A win would also position FEU for a potential treble season, with the men’s team set to face Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament final on Sunday, and their juniors team, FEU-Diliman, targeting a 13th consecutive crown in the High School Boys' Football Tournament this January.

On the other hand, the Lady Booters, led by rookie striker Dani Tanjangco with five goals this season, are determined to halt FEU’s title streak.

They aim to secure their 12th championship in the women’s division and prevent a third consecutive finals loss to their rivals.

Philippines ready to kick off its ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup campaign

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team are all set to begin their campaign in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, where they face Myanmar at 6:30PM on Thursday night. Four time semi-finalists on Southeast Asia’s biggest stage, the Philippines are eager to give the home fans plenty to cheer about at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

PMNFT Head Coach Albert Capellas and goalkeeper Patrick Deyto expressed their excitement ahead of what’s expected to be a fiery affair in Manila.

“It's the first game of the tournament so it's always important. We want to set the tone in a positive way,” said Deyto. “It's a good opportunity for us to showcase how we have developed in the last few camps.”

“It’s always special to play for the country, with the national team, I'm always prepared and always ready to give 100% for whatever role I have,” said the 34-year-old shot-stopper, who made his debut in the competition in 2014.

When asked about his approach against the visiting Myanmar side, Capellas revealed: “We will try to keep the ball, we will try to dominate the game, try to win from minute one.”

Myanmar is coming off a 1-0 defeat at home to Indonesia, but Capellas is still wary of their threat, as he added: “I expect a team who, they try to do quick counter-attacks, that they try to bring the ball in front as quick as possible.”

The coach remained positive about the team’s progress even with only three games thus far, describing the recent friendly defeat to Hong Kong as just “one step backwards”, but ultimately a part of the process.

Deyto and Capellas both noted the importance of the 12th man backing the team at home. “We hope that a lot of people would come to support us. Of course, the 12th man always gives us extra energy, extra boost to create a good atmosphere in the stadium,” remarked Deyto.

Tickets to the Philippines’ ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 Group B opener are available on Ticketmax.ph. The match will also be available LIVE on Matchday.ph, and on a delayed basis on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live, and on Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s Facebook page.

CHED organizes All-Star Basketball Friendship Games

CHED All-Star

A potential start to something big? The Commission on Higher Education is set to host a special three-day competition called the All-Star Basketball Friendship Games.

Set to take place starting this Wednesday at the Amoranto Sports Complex, it will feature four HEIs representing different leagues, in a showcase of skill, passion, and sportsmanship.

Representing National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) is its powerhouse St. Clare College, with Bicol-based Amando Cope College representing the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA). The University of Northern Philippines will be carrying the flag of the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA), with the Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Marikina of the Local Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (LCUAA) completing the field.

To spice things up, an Opening Ceremony is slated to take place at 8am, followed by an exhibition involving a selection from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) against their counterparts from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

UNP and ACC will commence tourney proper at 1pm, followed by St. Clare and PLMar at 3pm.

Action resumes on Thursday with all four teams completing their round robins.

Serving as the morning doubleheader is UNP-St. Clare and ACC-PLMar, followed by UNP-PLMar and St. Clare-ACC in the afternoon.

The best two teams after this round robin will face off on Friday at 10am, with the other two teams tangling at 8am for third.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera and Senator Bong Go are expected to be present for the event.

GMA Network has been tapped as the official partner of this event along with Design Express and Digital Out-Of-Home.

UP, NU seek to conclude collegiate basketball season

c/o UAAP

Games today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

10 a.m. – UE vs UST (JHS Finals Game 1)

1 p.m. - Women's Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

1:30 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women Finals Game 2)

5 p.m. - Men's Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

5:30 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men Finals Game 2)

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines hopes to complete what it failed to do in the two previous UAAP men's basketball Finals, closing out the series and winning it all.

Coach Goldwin Monteverde knows that the Fighting Maroons have moved on with the previous episodes of heartaches as they endured.

After winning the Season 84 (2022) championship that ended a 36-year drought, UP lost the title to Ateneo in a rematch six months later and bowed to De La Salle last year, as it failed to sustain its series-opening victories.

"We never naman dwell on the past no? So right now, as I said, part of the process of winning a championship is you know, winning Game 1. So we got Game 1 right now so we’re gonna prepare for Game 2," Monteverde said.

"So we’re gonna do our best, lahat ng makakaya namin to get it, and when that game day comes, whatever comes our way, we’re gonna face the challenge there," he added.

The Fighting Maroons are bracing for a big Green Archers fightback and whatever in-game adjustments the defending champions will throw in Game 2 at 5:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Behind one-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown and graduating guard JD Cagulangan, UP used a strong third quarter and held De La Salle's reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao to a single point in the second half to pull off a 73-65 victory last Sunday.

It was the Fighting Maroons' fourth consecutive Game 1 Finals win.

Coach Topex Robinson hopes that the Green Archers would rediscover their system that installed the Taft-based squad as the No. 1 team in the eliminations.

"At this point, it's just a matter of us gaining a learning from this experience. The only thing that I told the team, there's a reason why this is a series you don't win a championship by winning one game, you need two games," Robinson said.

"So we still have a chance we’ve been in this situation before, we just have to keep on being positive and try to learn from this experience. Again that's a tough team we played, we just have to slug it out in the end," he added.

The Fighting Maroons are 0-4 all-time in Game 2s in the Final Four era.

UP hopes to become the first team since the 16-0 Ateneo squad in Season 82 (2019) to register a two-game Finals sweep.

A victory by the Green Archers will send the series to a Game 3 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, National University hopes to complete a perfect 16-0 season and reclaim the women's throne against holders University of Santo Tomas at 1 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs barely protected their unbeaten record, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the Tigresses, 72-71.

As NU guns for its eighth title in nine seasons, coach Aris Dimaunahan is determined to accomplish its redemption tour.

"Talk about mindset, again our mantra since Day 1 is to and was to improve on the daily. We always want to get better than the day before, and that will still be our mantra, that will still be our mindset to get better from the next days before our next game so that we could be more ready come Game 2 and hopefully, we will play a lot better in Game 2 so that we could be nearing dun sa gusto naming destination this year," Dimaunahan said.

Coach Haydee Ong remains upbeat that UST will fight and live another day as her troops put up a gallant stand in the opener.

"Nothing to be ashamed of. The girls did very well and I'm so proud of them. Hopefully, manalo kami. Yung mga miscues namin sa defense namin, yun yung mga tatargetin namin for two more days. Kung ano yung mga kailangan namin gawin. And we'll be back stronger," Ong said.

Expect an intense showdown between the Lady Bulldogs' Camille Clarin and the Tigresses' Kent Pastrana, who battled tooth and nail this past Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

In the junior high school division, University of the East and UST will clash in the division’s Finals opener to open the three-game championship slate at 11 a.m.

The well-rested Junior Warriors gained an early passage to the Finals after dethroning inaugural champions NUNS Bullpups, while the Tiger Cubs had to defeat Season 86 silver medalists FEU-D Baby Tamaraws twice to clinch the last Finals ticket.

For head coach Andrew Estrella, they are not only focused on their division’s glory, as UE looks to end a 39-year UAAP basketball title drought across all divisions.

“Right now, we are just thinking about the present. Siyempre, nandiyan yung other stuff na matagal na walang basketball championship and UE. That’s our motivation. We are also motivated to win a championship for Boss Frank, Boss Jacob and Boss Jared (Lao), especially, alam natin yung nangyari sa Benilde sa NCAA,” Estrella said.

UST head coach Noli Mejos, on the other hand, believes that it will take more than the Tiger Cubs star trio of Jhon Canapi, Dustin Bathan, and Andwele Cabanero to finally take down UE, citing the importance of team chemistry and doubled hard work in training.

While the Tiger Cubs lost both elimination matches to the Junior Warriors, UST came close to taking down UE with a narrow 78-80 defeat in their second-round encounter last October 30.

“Dadagdagan pa namin yung effort namin [against UE], especially on defense. Balik sa practice, viewing na naman. Kung nagawa namin dati na matalo sa kanila by two points, kulang yung effort namin at players noon, ngayon dadagdagan namin para manalo kami,” Mejos said.

All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports (Ch. 6) and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (Ch. 263 on Cignal TV).