Allianz Conquer Challenge making a difference on two fronts

The Allianz PNB Life Insurance employees running alongside their Aeta counterparts to kick off their wave of the Allianz Conquer Challenge in Clark Global City

Allianz is making headway here in the Philippines into the world of Obstacle Course Racing, with its Allianz Conquer Challenge, of which its third leg took place earlier this month in Clark Global City.

This particular OCR event was a ten-kilometer race, with 25 different obstacles strewn all across its path. Among such obstacles runners have to deal with are spider web, monkey bars, tire wall, and a slip wall. A failure to overcome an obstacle would be forced to a carry around a 30-pound sand bag across a small running loop before completing the race.

It is the same path used by professional participants who are attempting to make the national team pool for a potential call-up for the SEA Games next year, which is the first time obstacle course racing will be part of the biennial competition.

Getting themselves closer for a national call-up are Jeffrey Regino, who topped the male open elite race at just over 50.5 minutes, and Sarah Lim Narvasa, who topped the distaff side with a time of just under 75 minutes.

Joining Regino and Narvasa to comprise the early national pool are Divino Manolito, Nathaniel Sanchez, Rocky Madorable, Gab Rosario, Crystal Umala, Glorien Merisco, Kat Santos, and Ali Zandra Chiongbian.

When asked about the Philippines' chances in OCR, Pilipinas Obstacle Course Race Federation head Al Agra says, "Expectations are high for us to produce because there will be six gold medals in obstacle race in the SEA Games next year That’s why we’re holding qualifying races early because we want to give our national pool members time to train and prepare.

Aside from the main race, the ACC held a special wave for twenty Aetas that were paired with an Allianz PNB Life employee, led by their Chief Operating Officer Alex Grenz. The indigenous participants are students from the Villa Maria Integrated School in Porac, a public school that Allianz PNB Life adopted as part of its CSR activities.

When asked about the experience of taking part in the event, Reyna Baclay was thankful for the opportunity, noting that she enjoyed the experience and took it as a lesson that she can take home. She shared that the obstacles are similar to what they go through in everyday life, noting that they "carry 50 kilos of camote or ube that we bring to the lowlands. If we sell, our families will have money to spend." The 18-year-old Grade 9 student has aspirations of entering the IT industry that she hopes to enter once she graduates. By entering the race, she says that she can dream, too, something her fellow Aetas aspire for as well by joining.

In establishing this collaborative activity with the Aetas, Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer Gae Martinez shares, "We recognize the strength of the Aetas. So, aside from educating them with the basics of personal finance through our financial literacy program, we would like to impart to them the value of committing to achieve goals that they have to set. We want to give them a fair chance of having employment opportunities in the future."

Martinez adds, "OCR is an up and coming sport. It is gaining popularity in the Philippines. Allianz as a company uses sports to connect with communities. The Aetas from Villa Maria is one of the communities that Allianz here in the Philippines has chosen to support.  This is, in line with our advocacy to promote social inclusion, one of the pillars of our company’s Corporate Citizenship Strategy."

Allianz PNB Life Marketing Director Rei Abrazaldo says, "We at Allianz have always been curious and wanting to be a significant contributor in bridging the protection gap and what better way to exemplify that is by giving the minority group like the Aetas a chance to compete and be a part."

Dovetailing this with their ongoing "Sanlahi" campaign, having indigenous communities engage in social inclusion activities like this allows them to have "the courage to move forward, the courage to overcome life’s obstacles, for them to have better life," which Martinez highlighted and then added, "As our tag line goes - we dare you to, because we’re with you."

NBA set for Christmas Day schedule

The NBA on Christmas!

Christmas is considered as one of the hallowed traditions in the NBA, and the games tomorrow will mark the 71st time the league has put out a slate for the occasion. This is the eleventh straight year they have scheduled five games on the calendar, putting their total of Christmas Day games at 252.

Although all five games will be broadcast nationally in the United States, the Philippines will only have three games shown on TV locally, with the much-anticipated matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors getting the free tv treatment via S+A. However, fans who have NBA League Pass would be able to watch all of these games without a fuss.

Here are some tidbits about the holiday.

• With 395 points, Kobe Bryant is the career NBA scoring leader on Christmas, followed by Oscar Robertson's 377 points and LeBron James' 321 points. Kobe scored those points in sixteen appearances, while James is set to tack on his total in his upcoming 13th appearance, joining Dolph Schayes, Shaquille O'Neal, Earl Monroe, and Dwyane Wade as the only players with that many games in Christmas.
• There are over 250 events linked to the NBA Cares' Season of Giving campaign linked to the ten teams playing on Christmas, all of which aim to brighten the holidays to hundreds of youth and families this year.
• The New York Knicks have been a virtual Christmas Day staple. Their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks to kick off the action makes it the 53rd year they are part of the slate. Along with the Los Angeles Lakers, they have most number of Christmas Day wins with 22.
• Bernard King is the only player in NBA history to score sixty points on Christmas, pulling it off back in 1984. Two more players would score fifty on the holiday in Wilt Chamberlain (59 in 1961) and Rick Barry (50 in 1966). The high mark in this century for scoring on Christmas belongs to Tracy McGrady, who poured 46 for Orlando back in 2002, while Kevin Durant holds the record for active players with 44 back in 2010.
• With the NBA continuing its international reach, the league has 38 players from outside the United States set to potentially play on Christmas, representing twenty countries. That is magnified by its broadcast reach internationally, as the league broadcasts through its 49 international partners to 215 countries and territories.
• Eric Gordon turns 30 on Christmas. According to basketball-reference, Gordon is one of only seven NBA players born on this day. He and former Florida big man Chris Richard (who turns 34) are the only players from that group who were born after 1955.
• Aside from the Knicks, the Lakers have been sort of traditionally been part of the holiday slate, with their matchup against the Warriors making it their 20th straight year they are playing on Christmas.
• The Christmas Day slate has fourteen NBA All-Stars expected to play. The day also marks the official start of All-Star Voting, which will commence at 12mn Manila time. Since it is presented by Google, voting can be done through searching NBA All-Star vote on Google, as well as via Google Assistant. Fans can vote as well through the NBA website and the NBA app.
• The slate tomorrow features the last five players named as the league's Most Valuable Player. James Harden and Russell Westbrook highlights the matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder, while James tangles with Durant and Stephen Curry.
• The league is set to end long Christmas Day droughts for a couple of teams. The Bucks last played back in 1977. The Utah Jazz last played in 1997.
• The Portland Trailblazers last played in 2010, but they are looking to improve their 14-3 record on Christmas, which is second-best in the league behind the Miami Heat's 10-2 record.
• Ben Simmons is seeking to join an illustrious group of people that snagged a Christmas triple-double. Draymond Green joined that group last year, with Westbrook (2013) and James (2010), being the only players to do that in this century. Hall of Famers Robertson (four times in the 1960s), John Havlicek (1967) and Billy Cunningham (1970) complete the cast.
• Westbrook can be the all-time steals leader on Christmas if he can force one against the Rockets. He is currently tied with Scottie Pippen with 24 overall.

Scott Farrell uses his past to fuel his success with Ringstar Boxing

Scott Farrell

Boxing fans seem to never tire of the age-old story of the boxer who came from a hard scrabble, dead-end background and made it to the top with nothing but true grit, determination and the sheer force of his will.  It’s a timeless and commonplace tale that keeps all followers of the sweet science continually coming back for more.

It’s not often, though, that we come across a boxing promoter with similar hard luck credentials.  But for Scott Patrick Farrell, the tough life of his youth informs and infuses everything he’s about today. And as the Ringstar founder looks towards another lineup of major promotions in 2019, those experiences will continue to influence and drive everything he does.

Farrell’s journey to building one of Asia’s largest media properties began in the early 1970’s on the grey and grim streets of Hucknall, a small, dreary mining town in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. As a kid, the future seemed as bleak as the surroundings, and your options were slim.

“You had three choices in my neighborhood,” Farrell recalled recently.  “Glue sniffing, being bullied, or fighting. I was bullied quite bad as a kid. I had ginger hair, freckles and was from an Irish family background. The 1970’s were quite tough growing up, especially on the council estates where you regularly had to fight just to get home from school. I chose after being beaten on most occasions to learn how to fight.”

Like so many boxing fans, Farrell learned to love the sweet science by watching fights at the side of his dad.

“My first memory of boxing is watching with my dad one Saturday afternoon, on a black and white TV,” Farrell said. “All you could see was the two pugilists in the ring surrounded by a cigarette smoking audience and some awful commentary. However, I was hooked and just needed to know more.

“My dad loved boxing and was quite a tough guy himself, all the big fights that we could see we would watch together. Or if there was a local fight happening around Nottingham we would go along and support.”

Farrell recalls two names that made the most impression on him as a kid; Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano.

“They were the first two names that stuck in my head as a kid,” Farrell said. “Reason being my dad always had his version of them and why he respected them as professional boxers and human beings. At that time I was too young to know very much about them and their careers, but I was fascinated by the stories of their fights and lives in and outside of the ring. This was another hook when I knew I wanted to be a boxer.”

But while Farrell remained fascinated with Ali and Marciano, he remembers one particular fight that pushed him to take the big leap into the ring; the 1990 war between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, which has become a classic in boxing lore.

“I loved that fight and the build-up. I liked them both for different reasons. I had been spending time in the boxing gyms, hitting bags, doing some work on the mitts and the occasional sparring but after that fight I just wanted to take things a step higher and compete myself.”
Farrell took several amateur fights, but quickly realized his limitations.

“I had tons of heart, and I will fight anyone you put in front of me,” he said. “But I seemed to lack certain skills other fighters seemed so natural to develop.”

Farrell would eventually end up a half a world away in Singapore and China. He started a family, got into business, had plenty of ups, and an equal amount of downs. But like anyone who learns to love boxing at an early age, the pugilism itch never left him.

Several years ago, Farrell found himself in transition and decided it was time to go all in. Asia was home to so many great fighters, he thought, but nobody has tried to tie them all together into one promotion that all of Asia, and the world, would want to watch.  And he didn’t want to start just any promotion based solely around hype. The fights had to be really good, with quality fighters engaged in strong matchups, and great story lines. Thus, Ringstar was born in October 2016.

It doesn’t take a business school degree to grasp that being a success as a boxing promoter is a one in a million shot. What made Farrell think he could succeed where so many others have failed?

“You gotta have 100% belief in yourself, and your vision,” Farrell said laughing. “The reason so many fail is they are not committed, they only see what’s in front of them at that moment in time. From the very beginning I have visualized my promotion to be valued in the billions, even before I knew what I would name it.

“I have never doubted my ability as a man to bring the great sport of boxing to every home in Asia. I will bring the great fights people want to see, good 50/50 matchmaking where the fights are important and the titles mean something again.” 

But wasn’t this the era of mixed martial arts, which has seemed to get bigger and bigger with countless promotions springing up all over the world? Farrell wasn’t blind to this trend, but, outside of one particular MMA promotion, he’s never been much of a believer that the trend will outlast a historic sport such as boxing.

“UFC, amazing branding and some even greater fights and just very smart people that saw a real opportunity and maximized it,” Farrell said. “Any other MMA promotion is a very poor second place in my opinion.”

“Boxing stands the test of time and is soaked in the blood, sweat and tears of sporting history. It has created greats such as Ali, Foreman, Tyson, Shavers, Marciano, the list goes on and on. Even after they have long finished boxing their names are shouted and the days of their glory are brought back to life through conversations or old films of their fights… heroes who didn’t know how to quit, who sacrificed everything sometimes for no reward at all, but yet inspired us all. There are so many strengths in boxing. I ask you, how many heroes of MMA have the same appeal as Ali, Foreman or Frazier? In fact, are they even called heroes or worthy of that label?”

With five successful promotions already under his belt, Farrell knows his journey to boxing greatness in Asia and the world is just beginning. But he likes what he’s seen so far.

“We are already a global broadcast and I haven’t even really started yet. Just watch out in 2019, as this is where I will make my mark.”

Where others might blink, Farrell intends to stare down the tempest that is big time boxing promoting and emerge a winner. Where some may waiver and fold, he will stay the course to see his hand raised in glory. It’s all because of his love for boxing, a sport that had become a part of his DNA since the day of his birth.

“In my life, more than once, I have lost everything,” Farrell said. “I’m not perfect and yet I try improve on who I am every day as I walk this earth. The only thing in my whole life that has never left me, or have I lost, is my love for boxing and its love for me in return.”

Current Pinoy basketball icons meet their elder counterparts

Basketball legends past and present in one photo.

Before their ill-fated results in the recently-concluded window for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, the current iteration of the Philippines senior men's basketball team met their elder counterparts for a simple gathering at the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, putting together some of the best to have played the hardwood for the country.

According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio, "When Filipino basketball fans speak of Olympic honor, of Olympic prestige, indeed of Olympic tradition, we cast our eyes to the distant past. We are in the company of 10 great players who know the story of what made our basketball past great."

Representing the illustrious names of the past are these Olympians:

Rafael Hechanova (1952)
Antoino Genato (1952 and 1956)
Caloy Loyzaga (1952 and 1956), represented by his eldest son Chito
Kurt Bachmann (1960), represented by his son Dickie
Edgardo Roque (1960)
Arturo Valenzona (1964)
Jimmy Mariano (1968)
Robert Jaworski (1968)
Marte Samson (1972)
Manny Paner (1972)

Panlilio adds, "The objective today is not to measure the success of one team or one generation over the other, but to share stories and strands of commitment, patriotism, and pride,” added Panlilio. “We are on the eve of a war that may well spell whether the Philippines will advance to the next phase of the Fiba World Cup. Today’s reunion with the basketball legends reinforces our belief in the Gilas Pilipinas team to play at its best to achieve its goals, whatever the odds, whatever the cost."

SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios shares, "This is a golden opportunity for these Philippine basketball legends to share their experiences and to give inspirational messages to our current Gilas Pilpinas players. Not many people get this opportunity to be with greatness and we hope it rubs off on our players."

Representing the legends, former Senator Jaworski says, "We thank the SBP for the honor of recognition and that they reached out to the past basketball players to offer words of advice to our national players."

Genato then implored, "Make the most of this opportunity I believe you will win."

As for our current group, LA Tenorio shares, "Malaking bagay na mga idol natin nag-pave ng way para sa atin."

Current head coach Yeng Guiao adds, "This is a wonderful send-off for our national team. Meron tayong kasabihan na, ‘ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa pinaroroonan.’ To be in this room with all these basketball legends is a good opportunity to learn from our past to aspire for our future. We should link up with our past to link up with our present to go to our future."

The Philippines still has to wait to secure its ticket to the 2019 FIBA World Cup, which will take place in China, after a disastrous window that saw them lose both of its home games, which were held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

They wrap their Qualifying campaign with a road trip to Doha against Qatar before closing it at Almaty against Kazakhstan.

Philippine Premier League Football Commissioner Bernie Sumayao re: Davao Aguilas

This is the complete statement that Philippine Premier League Football Commissioner Bernie Sumayao with the sudden withdrawal of the Davao Aguilas from football participation in the upcoming season.

“ I have been informed about the withdrawal of the Davao Aguilas, and have received it with a heavy heart. When an important team departs the league, it is always a cause of concern. However, we have also been approached by a number of teams that have expressed strong interest in joining the PPL. We are currently evaluating the merits of each applicant. When I first approached the PFF about taking over the reins of the Philippine Football League (“PFL”), I knew about the difficult challenges that it was facing. I felt, like most football fans, that the league was at a crossroads. There was no revenue being generated, no national sponsorship, no TV media, limited attendance at the stadiums, numerous restrictions being enforced on fan activity inside the stadiums, and many more factors that would have challenged the very existence of the league. I knew there was no “quick fix”, and that the road to recovery will take some time. I also knew that in order to get back on track, we have to have a more professional and structured approach to operating the league. Most importantly, the league needs to take very good care and listen intently to the concerns of its stakeholders – the Federation, the owners of the teams, the players, and most importantly, the fans. The fans are the fuel that drives the engine. Without the fans, even the most organized league will never survive.”

“ The league will only prosper when we start to understand and implement the concepts of discipline, accountability, responsibility, and unity. These are not merely words, but are a way of life and the path to success. I have stepped in at a very difficult time. It was either witness the decline of Philippine pro football as a distant observer, or start working and do something about it. I chose to do something about it. I also believed that the league should be a concerted effort of the teams that participate in it. This is where it becomes important to have a unified stance, strength in numbers. Where politics need to give way to discipline and compassion. In order for the league to prosper, the team owners must also be able to make sense of the financial burden it has to undertake and somehow find a way to recover their investments. It must have the help and support to generate its own revenue, which will lead to financial independence. All of this will take time, but we need to start now. It all starts with a small step with all stakeholders moving in the same direction.”

“ The PPL is not a reincarnation of the UFL, PFL or any other previous leagues. It is a new, neutral, independent league whose main objective is to contribute to the development of football in the country. It is also the gateway to the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup. We are not here for the money nor the glory. We have no political or opportunistic hidden agendas. We are here to work for the country. That is why I have always been appealing, especially to the many frustrated fans, to stay positive and never give up hope. Change is never easy. But it is a catalyst of progress. So I am appealing to all the stakeholders of football in the Philippines to support change and adapt. Let us move past all the criticisms and negativity and embrace change in the pursuit of progress and stability.”

“The PPL will soon actively engage in news dissemination, give periodic updates about its plans on the development of the league, and conduct regular communication exchanges for fans on social media. See you all at the PPL kick-off on March 2019.”

#webelieve    #nevergiveup    #truefootballfan  #supportphilippinefootball

ONE Championship seals partnership with Turner Sports for US broadcast

ONE Championship headed to TNT

In a deal to further expand its broadcast reach, ONE Championship and Turner Sports have entered into a three-year partnership. Such a partnership, assisted by Evolution Media, will allow the former to distribute its live event coverage in the United States through the latter, via B/R Live and TNT.

B/R Live, which is Turner's live sports streaming service, will serve as the primary destination for live ONE Championship coverage, starting January 19. It will also distribute shoulder programming that would complement the coverage of said live event.

TNT, on the other hand, will televise at least twelve one-hour taped re-airing of ONE Championship events yearly for the duration of the partnership.

Turner Sports President Lenny Daniels shares, "ONE Championship is one of the most popular mixed martial arts organizations in the world, with a high concentration of passionate, millennial fans that make it a perfect fit for B/R Live and TNT." He adds, "We will leverage every opportunity within our portfolio to partner with ONE Championship and help further expand its footprint in the U.S."

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong chimes in, "We are thrilled to partner with Turner Sports, a truly iconic industry leader of premium sports content, to bring authentic, world-class martial arts action to American fans. As the Home of Martial Arts, ONE Championship has a simple formula of values, heroes, and stories that have resonated deeply across the globe. We look forward to showcasing the greatest martial artists in the world."

The move is the latest in a series of aggressive plays by ONE Championship to get headlines in the mixed martial arts space, made notable with the addition of American talent into its roster the past couple of months, namely Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson in October and Sage Northcutt in November.

2019 is set to be a huge year for ONE Championship as it is set to have 24 events scheduled.

For further updates on ONE Championship, one can check out www.onefc.com for more details.

37th PCA Open commences tomorrow

The most prestigious local tennis tournament is set to commence tomorrow, as the Philippine Columbian Association is set to host the 37th edition of the PCA Open at its courts in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.

Kicking off the event is the Juniors 10-under and 12-under divisions, which will take place this weekend.

The following weekend (November 23-26) will see the rest of the Juniors divisions (14-under, 16-under, and 18-under) take to the courts.

As for the Men's and Ladies' Open division for both singles and doubles, qualifying is scheduled for November 26-29, with the actual tournament proper to take place starting November 30.

Bryan Otico is the defending champion in Men's Singles, with the likes of PJ Tierro, Johnny Arcilla, Nino Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, and AJ Lim attempting to wrest the title away.

Marian Jade Capadocia is seeking her sixth title in this tournament, with the likes of Clarice Patrimonio, Bambi Zoleta and Akiko de Guzman standing in her way from a successful title defense.

Designated as a Group 1 event, the PCA Open is supported by PHILTA, Longmarch Roadlux, HEAD, Mary Grace, Stronghold Insurance, Coca-Cola, Mr. Freeze, and the members and directors of the PCA. Dunlop is the official ball for this tournament.

Updates on this tournament will be posted on its specialized Facebook page (search for PCA Open 2018).

Philippines defeat Tajikistan

The Philippines' starting XI versus Tajikistan (c/o the Football Federation of Tajikistan)

The Philippines secured back-to-back victories to bolster their quest to make it to the Olympic women's football tournament in 2020 with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory against Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium.

After they spotted the hosts a goal in the 26th minute through Gulsunbi Khalimova, the ladies managed to get things even through Shelah Cadag five minutes later.

With the scoreline remaining level into the halftime break, the Philippines took the lead through Sara Castaneda in the 50th minute, then provided the insurance cushion with a penalty conversion in the 76th minute.

The wins keeps the Pinays level on points with Chinese-Taipei, although the latter has the clear edge on goal difference after 9-0 thrashings against the hosts and Mongolia, whom the Philippines will face next on November 11.

Philippines demolish Singapore to open Asian Olympic Qualifying for women's football

Team Pilipinas

The Philippines kicked off its quest to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon, defeating Singapore, 9-0 at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.

Shelah Cadag made a dazzling first impression for the Pinays in the tournament, securing a hat trick in her maiden appearance with the national team. She scored her first goal after just three minutes of action, doubling things up a couple of minutes later. The UST scoring machine would complete the hat trick after 43 minutes.

Not to be outdone, experienced national team cogs Hali Long and Irish Navaja contributed braces. The former scored in the 32nd and 59th minutes, while the latter netted hers in the 52nd and 67th minutes.

Completing the scoring for the Let Dimzon-coached side were Dai Dolino in the 27th minute and Sara Castaneda in the 57th minute.

The Pinays will be on bye when Group A action resumes on November 6. They resume tournament play against hosts Tajikistan on November 8.

Philippines set to Tokyo Olympics qualifying in women's football

The Women's Senior National Football team of the Philippines, alongside the team staff

The Philippines is set to commence its quest to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in women's football.

Grouped alongside Chinese-Taipei, Mongolia, Singapore, and hosts Tajikistan in Group A, they kick off their campaign this afternoon against their fellow ASEAN competitors. Kickoff is scheduled at 4pm.

The Malditas are the second-highest ranked team in the group at 74th overall in the FIFA rankings, with Chinese-Taipei the only other team that has a better ranking at 40th. They are the only two squads in this group ranked in the top 100, as Singapore is 107th and Tajikistan is 119th, with Mongolia unranked due to lack of matches.

In a statement, Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes shares, "The PFF wishes the Philippines Women’s National Team all the best for the 2020 Olympic Football Tournament Asian Qualifiers Round 1. This is the second time that the team will travel to Tajikistan for a qualifier, and we hope that they perform well to advance to the second round."

The last time they were in Tajikistan in a tournament, the Philippines made a breakthrough by earning their way into the AFC Asian Cup for Women, successfully qualifying for the first time in the top tier national competition for women in Asia. Held this April in Jordan, the AFC Women's Asian Cup was the main qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup that is to take place in France next year.

Twenty ladies were called up to comprise the team, most of whom have had national team experience in previous tournaments. Almost all are currently participating in the PFF Women's League, which is set to wrap up its 2018 season later this month.

Analou Amita (DF, OutKast FC)
Martie Bautista (MF, Ateneo)
Mea Bernal (DF, OutKast FC)
Shelah Cadag (FW, University of Santo Tomas)
Sara Castaneda (MF, La Salle)
Shai del Campo (FW, La Salle)
Alesa Dolino (DF, OutKast FC)
Patrice Impelido (MF, Hiraya FC)
Kyla Inquig (MF, Green Archers United)
Charisa Lemoran (MF, University of Santo Tomas)
Hali Long (DF, Green Archers United)
Ivy Lopez (DF, University of Santo Tomas)
Hazel Lustan (MF, University of Santo Tomas)
Irish Navaja (MF, La Salle)
Hannah Pachejo (DF, University of Santo Tomas)
Inna Palacios (GK, Green Archers United)
Kimberly Parina (GK, Far Eastern University)
Camille Rodriguez (MF, Hiraya FC)
Nicole Reyes (GK, University of Santo Tomas)
Patricia Tomanon (DF, Florida International University alumna)

Taking on the head coaching mantle for this squad is Let Dimzon, assisted by Gerard Orcullo, and Melo Sabacan, with Prescilla Rubio serving as the team trainer. Jefferson Cheng is the team manager, with the Quezon-Batangas Regional Football Association General-Secretary and concurrent chairperson for Women's Football in the PFF, Lalaine Bautista serving as the Head of the Delegation.

The complete schedule for the First Round of the 2020 Olympics Qualifying is as follows (kickoff in Manila time):

November 4 vs Singapore (4pm)
November 8 vs Tajikistan (7pm)
November 11 vs Mongolia (4pm)
November 13 vs Chinese-Taipei (4pm)

All of the Filipinas' matches will take place at the Hisor Central Stadium.

The Philippines just needs to finish in the top two of the Group in order to advance to the next round of qualifying.

37th PCA Open Kicks set for November 16 to December 9

Coming this month

The 37th edition of the Philippine Columbian Association is set to kick off this month, with high stakes competition beckoning for all participants.

The tournament, which is set to run from November 16 to December 9, is made possible with the assistance of the PCA's directors, as well as the support of the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA).

Considered as the Philippine equivalent to "Wimbledon" with regards to prestige, the PCA Open for this year will have four main events:

• Open Singles and Doubles for both Men and Women
• Juniors action (subdivided to five age groups: 12-under, 14-under, 16-under, 18-under for boys and girls, and 10-under unisex)
• Seniors Doubles action for Men and Women (two age groups: 40-above and 55-above)

John Bryan Otico and Marian Jade Capadocia are the defending PCA Open singles champions, and both have their task cut out for them in defending their respective crowns.

Otico will have to deal with the 2016 champion and UAAP Season 80 Most Valuable Player AJ Lim, 8-time champion Johnny Arcilla, and PJ Tierro, with other potential hopefuls in the form of Jeson Patrombon, Nino Alcantara, and Jurence Mendoza.

Five-time champion Capadocia, on the other hand, has the trio of Clarice Patrimonio, Bambi Zoleta, and Akiko de Guzman serving as her biggest threats to a sixth title.

For more details about the 2018 PCA Open, one can check out their official Facebook page, as well as @PCAOpen on both Twitter and Instagram.

EDSA / C-5 host Go for Gold Larga Pilipinas race

C-5 cycling

The Filipino cycling community showed up recently for the Go For Gold Larga Pilipinas EDSA-C-5 Blitz Races this past weekend.

Close to three thousand competitors participated in eleven different categories, with an additional six thousand took part in the Fun Ride that ran across 24.8 kilometers stretching the two major road arteries in the Metro.

According to Larga Pilipinas technical consultant Atty. Froi Dayco, "This is not your ordinary race. This is classic. One for the book and one event that might not happen again."

Among the winners in the different races is Aidan James Mendoza, who claimed the Professional/Elite category. Along with John Mark Galedo and Jerry Aquino, Jr., the three managed an early breakaway from the pack, before Mendoza went on to clock a 23-minute and 18-second time to top the division over Jeck River and George Oconer.

He shared afterwards about the race, "Yan po kasing ganyan kaikli na karera, talagang buhos na agad yan. Di ka na dapat magpahinga riyan kasi kaunting pagkakamali mo sa ganyan kaikli na race, maiiwan ka." Mendoza would then add, "Saka nung nakita ko na beterano at mga laspag sa iba’t ibang karera yung kalaban ko, siniguro ko nang hindi ako mawawala sa harap."

In the other categories, Fred Chua ruled the Corporate Executives over Randall Hortaleza and Lance Asprec, while Albert Primero took the Masters title. Manuel Reynante claimed the Managers division over Alfie Tangzo and Alonzo Castro, with Athena Marana taking the Women's category over Marianne Dacumos and Kate Yasmin Velasco.

Completing the list of winners are Jarwyn Banatao for the Triathletes/Duathletes division over John Vyrom Lucero and Miguel Mapalo, Lorenzo Rellosa for the Amateurs, John Carlo Garol for the Under-21, and John Carl Reynante for Fixed Gear.

It was the second set of races that took place under the Larga Pilipinas banner, with the first one taking place in Marikina a month ago. Aside from Go for Gold, it is supported by PCSO Scratch It, Koten Enterprises, Nickel Asia Corporation, Excellent Noodles, Standard Insurance, Emperador Brandy, Juicy Lemon, Mother’s Best, Black Mamba, Boy Kanin, Aerox Quezon City Club, Versa.ph, Uratex Foam, MMDA and PhilCycling.

Cansino snaps up second Player of the Week nod

CJ Cansino continues to impress in the 81st Season of the UAAP, as he shone the most last week to be named as the league's latest Player of the Week by the Collegiate Press Corps.

Presented by Chooks-to-Go, the nod was in recognition of being the first freshman to secure a triple double since the integration of computerized stats in the UAAP back in 2003.

The Tiger Cub-turned-Growling Tiger finished with twenty points, fourteen rebounds, and ten assists for the University of Santo Tomas in their 79-68 victory over the University of the East, a win that moved them into solo fourth place in the league standings heading into the stretch run towards the postseason.

Head Coach Aldin Ayo was least surprised with CJ's effort, sharing to the media after the game, "I know that ever since na kinuha ko si CJ, ang goal ko sa kanya is matulungan siya na mag-materialize lahat ng potential niya."

He adds, "CJ is full of potential, gusto lang namin mag-materialize iyon. I hope hindi siya makuntento, he continues improving. The good thing about CJ is that he always responds whenever sinasabihan namin."

For CJ, he deflects the credit more towards Ayo's system. "Masaya syempre dahil nakuha ko yung triple-double pero sinunod ko lang kasi ‘yung sistema na sharing the ball, na lahat kailangan gumana. Thankful ako sa sistema dahil nag-fit ito sa’kin," said the former Juniors MVP.

The win served as a celebratory moment for a couple more reasons, as not only did it eclipse the total wins UST garnered during the tenure of Ayo's predescessor, Boy Sablan, but also served as a fitting birthday gift for Cansino, who dedicated the milestone to his coaches as well as to the UST community.

"Oo, inspired ‘di lang dahil birthday ko, dahil (din) sa mga tao na grabe ‘yung mga sinasakripisyo sa team, lalo na ‘yung coaching staff. ‘Yung last game namin, ang pangit so para sa kanila talaga ‘to, to the community, and the coaches na sobra magsakripisyo sa team."

To secure his second Player of the Week nod, the print and online media picked Cansino over his teammate Marvin Lee, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Brandon Bates of La Salle, and Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson.

Back-to-back wins for the UAAP Press Corps

The UAAP Press Corps with their team photo after they posted their second win of the season (Photo via Charmie Lising)

The media provided a rude welcome of sorts to debutants Larc and Asset in the UAAP Goodwill Games on Sunday night at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

An 8-2 finishing kick by the Scribes ensured that they remain undefeated in the tournament, which is held to provide camaderie for the people working behind the scenes in the league.

Leading the way for the Chooks-to-Go-backed Media are Arnold Cagang of Tiebreaker Times, who led the way with 25 points, 15 rebounds, a couple of assists, and a couple of steals while playing all 40 minutes.

Key veterans Christian Jacinto of Spin and Cedelf Tupas of the Philippine Daily Inquirer also figured in the win, with the former contributing his own double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, as well as five assists and a couple of blocks, while the latter added twelve points, a couple of rebounds, and a couple of assists.

Javi Palana led Larc and Asset with 22 points, thirteen rebounds and a couple of assists. Julio Silvestre and Paul Ryan Tan combined for 28 points to help Palana in a losing cause.

On Saturday, the Table and Stats team got themselves on the board with a 106-80 victory ABS-CBN Sports.

Reinforcements Tonino Gonzaga and Moriah Gingerich led the way for the Table and Stats with triple-doubles. The Ateneo alum chipped in 26 points, thirteen rebounds, and twelve assists, while the UP alum netted 22 points, thirty rebounds, and thirteen assists, as well as a steal and four blocks.

Anton Roxas led the charge with 28 points, sixteen rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Nikko Ramos provided 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Courtside reporters Migs Gomez and Dyp Dypiangco made their UAAP Goodwill Games debut with the former scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds, while the latter netted five points, eight rebounds, five assists, and a steal.

The scores:

Table and Stats (106) - Gonzaga 26, Gingerich 22, Alfonso 21, Ducanes 10, Aguilar 8, Sta. Ana 7, Flores 6, Paguila 6

ABS-CBN Sports (80) - Roxas 28, Ramos 22, Fermin 9, Gomez 8, Garcia 8, Dypiangco 5

Quarter Scores: 32-16, 47-29, 78-49, 106-80

UAAP Media (61) - Cagang 25, Jacinto 18, Tupas 12, Gatpandan 4, Sevilla 2, Dalupang 0, Lozano 0, Sarmenta 0, Bonilla 0, Flores 0, Lagunzad 0.

Larc and Asset (55) - Palana 22, Silvestre 15, Tan 13, Tamayo 5, Pajar 0, Marcelo 0, Quinto 0, Vardeleon 0, Buenaventura 0, Magcaling 0

International NBA storylines to watch this season

With the NBA continuing its increasing globalization, here are some things to watch out for involving its international players.

• Eleven international players currently on the NBA's Opening Night rosters have sniffed an All-Star appearance: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks and Greece), Luol Deng (Minnesota Timberwolves and South Sudan), Goran Dragic (Miami Heat and Slovenia), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers and Cameroon), Al Horford (Boston Celtics and Dominican Republic), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies and Spain), Pau Gasol (San Antonio Spurs and Spain), Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics and Australia), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks and Germany), Tony Parker (Charlotte Hornets and France), and Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks and Latvia)

• Nowitzki will be playing his 21st season with the Mavericks, which will set a NBA record for most seasons played with a single team, moving past fellow legend Kobe Bryant, who played all of his twenty seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He joins Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett and Vince Carter as the only players to have played 21 seasons in the league. Carter is the only one player other than Nowitzki who is still playing in the league.

• The NBA.com's 2018-19 GM Survey revealed that Antetokounmpo would be the top player that general managers would choose to be their franchise cornerstone. In addition, Murray was the top pick these same GMs believe will have a breakout season.

• A few international basketball icons are moving up the scoring rankings:
• Pau Gasol will need fifteen points to move past fellow San Antonio Spur David Robinson for 38th place in the all-time scoring list, and 105 points to move past Bob Pettit for 37th place overall.
• Tony Parker needs 306 points to move past Bob Lanier for 50th place in the all-time scoring list.

• Currently assigned as a two-way player for the Memphis Grizzlies, BWB alum Yuta Watanabe would be just the second Japanese player to play in the NBA if he gets to get minutes for the Grizzlies, following Yuta Tabuse, who played with the Suns back in 2004-05.

Brandon Vera set to defend ONE FC title in Manila

The ONE Championship Heavyweight Champion

Brandon Vera finally gets a title defense.

ONE Championship has announced that its current Heavyweight World Champion will be headlining its latest MMA event at the Mall of Asia Arena: ONE: Conquest of Champions this coming November 23.

Vera claimed the strap back in December 2015 with a knockout victory over Paul Cheng. He has had just one title defense since, defeating Hideki Sekine via technical knockout in the first round a year later to raise his record to 15-7 with 1 NC. The upcoming fight will be his first fight in almost two years.

Seeking to dethrone "The Truth" on his home turf is Mauro Cerilli. "The Hammer" from Italy is the current Heavyweight Champion of the London-based MMA outfit Cage Warriors and will be making his ONE Championship debut at ONE: Conquest of Champions. Toting a 12-2 professional record, Cerilli is fresh from dispatching Karl Moore back in March for his first title defense, needing just 15 seconds to stop the Irish fighter in London during Cage Warriors 92, extending his winning streak to five matches.

In making the announcement, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shares: "The Philippines is a country that is extremely passionate about sports, especially martial arts. We have some of the greatest martial artists in Asia that call the Philippines home. One of those athletes is our ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera. Brandon has been itching to get back in action to defend his heavyweight title for some time now, and I am thrilled to announce that he will be returning at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS. Brandon will have a very tough challenger in front of him in the form of Mauro Cerilli. The two provide an explosive matchup and a good contrast of styles."

Sityodtong also shared his excitement for the co-main event for ONE: Conquest of Champions, as the ONE Championship will be crowning a new lightweight champion, with Eduard Folayang and Amir Khan duking it out. He notes that it will be "an electric evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila."

Folayang has bounced back well since losing the title to Martin Nguyen last year, notching unaninous decision victories over Kharun Atlangeriev back in May and Aziz Pahrudinov this past July to get himself back into the title picture with Nguyen forced to vacate the title a few weeks ago.

Khan, on the other hand, has won eight of his last nine bouts to figure in the title picture in this competitive division, including a first-round submission victory over Honorio Banario last September.

For further details on ONE: Conquest of Champions and other upcoming ONE Championship events, one should check out www.onefc.com.

The NBA and its international flavor

The NBA is a global game.

Basketball is a global game, and the NBA continues to illustrate that.

As of Opening Night, the league has 108 players from a record-tying 42 countries and territories, with the players spread to all thirty teams.

It is the fifth straight season that the NBA has within its employ at least a hundred international players, with the same case being having all of its teams having such a player on its roster.

This season matched last season with regards to the number of countries and territories represented, with the record number of international players being set the season before that, with 113 players.

When broken down by location, Canada has the most number of international players with eleven. Australia and France each have nine players, followed by Spain's seven and Germany's six. 65 of the 108 players come from Europe.


When broken down by team, the Dallas Mavericks have the most number of international players with seven, led by the iconic Dirk Nowitzki and their highly-regarded rookie Luka Doncic. Doncic's head coach with the Slovenian national team is Igor Kokoskov, who was hired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first NBA head coach that was born outside of North America.

26 of these players consider themselves as alumni of the Basketball Without Borders program that the NBA established alongside FIBA, a global basketball development and community outreach initiative. Notable alums of the BWB include Philadelphia 76ers teammates Joel Embiid (BWB Africa 2011, Cameroon) and Dario Saric (BWB Europe 2010, Croatia), Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (BWB Global 2015, Canada), and the top overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton (BWB Global 2016, Bahamas). BWB has been able to produce 55 alumni into the NBA, whether through the draft or free agency.

Aside from the 108, there are also six international players who have earned two-way deals. Introduced last season, two-way deals allows players to be included onto a NBA roster for up to 45 days, with the rest of the stint to be played out in the NBA G-League.

Here are the complete list of international players for the 2018-19 NBA season

Country	First Name	Last Name	NBA Team
Australia	Aron	Baynes	Boston Celtics
Australia	Jonah	Bolden	Philadelphia 76ers
Australia	Ryan	Broekhoff	Dallas Mavericks
Australia	Matthew	Dellavedova	Milwaukee Bucks
Australia	Dante	Exum	Utah Jazz
Australia	Joe	Ingles	Utah Jazz
Australia	Kyrie	Irving	Boston Celtics
Australia	Patty	Mills	San Antonio Spurs
Australia	Ben	Simmons	Philadelphia 76ers
Austria	Jakob	Poeltl	San Antonio Spurs
Bahamas	Deandre	Ayton*	Phoenix Suns
Bahamas	Buddy	Hield	Sacramento Kings
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Dzanan	Musa	Brooklyn Nets
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Jusuf	Nurkic	Portland Trail Blazers
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Ivica	Zubac	Los Angeles Lakers
Brazil	Cristiano	Felicio	Chicago Bulls
Brazil	Raul	Neto	Utah Jazz
Brazil	Nene		Houston Rockets
Cameroon	Joel	Embiid*	Philadelphia 76ers
Cameroon	Luc	Mbah a Moute*	LA Clippers
Cameroon	Pascal	Siakam*	Toronto Raptors
Canada	Khem	Birch	Orlando Magic
Canada	Dillon	Brooks	Memphis Grizzlies
Canada	Shai	Gilgeous-Alexander*	LA Clippers
Canada	Cory	Joseph	Indiana Pacers
Canada	Trey	Lyles	Denver Nuggets
Canada	Jamal	Murray*	Denver Nuggets
Canada	Kelly	Olynyk*	Miami Heat
Canada	Dwight	Powell	Dallas Mavericks
Canada	Nik	Stauskas	Portland Trail Blazers
Canada	Tristan	Thompson	Cleveland Cavaliers
Canada	Andrew	Wiggins	Minnesota Timberwolves
China	Zhou	Qi	Houston Rockets
Croatia	Dragan	Bender*	Phoenix Suns
Croatia	Bojan	Bogdanovic	Indiana Pacers
Croatia	Mario	Hezonja	New York Knicks
Croatia	Dario	Saric*	Philadelphia 76ers
Croatia	Ante	Zizic*	Cleveland Cavaliers
Czech Republic	Tomas	Satoransky	Washington Wizards
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Bismack	Biyombo	Charlotte Hornets
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Emmanuel	Mudiay	New York Knicks
Dominican Republic	Al	Horford	Boston Celtics
Egypt	Abdel	Nader	Oklahoma City Thunder
Finland	Lauri	Markkanen*	Chicago Bulls
France	Nicolas	Batum*	Charlotte Hornets
France	Evan	Fournier	Orlando Magic
France	Rudy	Gobert	Utah Jazz
France	Timothe	Luwawu-Cabarrot	Oklahoma City Thunder
France	Ian	Mahinmi	Washington Wizards
France	Frank	Ntilikina*	New York Knicks
France	Elie	Okobo	Phoenix Suns
France	Tony	Parker	Charlotte Hornets
France	Guerschon	Yabusele	Boston Celtics
Georgia	Zaza	Pachulia	Detroit Pistons
Germany	Isaac	Bonga*	Los Angeles Lakers
Germany	Maxi	Kleber	Dallas Mavericks
Germany	Dirk	Nowitzki	Dallas Mavericks
Germany	Dennis	Schroder	Oklahoma City Thunder
Germany	Daniel	Theis	Boston Celtics
Germany	Moritz	Wagner	Los Angeles Lakers
Greece	Giannis	Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks
Haiti	Skal	Labissiere	Sacramento Kings
Israel	Omri	Casspi*	Memphis Grizzlies
Italy	Marco	Belinelli*	San Antonio Spurs
Italy	Danilo	Gallinari*	LA Clippers
Latvia	Davis	Bertans	San Antonio Spurs
Latvia	Rodions	Kurucs	Brooklyn Nets
Latvia	Kristaps	Porzingis	New York Knicks
Lithuania	Domantas	Sabonis	Indiana Pacers
Lithuania	Jonas	Valanciunas*	Toronto Raptors
Mali	Cheick	Diallo	New Orleans Pelicans
Montenegro	Nikola	Mirotic*	New Orleans Pelicans
Montenegro	Nikola	Vucevic	Orlando Magic
New Zealand	Steven	Adams	Oklahoma City Thunder
Nigeria	Josh	Okogie	Minnesota Timberwolves
Poland	Marcin	Gortat	LA Clippers
Puerto Rico	J.J.	Barea	Dallas Mavericks
Republic of the Congo	Serge	Ibaka	Toronto Raptors
Russia	Timofey	Mozgov	Orlando Magic
Senegal	Gorgui	Dieng*	Minnesota Timberwolves
Serbia	Nemanja	Bjelica	Sacramento Kings
Serbia	Bogdan	Bogdanovic	Sacramento Kings
Serbia	Nikola	Jokic	Denver Nuggets
Serbia	Boban	Marjanovic	LA Clippers
Serbia	Milos	Teodosic*	LA Clippers
Slovenia	Goran	Dragic	Miami Heat
Slovenia	Luka	Doncic	Dallas Mavericks
South Sudan	Luol	Deng	Minnesota Timberwolves
South Sudan	Thon	Maker*	Milwaukee Bucks
Spain	Alex	Abrines	Oklahoma City Thunder
Spain	Jose	Calderon	Detroit Pistons
Spain	Marc	Gasol*	Memphis Grizzlies
Spain	Pau	Gasol	San Antonio Spurs
Spain	Juancho	Hernangomez	Denver Nuggets
Spain	Willy	Hernangomez*	Charlotte Hornets
Spain	Ricky	Rubio	Utah Jazz
Sweden	Jonas	Jerebko	Golden State Warriors
Switzerland	Clint	Capela	Houston Rockets
Switzerland	Thabo	Sefolosha	Utah Jazz
Tunisia	Salah	Mejri	Dallas Mavericks
Turkey	Omer	Asik	Chicago Bulls
Turkey	Ersan	Ilyasova	Milwaukee Bucks
Turkey	Enes	Kanter*	New York Knicks
Turkey	Furkan	Korkmaz	Philadelphia 76ers
Turkey	Cedi	Osman	Cleveland Cavaliers
Ukraine	Alex	Len	Atlanta Hawks
Ukraine	Svi	Mykhailiuk	Los Angeles Lakers
United Kingdom	OG	Anunoby	Toronto Raptors

And international players on two-way deals are as follows:

Country	First Name	Last Name	NBA Team
Canada	Chris	Boucher	Toronto Raptors
Canada	Naz	Mitrou-Long	Utah Jazz
Dominican Republic	Angel	Delgado	LA Clippers
Greece	Kostas	Antetokounmpo*	Dallas Mavericks
Japan	Yuta	Watanabe	Memphis Grizzlies