The Score set for October relaunch

The Score is getting a makeover.

The flagship program of S+A is getting a new look and a more exciting format when it relaunches on October 1, with the one and only Mico Halili taking over the reins as its host from TJ Manotoc. It will be broadcast first LIVE on ABS-CBN Sports' YouTube channel, with a 6pm primetime airing on S+A and S+A HD.

Mico will be enlisting a crack team of sporting icons to help deliver the latest sports news, analysis, and features. The list includes the likes of Michele Gumabao, Joe DeVance, Paolo Javelona, and Beau Belga, who were at the press launch on Thursday, as well as Joe's Ginebra teammates in Jett Manuel and LA Tenorio, among others.

Each day on The Score brings a different flavor aside from the expected rundown of what went on in the world of sports, with Mondays and Fridays devoted to the hottest sporting issues of the day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays will feature one-on-one interviews with sports personalities revealing their stories beyond the game and shedding an additional light. Thursdays center on basketball, with light and amusing conversations from Mico and his cast of characters.

According to ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena, "We are very excited to bring The Score further to the digital sphere where we know our audiences love to watch their favorite teams and players while interacting with fellow sports fans. We are also airing it on television on primetime to reach more Filipinos, especially the youth who look up to our athletes as role models and find inspiration in their journey to greatness."

S+A channel head Vince Rodriguez adds, "Mico has always been about being ahead of the game and that is one of the reasons we got him back to lead the digital strategy of ABS-CBN Sports. It was probably fate that we are in need of a new face to lead The Score and his combination of experience as an anchor, credibility as a sports analyst, and digital savvy make him the unanimous choice for the post."

The Score will be first shown via ABS-CBN Sports' YouTube channel at 1pm, with the subsequent S+A telecast to take place at 6pm (or after whatever LIVE coverage S+A is having).

GAU continue WFL Elite romp

Adamson are now in second place. Image courtesy Adamson Falcons Football team.

Green Archers United-Globe extended their stay atop the Weekend Futbol League Elite Division this past Sunday, securing a 2-0 win over Army at the ASCOM Field in Taguig.

Jimuel Ariola and Roy Kent Bedia were on the score sheet for the Archers, which has twelve points from four victories.

In the other two matches, UAAP squads Adamson and Ateneo managed to tack on contrasting victories.

The Soaring Falcons dispatched Navy-Fleet Marine, 1-0, with Karlheinz Ortinez scoring the lone goal of the match.

As for the Blue Eagles, they plastered Stallion Laguna FC-B, 7-1. Jarvey Gayoso and George Baker each netted a brace, with Rupert Baña, Josh Young and Josh Laud also on the score sheet. Stallion's lone goal came from Michael Simms.

Adamson moves into second place with seven points, two ahead of Army. Navy-Fleet Marine is a point further back, with Ateneo entering the points column with three after the victory. Stallion is at the cellar still seeking their first result this season.

WFL Elite action resumes on Sunday, with a couple of confirmed matchups. GAU seeks to extend their winning run to five matches against Adamson at La Salle-Zobel at 4pm, while Ateneo hosts Army at 3pm. No details have been made available for Stallion-B's matchup against Navy-Fleet Marine.

For more details on the Weekend Futbol League, one can check either https://www.facebook.com/Weekend.Futbol/ or go to weekendfutbol.com.

Malolos leg of PVL Open Conference on tap

Games Today at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center

4pm Iriga-Navy vs Tacloban
6pm Pocari Sweat-Air Force vs PetroGazz

The Premier Volleyball League heads to Malolos for its second provincial stop in its Open Conference campaign, with all four teams set to tangle seeking to bounce back from defeats this past weekend.

The main game of the doubleheader sees Pocari Sweat-Air Force against PetroGazz at 6pm, with the Lady Warriors seeking to bounce back from a four-set defeat against Motolite-Ateneo last Sunday at Imus, Cavite, 23-25, 25-17, 20-25, 28-30.

In spite of the loss, Myla Pablo showed her prowess with thirty points for the Lady Warriors.

The Angels suffered the same fate at the Imus Sports Center, also bowing in four sets to BanKo Perlas, 22-25, 17-25, 25-22, 17-25. They struggled to find a rhythm against the Pearls, with no one scoring in double digits.

However, they are the only team that has a win among the teams scheduled to participate today, having kicked off their campaign with a 25-22, 25-14, 26-24 win over Tacloban.

Opening things in the afternoon is the matchup between the Lady Oragons and the Fighting Warays at 4pm. Both squads suffered losses on Opening Day this past Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre, with the former bowing to BanKo Perlas, 14-25, 25-19, 17-25, 9-25.

Letran, Perpetual solidify Final Four quest

Games Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

10am Lyceum vs Arellano (HS)
12nn San Sebastian vs San Beda (HS)
2pm Lyceum vs Arellano
4pm San Sebastian vs San Beda

The Final Four picture for the 94th Season of the NCAA is getting a little more clearer, after Letran and Perpetual secured victories against separate opposition this past Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Knights downed Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first game of the collegiate doubleheader, 91-82, to secure their ninth win of the season.

After stellar performances from Bong Quinto and JP Calvo in their recent matches, the spotlight shone on Letran's seldom-used role players this time.

Jeremiah Taladua, Fran Yu, and Nico Galvelo combined to score 43 points for the Jeff Napa-coached side, all of which were their career-best.

Taladua and Yu anchored the bench scoring with 15 and 13 points, respectively, as they broke the game open with their offense in the second half. Meanwhile, Galvelo stepped into the starting role left by Jerrick Balanza to contribute fifteen points.

In spite of their quiet performances, Letran's veteran leadership still maintained their presence, as Calvo dished out nine assists, while Quinto had an all-around performance of eight points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Napa is hoping such a performance would be the start of something from their role players, sharing to the media after the game, "Hopefully, they could be consistent the rest of the season not just in this game." He also added, "But we can’t stay complacent, we still have to work and prepare for our next game."

As for the Altas, they rode on a strong start from AJ Coronel to secure their first wire-to-wire victory of the season, an 85-73 win over Jose Rizal University that moved them into a tie for fourth place with idle College of Saint Benilde at 8-5.

Coronel matched the Heavy Bombers' fifteen-point output in the first quarter, helping Perpetual erect an eight-point lead, 23-15. He would finish with 22 points and eleven rebounds. True freshman Jielo Razon bounced back with 21 points, while Prince Eze follow-up his Player of the Week performance against Lyceum with sixteen points and thirteen rebounds.

Much like their first round meeting, though, JRU proved to be a dicey opponent, with Jed Mendoza and Leo Esguerra keeping them afloat in this one as they crashed to their twelfth defeat of the season.

The Scores:

Letran 91 -- Taladua 15, Galvelo 15, Yu 13, Ambohot 10, Muyang 9, Quinto 8, Fajarito 8, Calvo 5, Celis 5, Mandreza 2, Agbong 1, Balagasay 0, Pambid 0, Banez 0.

EAC 82 -- Garcia 20, Laminou 16, Maguliano 16, Tampoc 11, Bugarin 6, Corilla 5, Neri 3, Mendoza 3, Cadua 2, Natividad 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarterscores: 18-15; 36-32; 67-54; 91-82.

Second Game

Perpetual Help 85 -- Coronel 22, Razon 21, Eze 16, Aurin 5, Jimenez 5, Charcos 4, Cuevas 4, Mangalino 3, Tamayo 3, Pasia 2, Peralta 0.

JRU 73 -- Mendoza 22, Esguerra 21, Estrella 10, Aguilar 8, Dela Virgen 3, Mallari 3, David 2, Doromal 2, Silvarez 0, Bordon 0, Padua 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15; 40-36; 67-56; 85-73.

Justine Baltazar as the UAAP Player of the Week

It's his time to shine.

With Ben Mbala around for the past couple of seasons, Justine Baltazar was content to settle for limited minutes.

But with the Cameroon international taking his talents to the pro ranks overseas, as well as for his national team, coupled with an injury to their prized recruit Taane Samuel, the former Juniors Finals MVP has stepped up and taken his portion of the spotlight, helping La Salle secure two wins this week.

On Wednesday, he netted seventeen points and twelve rebounds in just under 27 minutes against National University. His jumper with 28 seconds left broke a 76-all tie against the Bulldogs, with the Green Archers eventually securing an 80-76 win.

Then on Sunday, he netted sixteen points, fourteen rebounds, and three blocks in La Salle's 82-72 victory over UE.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Justine beat out teammate Aljun Melecio, Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson, and Prince Orizu of Far Eastern University for the Chooks-to-Go Player of the Week nod from the UAAP Press Corps.

Justine shared to the media after their game against the Red Warriors, "Trabaho lang kami sa training, at saka sa game." He added, "Sabi ni coach, huwag kaming mag-relax kahit UE kalaban namin."

La Salle head coach Louie Gonzalez is thrilled that Baltazar has stepped up to take on the challenge head on. He says, "Ngayon, china-challenge ko siya. Noong January pa lang, and now na talagang nailagay na siya sa limelight, it’s a change of lifestyle for him. It can’t be only na naglalaro siya ng basketball - he also has to take care of himself, and he has to take care of his nutrition, rest, and image." He adds, "I know this kid was just waiting for his time. And this is his time."

Letran, Perpetual seeking better postseason positioning

Games Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan:

10am Letran vs EAC-ICA (HS)
12nn Perpetual vs JRU (HS)
2pm Letran vs EAC
4pm Perpetual vs JRU

Letran and Perpetual both seek to solidify their Final Four positioning on Tuesday afternoon against separate opposition when the NCAA Season 94 basketball tournament resumes at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Knights kick off the collegiate doubleheader against Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2pm, fresh from dealing an 84-69 victory over Mapua to secure their eighth win in twelve outings.

Bong Quinto secured his third triple-double of the season with eleven points, fourteen rebounds, and eleven assists in that matchup, joining recent national team call-ups Jio Jalalon and Scottie Thompson as the last few players to have done this feat in the league as of late.

In the other collegiate matchup, the Altas seek to follow-up an impressive 83-81 victory over then-unbeaten Lyceum against cellar-dwelling Jose Rizal University at 4pm.

Prince Eze's buzzer-beating putback off a Tonton Peralta miss from the corner capped off a 25-point and 23-rebound outing for Perpetual to help snap the Pirates 30-game winning streak in the eliminations. He also added a couple of blocks for good measure.

Helping Eze in the said victory is Edgar Charcos, whose 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a couple of steals produced his best outing since coming back from a knee injury that sidelined him to end the first round and early in the second round.

The Heavy Bombers are the first team this season that has already been eliminated from Final Four contention, having lost eleven of their thirteen games.

Prince Eze named as the Player of the Week

The NCAA Press Corps did not need to deliberate long to determine this week's Chooks-to-Go Player of the Week.

Prince Eze made things easy for the media to name him for this week, after his buzzer-beating putback to clinch an 83-81 victory for the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta over a then-unbeaten Lyceum last Friday. He beat out his teammate Edgar Charcos, JP Calvo and Bong Quinto of Letran, Justin Gutang of CSB, and Robert Bolick of San Beda for the nod.

The Pirates came into their matchup toting a 30-game winning streak in the eliminations, but the Nigerian student-athlete pounded the paint with 25 points, 23 rebounds, and a couple of blocks to secure the victory for Perpetual, their seventh win this season and keeps them within .

Eze would exclaim heading into the press room, "I know it’s possible. I know it’s possible!"

Perpetual head coach Frankie Lim beamed, "Big game by Eze of course. He has MVP stats again." He adds, "They really delivered and sabi ko nga sa pre-game ko, ‘I want to see u guys on attack mode,’ And that’s what exactly happened."

Prince also shared this nugget to the media after the game, "I saw something in our last game, the defense we played, I saw a lot of things. We have a lot of rookies in our team so we just have to follow the coaches which tell us what to do. We just keep on fighting."

PetroGazz kicks off the PVL Open Conference with a win

Games Sunday at the Imus Sports Complex

4pm Motolite-Ateneo vs Pocari Sweat-Air Force
6pm PetroGazz vs BanKo-Perlas

The first day of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference took place on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, with both PetroGazz and BanKo Perlas snatching victories against separate opposition.

The Angels fended off a strong challenge from Tacloban in the first and third sets to escape with a 25-22 25-14 26-24 victory.

Ranya Musa finished things off for PetroGazz in the third set, scoring off a drop to give them match point, with the team finishing things off with a block off Menchie Tubiera of the Fighting Warays to seal the victory.

Paneng Mercado led the Angels with 11 spikes and three blocks. She shared to the media after the win, "I’m happy that the work we put up in the last few weeks is starting to bear fruit."

The other match saw Banko Perlas beat Iriga-Navy in four sets, 25-14, 19-25 25-17 25-9.

Nicole Tiamzon topscored for the Pearls with 16 points, while Dzi Gervacio and Joy Dacoron each had 15.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated debut of Oliver Almadro as head coach of the Ateneo Lady Eagles will take place on Sunday afternoon, as the Motolite-bannered side will take on Pocari Sweat-Air Force at 4pm.

The Lady Eagles opted to not participate in the recently-concluded Collegiate Conference to get themselves ready not just for this particular tournament, but also for the upcoming UAAP season next year.

The other portion of the doubleheader sees PetroGazz and BanKo Perlas face off to determine the early conference leader at 630pm.

According to Sports Vision President Ricky Palou, the move to have the games played at Imus is a part of their initiative to get more fans to watch the games. He shares, "We realize that with the unprecedented rise in the popularity of women’s volleyball, many want to watch our games. But their distance to our home venue in San Juan are prohibiting them to. Particularly this season, Sports Vision is bringing more and more PVL games to the provinces."

Aside from Imus, the city of Malolos in Bulacan will also be hosting an upcoming PVL doubleheader, with the matchups between Iriga-Navy and Tacloban as well as Pocari Sweat-Air Force and PetroGazz scheduled this coming Wednesday at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center.

WFL resumes today

Army vs Ateneo at ASCOM

After a one-week break, the Weekend Futbol League resumes with three matches at two venues on Sunday, September 23.

The ASCOM Field in Taguig will be host to a doubleheader, as Navy-Fleet Marine faces Adamson at 10am, with the Soaring Falcons on a two-match unbeaten streak. Later on at 1pm, league-leading Green Archers United face Army. Both teams have yet to lose a match so far.

The other matchup scheduled will take place at the Moro Lorenzo Field inside the Ateneo campus, with the Blue Eagles hosting Stallion Laguna FC-B at 3pm. Both teams have yet to pick up a point so far and are eager to get themselves on the board.

Fans are encouraged to watch the matches, since it is free admission.

Considered as the highest level of football for the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA), the WFL Elite is the top tier of the Weekend Futbol League pyramid and aims to serve as a high-level competition for players seeking to turn pro.

Further details on the WFL Elite can be seen on https://www.facebook.com/Weekend.Futbol/ or www.weekendfutbol.com.

Olympic Movement and Allianz join forces

A new partnership.

The Olympic Movement has found a new ally this week, as it was announced that Allianz has been named as one of its Worldwide Olympic Partners.

In establishing this partnership, the global insurer will now be a global Olympics sponsor between 2021 to 2028, which includes. the Winter Games in 2022 and 2026, as well as the Summer Games in 2024 and 2028. For China, France, and Spain, Allianz has secured marketing rights starting next year.

Allianz will also work with the International Olympic Committee in providing innovative and integrated insurance solutions that would support the Olympic Movement, with the objective of providing insurance solutions to the different National Olympic Committees worldwide and their respective athletes, whether as an individual or as a team. Such coverage varies from currently available options like fleet, property, and casualty insurance, to yet to be established solutions for future products and services, as driven by technological changes.

Aside from this, both Allianz and the Olympic Movement aim to use the power of sport to connect with new audiences through its digital channels, including the Olympic Channel.

IOC President Thomas Bach says, "This new partnership demonstrates the global appeal and strength of the Olympic Movement, and we are delighted to be working together in the long term with Allianz to support sports around the world. Allianz has built a global business founded on trust. With this partnership, together we are building a foundation based on mutual trust. Allianz also has a strong sporting heritage and, in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020, we share a digital ambition of connecting with young people around the world to promote the Olympic values and the power of sport."

Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte adds, "I am thrilled that we are joining a global community of athletes and people enthusiastic about sport and team work – in addition to our existing strong partnership with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Through the IOC’s digital and social channels, we can connect with more people than ever before and offer them our expertise in insurance. We believe the world is a better place when people have the courage to leave differences behind and stand together to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for the societies they live in."

Meanwhile, Head of Group Market Management and Distribution Jean-Marc Pailhol shares, "As a world-leading insurer, Allianz is directly embedded in all the great events which make and transform our global society. That is why becoming the Worldwide TOP Partner in the insurance category of the IOC and the IPC is important for us. We will work together to take both teams to the next level – digitally, commercially and globally. We’re excited about the opportunity to move Allianz into new markets, as well as strengthening our position in existing territories. Together with the IOC and the IPC, this is a perfect way to share our passion for sport and the social, physical and mental benefits it brings to humanity.”

Allianz in the Philippines is represented by Allianz PNB Life, and when asked about how this new partnership can be framed in the local setting, Chief Marketing Officer Gae Martinez believes that it "emphasizes the values of integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity, which are relevant values for Filipinos." She also views that the foray into engaging digital natives is something they are familiar with in the Philippines, noting the influence digital conversations have on consumer behavior.

Brand and Communications Director Rei Abrazaldo adds, "Allianz and the Olympics coming together will amplify the message of Allianz to dare individuals to pursue the best versions of themselves and as families and communities to work in collaboration to advance a better working environment."

UAAP postpones September 15 playdate

In a simple statement earlier this morning, the UAAP through its Season 81 President Nilo Ocampo, postponed the basketball matches scheduled tomorrow at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The statement reads:

After due consultation and considering what appears to be a severe weather disturbance, the UAAP deems it best for everyone's interests to cancel the basketball games tomorrow Saturday, September 15, 2018

Had the games pushed through, it would have featured this quadruple header:

UST vs La Salle and Adamson vs NU in women's basketball
Ateneo vs FEU and Adamson vs La Salle in men's basketball

No update yet has been made regarding the Sunday doubleheader between UE and NU and UST and UP that will take place at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

This came a day after the UAAP released a statement through the University of Santo Tomas' Institute of Physical Education and Athletics that the league rescheduled its weekend chess matches at the UST Quadricentennial Pavillon to September 19 due to weather conditions relating to Super Typhoon Mangkhut (also known as Ompong).

Ompong affecting Filipino sporting events

The impact of Super Typhoon Mangkhut (more recognized locally as Ompong) has already been felt across the different collegiate leagues.

On Wednesday night, the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) announced on its Facebook page that the matches scheduled to take place on Thursday at Olivarez College will not push through.

The UCBL would have had a doubleheader involving Lyceum-Batangas against Centro Escolar University at 12nn and Olivarez College against Diliman Colleges at 2pm.

On Thursday afternoon, the NCAA announced that the league is postponing its basketball and badminton matches scheduled today.

The six-game basketball bill would have featured the high school and collegiate matchups of  San Sebastian against Arellano, San Beda vs Perpetual, and Letran vs CSB.

The National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) announced today that its matches in the high school and women's division that would have been played at Enderun Colleges have been postponed to a later date.

The Universities, Colleges, and Schools Athletic Association (UCSAA) has also postponed its matches for tomorrow that will be played at Don Bosco-Mandaluyong.

As for the UAAP, the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics announced that the chess matches scheduled this weekend have been rescheduled to September 19. No announcement has been made as of this writing that pertains to the status of the basketball matches scheduled to be played at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Saturday and at the Filoil Flying V Centre on Sunday.

Philippines lineup vs Iran

From the 16-man pool, the Philippines coaching staff has decided with these twelve players for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Iran tomorrow night.

The statement from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is as follows:

The SBP is pleased and proud to announce the final 12 Man lineup of the GILAS PILIPINAS Team against Iran in Iran on September 13, 2018. They are:

1. ALMAZAN, Raymond
2. BELGA, Beau Michael Vincent
3. CABAGNOT, Alexander, Jr.
4. DALISTAN, Paul John
5. ERRAM, John Paul
6. LASSITER, Marcio
7. MALICSI, Allein Gail
8. NORWOOD, Gabriel Daniel
9. SANGALANG, Ian Paul
10. STANDHARDINGER, Christian Karl
11. TAULAVA, Pauliasi
12. THOMPSON, Earl Scottie

We ask everyone to join us in prayer for the continued success of the Team in the FIBA Asia World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

Left off the pool are Stanley Pringle, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, and Matthew Wright. The latter two are definitively out, as they observe their one-match suspension due to their involvement in the fracas against Australia. With only one spot available for the designated naturalized player, the coaching staff chose Christian instead of Stanley. Slaughter had been dealing with an ankle injury that he incurred last week against NorthPort.

The game will be at 830pm (Manila time) at the Azady Gym in Tehran. TV coverage from ESPN5 starts at 8pm.

San Beda, CSB retain NCAA Table Tennis titles

The Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym  hosted the successful title defenses of San Beda and College of Saint Benilde on Monday in NCAA table tennis.

Both schools repulsed Letran in their respective divisions, with the Red Paddlers sweeping the Lady Knights, 3-0.

Abbie Nuevo beat Trixie Catapang, 11-3 11-8 11-7 in the first singles, with Angel Sanchez defeating Kristiana Lim, 11-4 10-12 11-3 11-7 in the second singles. The duo of Ronela Magcale and Kryslyn Manez took care of business against Rica Enriquez and Hannah Tayad, 11-8 12-10 11-2, to complete the sweep and their sixth straight women's title.

Sanchez would later be adjudged as the Most Valuable Player.

In the men's division, the Blazers dispatched the Knights, 3-1.

Ryan Jacolo beat John Pansacula, 8-11 11-5 11-8 11-4 in the opening singles matchup for CSB, but Letran tied things up with John William Managos edging James Sy, 11-4 11-3 10-12, and 11-6 in the second singles.

In doubles, Joshua Padilla and Martie del Rosario downed Olsehn Obal and Benjiecer Lim, 15-13 11-8 11-7 to put the Blazers up, 2-1, before Jacolo closed things out with a 11-6 11-7 11-9 win over Managos for their fifth straight men's title.

Letran will not come home empty handed, as the Squires clinched the HS title with a 3-1 win over San Beda behind the efforts of their MVP Matt Andrew Ramos.

Balanza honored with Player of the Week nod

Letran did not need Jerrick Balanza to be on the court to make his presence felt last week.

Days after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Balanza's teammates were inspired to give him a fitting birthday present, a 99-82 victory against Arellano last Thursday.

After the game, head coach Jeff Napa shares, "Si Jerrick, hindi naman nawala sa team namin yan e. He's still part of the team."

He adds, "Kailangan intindihin namin ang health niya, pero yung presence niya sa dugout, sa ensayo, nandun pa rin yun."

The NCAA has united in rallying behind Balanza in his quest to recovery, with no less than their archrivals San Beda leading in well-wishes.

"We wish and pray for nothing but the best for Balanza," said head coach Boyet Fernandez, adding, "It's unfortunate and we wish for his fast recovery."

Teammate Bong Quinto is heartened by the gesture towards Jerrick, says, "Kailangan tayo ni Jerrick. Good thing naman na buong NCAA, kahit yung mga kalaban namin, nagkakaisa para makatulong kay Jerrick."

The NCAA Press Corps acknowledged Balanza's tremendous strength in his own battle and acting as an inspiration to the Knights by honoring him with the latest Chooks-To-Go Player of the Week nod.

With Jerrick still in need of assistance to ease off his financial obligations, donations are highly welcomed. Details below.

Bank: BDOBranch: BDO Intramuros
Account Name: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Inc.
Account Number: ‎4500003129

Letran revisits San Beda rivalry today

Games today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan

10am Letran vs San Beda (HS)
12nn La Salle-Greenhills vs San Sebastian (HS)
2pm Letran vs San Beda
4pm College of Saint Benilde vs San Sebastian

The rivalry is once again revisited, with San Beda and Letran set to clash in their first collegiate matchup this afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Set at 2pm, the Knights want to make amends after they were pipped by the Red Lions in overtime, 80-76 in the first round. The defending champions relied on AC Soberano's clutch shooting in the extension to snatch the win a month ago.

Letran will be buoyed by an inspired performance last Thursday, after learning about Jerrick Balanza's condition earlier in the week. The team has since decided to dedicate the rest of the season to him.

Regardless of the result of the 2pm game, the College of Saint Benilde will be active observers, as they face against San Sebastian to cap off the quadruple-header today.

Provided the Blazers beat the Golden Stags, they stand to be beneficiaries of whoever loses between San Beda and Letran, as a loss by the former would keep them tied with latter and gets them even closer to second place, while a loss by the latter moves them up to solo third place.

CSB would also want to secure a legitimate victory over San Sebastian, as they were one of the two beneficiaries of forfeited wins due to RK Ilagan's "ligang labas" incident.

In the high school division, La Salle-Greenhills is seeking to put some distance atop the HS division as they face San Sebastian at noon.

At 9-1, the Greenies have a one-game lead over Mapua/Malayan, and a 2.5 game advantage over San Beda.

The Red Cubs will kick off action today against Letran at 10am.

Sea Lions dominate in NCAA Swimming

San Beda continues to lord over the NCAA Swimming tournament at the Rizal Memorial Aquatics Center.

The Sea Lions dominated in the senior men's and women's division, with golds from Celine Anne Delotavo (women's 400m freestyle), John Henry Gurango (men's 400m freestyle), Chloe Medina (women's 100m backstroke), Chris Alcher Calderon (men's 200m breaststroke), and the 200m freestyle relays.

Their dominance is so omniscient that they clinched the collegiate titles with the final day of competition still to be played.

The College of Saint Benilde was in distant second in both divisions, as the Blazers rode on gold medals from Aziz Jan Pukunum (100m backstroke), Justine Anne Abastillas (50m butterfly), and Christopher Wong (50m butterfly).

La Salle-Greenhills still have a hold atop the HS division at 518.5 points, but San Beda and Perpetual Help are just around the corner at 497 and 411.25 points, respectively.

Junior Altas swimmer and Philippines National Games standout Russell La Torre set the record for the 400m freestyle during the prelims with a 4:18.15 time before clinching the gold with a 4:18.33 effort.

Christine Lorente of Jose Rizal University clinched the 200m breaststroke title in 2:52.38, with the quartet of Albert Santos, Anfer Tagao, Aaron Alagban, and Marione Barcelon clinched the 200m freestyle relay title in 1:45.16.

Knights, Blazers seek seventh wins in NCAA

Games Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan

10am Perpetual vs La Salle-Greenhills (HS)
12nn Arellano vs Letran (HS)
2pm Perpetual vs CSB
4pm Arellano vs Letran


The 94th season of the NCAA resumes with a four-game bill, highlighted by collegiate matchups seeking a better foothold in the race to the postseason.

In the 2pm matchup, Perpetual is hoping that Edgar Charcos is ready to play against the College of Saint Benilde, as the Altas sorely missed his services.

The UE transfer suffered a hyperextended knee during their first round meeting against the Blazers, and subsequently sat out their next game. He also had to bow out from participating in the NCAA All-Star Game last week.

The Blazers are looking to keep their winning run going, as they attempt to move in on the two remaining postseason berths available with Lyceum and San Beda still lording atop the standings.

In the 4pm matchup, Letran seeks to also solidify their positioning as one of the top four teams against Arellano.

The Knights have rode on Bong Quinto's back-to-back triple-doubles to conclude their first round campaign, but that has since been muted by the news of Jerrick Balanza's medical condition.

The veteran was diagnosed to have a tumor inside his brain and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, with the school seeking to find the necessary funding to defray medical expenses.

As for the Chiefs, they are buoyed by their upset victory over Perpetual to cap off their first round, hoping that they can avenge their 88-70 first round defeat.

In the high school morning doubleheader, a potential Final Four preview is in play with the Junior Altas facing off against defending champions La Salle-Greenhills at 10am, whilst the Braves of Aaron Fermin seek to keep themselves in the race for the postseason against the middling Squires at noon.

Jerrick Balanza sidelined with tumor

The Letran Knights were dealt a major blow to their title hopes on Wednesday, as they learned that Jerrick Balanza will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

According to Letran's Management Committee representative Fr. Vic Calvo, OP,  Balanza had been complaining that he has been having difficulty hearing recently, and upon diagnosis from Dr. Manuel Mariano, it was discovered that he has a tumor found in the temporal lobe of the brain.

The neurosurgeon then revealed that Balanza will need to undergo an operation to remove said tumor. Once successfully completed, he says, the swingman would be back by November at the earlier.

Jerrick had been averaging 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this season, and the team has made the necessary paperwork to have Gaylord Pambid inserted into the lineup as his replacement. The move is awaiting ManCom approval.

Calvo shares, "Yes, we need him (Balanza), but his health is our primary concern."

In addition, the family as well as the school are seeking donations and funds that can help defray the cost of the procedure, which amounts to PhP 500,000

NCAA Season 94 second round kicks off

Games today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan

10am Lyceum vs San Sebastian (HS)
12nn San Beda vs JRU (HS)
2pm Lyceum vs San Sebastian
4pm San Beda vs JRU

Pacesetting Lyceum and San Beda seek to pad their lead against the rest of the field against separate opposition to kick off the second round of the NCAA's 94th season for basketball.

To secure their tenth win of the season, the Pirates will be up against league cellar-dwellers San Sebastian, who are expected to field RK Ilagan once again after he served his suspension due to his participation in a "ligang labas."

The Golden Stags as a result had to forfeit two wins and subsequently moved behind Mapua, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and JRU with just one win.

They, however, did give last season's finalists a hard time in their first round meeting, an 85-80 grinder on Opening Day.

Head coach Topex Robinson acknowledges that San Sebastian is a dangerous squad, "San Sebastian is always a tough opponent, complete or not. We just have to always be prepared."

The other collegiate matchup features the Red Lions against the Heavy Bombers, with the memories very fresh from their last meeting, which took place a week ago, 77-40.

In the high school division, the Junior Pirates of Lyceum are seeking to get their postseason aspirations back on track against the Staglets of San Sebastian at 10am, followed by a matchup between the third place Red Cubs of San Beda against the fourth place Light Bombers of JRU at noon.

UAAP, PTTF statements on Yan Lariba

Table tennis legend Yan Lariba passed away on Sunday night due to complications to her leukemia.

Reactions to her passing were swift, reflecting everyone's sadness with what had transpired.

Among those who released statements is the UAAP, where Lariba carved her name in table tennis. The league released their statement through Executive Director Rebo Saguisag.

We already know Yanyan the Olympian.
We already know she was undefeated in her 5 years in the UAAP.
We already know she was Athlete of the year not once, but twice on top of multiple MVP awards.
But she was a student first and was a consistent dean's lister
As a person, she was very humble and unassuming and had a very vibrant and happy disposition that rubbed off on those who were fortunate enough to be around her.
She will be missed.
While we mourn her passing, let us also take occasion to celebrate her life, a life that most of us can only dream of.
But most imporrantly in her last days, I guess Yanyan reminded us that sport is a platform, a tool that can be used to do good as she spoke about her bout with Cancer.
As the Good Book says Yanyan Fought the good fight (2Timothy 4:7-8)
She has passed on the torch to us and we must carry on.

The NSA for table tennis, the Philippine Table Tennis Federation, Inc. released their statement early Monday morning.


With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of our star, our first ever olympian, arguably the greatest Filipina table tennis player of all time Ian Lariba. From her days as a table tennis prodigy, and at such young age winning all of the tournaments she joined, to her storied UAAP career, where she never lost a single match while winning UAAP Athlete of the year twice, to being a constant fixture in the DLSU deans list during her playing days, to qualifying for the Olympics, to battling cancer, she was a fighter and true table tennis ambassador and she put table tennis in the newspaper television & social media map, a sport which was not given much importance before in our country. Our sympathies and prayers are with her family.

Initial interment details have been released, with the viewing to start after lunch on Tuesday and will last until Wednesday night. A mass has been scheduled on Tuesday night at 6pm. After Wednesday night, Yan's remains are slated to make her way to her hometown in Cagayan de Oro City.