TAP secures Qatar World Cup broadcast rights

Coming to TAP DMV (graphic via FIFA)

Filipino football fans will be able to quench their thirst for world-class football thanks to TAP Digital Media Ventures (TAP), as they secured full media rights to the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

TAP made that announcement on Thursday, with the plan to funnel the event onto a new pay-per-view channel called World Cup TV (WC TV).

As one of FIFA's official broadcasters, TAP will broadcast ALL of the games of the competition, as well as its accompanying content.

Gonzalo de Guia, TAP DMV's Chief Technology Officer, shares, "That’s all 64 matches involving 32 nations from the group stages to the knockout stages including the Round of 16, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Finals, will be broadcast live on World Cup TV including all player and coach pre and post-game interviews, match highlights, off-pitch special features as well as replays.  We are very excited to be able to air one of the world’s most popular events involving the global game."

As for Group Stage matches that will have simultaneous kickoff, TAP is expected to showcase both matches, with those using the TAPGo app earning the ability to switch between the games. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, one of the world’s greatest sporting events is coming to the Philippines via WC TV.

At just PhP 1999, football fans in the Philippines will have the chance to partake of WC TV when it is unveiled this coming November, with the channel then serving as part of TAP platform of showing top-tier sports coverage once the World Cup is over.

TAP will reveal more details about WC TV in the next few months through their official Facebook page.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas seeking unity amongst stakeholders

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas released this statement on Friday, their first Gilas Pilipinas missed out on the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup for the first time since 2007.

SBP president Al Panlilio yesterday called on the country’s basketball stakeholders to come together in supporting the Gilas national team with the goal of forming a competitive squad for the FIBA World Cup next year.

Panlilio said Gilas’ performance in the FIBA Asia Cup here was a disappointment as the ninth place finish was the Philippines’ worst in 13 years.  He said lack of training time and player availability are issues that must be addressed with three FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows lined up for August, November and February, the SEA Games in Cambodia on May 5-16 and the World Cup on Aug. 25-Sept. 10 next year.

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes had no excuses for the dismal showing but said the outcome could’ve been different if top scorer Dwight Ramos and naturalized player Ange Kouame suited up.  He said the team began practice last July 6, a week before the Philippines’ first game against Lebanon and Poy Erram, the only active PBA player on the roster, attended only thrice.  Any coach would’ve backed off from the challenge but Reyes chose to play the cards he was dealt with in keeping his commitment to the country and SBP.

“As FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis mentioned, it’s been nearly 25 years since Greece hosted a world basketball event,” said Panlilio.  “We really have to give it full support from all basketball stakeholders.”  PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said, “The World Cup will never happen again in Manila in our lifetime … it took 45 years to bring the World Cup back to Manila … dapat laban na, all out … we need the best to play and be allowed to play … we call on all stakeholders to unite for flag and country.”

SBP has scheduled a general meeting of stakeholders on Aug. 1 and will lay out the timetable in the run-up to the World Cup.  Panlilio said FIBA will assist in securing clearance for Gilas players from foreign leagues.  The PBA will play only two conferences next year and clear its calendar starting in May up to the end of the World Cup.  Drafting players for the three coming windows, however, is a concern.  Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson is sure to play in the World Cup and will likely join Gilas in the fourth window against Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena on Aug. 29 but won’t be available for the two other windows and the SEA Games.  SBP will reach out to Kai Sotto for the three windows, SEA Games and the World Cup.

The PBA Philippine Cup finals will begin on Aug. 21 so players from the 10 eliminated teams may be recruited for Gilas to play in the fourth window with Clarkson.  In the fifth window against Jordan and Saudi Arabia on the road in November, the NBA, PBA, UAAP, NCAA and foreign leagues will be in season, making it difficult to assemble a fighting team.  In the sixth window, players from UAAP and NCAA will be available but not from the PBA.  Panlilio said the time for leagues to sacrifice and adjust schedules with Gilas in mind is now as the World Cup is only a year away.

Thailand, Philippines set up AFF Women's Championship final

Sarina Bolden and the rest of the Filipinas slain their Goliath

The Philippines stunned defending champions Vietnam, 4-0, last night to reach the AFF Women’s Championship 2022 final for the first time in front of a delighted home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Bucking the odds and history, the Filipinas came through with a dominant performance from start to finish in booting Vietnam out of title contention, and to set up a title showdown and rematch with Thailand on Sunday.

In the other semifinal encounter, Thailand played patient and clinical football in subduing Myanmar, 2-0, in securing their seventh finals appearance for the biggest prize in Southeast Asian women’s football.

Vietnam will try to salvage some pride when it plays Myanmar for third place preceding the championship match.

Closely marked in the first 45 minutes Sarina Bolden scored a brace in the second half while veteran defender Hali Long and skipper Tahnai Annis added a goal each as the hosts fashioned the milestone win in front of around 3,000-plus fans, among them former Azkals team captain Stephan Schrock.

The hosts broke a nine-match jinx against the visitors, including a 1-2 setback in the group stage of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.

“I believe we came through with a complete performance. They are still the best team in Southeast Asia and just because we beat them tonight doesn’t mean they’re not. I believe we could have scored more goals. It shows the professionalism of this team,” noted Filipinas coach Alen Stajcic.

“We’ll enjoy this win in the meantime then perhaps look forward to revenge on Sunday,” added the Australian tactician in recalling the close 1-0 group stage loss to Thailand three days ago.

Before the crunch Philippines-Vietnam match, Thailand head coach Miya Okamoto remained non-committal at the post-match conference about Sunday’s championship match.

“We will always play the way that we always do, stick to our game and if we win, it will be a great souvenir for the players,” Okamoto said.

Inspired by the lively Filipino gallery, the Filipinas pressed the attack and were rewarded for their efforts through Long, who came rushing to the front to score a sharp header from Annis’s right corner kick that gave them a 1-0 halftime lead.

Annis then got into act, coolly converting a penalty kick in the 50th minute on defender Hoang Thi Loan’s handball violation inside the penalty area.

The Filipina captain then had another corner kick from the right corner anew, setting up the opportunistic header in the 62nd minute before calling it a night a few minutes later as she was replaced by Jessica Miclat.

Bolden then delivered the coup de grace with another header in the 70th minute off a short feed by Quinley Quezada to cap the home squad’s historic night.

Striker Kanyanat Chettabutr scored the icebreaker in the 43rd minute from a short pass by Jiraporn Mongkoldee, the ball slipping behind goalie May Zwin Nwe, bouncing off the left goal post and into the net to give Thailand a 1-0 halftime lead.

Barely minutes after subbing for Mongkoldee, Saowalak Pengman created instant offense in the 83rd minute, outsmarting two defenders in casually slotting in the second marker past a frustrated May.