Southridge to hold fourth international fencing tournament

After skipping last year, PAREF-Southridge is hosting the fourth edition of its fencing competition this weekend, with The Bellevue in Alabang serving as the venue for the two-day competition, bringing together some of the best youth fencers in the country.

Around thirty divisions across a variety of age groups in all three disciplines are set to participate, both individually and in team formats. The current field includes a number who are in preparation for not just the upcoming UAAP later in this quarter, but also for the upcoming major tournaments being held here and abroad.

Notable standouts from the likes of the major fencing institutions are expected to participate, including SEA Games medalists Louis Shoemaker and Sophia Catantan of the University of the East, as well as fellow national team pool members like Nicol Canlas, Brynt Gale, James Lim, Ivana Salvador, Jodie Tan, Solana Trinidad, and the del Castillo siblings Oscar and Hagia Sophia.

In addition, Enrico Fuentes leads the home contingent of Admirals, with their expected debut as a guest team in the UAAP looming in the horizon.

Also, a few fencers are seeking to build on their performances from last week's 3rd Winter Cup as hosted by neighbors Hampton Court Fencing Club with the ratcheted up competition in this field. 

And true to their title, a few foreigners are also set to join the competition.

GMA set to showcase NCAA Season 101 volleyball

Building Greatness

Fresh from the completion of the Juniors and Seniors Basketball portion of the 101st season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, GMA is set to showcase the clash for supremacy on the taraflex with the start of the volleyball tournament this Friday, January 23, at the San Andres Sports Complex.

The league is set to hold the Opening Ceremony at 10am, followed by a quadruple-header.

Defending champions College of Saint Benilde is set to kick off their quest for a fifth straight crown in the women's division in a high noon showdown against Mapua, to be followed by the duel between potential title challengers Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Arellano at 230pm.

The men then take over, with the CSB facing Mapua at 5pm and the capping off the festivities with the finals rematch between Letran and Arellano at 730pm.

This season's Volleyball Chairman Fr. Victor C. Calvo, Jr. shares, "For NCAA Season 101 Volleyball, we have some modifications like the [tournament format where there will be two groupings], so that the tournament will be more exciting and unpredictable. The Philippines is a volleyball country, so we are trying very hard to make this season, as much as possible, competitive, and for the enjoyment of the fans."

Like their basketball counterparts, the league has split the teams into two groups of five, with Group A featuring CSB, Mapua, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal University, and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, and Group B comprising of Letran, Arellano, Lyceum, San Beda, and Emilio Aguinaldo College. The same format, including the play-in, will be adopted as well for this tournament.

Volleyball matches will be televised LIVE every Wednesday at 11am on GTV, and 230pm on both GTV and Heart of Asia. Fridays will be at 12nn and 230pm on HOA, while Sundays at the same time on both GTV and HOA. Games will also be streamed the league's official social media platforms, as well as on GMA Sports. Fans abroad will be able to watch through GMA News TV.

Regional TV Department and Concurrent Head, Central Office Operations and Synergy Officer-in-Charge Marivic Araneta says, "As the proud home of the NCAA, GMA Network, thru GMA Synergy, is committed to providing the best viewing experience for all the NCAA supporters and Kapuso sports enthusiasts. With the competitive spirit of all participating NCAA volleyball teams, this season’s... Volleyball Tournament is definitely something to look forward to. We invite everyone to show their support and witness the incomparable determination and world-class skills of all student athletes."

Emana earns wild card into Philippine Women’s Open qualifying

Kaye Ann Emana (third from left) earned a wild card slot to the Philippine Women's Open qualifying round after beating Elizabeth Abarquez (second from left) in the finals of the PHILTA qualifying meet at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center last Thursday night. Flanking them are PHILTA Executive Director Tonette Mendoza (left) and PHILTA board member and former national team standout Dyan Castillejo (right).

Displaying both skill and stamina, UAAP Season 87 Tennis MVP Kaye Ann Emana of UST outplayed varsity rival Elizabeth Abarquez of NU 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 last Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to book a ticket to the qualifying draw of the Philippine Women’s Open. 

Mixing her shots well throughout the match,  Emana reasserted her mastery over the frustrated Abarquez with another straight-set triumph, reprising their clash in the UAAP women’s tennis tournament finals last year. 

Even more impressive was the fact that the bespectacled netter was just an hour away from completing a 6-4, 6-4 conquest of top seed Tiffany Nocos in the semifinals after their match was suspended the previous night  following the first set due to heavy rain. 

When play resumed late yesterday afternoon, Emana showed grit in rallying from a 1-4 second-set deficit to win the next five games and set up a showdown with Abarquez for the coveted wild card ticket in the qualifying meet organized by the Philippine Tennis Association and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Thankful po ako and excited to get the wild card (for the Philippine Women’s Open qualifying draw). At kinakabahan din po kasi first time kong makakalaban ang mga mas magagaling na player doon sa qualifying round,” she said. 

She credited her strong mindset in recovering from a 0-2 deficit in the first set against Abarquez to force the tie-breaker after they wound up deadlocked at 6-all after 12 games. 

“Up and down ang laro ko po sa first set kaya nag-take advantage na lang po ako ng mukhang na-frustrate na siya, lalo sa tiebreaker when I took a 3-0 lead,” Emana said of the turning point in the match. 

Gaining confidence with each shot in the second set, the player  was in complete control, surging to an imposing 5-1 lead against her demoralized foe on the way to sealing her slot in the qualifying round of the Philippine Women’s Open.

Abarquez acknowledged that she was flustered by her foe’s deceptive and unpredictable switching of shots that disrupted her game, leading to her downfall.

“Deceptive po ang mga shots niya (Emana). Akala ko malayo tapos malapit sa net babagsak yung bola. Hindi ako makaporma talaga,” rued the Cebuana player, who recalled that it was virtually the same result she had against her rival when they tangled in last UAAP women’s tennis finals. 

Both players noted the marked improvement of the playing conditions on the resurfaced hard courts with more than a week to go before the start of the country’s first WTA 125 tournament sanctioned by the Women’s Tennis Association.     

PHILTA official and co-PWO tournament director Dyan Castillejo advised Abarquez to keep practicing in case the wildcard opportunity opens up. The qualifying draw will be staged Jan. 24 to 25 before the main draw kicks off on Jan. 26.

Philippines ready to host inaugural WTA 125 event in the country

"WTA 125 Manila. We are ready!" 

This was the assurance given yesterday by organizers regarding preparations for the Philippine Women's Open, the country's first Women's Tennis Association tournament,  set from Jan. 26 to 31 at the newly-refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. 

"We are glad with the partnership of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennnis Association. The PSC is the enabler of events," noted Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio said during the press conference yesterday at the Lanson Place in Pasay City two weeks before the event begins. 

"You go there (the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center) and see hundreds of workers working into the wee hours of the morning. We have not only mobilized the PSC group but also the City of Manila and the DPWH. It is a beautiful transformation," he said of the upgrading of the entire Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for the meet.  

"So we have no second thoughts in giving financial support for this project and to NSAs that realize and understand the vision of the Philippine Sports Commission," the PSC chief stressed. 

"The fact that we are already using the courts for a qualifying tournament among our top local players for the Philippine Women's Open means that it (the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center) is almost ready," said PHILTA secretary general John Rey Tiangco at the same briefing.   

"We are confident that with the PSC beside us that we will be able to finish on time." 

Tiangco, also the Navotas City Mayor and  a former age group standout and national player, said that hosting  the inaugural Philippine Women's Open was a big deal for Philippine tennis development. 

"Malaking bagay po ito.  This is not just a one-time event, an investment for Philippine tennis. We are building a whole new ecosystem that will allow our local players to compete against world-class opponents," he said. 

The PHILTA secured a three-year  agreement with the Women's Tennis Association to stage the WTA 125 tournament, according to Tiangco. 

Meanwhile, tickets are now available for the competition, according to PHILTA executive director Tonette Mendoza,  with the price pegged at P200 each  and free seating for the qualifying round  matches from Jan. 24 to  25. 

In the main draw from the round of 32 to the quarterfinals frrom Jan. 26 to 29, ticket prices will be at P1,000, with free seating, Mendoza said. 

On the other hand,  tickets for singles semifinals and doubles finals on Jan. 30  will cost P1,500 for the standard pass and P2,000 for the premium pass, which will also be the ticket prices for the championship match on the last day on Jan. 31, she said.

UAAP revives HS Baseball tournament, adds PAREF-Southridge

c/o UAAP

Games today at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium
8 a.m. - DLSZ vs UST
11 a.m. - Southridge vs Ateneo

High school baseball is set to make its return to the UAAP after a six-year hiatus.

Last staged in Season 82 (2019), the UAAP High School Baseball Tournament comes back bigger this year with the inclusion of guest team PAREF-Southridge School.

The Admirals’ entry turns the competition into a five-team field, joining defending champion University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Zobel, and National University Nazareth School.

The Junior Golden Sox will open their long-awaited title defense—seven years in the making— today (Wednesday) at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, facing the Junior Green Batters in the opening game.

First pitch is set at 8 a.m.

“We are very much eager to defend the title. Kami ang kauna-unahang UAAP champion at kahuli-hulihang champion kaya we want to be the champion again sa pagbabalik ng UAAP high school baseball,” said UST head coach and local legend Jeff Santiago.

In Season 82, the Junior Golden Sox, then bannered by John Regalado and Justine Rosales—both of whom went on to make their mark at the collegiate level—defeated Ateneo, led by Season MVP Matt San Juan, in three games in the Finals.

Although the high school tournament has been held since Season 74 (2011), it only became a regular sport in Season 80 (2017). UST ruled the diamond in that inaugural run.

Southridge will make its tournament debut at 11 a.m. against Ateneo.

Admirals head coach Bocc Bernardo, who previously handled Ateneo’s collegiate team, where he remains as an assistant to Blue Eagles head coach Pepe Jose, is determined to make the most of the opportunity now that his high school squad has a platform to showcase its talent.

“Actually, it’s something that all high school players are looking forward to. Yung mga pending na naghihintay sa college kasi walang paglalaruan, ngayon nakabalik na. Everyone has been looking forward to this. It’s going to be a very competitive tournament. Very happy ako na nagawan ng paraan and happy ako nakasama yung Southridge,” shared Bernardo.

Southridge will lean on ace pitcher Joaquin Salvador, supported by a pitching staff that includes JC Basañes and Amiel Belga, along with slugger Matt Gelota.

Ateneo, meanwhile, will be led by Grade 12 ace pitcher Lorenzo de Guzman, catcher Nicolas Sevilla, infielder Santiago Afuang, and former Xavier School standout Tres Saguisag.

This marks the third UAAP event Southridge has joined, following high school boys’ football in Season 87, where they reached the Final Four, and high school boys’ swimming in Season 88.

“Well, we all know that our baseball team can compete. Marami sa alumnus ng Southridge is nakukuha sa college like Ateneo. I think, this year we will aim for the top two and work from there,” said the confident Bernardo, a former champion catcher for Ateneo.

National University Nazareth School will begin its campaign on Saturday at 8 a.m. against UST.

Games will be played every Wednesday and Saturday.