LaLiga given green light to proceed with Return to Play protocol

Top-flight Spanish football got a major boost, with the Spanish government allowing teams in LaLiga Santander and LaLiga Smartbank to commence with group training sessions comprising of up to ten players.

Such sessions can begin on May 18, just over a couple of months since the season was paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision allows teams to train despite whatever protocols their respective local governments have in place.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas made an appearance on Movistar's El Partidazo #BackToWin to help expound on this particular development.

About the CSD (Spain's High Sports Council)'s decision, he shares, "The start of the next phase in LaLiga’s Return to Training protocol is another step towards the restarting of the competition. It will be good to be able to set all training routines on an equal footing. It’s very important that every club have the same chance to be in good shape. It’s not essential, but it’s very important and we’re grateful that it will be like that."

About the likelihood of playing everyday to get through the eleven matchdays still on the schedule, he says, "That’s what I hope. We shouldn’t have any problems playing on Mondays across the eleven rounds of matches we have left to play. I hope for some sense from the Spanish Football Federation on this, because it’s very important for us to be able to give both our national and international broadcasters, and fans across the world, football on as many days as possible to ensure as little disruption as possible."

Aside from the CSD's decision, the weekend was significant for sports as top-flight football finally resumed in Germany. Tebas shared his delight about the Bundesliga resuming play, "I’m very happy, and I’ve congratulated them because they’ve taken a very important step. We’ve worked hard on this together over the past months, we’ve exchanged protocols, ideas… we spoke once or twice every week. I’m very proud of the Bundesliga. It wasn’t easy; they were the first to get up and running and they’re an example to follow."

LaLiga supports societal development via football

With the cononavirus pandemic forcing LaLiga to pause since mid-March, the league has continued its societal development efforts, including some high-profile solidarity actions whilst in quarantine.

Among such efforts is the "LaLiga se juega en casa" (LaLiga is played at home) campaign, which raised 1.2 million euros for the purchase of medical equipment and other key items. Also drawing attention for the league is the LaLiga Santander Fest, a macro charity music concert, as well as the LaLiga Santander Challenge, an eSports tournament that drew over 61 million fans around the world.

LaLiga has also conducted activities that are mainly for those who are affected by the pandemic the most in Spain and the rest of world, including societal and sporting projects for youth development, permanent academies, the establishment of socio-educational schools, social intervention projects and activities. Other additional actions include local scouting projects with high performance visits to Spain, collaborations with national teams, training sessions for coaches and managers, annual Spanish Academies Meetings, and crafting MoUs with national leagues and federations.

As a result of these efforts, LaLiga has been able to run 313 projects across 35 countries since September 2015, with 645 league coaches training two hundred thousand children and twenty thousand coaches and educators. In addition, 284 socio-educational schools have been established, with 32 MoUs crafted with leagues and federations in 26 countries. Such effort open the possibilities of future sporting and social projects down the line.

With the slogan, "We have an obligation to give back to society what society has given us," LaLiga views the values borne out of football as an ideal means of building a better society. With that in mind, the league has utilized its influence and experience to establish means to spread these elements, especially in these current times.

One Championship establishes new partnerships

The biggest global sports media property in Asian history is set for additional expansion.

ONE Championship added to its portfolio with its new strategic partnerships, with tech firms HP, Intel, Logitech, and Xiaomi being roped in to help leverage multiple ONE content stacks and platforms, including ONE Championship's assets in mixed martial arts and eSports, as well as ONE Studios. It will also include the upcoming The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shares, "The announcement of these partnerships is a testament to our team’s exceptional work alongside global brands to solve their marketing and business needs. We believe that by harnessing the power and reach of our content stacks and platforms, brands can benefit from engaging with our millions of fans across the globe."

Xiaomi's President of International Shou Zi Chew adds, "As Xiaomi continues to grow its presence globally, we are thrilled at this opportunity to partner with ONE Championship - a world-class sports property. This major initiative will provide a valuable platform to cross-pollinate the fanbase of ONE Championship with Mi Fans around the world. Through this, we can work in tandem to grow a shared passion for Xiaomi’s amazing products and sports, further ignite dreams, inspire nations, and change the world through real-life superheroes."

Nietos doing their share in COVID-19 relief

Taken from Matt Nieto's Facebook account.

With virtually all sporting action worldwide heading into a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, some have decided to take the cause of helping with relief operations.

Take for instance what Cainta natives Matt and Mike Nieto have done for their community since the start of the outbreak.

Godsons of Mayor Kit Nieto, the twins have done their share in facilitating relief work, securing donations from a variety of sources and helping allocate them towards those that need it. The duo took the cue and inspiration from their ninong, who has received plenty of plaudits with his leadership in handling the situation early on.

Their latest act of kindness took place on Monday, as they received cases of Gatorade, G-Active, and Aquafina from Pepsico Philippines, and rerouted them towards the medical frontliners that are hard at work in treating the pandemic.

Taken from Matt Nieto's Facebook account.

The first batch of cases went to the nearby Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, with a planned visit to the Cainta Municipal Hospital on Tuesday.

Taken from Matt Nieto's Facebook account.

Matt shared with Kate Reyes of SPIN.PH, "We understand that we have a following, a platform, and a network we could leverage on so as to bring in as much help, donations, and support to Cainta as we can during these trying times.

He adds, "Hence, as much as we can, we try to look into our networks, post on our social media pages, and really coordinate with people willing to help, so that, together, we get to bring different forms of help to the communities in Cainta while inspiring and mobilizing others to do the same."

The duo is just a couple of the many sporting celebrities doing their share to help fight the pandemic.

Postponement of Philippines Football League Season 2020

PFF x PFL

The Philippine Football Federation and the Philippines Football League released a statement on Friday that postpones the start of the 2020 PFL season.

Full statement is as follows:

In view of the continuing spread of COVID-19, which prompted the Government’s Inter-Agency Task (IATF) to issue Resolution No. 11 yesterday, 12 March 2020, which raised the Alert Level to Code Red Sub-Level 2 and, among others, placed the entire National Capital Region under community quarantine for 30 days and prohibited mass gatherings, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Philippines Football League (PFL) have decided to postpone the Philippines Football League kick-off originally scheduled on 21 March 2020 to 18 April 2020 tentatively.

Utmost priority must be accorded to the safety, health, and welfare of the players, coaching staff, match officials, sponsors, and others who are involved in the organization of the matches.

PFF and PFL encourage all football stakeholders and the general public to be mindful always of the risks posed by COVID-19, observe the recommendations on how to avoid the virus, be safe and healthy during these times, and to help the nation combat the spread of COVID-19.

Ceres Negros FC is the defending league champion.

Pilipinas seeks to surprise in Davis Cup

Davis Cup

Expected to be heavy underdogs against Greece, the Philippines hopes to spring a surprise against their Davis Cup opposition this Friday and Saturday at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco.

SEA Games gold medalist Francis Casey Alcantara shares, "We know they are tough especially with a world class player like Stefanos Tsitsipas, but we will do our best to make the country proud."

The hosts will field Jeson Patrombon, Ruben Gonzales, AJ Lim, and Eric Olivarez, Jr. alongside Alcantara, with Chris Cuarto acting as the non-playing captain.

Cuarto believes the crowd support would provide the team a boost, says "Hopefully, the home court advantage will help us."

Aside from Stefanos' younger brother Petros, Greece is also backstopped by Michail Pervolarakis and Markos Kalovelonis, with Dimitris Chatzinikoloau acting as their non-playing skipper.

The team draw is slated for Thursday, with the matches to be played on Friday and Saturday.

Tsitsipas now in the Philippines for Davis Cup

Stefanos Tsitsipas (photo from the Dubai Duty Free Championships)

Stefanos Tsitsipas arrived in the Philippines on Monday, showing readiness to represent Greece in Davis Cup play against the hosts later this week.

Fresh from bowing to Novak Djokovic in the Dubai Championships final, 3-6 4-6, the sixth-ranked player in the ATP is expected to give his all for the visitors as they look to impress this year.

Arriving separately from the rest of the Greek team, he shares, "I will try to represent my country as best as possible." Joining him for the tie are his younger brother Petros, Michail Pervolarakis, and Markos Kalovelonis, as well as non-playing captain Dimitris Chatzinikolaou.

Greece's ascent from Group III to Group II and potentially a Group I berth is anchored on the success of the 21-year old, who has won five singles titles and is currently toting an 11-5 record this year with a title to boot in Marseille.

Facing off against their first non-Asian team in Davis Cup play for the first time in almost two decades, the Philippines is going to rely on Francis Casey Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, Ruben Gonzales, AJ Lim, and Eric Olivarez, Jr, as well as the stewardship of their non-playing skipper Chris Cuarto.

The draw to determine the matchups is slated on Thursday, with the first two singles matches slated for Friday and the remaining matches to be played on Saturday.