GOMO reopens Circuit Makati Skate Park

new skate park

The old skate park at the Circuit Makati got a refreshed new look earlier this month, with the unveiling of the GOMO Skate Park at Circuit Makati.

The refurbishment was the outcome of a partnership between GOMO, the country's first fully digital telco, Ayala Land, and Make It Makati. Giving it a fresh look is artist Raco Ruiz, who streamed the makeover.

Now open for all skaters, whether first-timers, amateurs, or professionals, the facility is part of the second anniversary efforts of GOMO, as they continue to provide next-level experiences for its subscribers.

To gain entry into the park, subscribers can convert 8GB of their data into a one-day access pass via 'Mo Creds.

"With GOMO Skate Park, we want our subscribers to have a safe space they can call their own, where they can nurture their creativity and love for the sport. Throughout our second year since launch, and in succeeding years to come, we aim to equip the GOMO Fam with the freedom and flexibility that will allow them to experience the world no holds barred–all made possible by ‘Mo Creds," said GOMO Marketing Director Don Laudencia.

To commemorate the reopening, GOMO invited featured artists and DJs to provide live music, with the likes of Denise Julia, February Bank, Menon, DJ Steelo, CA Christian Alexander, Evan Proper, Astridx, Tolo Marvelous and Hoest providing the beats.

In addition, notable local skateboard stars Cindy Lou Cerna, CL Paje, Renz Gelig and Mak Feliciano shredded the park with their tricks.

Rangers claims 7s Football League title

Rangers as Div 1 champions

A new champion was crowned in the AIA 7s Football League Division 1, as Rangers Philippines survived a 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Manila Digger on Sunday night at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

Olisa Anena scored the winning spot kick, with Junel Marasigan able to stop all of the defending champions' attempts. The keeper ended up being named as the Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

Ebere Juel broke through in the ninth minute for Rangers, but Manila Digger found their equalizer just before the end of regulation through a strike from Ilemona Usman, the first goal Rangers allowed in the postseason.

Extra time saw both teams unable to pierce their respective defenses, setting up the heroics in the penalty shootout.

Team manager Kross Ubiam shared, post-match, "We were peaking at the right time."

Rangers completed its "Cinderella" run in the postseason with this championship, which was set up through a 7-0 shutout of Middle Beast in the quarterfinals and a 3-0 upset of top seeds Sino FC in the semifinals.

Coached by former UAAP champion Ayi Aryee, Rangers is composed of: Ebere Juel, Bolaji Idris, Stanley Edeme, Hassan Mohhamed, Forio Jonah, Junel Marasigan, Fidel Nnabuife, Charles Ujam, Olisa Anene, Femi Originde, Charles Muotouh, Idowu Ominisi, Bernard Ifeachor, and Mikael Lagard.

In the two other division finals, Black Amigos defeated Resenha, 4-2, to claim Division 2, with Manila Digger not going empty handed as they secured a 3-2 win over Mangtas FC in Division 3.

Manila Digger seeks Div 1 repeat in 7s Football League

 

Manila Digger seeks to defend their AIA 7s Football Division 1 title on Sunday, November 27, at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig. Kickoff is scheduled at 630pm.

Led by Stephen "Tonaldo" Appiah, who recently represented BGC at the Kampeon Cup, Manila Digger is also backstopped by a couple of collegiate standouts in Michael Asong and Darwin Regala.

Tonaldo shares, "Tactically, mentally, and physically, we are ready for the game. It will definitely be a difficult game but we are ready."

Serving as the foil in this one is Rangers Philippines, who carved two upsets en route to the final, dispatching Middle Beast and top-ranked Sino FC. They also were able to defeat Manila Digger in the eliminations, which may prove to be a slight advantage.

Managed by former Kaya FC defender Kross Ubiam and coached by former UAAP champion Ayi Aryee, they are led by former UFL players Fidel Nnabuife and Charles Ujam.

Kross says about the matchup, "This is going to be a great finals but we are going for nothing less than the cup. Manila Digger are not pushovers but we will be ready. Let the best team win."

There will also two other men's finals to be decided, with Manila Digger facing off against Mangtas in Division 3 at 430pm, followed by Black Amigos against Resenha at 530pm.

Kaya FC retains AIA 7s Football League Women's Division 1 crown

Division 1 champions

Kaya FC successfully defended its AIA 7s Football Women's Division I title this past Sunday, November 20, at the McKinley Hill Stadium, defeating Nomads Braves, 1-0.

The lone goal of the match came in the 44th minute, as Dionesa Tolentin's cross found Shelah Cadag, with the former UST standout sending it towards the top left corner.

It was then up to the league's best defense to hold on to a clean sheet, as they shut down any offensive opportunity from the Braves, who had beaten them in their last two meeting coming into this one.

Head coach Let Dimzon shared post-match, "It was a great showcase for the young Nomads Braves, but this was our best performance all tournament long. We strive to improve with every game so we can play great football with a premium on passing and classy finishing."

With this in the bag, the team now is focused on securing the PFF Women's Cup, which is currently ongoing.

In Division 2, Azzurri SC-Diliman claimed the title with a 2-1 victory over Manila Digger.

Local composition of 2023 NBTC field, set to be determined

c/o NBTC

The field for the 2023 edition of the SM NBTC National Championship is about to take shape, as the local component of the competition is set to take root.

NBTC Program Director Eric Altamirano notes, "Another good development for the healthy return of grassroots basketball. After our successful Global Games, it’s the turn of our Local Qualifying Tournaments (LQTs)."

Leading the way in the LQTs are the HS tournaments for both the UAAP and NCAA, with each likely to commence this coming January. Champions of both leagues will be entered automatically in the tournament, which is tentatively set for April. Earning the spots last time were San Beda and eventual champions NU-Nazareth.

Aside from these two, other LQTs are already in place to determine the other participants. The Central Luzon LQT is set to finalize its representative this weekend at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. Other locations for LQTs include Baguio, Cavite, Laguna, Antipolo, Quezon, Bicol, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Kidapawan, and CAMANAVA.

It had been recently announced that seven squads have earned their spot through the Global Games, with teams from Canada, Italy, the Middle East, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand set to fly in.

The tournament itself has been tweaked to expand from being a purely school-based league into including club sides.

Qatar-Ecuador to open 2022 FIFA World Cup

 

The 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup us set to begin early Monday at midnight, with the matchup between Qatar and Ecuador set to open things at the Al Bayt Stadium.

50th in the world, the hosts had intense preparations in the run-up to their upcoming debut in the biggest football competition in the world, including a run to the semifinals of the FIFA Arab Cup last year.

Relying on the likes of Ali Almoez, Mohammed Muntari, Abdulaziz Hatem, Boualem Khouki, and Saad El Sheeb, the Maroon have won six of nine matches under the stewardship of Felix Sanchez Bas' since September. They also aim to not join South Africa as host countries who missed out on the next round.

As for Ecuador, they earned a spot in the tournament for the first time in eight years by securing the last automatic guaranteed bid for CONMEBOL, but not without scrutiny.

The nation had fielded Byron Castillo in qualifying, where they finished with seven victories in eighteen matches. However, the Club Leon defender became the subject of complaints from Chile and Peru due to eligibility issues. The Court of Arbitration for Sport did side with Ecuador, but the nation's football federation opted to leave him out of the final pool to prevent any complications.

Only one player was on the squad in Alex Dominguez the last time they played in the World Cup in 2014, but the next generation of El Tri footballers have stepped up under Gustavo Alfaro's coaching, led by Brighton teammates Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupiñan. Enner Valencia of Fenerbahce and Gonzalo Plata of Valladolid also providing offense.

Both teams are seeking to get an early advantage in Group A, with African champions Senegal bucking the absence of their top man Sadio Mane and early group favorites the Netherlands completing the group.

Preceding the match is the opening ceremonies, which will feature Jungkook of BTS as one of the myriad of performers.

Fans of the World Cup in the Philippines will be able to watch the competition on Skycable and Cignal, as well as on TapGo TV through World Cup TV.

Finalists in AIA 7s Men's Div I to be determined

Things are set to become more interesting at the AIA 7s Football Tournament with the semifinals of Men's Division I taking place at 7pm on Sunday at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

Sino FC is seeking to extend their undefeated run to eleven matches against Rangers Philippines. The former is fresh from defeating Spoly FC, 6-3, whilst the latter stunned Middle Beast, 7-0, a contrasting result given the separation between the teams seeded fourth and fifth in the quarterfinals.

Middle Beast had been seeded fourth with six wins against three defeats, as well as a +4 goal difference. Rangers, on the other hand, had a better GD at +11, but lost one more match.

The other semifinal matchup sees Manila Digger go up against Manila Stars.

Digger fended off Maharlika Manila, 3-2, while Stars stunned Manhur Fatima, 4-2.

As for Division 2, Manila Digger will go up against Black Amigos for a finals slot, with the other side of the bracket features Paha FC against Resenha FC.