Lucas Lepri Philippines steps up at Manila International Open Jiu-Jitsu Championships

(L-R) Philip Alegre (Lucas Lepri Philippines), Caw-is Marshall (CheckMat Philippines), Jose Perez (DEFTAC Philippines)

Lucas Lepri Philippines proved to be worthy contenders in their debut at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition scene last April 1 to 2, 2023 at the ASJJF Manila International Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023  in Festival Mall, Alabang. The competition, which spanned all ages and skill levels proved to be a tight one for all those who participated. Lucas Lepri Philippines rightfully claimed their spot as a top up-and-comer with 13 podium placements in the 13 divisions they joined in, ranking the team as 5th overall in Gi team points.  

Representing Lucas Lepri Philippines are team coaches, Shanta Carlos who scored the gold in the Female Blue Adult Light Featherweight division, and Philip Alegre who placed silver in the Male Purple Adult Lightweight division. Team contenders, Christian Cervantes (Male White Adult Heavyweight) and Jacob Trinos (Male White Junior Teen Lightweight) dominated the mats as they championed their divisions. Yves Aquino and Carl Almeyda nabbed double wins for two divisions with Aquino scoring the gold at the Female White Juvenile Featherweight division and silver at the Female White Juvenile Open Weight division, while Almeyda placed third at the Male White Adult Lightweight division, and second at the Male White Adult Open Weight division. Yanni Aguilar (Male White Juvenile Featherweight), Desmond Ordono (Male White Youth Medium Heavyweight), and Deon Ordono (Male White Teen Featherweight) ranked silver in each of their divisions, and bronze placers, John Javier (Male White Adult Middleweight), and Jamaica Trinos (Female White Juvenile Open Weight) completed Lucas Lepri Philippines’ podium finishes.

‘The medals we got this weekend is a collective effort by the entire Lucas Lepri Philippines team – from the coaches, the students, and everyone who has supported our athletes. We’re a fairly new team but still we placed 5th overall with a hefty amount of podium finishes which is a huge achievement. We may just be starting in the competition scene but we have been hosting world champions since we opened.’ Toffy Ilagan, black belt and consultant at Lucas Lepri Philippines explains.

When asked about what the future holds for the team, Ilagan highlights their legacy project, ‘We aim to continue this successful streak with our legacy project. The legacy project is the brainchild of Lucas Lepri Philippines. It is where we give the opportunity to aspiring BJJ athletes the exposure they need to advance in the sport – such as providing them access to tournaments and world class training with our regular sessions at Rockwell Atletica.’

The Lucas Lepri Philippines team is determined to continue the momentum they set for themselves at this year’s ASJJF Manila International Championship and their performance shows that they are a strong challenger for future competitions.

NCAA set for volleyball finals

Games today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan

12 noon – Perpetual vs San Beda (Men Finals)
2 p.m. – Benilde vs LPU (Women Finals) 

With the Holy Week break done and dusted, the NCAA is set to commence its finals for volleyball Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

College of Saint Benilde hopes to keep its undefeated record intact as they face a battle-tested Lyceum side in Game 1 of the women's finals at 2pm.

Currently holding a 27-game winning streak on their way to consecutive titles, the Lady Blazers went to the limit against the Lady Pirates in their only meeting in the eliminations, a 22-25 25-16 16-25 25-13 15-9 victory back in March 4.

They were able to pull off an undefeated run so far this campaign without Mycah Go, the Season 97 Most Valuable Player who injured her left knee in the preseason.

Lyceum, on the other hand, is seeking to cap their maiden postseason run with a championship, after pulling off the upset against the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta just before the Holy Week break.

On the men's side, the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta is seeking their third straight title against an upset-conscious San Beda at noon.

Although the Altas won their only meeting in the eliminations last March 10, 20-25 25-23 25-17 25-16, the Red Spikers is fresh from an upset over Arellano to earn their first finals appearance since 2012, and are hoping to snap Perpetual's current 31-game winning streak.

San Beda hopeful that the outcome will be different this time around, as they got swept by Perpetual back then.

Celis, Asoro commit to Ateneo

Ateneo de Manila finally secured the commitment of a student-athlete from their sister school in the Queen City of the South.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu standouts Raffy Celis and Michael Asoro officially made their decision to commit to Loyola Heights on Monday morning at their campus in Mandaue.

The two, alongside recent University of the Philippines commit Jared Bahay, helped secure the CESAFI high school title for the second straight season.

A native of Bacolod, Celis was ranked 21st in the NBTC 24, and averaged a double-double during the recently concluded NBTC National Finals. He put up 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals, numbers that got him a nod in the tournament's Mythical Team.

The 6'3 wing player shares, "Gustong-gusto ko talaga mag-Ateneo hindi lamang dahil sa basketball -- madami ako matutunan sa life at lalo na being under Coach Tab (Baldwin)."

He also adds, "I also graduated from Ateneo. Blue planted blue."

A native of Lapu-Lapu City, Asoro averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists at the NBTC National Finals, earning a nod in the 2023 NBTC All-Star Game in the process

The nephew of NU legend Edwin Asoro, he says about his commitment, "Gusto ko talaga mag Ateneo kasi gustong gusto ko talaga dati na makalaro at mag-graduate sa Ateneo."

Michael also adds, "Alam ko na hindi lang basketball 'yung ituturo sa amin pati sa life and academics rin."

With the departure of Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, and BJ Andrade, the two will serve as key pieces for the Blue Eagles' plans of a successful title defense, with both players set to graduate this year and potentially be available starting this coming UAAP Season 86. They will join a recruiting class that also includes Kyle Gamber and Mason Amos.

Head coach Tab Baldwin notes about the two's commitment to Ateneo, "One of the limitations that we face as the Ateneo coaching staff is our ability to recruit players, which is affected by the academic process. We can confidently say that both of these guys possess the academic ability to be part of Ateneo. I would like to thank Sacred Heart School for everything you’ve done to bring these two young men to this point. We are very proud that they will be part of our program."

Serving as witnesses to the event are a couple of school officials in president Fr. Michael Pineda, SJ, and formation director Fr. Nono Levosada, SJ, Magis Eagles coaches Rommel Rasmo and Francis Auquico, and Landmasters executive vice president Franco Soberano.

Fr. Pineda shares, "Ateneo de Cebu is extremely proud of Raffy and Michael for their contributions to our basketball program, leading us to a championship. We believe in their character and are grateful for both of them. They are happy to be going to another Ateneo school where they will be coached by Tab."

He adds, "We know that they are in good hands and will be part of a team that will help build good relationships with them, as we believe that these relationships will matter in the end."

Chooks-to-Go promotes Special Olympics Pilipinas partnership

Chooks-to-Go x Special Olympics

Chooks-to-Go adds another layer with their sports advocacy with their newest partnership alongside  Special Olympics Pilipinas.

The group will be sending a couple of its employees as part of the Philippine team in the upcoming Special Olympics World Games later this year, with Learning and Development Senior Supervisor Jo-frhey Parcarey and Admin Supervisor Cristine Guimbaolibot serving as Unified Partners.

Both will help train and support the Filipino athletes participating in the competition, which will take place in Berlin this coming June 17-25.

A total of seven thousand athletes and Unified Partners from 170 countries will compete in 24 sports at the World Games.

Aside from this, the partnership also highlights Bounty AgroVentures, Inc.'s commitment to inclusivity and upholding the Special Olympics's ethos in the country, which includes providing a means of livelihood for people with intellectual disabilities (PIDs).

No less than BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas himself highlighted it as a priority within the organization.

Hubilla commits to the UP Fighting Maroons

Chris Hubilla

The University of the Philippines continues to offseason buildup by securing the commitment of Chris Hubilla.

The Grade 11 student from San Beda made the commitment a year away from his high school graduation, a realization of his long-held dream.

He shares, "Naalala ko mga three years ago, naglaro yung UP dito sa amin sa Naga. Talagang nakipagsiksikan ako para mapanood sila Kobe [Paras], Ricci [Rivero], at yung magkapatid [Gomez de Liaños]."

Hubilla adds, "Kala ko panaginip lang nung chinat ako ni Coach Tom [Chua] na gusto ako makausap ni Coach Gold [Monteverde] kasi kakatapos lang NC nun tapos may opportunity na gusto nila ako kunin nun."

Fellow Bicolanos and current UP Men's Basketball Team Managers Atty. Agaton Uvero and Hyatt Basman helped solidify Hubilla's commitment to Diliman.

Chris says, "Natuwa ako nung nalaman ko na taga-Bicol din si Atty. Ags at Sir Hyatt. Nung nalaman ko yun, alam ko na na sa UP ako dapat mag-aral."

Atty. Uvero shares, "As a Bicolano myself and an avid fan of the team, I'm really proud that he joined UP. I'm really glad to see that the team has many players representing different regions of the country."

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde notes about their newest commit, "Chris Hubilla is a strong finisher on the break and has a nice touch around the basket. He plays bigger than his size notably on the offensive glass." He adds, "Getting him creates another positive impact in the UPMBT program as we continue to build our team towards the future."

Hubilla averaged 20.86 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.29 assists for San Beda in his only eligible season with the team, numbers that merited a spot in the NCAA's Mythical Team whilst towing the Red Cubs through the stepladder, eventually falling short against La Salle-Greenhills.

Chris joins fellow 2024 graduate Jared Bahay in making the early commitment to the Fighting Maroons, where he will also be joined by Josh Coronel, who will sit out Season 86 rehabbing his injury.

He acknowledges that the time spent before making his collegiate debut will be on improving his shooting and defense, and he believes that he will achieve that with Monteverde's involvement, as he is expected to join the UP practices next week.

Women’s National Basketball Players Association and Def Jam Recordings formalize partnership

On the precipice of a new WNBA season, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) is thrilled to announce a partnership with Def Jam Recordings. Together, they will promote and celebrate women in both the music and sports industries, marketing a significant milestone in supporting women across multiple sectors.

Music plays an integral role in the lives of athletes, powering them through workouts and empowering them on and off the court. This partnership recognizes the importance of music in sports.

“The intersection of music and sports has driven our culture, our athletes and the sport they play. We rely on the impact of music to engage the fans, and share life experiences through the ‘conversation’ of music and beats,” said Terri Jackson, Executive Director of the WNBPA.  

To tip off this collaborative project, the WNBPA and Def Jam Recordings are releasing a “Bet on Women” playlist, featuring talented women artists from the record label. This playlist aims to inspire and propel listeners through a power walk, spin workout, or even a work-day. It begins with high energy girl boss music from Ashanti and Rihanna and transitions into healing and soothing sounds from artists like Jhené Aiko and Coco Jones. The playlist ends with more high energy music to motivate for their day ahead. The playlist represents a collection of anthems that embraces and speaks to ALL women.  

"Def Jam Recordings is proud to partner with the Women's National Basketball Player's Association in celebrating the powerful intersection of music and sports. Together, we will continue to uplift and empower women through the universal language of music," said LaTrice Burnette, Executive Vice President, Def Jam Recordings/President, 4th & Broadway.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as the first and longest-running union for women athletes, the WNBPA and its player leadership have worked tirelessly to challenge the workplace and societal conditions, protect players’ rights and assist them in achieving their full potential on and off the court. Through this partnership, the WNBPA and Def Jam Recordings continue to support and uplift badass women.

Road to Paris starts for the Filipinas

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The path to Paris in 2024 officially begins on Wednesday night Manila time, as the Philippines kicks off Group E action in the first round of Asian Olympic Qualifying at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.

The Filipinas are set to face off against Pakistan in the opening match at 7pm, with the hosts tangling against Hong Kong three hours later.

Head coach Alen Stajcic shares about the road ahead, "The Olympics is a massive event and we’ve never been to the final group stage ever before so trying to top this group and getting out of this group is a difficult assignment. We’re looking forward to the challenge and we’re confident we can get to the next round."

Serving as their first opponents, Pakistan is coming off a four-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia, where they defeated Comoros, drew against the hosts, and lost to Mauritius. The South Asians will be coming in with a slight disadvantage as a result of Nadia Khan suffering an ACL injury. Hoping to fill the massive hole the Doncaster Belle leaves are captain Maria Khan and defender Malika-e-Noor. London Seaward's attacking midfielder Zahmena Malik returns, while Amina Hanif potentially could make her national team debut.

Stajcic shares, "Pakistan has just resumed playing recently and obviously they are emerging and developing and an unknown threat. We don’t know how good they are. There’s always a little bit of anxiety because you don’t know what you’re going to get."

The Philippines will next face off against Tajikistan on Saturday at 10pm PST, capping off with a 7pm PST matchup against Hong Kong on Tuesday.

When asked about the hosts, Stajcic says, "Tajikistan is in a similar boat (like Pakistan). They’re both unknowns in international football, but are starting to really emerge and develop as national teams. We’ve got to respect those countries because we don’t know what kind of game we’ll have until we actually get in there. In that respect, this makes it a difficult challenge."

As for Hong Kong, Stajcic notes, "It was only 18 months ago that we scraped to a 2-1 win to qualify for the Asian Cup, we have to treat them with a lot of respect. That’s going to be a tough battle, it could have easily been Hong Kong making it to the Asian Cup so we know that it was going to be a tricky assignment."

This is the first meeting between the Filipinas and Hong Kong since that match in Tashkent, where Chandler McDaniel's 87th minute game-winner ensured then-manager Marlon Maro's side advanced to the Asian Cup, setting the stage for the Filipinas' historic achievement in India.

McDaniel is among the players Stajcic called up for the competition, as she aims to return to form after suffering an injury during the Asian Cup. Also being called up after her impressive form in the youth level is Bella Pasion.

Only the top team gets to advance to the next round, joining six others alongside Australia, China, Japan, and both Koreas, who each have earned byes. Second round action will feature these twelve teams split into four groups, with the top teams of each group, and the best second-place team advancing to the final round. From there, two knockout matches will officially determine Asian representation in the Summer Games.

The competition serves as additional preparation for the Philippines' impending debut in the FIFA Women's World Cup later this year. They used the last FIFA women's football international window to participate in the Pinatar Cup in Spain, where they battled against Wales and Scotland before allowing five goals against Iceland.