Converge ICT renews partnership with UP Men's Basketball

James Spencer

Converge ICT remains committed to supporting the University of the Philippines, as it extended its partnership for the next two seasons.

According to founder and chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy, "Given the caliber and talent of these young guys under Coach Goldwin [Monteverde], I expect no less than a Final Four finish."

He adds, "Converge believes the Fighting Maroons are a strong and talented team that embodies UP’s tradition of honor and excellence on and off the court – values that we also strive for at Converge. This is why we decided to continue our partnership with the team for UAAP Seasons 84 and 85. This partnership goes beyond the court."

The partnership has also seen the telecommunications service provider supply the necessary bandwidth for the University's students for their remote learning needs during the height of the pandemic, including its student-athletes.

Uy shares, "Providing fiber connectivity for students and teachers is an advocacy that is close to my heart. It is a privilege for us to help create the classroom environment that will help students to excel in their studies. We will continue to contribute in this advocacy."

In revealing the extension, UP Men's Basketball team manager Atty. Agaton Uvero expressed appreciation for Converge's assistance.

"We are truly grateful to Converge for their faith in us and for all the support they’ve given to the team and the UP community throughout these challenging times. This is only the beginning of a strong connection between the Fighting Maroons and Converge. Together we will do great things," Atty. Uvero said.

Ticket for FIBA WCQ February window set for sale

The Samahang Baaketbol ng Pilipinas announced that tickets for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers will be available for purchase starting February 17.

Set to take place at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, ticket distribution will be handled by TicketNet, both onsite at its different outlets as well as online through www.ticketnet.com.ph.

Lower Box tickets will cost PhP 500, with Upper Box priced at PhP 200 (pending additional fees).

Additional requirements imposed by the IATF for the upcoming window include:

• Fans need to be at least twelve years old
• Fully vaccinated (must bring vaccination card and an additional valid ID)
• Mandatory face mask wearing
• No food allowed in audience area, but can be availed at the coliseum concourse.

Also, the Quezon City local government also requires the use of the Kyusi Pass in order to enter the venue, whether one is a resident or not.

Group A play for the Asian Qualifiers start on February 24 and will last until February 28.

24: 3pm New Zealand vs India, 6pm Korea vs Pilipinas

25: 3pm New Zealand vs Korea, 6pm India vs Pilipinas

27: 430pm India vs Korea, 7pm New Zealand vs Pilipinas

28: 3pm India vs New Zealand, 6pm Pilipinas vs Korea

The Philippines is seeking to build on the momentum of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, where Gilas Pilipinas won all six of their matches, including two games against Korea.

Philippines falls short in Women's Asian Cup semifinals

c/o Asian Football Confederation

South Korea secured its first-ever Women's Asian Cup final on Thursday afternoon, doing so with a 2-0 victory over the Philippines at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.

The Taeguk Ladies scored two first half goals from Cho So-Hyun and Son Hwa-Yeon in a dominating performance.

It did not take long for Korea to have an advantage, as Cho received a corner kick from Kim Hye-Ri and the Tottenham women's stalwart headed it past Olivia Davies-McDaniel after four minutes.

They would continue to put additional pressure with Son getting shots towards Davies-McDaniel, but the Milwaukee alumna would take care of them in the 15th and 19th minute.

The Filipinas would have their own scoring opportunities, although they were much fewer than their opposition. Katrina Guillou had a chance in the 24th minute, although her long distance attempt just missed.

Korea would double the lead in the 34th minute, as Choo Hyo-Joo found Son for an easy tap-in.

Alen Stajcic made three changes during the break, with Malea Cesar, Chandler McDaniel, and Sara Castaneda coming on, although McDaniel would suffer a knee injury that would cut short her stint after twelve minutes.

The adjustments could not provide the Philippines the necessary oomph needed to cause a problem for the Korean defense. However, they remained resolute on the defensive side of the ball, giving their effort to prevent their opposition from blowing the game wide open.

Davies-McDaniel denied Son a chance at a brace in the 67th minute, as well as substitute Lee Min-A's opportunity twenty minutes later.

Colin Bell praised the team's performance afterwards, "The girls have worked tremendously hard the whole tournament, and to actually get to the final after this game is such a big achievement. We’re happy we got the result and the chance to play in the final."

In spite of the defeat, the Philippines achieved their objective in earning one of the automatic spots for the FIFA Women's World Cup next year. Alen Stajcic shared post-match, "It was a very tough match. Korea Republic were the better team and had more chances than we had. After 120 minutes in the last match, the players still fought right to the death. There’s an amazing amount of heart and courage in this group, and I’m proud of them. Everyone back home in the Philippines should be so proud of this group, who have come such a long way in such a short space of time."

The win allows Korea to face off against China this weekend for the right to be Asia's best women's football team.

Vietnam at cusp of FIFA Women's World Cup berth

c/o Asian Football Confederation

Vietnam boosted its hopes of a maiden Women's World Cup berth with a 2-0 victory over Thailand in the Women's Asian Cup playoffs on Wednesday afternoon in Navi Mumbai.

Both goals came in the first half, with captain Huynh Nhu putting the SEA Games champions on the board in the 19th minute, followed by Thai Thi Thao five minutes later.

With only fourteen available players due to the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the side, the Thais were already on the back foot, eventually cracking to the Vietnamese pressure when Pham Hai Yen intercepting Warunee Phetwiset's attempted deflection towards Waraporn Boonsing and finding Huynh, who fires it to an empty net.

Vietnam doubled the advantage at the 24th minute,  as Thao headed home a cross from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung.

They would have a chance to add another goal in the second half late, but Yen's shot was denied by the post, while VAR nullifed a goal from Nhu.

The win puts Vietnam in the driver's seat heading into their matchup against Chinese-Taipei that might just determine who gets the automatic berth for the World Cup.

As for the Thailand, a must-win matchup against Chinese-Taipei is on the cards on Friday, a situation hampered further by Kanchanaporn Saenkhun being sent off due to a red card in injury time. The defender had brought Nguyen Thi Thanh Nah whilst being clear on goal, and by incurring the offense will be sitting out her next match, reducing their current available players to the minimum thirteen prescribed by the competition guidelines.

The teams unable to secure the automatic berth in this three-team playoff are set to participate in the intercontinental playoffs to determine the remaining field next year.

Australia tops Group B in Women's Asian Cup

Sam Kerr dealing the Thai defense. c/o Asian Football Confederation.

Australia officially finishes on top of Group B in the Women's Asian Cup, emerging as 2-1 winners over Thailand in Mumbai on Thursday.

With an automatic berth in the Women's World Cup in their back pocket and a spot in the quarterfinals already assured coming into the match, Tony Gustavsson opted to switch things up and opted to rest their regulars, including Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, and Caitlin Foord.

The Matildas continued to impose their style on play, but were kept at by the Thais, at least for the first thirty minutes.

The Aussies finally broke through after 39 minutes, as Remy Siemsen passed it to Emily van Egmond, who then found the bottom corner past Thai keeper Tiffany Sornpao.

Kyra Cooney-Cross almost doubled the lead three minutes later, with Pikul Kheuanpet preventing it to cross the line.

The second half saw Thailand's best scoring opportunity go to waste, as Suchawadee Nildhamrong unable to take advantage of her interception of Cortnee Vine's throw-in. As for the Matildas, they lost Holly McNamara to a knee injury, whilst Siemsen's shot was denied by Sornpao.

Gustavsson inserted Mary Fowler and Kyah Simon to add some oomph to their attack, but both misfired on their chances.

Australia found their second in the 80th minute, as Sornpao spills Simon's cross, with the ball headed towards Kerr scoring from point-blank range for her seventh goal of the tournament.

Thailand would pull one back in stoppage time, as Nipawan Panyosuk lobbed one beyond Lydia Williams.

Having won all of its Group Stage matches, Australia now face Korea in the quarterfinals, whilst Thailand ends up as one of the two third-place teams through to the next round, setting up a matchup against defending champions Japan.

Philippines earns Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal spot

c/o Asian Football Confederation

Thursday night was another memorable part of Philippine Football, as the Philippines booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the Women's Asian Cup with a 6-0 victory over Indonesia at Pune.

Five Pinays got into the scoresheet, led by Tahnai Annis and her brace.

Motivated by the desire to book their spot in the FIFA Women's World Cup, they applied pressure on their fellow ASEAN opposition, hoping to capitalize on mistakes.

It took them four minutes to coax that out, as Vivi Oktavia Riski was called for handball inside the area, awarding a penalty for the Philippines.

Sarina Bolden sent the spot kick towards the left upright, but Katrina Guillou redeemed her teammate shortly. After receiving Carleigh Frilles' cross, she then slotted it past Riska Aprilia to open the scoring for the evening.

Bolden would eventually secure her goal in the 27th minute, heading home a Jessica Miclat free kick to double the lead.

Indonesia managed to keep it to that scoreline until the halftime break, many thanks to Aprilia's efforts.

The second half saw continued pressure from the Filipinas, and they got their third goal after a poor clearance found its way to Tahnai Annis, who struck the ball towards the bottom right corner in the 56th minute.

A second penalty was awarded in the 73rd minute with Dominique Randle was fouled inside the area. Miclat converted it this time for the Philippines to make it 4-0.

Annis netted a brace with a sensational strike from distance in the 83rd minute, before Malea Cesar completed the scoring in injury time, as the substitute took advantage of an empty net situation thanks to the heroics of Sara Castaneda.

The win ensures the Philippines finishes in second place, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against Chinese-Taipei.

Chinese-Taipei earns Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal slot

c/o Asian Football Confederation

Chinese-Taipei has snapped up a quarterfinal spot in the Women's Asian Cup on Wednesday night, defeating Iran, 5-0 to cap off Group A action at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.

Lai Li-Chin led the way with a hat trick, with Chen Yen-Ping and Wang Hsiang-Huei each netting a goal in the win.

With both teams suffering from defeats against China, Chinese-Taipei came into the match just needing at least a draw to go through, but it was Iran who had the early chance three minutes in, as keeper Cheng Ssu-Yu parried off a Melika Motevalli header.

Chinese-Taipei did have an immediate response a minute later, with Lee Hsiu-Chin finding Lai for the team captain to slot her shot towards the bottom left corner.

Iran had a couple of chances to equalize in the 21st minute, but Cheng saved Afsaneh Chatrenoor's shot and Fatemeh Amineh's header was cleared.

Lai would net her second goal in the 31st minute, as her cross sailed over Zohreh Khodaei's head and into the net.

Chen's goal happened in the 40th minute off of a close range effort to put an end to scoring in the first half.

The second half was not much different, as the East Asians continued to put pressure of the defense, eventually forcing a penalty in the 63rd minute.

Motevalli fouled Su Yu-Hsuan inside the box, and Lai completing her hat trick by sending Khodaei the wrong way a couple of minutes later.

Wang would score the final goal of the match in 78th minute, as the substitute received Su Yu-Hsuan's through ball and then slotting it home.

The win allows Chinese-Taipei to finish second in Group A and will face off against the second-place team in Group B in the quarterfinals.