Filipino Athletes and Sports News [Archive] - Page 5

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 07:18 AM

POC, PSC say it’s gold or nothing (http://POC, PSC say it’s gold or nothing)
By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:20:00 02/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco have reached an agreement on the battle plan for the Laos Southeast Asian Games after a meeting Tuesday.

“It was a fruitful meeting,” said Angping. “He readily agreed to my proposal that we should be sending only the best athletes who could compete for gold and nothing else.”

Angping said the discussion centered on the training of athletes for the Dec. 9 to 18 biennial meet and the need to recapture the overall crown the country won in 2005.

“We all share the same opinion that the team should be a small one but a fighting contingent,” said Angping, who brought along PSC commissioner Joey Mundo in the meeting with Cojuangco and POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros.

“We’re not after the silver, so we should pour all our energies into winning the gold,” said Angping.

Angping, who assumed the top post in the PSC, is a staunch supporter of shooting chief Art Macapagal, who challenged Cojuangco during the POC elections last November. Angping had also been highly critical of Cojuangco’s policies in the past.

But last week, signs of simmering down apparently appeared that could pave the way for the SEA Games preparation to go in full swing.

Cojuangco lauded Angping for a splendid job of cutting down the number of PSC employees to divert the savings to the allowances of the athletes and the national training program.

Animo

February 25th, 2009, 07:24 AM

It's also a negative thing when we have good Filipino football players but they later on turn into celebrities to gain more money! I know they need to live too but it's killing the sport and the future athletes.

Like these 2 guys:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3308682824_9a583fdb6c_o.jpg

renell

February 25th, 2009, 03:08 PM

not all europeans leagues are top. just english, spanish, italian, german. then there are a second group with dutch, portuguese and french leagues.

i disagree with Dutch and French leagues being second tier, but even those leagues are distant for our current crop of footballers. I actually think it's better if we keep the players locally, keeps the competition strong and plus if I were a player I'd rather be a big fish on a small pond than vice versa.

I think the Younghusband brothers are actually without a club at the moment. At the moment they can make a living without ever having to kick a football again, just look good on Wowowee and do cameo roles on chick flicks.

IndioBravo

February 26th, 2009, 02:10 AM

But as in all other sports you become better if you compete w/ the best. I wonder why no local football teamin the FPL got the services of this two?

hecky12

February 26th, 2009, 02:25 AM

upcoming games for 2009:

1st Asian Martial Arts Games: Bangkok, Thailand
April 25 -May 3, 2009

1st Asian Youth Games: Singapore
June 29 - July 7, 2009

3rd Asian Indoor Games: Hanoi, Vietnam
October 30 - November 8, 2009

5th East Asian Games: Hong Kong, China
Dec. 5 - 13, 2009

25th SEA Games: Laos, Vientiane
Dec. 13 - 21, 2009

upcoming games for 2010:

21st Winter Olympics: Vancouver, Canada
Feb. 12 - 28, 2010

1st Summer Youth Olympic Games: Singapore
Aug. 14 - 26, 2010

19th Commonwealth Games: New Delhi, India
Oct. 3 - 14, 2010

16th Asian Games: Guangzhou, China
Nov. 11 - 17, 2010

2nd Asian Beach Games: Muscat, Oman
TBA

*you may add other international competition that you know for this year and next year.

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 02:31 AM

^^ PSC and POC seems to give more importance to the SEA Games in Laos and the 1st Asian Youth Games in Singapore.

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 02:31 AM

PSC taps former RP swimmers to seek new talents (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150388/PSC-taps-former-RP-swimmers-to-seek-new-talents)
02/25/2009 | 08:51 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has tapped former multi-medaled swimmers to help them seek fresh young talents who can be trained for future international tournaments.

PSC chairman Harry Angping tapped Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque and Susan Papa to be part of the Task Force PSC Aquatics, which he created Wednesday.

Angping explained that the program is not under the jurisdiction of the National Sports Association (NSA) of swimming, which is Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA), but is a legitimate PSC program since its charter mandates the government sports arm to promote grassroots development.

“There is no conflict with PASA because I’m doing my job to recruit athletes. But the PSC can’t do it alone and we need people who will work voluntarily for the job," said Angping

Roque, who is San Beda College’s former swim coach, is a Palarong Pambansa and Age Group Championships multi-medalist. He is currently the PASA vice president aside from being the House of Representatives’ deputy secretary general.

On the other hand, Papa is a former national swimmer and is actively holding swimming tournaments in Muntinlupa.

Angping said Roque and Papa will tour different provinces with Sulu as their first stop where a number of swimmers who gave the country gold medals in international tournaments hail from.

“They will go to Sulu to recruit swimmers since for the last number of years we didn’t have Muslim swimmers in our team. I instructed them to get at least 50 swimmers and if they are really talented, I will send them to China for training," added Angping.

He also plans to do the same thing to athletics, which along with aquatics are the centerpiece events in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics.

Angping has also tapped the collegiate leagues of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to help him discover potential athletics stars.

“Our problem is we really have no honest to goodness recruitment program that’s why PSC is doing that role," added Angping. – GMANews.TV

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 02:41 AM

Taytay all set to construct P200-M sports complex (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/feb/26/yehey/prov/20090226pro3.html)

TAYTAY, Rizal: The local government has set its eyes on the construction of a P 200-million latest sports complex to replace the Marikina Sports Center that was earlier ceded by the provincial government to Marikina City, where it is situated.

Mayor Joric Gacula said that they have started to expropriate some 13.6-hectares in Barangay Muzon, where they intend to put up the modern day sports complex.

In acquiring titled properties for the venue of the sports complex, the local council earlier passed ordinance No. 1 (series of 2009), which pertains to the legal expropriation procedure.

Under the local government’s development plan, the sports center would be equipped with world-standard facilities, which include an open athletic field (with elevated bleachers), Olympic size pools, and covered basketball courts, among many other sports amenities.

The local chief executive explained that the sports complex, which would be at par with global standards, would host various provincial sports activities, which include the Palarong Lalawigan, the Governor’s Cup, the Palarong Pambansa, the STACAA, among others.

Gacula likewise cited Gov. Ynares 3rd and Rep. Jack Duavit (First District of Rizal), whom he described as consistently supporting their development programs, especially those that has to do with youth empowerment and sports development.
-- James Konstantin Galvez

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 02:48 AM

PSC puts focus on homegrown athletes (http://http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20090226-191096/PSC-puts-focus-on-homegrown-athletes)
By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:47:00 02/26/2009

Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping said his agency will stop financing the recruitment of high-maintenance foreign athletes with Filipino roots, adding that it will focus instead on developing homegrown talents for the national team.

Angping said the PSC has spent a lot on athletes born or raised abroad. Among these athletes include Fil-Am Cecil Mamiit, who recently just decided to beef up the country’s Davis Cup squad.

“Most of these (foreigners with Filipino roots) don’t really love the country,” said Angping. “They don’t even know how to speak Filipino. They just come here during competition and go back to their country of origin as soon as the competition is over.”

Angping said Mamiit receives millions of pesos from the government while enjoying most of his time abroad.

“Let’s stop this foolishness,” said Angping.

Tankers Daniel Coakley, Cristel Simms and Erica Totten are also among the nationals who were raised abroad but trace their lineage to the Philippines. But Mark Joseph, president of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, believes that his swimmers are an exception.

“My athletes are more Pinoy than any other Fil-Ams living in the United States,” said Joseph. “They just happen to receive athletic scholarships, which gave them world-class training and became their ticket to the Olympics.”

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 03:02 AM

hecky12

February 26th, 2009, 03:05 AM

renell

February 26th, 2009, 03:19 AM

But as in all other sports you become better if you compete w/ the best. I wonder why no local football teamin the FPL got the services of this two?

It's a nice saying - but the European clubs will not take in Filipino players unless they have scouted them thoroughly, know they are the goods and can deliver every week. To use Australia as an example, there are a lot of good local players, but only the very best get to go to Europe or Japan.

I think the progression will be slow, but I hope the league garners enough quality so that in the next 5 years it may be considered to be in the Asian Champions League, well at least the top teams. If Filipino teams impress on the Asian stage, then it may be then that local players go overseas. And to the interest of local clubs, selling highly talented players is big business in the smaller clubs

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 03:29 AM

It's a nice saying - but the European clubs will not take in Filipino players unless they have scouted them thoroughly, know they are the goods and can deliver every week. To use Australia as an example, there are a lot of good local players, but only the very best get to go to Europe or Japan.

I think the progression will be slow, but I hope the league garners enough quality so that in the next 5 years it may be considered to be in the Asian Champions League, well at least the top teams. If Filipino teams impress on the Asian stage, then it may be then that local players go overseas. And to the interest of local clubs, selling highly talented players is big business in the smaller clubs

^^ There may be no HOMEGROWN Pinoy perhaps but there are Fil-British players in English clubs. Fil-British goalie Etheridge was recruited recently for a Division I team. Not as a reserved player like the previous 2 fil-british brothers for Chelsea but a step up, as a practice player. If I'm not mistaken, the team is Everton.

renell

February 26th, 2009, 03:42 AM

In my previous posts I wasn't referring to any Fil-foreigners. They're a product of the British football system, and they just so happened to have a Filipino mother, father or ancestry.

A Fil-Brit in Everton wouldn't be as great as seeing a full Pinoy play for a J-League side or the MLS.

diz

February 26th, 2009, 04:20 AM

anyone have photos of the 2009 SEA Games Main Stadium?

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 05:24 AM

kakainggit ang Laos.. meron na silang bagong national stadium.. mas mahirap pa sila sa atin pero sila meron na.. kelan kaya tayo magkakaron ng ganun.. wala kasi sa kanilang namumulitika e.. kaya ayun naisakatuparan yung pangarap nila..

^^ I read a report before that the Laotian national stadium will be built by the Chinese in exchange for a huge land in the north of Laos to be given to the Chinese.

venntro

February 27th, 2009, 01:10 AM

It's final, basketball out of Laos Southeast Asian Games (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443903&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
By Joey Villar Updated February 27, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Take out one sure gold medal for Team RP in the SEA Games.

The Southeast Asian Games Federation on Wednesday officially scrapped basketball from the calendar of events in this year’s SEA Games in Laos.

“The SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) is saddened by the decision of Laos to exclude a major sports discipline from the SEA Games calendar this year,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala in a statement yesterday.

“The SBP did everything reasonably possible and fairly necessary to support the Philippine Olympic Committee’s initiatives to push for basketball’s inclusion,” he added.

Athletics chief Go Teng Kok left the country early this week in a make-or-break bid to convince members of the SEAGF to include basketball in the SEAG slated Dec. 9-18 in Vientiane.

The Philippines has dominated basketball in the regional competition for years.

“Let’s just leave it at that and respect the decision of the SEAGF,” said Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta.

The SBP, however, vowed to push for Olympic sports to be mandatory events in future biennial meets.

“In light of this unfortunate development, the SBP is calling on the SEA Games to enact policies to ensure major sports in future editions of the SEA Games,” Eala said.

“While this is admittedly an unexpected setback to our long-term programs, the SBP is also confident the Philippine campaign in Laos will not be greatly affected by this development despite the loss of a certain medal in basketball,” he added.

renell

February 27th, 2009, 03:56 AM

^^ I read a report before that the Laotian national stadium will be built by the Chinese in exchange for a huge land in the north of Laos to be given to the Chinese.

The Spratly's in exchange for our own Water Cube (Kubo ng Tubig or the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo National Swimming Complex) and Bird's Nest (Ang Pugad Ibon)? Tough choice, I guess it's exchanging one piece of national pride for another.

diz

February 27th, 2009, 08:43 AM

Wow. If a country isn't capable of hosting a major olympic sport such as basketball, then it shouldn't try to host at all.

manila_eye

February 27th, 2009, 07:27 PM

^^ basketball is overrated. we don't even need to participate because it is a sure win. plus the funding for it will be given to other sports worthy of exposure.

kiretoce

February 27th, 2009, 08:09 PM

Wow. If a country isn't capable of hosting a major olympic sport such as basketball, then it shouldn't try to host at all.

SEA Games hosting is not bid upon like the Olympics. It rotates in alphabetical order amongst the ASEAN member nations. I'm sure the nations participating will also help out in one way or another in the funding, logistics, and technical aspects to ensure the SEA Games to succeed.

diz

February 28th, 2009, 03:54 AM

I know, but a SEA nation has the right to deny hosting and let the major SEA nations host it.

^^ basketball is overrated. we don't even need to participate because it is a sure win. plus the funding for it will be given to other sports worthy of exposure.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I beg to differ. If we don't participate, how are we gonna win?

kiretoce

February 28th, 2009, 05:14 AM

I know, but a SEA nation has the right to deny hosting and let the major SEA nations host it.

The host city can also pick and choose what sports they want included in their event programme, it just so happens that they chose to exclude basketball from the upcoming SEA Games.

In any case, just move on....

kiretoce

March 1st, 2009, 11:12 PM

Let’s be "nationalistic" and recruit homegrown athletes (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150721/PSC-to-NSAs-Lets-be-nationalistic-and-recruit-homegrown-athletes)

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping on Friday defended his decision to form their own task force to discover and develop athletes from the provinces, saying the government agency is only doing what National Sports Associations (NSA) have “neglected" to do.

At the same time, he said this recruitment program and plan to do away with simply hiring Fil-foreigners is the PSC’s “nationalistic way of promoting sports throughout the country."

In a statement, the PSC chief said: “The NSAs are keeping these Fil-Am athletes in their respective associations because they provide the backbone of their competitiveness in international competitions. In so doing, they neglect their duty to promote the sport to the grassroots hence they do not come up with younger and better talents that they can harness for the future."

“What I am doing is to encourage our sporting officials to look at the vast talent available within the country, develop them into world-class athletes, and let them carry the honors of representing the country in foreign competitions," he added.

Angping has formed the PSC Aquatic Sports Task Force, composed of three-time Asian Games (1966, 1970, and 1974) 100 and 200-meter butterfly stroke medalist Susan R. Papa, 1974 Bangkok Asian Gamer and 100 and 200-meter backstroke Philippine record holder Atty. Ma. Luz S. Arzaga-Mendoza and Tokyo gold medalist and Asian record holder Dr. Ramon Ricardo A. Roque to “recruit, select, train, and develop qualified homegrown swimmers."

In scouring the provinces for homegrown talents instead of merely tapping Fil-foreigners, Angping said the PSC is also being “nationalistic".

“Let us stop the colonial mentality thing na ang iniisip lang natin, ‘yun lang mga Fil-Foreigners ang karapat-dapat na mag-represent sa ating bansa. Instead, tanggapin natin at hubugin ang mga atletang naririto sa ating bansa para sila ang mag-represent sa Pilipinas," he said.

Angping also maintained that the savings from dropping Fil-foreigners – most of whom are paid in US dollars – could be used to benefit local-based athletes. “Where’s the racist in that?" he asked. “This is what you call Nationalism. We patronize our own, living amongst us and not those who call themselves Filipinos but live and train abroad."

The PSC’s move has drawn the ire of the NSAs and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), who have maintained their sole authority to select athletes and send them to international competitions, be they homegrown or Fil-foreign.

“This is POC turf, this is our role and responsibility," POC president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, Jr. said during the POC’s radio program over DZSR on Thursday. “Kung ayaw nila suportahan ang Fil-Am athletes, kami ang magbabayad. Pero hindi pwede yung pinapakialaman nila (selection of national team members)."

renell

March 2nd, 2009, 01:11 AM

hecky12

March 2nd, 2009, 05:11 PM

yeah! its okay if basketball is out in this edition.. move on na tayo.. sila naman ang host e.. bawi na lang next time.

sorry nga pala sa commonwealth games.. hindi pala tayo nagpaparticipate dun.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 06:02 AM

Well in 2005 we bent around the list of sports that were going to be hosted, that's one of the reasons we won the overall medal tally.

Kudos to the PSC for looking inwards, not chasing foreigners with Filipino blood to represent a country they don't live in or trained in. Fact is nations with successful sporting achievements have a production line of athletes that begin from youth level.

^^ Let us not discriminate on Filipinos who live abroad since we are all Filipinos. The PSC is getting a lot of flak for being discriminatory since all Filipinos whether they be based abroad or in the Philippines should be given the opportunity to represent the country.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 07:15 AM

POC seeks PSC chief ouster (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=445390&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
By Abac Cordero Updated March 04, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee executive committee yesterday called on President Arroyo to immediately relieve Harry Angping as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission charging the PSC chief of intervention and discrimination in the affairs of the Olympic body.

Angping, only in his second month as PSC chief, is facing an ouster move never experienced by the seven others who assumed the top post in the 19-year history of the government sports agency.

Past PSC leaders have had problems with some NSA (national sports association) leaders or a group of athletes and coaches, but this is the first time an ouster resolution was signed by the POC top brass.

“This is an unprecedented move because the actuations of the current chairman is also unprecedented,” said Frank Elizalde, the representative of the International Olympic Committee to the Philippines.

The three-page resolution said failure to act against any form of discrimination or government intervention on the POC might lead to the worst scenario – a suspension by the IOC on the Philippines.

Even without sitting down and working a solution with Angping, Elizalde has affixed his signature on the resolution, along with 13 other members of the PSC executive committee.

“I’m disappointed because Mr. Elizalde is the one supposed to patch up things. He is the IOC representative to our country and he should be above politics. But what did he do? He signed,” said Angping.

“Is it premature? I don’t think so. If you’re on a collision course then you must cease and desist. In 30 days we haven’t seen so much problem in 30 years. Therefore I signed the resolution,” Elizalde said.

Those who signed were POC president Jose Cojuangco, chairman Monico Puentevella, first VP Manny Lopez, second VP Mario Tanchangco, treasurer Julian Camacho, deputy treasurer Sim Chi Tat, secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, auditor Corinna Mojica, deputy sec-gen Salvador Andrada, and directors Lenora Brawner, Mark Joseph, Antonio Tamayo, David Carter and Elizalde.

They all voted for Cojuangco in last year’s POC elections, while Angping was one of the main supporters of shooting president Art Macapagal who challenged Cojuangco for the presidency and narrowly lost, 21-19.

There are 40 voting members in the POC and the resolution with 14 signatures may not clearly represent the sentiment of the whole body. Former POC chairman Robert Aventajado and ex-president Celso Dayrit did not comment on the issue.

Elizalde was asked in yesterday’s PSA Forum if he sees any possible solution.

“I don’t. That’s a hard question but in this particular case I cannot visualize this gentleman changing overnight. He seems to have an agenda of some kind, which is contrary to the dictates of the Olympic charter.

“What that agenda is only he can tell,” said Elizalde who enumerated the three violations that Angping, a former congressman, former softball president and former POC member, committed.

First, Elizalde said, Angping erred in saying that he wants a say in the formation of the RP team to the Laos SEA Games in December, and must more have a say in the formation of the guidelines for the selection of the team members.

Then, they also charged Angping of being discriminatory when he planned to put a stop to the practice of hiring foreign-based, foreign-bred Filipinos to represent the country in major international competitions.

And lastly, Elizalde said Angping setting up a task force to look into aquatics, without any relationship to the association, is on total violation of the Olympic charter. He said the PSC is setting up parallel bodies to NSAs.

“We’ve never encountered this before where the PSC is trying to do the job of the POC,” said Puentevella, who felt sad it had to come to this point.

“We feel that the POC and the PSC can only work hand in hand and in unity, but if there is no more harmony then it will be the athletes who will be the victims. When the elephants fight it’s the grass that will suffer,” Puentevella added.

“We had no choice,” said Cojuangco.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 07:16 AM

Angping: I have President's full support (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=445394&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
By Joey Villar Updated March 04, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping yesterday said he has the full support and confidence of President Arroyo and branded the statements made by the Philippine Olympic Committee executive council as “too emotional.”

“My wife told me the President gave her go signal and said ‘Harry is doing a good job, keep it up,’ “ said Angping, whose wife Zenaida, a Representative of Manila’s third district, was with the Chief Executive when they went on an official trip to Thailand recently.

“I’m very confident because it appears here that they are now telling the President to remove me. Who is the POC to tell the President to remove me? I was appointed precisely to clean up the PSC,” Angping said.

Angping, a former softball chief and member of the POC board, likened the sports agency’s situation with the POC as a simple misunderstanding between married couples.

“I think maybe they’re just too emotional at that time. I don’t think they really meant it. This is like a petty quarrel between a husband and wife,” said Angping.

“What I think is that we should be working as a team, if they don’t want to approach and talk to me anymore, I would come to them,” he said.

Reacting to the possibility of the POC being suspended by the International Olympic Committee because of disputes in various NSAs (national sports associations), Angping said: “I’m operating a government agency, they’re operating as POC, as affiliate of the IOC, I see no conflict there.”

Angping clarified that the creation of the task force aimed at recruiting swimmers from the provinces was meant to help the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, not to challenge its authority.

“As for the creation of task force, as chairman of PSC I can create a task force. I’m not saying I’m creating a task force under PSC, I’m just creating task force under the office of the chairman and I don’t see anything wrong with that honestly,” said Angping. “If indeed there is a violation, I can always recall it. The task force is to supplement, support PASA, it’s not to challenge it.”

On discrimination, Angping blamed PASA chief Mark Joseph for disinformation. The PSC chief had earlier accused Joseph of drawing funds directly from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. instead of going to the normal process - through the PSC.

“I never made a comment that I’m against Fil-Am athletes, I never did. That is a very unfair accusation. I never said I’m against it but what I’m saying is there is a need also to recruit local talents,” he said.

renell

March 6th, 2009, 01:17 AM

^^ Let us not discriminate on Filipinos who live abroad since we are all Filipinos. The PSC is getting a lot of flak for being discriminatory since all Filipinos whether they be based abroad or in the Philippines should be given the opportunity to represent the country.

I don't see it as a discriminatory act but rather a move to bolster the depth of Filipino athletes. It is especially important in a time where the majority of Filipino sports continues to decline in importance. On the other hand no one was complaining when the PSC and other organizations were scouring the world for foreign athletes with an ounce of Filipino blood. Of course that's not discriminatory since they're "better" in terms of skill and training.

If the PSC's move will mean improving local facilities and expertise, I'm all up for it.

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 02:31 AM

Pangasinan hosts RP Open track (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=447498&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
Updated March 11, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The province of Pangasinan is putting its best foot forward to ensure the successful staging of the foreign-flavored Milo National Open track and field championships May 10-12.

The event, according to Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok, will be held at the well-kept Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen.

This early, Dagupan City Mayor and Patafa chairman Alipio Fernandez, and Pangasinan provincial administrator Raffy Baraan have guaranteed the success of the event.

“We are all excited with this undertaking, especially the province of Pangasinan under Gov. Amado Espino,” said Fernandez of the governor, a former congressman and PNP regional director.

In yesterday’s press launch at the Ambassador Hotel, Go said invitations have been sent to countries like Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka and even Russia.

The event, which features 43 events except marathon, will serve as a tune-up for the Pinoy track and field bets to the 25th SEA Games in Laos in December.

Go said Patafa will send 22 athletes to Laos, and he hopes they can win at least eight gold medals, and improve on their 2007 finish of five gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals.

“We expect more than a thousand athletes, and the foreigners whom we have invited are excited to go to Pangasinan. We hope that the Russians, not necessarily their top athletes, could come,” said Go.

During the press conference, Go also called for a truce among the warring officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Maybe we can find a way how they could reconcile because it’s the athletes, and the NSAs (national sports associations) who are being caught in between,” said Go.

“Yes, I am close to POC president Jose Cojuangco but we cannot let them quarrel as we head to the Laos SEA Games where we have a better chance of winning medals than in 2007.” – Abac Cordero

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 08:28 AM

Arroyo to grace Palarong Pambansa opening (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/03/11/09/arroyo-grace-palarong-pambansa-opening)
03/11/2009 10:54 AM

No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself will attend the opening ceremony of this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Leyte on April 28.

This was confirmed by Philippine Information Agency regional director Olive Tiu in an interview.

But aside from the Palaro opening, the President is also expected to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez airport redevelopment project.

Tiu also revealed that PGMA might also hold a Cabinet meeting in Palo town.

She said infrastructure projects related to government efforts to boost the region's tourism industry might be discussed in the meeting.

“This is really good for the people in region eight. This just goes to show that the President is sincere and committed to have her various projects fully implemented or finished before the end of her term,” Tiu said.

from_antipolo

March 13th, 2009, 09:53 AM

kiretoce

March 14th, 2009, 04:42 AM

Two Filipinos In Figure Skating Meet (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/march/14/yehey/sports/20090314spo1.html)

The chance of the Philippines to be in the Winter Olympics next year just got better as Filipino-American Michael Dimalanta will banner the country alongside Gracielle Jeanne Tan in the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships scheduled from March 23 to 29 in Los Angeles, California.

The 21-year-old Dimalanta, who started skating in 1996, topped the 2008 Philippine National Championships on July along with American Elizabeth Stern, which qualified him for the World Championships.

Dimalanta, who also performs for Disney on Ice shows, bucked an injured ankle three years ago to finish second at the Regionals, third at Sectionals and 11th at his first Nationals tournament in the United States.

Philippine Skating Union (PSU) President Ric Camaligan said Dimalanta volunteered himself to represent the country after he learned of the PSU’s involvement in the International Skating Union.

“Nung nakausap ko siya, ang sabi niya sa’kin ‘I will try my best,” said Camaligan, also vice president of the SM Leisure Group. “Nagpupursigi siya ngayon. Iba ang intensity ng training niya because this might be his best and final chance to compete in the Olympics.”

The top 24 skaters in the meet will earn automatic slots in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

The 5’5” Dimalanta will lead the country’s campaign along with the 19-year-old Tan, who has a big chance of making it past the Olympic qualifying tournament after finishing 22nd out of the 36 participants in the Four Continents Championships held in January.

World-renowned mentors John Saitta (main coach) and Sondra Holmes (jump coach) with former Italian National Dance Champion Lia Trovati (choreographer) are facilitating the training of Tan.

Camaligan said SM already committed itself to pay for the airfare, hotel and allowance of Dimalanta and Tan who are both training in Anaheim.

Should they fail to make it to the Top 24, they would have another chance in another qualifying event in Germany scheduled in September.

Maipo Valley

March 15th, 2009, 03:21 AM

i disagree with Dutch and French leagues being second tier, but even those leagues are distant for our current crop of footballers. I actually think it's better if we keep the players locally, keeps the competition strong and plus if I were a player I'd rather be a big fish on a small pond than vice versa.

I think the Younghusband brothers are actually without a club at the moment. At the moment they can make a living without ever having to kick a football again, just look good on Wowowee and do cameo roles on chick flicks.

yes, dutch and french and even german are far, very far from the big three spanish, italian and english. sometimes one german club (bayern munich) had good performances against that three bigs. i can say that portuguese league have better teams as oporto than french or the others. some southamericans leagues are better than french or that.

that ranking is in spanish, but i think that you can understand it, some europeans leagues have money but not that good teams.

1º Premier League Inglaterra 1.171
2º Primera División España 1.074
3º Serie A Italia 1.027
4º Serie A Brasil 956
5º Primera División Argentina 852
6º cnfp Chile 839
7º Ligue 1 Francia 761.5
8º Primera División México 734
9º Fútbol Profesional Colombiano Colombia 666.5
10º Primera División Portugal 643.5

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clasificaci%C3%B3n_mundial_de_ligas_nacionales_seg%C3%BAn_la_IFFHS#2007

basti

March 15th, 2009, 05:21 AM

POC sports complex in the works (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=448705&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
By Abac Cordero - PhilStar

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Olympic Committee’s plan to build its own sports complex will begin with the stamp of approval from the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee.

Jose Romasanta, POC spokesperson, said once the IOC and OCA are satisfied with the proposal, the documents and the ownership of the land inside Hacienda Luisita, the blue-print shall begin.

“And it starts with either the IOC or the OCA providing the fund for us to make the plan. That’s the first step. And until the plan is finalized we can’t talk about any figures,” said Romasanta.

“We can’t say how much is needed for the project or how much the IOC or the NOC will provide through a grant. But first we need to convince them about the project,” he said.

Based on the plan, the sports complex to be patterned after the United States Olympic Committee’s own home in Colorado will be put up inside the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

The family of POC president Jose Cojuangco owns the 6,400-hectare sugar plantation, and the POC chief bared plans of leasing 50 hectares at P1 a year for the project.

The plan has already been approved in principle by the Cojuangco Group of Companies board, and Romasanta said they already have in mind the location of the future sports complex.

Romasanta, who lived for 18 years at Hacienda Luisita while working for the Cojuangcos, said there used to be an area that housed an archery range and even a boxing gym in the hacienda.

“We already have an idea but it has to be finalized,” he said.

Cojuangco is in Kuwait for an OCA meeting, and a few days ago he sat down with IOC president Jacques Rogge. He was also scheduled to meet the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Cojuangco will return to Manila tomorrow and in Tuesday’s PSA forum he will discuss with the media the results of his meetings with IOC and OCA officials.

“I’m pretty sure there’ll be some good news,” said Romasanta.

manila_eye

March 15th, 2009, 02:08 PM

tyronne

March 16th, 2009, 03:19 AM

^^1 peso lease payment every year, ayaw mo pa non? :D Tsaka, with the NLEx and SCTEx, malapit na lang yun. Wala pa yatang 2 hours.

manila_eye

March 16th, 2009, 03:46 PM

^^ but they still own the land. what if matapos ang kontrata eh di kanila na yun. at gaano katalagal ang contract?

pwede naman gawin yun sa grandstand or sa lumang domestic airport. so many choices at bat sa tarlac pa? at sa lupa pa ng mga cojuanco and we all know that so many people died there fighting for their right to that land.

MatudNilaBaby

March 17th, 2009, 12:36 AM

Local football receives P10-M boost (http://http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20090225-190879/Local-football-receives-P10-M-boost)
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:18:00 02/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Asian Football Confederation president Mohammad Bin Hammam Tuesday urged the country’s football leaders to unite, even as he pledged P10 million for the development of the sport in the Philippines.

Speaking at the Philippine Football Federation Congress in Pasig City, the AFC chief from Qatar announced he is giving half the amount this year and P5 million more next year to help “you fix yourselves.”

“I’m a real friend of yours, talking to you from my heart,” Hammam told the country’s football leaders in the presence of officials from Thailand, Laos, Timor Leste and Vietnam. “Please show some solidarity.”

Hammam was referring to the moves to oust PFF president Jose Mari Martinez, which fizzled out Tuesday after the PFF Board of Governors struck out discussion on his removal from the Congress agenda.

PFF legal counsel Carsi Cruz said the move did not follow the proper procedure as prescribed in Section 28 of the corporation code.

Hammam added, “Your leadership is beset by politics. You have to be given the right platform, guidance and support. Save your nation. Save your youth.”

Laguna FA president Jun Pacificador said he hopes the present PFF leadership will spend the money from Hammam on “worthwhile” projects.

the philippines should be able to meet this challenge as soccer or football is a sport where everybody is at equal footing. it only matters on how quick your feet can make a goal as opposed to other sports like basketball where you need to be tall.

they have to start with education (not politics) especially in the elementary and high school level so these students will develop a sport interest in continuing to play in college then up to the professional team. there's so much talent in the countryside so make use of that money by donating soccer equipment to schools that dont have the program yet. i know the elite schools in the big cities do have soccer or football programs but what about the rest?

djhones

March 23rd, 2009, 03:02 PM

So takes on Villamayor as 'Battle of GMs' starts (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/153894/So-takes-on-Villamayor-as-Battle-of-GMs-starts)
03/23/2009 | 08:10 PM

MANILA, Philippines - An exciting match between defending champion Wesley So and fellow grandmaster Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor will highlight the start of the 2009 Phoenix Petroleum-Dapitan City “Battle of GMs" chess championship at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel.

So, playing once again on Philippine soil after his campaigns in the Corus tournament in The Netherlands and in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, will play behind the black pieces during the opening match.

“It’s a big challenge for me to defend the title against my equally-strong rivals, but I’m ready," said the 15-year-old So, who is also the top seed in the tournament with ELO of 2627.

Equally exciting are the other first round face-offs featuring GM Eugene Torre against IM Rolando Nolte; GM John Paul Gomez against GM Jayson Gonzales; GM Mark Paragua against International Master Richard Bitoon; GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. against IM Julio Catalino Sadorra; and GM Darwin Laylo against IM Ronald Dableo.

Seeing action in the women's division are Loreshyl Cuizon, Christy Lamiel Bernales, Rida Jane Young, Catherine Perena, Beverly Mendoza, Jan JOdilyn Fronda, Rulp Ylen Jose, Jedara Docena, Sherily Cua, Shercila Cua, Daisy Rivera, and Kimberly Jane Cunanan.

At stake in the men's division is the P200,000 top prize. The runner-up and the third placer will receive P100,000 and P80,000, respectively. The winner in the women’s category will earn P60,000 and trophy. –GMANews.TV

Skyblade

March 27th, 2009, 05:49 AM

Two Filipinos In Figure Skating Meet (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/march/14/yehey/sports/20090314spo1.html)

Unfortunately Micheal finished last in the Men's Short Program which I was unable to attend. However I will be in the Staples Center tomorrow with my Philippine flag to cheer on Gracielle tomorrow though!

I'll admit it'll be embarrassing being a 20-something guy surrounded by people in their 40s watching an event that isn't exactly known to be popular among males around my age, but it's what happens when you're born in the Midwest, have a mother that loves the likes of Lipinski, Kerrigan, and Yamaguchi, while having a young cousin that is a figure skater. :nuts:

Nonetheless I'm proud of Micheal for participating and representing our country! I just wish I could've been there to cheer him on. :(

RP bet finishes last in ice skating tourney (http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20090327-196448/RP-bet-finishes-last-in-ice-skating-tourney)

By Dennis U. Eroa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:16:00 03/27/2009

MANILA, Philippines—There were no surprises as Filipino skater Michael Dimalanta finished dead last among 50 competitors in the men’s short program of the World Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The 21-year-old Dimalanta scored 27.53 points in the tournament, which featured the world’s top skaters.

Sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), the competition was a qualifying tournament for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Dimalanta, who is based in the United States, failed to gain outright entry to the Winter Games but will have another chance to qualify this November in Germany.

Only the top 24 finishers in the worlds would qualify for the Games.

Dimalanta earned the right to represent the country after ruling last year’s National Open at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Still to see action for the country is Gracielle Jeanne Tan who will also try to nail an Olympic slot.

Like Dimalanta, 19-year-old Tan is a veteran of various international competitions. Both skaters are members of the ISU and Philippine Olympic Committee-recognized Philippine Skating Union headed by Ric Camaligan.

Both skaters are also being supported by SM.

Tan, who is based in Los Angeles, made it to the World Figure Skating Championships after finishing in the top 24 of last year’s Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver.

Dimalanta’s output placed him far behind the winning 84.40 total of gold medalist Brian Joubert of France.

American bet Evan Lysacek took the silver with 82.70 points. Canadian Patrick Chan settled for the bronze with 82.55 points.

Two Asians made it to the Top 10, with Japanese Takahiko Kozuka (79.35 points) placing fifth and compatriot Nobunari Oda (76.49) taking seventh spot.

Another Japanese, Takahito Mura, shone in 13th spot with 70.35 points.

kiretoce

March 27th, 2009, 05:58 AM

^^ Did they show him on TV? I was watching it a couple of nights ago and didn't even see anything about them Filipino ice skaters.

Skyblade

March 27th, 2009, 07:12 AM

^^ Did they show him on TV? I was watching it a couple of nights ago and didn't even see anything about them Filipino ice skaters.

Considering that the Men's "Short Program" is, in reality, 6-7 hours, they usually just cover the top finishers in TV. :/ Dunno if he did get some airtime though. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for Gabriella!

renell

March 27th, 2009, 08:43 AM

^^ magandang plano... but, why in tarlac specifically hacienda luisita? too far from where the high concentration of people. it should be inside the metro manila premises.

also, bear in mind that they plan to build it inside the cojuanco owned land... technically, they own it if ever. BOO!!!

well it could be good in that the athletes will be far away from possible temptations and downfalls - it will place them in a more calm environment and the lack of bright lights will increase their training focus, plus i like the idea of having vast space. The Rizal Memorial Complex is definately too small :banana:

The government can't do too much with the elite families having so much land, but shunning them is a stupid idea.

renell

March 27th, 2009, 08:52 AM

It's going to be very hard to establish it in the high schools without any strong history. This would also involve the pledged AFC funding to go away from their control.

An academy specifically for future Filipino football stars would be brilliant - the PFF and AFC can still maintain control how the funds will be used, and it could also make a profit out of selling future stars to the big Asian leagues, and hopefully some of them can break into Europe eventually.

Skyblade

March 27th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Currently here In the Staples Center with the Philippine flag at hand ready to cheer Gracielle on. :D

kiretoce

March 27th, 2009, 08:24 PM

^^ Be loud! Be proud! :cheer:

kiretoce

April 6th, 2009, 06:05 AM

NCAA processes inclusion of boxing, fencing in calendar (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/155617/NCAA-processes-inclusion-of-boxing-fencing-in-calendar)

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has started processing the application of the boxing and fencing associations for the two sports’ inclusion in the 85th NCAA season set to unfold June 27.

“We have received letters of intent from boxing and fencing and we have now begun the process of inclusion," said NCAA president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of host San Beda College.

The letter of intent from the interested National Sports Association (NSA) is the first requirement for a sport to be considered for inclusion in the country’s oldest collegiate league. The concerned NSA, then, should get a member school to sponsor its bid and it must also be willing to shoulder the cost of the tournament for a period of three years.

“This is not a new rule since we also implemented the same criteria when we accepted beach volley and soft tennis. These associations also agreed to finance the staging of the games for three years," explained De Jesus.

Aside from boxing and fencing, two other Olympics sports - archery and air rifle - are also being considered as demonstration sports this year. The archery and shooting associations have both expressed interest but only verbally so far.

Under the NCAA guidelines, the league will decide whether to promote a demo sport to a regular event after the probationary three year period. Upon elevation, the league will then set aside a budget for the staging of the sport's competition.

Boxing is expected to make it all the way since it has the resources and connections with league officials with ABAP chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan being a staunch supporter of San Beda.

The prospect of having one or two more new sports as well as the possibility of having 10 participating teams are giving league officials the reasons to be more upbeat this season.

“We’re all excited since the NCAA will be an avenue of developing new talents not only in the field of basketball but also in boxing and fencing where we Filipinos can really excel," said De Jesus.

Negotiations between the NCAA and the prospective NSAs are expected to resume after the Holy Week and a formal tie-up is seen by end of April or early May.

lewdsaint

April 11th, 2009, 12:34 PM

Philippines gets the world record for the longest football game.

Link :
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/35054/Saksi--Iloilo-gets-World-Record-for-longest-football-game

Ilonggo football players ‘break’ world record for longest game
01/19/2009 | 07:33 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may soon hold the distinction of having the world's longest soccer game, following a 35-plus-hour game in Iloilo province last weekend.

Online news site The News Today reported Monday that players from Barotac Nuevo town broke the world record with the marathon game Saturday.

"Their intensity was so great they were still putting up a tight defense up to the last match. It was so intense that the teams nearly got into a fight when one player shoved his opponent during the last game," said Duffie Botavara, secretary general of the Iloilo Football Association.

Organizers and officials of the World Football Marathon met Monday to finalize the documentation of the match, including the continuous video coverage of all the games.

The video clip will be submitted to Guinness World Records for certification, according to Botavara.

"We are preparing the documentation and the records of the game for our efforts to be recognized," he said. Until then, he said the record will be unofficial.

Organizer Elmer Bedia, a former RP national player and Philippine's Mr. Football in 1986, said the certification is needed to "officially" break the 32-hour record held by Australia.

At Saturday's marathon match, soccer teams of Barotac Nuevo Comprehensive National High School and the Iloilo State College of Fisheries played against each other for 35 hours and 20 minutes at the town's public plaza when they stopped at around 7:30 pm Saturday.

The match began at about 8:40 a.m. Friday. Some 19 45-minute games were played during the match.

ISCOF prevailed over BNCNHS, 136-133, in what Botavara called "a tight match."

"It wasn't a giveaway match. Both teams played tight defense, the reason for the low score unlike that in Australia," he said, comparing their match to that in Armidale, Australia, where Joeys Football Club won with about a hundred point-advantage over its opponent in a game that lasted for 32 hours and 50 minutes.

Of the 19 games played, ISCOF and BNCNHS each won eight matches, and tied in three.

Botavara said the players would have played another game but the coaches decided to end the match after more than 35 hours.

He said the last game was so physical that one player shoved his opponent at one point.

After the last game, Rep. Ferjenel Biron awarded the players from the two teams with cash and medals. - GMANews.TV

IndioBravo

April 12th, 2009, 01:21 AM

^^Why?

diz

April 12th, 2009, 05:45 AM

That's retarded. zzz..

mhek

April 12th, 2009, 11:23 AM

wow, 35 hours? nakakapagod yun ah. :nuts:

kiretoce

April 17th, 2009, 08:00 AM

Filipinos can play in the NBA, says Heat’s Fil-Am coach Spoelstra (http://thepinoy.net/?p=3148)

NBA playoff-bound Filipino-American coach Erik Spoelstra can no longer hide his feelings. He said Filipinos can play in the NBA.

His stock in assessing the ability of Filipino players rose last week when he guided the lowly regarded Heat to the NBA playoffs.

When the Eastern Conference playoffs open this weekend, Spoelstra’s fifth-ranked Miami Heat will visit the No. 4 Atlanta Hawks.

A proud Filipino nation will be rooting for his success in the same manner that he takes pride of being the first ever Filipino-American and Asian-American to coach an NBA team.

When Miami Heat president Pat Riley, one of NBA’s legendary coaches, stepped down last year as head coach last year, he anointed the 38-year-old Spoelstra as his successor and the 14th coach of the team

“I believe Erik Spoelstra is one of the most talented young coaches who are technologically skilled, innovative and bring fresh new ideas. That’s what we feel we are getting with Erik Spoelstra. He’s a man who was born to coach,” said Riley.

Not only was Riley’s prophecy self-fulfilling, Spoelstra was also overachieving.

Riley’s Miami Heat last year merely won 15 games for the season.

This year, Spoelstra’s guided the Heat to win 43 games, a 28-game improvement. Not only that, Miami is also in the playoffs this year.

As if wanting his modest success rub off to Filipino players, Erik said, “several years ago, if you ask anybody if a Filipino or a Filipino-American can become an NBA head coach, the question would have elicited this reply: ‘That’s a crazy question.’”

As the NBA goes international, Spoelstra thinks it will no longer be a “crazy question” if someone asks him if a Filipino or Filipino-American can play in the NBA.

“Yes, anything can happen. The opportunities now for players are really global. The NBA is welcoming any player from any country in the world and every player from out there; picks the right player, the right situation, the right time.

“Yao Ming (of China) broke down a lot of barriers. Twenty-five years ago, I don’t know if anybody will say that there will be a perennial all-star in the NBA, coming from China.
“We have an MVP years ago from Germany,” Spoelstra said, referring to Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, the first German MVP in the NBA.

“The game is now so much more global than it has ever been. The game of basketball obviously is a pastime in the Philippines and I can definitely say there is a possibility.”

Spoelstra added he also plans to do an NBA-type basketball clinic during the off-season in the Philippines. He said this is his way of appreciating the support of the Filipino-Americans and the Filipino people to his young career. “I feel honored” to do the clinic.”

“Hopefully, the fact that a Filipino-American has the opportunity to be head coach of the NBA, I am hopeful that this will open up more doors and more dreams for the Filipinos out there.”

“And that if they believe that they can do anything, then they can do it, if they put their hearts and minds into it.”

The six-foot-one Spoelstra was lured as player-coach of German professional team Tus Herten for two years. It was right after he graduated from the University of Portland with a degree in communications in 1992.

“I would have been playing in the Philippines if I were not playing in Germany,” said the 38-year old Portland, Oregon native Spoelstra.

He is the son of Jon Spoelstra, a long-time NBA executive, who has guided the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. His mother is Filipino, Elisa Celino, who lived outside Manila

Spoelstra was the Pilots’ starting point guard for four years and was named as the West Coast Conference freshman of the year. After college, he spent two years as player-coach for Tus Herten, a German professional team, before joining the Heat as the team’s video coordinator in 1995.

urban Iegend

April 22nd, 2009, 12:08 PM

Palarong Pambansa 2009

April 27 - May 03, 2009

Updates here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=849860&page=36

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4188/lsdcpanorama15.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/8991/mappalaro2smallg.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/2206/bilettingmap2small.jpg

kaelthas18

May 3rd, 2009, 12:53 AM

tamad ksi mga pinoy magtakbuhan.. tska drain ang energy mo sa football lalo na pag tempo ang game.. tska syempre ang iba sa atin reklamador pag open field kesyo mainit maaraw..etc.. football ay all weather game except winter syempre... e ang basketball di naman pwede pag umuulan tpos madudulas ka sa court..

i prefer to call it football dahil un naman talga tawag worldwide rather than soccer, "america lang nagpauso nun katawagan na un".. tapos ginawa nilang american football ang rugby with matching helmets at armor.. sana balang araw magkaroon ng Pinoy Premiere LEague dito. dami kaya mga inspiring players at lalo na dami natin pwde maging imports... ang dami magaling na iranian, british, koreans na nagaaral dito sa pinas na ang hilig eh football

Deus Ex

May 3rd, 2009, 12:27 PM

I don't think it will ever become popular in the Phils, maybe boxing would be a good candidate for the next most popular sport.

Porknight

May 3rd, 2009, 08:19 PM

I don't think it will ever become popular in the Phils, maybe boxing would be a good candidate for the next most popular sport.
Maybe where soccer is popular you see kids playing on the street , in the Philippines on the other hand you see kids and adult fighting so make sense!

demented_pigeon

May 4th, 2009, 06:22 AM

Maybe where soccer is popular you see kids playing on the street , in the Philippines on the other hand you see kids and adult fighting so make sense!
Maybe it's a per region thing. I mean soccer is popular in Western Visayas but i guess it lacks that "working class" feel to it. Basket, billiards and boxing are popular here because they're the sports of most blue collared working class families. They're the sports we here of down trodden athletes making it big. Soccer on the other hand is a mainstay of most exclusive schools. I think we should introduce it to the masses for it to be popular. We also need a figure who has working class credentials and is good in the sport and very articulate also.

kiretoce

May 22nd, 2009, 11:18 PM

Filipinos leap into Parkour (http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE54J1Q220090520)

Jumping across rooftops is not just for stuntmen or action heroes nowadays as dozens of Filipinos take to parkour, a discipline combining sports and martial arts, to get into shape.

Parkour, French slang for the art of moving, is a physical activity that maximizes the body's efficiency with the aim of overcoming obstacles such as buildings, rails, and even people.

Mimicking monkeys jumping from branch to branch or cats leaping over walls, parkour movements are smooth and swift and rely on the strength and agility of the body.

Parkour, which featured in James Bond movie "Casino Royale" and a music video by Madonna, is also known as free running and has a following in many European cities.

It's also become the latest fitness trend in Manila, with scores of people, from teens to older office workers, taking to the practice instead of going to regular gym sessions.

"The philosophy is going from point A to point B with the least energy and as efficiently as possible," said Nas Solar, founder of the Philippine Parkour and FreeRunning Association.

"Parkour requires mental strength so the practitioner can adapt constantly to his surroundings."

Instead of using the treadmill or lifting weights, parkour practitioners build strength by using their own body weight.

Solar said when parkour was first introduced in the Philippines, teens would get injured because they were copying moves from online videos without proper training.

Now he conducts practice sessions in an indoor gym, using obstacle blocks made of foam and padded mats. An 8-day course costs 1,300 pesos ($27).

Alfred Remillo, 18, said his parkour training helps him think more clearly in difficult situations. "There's a difference between running away in desperation and running away efficiently. Running away efficiently, it lets your mind think," he said.

Parkour was popularized in France in the 1990s by David Belle, who combined obstacle course training techniques passed down by his army-trained father with his own martial arts and gymnastics training.

Misconceptions about the practice still abound, especially among traditionalists who sneer at parkour as a sport.

"Parkour could be an advantage if you're planning a crime," Ernesto Beren, a 64-year-old former Olympian, said sarcastically.

"If you get caught and imprisoned, it'll be easy to escape," said the gymnastics coach who runs classes in the same gym frequented by parkour enthusiasts.

But most practitioners say the discipline enhances self-confidence, allowing them to overcome mental obstacles too.

"At the end of the day, I want to see myself improving. I jump higher, move faster, move more efficiently," said 23-year-old Sunday Ong.

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186541&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCE00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186543&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCG00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186545&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCH00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186546&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCF00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

kiretoce

May 30th, 2009, 07:05 AM

RP to compete in Asian Youth Games (http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=47907)

It’s green and go for the Philippine delegation to the first Asian Youth Games (AYG) scheduled June 29 to July 7 in Singapore, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said yesterday.

POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco met with delegation head Col. Cesar Hawthorne Binag on Thursday afternoon and leaders of the national sports associations taking part and the former Tarlac lawmaker immediately decided that there’s no stopping the young athletes from being denied of the dream of taking part in an Olympic-style event.

"Eveything’s been settled," said Cojuangco.

Binag, head of the table-tennis association, said joining the trip are athletes from athletics, aquatics (swimming and diving), 3-on-3 basketball, beach volleyball, bowling and shooting.

All in all, there’ll be 62 athletes, 15 coaches and eight team managers who will be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman Harry Angping.

The POC and PSC don’t see eye-to-eye on many matters but with the welfare of the athletes with ages ranging from 14 to 17 years at stake, there was no choice but to set aside their differences.

"These young athletes would suffer and feel bad if we don’t allow them to go and compete," said Angping.

Binag had admitted sending a late request for financial assistance to the PSC, something that Angping said wasn’t fair to the agency also tasked to help the athletes train and compete in overseas competitions.

Still, Angping relented and immediately ordered that funds be prepared for the delegation.

The AYG is a test event for next year’s Summer Youth Olympics that Singapore will also host.

kiretoce

May 30th, 2009, 07:16 AM

The great popularity of chess (http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090530-207896/The-great-popularity-of-chess)

This piece is inspired by Florencio B. Campomanes, honorary president of the World Chess Federation, whom I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time a few days ago in Baguio City. We met through mutual friend Ed de Jesus, president of the University of the Cordilleras, who had invited me to lead a workshop with his faculty on the ABCs of survey research (which I will write on next time).

Despite his age, the maestro is well-recovered from a recent bad car accident, and his mind is as sharp as ever. Campo (as he likes being addressed) asked me if there is any survey on how many Filipinos play chess, and at what age do they begin. He believes that national excellence in chess comes from mass participation in it, if possible starting at the age of five.

Campo’s question can be answered, partially, from the national Survey of Leisure Time and Sports (LTS), done on March 30-April 2, 2008 for the International Social Survey Program, of which Social Weather Stations is a member. Such surveys only cover adults, which in the Philippines means people aged 18 and up.

The LTS survey has separate items on sports which are also physical activities (of which the most popular among Filipinos is, naturally, basketball) and those which are non-physical, called “games” instead. It asks: “Thinking about games rather than sports or physical activities, what type of game do you play most frequently?”

Chess is the No. 1 game. It turns out that chess is the Filipinos’ most popular game, meaning non-physical sport. Those citing it as the game they play most frequently are 15.6 percent in the country. This projects to 8.5 million adult chess players nationwide, based on a population of 54.1 million Filipino adults when the survey was done.

Chess is relatively more popular in Metro Manila, where it is cited by 20 percent, than in the rest of Luzon (18 percent), in Visayas, and in Mindanao (the last two both 12 percent).

Chess is much more a man’s game (26 percent) than a woman’s game (5 percent).

Chess gets less popular as people get older—with percentages of 21 in the 18-24 age group, 20 in the 25-34 group, 17 in the 35-44 group, 13 in the 45-54 group, and 5 among those of 55 and up.

The popularity of chess grows with education and socio-economic class. It is the favorite game of only 1 percent of those who didn’t finish elementary school, 10 percent of those with some high schooling, 20 percent of those with some college, and 26 percent of college graduates. Only 11 percent of class E adults, compared to 24 percent of class ABC adults, call chess their favorite game.

I certainly agree with Campo that children should play chess. I learned it at age seven (and am a low-grade player) and recall that almost all my relatives and friends of the same age could also play chess. But another survey is needed to get numbers on chess-playing among children of age 5 to 17.

Incidentally, another item of the LTS survey finds that 90 percent of Filipino adults agree, and only 5 percent disagree, that “Taking part in sports develops children’s character.”

Other popular games: The second most popular is card games (of all types). This was cited by 9.5 percent, which amounts to 5.1 million players.

Third are video games, a category including computer games, playstation, pinball etc., which was cited by 5.1 percent (2.7 million players).

Tied for fourth, at 4.0 percent (2.2 million players) each, are gambling games (lotto, jueteng, casino games, etc.) and board games (scrabble, monopoly, etc.) At sixth, with 2.2 percent (1.2 million players), is word/number games (crosswords, sudoku). Seventh is dominoes: 1.4 percent or 0.8 million. Eighth is mahjong: 1.2 percent or 0.7 million. Fifty-five percent said they do not play any game.

Sports and national pride. To the LTS question, “How proud are you when the Philippines does well in international sports or games competition,” 74 percent said very proud (talagang ipinagmamalaki) and 19 percent said somewhat proud (medyo ipinagmamalaki). Only 7 percent were either not very proud or not proud at all.

National pride in sports tends to rise with education—from 63 percent among elementary dropouts to 78 percent among college graduates.

On the statement “The Philippine government should spend more money on sports,” it turns out that opinions are divided—47 percent agreeing and 36 percent disagreeing. It seems to me that the Philippines has achieved so much in four international sports—billiards, bowling, boxing and chess—even without much help from the government.

kiretoce

June 5th, 2009, 07:11 AM

British sports invade Manila (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/06/04/09/british-sports-invade-manila)

It's hard to find places in the Philippines where one can play soccer, rugby, or cricket, games the British people love to play. But there is one place right in the heart of Manila where the athletic potential in these sports is honed with a tender British touch.

The little-known Nomad Sports Club, located in Melville Subdivision in Parañaque, has been silently producing many young Filipino athletes well-trained in quintessentially British sports like soccer (called football, if you're in the United Kingdom), cricket, and rugby for almost 95 years.

Established in 1914 at the back of the former British club (now the Manila Club), the Nomad used to cater mostly to British expatriates, as well as an ever-increasing Filipino clientele eager to learn British sports through its world-class coaching program.

"Filipinos are pretty good. They are actually well-equipped for the sport (soccer). As you see in Manny Pacquiao, their weight-to-strength ratio is actually really, really good. Their muscle repetition is really good. The only thing missing is experience and exposure," said Nomad Sports Club Coach Darren Hartmann, 23, in an interview on ABS-CBN's Shoptalk.

Hartmann, who used to play professional soccer, said that he coaches about 150 youngsters, aged 4 to 19, from the Philippines and abroad. He also taught soccer programs in Laguna for some time.

"There's probably more girl (soccer) players than boys now. And I personally think it's a higher standard than what it is in the UK. A section growing really quickly is the Women's Touch Rugby team, and they're getting really active," he said.

Level playing field

Today, the Nomad Sports Club boasts of a 500-strong membership, majority of whom are Filipinos, and a booming set of sports academies geared specifically for children like the Nomad Junior Football Academy, the Nomad Junior Cricket Academy, and the Nomad Junior Rugby Academy.

The club is also home to sports like lawnbowling (which Hartmann says is similar to "tumbang preso"), squash, badminton, and tennis.

Some of these sports are played in specific seasons, at once to honor British tradition, so that the club's one and only "multi-purpose" playing field can be customized to suit each sport's unique demands.

"It's tricky because different sports require different lengths of grass. Rugby's suited to really long grass, cricket wants really short grass. Field maintenance is probably an issue because of the weather and because of the usage. But we try to keep it at a particular condition at a particular time," said Andy Yates, president of Nomad Sports Club.

He also said that the soft field is given time to "rest" during the rainy season. Usually, however, the field is full of children in the mornings, and more sun-shy players in the late afternoon and evenings.

Family-friendly

Over the years it has also become a nice spot for families, searching for a new rest and recreation experience.

"Nomad is very much about family, and that's something we've been promoting over the last couple of years. We have a swimming pool, a large playground, and we host a lot of birthday parties in function rooms [with a simple menu of Filipino and British food]," Yates explained.

Hartmann added that the club is a perfect place for exercise buffs who are tired of the gym.

"It's good because you're always moving and always running. And it's a good social thing as well because Nomad has its own bar area and coffee shop. You can spend the whole day there. Often, families go there and kids go swimming, dad goes to play football, and stuff like that," he said.

Yates said that membership costs P10,000 (a one-time fee), with P2,000 in monthly dues. Although pricey, Yates said the experience and the training is worth it.

BergenScooterPatrol

June 5th, 2009, 10:15 PM

More Parkour (photos from bleps carlos)

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Filipinos leap into Parkour (http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE54J1Q220090520)

Jumping across rooftops is not just for stuntmen or action heroes nowadays as dozens of Filipinos take to parkour, a discipline combining sports and martial arts, to get into shape.

Parkour, French slang for the art of moving, is a physical activity that maximizes the body's efficiency with the aim of overcoming obstacles such as buildings, rails, and even people.

Mimicking monkeys jumping from branch to branch or cats leaping over walls, parkour movements are smooth and swift and rely on the strength and agility of the body.

Parkour, which featured in James Bond movie "Casino Royale" and a music video by Madonna, is also known as free running and has a following in many European cities.

It's also become the latest fitness trend in Manila, with scores of people, from teens to older office workers, taking to the practice instead of going to regular gym sessions.

"The philosophy is going from point A to point B with the least energy and as efficiently as possible," said Nas Solar, founder of the Philippine Parkour and FreeRunning Association.

"Parkour requires mental strength so the practitioner can adapt constantly to his surroundings."

Instead of using the treadmill or lifting weights, parkour practitioners build strength by using their own body weight.

Solar said when parkour was first introduced in the Philippines, teens would get injured because they were copying moves from online videos without proper training.

Now he conducts practice sessions in an indoor gym, using obstacle blocks made of foam and padded mats. An 8-day course costs 1,300 pesos ($27).

Alfred Remillo, 18, said his parkour training helps him think more clearly in difficult situations. "There's a difference between running away in desperation and running away efficiently. Running away efficiently, it lets your mind think," he said.

Parkour was popularized in France in the 1990s by David Belle, who combined obstacle course training techniques passed down by his army-trained father with his own martial arts and gymnastics training.

Misconceptions about the practice still abound, especially among traditionalists who sneer at parkour as a sport.

"Parkour could be an advantage if you're planning a crime," Ernesto Beren, a 64-year-old former Olympian, said sarcastically.

"If you get caught and imprisoned, it'll be easy to escape," said the gymnastics coach who runs classes in the same gym frequented by parkour enthusiasts.

But most practitioners say the discipline enhances self-confidence, allowing them to overcome mental obstacles too.

"At the end of the day, I want to see myself improving. I jump higher, move faster, move more efficiently," said 23-year-old Sunday Ong.

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186541&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCE00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186543&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCG00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186545&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCH00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090520&t=2&i=10186546&w=450&r=2009-05-20T082410Z_01_BTRE54J0NCF00_RTROPTP_0_PHILIPPINES

kiretoce

June 9th, 2009, 09:29 AM

Savoring Amit’s triumph (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports6_june9_2009)

The fairy-tale ending to the first Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, which diminutive Rubilen Amit won in dramatic fashion, beating two-time world 9-Ball champion Liu Shin Mei of Chinese Taipei in a historic final, 10-4, at the jampacked SM North Edsa Mall, is another example of our athletes doing us proud in contrast to many of our so-called sports leaders, who do nothing but bring shame upon us with their never-ending petty bickering that wrecks the fabric of Philippine sports.

Those who were responsible for removing Amit from the national team and cutting off the meager allowance she and her fellow women pool players and coach Boyet Asosto received in recognition of their talents and their Southeast Asian Games triumphs, must cringe in utter shame for what they did to a fine young lady, who even went to the extent of giving up her job at a call center in order to concentrate on pool and bring honor to herself, her country and our people.

This little lady stands tall in the eyes of a grateful nation, which stayed beside her up to midnight Friday to watch her nerve-wracking victory over “The Black Widow” Jeannette Lee and then showed up at the venue on Saturday, some five hours before the games began, to ensure that they had choice seats around the TV table.

It was a glorious Saturday that mirrored the unquestioned quality of the ABS-CBN television coverage, which was beamed around the world through The Filipino Channel to Filipinos longing to reach out for home and to share in the little things that fill their hearts with pride and joy.

The commentary team, headed by a master of the nuances of pool and the language of the sport Bob Guerrero, who was ably assisted by Biboy Soriano, and Anthony Suntay, who looked stylish and upbeat as the emcee of the event, proved beyond a shadow of doubt that Filipinos can be not just the best in whatever they do but better than the best.

The support of Bugsy Promotions, headed by passionate pool enthusiast Perry Mariano and his lovely and indefatigable wife Verna, along with another fine lady from Puyat Sports, Ish Caparas, as well as the original godfather of pool, Aristeo “Putch” Puyat himself and the drive and energy of Dragons Promotions, headed by the charming Cindy Lee and pool playing executive Charlie Williams and the personal touch of ABS-CBN vice president for sports Peter Musngi were a guarantee of resounding success.

Amid all this, it was Amit who played the stellar role and emerged as a heroine. Her amazing comeback after losing her first match to world no. 1 Kelly Fischer speaks volumes about her strength of will and her desire to learn from her opening-day mistakes and to face up to the challenge posed by some of the finest women pool players in the world, a few of whom have beaten many of the best among the men.

Amit avenged those who treated her without the respect and dignity a three-time SEA Games champion richly deserved. Indeed, her victory was a right royal slap in the face of those who sought to put her—and others like her among our men and women pool players—down, all because of lack of principles and a desire to make money by exploiting our athletes.

The mess that Philippine sports is in today is sadly a reflection of national society, where common decency and integrity are often abandoned for short-term gain and where the values and virtues that set Filipinos apart in the good old days have been trampled upon with impunity.

In times of trouble and when spirits are low, our men and women athletes soar above the clouds with the magnificence of their performances to lift our spirits and to give all of us hope despite the odds.

We collectively salute Rubilen Amit as we collectively and joyously celebrate her victory just as we continue to savor the triumphs of Manny Pacquiao, a certified national treasure and a hero of Asia.

Amit reminds us so much of the all-time great Efren “Bata” Reyes, whose humility, soft-spoken manner and consummate decency—just like Pacquiao, who despite his being hero-worshipped not just at home but also abroad—continues to remain steeped in humbleness and love of God, has touched us all.

Our heroes of today are sportsmen and women like Pacquiao, Reyes, the great bowler Paeng Nepomuceno, the “Sprint Queen of Asia” Lydia de Vega and many others. It is indeed time for us Filipinos to come together to rally around our athletes and the few decent sports leaders in our midst as well as our nation and ensure that all of us together, work to right the wrongs in every facet of national life because it is only then that we shall achieve genuine nationhood.

napoleon

June 16th, 2009, 02:02 PM

Gloves come off in cultural exchange with Philippines

Bangkokpost Published: 16/06/2009 at 12:00 AM

MANILA : Thailand plans to promote Thai boxing in the Philippines as part of an agreement signed to foster cultural ties between the two nations.

Ambassador to the Philippines Kulkumut Singhara na Ayudhaya said Thai boxing, known as muay thai, would be used as part of a campaign to promote Thai culture among Filipinos.

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the Philippines. Filipinos also enjoy cock fighting and basketball, the ambassador said.

The two countries on Saturday signed a new three-year cultural pact running until 2011 as part of the commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The agreement was signed here by Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch and Vilma Labrador, chairwoman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines.

Mr Teera said the agreement called on the two countries to strengthen cultural relations, including organising more exchanges of cultural officials and experts, and additional art, cultural and film exhibitions.

chithanh119

June 28th, 2009, 01:08 PM

Thanks for your nice information

"ZukiChirO"

July 3rd, 2009, 04:20 PM

I Asian Youth Games - FIBA33: Boys Quarter-finals

Day 3 of FIBA 33 (Basketball) on 3 July 2009 continued to see several fabulous games in the Boys Quarter-finals in the afternoon at Anglican High School (AHS).

In QF 1, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) defeated Thailand (THA) with a score of 33 - 19. Iran's No. 15, Amir Sedighi was top scorer for the game, scoring 19 points.

In QF 2, Republic of Korea (KOR) defeated home team Singapore (SIN) with a score of 34 - 24. Republic of Korea's No. 14, Lee Jong Hyun was top scorer for the game, scoring 14 points.

In QF 3, the Philippines (PHI) defeated United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a score of 33 - 9. Philippines' No. 4, Cris Michael Tolomia was top scorer for the game, scoring 15 points.

In QF4, the People's Republic of China (CHN) defeated Sri Lanka (SRI) with a score of 34 - 9. China's No. 7, Li Weijie was top scorer for the game, scoring 18 points.

When asked on his thoughts on the upcoming match with the Philippines, People's Republic of China's Coach Xi Song said: "The opponent (the Philippines) is strong. We have no strategy yet but if we do it must be kept a secret. I think the Philippines plays pretty well. We have taller players so it is an advantage. But the Philippines has their own advantage - they are very fast and speedy."

In the Semi-finals on 4 July 2009, Iran will face off Republic of Korea and People's Republic of China will face off the Philippines.

Written by: Huang Yanyan Nadya
Photos by: Muhamad Farhan Bin Abdul Hamid

Congratulation to our very own Stephanie Cimato who got Silver Medal in Athletics sports today.

The Philippines is on Rank 19 out of 23 countries who earn medals as of today.

BergenScooterPatrol

July 6th, 2009, 04:39 PM

Despite being rated one of the bests in the field in the AYG, the RP Boys lost 2 heartbreakers.

Philippines lost to China in the Semifinals 33-31...
Philippines lost to Korea in the Bronze medal game 33-29

both games were race to 33.

chocolato1000

July 7th, 2009, 09:51 AM

i watched them play...their speed is crazy. only if height isn't a factor, the philippines could have trashed 'em all...but this is basketball.

neyoneyo80

July 11th, 2009, 11:17 AM

congrats !!! :cheers:

http://images.akoniuy.multiply.com/image/1/photos/36/1200x1200/2/SunStar-Pinoy-booters-top.jpg?et=L%2Cx4mFfgkhUTxXcW31Sr8w&nmid=265518387

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ritche

July 11th, 2009, 12:44 PM

Silliman has always contributed to Philippine sports in footbal and archery. It produced one of the country' searliest Olympics medals when Simeon Toribio won the Olympic silver medal in athletics in the 1930s.

Here is a news of Silliman's participation in international sports:

Information Technology graduate Mark Javier won the gold medal in the Olympic Qualification Match held September 20 in Xian, China, making it as the lone Filipino to qualify for the archery competition in the Beijing Olympics next year.

Javier is also the first Sillimanian male archer to qualify for the Olympics. Silliman has already produced two other Olympians: Lisa Ygnalaga (Seoul Olympics – 1988) and Jennifer Chan (Sydney Olympics – 2000).

Four Sillimanians, including Javier, also qualified for the Southeast East Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand on December 6 to 15: Javier and Ian Wayne Larsen (Recurve Men’s Division), Jennifer Chan and Joan Chan-Tabañag (Compound Bow Women’s Division) and Karen Grace Yasi (Recurve Women’s Division).

Mr. Roel Merto, a former Olympian, is the coach of the SU Archers.

Full story (http://su.edu.ph/netnews/netnewsoct.htm).

hecky12

July 17th, 2009, 04:29 AM

nakakapraning naman ang nagin decision sa singapore na hindi na paglaruin ang philippine delegation... samantalang isang athlete lang yung nagka h1n1 ata sa team..

pero di bale... panapanahon lang yan...

naaaliw ako dun sa mga batang basurero sa smokey mountain... ang galing din ng ginawa ng Gawad Kalinga.. nagtetrain sila ng mga youth to play baseball.. panahon na rin siguro para makilala ang ibang sports dito sa pinas.. hindi lang puro basketball..

tapos eto humaharurot din tayo sa davis cup..

sugarboy

July 17th, 2009, 04:54 AM

Snippets of how the RP junior golfers fared at the 2009 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, CA:

Boys 13-14:
Miguel Tabuena ended in 4th place with a -4

Girls 13-14:
Marvi Monsalve ended in 3rd place with a -3
Irina Paulin Gabasa was tied in 4th place to a Colombian and San Diegan with a -1

Boys 11-12:
Miggy Yee 11th with a +1
Allenby Ramos 12th with a +2

Girls 11-12:
Princess Mary Superal ended 5th with a +3

Boys 9-10:
Kristoffer Arevalo tied at 6th with a + 2

Girls 9-10:
Pauline del Rosario 2nd with a +4 (Champion was a Thai with a +3)
Mia Legaspi 6th with a +11

Boys 7-8:
Philippe Winsett Palanca tied at 4th ending with a +7
Alex Delfin Trinos III tied at 12th with a +13

Girls 7-8:
Bernice Olivares-Ilas - 4th (+12)
Nicole Abelar tied at 5th (+15)
Harmie Constantino 9th (+18)

Boys 6 and Under:
Liam Ramos tied at 18
Miguel Olivares Ilas at 40

My 6yo son stayed home as we decided not to go this year
6yo skipper Josh Jorge could have won the championship but sadly, he was not granted a visa :(

Girls 6 and Under:
Annika Tanoue at 6th place

-----------------------

At Torrey Pines, Marcel Puyat just ended the 3rd day round with a 70 and is currently tied at 4th at +3

Also at Torrey Pines, Dottie Ardina has not yet finished her 3rd day round but is positioned at 5th

"ZukiChirO"

August 9th, 2009, 10:42 AM

rising the Philippine Flag (1st GOLD MEDAL) at 1st Asian Martial Art Games in Thailand.
http://www.ocasia.org/OCA/images/Default/8/465/37/846537005878.jpg

kiretoce

August 9th, 2009, 10:05 PM

^^ What was the martial art form being contested?

c6josh

August 23rd, 2009, 08:02 AM

Bata, Django take easy ride to Round of 16
(The Philippine Star) Updated August 23, 2009 12:00 AM

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Sen. Manny Villar with Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes
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DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante trounced their respective unheralded foes to advance to the round-of-16 and keep their bids alive in The Manny Villar Cup Kadayawan leg before a huge crowd at the Activity Center of the NCCC Mall here.

Reyes took to school Manila qualifier Ruben Cuna, scoring a 9-2 rout to advance his quest for a first title in this prestigious island-hopping series presented by Sen. Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippines Sports.

Bustamante, on the other hand, used his vast experience to the hilt in bringing down local bet Roberto Bermejo, 9-4, to remain on track for his second Villar Cup plum after his title run in the Baguio-Panagbenga leg last February.

“Hindi rin madali ‘tong panalong ito, dahil magaling din ‘yung nakalaban ko. Medyo maganda lang ang itinira ko, at gustung-gusto ko talagang manalo dito sa Villar Cup bilang pasasalamat na rin kay Sen. Manny sa patuloy niyang pagsuporta sa bilyar,” said Reyes, whose runner-up finish to Warren Kiamco in the inaugural Alabang leg in May 2008 was his best performance in this series sponsored by Camella Communities.

Reyes was to face Carlo Biado, a rising star from La Union, who defeated Jech Limen, 9-6, in their first round encounter in this tournament coorganized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) headed by its president Vic Rodriguez.

Bustamante also drew another promising talent in Egie Geronimo, who eked out a 9-8 squeaker over veteran Godofredo Ducanes.

In other matches, it was Bulacan leg champion Ramil Gallego over Davao bet Christopher Alalunay, 9-3; Ricky Zerna over Benjie Guevarra, 9-5; Ronnie Alcano over Joven Bustamante, 9-7; and Kiamco over Ben Hasmer Kusain, 9-5.

c6josh

August 24th, 2009, 07:17 AM

Pacquiao eyes Baguio as training site
By NICK GIONGCO
August 23, 2009, 8:17pm

As the hunt for the venue that will host his training camp steps into high gear, Manny Pacquiao said the country’s summer capital looks like a perfect choice to hold his preparation for the Nov. 14 showdown with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

“Baguio could be a nice choice for the initial phase of my training because of the mountains,” said Pacquiao, who uses the hilly terrain of Griffith Park in Hollywood as venue for his morning workouts. “I can’t train without running in the mountains.”

Since Pacquiao has been advised to move the first four or five weeks of his training camp outside the US so he doesn’t shell out millions in taxes owing to an IRC provision, the 30-year-old pound-for-pound king might settle for the City of Pines.

Pacquiao has ruled out the Bahamas as venue because it lacks the mountainous terrain that he requires to host his training. Vancouver, although mountainous in some parts, has been scratched because of the frequent rains.

Being considered now is Cancun, the resort city in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and the boxer’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz is scheduled to check on the area.

If Cancun cannot offer what Baguio has, Pacquiao might end up bringing his act there.

Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said the fighter hasn’t decided how long the Baguio session will be, hinting that he won’t be surprised if Pacquiao opts to train there the entire time before the final push that will take at the Wild Card in Hollywood two weeks before the fight.

Pacquiao is scheduled to attend a four-city press tour kicking off Sept. 10 in New York. The following stops will be Puerto Rico (Sept. 12), San Francisco (13th) and Los Angeles (14th).

Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s business manager, has offered his vacation home in Baguio to play host to Pacquiao’s training.

c6josh

August 24th, 2009, 07:20 AM

a wise decision for Pacquiao to locate his training in baguio...his training will be better than ever, Cotto should be ready or pacquiao might eat him alive.

c6josh

August 24th, 2009, 07:26 AM

The country's first Ironman competition – the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman Philippines 70.3-mile race – was struck by tragedy after a 52-year-old competitor, Miguel Vazquez of the Team Alamat relay team, died during the swim leg on Sunday at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC).

Miguel Vazquez, the designated swimmer for the Team Alamat relay team, died during the second loop of the 1.2-mile swim phase at the CWC’s man-made Cable Park lake.

His teammate Johann Espiritu was waiting for him to appear and hand him the timing chip to signify his own start in the bike leg, but Vazquez did not show up after more than an hour. Vazquez was later found unconscious near the shore of the said lake, and was brought to a nearby hospital to be revived.

Initial reports pointed to heart attack as the cause of death, and investigations were still ongoing, according to Wilfred Uytengsu, Jr., president of the event’s organizer, Sunrise Events, Inc.

“Miguel was a personal friend of mine," Uytengsu said in an official statement. “Our deepest condolences to the family who have been informed of this tragedy and we will extend all necessary assistance."

Uytengsu described Vazquez, husband of GMA Network board member Judith Duavit Vazquez, as a “strong swimmer," having recently participated in an open-water swim in Batangas.

But in long-distance endurance races such as this, Uytengsu said, “deaths do occur and almost all of them do happen in the swim leg."

“This is always a risk but whenever this happens, it is deeply saddening," said Uytengsu, himself a triathlete.

Vazquez, who was president of Permanent Plans, was the anchor of Team Alamat in the relay competitions, where a team of three would divide the task of negotiating the 70.3-mile total distance.

Vazquez was assigned to handle the 1.2-mile swim phase, teammate Espiritu the 56-mile bike stage and Patrick Garcia the 13.1-mile run leg. - Trina Ibarle-Orquiza, GMANews.TV[/QUOTE]

c6josh

August 24th, 2009, 07:32 AM

I'm so sorry for what happened to Mr. Vazquez who was the President of permanent plans. It's a coincidence that a guy whose company is on the rocks would later on die in a tragic way...so sorry for the guy.

c6josh

September 3rd, 2009, 01:12 PM

RP dragon boat team bags 2 golds
By MADEL R. SABATER
September 3, 2009, 6:43pm
Manila Bulletin

The Philippines bagged two gold medals during the recent 9th International Dragon Boat Racing Championship held at the Račice Regatta Center in the Czech Republic, besting 24 other countries and breaking its own world record in the premier event.

According to the Philippine Embassy in the Czech capital of Prague led by Ambassador Regina Irene Sarmiento, the Philippine team earned gold medals in the 200-meter premier open and mixed categories, besting other teams from China, the US, Canada and Germany, among others.

The 9th International Dragon Boat Racing Championship was held from August 26 to 31 this year at the Račice Regatta Center, about 60 kilometers north of Prague.

The Philippine team was headed by Benjie Ramos, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation President; and head coach Nestor Ilagan.

The team broke its own world record in the 200-meter premier open category with a time of 40.022 seconds. The previous record of 41.91 seconds was set by the nationals at the 8th International Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Sydney, Australia in September 2007.

Following the recent win, the Philippine team will compete at the King’s Cup in Thailand this month and at the SAVA Sprints International in Singapore in October.

The Philippine team will also be preparing for the 10th International Dragon Boat Racing Championships to be held in Tampa, Florida in 2011.

kiretoce

September 6th, 2009, 11:07 PM

Goodbye to badminton’s search for gold and glory (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/06/yehey/top_stories/20090906top4.html)

The way things are going, it seems that the tug-of-war for the leadership in the Philippine Badminton Association is here to stay.

This is a very sad for badminton, which is one of the few sports in which Filipinos can excel and even aim for gold medals in the international arena including the Olympics. Nations like China, Indonesia and Malaysia have produced world-class badminton players, showing that height and bulk are not needed to be at the top in this sport.

It has been almost a year since the conflict broke out between Amelita “Ming” Ramos and Errol Chan, the two protagonists in the clash, and until now, no one is showing signs of backing down.

Time and again, Ramos has reiterated that should someone worthy of the position decide to run as president, she would gladly step down from the post.

Ramos has held the presidency for almost two decades.

But for the former first lady, the man she sacked as head coach of the national team is not the right man for the job. Ramos has accused Chan, also a former grassroots development chairman, of using the sport to advance his “business interests.”

But Chan doesn’t seem to mind.

“I have never used my position to sell rackets. I’m only selling badminton equipment in my court in Quezon City,” he said.

The two officials have been at odds over the badminton presidency since September 2008 when Chan and disgruntled members held a special meeting that elected Chan as the new president of the badminton group.

Days after the special assembly, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the two top sports agencies of the country, expressed their support for the leadership of Ramos.

But months after, the Olympic committee headed by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. took a different line and did not send a POC representative to the badminton election scheduled on January 31 after Ramos and her group failed to comply with the requirements.

She claimed that the POC is working against her PBA group because she openly declared her support for shooting chief Art Macapagal in the POC polls in November 2008. Macapagal lost his bid to unseat Cojuangco by only two votes (19-21).

Since then, several other national sports associations have developed internal disputes. Among those were cycling, archery, wushu, dragonboat, billiards, wrestling and even equestrian, which Conjuangco himself heads.

Even without a POC observer, the badminton group pushed through with its election and Ramos received a fresh four-year mandate to lead the association. The Olympic committee, however, did not honor the results of that electoral proceeding and organized another election on May 9. Ramos won the presidency in absentia while Chan was elected first vice president.

However, Ramos turned down the presidency and asserted that she would continue to acknowledge her original board member Edgar Aglipay, a former police official of star rank.

“This is the sport where Filipinos can be world-class,” said Ramos. “Pero dahil sa gulo, sayang naman ang badminton [Because of the conflict, badminton is wasted].”

c6josh

September 7th, 2009, 04:46 AM

Pacquiao to start promo tour for bout

Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star | 09/07/2009 7:32 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Late nights will soon be over for Manny Pacquiao.

The world’s best boxer today is set to embark on a whirlwind press tour of five key cities to mark the start of his preparations for the Nov. 14 clash with WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

He leaves for New York on Wednesday to be at the Yankees Stadium at noon of Sept. 10 for the launch of the press tour that would take him and Cotto to Caguas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 12, the AT&T Park in San Francisco for the Giants-Dodgers match on Sept. 13, the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles on Sept. 14 and the PETCO Park in San Diego (Pacquiao only) for the Padres-Diamondbacks match on Sept. 15.

After a day or two, Pacquiao heads back to the Philippines, hopefully with his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, on hand, for the start of his training in Baguio City. According to plans, Pacquiao will train in the country’s summer capital, and would move to the Wild Card Gym in LA three weeks before the showdown.

Once training starts, it means no more late nights, parties, and shooting of movies and commercials for the 30-year-old icon who said the other day that while he was very busy the last couple of months he made sure he knew his limitations.

“There are some late nights because I worked on my showbiz career. But I made sure I get enough rest. I know my body. Sinigurado ko naman na sapat din ang pahinga ko kahit na medyo napupuyat,” said Pacquiao, who vowed to give it all once training starts.

While his tireless Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, worked for possible training sites in Mexico or Vancouver, Pacquiao chose Baguio City, and has asked Roach to come over as soon as the press tour is done and over with.

Pacquiao the other day cleared the air on the rumored rift between him and Roach regarding the training, and on some things being written about Koncz.

“Things are being said and written about Mike Koncz but to set it straight he’s just doing his job. I like him because he gets the job done. And contrary to what’s being said, it’s not him calling the shots. I do. He only does what I tell him to do. Masipag siya (He’s hardworking),” said Pacquiao of Koncz.

Pacquiao’s Filipino trainer, Buboy Fernandez, is now up in Baguio for an ocular inspection of the possible training camp inside Teachers’ Village. The route that will cover Pacquiao’s roadwork, both flat and mountainous courses, is being laid out by Fernandez.

He said eight weeks should be enough to get him in tip-top fighting form and everybody who knows the pride of Saranggani Province in Mindanao could attest to the fact that when he trains he trains like no other.

Tax laws have prevented Pacquiao from staying in the US for the duration of his eight-week training as aliens like him are only given so much time to stay there. He is close to his limit (180 days in three years), and if he goes beyond that he will be heavily taxed.

c6josh

September 7th, 2009, 04:51 AM

Pinoy aces Bata, Django cop World Cup of Pool crown
09/06/2009 | 10:39 PM
Email this Email the Editor Print | | More
Efren “Bata" Reyes and Francisco “Django" Bustamante didn’t disappoint, rallying back from two racks down to nip Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, and regain the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool title before a jampacked crowd at the SM North Edsa Mall Sunday night.

The two pool legends survived two grueling matches in a nine-hour span to win back the championship of the meet they first dominated during its inaugural staging in Wales in 2006.

None was more important than their come-from-behind win over the deadly German pair in a game that saw the Filipinos bounce back from a 7-9 deficit.

“We started out strong, but slowed down a bit in the middle of the championship match. Good thing we’re able to get back our rhythm and win this one," said Bustamante.

Reyes, a former world champion and regarded as the best pool artist ever to play the game, sank the winning 9-ball to the delight of the Filipino crowd.

“Nakaka-nerbyos pa rin," he said after making the winning shot and then capping it by dancing to the cheers of the hometown fans.

The celebrated Filipino pair won the $60,000 top prize from the total cash pot of $250,000 in the prestigious tourney.

Souquet and Hohmann settled for the runner up prize of $30,000.

Reyes and Bustamante earlier beat out China's Fu Jian-bo and Li He-wen in a classic hill-hill battle of the first semifinal match, 9-8.

But Souquet and Hohmann denied an all-Filipino title showdown when they frustrated the other Filipino pair of Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano in the other semifinal pairing, 9-6. –GMANews.TV

c6josh

September 9th, 2009, 12:50 PM

RP mixed artists
to compete in US
visayan star

Universal Reality Combat Championship president Alvin Aguilar is setting his eyes on sending an RP contingent to the prestigious Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States by the end of the year.

Aguilar told sportswriters in Manila yesterday that his group is on the lookout for top mixed martial arts players who will carry the country’s banner in the competition.

He expressed hopes that one of the winners in the Colt 45-URCC University Challenge this Saturday at the A. Venue Events Hall in Makati could be sent to the US to gain further exposure.

Greg Anonas, Colt 45 brand manager, said he is confident that Filipinos have what it takes to compete in the US.

He said URCC is the premier and biggest MMA event in the country and they are confident of discovering players who can compete in the US during the competition.

The highlight of the URCC University Challenge, Aguilar said, is the fight between Ateneo's Ralph Mendita and La Salle's Meshal Al-Khuzeem in the 160-169 division in the event backed by Alaxan FR, E-Games, Chris Sports, Seair, Yoshinoya and Tribal Gear.

Also worth watching are the bouts involving La Salle's Jojo Tobang (Hybrid Yaw-Yan), Samsom College's Jean Marc Martin (Hybrid Yaw-Yan), La Salle's Chung Chang (MMASC), St. Paul's Angelo Cristi (Maic's Gym), Juan Sumulong University's Nino Banatao (Maic's Gym) and San Beda's Rain Balibalos (DefTac).

The organizing URCC, however, stressed that while the participants are all collegiate players, they will represent their respective clubs in the tournament that will follow the professional MMA rules except that it will be a three 5-minute rounds instead of the usual two 10-minute rounds.*PNA

c6josh

September 11th, 2009, 07:14 AM

This Fil-Am female boxer packs a wallop

When Ana was but 11 years old, the opportunity to learn contact sport opened up when her father enrolled her four-year-old brother in karate school. Ana in no uncertain terms told her dad that she, too, wanted to take up the sport. Her father, after some hesitation, agreed.

Cesar Julaton now says that he’s “…happy that she’s doing what she enjoys. She has my full support. She took hold of it and ran with it. In high school… she was low key in martial arts … but became National Champion in the Junior Olympics in Tae Kwan-do in the 1990s.”

Ana later become a martial arts teacher but while still working on her black belt, she decided to don a pair of boxing gloves and went for boxing.

Now, with 30 or so amateur bouts and only five professional fights under her belt, Julaton has been ranked by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Association (I.B.A.) as the top ranking contender for the vacant Women’s Super Bantam Weight World title.

That their IBA Super Bantam Weight World Title Fight on September 12 at the HP Pavilion “The Tank” in San Jose would push through came as a surprise to both Julaton and her opponent, Kelsey Jeffries.

For Derrick Caganaan, one of Julaton’s managers, it means that organizers are confident that the two female boxers can draw at least 7,000 boxing fans.

Jeffries and Julaton will be the evening’s featured main event at the American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank, a professional boxing action produced by Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) and Roy Englebrecht. The bout is scheduled for 10 Rounds.

Both are hungry to get this significant title under their belt. But while Jeffries has held this title previously in 2004, this will be Julaton’s first professional fight. Possibly a tough fight for the younger, less-experienced “The Hurricane” with a 4-1-1 card compared to the older (33) “Road Warrior” of Gilroy, California, holder of 7 titles and a lengthy 41-9-1 career.

But the Filipino American Julaton is confident, given her preparations.

She had in the past trained under fabled coach Freddie Roach, and now trains with Donito Donaire Sr., the respected and much sought-after Filipino coach based in Cebu City, Philippines. In 2007, Donito Sr.—or just Senior as he is now called—trained his son, Donito Jr. to a stunning upset (7-1) against the then undefeated Vick Darchinyan with a 5th round knockout for the IBF flyweight title.

Just last week, Senior coached “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona to become the Philippines' youngest champion by dethroning reigning WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico.

“I’m so honored and privileged to have Senior train me,” said Ana. “He just had a big win in Canada.”

Donaire Sr. has been head trainer of Team Julaton since two months ago, conditioning and sparring with Ana at the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, California, a half hour or so away from her Daly City home.

Her assistant trainer is Arvin Jugarap, nephew of Senior and co-owner of Kennel Boxing, with NABA & NABO flyweight champion Glenn "The Filipino Bomber" Donaire as her chief sparring partner, and Angelo Reyes and Derrick Caganaan as managers.

The Bay Area has been a charm for Julaton who has garnered all her wins, such as the Golden Gloves Championships at the SF Civic Auditorium, the California State Championships, her silver medal victory in the USA Championships and her Pro Debut, right at her doorstep.

When asked what’s the most difficult hurdle she faces as a professional boxer, the 5’6” tall and svelte Filipina with long straight ebony hair—a metaphorical and literal knockout in cocktail dress—said, “It’s being stereotyped as mannish.”

Demure in her demeanor and a far cry from being boyish outside the sport she’s in, there is real power behind this pretty Pinay’s punches. Already an icon in the Filipino American community, number one on Ana’s wish list is to be the first Filipina boxer in the 2012 Olympics, and to elevate women boxing to the level of mainstream sport.

“It’s not all about card fighting. It’s all about the effective fights.”

“We’re ready to go for this fight. I need to weigh 122 pounds on Friday. I’m working consistently. Watching my diet – no Filipino food.” Not until after the fight, probably.

“Some say I was crazy for taking on this fight – with less than 10 fights. But she’s just another opponent,” the confident boxer said.

“At my pro-debut – the contender had eleven pro-fights but I knocked her down in first round. First ten seconds with the right hand and on the fourth round with a left hook.”

“Boxing is an exciting sport. I take it seriously. I have no regrets. And I would like to see others do the same and continue elevating the sport.”

Senior said. “Ana can punch like a guy.”

Now, that’s one lady who means business.

c6josh

September 11th, 2009, 07:16 AM

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7863/pic09111009540129.jpg
Fathers long for sons to share their passion they have for manly things like, say, sports. But what if the child is a daughter? For Cesar Julaton, a martial arts aficionado, he didn’t realize that his passion had rubbed off on his little girl, Ana.

Jrommel

September 16th, 2009, 07:36 AM

RP lass bags world powerlifting gold
09/15/2009 12:33 PM

MANILA – Patricia Llena, the lone entry of the Philippines to the 2009 World Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships, overcame her Russian and American contenders to win a gold medal.

Llena, 15, came up with a total of 420 kilograms to win the gold in the the Sub-Junior 60-kg class, according to IronPinoy.com.

The world powerlifting event was held last Sept. 8 at the Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Llena won after lifting 170 kg in the SQUAT, 80 kg in the bench press, and 170 kg in the deadlift in the 60-kg division.

She edged second placer Kendra Miller of the US and third placer Yana Talybova of Russia, who is a three-time world champion.

Miller and Talybova were tied with 405 kg but the American ranked second because of a lighter bodyweight.

Japanese Chika Okudo was the fourth placer, Brazilian Andressa de Sales took the fifth spot while Canadian Karine Royer was ranked sixth.

Llena, who hails from San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, has never lifted in regional powerlifting events since she started in 2008, IronPinoy.com added.

The 15-year-old is coached by her father, Leonard Llena.

diz

September 16th, 2009, 07:46 AM

^^ Go for Olympics!

Planning Democracy

September 21st, 2009, 03:03 PM

Guys I just have to share this, the first Asian to play for a European Football Club was a Filipino! :banana:

Check it out:

Paulino Alcantara (http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/alcantara.html) FC Barcelona website

Paulino Alcantara (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulino_Alcántara) - Wikipedia

He was nicknaned "The Net Breaker" because of the number of goals he scored! He's still the record holder of the club until now! Wow!

And we've been debating for ages that Football is the ideal sport for Filipinos, when we actually had a legend already in the sport.

More Filipinos should know about Paulino Alcantara. His name should be in the same breath as Flash Elorde, Bata Reyes, Paeng Nepomuceno, Manny Pacquaio, and all our other sporting greats.

Sa lahat ng mga Asian countries jan na feeling panatiko sa football, KAMI ang nuana sa inyo, NOYPI ito! :banana:

Planning Democracy

September 21st, 2009, 03:05 PM

PAULINO ALCÁNTARA (http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/alcantara.html)

Paulino Alcántara (Iloilo, Philipines, 1896 – Barcelona, 1964) is the highest goal scorer in the club’s history with 357 goals in 357 games.

His characteristic deceptive appearance made him popular with the fans to the point of being the first star of the club in the golden ages of the twenties, alongside Samitier, Zamora, Sagi, Piera and many more.

His ability to hit the most powerful of shots crossed frontiers on the 30th April 1922 when, in a game between Spain and France, he hit a shot so hard that it ripped right through the net. For many years after, children from Barcelona would recall that moment and would wish to do the same as the man from the Philipines.

He hung up his boots on the 5th July 1927 in order to become a doctor. However, this was not his goodbye to football. He was on the board of directors between 1931 and 1934 and Alcántara was one of the first footballers to write memoirs of his playing days.

THE NUMBERS
- Seasons at the club: 1912-27
- Games played: 357
- Goals Scored: 357
- Trophies:
5 Spanish Championships (1912/13, 19/20, 21/22, 24/25 i 25/26)
10 Catalan Championships (1912/13, 15/16, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21, 21/22, 23/24, 24/25, 25/26 i 26/27)

Planning Democracy

September 21st, 2009, 03:54 PM

bongax

September 22nd, 2009, 11:18 AM

Si Phil Younghusband (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Younghusband) pala used to play for Chelsea.

He's wasting his time being a f*cking actor here in the Philippines! :bash:

The girls and the glamor lured him into that cheap industry, he should be spending his time developing his football career while he's young! :bash:

Sayang, he's just gonna be a "has been", he'll never be as great as our other sporting heroes. :ohno:

hello guys, just re-registered..
i forgot my username and password..
been just lurking..:)

anyway, with regards to phil younghusband,
he was just a reserve striker of Chelsea FC..
started with the club at a young age
and his contract was not renewed anymore..
as far as i know PR Asia is now managing him and his brother..
sayang, he and some fil-foreign players of his batch are groomed
to make philippine football team a contender enev just on the ASEAN level..
too bad, there were allegations of mismanagement by the PFF...

Planning Democracy

September 22nd, 2009, 11:34 AM

hello guys, just re-registered..
i forgot my username and password..
been just lurking..:)

anyway, with regards to phil younghusband,
he was just a reserve striker of Chelsea FC..
started with the club at a young age
and his contract was not renewed anymore..
as far as i know PR Asia is now managing him and his brother..
sayang, he and some fil-foreign players of his batch are groomed
to make philippine football team a contender enev just on the ASEAN level..
too bad, there were allegations of mismanagement by the PFF...

Sayang, he's pretty good though. Maybe we could import some coaches to improve our quality of play, sipa lang kasi tayo ng sipa wala yung pasahan that you usually see in high level games.

bongax

September 23rd, 2009, 02:17 AM

^^ actually our last coach was a spanish, juan cutillas...

greenice

October 3rd, 2009, 04:10 AM

Rio win 2016 Games as IOC rebuff Obama
Reuters - Saturday, October 3

By Paul Radford

COPENHAGEN - Rio de Janeiro will stage the first Olympics in South America in 2016, the International Olympic Committee decided on Friday, delivering a stunning rebuff to U.S. President Barack Obama and favourites Chicago.

IOC President Jacques Rogge announced the decision to give the Games to Rio after three rounds of voting which produced a landslide victory for the Brazilians in a final showdown with Madrid.

Chicago, despite a speech to the IOC by President Obama, who had put his credibility on the line by flying in to address the IOC just before the vote, went out as fourth and last in the first round of voting, one of the biggest shocks in an Olympic ballot.

Chicago had started as front-runners and most Olympic observers had expected the Obama factor - first lady Michelle Obama spent two days lobbying in Copenhagen and also addressed the IOC session - to be decisive.

The fourth candidate, Tokyo, were knocked out in the second ballot.

CHEERED WILDLY

The Brazilian delegation at the Bella Convention Centre, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and soccer great Pele, cheered wildly, then broke down in tears of joy and began singing as they hugged each other and celebrated a momentous victory.

Lula's impassioned appeal to the IOC to stop its habit of awarding Olympics to Europe, North America and the Far East and give Brazil and South America a long overdue chance clearly touched the right buttons as did an appealing video display, showing beaches, mountains and a joyous people having fun.

Rio's Copacabana beach erupted in joy after the vote was announced, kicking off a carnival-style celebration in front of the big stage and screens broadcasting events from Denmark.

In the final round of voting by 98 eligible IOC members, Rio picked up more than two thirds, winning by 66 votes to Madrid's 32 with one abstention.

Madrid had led the first round by 28 votes to 26 for Rio with Tokyo on 22 and Chicago last on 18.

After Chicago's elimination, there was a strong switch to Rio in the second round, the Brazilians almost winning an outright majority, picking up 46 votes to 29 for Madrid and 20 for Tokyo.

STRONG APPEALS

Though the U.S. President and his wife produced strong appeals in the day's first 45-minute presentation by Chicago, they were almost certainly undone by the emotional tugs provided by Lula and former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch for Madrid.

Lula raised the emotional stakes in his speech. "This is a continent that has never held the Games," he said.

"It is time to address this imbalance. The opportunity is now to extend the Games to a new continent. It's an opportunity for an Olympics in a tropical country for the first time, to feel the warmth of our people, the exuberance of our culture and the sensation of our joy."

Even more emotionally, Samaranch, now 89, pulled powerfully at the heart-strings of members when he spoke for Madrid. "I know I am very near the end of my days," he said. "May I ask you to consider granting my country the honour and also the duty to organise the games in 2016?"

Obama's appearance, the first by a sitting U.S. President at an IOC session, provoked huge interest from IOC members, even though they are used to being courted by major political figures.

Obama told the IOC: "I've come here today to urge you to choose Chicago for the same reason I chose Chicago nearly 25 years ago, the reason I fell in love with the city I still call home."

Animo

October 13th, 2009, 11:39 PM

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101409/ufl.jpg

The men behind the United Football League (UFL) — (From left) Monchu Garcia of Orient Freight, Javy Mantecon of LBC, Mike Camahort of 2GO, UFL Tournament Director Phillip Hagedorn of the Mutual Fund Management Company of the Philippines, Dong Longga of Magma Inflatables, Santi Araneta of LBC, UFCA President Christopher Hagedorn of Planet Builders, and Football Alliance President Randy Roxas of ATR Kim-Eng.

FOOTBALL HAS had a rich and colorful history in the Philippines, dating back to the Spanish era when it was the country’s most popular game. Since then, there has been a steady interest in the sport, with organized clubs and associations playing weekend tournaments in selected venues.

Overall, however, the sport has not received the attention it deserves, despite the fact that many experts have determined that football is perfectly suited for the Filipino’s physical attributes and socio-cultural environment. This is evidenced by the absence of a unified and professionally structured league, backed by corporate sponsors and regularly covered by media.

Accordingly, such a league was set up by the United Football Club Association (UFCA) and the Football Alliance (FA). Presided over by Christopher Hagedorn and Randy Roxas, respectively, the UFCA and the FA are two groups that have come together in order to host the United Football League (UFL).

Sanctioned by the National Capital Region Football Association under the Philippine Football Federation, the UFL’s three-month tournament will be hosted by the UFCA, in cooperation with the FA.

For the UFL LBC Cup slated to start in mid-October, the teams will be tapped to play in 38 matches. These are made up of players from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, various expat groups, and schools. Over 400 players have been enlisted thus far, including many from the Philippine National Football Team.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/FPL2008.jpg

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101409/content.php?id=175

kiretoce

December 5th, 2009, 05:40 AM

Water polo kicks off RP campaign (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232528/water-polo-kicks-rp-campaign)

Four days before the start of the 25th Southeast Games, the national water polo team plunges into action against Thailand on Saturday at the indoor pool of the National Stadium.

Silver medalists in the last two staging of the Games, the Filipinos are hoping to end the 28-year reign of Singapore.

The last-minute withdrawal of Vietnam has reduced the field to four teams, making the 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. in Manila) match against the Thais a must-win for the Filipinos.

The top finisher after the single round robin event will be declared champion.

Singapore, undefeated since 1981, takes on Indonesia at 1 p.m.

Thailand edged the Philippines by a single goal in their most recent outing last September during a four-team goodwill series in Singapore.

But the Filipinos, despite six new faces in the lineup, are confident of getting back at the Thais.

Two years ago in Korat, Thailand, the Filipinos and the Thais battled to a draw.

The Filipinos arrived in the Laos capital last Tuesday and had completed two days of practice.

Louie Mangahis, the team manager, arrived Thursday just in time to attend the Filipinos’ final practice prior to their match with the Thais.

“We have a relatively young team with the addition of six players under 20. How they handle the pressure would be crucial,” he said.

Dale Evangelista, who at 32 is the most senior member of the team, will lead the team along with carryovers Tani Gomez, Sherwin dela Paz, Almax Laurel, Norton Alamara, Frazier Alamara, and Dexter Alamara.

The rookies are Juan Teofilo Abejo, Ronald Alejo Guiriba, Evan Grabador, Miguel Carandang, Eloid Evangelista, and Kristofer Roi dela Cruz.

The Filipinos came close to dethroning Singapore two years ago and battled the perennial champion to two close matches in tuneup matches this year.

“We have now lost our last three matches against Singapore by a difference of one goal,” Mangahis pointed out.

Last May, the Filipinos finished fourth in a field of 12 teams during a tournament organized by the World Swimming Federation (FINA) in Kuwait.

Mangahis is hoping that a gold medal finish would spur the growth of the sport at home.

“It is hard to promote water polo because of the immense popularity of basketball but if we can show that we can compete at a high level, maybe the people can give us a second look,” said Mangahis, a trader by profession.

In the absence of water polo competitions in the Philippines, the national team draws its members from a pool of 30 players who practice four hours daily at the Rizal Memorial pool.

After the game against the Thais, the Filipinos go up against Singapore on Sunday before wrapping up their campaign against the Indonesians on Monday.

The opening ceremonies of the Games will be held Wednesday.

Filipino athletes, numbering close to 250, will arrive Sunday aboard two chartered planes.

Meanwhile, the football event got under way Wednesday with favorites Thailand and Vietnam battling to a 1-all draw.

The Thais appeared to be cruising to victory until an infraction inside the penalty box in the closing minutes allowed the Vietnamese to score on a free kick.

The other game ended in an 11-0 rout by Malaysia over Timor Leste.

The Philippines and Brunei did not field teams in football.

diz

December 14th, 2009, 06:22 AM

Looks like Philippines will achieve a 6th place finish at the SEA Games again.

le Reine

December 14th, 2009, 06:53 PM

I can see several trends based from the previous SEAGs:

1. The Philippines' performance, as usual, is disappointing. We were the over-all champion in 2005 only because of home advantage. Other than that, we were always eclipsed by our neighbors: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and most recently by Vietnam and Singapore.

2. Vietnam and Thailand are starting to become the region's powerhouse, not only in the SEAG but also in the Asian Games and Olympics.

3. Indonesia is also showing signs of being relegated to lower positions from being the region's powerhouse.

4. The SEAG is starting to lose its relevance because of the usual custom of host countries to manipulate the games to their advantage (e.g. adding events that only the host country could dominate, slashing events that might peril the host country's over-all championship ambitions, etc).

kiretoce

December 15th, 2009, 06:14 AM

lochinvar

December 16th, 2009, 12:54 PM

"Looks like Philippines will achieve a 6th place finish at the SEA Games again."

Achieve? It's the fault of basketball, the tall man's game. Many of our youngsters play this game because you don't have to have any thing, just bring yourself to a court, and you can already play or become amuyong in a chess game.

le Reine

December 16th, 2009, 01:22 PM

^^ Regarding #4 on your list, that practice is also employed in the Olympics. The host nation can add/subtract sports from the Olympic programme, with the IOC's blessing of course. Mostly the reason behind it is to showcase the local indigenous sports of the host nation, more of a cultural thing. Like in 1988 when Seoul hosted the Olympics, Taekwondo was introduced as a "demonstration sport" and since then was included in the Olympic roster because it gained popularity around the world. Also, as host nation, you have automatic berth in all sports, in all events, being contested without having to qualify via the regional tournaments. That in itself boosts the chances of the host nation of a huge medal haul.I know that. The only difference is they could not automatically add it to the official roster of events of the Olympics, that's why it's called a demo sport. Before a demo sport could be added to the Olympics, it should meet certain criteria first. In contrast, the SEAG indigenous sports are already considered official part of the games, hence medals from those events are also counted in the medal race.

dattebayo

December 17th, 2009, 05:11 PM

kiretoce

December 18th, 2009, 02:49 AM

Pacquiao was featured on yesterday's "Morning Edition," NPR (http://www.npr.org/)'s radio show, in their sports section. Here's the text and podcast link.

Pacquiao Gives Filipinos Reason To Cheer (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121482903)

It may only be games, but nothing in culture can galvanize a nation the way a world championship can. And it just so happens, in the months ahead there will be nearly a surfeit of sports nationalism.

It's only weeks now before the Winter Olympics and then, come June, the soccer World Cup, which is by far the most passionate international competition of all.

Yet in 2010, there is one little athlete who can mean more to his country — and to his sport — than all the skaters and skiers and soccer teams in the world.

The man is a boxer, Manny Pacquiao; his country, the Philippines. And what he signifies to his people everywhere is perhaps unmatched in sports history.

Lennox Lewis, the thoughtful former heavyweight champion, has even said that Pacquiao's "grip" on his country "is similar to Nelson Mandela's influence in South Africa."

The Philippines, of course, is an impoverished island nation, which has led to a diaspora of its people. In fact, Filipinos make up one of the largest groups of immigrants in the United States — and they've shown well what they can do with the main chance. Filipinos here are better educated and wealthier than the American population at large.

But Pacquiao is so special to all ethnic Filipinos, rich or poor, in the islands or abroad, because his country has never before produced any champion that it could hold high before the world. No Filipino has ever won a single Olympic gold medal.

Pacquiao is so beloved that when he ran for Congress in the Philippines a couple of years ago, he was soundly beaten largely because, as the adored national icon, his fans voted against him to keep him out of office so he wouldn't dilute his attention to the ring.

He's an extraordinary boxer, the first ever to hold seven world titles, for he began fighting at a tiny 106 pounds and now, incredibly, holds the welterweight crown at 147.

Already, there are those experts debating whether he is the greatest fighter ever — better than Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali — better at his craft than anyone who ever has laced on a pair of gloves. And at a time when boxing has descended so in popularity, Pacquiao has come to mean almost as much to his sport as to his country-people.

He's as exciting in the ring as he is talented. When Pacquiao fights the undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the dream bout that appears to be set — probably on March 13 — it will almost surely produce the largest gate in the history of the sport.

Should he win over Mayweather, himself previously acclaimed the best pound-for-pound fighter, Pacquiao's place in the boxing pantheon will be sealed. But already, he has taken this brutal sport and distilled from its blood and guts the pretty pride that Filipinos never shared before.

Podcast Link (http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=121482903&m=121498067)

hecky12

December 18th, 2009, 09:58 AM

wala lang. this year's SEAG has become interesting. close fight between Thailand and vietnam for the 1st place then malaysia,indonesia and the philippines for the third. Currently the philippines is at 5th place just 2 medals away from indonesia and malaysia.

sayang yung mga matches last night.. talo lahat sa gold yung mga pambato natin sa tennis.. ngayon lastday tatlong laban lang for gold so kung makuha natin yun that would be 40 total gold still in 5th place.. not bad.. at least vindicated ang mga pinoy boxers unlike sa last edition na talagang nadaya sila sa officiating sa thailand..

hecky12

December 18th, 2009, 10:01 AM

agree on #4.. dapat meron pamantayan ang games na ito kung isasali ba talaga o hindi.. or should say dapat sa ganitong period of time wala munang mga demo sports.. something like that.. kasi tama nga e.. did we try ba to introduce a sport maliban sa arnis? dapat talaga may mga fix ng mga games wala na yung kada edition may mga demo demo sport

hakz2007

January 7th, 2010, 05:35 AM

Olympic gold and other sports dreams for the new decade (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/180870/olympic-gold-and-other-sports-dreams-for-the-new-decade)
BY MICO HALILI
01/06/2010 | 07:06 AM

Goodbye to the zeros. Welcome the tens. After a decade of not knowing how to call the years from 2000 to 2009, we’ve reached the tens.

In the zeros, the first full post-Jordan-post-Jaworski decade in sports history, billiards became a pseudo-national sport, Ginebra reclaimed lost glory, the UAAP blossomed into a glamor league and Manny Pacquiao cured all our woes and stamped the Philippines on the map with his awesome left hand.

The tens, however, will no longer be about Pacman even if the mega-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather pushes through in March. If only Pacman’s left hand could act, sing and maybe even write momentous legislation, maybe Manny can own the tens in some other way. This piece, though, is a sports journal. Hence, I anxiously embrace a new decade which won’t have Queen Dionisia by its side.

Our quest for the country’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games will be as intense as our search for the next Pacquiao. Of course, the hunt for another Pacquiao might be just as fruitless as a search for the next Robert Jaworski. Some phenomena are simply once-in-a-lifetime events.

Since the UFC poses to be the “next" boxing, let’s find our first “Pacquiao" in mixed martial arts (MMA) instead. It’s a sport most Filipinos can relate to. One man wins with fists in the air. Another man goes down with blood on the floor. So if it’s impossible to find another Pacman, other groups can attempt to produce the first Filipino Iceman. I admit that MMA is not as ingrained in Filipino culture as boxing. If there’s a worldwide event, however, that features a Filipino fighter bloodied in pay-per-view physical warfare in the middle of Vegas, the country is bound to watch.

While we dream of nexts and firsts, we also dream of having more of what inspires. Is it too much to ask for:

• More genuine sports rivalries in the Philippines
• More Manny Pangilinans and less politicos in more sports
• More television coverage for billiards (provided we make it truly watchable)
• More Chris Tius who can show how well-rounded athletes can be marketable
• More national interest in the SEA Games
• More internet-savvy kids following and growing up with the PBA

New champions will emerge. Villains, especially the ones who list corruption as their superpower, will inevitably surface from gunk. It’s true our sporting self-confidence as a nation still lacks the validation of that elusive Olympic Gold Medal. Yet, the cultural underdogs that we are, we pedal on.

We feel we’re always underdogs even if sometimes we’re not. It might be insecurity. Maybe it’s humility. Best to classify it as acknowledgment that there’s work to be done. So let this new game begin. Even if we no longer hear Freddie Roach’s voice in our corner for the next 10 years, we still have our hopes and we press on emboldened by our dreams for the new decade. - GMANews.TV

kiretoce

January 7th, 2010, 05:38 AM

While we dream of nexts and firsts, we also dream of having more of what inspires. Is it too much to ask for:

• More genuine sports rivalries in the Philippines
• More Manny Pangilinans and less politicos in more sports
• More television coverage for billiards (provided we make it truly watchable)
• More Chris Tius who can show how well-rounded athletes can be marketable
• More national interest in the SEA Games
• More internet-savvy kids following and growing up with the PBA

The only time the SEA Games captures the national interest is when we host it. Otherwise, no one gives a rat's ass about it. :ohno:

hakz2007

January 7th, 2010, 05:46 AM

^^It's always my pride watching Filipino athletes winning or losing during Olympics, Asian, SEA and other regional games.

hakz2007

January 8th, 2010, 08:24 AM

RP Winter Games bet falls short (http://mb.com.ph/articles/237394/rp-winter-games-bet-falls-short)
By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
January 7, 2010, 4:15pm

http://mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/eden-serina.jpg

Snowboarder Eden Serina fell way off the qualifying mark in her bid to earn a slot in the Winter Games next month when she finished 47th, as her Olympic dream appeared to be slowly slipping away.

The 34-year-old Serina started the race strong but a crucial error in the homestretch blew her chances away and finished only 47th overall under extreme conditions in Kreischberg, Austria, site of the latest event for those not qualified yet for the Winter Olympics set next month in Vancouver, Canada.

“It’s great to have the Philippine press interested in my story. Unfortunately, I did not fare well today. A big mistake at the bottom of the course cost me a lot of time and speed,” the Filipino-American Serina, who is bidding to break the country’s 20-year hiatus in the world’s biggest winter sporting event, said in an e-mail.

Also eyeing to become the first Filipina to compete in the Winter Games, Serina needed at least a top 30 finish to satisfy the first of the two requirements for this year’s quadrennial meet set February 12 to 28 in Vancouver, Canada.

The other requirement is for athletes to gain 100 FIS (International Ski Federation) points. With her Austria finish, her FIS score is expected to go beyond 70.

Despite the setback, Serina still has two more chances of making it as two other Olympic qualifying

World Cups are slated in the next two weeks in Switzerland (January 17) and Canada (January 24). Serina, who will leave for Czech Republic this Friday, remained positive.

“Life is not going well. I know that is silly and selfish to say especially since I’ve been blessed... to have the opportunity to follow my passion. But when your entire being is dedicated towards one goal and that goal seems to be slipping away, it’s hard to keep things in perspective,” said Serina, who had given up her high-paying job as senior financial analyst at the Walt Disney Studios last year to focus her attention on her Olympic bid.

“But no matter how down I get, I can’t shake the feeling that I am good enough and my Olympic dream is going to happen,” Serina, who was born to Filipino parents Eliseo and Norma, said.

“This journey is about the ups and downs... it’s about the fight. It’s about getting up... I’ve always thought that the true test of character is how you react when times are challenging, so the big question for me is: Am I going to fight harder or just give up? I’m going to fight, with everything I have left in me.”

hakz2007

January 8th, 2010, 10:16 AM

POC to look for private sponsors for World Youth Olympic Games (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=5&rid=251579)

MANILA, Jan. 8 (PNA) -– Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will continue to look for private sponsors that will finance the country’s preparation for the first ever World Youth Olympic Games slated in December in Singapore.

POC deputy secretary general and swimming president Mark Joseph told the media during the Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan sports session that the POC has already started talking with private individuals and companies which can finance the training of the young Filipino athletes who will qualify in the Youth Olympic Games.

”We know that the government is there to help but we still have to raise money to avoid what has happened during the Laos Southeast Asian Games last year,” Joseph said.

The POC official is referring to the confusion experienced by the athletes when the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) funded only 152 of the 232 athletes in Laos biennial meet based on the gold-silver criteria of the 2007 SEA Games.

”Although the POC was able to finance the participation of the remaining athletes, we don’t want that to happen again in our next big international competition,” Joseph said.

The POC has came out with own criteria that allowed the potential athletes to participate and many of them won gold medals, including rookie wrestler Jason Balabal and teammate Margarito Angana.

Angana’s older brother Jimmy, whose participation was funded by the PSC, also won gold medal, improving the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP)’s only four silver and four bronze medal haul from the 2007 Thailand meet.

WAP president Albert Balde attributed their three gold, two silver and four bronze medals performance to the determination of his athletes to bring home honor despite ongoing infighting among the top sports officials.

”We made sure that our athletes are not affected by the ongoing bickering of the top POC and PSC officials,” said Balde who joined his three gold medalists in the weekly sports forum sponsored by Accel.

The Filipino gold medalists are set to receive the P200,000 balance each of their P300,000 cash incentive from the PSC on January 13 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to lead the granting of the incentives in Malacanang.

Actually, the gold medal winner stands to get only P100,000 incentive as provided in the law but PSC Harry Angping raised additional P100,000 from private sponsors and P100,000 more from the PSC to bring to P300,000 the total incentive of every gold medalist.

Veteran judo internationalist John Baylon, who also attended the sports forum, said he was also affected by the problem as he snatched his ninth straight SEA gold medal.

The 45-year-old Baylon said he still good for three more SEA Games, adding “as long as I can compete, I will continue to give honor for our country.”

Baylon said his next target is to qualify for his third Olympic Games in 2012. He is also set to participate in the Asian Games slated in November this year in Guangzhou, China.

Meanwhile, Joseph said among the sports that have a good chance to send qualified athletes in the World Youth Olympic Games are swimming, shooting, archery, lawn tennis and 3-on-3 basketball team.

”I’m also hopeful that more qualifiers will come from boxing, taekwondo, equestrian and athletics,” he added. (PNA)

lgseccionph

January 13th, 2010, 10:21 AM

Arum readies private jet for Pacquiao’s press tour (http://mb.com.ph/articles/238355/arum-readies-private-jet-pacquiao-s-press-tour)

LOS ANGELES – Manny Pacquiao will be traveling in style when he goes on a two-day publicity tour of Dallas and New York next week to promote his March 13 battle with Joshua Clottey of Ghana at Cowboys Stadium.

“Manny will be flying on a private plane all the way (from Los Angeles to Dallas and to New York and back to Los Angeles),” said Top Rank chief Bob Arum as he eagerly awaits the arrival of the Filipino pound-for-pound king from Manila.

Pacquiao will grace the kickoff press conference at Cowboys Stadium on January 19 then head to New York for another media affair at the Madison Square Garden the next day. From the Big Apple, Pacquiao will return to Hollywood on the same day so he could show up at the Wild Card the following day for the first day of training camp under Freddie Roach.

Arum can’t wait to get things started although when the press tour makes a stop in Dallas, he will allow Texas billionaire Jerry Jones – owner of the Cowboys Stadium and the fabled National Football League team – to take the spotlight.

“Jerry Jones could be the greatest promoter in the world,” said Arum. “He is a crazy guy--crazy in the kind of way. The guys in Texas are very, very excited.”

Going up a notch, Arum said Jones might end up being a great promoter of boxing after the Pacquiao-Clottey clash.

“He is better than me and (Don) King,” said Arum, adding that the alluring Cowboys cheerleaders are also going to be in attendance to add glamour to the already-appealing event.

Immediately after signs pointed to a collapse in negotiations for the fancied showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather a few weeks ago, Arum said Jones expressed his interest in bringing Pacquiao to his brand-new $1.2 billion facility in the city of Arlington, which is just outside Dallas.

Jones had attempted to land the botched Pacquiao-Mayweather tiff but the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was awarded the rights to host that fight.

Having a private plane on hand has become a tradition starting with Pacquiao’s landmark fight with Oscar De La Hoya.

After Pacquiao polished off the Golden Boy in Dec. 2008, Arum has arranged for the same VIP treatment for the world’s premier puncher against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto last year.

Flying on private jet is ultra-expensive but Arum believes Pacquiao deserves to be treated like a true VIP, being the representative of his sport.

superpilyoako

January 15th, 2010, 06:37 PM

bagong renovate daw ang RMSC ah, nakalagay sa dyaryo (People's Journal)

hakz2007

January 16th, 2010, 02:08 AM

^^what's RMSC?

mhek

January 17th, 2010, 07:25 AM

^ Rizal Memorial Sports Complex

hakz2007

January 19th, 2010, 08:42 AM

^^ah okay, thanks

hra J.

February 1st, 2010, 09:00 PM

Guys, I´m curious, why isn´t football (soccer) a big sport in Philippines? I remember before my first to your lovely country, I thought football would be a big sport when looking at your countrys history (as a former colony to Spain), but I noticed quickly that pinoys are more familiar to NBA than Premier League. :bash:

manila_eye

February 1st, 2010, 10:30 PM

^^ we became "americanized" during the 1900's up to now. US media has big influence on us. Plus, generally Filipinos do not want to play under the heat of sun.

Narnian_King

February 3rd, 2010, 12:35 PM

Filipino Athletes won @ Michigan Junior World Series.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8730/88658470.jpg
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4514/71106499.jpg
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9406/42660939.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3599/12762381.jpg

kiretoce

February 4th, 2010, 04:46 AM

^^ :lol: I guess instead of "Wheaties, the breakfast of champions," it's gonna be "Adobo, the food of champions!" :okay:

le Reine

February 4th, 2010, 06:46 AM

ang guapo niya... haaayyy

kiretoce

February 6th, 2010, 01:22 AM

Raising a racquet (http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=5748)

Jean Henri Lhuillier hobbles into the boardroom with the help of a cane. He’s just arrived from Australia where the early exit of 18-year-old Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara -- the “Manny Pacquiao of Tennis” -- from the first Grand Slam tournament of the year probably hurts Mr. Lhuillier more than ligament he tore while playing a friendly round of tennis.

Like any devoted fan, he remembers ranks, score lines and can reel off the history of Mr. Alcantara’s road to the Australian Open, calling up from memory the fact that the Filipino junior, currently ranked 30th in the world, fell to an opponent he had just thrashed in a tune-up tournament. “He beat that guy, who’s world number five, 6-1 6-0 just a week before,” Mr. Lhuillier said with a sigh.

“Niño won doubles at the Australian Open last year, too,” he added, as if trying to end the conversation on Mr. Alcantara on a happy note.

Lhuillier Group of Companies, who is married to Olympic gymnast Bea Lucero, is as much a player as he is a patron of the sports. After picking up a racquet at the age of nine or 10, he went on to play Division One tennis during his freshman and sophomore years at Saint Mary’s College of California.

“I have a decent serve,” he said, adding that he’d rather hit balls than spend an entire day watching from the stands. The beauty of tennis for Mr. Lhuillier, who played four times a week before getting injured, is that it offers a lot of variation: you can play at different levels as he did, moving from the serious competitions of his youth to a more leisurely attempt at staying fit.

“I don’t get bored when I play tennis since there’s a lot of inter-action,” he said. “Stay at the gym for an hour and you know that it’s been an hour, when you play tennis -- or any other sport -- you don’t feel that way.”

He observed that a lot of execu-tives have taken up tennis, and he commented that a man’s corner-office reputation isn’t very useful in gauging what he’ll be like across the net. “It’s like having two personalities: those who are timid on the court can be wildfires in business,” Mr. Lhuillier laughed.

“The opposite is also true: I know a lot of guys who are timid in the boardroom who become crazy nuts once they’re out there.”

Neither Federer nor Nadal

Asked who he was rooting for during the Australian Open, Mr. Lhuillier answered that he wanted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his first Grand Slam title.

“Tsonga’s got a big game in every aspect and he adds color to the sport,” Mr. Lhuillier explained. “He also has the build of the modern tennis player.”

Unfortunately, the Frenchman lost his semifinal match to Roger Federer, who went to win the championship by beating Andy Murray in straight sets.

On the women’s side, Mr. Lhuillier’s bet, Justine Henin, almost gave her fans a fairytale ending to her comeback. She fell a bit short, though, losing to Serena Williams in three sets.

“It’s nice to see that she’s back. She’s got a very basic game but she’s consistent and she’s smart.”

Over the course of watching tournaments, -- of which the ATP World Tour Finals is his favorite since only the top eight players get to play -- Mr. Lhuillier has managed to gather signatures from greats such as John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Bjorn Borg.

He also has a collection of 20 old-school wooden racquets, which he brings out once in a while to change the pace of his recreational matches, and an assortment of memorabilia he bid for during a charity auction that raised funds for Ondoy victims.

Organized by Filipino-American tennis player Cecil Mamiit, the event raised $9,000 and expanded the inventory of Mr. Lhuillier’s tennis-related items. His collection now includes racquets and shoes pre-viously owned by players like Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, Michael Chang, and Brad Gilbert.

Find a way

Tennis has changed a lot since the time Yannick Noah, Mr. Lhuillier’s all-time favorite player, won the French Open in 1983. Noah’s on-court flair and craftiness have been all but replaced by the heavy-hitting base-liners who dominate today’s game.

“It would be nice to see more variety,” said Mr. Lhuillier. “But the game is all about power now.”

As manager of the Philippine Davis Cup team, ranked 40th in the world out of about 140 countries, he believes that Filipinos have a fighting chance in tennis, especially since players don’t have to be extraordinarily tall to succeed.

Mr. Lhuillier found himself a few seats away from Rafael Nadal at an airport lounge, and he was surprised to discover that the 6’1” Spaniard was about his height. Henin, who spent a total of 117 weeks at number 1, is 5’6”.

“We have a good opportunity in tennis because we already produce good talent,” he said, pointing out that the problem is that our bench isn’t that deep. “If we plan to compete on a global scale, we need to expose a whole lot more of our players.”

Before an athlete can even com-pete at an international level, Mr. Lhuillier added, he has to undergo rigorous training and gain experience by playing in as many tournaments as possible.

“It’s very difficult to run sports organizations without private support,” Mr. Lhuillier said. Several times, the Davis Cup team manager has stepped in with his contacts and resources to pay the difference for everything from supplies to parti-cipation in events abroad.

In 2009, Mr. Lhuillier was a major sponsor at events such as the Metro Open, the Philippine Columbian Open, and the RP-Pakistan and RP-New Zealand Davis Cup matches.

He’s also inviting a high-per-formance coach from the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) -- where he received coaching credentials himself -- to update local trainers.

“There’s a modern way of teach-ing the game,” he said. “You have to understand the technical nuances. It’s not simply a matter of Continental grips anymore.”

He added that the Philippines must nurture homegrown talents instead of relying solely on Filipino-Americans like Mamiit if the country is to improve its rankings.

“It all starts at training -- developing hand-eye coordination, footwork, and patience is crucial,” he said.

Translated into figures, annual support for an individual player ranges from P500,000 to a million, while mounting a single tournament costs about P200,000 to P600,000 depending on the quality of the event.

“Local athletes need a chance to shine,” he said. “I really believe that corporations have to support Philippine sports -- and I’m not talking about basketball. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a CEO, you have to find a way to help. It’s good for the country.”

red_jasper

February 6th, 2010, 02:19 PM

PSC names first three elite athletes
By NICK GIONGCO
February 6, 2010, 7:47pm

US-based tennis players Cecil Mamiit and Conrad Huey and bowler Biboy Rivera have been named by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as members of the elite cast of athletes that will go for glory in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

PSC chairman Harry Angping said Saturday that there’ll be more to be named in the coming weeks or months since the agency has yet to complete all its consultative meetings with various national sports associations.

Expected to be named was Asian long jump champion Marestela Torres but the PSC had to hold back in naming Torres since athletics chief Go Teng Kok, Angping bared, has been uncooperative.

“He (Go) has been invited to meet with us on two occasions but he hasn’t showed up,” said Angping.

Angping said the PSC has consulted with tennis head Lito Villanueva and that a sum of P2 million will be given to the association for the sole purpose of getting Mamiit and Huey ready for the November 12 to 27 Asian Games.

The PSC is mandated by law to fund the participation of athletes to various international meets like the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and the Olympics and Angping has decided to put on a hardline stance in giving financial assistance.

“This is people’s money so I have to make sure that we fund only the deserving athletes,” said Angping. “This is no longer the Southeast Asian Games where we allow exposure of some athletes. Competition in the Asian Games is far more superior than that of the SEA Games.”

While it is the PSC that funds these trips and training exposure, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has the mandate over the national sports associations being the group that has control over the affairs as it is fully supported by the International Olympic Committee.

POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta, whom POC president Peping Cojuangco named as chief of mission to the Guangzhou Games, said only athletes with fighting chances of winning medals will be given the opportunity to compete.

The POC is also making the rounds of the NSAs with Moying Martelino, a member of a seven-man working group tasked to form the delegation, informing the NSAs that they have until February 15 to come up with a roster of athletes they believe can win medals in Guangzhou.

Source (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/242265/psc-names-first-three-elite-athletes)

hakz2007

February 25th, 2010, 11:40 AM

SCOOP: Rowing, dragon boat head SCOOP guests Friday (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=5&rid=260973)

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- Preparations being undertaken by the rowing association and the dragon boat federation for the coming Asian Games and the revival of the University of Santo Tomas Hall of Fame project are topics to be taken up in Friday's SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.

Amateur Rowing Association of the Philippines president Benjie Ramos and national coach Ed Maerina, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation technical director and national coach Nestor Ilagan will be apprising members of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines on the extent of training their athletes are undergoing in the build-up for the Asiad in November in Guangzhou, China.

Also appearing as guests in the forum, sponsored by ACCEL, are officers of the UST Alumni Association, headed by its president, Mozzy Ravena, who will be discussing their 2010 activities, including the elevation of the school’s recent sports heroes to the Hall of Fame.

Session starts at 11 a.m. and will be aired in a delayed basis at 3 p.m. over Sports Radio. (PNA)

hakz2007

February 27th, 2010, 05:07 AM

PSC goes all-out for RP’s Asiad campaign (http://mb.com.ph/articles/245340/psc-goes-allout-rp-s-asiad-campaign)

This time, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is willing to support the members of the elite RP team to the Guangzhou Asian Games all the way.

The PSC, for one, has earmarked P1 million plus budget for a six-week training of long jumper Marestela Torres in Cologne, Germany.

“So that they will no longer complain that they haven’t been given the opportunity to improve their craft, the PSC is going all-out for them,” said PSC chair Harry Angping.

Even Fil-Am netters Cecil Mamiit and Conrad Treat will be given a specific amount to finance their travel all over the US in search of tournaments instead of the usual practice of giving athletes their monthly stipend and the typical serving of foreign trips.

Aside from Torres and the Fil-Am netters, other members of the elite team who's entitled to receive huge financial help from the government agency are Miguel Molina and Daniel Coakley (swimming), Wesley So (chess), Marna Pabillore (karatedo), Biboy Rivera (bowling), and Rubilyn Amit (billiards).

By providing them the needed financial help, Angping expects the elite athletes to raise their level of play by the time they compete in the 2010 Asian Games in China this November.

“This is an experiment on the part of the PSC,” said Angping, stressing that the PSC’s decision to concentrate this year on the Asian Games as well as finance their overseas training and exposure should give the athletes all the reasons to train hard and enhance their skills.

The list is expected to slightly grow in the coming weeks and months but Angping said only a handful will be added since the Asian standard is high even for those who have turned the Southeast Asian Games as their playground.

“I just hope that they deliver (medals). I expect a lot from them,” added Angping.

The training program of the others in the buildup to Guangzhou have yet to be finalized.

le Reine

February 27th, 2010, 03:08 PM

^^are you kidding me? The Asiad is already on November, and they're only doing this now? Uh oh! :no:

red_jasper

February 28th, 2010, 07:57 AM

Sonsona Loses Title Bid, Foe Makes History (http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/2356/2010-02-28.html)
February 28th, 2010
Kenneth Ragpala

“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona tasted his first defeat against still undefeated Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. in their WBO junior featherweight title bout in Puerto Rico.

The first three rounds was a seesaw battle that slightly favored Vazquez. In the fourth round, Vazquez unleashed a string of combinations to the head and to the body, with a left hook to the torso seemingly the money punch for Vazquez. Sonsona was downed and failed to beat the count.

Full story (http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/2356/2010-02-28.html)

hakz2007

February 28th, 2010, 08:35 AM

^^are you kidding me? The Asiad is already on November, and they're only doing this now? Uh oh! :no:

No, they're not kidding! They are seriously doing their job :D

le Reine

February 28th, 2010, 10:18 AM

No, they're not kidding! They are seriously doing their job :D:lol: No. What I meant was why were the funds only disbursed this year knowing that the Asiad will also be held this year. Don't you think it's too late? :nuts:

hakz2007

March 1st, 2010, 11:36 AM

^^Ganyan naman ang Pinas. Kung kailan malapit na idaos ang games saka lang mangngalap ng pondo o di kaya'y madpeprepara:D

hakz2007

March 3rd, 2010, 04:40 AM

Dragonboat team to scout Asiad site (http://mb.com.ph/articles/245914/dragonboat-team-scout-asiad-site)

With the sport’s debut appearance at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the Philippine dragonboat team hopes to make a big impact the way it did at last year’s world championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

Dragonboat association chief Nestor Ilagan said his two teams, composed of 25 male and 25 female paddlers, have been training at the Manila Bay for the past months to gear up for the Asian Games slated November 12 to 27 in China.

“It’s going to be our first time competing in the Asian Games, so we’re preparing hard to make a good showing,” Ilagan said.

The men’s team defended its crown at the world championships in record-breaking fashion, ousting powerhouse squads China and the host country with a time of 40.02 seconds in the 200-meter premier open.

They also captured the mixed event gold by beating China and Macau.

Ilagan said the Asian Games competition is expected to be as tough as the world championships.

Ilagan said part of their training will be a trip to Guangzhou where they will look and try to test the venue to get a feel of the site.

“We’ll be requesting to the Philippine Sports Commission for this exposure so that our athletes will have a chance to get familiar with the venue,” Ilagan said.

“But I heard that the water current is flat, so we will also switch our training venue to La Mesa Dam three months before the Asian Games.”

The men’s team will also be sent to a tournament in Thailand and the women’s team to Singapore in October.

The PSC has allocated P10 million to support the dragon boat athletes, including P2 million for exposure.

Teams will be competing in six events in the Asiad, and Ilagan said the local paddlers will have the best chances in the sprint and middle-distance events.

“We’re pinning our hopes on the 250m and 500m events,” Ilagan said.

Aside from China, Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia and Myanmar are also heavily favored in the meet, but Ilagan said the athletes are generally preparing for every participating countries.

The teams train at least three hours a day from Mondays to Fridays.

hakz2007

March 4th, 2010, 01:43 PM

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph4-030310.jpg (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo poses with World Boxing champion Nonito Donaire and International lady golfer Jennifer Rosales after awarding them the "Champion for Life" award in recognition of their achievements in sports during a call on her Wednesday (March 3) at Malacanang's Reception Hall. (Enrico Borja-OPS/NIB Photo)

Source (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/photo4-030310.htm)

hakz2007

March 9th, 2010, 04:08 AM

Softball: Two int'l stints before Asiad for women's team (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=5&sid=&nid=5&rid=263017)
By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, March 8 (PNA) -- The Philippine women's softball team would like to go to two major international competitions for buildup before heading for the December 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games in China.

According to head coach Ana Santiago, the 25-member RP women's squad is lined up to compete in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Softball Championships come June in Jakarta, Indonesia and the Canada Cup in July as a part of their tuneup for the tough Chinese Asiad.

The 32-year old Santiago who was instrumental in Adamson University's five crowns in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is targeting a semi-final finish in the Asian Games where the Filipinas expect very tough opposition from Olympic Games champion Japan.

In her first year as coach of the women's national team in 2007, Santiago was able to bring the team to the Asian Softball Championships semi-finals.

She said the 25-woman team will be cut down to 18 by November.

Santiago said that Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president, Ambassador John Henri Lhuillier assured her of full support in the Asian Games, following the Philippine Sports Commission's (PSC) refusal to finance the team. (PNA)

hakz2007

March 15th, 2010, 03:55 AM

Pacquiao, a selfless Filipino patriot -- PGMA (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=264225)

MANILA, March 14 (PNA) -- The full text of the brief statement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the latest victory of boxing idol Manny Pacquiao released today through Press Secretary Crispulo J. Icban Jr.

“The nation again rejoices with and congratulates the people's champion, Manny Pacquiao, in forging another victory for the Philippines.

We take heart in Manny's proven formula of unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance.

Sa pagkakaisa at pagsisikap, nagwaging muli si Manny para sa bayan. Ito rin ang landas tungo sa tagumpay ng sambayanan.”

Mabuhay si Manny Pacquiao. (PNA)

diz

March 15th, 2010, 04:13 AM

RP needs more athletes like Pacquiao — Gibo
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/186111/rp-needs-more-athletes-like-pacquiao-gibo

With Manny Pacquiao’s 12-round victory over Ghana’s Joshua Clottey on Sunday, presidential aspirant Gilberto “Gibo" Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) said it is only prudent for the government, with the help of the private sector, to give more attention to sports.

“To attain more gold medals in the field of sports, I feel we should concentrate our resources on a few key sports, like boxing, and set up a well-managed program which focuses all our efforts on these sports," he said in a statement congratulating Pacquiao.

Teodoro stressed the need for private sector support in developing key sports where the country has the best chances of winning medals in international competitions.

“Private sector support is crucial for any sport development program, but the private sector can only be enlisted to join the search for the next Manny Pacquiao in other sports, if our sports program has a clear goal and a plan," he said.

Manny on Manny

Another presidential candidate, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party), meanwhile, has nothing but sweet words about Pacquiao, his most prominent endorser for the May 10 elections.

In a statement, Villar said Pacquiao’s victory was “proof that perseverance can overcome any obstacle."

“Isang halimbawa si Manny na kaya nating talunin ang kahirapan, na magaling ang Pilipino, at karapat-dapat lamang na kilalanin ng buong mundo. Mabuhay ka, Manny," said Villar, a self-made billionaire who is banking on his pro-poor image to catapult him to Malacañang.

(Manny is the best example that we can overcome poverty, that Filipinos are good. The whole world should recognize him. Long live Manny.)

Villar’s political ads were seen prominently in commercial breaks during the free television broadcast of Pacquiao’s fight. Like him, Pacquiao, 31, also rose from poverty.

Pacquiao to join Villar sorties

Now that the fight is over, Pacquiao, the NP’s congressional bet for the lone district of Sarangani province, is expected to join Villar in his campaign sorties.

In a videotaped message played during NP’s campaign rally in Mandaue City, Cebu, last month, Pacquiao promised to join Villar after his fight with Clottey.

“Pagdating ko po sa Pilipinas, sasamahan ko po ang aking mahal na presidente na si Manny Villar para po ma-introduce sa inyong lahat. Eto po si Manny Villar, siya po ang sagot sa ating problema. Dahil alam ko na galing siya sa hirap, kailangan natin ng isang lider na ang damdamin niya ay nasa pakiramdam ng mahirap," Pacquiao said.

(When I return to the country, I will accompany my beloved president Manny Villar so I can personally introduce him to all of you. Manny Villar is the solution to all our problems because he knows how it is to be poor, and we need a leader who can empathize with the poor.)

Pacquiao vs Kris

Pacquiao is said to be Villar’s answer to TV personality Kris Aquino, who’s been helping the campaign of her brother, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party). Mr. Aquino is Villar’s toughest rival to the presidency.

Pacquiao ran for congressman in General Santos City under the Lakas-CMD banner in the 2007 elections, but lost to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio, who won by landslide. He moved to Villar’s NP last year to prepare for his second shot at a political career. - with Sophia Dedace/KBK, GMANews.TV

hakz2007

March 19th, 2010, 06:29 AM

Cycling: Ramos bags 2nd spot in penultimate Vietnam tour leg
VIETNAM, March 19 (PNA) -- Grizzled veteran Merculio Ramos Jr. bagged runnerup honors, but the bid of Roadbike Phils.-711 to break into the top five fizzled after the eighth and penultimate leg of the Binh Duong TV Cup Tour of Vietnam last Wednesday.

Ramos checked in second to Dutch lap winner Timo Scholz, who covered the 150-kilometer distance from the beach resort city of Na Thrang to Phan Rang in a time of three hours, 11 minutes and 50 seconds.

The Filipino rider was at the helm of a 15-man lead pack that clocked identical times of 3:12.06, 16 behinds the winning Dutchman, while Mark Guevarra and Lloyd Lucien Reynante checked in a tie with two others for 36th to 39th spots with similar 3:14.18 clockings.

The RP-711 squad struggled in eight place (9:40.22) and remained in sixth overall (65:15.50), 8:50 behind new team frontrunner BTV Saigon (65:07.10).

On the other hand, Ramos moved past Reynante as the best Filipino bet in the individual standings at 15 spot (21:45.09), 3:09 off Mongolian yellow jersey wearer Tuguldur Tuulkhangai (21:42).

Reynante fell to No. 19 at 21:46.03 while rookie Rhome Antonio was still at No. 27 with a time of 21:46.57. (PNA)
http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Sports_28/Cycling_Ramos_bags_2nd_spot_in_penultimate_Vietnam_tour_leg.shtml

Manila-X

March 22nd, 2010, 08:34 AM

It's not a joke: RP stuns Brazil in soccer

ABS-CBN - Saturday, March 20

MANILA, Philippines -- The Filipino booters finally lived up to their “Miracle Team” billing with a huge 6-2 upset of Brazil last Thursday in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup indoor football tournament in Durban, South Africa.

Shrugging off a 0-2 loss to Tanzania 2 days ago, the RP squad, led by coach Jess Landagan, worked like a well-oiled soccer machine, surging to a 4-1 halftime lead before scoring two more goals in the next period in wrapping up the monumental win in front of a roaring South African gallery.

It marked the first time that the Philippines beat Brazil, a world football power, at the international level.

The victory boosted the team, co-managed by Craig Burrows of Britain, into the shield competition after finishing the Group B preliminaries with a 1-2 win-loss slate.

“We prayed for a breakthrough for the RP ‘Miracle Team,’ and it was answered in a big way with this win over the Brazilians,” said co-manager Ed Formoso, who again thanked British charity Angus Lawon Memorial Trust for making the stint possible.

Formoso also cited the Henry V. Moran Foundation, which staged the tryouts that led to the formation of a competitive squad to the South African soccer fest.

“It seems that Tinikling footwork beat Samba footwork,” noted RP women’s team skipper Marielle Benitez, when informed of the historic triumph Thursday night.

Benitez, a member of the world-famous Bayanihan dance troupe, earlier gave the RP members lessons in the popular folk dance that requires nimble feet between two bamboo poles as part of the team’s off-pitch extracurricular activities.

The Philippines next plays Ukraine on Friday (Saturday in Manila) with the winner taking on the victor of the other Shield semifinals between host South Africa and Brazil for the Shield Cup on Friday.

hakz2007

March 25th, 2010, 04:16 AM

^^:applause::applause::applause:

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph4-032210.jpg
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo raises her clinched fists to the delight of World Boxing Organization Welterweight Champion Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao after presenting him a championship belt designed cake during a courtesy call on her Monday (March 22) at Malacanang's Music Room. With the President in photo are (from left) Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee, First Gentleman Atty Jose Miguel Arroyo.

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph3-032210.jpg
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo raises her clinched fists to the delight of World Boxing Organization Welterweight Champion Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao after presenting him a championship belt designed cake during a courtesy call on her Monday (March 22) at Malacanang's Music Room.

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph2-032210.jpg
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presents WBO Welterweight champion to media for a press confence during a courtesy call on her Monday (March 22) at Malacanang's Reception Hall. Looking on are (left) Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo (3rd from left).

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph1-032210.jpg
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gestures at WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao while he holds the congratulatory cake presented to him by the President for his remarkable victory over Ghanian challenger Joshua Clottey in their boxing bout held last March 13, during a courtesy call on her Monday (March 22) at Malacanang's Music Room. Looking on are Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee (left) and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo (right).

Source (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)

hakz2007

March 27th, 2010, 05:05 PM

Cycling: Tour of the Philippines set April 17-20
MANILA, March 27 (PNA) -- The cycling world watches as the country hosts the Tour of the Philippines on April 17-20, 2010, the first time in more than a decade that a road cycling event of such magnitude is staged on home soil.

Dubbed the Le Tour de Filipinas (LTDF) by the organizing Dynamic Outsource Solutions Inc. (Dos-1), the four-stage cycling extravaganza pits the cream of the crop of Philippine cycling against some of the world’s elite who have been constantly campaigning in pro Tours in Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

“This is the culmination of my dream for Philippine cycling,” said Bert Lina, the former PhilCycling president whose Lina Group of Companies has Dos-1 as one of its numerous subsidiaries.

Lina is known in the local cycling community as the person responsible for reviving the fabled local Tour since 2002.

Tanduay is continuing its unrelenting support to Philippine cycling by once again serving as the LTDF’s presentor.

Smart Communications through Smart Sports and Air21 are the major sponsors with Wow Magic Sing, Extra Joss, American Vinyl, among others as the secondary sponsors.

The LTDF will cover close to 500 kilometers spread over four stages — Stage One 145-km Tagaytay-Tagaytay, Stage Two 60-km Roxas Boulevard Circuit, Stage Three 148-km Quezon City-Subic via NLEX and SCTEX, and Stage Four 160-km Subic-Subic.

Twenty teams — 10 local and 10 foreign — composed of seven riders each are vying in the race that offers more than P1 million in cash prizes.

Among the foreign teams participating are: Shimamo Racing Team-Japan, Sum Leopard-Mongolia, Vali ASR Kerman-Iran, OCBC Singapore-Singapore, CK-CA Mixed Team-Hong Kong, and Cycling Team CNN-Holland.

Meanwhile, Padyak Pinoy 2009 champion Joel Calderon, 2009 Tour of Luzon winner Marc Guevarra and former Tour Pilipinas and Padyak Pinoy titlists Victor Espiritu, Warren Davadilla and Santy Barnachea and rising star Irish Valenzuela are among the local bets tasked to hold the fort for the Philippines.

The event, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as a component of the Asia Pro Tour, is a Category 2.2 event, meaning it is strictly for elite and Under-23 UCI riders.

Seven of the 12 members of the national pool are also competing under the team Batang Tagaytay.

Modern photo-finish equipment as well as transponders will be utilized in the race.

UCI international commissaire Tatsuo Hayashi has been appointed as president of the LTDF’s commissaires’ panel, which includes local commissaries from the PhilCycling headed by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Dos-1 president Gary Cayton, chief organizer of the LTDF, said: “We at Dos-1 share Mr. Lina’s dream for Philippine cycling. Dos-1 has been organizing the Padyak Pinoy and with this LTDF, we have reached the pinnacle of our goals.” (PNA)http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Sports_28/Cycling_Tour_of_the_Philippines_set_April_17-20.shtml

hakz2007

April 3rd, 2010, 11:15 AM

580-member Davao delegation to compete in 2010 Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac
DAVAO CITY, April 3 (PNA) –- About 580 members of the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) delegation will start leaving on Monday to compete in the 2010 Palarong Pambansa set on April 11 to 17 in Tarlac.

Department of Education-Physical Education and School Sports (DepEd-PESS) Supervisor I Jimmy Cerrojales said there will be five batches boarding five different flights on April 5 and another five batches leaving on April 6.

"It is to our athletes' advantage that we will arrive in Tarlac early so they can still familiarize with the venues and acclimatize with the weather," Cerrojales said.

Davao City elementary and secondary athletes comprise the bulk of the DAVRAA delegation that will compete in athletics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, tennis, badminton, chess, taekwondo, arnis, sepak takraw, boxing, baseball, softball, archery, football, table tennis, gymnastics and sipa.

The rest of the Davao delegation comes from Digos City, Davao del Sur; Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal; Davao del Norte; and Compostela Valley. (PNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=5&sid=&nid=5&rid=267731

lionel messi

April 15th, 2010, 03:55 PM

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/villaflor-man-who-set-bar-so-high-barca

The man who set the bar so high for Barca (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/villaflor-man-who-set-bar-so-high-barca)

By Noel Villaflor
Footnote
Sun.Star Cebu
April 9, 2010

IN MAY 2008, I found myself walking on the streets of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo.

I was there to cover the game between the Philippines and Bhutan in the AFC Challenge Cup at the town’s football field. I was just as excited about the game as I was being in that mythical place.

That Barotac and Philippine football are often synonymous is no secret.

But my walk around the block where the field stood confirmed the folklore about how football is very much ingrained in the lives of the Barotacnons.

That the well-maintained football field sits alongside a neo-classical heritage church, divided only by a tiny road, reveals a lot about how life unfolds in this rustic town. Football here seems as old as the religion, even as essential.

I had a pleasant walk.

On the streets kids chased the ball then ran away when I started to take pictures. The trisikad driver invited me to take a ride. I noticed he was wearing an FC Barcelona jersey.

The blue and maroon stripes reminded me of a question I had been dying to ask upon my arrival in Iloilo: On which street in Barotac did Filipino football legend Paulino Alcantara (http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/alcantara.html), Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, spend his youth?

I had read earlier from several websites that the footballer who hit shots so hard they ripped the net was born in Barotac in 1896.

That I was in the fabled town made me decide to hold a pilgrimage of sorts to where Alcantara might have spent his childhood.

I was hoping to find the Alcantara ancestral home, if not a marker dedicated to the man that the FC Barcelona website describes as “the first star of the club in the golden ages of the twenties.”

I asked the trisikad driver about the Alcantara house or marker. He had no idea. An old man, also wearing an obscure jersey and selling cigarettes crammed in a box, just gave a crooked grin.

My craving for an answer was matched only by the hunger in my belly, so I traipsed into an eatery. Posters of Ronaldinho and of the Barcelona team that won the 2006 Champions League covered the walls. Ah, Barca fans, I thought to myself. I asked the carenderia owner the same questions and got the same answer.

I was now confronted with the bitter truth: the man on the street had no idea who Alcantara was, how much more where he lived?

I cannot blame them. Perhaps Alcantara was actually born in another town in Iloilo, and not Barotac, it didn’t matter. Perhaps I didn’t ask the right people “who knew.”

Then again, how many Filipinos know that a countryman had netted 357 goals in 357 games to set a record as Barcelona’s highest goal scorer, a feat that remains unsurpassed even to this day?

While FC Barcelona’s legend grew over the decades, that of Alcantara faded.

Only recently did the memory of Alcantara’s feat resurface on our shores, thanks to the advent of information technology. For a while, we celebrated this rediscovery, only to forget again.

Funny but it took a modern rarity like Barca striker Lionel Messi, whose performance this season is just outrageously phenomenal, to remind me again that once upon a time when there was no Internet, no television, and no radio, a Filipino footballer performed in an even more outrageously phenomenal manner on the world’s stage.

I’m just glad that the man from some Iloilo town had set the bar so high for the likes of Messi to follow.

kiretoce

April 17th, 2010, 12:37 AM

Palarong Pambansa 2010

B0Q1P_GzCPM

AeAiwqF-kOo

BQ799u-FlEc

AeAiwqF-kOo

red_jasper

May 15th, 2010, 03:46 AM

P1m Asian Battle of GMs set

By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com (http://philboxing.com/news/story-39052.html)
Sat, 15 May 2010

Besides the National Age-Group championships now on-going in Davao City, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines has scheduled at least four more tournaments within the next two months , including a pair that will see the participation of world-caliber campaigners.

Culminating the five-prong program, according to NCFP executive director Willie Abalos, is the P1 million Asian Battle of Grandmasters that will feature the 12 finest woodpushers from China, India, Iran, Vietnam Uzbekistan Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

Abalos announced during yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura that Chess Olympiad-bound Grandmasters Wesley So, Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, John Paul Gomez and Eugene Torre have been seeded to represent the country in the series to be held June 20-30 at the Punta de Uiyan Resort in San Antonio, Zambales.

Two more local GMs will join Torre and company in the Asian Battle of GMs , which Abalos added, will be part of the RP team’s preparedness program for the Chess Olympiad later this year in Austria.

Preceding this prestigious series is the Battle of Filipino GMs set May 25 to June 2 in Tagaytay City where all world-rated local chess players will see action.

Abalos also disclosed that the on-going National Age-Group tilt in Davao is a qualifying tournament for the World Youth Championships in turkey, also this year.

A day after the Davao tilt is the National Juniors Championships May 20-24, which, on the other hand, will determine the country’s bets to the Asian Juniors (under-20) to be held June 14-23 in India.

“This month and the next will be a very busy period for the NCFP in terms of staging local tournaments and hosting internationally-flavored tourneys,” Abalos told his audience during the weekly public service forum.

Also scheduled for the month of June, Abalos, who attended the session with top youth campaigner Christine Bernales, is the ASEAN Plus classic June 4-13 in Subic where top players not only from the Southeast nations, but in Asia and Europe will be invited.

“Parang world-class tournament na ito, sabi nga ni Secretary (Prospero “Butch” Pichay, NCFP president), kasi ang mga kalahok dito ay the best in their respective countries,” the NCFP official commented.

Those who have already signified their intention to compete are pawnpushers from China, Iran, Korea, Japan and Australia, among others.

All these tournaments will be dedicated to the memory of lifetime FIDE Honorary President Florencio Campomanes,” Abalos said in reference to the four-time Filipino International Chess Federation president, who joined his Creator two weeks ago in Baguio City.

“Campo, you see, told us members of the NCFP board shortly before his death to continue our program of developing more Filipino GMs to sustain what he had started while still the head of the former National Chess Federation and FIDE,” Abalos said.

se12

May 15th, 2010, 07:14 PM

Manila-X

May 27th, 2010, 09:41 AM

Pinoy mods, I was trying to look for this thread I created a few years back but couldn't find it.

Anyway, The 2010 FIFA World Cup is coming up! Are Filipinos getting hyped to the event?

Sky Harbor

May 27th, 2010, 09:43 AM

^^ Doubt it. The Philippines didn't field a team this year. But those who avidly follow the sport might be.

kiretoce

May 27th, 2010, 09:55 AM

Pinoy mods, I was trying to look for this thread I created a few years back but couldn't find it.

Anyway, The 2010 FIFA World Cup is coming up! Are Filipinos getting hyped to the event?

The original thread you made got merged with the first thread of this series.

Manila-X

May 27th, 2010, 09:56 AM

2010 FIFA World Cup

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/2010_world_cup_qualification.png

Countries qualified for World Cup

Country failed to qualify

Countries which did not enter World Cup

Country not a FIFA member

manila_eye

May 27th, 2010, 10:27 AM

We didn't even try while the rest of the world went gaga over it.

Manila-X

May 27th, 2010, 10:38 AM

We didn't even try while the rest of the world went gaga over it.

That's because Pinoys went gaga over

http://basketball.exchange.ph/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dec092008_pba_singapore_01.jpg

jpdm

May 27th, 2010, 10:40 AM

We didn't even try while the rest of the world went gaga over it.

Seems to me the country is not interested in football.

Alot of my friends are saying football is a boring game for them.

In contrast to how Europeans, latin Americans and Africans treat football.

Well, if Britain is not interested with basketball, the Philippines is not interested with football.:)

Manila-X

May 27th, 2010, 10:41 AM

Seems to me the country is not interested in football.

Alot of my friends are saying football is a boring game for them.

In contrast to how Europeans, latin Americans and Africans treat football.

Well, if Britain is not interested with basketball, the Philippines is not interested with football.:)

Yes but football is way more popular than basketball. Its the sport that unites the world. And it would be sad if The Philippines is left out of the UN of football.

Even India where cricket is the most popular sport tried to qualify for The World Cup.

jpdm

May 27th, 2010, 10:51 AM

Yes but football is way more popular than basketball. Its the sport that unites the world. And it would be sad if The Philippines is left out of the UN of football.

Even India where cricket is the most popular sport tried to qualify for The World Cup.

Indeed. football is the most popular sport in the world. Almost all continent.

Basketball is a distant second but gaining popularity worldwide.

But basketball is not for us Pinoys who rarely produce agile and athletic 7 footers needed in basketball and even in volleyball (another popular sport).

We have to stick where we do best-billiards, boxing and bowling.

kiretoce

May 27th, 2010, 10:53 AM

We have to stick where we do best - billiards, boxing and bowling.

Which are individual sports. I guess team sports isn't our thing. :lol:

Manila-X

May 27th, 2010, 11:18 AM

Indeed. football is the most popular sport in the world. Almost all continent.

Basketball is a distant second but gaining popularity worldwide.

But basketball is not for us Pinoys who rarely produce agile and athletic 7 footers needed in basketball and even in volleyball (another popular sport).

We have to stick where we do best-billiards, boxing and bowling.

Cricket is the 2nd most popular sport, not basketball. Its certainly not the kind of sport Filipinos play.

Filipinos are more capable in playing football instead of basketball. Height is not a requirement in this sport. The only thing is there is not much space for football fields in Philippine towns/cities with the exception in colleges/universities and in stadiums.

The only excuse Filipinos have in playing basketball is a below 6ft basketball league.

http://www.b6bl.com/

Sky Harbor

May 27th, 2010, 06:57 PM

Manila-X

May 29th, 2010, 05:55 AM

^^ I remember posting here before that there was an editorial written a few years ago urging Filipinos to shift to soccer because it's more attuned to our physiology. After all, we will never reach the fabled seven feet any basketball player should have.

I feel sad we had to join the ranks of Laos and Brunei as the only members of FIFA to stay out of the World Cup. And to think we stayed out simply because we were ashamed of losing again?! :cry:

The good news is, there are foreigners, overseas Filipinos or even half-Filipinos who are encouraging the sport of football in The Philippines.

One example would be the Younghusband brothers, James and Phil. They have setup football clinics at least in Metro Manila.

Its odd but when I was in Baguio, football is popular there. You see alot of people playing the sport in Burnham Park.

Askal82

May 29th, 2010, 06:07 AM

Indeed. football is the most popular sport in the world. Almost all continent.

Basketball is a distant second but gaining popularity worldwide.

But basketball is not for us Pinoys who rarely produce agile and athletic 7 footers needed in basketball and even in volleyball (another popular sport).

We have to stick where we do best-billiards, boxing and bowling.

Which are individual sports. I guess team sports isn't our thing. :lol:

Filipino's specialty is precision sports. POC should focus first on precision sports like target shooting, archery and etc where the chances of getting the gold medals is quite high.

pi_malejana

May 29th, 2010, 12:18 PM

what about baseball or tennis?? pwede rin tayo dun diba??

kiretoce

May 29th, 2010, 02:31 PM

^^ We've basically given up on those sports with the rise of other Asian sports powerhouses like China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

kiretoce

May 29th, 2010, 09:27 PM

Awesome Nike World Cup commercial! :okay:

idLG6jh23yE

Askal82

May 29th, 2010, 11:40 PM

what about baseball or tennis?? pwede rin tayo dun diba??

You need height in those games too so filipinos are still disadvantaged. At this time, Filipinos are better off with precision sports.

jpdm

May 30th, 2010, 03:22 AM

kiretoce

May 30th, 2010, 06:22 AM

We should give up basketball. We are midgets compared even to our Middle Eastern neighbors. Even China's basketball supremacy in Asia is now threatened by countries like Iran, Lebanon and Qatar....Persian and Arabs are now flexing their muscles...

When you get right down to it, try as you may, you can't force a person to love something they're not in to. If they want basketball, they'll always love basketball.

jpdm

May 31st, 2010, 03:20 AM

I say once again, if we want to be continuously recognized internationally, we should stick to where we do best--billiards and boxing.:)

Fortunately, in ASEAN, we still dominate basketball.

Time to move to other sports were height is not really might like table tennis (China, Hongkong and Taiwan are world power) and badminton (Indonesia and China are world power)

Manila-X

May 31st, 2010, 05:40 AM

In combat sports (martial arts) we are good in wushu and taekwondo.

We should give up basketball. We are midgets compared even to our Middle Eastern neighbors. Even China's basketball supremacy in Asia is now threatened by countries like Iran, Lebanon and Qatar....Persian and Arabs are now flexing their muscles...

Basketball is a national past time for Filipinos and they are passionate to the sport despite the inabilities to compete with basketball reigning countries say US, China or Lithuania.

Its hard to give up basketball. The best solution is to expose the masses to other team sports say football.

In order for football to advance in The Philippines is the creation and promotion of professional leagues and the further development of the current national team capable to competing with other countries and to qualify for The World Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_national_football_team

Manila-X

May 31st, 2010, 07:37 AM

Popularity of football worldwide

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Football_world_popularity.png

Manila-X

May 31st, 2010, 07:51 AM

Seems to me the country is not interested in football.

Alot of my friends are saying football is a boring game for them.

In contrast to how Europeans, latin Americans and Africans treat football.

Well, if Britain is not interested with basketball, the Philippines is not interested with football.:)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/British_Basketball_Logo.JPG
FIBA Ranking: 58th

http://www.thebasketballworld.com/images/logo_philippines.gif
FIBA Ranking: 53rd

On the brightside, The Philippines scored better. What's ironic is the HQ of FIBA Asia is in Malaysia.

jpdm

June 1st, 2010, 11:26 AM

Re-thinking our sports priorities

by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Manila Standard
June 1, 2010

THERE is something intrinsically refreshing about collegiate sports. The passion and the integrity with which the games in various disciplines are played and the inherent loyalties to an alma mater, set collegiate sports apart.

One of the most exciting events in recent weeks was the 7th Season of the Shakey’s V League, the women’s volleyball tournament that has quickly become an integral part of the sporting scene. It’s a riveting experience for those who watch the action “live” at The Arena… the well-appointed and extremely well maintained venue in San Juan that seemed to have been built with volleyball in mind.

Its size and overall configuration add a dimension of closeness to the action that fans revel in, and it enhances the atmosphere created by the cheering crowds that light up the venue. A game is truly an experience with the brass bands and thousands of balloons, placards and photos of the more popular players waved constantly by screaming fans.

We watched two of the three games in the finals between the University of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian College. Not only were they fiercely competitive, which underscored the nature of collegiate sports, but the games were played with the kind of respect on court and a sense of fairness, which one often fails to see in professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association.

Decisions of umpires and linesmen were never questioned except for an occasional winsome smile by a player, who felt she didn’t get a break. But there were no ugly gestures, no nasty finger pointing and no questioning voices raised because the players had an inborn respect for authority. Truth to tell, there was no reason to complain because the officiating was excellent and didn’t anger fans, coaches and players like it sometimes does in the PBA.

The growing support for the Shakey’s V League, which is organized by Sports Vision, an entity established by the remarkable late PBA Commissioner Jun Bernardino, with his close friends Moying Martelino, Ricky Palou and Tony Liao, whose unsullied integrity, decency and deep down love for sports override all else. The wholehearted support of Shakey’s, a company owned by the late quintessential gentleman-sportsman Leo Prieto, has given it a youthful yet family dimension while Sports Vision has set a worthy example of how sports should be run considering the meager resources they have at their disposal.

The following that the Shakey’s V League has on television and on the internet is simply amazing. Smart myDSL watch-pad clearly saw the value of women’s volleyball and quickly—and smartly—joined in. Telecast over the government network NBN and replayed over Viva Prime on Destiny Cable, the following of women’s volleyball especially in the provinces is something worth noticing. Women’s products should find the Shakey’s V League a natural avenue for moving their particular brands in the marketplace and in so doing provide a service in helping grow the sport.

We feel a compelling urge to call on some of the bigger companies to invest in the Shakey’s V League because it projects good, wholesome, entertainment in an exciting sport, very much like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which has carved a place for itself in the consciousness of basketball fans.

At the same time, perhaps, we need to re-think our priorities in sports and channel some of the millions upon millions spent on basketball into other sports such as boxing, taekwondo and other disciplines where our chances of success internationally are certainly so much better.

At the same time, the big spenders in advertising should realign their exposure in sports into such endeavors as women’s volleyball which not only provides enjoyment for the family, but also enhances the competitive spirit meshed with the discipline, fairness and sportsmanship which our young people demonstrate in full measure. Besides, pretty girls prancing around the court are always a welcome sight and often add a spark to our sometimes dreary lives and helps take our minds off the troubles of everyday living.

kiretoce

June 6th, 2010, 03:36 AM

It just gets me mad when i see how little our politicians care about sport. :bash::ohno:

You also have to take into account that there isn't a strong "sporting culture" in the country. We don't have a "feeder system" that funnels future sports stars into a regimented system that hones and trains them for hours on end to prepare for international tournaments, unlike how they do it in China, Cuba, and Russia (albeit communists/former communist nations) wherein they have scouts scouring the countryside for young kids that shows promise and aptitude for a particular sport. These kids are plucked from obscurity from far flung communities and put through the rigors of a national sports academy, in which the state basically adopts them, rears them up, and they (the kids), in return for the opportunity and a sense of indebtedness, are expected to excel and bring glory and honor for the nation.

Sadly, our country doesn't work that way. We'd rather have "malling" as a national sport and "showbiz-ogling" as the preferred spectator sport. :lol:

Ady001

June 6th, 2010, 03:42 AM

Basketball is a national past time for Filipinos and they are passionate to the sport despite the inabilities to compete with basketball reigning countries say US, China or Lithuania.

Its hard to give up basketball. The best solution is to expose the masses to other team sports say football.

In order for football to advance in The Philippines is the creation and promotion of professional leagues and the further development of the current national team capable to competing with other countries and to qualify for The World Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_national_football_team

We have to diversify the sports we're into. Perhaps we'd try, say Lacrosse or Curling, for once? :D

If we can't make our players taller, make them faster!

Ady001

June 6th, 2010, 03:43 AM

You also have to take into account that there isn't a strong "sporting culture" in the country. We don't have a "feeder system" that funnels future sports stars into a regimented system that hones and trains them for hours on end to prepare for international tournaments, unlike how they do it in China, Cuba, and Russia (albeit communists/former communist nations) wherein they have scouts scouring the countryside for young kids that shows promise and aptitude for a particular sport. These kids are plucked from obscurity from far flung communities and put through the rigors of a national sports academy, in which the state basically adopts them, rears them up, and they (the kids), in return for the opportunity and a sense of indebtedness, are expected to excel and bring glory and honor for the nation.

Sadly, our country doesn't work that way. We'd rather have "malling" as a national sport and "showbiz-ogling" as the preferred spectator sport. :lol:

There are some who likes watersports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urolagnia)....

kiretoce

June 6th, 2010, 03:46 AM

There are some who likes watersports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urolagnia)....

Only you would interject something like that. :|

kiretoce

June 6th, 2010, 03:51 AM

We have to diversify the sports we're into. Perhaps we'd try, say Lacrosse or Curling, for once? :D

If we can't make our players taller, make them faster!

Actually, you also need some height when playing lacrosse. ;)

Arvor

June 6th, 2010, 04:22 AM

http://www.propertyinvesting.net/cgi-script/csNews/image_upload/specialreports_2edb.world-cup-2010-stadium-locations.jpg
South African stadiums of the upcoming football world cup .

In order for football to advance in The Philippines is the creation and promotion of professional leagues and the further development of the current national team capable to competing with other countries and to qualify for The World Cup.

I agree with expanding or introducing football/soccer in the country, at least wed be able to play other asian countries like S.Korea or Japan and perhaps beat the pants of Cambodgia lol, but seriously there needs to be proper leagues and with it the infrastructure which can be dual or multipurpose use Track & field/Soccer etc.

If we look at the country as a whole there are very few if any real high capacity stadiums, we couldnt host the olympics or football world cup even if they hand it to us without competition .

The infrastructure costs alot but they can generate alot of money if as an industry they are managed or developed properly, they also have potential aside from concerts to serve as emergency refuge centers during calamities ... .

On a side note this is also why id like to see NAIA moved to Sangley so they could use the land amongst others to perhaps move the José Rizal complex and build a large brand new olympic city and vanues there .

http://www.worldstadiums.com/asia/countries/philippines.shtml
Our biggest stadiums seem to only be a 30000 seater .

Either way ive read a year or so ago somewhere about how the Phillipine sporting commission was complaining of lack of investments in past, current or future talents and the state of their sporting infrastructure, with some athletes having to sell their medals, obviously this might not be the case with certain select sports like basketball, there was also mention of them being at the process of looking for a new place for a new sports complex.

Meanwhile the old Sta Ana race tracks being transformed into well you guessed it another SM mall ... .

Sky Harbor

June 6th, 2010, 05:44 AM

^^ Actually, SM City Santa Ana was suspended.

Arvor

June 6th, 2010, 12:05 PM

Wow really ?, the race tracks been moved to Cavite so i guess whatever happens something else will be cosntrcuted there if not SM .

Ady001

June 6th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Only you would interject something like that. :|

I love ruining a good conversation. :D

Going back, since we've been getting foreign coaches, I guess we have to revamp our sports equipment, and as always, start with the schools.

Sports, is our new battlefield.

Manila-X

June 7th, 2010, 06:38 AM

http://www.propertyinvesting.net/cgi-script/csNews/image_upload/specialreports_2edb.world-cup-2010-stadium-locations.jpg
South African stadiums of the upcoming football world cup .

I agree with expanding or introducing football/soccer in the country, at least wed be able to play other asian countries like S.Korea or Japan and perhaps beat the pants of Cambodgia lol, but seriously there needs to be proper leagues and with it the infrastructure which can be dual or multipurpose use Track & field/Soccer etc.

If we look at the country as a whole there are very few if any real high capacity stadiums, we couldnt host the olympics or football world cup even if they hand it to us without competition .

The infrastructure costs alot but they can generate alot of money if as an industry they are managed or developed properly, they also have potential aside from concerts to serve as emergency refuge centers during calamities ... .

On a side note this is also why id like to see NAIA moved to Sangley so they could use the land amongst others to perhaps move the José Rizal complex and build a large brand new olympic city and vanues there .

http://www.worldstadiums.com/asia/countries/philippines.shtml
Our biggest stadiums seem to only be a 30000 seater .

Either way ive read a year or so ago somewhere about how the Phillipine sporting commission was complaining of lack of investments in past, current or future talents and the state of their sporting infrastructure, with some athletes having to sell their medals, obviously this might not be the case with certain select sports like basketball, there was also mention of them being at the process of looking for a new place for a new sports complex.

Meanwhile the old Sta Ana race tracks being transformed into well you guessed it another SM mall ... .

Manila's main airport is better off at Clark.

Anyway, the only stadium that I know that is being fully utilized and is capable of expanding plus modifying would be, Marikina Stadium.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ksAGR9_ZzfI/S7dBdv0bIUI/AAAAAAAAAAM/-YMEACQrQFM/s1600/running02.jpg

The place is always packed plus it only cost P20 entrance fee. The track is fully utilized by both joggers and runners alike.

On the middle of the track is a football field. In fact there is already a local team there.

http://marikinaunitedfc.wordpress.com/

There is a wide variety of sports from the gym to basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, etc.

In fact some parts of The South East Asian games was held there.

BTW, both Marikina and Ultra are not mentioned in that list.

jongbasco

June 7th, 2010, 08:35 AM

Regarding the SM Sta Ana issue:

Which of the two SM Sta. Ana properties have been stopped? The former racetrack or the one along Pedro Gil in what is currently Xavier House?

Sky Harbor

June 7th, 2010, 07:47 PM

^^ Both, as far as I know. And the Xavier House issue involved the expansion of SM City Manila, if I remember correctly. SM City Santa Ana would have been part of a greater redevelopment of the entire Santa Ana-PRC-northern Pasong Tamo area.

Brown Tiger

June 10th, 2010, 02:42 PM

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af189/browntiger10/RILES/Image016.jpg

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af189/browntiger10/RILES/Image015.jpg

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af189/browntiger10/RILES/Image014.jpg

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af189/browntiger10/RILES/Image017.jpg
The Basketball Court will be fitted with 6in thick Wood same as those used on NBA courts (as per my reliable source)

BergenScooterPatrol

June 10th, 2010, 04:30 PM

beleive it or not, we have a rugby team and is currently undefeated in 2 years. it also captured the Div II title and will move up to Div I next year. just a notch below the elite group.

The Philippine Volcanoes took the Division 2 ARFU title at their first attempt in emphatic fashion in Delhi today with a 34-12 victory over the hosts, India.
Although the final victory was a three try to two triumph, the gallant Indian team were restricted to scoring at the beginning of the game and at the end of the game, but for the intervening periods the Philippines dominated both territory and possession.

http://www.prfu.com/images/Philippines-win-A5N-2010.jpg

The beginning of the game was marked by gusts of sand and dust which knocked down some of the hoardings surrounding the brand new rugby pitch at Delhi University. An enthusiastic local crowd cheered on the local team and the intial exchanges were very physical. After an early penalty kicked by Oliver Saunders, the Indian pack took the ball from a lineout in their own 22 and trundled the Philippines pack backwards for an emphatic forwards' try. However, the remainder of the first half involved the Volcanoes applying tremendous pressure on the Indians in all parts of the field and this led to a string of penalties, duly converted by the Philippine No. 10 and just before half time the lead had been extended to 15-7, by virtue of five penalties. In a crucial period of the match Matt Saunders, who had a strong tournament, went in for a five-pointer out wide, improved his position and the resulting conversion allowed the Philippine team to take a 22-7 lead into the half-time break. The first half had been punctuated with low crunching tackles by the fourth-ranked team on their larger opponents, but the game was still up for grabs.
As was the case on Wednesday evening the third period of play proved critical to the ultimate outcome of the match. The Indian team raised their game after the main break and running with a strong wind at their backs the Volcanoes were forced to defend stoutly. Eventually the early rhythm of the match returned and strong forward play by the Philippines eventually created time and space for the backs to work their moves and most of the backline were involved when Ken Stern galloped over the try line, almost immediately before the last water-break. Although not converted, that score gave the Philippines a 27-7 advantage with twenty minutes remaining. As with the match on Wednesday evening, the entire bench of the Volcanoes were used and a second try to Stern (converted by Saunders) left the Philippines in a very comfortable position before the Indians scored a consolation try towards the end of the match, again through their bullocking forwards.
Once the hooter sounded the Volcanoes "erupted" and that marked the beginning of a celebration which continued onto the bus and ended (at least in India!) after the brief ceremonies back at the hotel. Michael Letts proudly accepted the shield from rugby legend, Rory Underwood, and thanked our hosts for a wonderful, unique experience for the touring victors. In the match, Chris Hitch and Michael De Guzman were stand-outs in the loose and Oli Saunders' superb kicking calmed the nerves of the handful of Volcanoes' supporters. Huge congratulations to all players and to coaches Expo Mejia and Jarred Hodges, physio, Damian Raper and Team Manager, Matt Cullen. Their calmness and professionalism certainly rubbed off on the players.
Next year Division 1 awaits, but a storm of another sort is approaching the Philippines in the shape of a group of hard-working and dedicated lads who are ready to party, after the completion of a difficult mission faithfully completed!

BergenScooterPatrol

June 10th, 2010, 08:45 PM

Philippine Volcanoes explode in Asian rugby
By Jaime Augusto Zobel De Ayala (The Philippine Star) Updated June 08, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8416/sfhires.jpg

http://www.prfu.com/images/Philippines-win-A5N-2010.jpg

Yes, the Philippines has a national rugby team, and they are on a three-year winning streak.

MANILA, Philippines - Something great happened this weekend, an event that would make Filipinos very proud... if they only knew about it. The Philippines, the newest addition and lowest-ranked team in Division 2 of the Asian 5 Nations (A5N) Rugby, destroyed powerhouse Thailand in the semis and home favorite India in the final to win the Division 2 Championship.

Our team, nicknamed the Philippine Volcanoes, is unbeaten in three years in the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU), having seized the Division 4 Championship in 2008, the Division 3 Championship in 2009, and now Division 2. With this win, they charge into Division 1 of the A5N in 2011, making this the longest promotion streak in ARFU history.

Amazing, given that until last year the Philippines wasn’t even a full member of the International Rugby Board. More amazing when you consider that few people (most of them expats) follow or care about the sport locally.

The Philippine Volcanoes dominated their larger opponents in the final, restricting the Indian team to scoring at the beginning and at the end of the match. “It was a physical game with India,” says team captain Michael Letts. “The boys stepped up to the plate and did what they were told. Our forwards laid the platform for the team.”

“Coach Expo Mejia taught us discipline,” adds Oliver Saunders, who with his brothers Ben and Matt had scored a combined 38 points in the Filipinos’ 55-33 victory over Thailand in the semifinals. “The team stuck to the game plan and structure. And we never gave up.”

“The team showed aggressiveness,” coach Mejia notes. “A lot of our players play overseas, and their experience showed. There was unity among the team. Tactically they got it right and did everything that was asked of them. Another factor is that they are very fit.”

Phil Abraham was named Man of the Match in the semifinal against Thailand, and Chris Hitch in the final against India. All 24 players on the roster were able to play.

I learned of the existence of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) when I was contacted by their secretary-general Alvin San Diego. When Jessica Zafra interviewed me for The Philippine STAR I had mentioned my passion for rugby, which I played in school in England from the age of 9 to my late teens. I was impressed by what the PRFU had achieved with the most modest of resources, and their determination to put together an effective Philippine rugby program and team.

It turns out that there is plenty of Filipino talent playing rugby abroad - both Filipinos of mixed ethnicity and those whose parents had migrated. The PRFU has a formal process for identifying and recruiting Filipino talent throughout the world, among them Expo Mejia, a first-class Filipino coach who had worked with the Waratahs in Australia. The Waratahs are a household word in Australia; many of their players have played for the Australian national team.

It was clear that the PRFU board, which includes committed expats like team manager Matt Cullen, were serious in their efforts. Globe CEO Ernest Cu and I committed to watch the national team and help them with sponsorships. As an enabler of communication across national borders, the support of a telecom company like Globe had resonance and relevance.

The newly formed Philippine Volcanoes played an exhibition match last week against the Parañaque-based team Nomads. They had not yet played together as a team, but they were physically imposing, well-trained athletes who obviously played at the competitive level. It was fascinating to see Filipinos from different countries come together to play at home. I have always believed in the Global Filipino, and this is an extraordinary example of the Pinoy talent that resides all over the world.

According to coach Mejia, there are many other nationally ranked Filipino heritage players he could not get hold of for personal and professional reasons, from a massive prop forward in the national league in Italy to players in Japan.

I was also impressed by the commitment of the players. I asked one of the players, Justin Coveney, what he did and he said he was a lawyer in Sydney. When I asked him how he got time off to come and play in the Philippines with no pay or professional commitments he said, “When my firm heard that I was coming here to play rugby and represent my country of origin, they let me go without a moment’s hesitation, with full pay. Representing your country in a rugby match is the highest honor anyone can achieve.”

This weekend I was glued to two different rugby tournaments on two continents at the same time. I was physically present for the inaugural US Collegiate Sevens in Columbus, Ohio, where my son Jaime Alfonso was playing on the Harvard team. Meanwhile, I followed the Asian Division 2 championship half a world away, in New Delhi, India, through text updates from my sister Bea. She was in Delhi to cheer on her son Jaime Urquijo Zobel, captain of the Notre Dame University rugby team until he graduated this year, and now a member of the Philippine men’s 15’s rugby national team.

Family ties are the real glue of Philippine society. Some will question just how Filipino the national rugby team is, with players named Saunders, Morris, Letts, Zappia on board. This is a Filipino heritage team in accordance with International Rugby Board standards, composed of players with a Filipino parent or grandparents. Any doubts as to whether they are Pinoy are erased when one sees the team’s entourage: Filipino mothers and fathers, traveling at their own expense to support a Philippine team few of us know about. There are four sets of brothers on the RP team (the names listed earlier), surely a record in any sport.

I relayed the ongoing match scores by text to Jessica in Manila, who posted them on her blog while waiting for the A5N Twitter feeds. Incredible what technology now allows us to do. It was particularly engaging because a small group of spectators around me in the stands in Columbus wanted to be kept informed about the results of the Philippine Rugby team on the other side of the world. Every time our Philippine team scored in Delhi, a small group of spectators would cheer in Columbus, Ohio for no reason that was obvious to the rest of the crowd. It happened quite a bit as the Philippine team scored regularly - it was quite surreal.

Rugby is a highly physical and demanding sport that has moved from its “amateur” roots to a global sport at both the 15s and Sevens level. You now regularly see small Pacific countries like Samoa and Fiji play alongside traditional powerhouses like England and New Zealand, and win! Not only is it exciting to watch, but this is a game that is bringing together the diverse Filipino talent across the globe. To watch a team come together from all over the world, and to see the players so excited and proud to represent their mother country, has been moving and fulfilling. I look forward to seeing them hoist a medal at the Asian Games. - With Jessica Zafra

Manila-X

June 11th, 2010, 07:51 AM

http://www.saidaonline.com/en/newsgfx/world%20cup%20logo-saidaonline.gif

Who will watch the World Cup?
By Sev Sarmenta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:39:00 06/11/2010

It will be interesting to see how the Philippines will receive soccer’s World Cup, which gets going this weekend.

For the last four years, the soccer faithful have waited to get their fill of the game being played at its passionate best.

Club play is gripping and engaging but nothing stirs emotions like when the planet’s best players don their national colors and have country names and symbols rather than club insignias on their shirts.

Citizens of participating countries and even those without teams in the World Cup will follow each play with bated breath, praying for those goals that come so rarely.

The playing field is large, a goalie mans the target alongside defenders, and an offside rule prevents too many virtuoso breakaway attempts.

All that’s not a problem as the game’s the thing and the thrill is to see how teamwork helps create the offensive opportunities.

When a goal is scored, there is a mad celebration on the field, in the stands and in front of TV sets because there is euphoria when the scoring hurdles are overcome. This will be a scene created many times over as the World Cup holds the planet together.

In the Philippines, who will watch the World Cup?

Those who played soccer in school or in local clubs will definitely watch, along with the expatriates who manage branches of multinational companies or are chefs in hotels. Foreigners will fill up bars and restaurants that will show the games in a display of unity for their homelands.

There are also large pockets of ardent Filipino fans of club play that know the players by heart and would like to see how they take on each other in international competition.

They know the Premiere League, the Champions Cup and other competitive tournaments around the world in the same vein as most Filipinos know the NBA. They wear jerseys of their chosen clubs and follow league developments closely on the Internet.

There will be passionate Filipino sports followers who will watch. Although they may not know the game that astutely, they are sure that it will be played at the highest level.

They may not exactly know the intricacies of corner kick play or the nuances of setting up the offense off inbound passes. They just know good sports when they see it.

The rest of the Philippines will at least take a peek to check on what the rest of the world is going gaga over.

We will probably remain stubbornly basketball players and followers because it has been more our game than soccer.

The fiery heat of our merciless summers and unpredictable rainy seasons have probably converted more young players to hoops than any other reason imaginable.

But in small doses or large takes, we will watch.

The World Cup will be sport played at its very best while attempting to contribute to world peace in a fiercely competitive scenario. It is not something you simply ignore even as we play or watch basketball and carry on with our lives.

Manila-X

June 11th, 2010, 08:30 AM

Football tourney eyeing to stir World Cup interest in RP
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:11:00 06/08/2010

MANILA, Philippines -- Two groups are looking to cash in on the popularity of the World Cup with events, which they hope would boost the stature of football that has been in the doldrums in the Philippines.

Organized by the Sunken Garden United Football Club, the “World Cup Filipinas” kicked off over the weekend at the CCP’s Bulwagan Ipil Ipil grounds in Pasay City.

The tournament features clubs such as the Sovereign Integridad and the University of the Philippines Sikad club.

“It’s a celebration of unity amidst diversity,” organizer TJ Besa said at the PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila.

Philip Hagedorn of the United Football League also announced the league’s move to stage an expanded Primera Liga together with the Philippine Football Federation in October.

Hagedorn admitted having difficulty promoting the tournament, but said the month-long World Cup in South Africa kicking off Friday presents an opportunity for them to popularize the sport.

Hagedorn said they have been eyeing venues that would make their tournament more accessible to spectators.

The UFL season, which ended recently with Army coming out on top, was mostly held at the Nomads field in Parañaque.

PFF representative Ernie Nierras said the UFL would be part of the PFF’s Primera Liga, which would also feature regional champions from Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas.

davaob4now

June 11th, 2010, 08:47 AM

Wow Philippine Rugby Team !!!

wala bang philippine team sa world cup?

Manila-X

June 11th, 2010, 08:49 AM

Wow Philippine Rugby Team !!!

wala bang philippine team sa world cup?

2010 FIFA World Cup

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/2010_world_cup_qualification.png

Countries qualified for World Cup

Country failed to qualify

Countries which did not enter World Cup

Country not a FIFA member

the_villager

June 11th, 2010, 09:17 AM

kiretoce

June 11th, 2010, 03:04 PM

^^ Who's to say what we can and can't do? If Pinoys want to play basketball regardless of the height handicap, then they have as much the right and the privilege to do so. Forcing a populace to take up a sport that the majority aren't interested in, or even curious in the least bit, is bordering on being dictatorial.

Let people play whatever sport they want to play. Part of the enjoyment of sport is the love for it. So what if we don't triumph and dominate the world in it, it's how the person feels while he/she plays is what matters the most, anything else is insignificant and inconsequential.

BergenScooterPatrol

June 11th, 2010, 05:08 PM

when will we realized that we are not for basketball? OMG! dito tayo naka focus or other team sports like soccer.

Rafe Bartholomew, (check his book, Pacific Rims, out now), spent his Fulbright Scholarship (financed by US taxpayers money) studying and observing the Filipinos basketball culture and its love for the game for 3 years.

He concluded that the Philippines doesn't need an Olympic slot or any success internationally to validate and justify that basketball is rightfully for the Filipinos.

I share his thought

BergenScooterPatrol

June 11th, 2010, 05:14 PM

...let's face it, the rugby team are composed of the coño types and half-filipinos - half something (mostly half aussies), and nobody even from the middle-class, let alone from the masa plays it (at least in my knowledge). so i still consider it as an uber-niche sport like polo.

Manila-X

June 14th, 2010, 04:35 AM

If Filipinos love basketball, let it be but it would be good for the country to develop players in other team sports say football. Its like America where baseball is not the only sport played. In fact its building its football scene with Major League Soccer. The fact they had a draw with one of the greatest places for football, England (1-1).

There is more to sports than just basketball and boxing.

Manila-X

June 14th, 2010, 04:35 AM

The only hope for the evolution of Philippine football

http://www.chelseafc.com/javaImages/8b/ee/0,,10268~3010187,00.jpg

Manila-X

June 14th, 2010, 04:41 AM

From RonnieR.

Soccer fever sweeps planet except in RP

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:01:00 06/12/2010

Filed Under: Soccer, Football, World Cup
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100612-275156/Soccer-fever-sweeps-planet-except-in-RP

MANILA, Philippines — Almost everywhere on the planet, people on Friday were stocking up on beer and food and readying themselves for long hours in front of the television set as football’s World Cup mania hit fever-pitch with the opening matches in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Everywhere, that is, except in the Philippines, where people were still discussing the Boston Celtics’ series-knotting victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. (See related story on Page A20.)

“We are not a football country,” former national player and coach Norman Fegidero told the Inquirer when asked why the World Cup—described as the most-watched sporting event on Earth—has generated little interest in this corner of the world.

And that dearth of interest is worth looking into, especially since the World Cup, more than the Olympics, commands significantly greater following in all six continents.

According to the Fifa (French acronym for Federation Internationale de Football Association), the World Cup four years ago in Germany drew a cumulative TV audience of 26 billion people over 31 days. The finals between Italy and France alone drew 715 million.

The 17-day 2008 Beijing Olympics lured a cumulative 4.7 billion viewers.

Big numbers. But they hardly matter to a country more obsessed with the fact that Glen “Big Baby” Davis scored half of his 18 points and led Boston’s reserve crew in the crucial fourth quarter as the Celtics upended the Los Angeles Laker, 96-89, in Game 4.

Why football rates low

Fegidero said the continued failure of the Philippines to compete in major tournaments abroad had been the main reason football had not picked up here.

“We’re nowhere near the level of the world’s best teams, even in Asia, which is considered a weak continent in football,” he explained.

The Philippines has never qualified for the World Cup since 1930, when the quadrennial meet began.

This year, the country was only one of four countries that did not even bother to join the qualifying series for the tournament. The other three were Bhutan, Brunei and Laos.

“We don’t have the programs that can produce good players who can compete internationally,” Fegidero said. “We lack participation in international tournaments and local leagues.”

There are, however, pockets of interest hereabouts.

Signs of hope

In 2006, a Makati sports bar was filled until the wee hours of the morning to watch Italy defeat France on penalties to hoist the World Cup. After the victory of the Azzurri, marked by the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt on Italian Marco Materrazi, hundreds of Italy fans celebrated on Makati Avenue, blaring their car horns.

This year, a popular flip-flop brand has revived its World Cup line and a fastfood chain is giving away World Cup-themed glasses as part of its promos, proof that football is slowly picking up followers in the country.

A local cable company will also air all 64 games “live,” unlike four years ago when viewers could only watch the games on a pay-per-view basis.

“With our broadcast, we hope that the sport gets the momentum it needs to develop further in the country,” Balls channel head Jojo Estacio said in a recent press conference.

$100-M broadcast rights

Estacio declined to say how much the channel spent to gain the exclusive broadcast rights for the event in the Philippines. In some countries, like Singapore, Fifa reportedly demanded $100 million to air World Cup matches.

The Inquirer has fielded questions from callers who want to know where to catch the games “live” on cable TV.

Bar and restaurant owners also see the World Cup as a boon to their businesses.

Randy Musters, who manages Heckle and Jeckle in a crowded bar district along Makati Avenue, said their World Cup viewing parties draw huge crowds.

But Musters, a Dutch-Indonesian, who has lived in the country the past four years, was quick to note that most of their viewers are expatriates who follow their respective countries’ fortunes in the tournament.

A love that wouldn’t die

For the majority of Filipinos, the love affair with basketball’s field goal-per-minute pace is just too difficult to ignore.

“I’m not really interested in the World Cup,” said Ireneo Plana Jr., 30, a utility worker in Pasay City. “I know it’s popular in other countries but I’m happy watching the NBA finals because I’m already used to it. Football is boring. They (football players) don’t score often.”

Manila-X

June 14th, 2010, 04:49 AM

FAST FACTS: Fifa World Cup and RP
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:13:00 06/12/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is one of the smallest dots in the map of world football. The following facts about the country, rated by the international football federation Fifa, show how small that dot is:

Men’s rankings:

169—current Fifa ranking of RP (out of 207 member-countries)

155—RP’s best Fifa rank (October 2009)

195—RP’s lowest Fifa rank (September 2006)

Women’s rankings:

85—current Fifa ranking of RP (out of 116 member-countries)

75—RP’s best Fifa ranking (July 2003 and December 2009)

90—RP’s lowest Fifa ranking (December 2007)

1.7 million—estimated number of football players in RP (Fifa estimate)

85—number of football clubs in RP (Fifa estimate)

1907—year the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) was founded

1930—year the PFF affiliated with Fifa

Source: Official site of the International Football Federation (Fifa.com), Philippine Football Federation

ryanr

June 14th, 2010, 07:20 AM

Manila-X

June 14th, 2010, 02:25 PM

Did anyone see the giant Philippine flag during the England/USA match? It was on the left corner on the global feed. I noticed it after Steven Gerrard's goal. There are Filipinos that watch football.:)

There are and hopefully that number will grow. Plus a further development on the country's football scene. Its already happening in The US. I'm sure it can happen in The Philippines.

davaob4now

June 14th, 2010, 03:58 PM

Sky Harbor

June 14th, 2010, 04:38 PM

^^ Yes. FIFA members may choose to enter or not enter the World Cup.

epik ll ian

June 14th, 2010, 06:08 PM

I really wish we had a good soccer team ... I feel so left out of the fun the rest of the world is having right now. Who knows how I'm going to feel when the 2012 Olympics come haha. Even North Korea is participating in the World Cup, that should tell us something T_T

Having a national sports team compete against other countries generates a HUGE amount of national pride. We could still use some more of that. I see so many statuses from my friends on facebook with things along the lines of, "Love my soccer team, love my country!" or "Japan won!!!!!! Yay Japan!" or "Let's Korea Korea! Fighting!!" I think it would be a great move for us to focus on having a good soccer team.

BergenScooterPatrol

June 14th, 2010, 07:39 PM

Did anyone see the giant Philippine flag during the England/USA match? It was on the left corner on the global feed. I noticed it after Steven Gerrard's goal. There are Filipinos that watch football.:)

pinoy fans hang the flag in the world cup:

http://twitpic.com/1w87hb

party_animals

June 14th, 2010, 07:48 PM

Come on ppl!!!!! it's World Cup time!!!!!!! u all should better start to think about playing football more seriously :) well....u feel left out now right? hahah......

BergenScooterPatrol

June 14th, 2010, 07:49 PM

^^ Yes. FIFA members may choose to enter or not enter the World Cup.

there are a series of qualifying events in order to reach the final round, and only 32 teams from 6 continental confederations can enter.

for Asia, we have to battle qualifiers Japan, S. Korea, N.Korea and Australia. not to mention powerhouses but non-qualifiers Iran, China and the strong M.E. teams, just to earn the spot in the WC.

(Australia is now an active member of the Asian Confederation after they bolted out of Oceania for better competition. which benefited New Zealand. NZ got in the finals because they don't have any competition there.)

diz

June 15th, 2010, 01:07 AM

At least New Zealand gets to qualify in the tourney everytime.

Sky Harbor

June 15th, 2010, 05:49 AM

Come on ppl!!!!! it's World Cup time!!!!!!! u all should better start to think about playing football more seriously :) well....u feel left out now right? hahah......

You know, the Bruneians and the Laotians also left themselves out.

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 07:38 AM

You know, the Bruneians and the Laotians also left themselves out.

But The Philippines is a major ASEAN country. And its the only major country not participating in The World Cup.

Again, if Filipinos like basketball and are passionate about it, so be it. But again, it would be good for The Philippines to diversify itself into other sports and football should be the next priority when it comes to team sports.

Filipinos are fast and they have potential to compete in football. This was proven when a team of homeless children beat Brazil in its own game.

The only thing disappointed with World Cup in The Philippines is the lack of coverage from the local media. More coverage is given to the NBA Finals which is not the most important sporting event as this time.

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 07:40 AM

1950 World Cup poster, Brasil

observe the flags

http://artatm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/WorldCup1950poster.jpg

Ady001

June 15th, 2010, 07:47 AM

^^ It's so strange though that sometimes, the sports we undermine rake in the gold.

Why not try to bring in a modestly trained soccer team?

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 07:51 AM

^^ It's so strange though that sometimes, the sports we undermine rake in the gold.

Why not try to bring in a modestly trained soccer team?

That is what is happening with Pinoy football especially with Fil-Brits like James and Phil Younghusband.

Then you have this pro football player from Ghana who fled his country and was an illegal in The Philippines until he was adapted by a local family. He now teaches football to youngsters.

Ady001

June 15th, 2010, 07:55 AM

^^ Education should also play a role in fostering our love for sports. Kadalasan sa mga bata ngayon, puro e-sports lang inaatupag, which isn't bad, except that indoors-outdoors balance is thrown out of the window.

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 07:56 AM

Some examples of Philippine victory in football at least in the homeless world cup

http://www.homelessworldcup.org/userfiles/groups/philippines/DSC09766.JPG.jpg

Philippines Wins 4-2!
http://www.homelessworldcup.org/groups/philippines/posts/philippines-wins-4-2

We finish 29th out of 48 nations! Joemer, Ronaldo, Larry and Robert all score for a wonderful win. Paul Zialcita led an emotional crowd. Robin Porcioncula played an inspired game in goal.

We all cried. What a great day of celebration for the Filipinos in Milan. Last night we were treated to a five star meal by the Jun Tia, of UMAC Forwarders Express. Food, gifts and invitations are being showered on this team.

The best for the least. That is why we are all here.

Look for the Petersen video soon to be released. It will capture the spirit of these games.

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 07:57 AM

HK vs Philippines
http://www.homelessworldcup.org/groups/philippines/posts/hk-vs-philippines

Hong Kong was no match for the Philippine side. Captain Ronaldo Yurag picked apart the HK defense for five goals and Robert Francisco added one to make the final score 6-1 Philippines. In a surprise move Coach Marlon Maro moved Joemer Gelena, the Philippine goalie, into the field, replacing him with striker Robin Porcioncula.

The goalies are the champions of these games, taking incredible strikes at close range. One mistake or breakdown on defense and the goalies are looking at 100 kilometer strikes from four meters out. Joemer and Marlon Lagundino have played courageously against the best teams and players in this tournament.

In their second game of the day, and final game of the second round, the Filipinos beat a stubborn Australian team 6-3. With Ronaldo feeding the ball forward, Larry Dela Cruz found the goal four times, Robert Francisco added one and Mark Anthony Rosales sealed the victory. Robin Porcioncula again played the goal and made some great saves and smart outlet passes.

Ricky Ortiz and Joemer Helena also contributed in this fast paced game. The top teams never stop and the ball movement is a series of one-touch passes. They spread the pitch, working the defenses, wowing the crowds with deft passes and ball control.

These two wins catapult the Philippines into the Host Cup and insure a 24-32 place finish out of 48 teams. Last year they finished 37th so this is an incredible jump against tougher competition. They will face Canada in the first round of the Host Cup.

In the second round the Filipinos finished with a 4-1 record losing only to a very talented Argentina side 4-2. Argentina had three wins in their opening bracket and ended in the bottom half of the field on goal differential. In our game with Argentina they fielded a weaker side to start the game, playing their one girl. After two minutes they made some quick substitutions as Philippines dominated the play striking quickly in the opening seconds. What ensued was hard-nosed football with body checks and tough tackles.

On a side note, the Philippines have come out on top in Asia. Of the five teams from the East, including Hong Kong, India, Japan, Cambodia and Australia, they have proven themselves the elite football side.

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 08:00 AM

RP street kids beat Brazil in soccer
(The Philippine Star) Updated March 20, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Has any Filipino football team, indoor or outdoor, ever beaten a Brazilian football team in an “international” tournament?

Never – until a spunky group of street kids from Metro Manila, who flew to Durban, South Africa on the wings of several generous souls, beat the Brazilian team, 6-2, in a heart-tugging match last Thursday.

After Wednesday’s tearful 0-2 loss to Tanzania, the team, dubbed the Philippine Street Child “Miracle” team, came back with a vengeance to beat world football superpower Brazil in their final group A match of the Deloitte Street Child World Cup in Durban, an indoor international football tournament for street children. The Miracle team led 4-1 at the break.

As RP Women’s football team captain Marielle Benitez put it after hearing the news of the Pinoy streetkids’ victory, “Tinikling footwork beat Samba footwork.” Benitez, a member of Bayanihan, was one of those who gave the kids tinikling lessons for a dance presentation they did at the opening of the Deloitte Street Child World Cup last Tuesday.

Although the victory will not be enough to bring home the Deloitte-Street Child World Cup trophy, the Pinoy street kids, whose inspiring campaign is sponsored by British charity Angus Lawson Memorial Trust under the auspices of The Henry V. Moran Foundation, will now vie for the Street Child World Shield, a secondary trophy to the Street Child World Cup.

“We are a football team from a ‘basketball’ country that’s participating in a football tournament made up of teams from ‘football’ countries,” says Ed Formoso, manager of the team. “So how much of a chance do we really have in this event? It’s a question asked of me by so, so many. But when you believe so much in a project, and especially when you pray, you learn to believe that miracles might-can-will happen. So, will winning games in South Africa be a miracle? This is a team built on prayer and it has already won by getting as far as this. This far, these kids - it’s a miracle team already.”

Formoso and co-manager Craig Burrows recruited these street children from different shelters in Metro Manila. Jess Landagan, the head coach of the team, is a former street child himself. Soft spoken and humble, he knows his football and has lived the kind of life some of his players are living.

For the Deloitte-SCWC tournament in South Africa, Jess’ assistants and trainers were all former street kids and homeless players who represented the country in the 2008 Melbourne and 2009 Milan Homeless World Cup teams, two projects that were supported by The Henry V. Moran Foundation in partnership with the UOFC Foundation of American social entrepreneur Bill Shaw.

Before the kids left for South Africa, weekend football camps were held at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children Village under the supervision of Tuloy president and founder Salesian priest Rocky Evangelista.

Father Rocky played a lot of football in his youth and is a familiar footballer with many of the Filipino national players of his day. Father Rocky’s role was to turn this team into a football family. Several donors from the private sector pitched in to buy clothes, food and vitamins for the children. Practice games were sponsored at the International School and Brent School, to familiarize the street kids with taller opponents.

The Pinoys finished third in Group A, dubbed the group of death, with qualifiers UK and Tanzania ahead of them in this indoor international football tournament for street children. They were unlucky in their match against Tanzania and were thus eliminated from the main event, which is the Street Child World Cup.

Observers predict that the UK and Tanzania will meet in the finals on Sunday; both teams beat the Philippine team, 2-4 and 0-2 respectively.

The secondary semi-final crossover stage begins with the RP kids playing Ukraine in the SCW Shield while the Brazilians take on the South Africans. The winners of both games will play in the finals. - Joanne Rae Ramirez, Kathy Moran

Ady001

June 15th, 2010, 08:00 AM

^^ Largely untapped talaga ang Football.

I guess I have to imbibe my awareness in the sport, get physical and go to these meets. Or I might end up playing foosball.

Who knows. The Philippines might just be sitting on a sporting gold mine.

I-train na din natin sila sa pagsasayaw ng tinikling. :D

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 08:02 AM

Thats what I'm saying, Football is the true Filipino sport! :)

Manila-X

June 15th, 2010, 08:53 AM

About The Philippines not joining the 2010 FIFA World Cup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification

At the close of entries on 15 March 2007, 204 football associations had entered the preliminary competition: 203 out of the 207 FIFA members at that time (including the host nation, South Africa, as the qualification procedure in Africa also acted as the qualification for the 2010 African Cup of Nations) and the Montenegro team, which later became FIFA's 208th member. The final number of teams entered breaks the previous record of 199 entrants set during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Four FIFA members (all from the AFC) failed to register for the tournament by 15 March 2007: Bhutan, Brunei, Laos, and the Philippines

After the close of entries, Bhutan were allowed to enter and were included in the Asian preliminary draw, while Brunei and the Philippines had their late entries rejected.

David-80

June 15th, 2010, 06:30 PM

You know, the Bruneians and the Laotians also left themselves out.

Not true

FOOD and beverage establishments in Brunei are gearing up for the impending World Cup matches,

source : http://www.bt.com.bn/business-national/2010/06/10/f-b-outlets-cash-world-cup-fever

Laos

http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/laos/10843_is-the-world-cup-on-lao-tv-

Cheers

David-80

June 15th, 2010, 06:33 PM

Thats what I'm saying, Football is the true Filipino sport! :)

Since Philippines is traditionally very close to Spain, I am quite surprised, football is not very popular.

As you see, Argentina and Spain are very connected traditionally, they are very strong in football. Philippines has many eurasian players, i think with great development, the country can be the spain of asia in football.

cheers

BergenScooterPatrol

June 15th, 2010, 08:46 PM

This topic always mushrooms every 4 years in different pinoy forums. Back in 2002 and 2006, there were lots of discussions about the pinoys status in the soccer world in forums like PEX, MyPBA. etc. I guess it found its way here.

Back in 2002, my friends and i spent our nights drinking and watching matches together with jersey-clad expats and some futbol afficionados in the old National Sports Grill in the old Greenbelt Mall during the duration of the 2002 WC . The games were held in prime-time here (meaning early evening, after working hours) because we are in the same timezone as the hosts Japan and Korea, unlike in 2006 where there was a big time difference between Germany and the Philippines, when the matches usually starts early in the wee hours of the morning.

There were even thousands gathered in Rockwell open-area during the final game between Brazil and Germany when it was shown there live. The atmosphere to say the least was party-like.

i think that was the closest pinoys came to appreciate WC (and party like the rest of world) and football in general.

BergenScooterPatrol

June 15th, 2010, 08:53 PM

That is what is happening with Pinoy football especially with Fil-Brits like James and Phil Younghusband.

Then you have this pro football player from Ghana who fled his country and was an illegal in The Philippines until he was adapted by a local family. He now teaches football to youngsters.

the younghusbands are not the saviours of pinoy football, they are more inclined to do modeling and more into showbusiness.

they've lost their spots in their respective clubs back in england, and are just trying their luck here doing modeling stints.

(news is, Alaska Milk dropped them already as counselors in their soccer youth camps)

BergenScooterPatrol

June 15th, 2010, 09:02 PM

kiretoce

June 16th, 2010, 04:21 AM

Since Philippines is traditionally very close to Spain, I am quite surprised, football is not very popular.

In actuality, it's not really that close. To put is in fairy tale terms, Spain is the wicked stepmother, while the United States is the knight in shining armor that comes in to save the day for the perennial damsel in distress, that is the Philippines. ;)

Sky Harbor

June 16th, 2010, 06:06 AM

Not true

I meant in the sense that they too did not field teams, or were unable to do so. ;)

Sky Harbor

June 16th, 2010, 06:08 AM

the younghusbands are not the saviours of pinoy football, they are more inclined to do modeling and more into showbusiness.

they've lost their spots in their respective clubs back in england, and are just trying their luck here doing modeling stints.

(news is, Alaska Milk dropped them already as counselors in their soccer youth camps)

Well, as they say, the allure of showbusiness, at least in the Philippines, is very powerful and, if you play your cards right, very lucrative. More lucrative than even playing a sport here professionally.

All at the expense of our athletes doing something good for our athletic programs. :ohno:

(Likewise, the Younghusbands are no longer in the roster for the Philippine national team.)

Manila-X

June 16th, 2010, 06:21 AM

please note that this is just 4-a-side football and not your mainstream 11-a- side, full-field soccer match, It's not even your garden variety Futsal game (6-a-side played indoor, on a court similar to basketball court's dimensions). but then again, it's still football, and kudos should be given to the RP delegation.

Its a start. From there, it can evolve to the professional league level.

epik ll ian

June 16th, 2010, 06:25 AM

But The Philippines is a major ASEAN country. And its the only major country not participating in The World Cup.

Again, if Filipinos like basketball and are passionate about it, so be it. But again, it would be good for The Philippines to diversify itself into other sports and football should be the next priority when it comes to team sports.

Filipinos are fast and they have potential to compete in football. This was proven when a team of homeless children beat Brazil in its own game.

The only thing disappointed with World Cup in The Philippines is the lack of coverage from the local media. More coverage is given to the NBA Finals which is not the most important sporting event as this time.

True! There's more than one sport out there ... Plus I can only watch so much boxing ... I want to watch a Filipino football team and feel proud and root for them! I see all my friends from other countries with so much happiness and unity and pride rooting for their team, and I want to feel the same :(. I'm jealous! I'm not going to lie, watching one person box isn't as much of a fun sport to watch. Plus, Filipinos have a talent for football! I hope this time we actually take action and focus on developing a good football team.

NORTH KOREA was barely beat by Brazil. NORTH KOREA. Seriously, we have no excuse now.

In actuality, it's not really that close. To put is in fairy tale terms, Spain is the wicked stepmother, while the United States is the knight in shining armor that comes in to save the day for the perennial damsel in distress, that is the Philippines. ;)

True hahahaha

Manila-X

June 16th, 2010, 07:16 AM

True! There's more than one sport out there ... Plus I can only watch so much boxing ... I want to watch a Filipino football team and feel proud and root for them! I see all my friends from other countries with so much happiness and unity and pride rooting for their team, and I want to feel the same :(. I'm jealous! I'm not going to lie, watching one person box isn't as much of a fun sport to watch. Plus, Filipinos have a talent for football! I hope this time we actually take action and focus on developing a good football team.

NORTH KOREA was barely beat by Brazil. NORTH KOREA. Seriously, we have no excuse now.

Its either boxing or basketball. Kudos for DPRK scored a point against Brazil. Another interesting is the US draw match against England. Even in a country where soccer is not the most popular sport, Americans are building its own scene with Major League Soccer and so on. And The US is doing better than it used to.

Alot of youths in The US are getting involved in soccer and children's teams are being formed. Americans are slowly evolving from soccer pioneers to soccer literate then to soccer passionate (Time Magazine).

Watching a Seattle Sounders games give you a feel of European football in American soil.

http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/ecs_tifo(1).jpg

http://media.bonnint.net/seattle/2/207/20781.jpg

Watching a Seattle Sounders match gives you a feel of European football in American soil.

And I'm saying this because The Philippines is highly US influenced.

If Filipinos have a passion for basketball, let them play and enjoy themselves even if they cannot beat countries like The US, China, Lithuania or even Argentina.

The average Filipino will learn that there are other exciting sports than basketball, boxing and billiards. Finally the average Pinoy won't have to answer basketball for what is the most popular sport in the world or what sport does Pete Sampras play during a local game show.

Manila-X

June 16th, 2010, 07:30 AM

Unhealthy immunity to World Cup fever
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 00:00

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/83-opinion-columnist/19496-unhealthy-immunity-to-world-cup-fever

Soccer, the beautiful game, is the biggest sporting spectacle on our planet. Since World Cup 2010, or Mundial 2010 as the Spanish-speaking countries call it, began on Friday June 11 in South Africa the whole world has been gripped by soccer fever. Not the Filipinos, though. Futbol, fussball and soccer
Purists hate the game being called soccer. They want it called football, which in Spain is called futbol and in Germany fussball (the double “s” is written when one doesn’t have the German alphabet’s double-s symbol). Football came to be called “soccer” because the British codified the “Rules of the Game of Football” in 1863 after they formed The Football Association.

English people soon began to refer to the game played according to the 1863 rules as “association football” which many Brits gave the nickname “sock-er” (for the “soc” in “association”). Officially, however, the game is always called football.

The World Cup and international football is governed by the FIFA. That is the acronym of the French words “Federacion Internationale de Football Association” or the International Federation of Association Football.

It was not always the FIFA that ruled soccer. In fact the rules and changes to the rules are still determined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which was formed in 1886 by the Football Association (of England), the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association. They all competed for the FA Cup.

In 1904, while the soccer teams and leagues of the British Isles were happily competing among themselves, the FIFA was formed. FIFA had declared itself to be in complete compliance with the British-crafted Association Football Rules of the Game. But FIFA representatives were admitted to the International Football Association board only in 1913.

Today the highest football championship is that of the FIFA’s World Cup, which is held every four years. But there are dozens of other coveted championships, mainly in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Football is an Olympic sport

Football, as a competition among men’s teams, has been an Olympic sport in every Olympiad (except the 1896 and 1932 ones). In 1996, the Olympics admitted women’s football. The top winners in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 are: Men—Argentina, champion; Nigeria, runner-up; Brazil, third place; and Belgium, fourth place. Women-USA, champion; Brazil, runner-up; Germanmy, third place; Japan, fourth place.

The last World Cup tournament was in Germany. The champion was Italy. It was their fourth time to bag the World Cup title. Runner-up was France. Third place went to Germany, which defeated Portugal.

World Cup fever has not afflicted us Filipinos. We did not even send a team to vie in the qualifying series for the World Cup. The other Asian countries that did not compete were Bhutan, Brunei and Laos.

No chance in basketball

It is not a healthy thing for us Filipinos to ignore soccer and be hooked only on basketball.

Unless it is by miracle—or the rules of basketball are changed to categorize teams according to height—we Filipinos have veritably no chance of ever joining the winning circle in global competitions. Basketball demands great height from players in addition to speed, endurance and other physical qualities.

But soccer allows either tall or short players to excel. The most popular figures in football are Edison Arantes do Nascimento, or Pele, of Brazil, and Diego Armando Maradona of Argentina. Both are of the height of average Filipino males.

Soccer is a sport the masses can play easily. It is easier to set up a football game anywhere than a basketball game. You need a proper goal for basketball. You can play a limited form of soccer even on a street without motor traffic. Children can begin practicing their kicking and ball-control skills anywhere and anytime.

Government should boost football

We hope the coming Aquino administration will includes a serious nationwide soccer promotion program in its sports development plan.

Such a program will, we are sure, immediately yield results.

The FIFA fact sheet says that in men’s football our present ranking out of 207 member-countries is 169. We were close to the bottom in 2006, with a ranking of 195. We were better last year, ranking 155.

In women’s football we are No. 85 (out of 116 countries). We were No. 90 in 2007. But were much better last year and in 2003, ranking 75.

FIFA estimates that there are 1.7 million Filipinos who play soccer. We have 85 football teams. The Philippine Football Federation was founded in 1907 and joined FIFA in 1930.

Proof that we Filipinos can shine in soccer is the performance last March of the Philippine team, made up of street children from Metro Manila in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup in South Africa.

At first, the Filipino kids lost 0-2 to Tanzania. But in their next match, against soccer superpower Brazil, they won 4-1. They did not end up being the champion. But analysts saw how well the Filipino children did and forecast them doing much better in future competitions.

In many places in the country, football teams are being formed. Last month, in honor of the World Cup, the 1st Castrol-Sunken Garden United Football World Cup Pilipinas (WCP) tournament was launched—for the cause of football development—at the Liwasang Ipil-Ipil of the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex. The tournament has the support of Century Tuna, Castrol and SM Malls.

This is only one of many private sector backed initiatives throughout the country that, with a proper and organized national football development program, will make our country a soccer powerhouse in the coming years.

davaob4now

June 16th, 2010, 08:23 AM

1950 World Cup poster, Brasil

observe the flags

http://artatm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/WorldCup1950poster.jpg

does is it has something to do with the country's financial status?
up to 1960's maganda pa ang ekonomiya ng pinas only second to japan...so maybe they thought that the philippines being an economic powerhouse was an important country in 1950...

Manila-X

June 16th, 2010, 08:46 AM

BergenScooterPatrol

June 16th, 2010, 03:13 PM

does is it has something to do with the country's financial status?
up to 1960's maganda pa ang ekonomiya ng pinas only second to japan...so maybe they thought that the philippines being an economic powerhouse was an important country in 1950...

the graphic artist probably needed a representative from asia to complete his collage of flags. that was in 1950, so Japan was still reeling from its defeat in WWII and was still considered a villain, China was still in shambles as Chairman Mao and Chai Kai Shek waged war against each other, the Allied powers divided the Korean peninsula and the North invaded the South, and the most of the countries in the Middle East and South Asia were still under the British Empire. So the artist's best choice: The Philippines!

BergenScooterPatrol

June 16th, 2010, 03:38 PM

let's face it, except in towns like Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo, football in the Philippines is driven by private corporations and institutions. Unlike basketball where pinoy kids and adults can just pick up a ball, shoot in makeshift courts and play oido style and instinctively, footballers here need the initiatives of private organization like schools, company-sponsored camps and the like for them to play (and keep playing up to a certain point only). we dont even have enough public fields to accommodate footballers who just play for fun and for recreation.

Sky Harbor

June 17th, 2010, 12:44 AM

^^ Well, to be fair, Manila lacks the space for soccer fields. However, if Tokyo can make do with rooftop soccer pitches and futsal fields, I don't see why we can't do it here.

However, the culture is still very hard to change. Will the masa endorse soccer, especially when it is currently perceived to be a sport of the elite?

epik ll ian

June 17th, 2010, 03:41 AM

^^ There's nothing elite about soccer. That stereotype is all rubbish.
If you have a ball and legs you can play soccer.

Unhealthy immunity to World Cup fever
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 00:00

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/83-opinion-columnist/19496-unhealthy-immunity-to-world-cup-fever

Soccer, the beautiful game, is the biggest sporting spectacle on our planet. Since World Cup 2010, or Mundial 2010 as the Spanish-speaking countries call it, began on Friday June 11 in South Africa the whole world has been gripped by soccer fever. Not the Filipinos, though. Futbol, fussball and soccer
Purists hate the game being called soccer. They want it called football, which in Spain is called futbol and in Germany fussball (the double “s” is written when one doesn’t have the German alphabet’s double-s symbol). Football came to be called “soccer” because the British codified the “Rules of the Game of Football” in 1863 after they formed The Football Association.

English people soon began to refer to the game played according to the 1863 rules as “association football” which many Brits gave the nickname “sock-er” (for the “soc” in “association”). Officially, however, the game is always called football.

The World Cup and international football is governed by the FIFA. That is the acronym of the French words “Federacion Internationale de Football Association” or the International Federation of Association Football.

It was not always the FIFA that ruled soccer. In fact the rules and changes to the rules are still determined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which was formed in 1886 by the Football Association (of England), the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association. They all competed for the FA Cup.

In 1904, while the soccer teams and leagues of the British Isles were happily competing among themselves, the FIFA was formed. FIFA had declared itself to be in complete compliance with the British-crafted Association Football Rules of the Game. But FIFA representatives were admitted to the International Football Association board only in 1913.

Today the highest football championship is that of the FIFA’s World Cup, which is held every four years. But there are dozens of other coveted championships, mainly in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Football is an Olympic sport

Football, as a competition among men’s teams, has been an Olympic sport in every Olympiad (except the 1896 and 1932 ones). In 1996, the Olympics admitted women’s football. The top winners in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 are: Men—Argentina, champion; Nigeria, runner-up; Brazil, third place; and Belgium, fourth place. Women-USA, champion; Brazil, runner-up; Germanmy, third place; Japan, fourth place.

The last World Cup tournament was in Germany. The champion was Italy. It was their fourth time to bag the World Cup title. Runner-up was France. Third place went to Germany, which defeated Portugal.

World Cup fever has not afflicted us Filipinos. We did not even send a team to vie in the qualifying series for the World Cup. The other Asian countries that did not compete were Bhutan, Brunei and Laos.

No chance in basketball

It is not a healthy thing for us Filipinos to ignore soccer and be hooked only on basketball.

Unless it is by miracle—or the rules of basketball are changed to categorize teams according to height—we Filipinos have veritably no chance of ever joining the winning circle in global competitions. Basketball demands great height from players in addition to speed, endurance and other physical qualities.

But soccer allows either tall or short players to excel. The most popular figures in football are Edison Arantes do Nascimento, or Pele, of Brazil, and Diego Armando Maradona of Argentina. Both are of the height of average Filipino males.

Soccer is a sport the masses can play easily. It is easier to set up a football game anywhere than a basketball game. You need a proper goal for basketball. You can play a limited form of soccer even on a street without motor traffic. Children can begin practicing their kicking and ball-control skills anywhere and anytime.

Government should boost football

We hope the coming Aquino administration will includes a serious nationwide soccer promotion program in its sports development plan.

Such a program will, we are sure, immediately yield results.

The FIFA fact sheet says that in men’s football our present ranking out of 207 member-countries is 169. We were close to the bottom in 2006, with a ranking of 195. We were better last year, ranking 155.

In women’s football we are No. 85 (out of 116 countries). We were No. 90 in 2007. But were much better last year and in 2003, ranking 75.

FIFA estimates that there are 1.7 million Filipinos who play soccer. We have 85 football teams. The Philippine Football Federation was founded in 1907 and joined FIFA in 1930.

Proof that we Filipinos can shine in soccer is the performance last March of the Philippine team, made up of street children from Metro Manila in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup in South Africa.

At first, the Filipino kids lost 0-2 to Tanzania. But in their next match, against soccer superpower Brazil, they won 4-1. They did not end up being the champion. But analysts saw how well the Filipino children did and forecast them doing much better in future competitions.

In many places in the country, football teams are being formed. Last month, in honor of the World Cup, the 1st Castrol-Sunken Garden United Football World Cup Pilipinas (WCP) tournament was launched—for the cause of football development—at the Liwasang Ipil-Ipil of the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex. The tournament has the support of Century Tuna, Castrol and SM Malls.

This is only one of many private sector backed initiatives throughout the country that, with a proper and organized national football development program, will make our country a soccer powerhouse in the coming years.

Good article! Soccer is a very versatile sport. We can compete a lot with soccer. There's really ZERO reason to complain for having a soccer team now that I think about it. So, let's just promote it! We have a lot of athletic people who would do us proud on a national team. Plus, soccer would be a great sport for kids to play since it's great cardiovascular exercise!

I'm not hating basketball, but we need to diversify. I'm not seeing any world championship for basketball that's anywhere near as exciting as the FIFA world cup.