Category: Sports

Veteran para swimmer Ernie Gawilan plunges into action Monday as the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games goes full blast at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center (HOC) and surrounding venues here. Gawilan, 32, will compete in the S7 men’s 200-meter individual medley at the modern 6,000-seat HOC Aquatic Arena at 7:29 p.m., just a stone’s throw away from the 80,000-capacity HOC Stadium where the opening ceremony will be held Sunday night. It will be the first of three events he will aim to defend after ruling in the 2018 edition held in Jakarta, Indonesia. ‘Kailangan kong madepensahan ‘yung tatlong main event na na-ipanalo ko sa (I must defend the three events I won in the) Jakarta Asian Games — 400-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter backstroke. Dun kami nag-concentrate (We concentrated on those),’ Gawilan said in a news release. Also seeing action in the swimming event are Cambodia Southeast Asian Para Games double gold medalist Gary Bejino in the S6 men’s 100-meter freestyle, Edwin Villanueva in the SM8 men’s 200-meter individual medley and Muhaimin Ulag in the SB9 men’s 100-meter breaststroke. The vaunted national para chess team, which delivered five gold, two silver and six bronze medals in 2018, will start their bids in the men’s and women’s standard events at Hangzhou Qi-Yuan Chess Hall. They are bannered by wheelchair-bound Fide Master Sander Severino, who bagged four golds in the Indonesian capital five years ago, and Darry Bernardo, the most prolific in the Cambodia meet in June with six golds. Powerlifting gets underway at Xiaoshan Sports Center Gymnasium with Romeo Tayawa and Marydol Pamatian vying in the men’s -54-kilogram and women’s -41kg divisions, respectively. Jesebel Tordecilla kicks off the country’s drive in track and field in F56 women’s javelin throw at Huanglong Sports Center Stadium. ‘Our national para athletes have been working and training hard for the 4th Asian Para Games for the last five years. Now is the time for them to shine in this continental sports showcase once again and I encourage our countrymen to pray for and support them,’ Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said in a statement. ‘Lord willing, we hope to match or surpass our achievements in the last Asian Para Games in Indonesia,’ he added, referring to the 10 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals produced in 2018. Bernardo and swimmer Angel Mae Otom, both seeing action in their first Asian Games, will be the flag-bearers.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Chess player Darry Bernardo and swimmer Angel Mae Otom will be the flag-bearers in their debut at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games here on Sunday night. The opening ceremony of the Games’ fourth edition will be held at the 80,000-seat Hangzhou Olympic Stadium. Bernardo and Otom were among the standouts in the 11th Cambodia ASEAN Para Games that ended in June, winning six and four gold medals, respectively. They will march ahead of the Philippine contingent of 46 athletes and officials. ‘Hindi ko akalain na isa ako sa mapili na maging flag-bearer. Masayang-masaya po ako at malaking karangalan po ito sa akin,’ the limbless Otom, the 20-year-old pride of Olongapo City, Zambales, said of the rare honor. Philippine Paralympic Committee chair Mike Barredo and secretary general Goody Custodio, Philippine Sports Commissioners Walter Torres and Ed Hayco, and chef de mission Ral Rosario and deputy Millet Bonoan are among the officials accompanying the athletes. Cambodia gold medalist in javelin throw Cendy Asusano and visually impaired judokas Carlito Agustin and Deterson Omas, bronze medalists, are also part of the team. The Filipino para campaigners took home 10 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals during the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia. Athletics, archery, swimming, powerlifting and taekwondo likewise serve as qualifying competitions for the Paris Paralympic Games next year.

Source: Philippines News Agency

National University banked on Kean Baclaan in the second half to prevail over Adamson University, 69-66, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s basketball at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila on Saturday. Baclaan scored 19 points in the second half, including five triples in the third quarter, issued 5 assists and hauled down 4 rebounds as the Bulldogs rolled to their fourth straight win and ended the first round of the eliminations in solo second at 6-1. University of the Philippines (6-0) paces the field and will eye a sweep against Ateneo (3-3) at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Jake Figueroa added 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block for NU, while Nash Enriquez had 13 points and three rebounds. “Pinrove ko lang yung worth ko sa team. Pinakita ko lang kung ano ‘yung kaya ko ma-itulong sa team. Hindi ko naman inisip ‘yung points, kusa lang din dumating. Parang ngayon lang nangyari sa akin ‘yun limang sunud-sunod na three points (I just proved my worth to the team. I just showed what I can do to help the team. I didn’t think about the points, they just came. Five consecutive three points happened to me just now),” said Baclaan. Jake Figueroa had 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Nash Enriquez added 13 points and three rebounds. Baclaan’s basket broke a 63-all count and set off a 6-0 run to give NU a 69-63 lead, 1:28 remaining. Matthew Montebon sank a triple as the Falcons closed in at 66-69 but he missed a three-pointer, 32 seconds left, while Joshua Yerro failed to score as time expired. “Give credit sa Adamson talaga. Alam naman naming hindi porket nandoon sila sa anumang posisyon nila, mahina na. Ever since, I know coach Nash (Racela) kahit saan siya mapunta, nagiging very competitive ‘yung team na ‘yun (Give credit to Adamson. We know that they are not weak in any position they are in. Ever since, I know coach Nash. Wherever he goes, that team becomes very competitive),” NU coach Jeff Napa said. Matt Erolon had 14 points and two steals for Adamson, which led 17-11 in the first quarter and remained ahead, 41-30, at halftime. Montebon made 11 points and two assists and OJ Ojarikre had 10 points and six rebounds for the Falcons, who absorbed their fourth loss against three wins.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Mapua University nipped Perpetual Help, 62-61, to keep the top spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 men’s basketball at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday. Marc Cuenco scored 13 points, highlighted by three triples, and made four assists, two rebounds and one steal as the Cardinals claimed their eighth victory in nine outings. JC Recto also contributed 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists, while Clint Escarmis added 10 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists for Mapua. Paolo Hernandez chipped in eight points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists, while Warren Bonifacio likewise scored eight points. John Abis and Christian Pagaran scored 15 points apiece for Perpetual, which fell into a tie with San Sebastian College for sixth place at 3-6. San Sebastian lost to San Beda University, 53-76, on Friday. Mark Omega made eight points, 10 rebounds and two steals, while Marcus Nitura had six points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Altas. San Beda is running second at 6-2, followed by Lyceum (6-3), Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College (5-3), and College of Saint Benilde (4-4). Arellano University and Letran College are at the bottom with similar 1-7 records.

Source: Philippines News Agency

San Sebastian College downed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-70, to boost its Final Four bid in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 men’s basketball at Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Sunday. Raymart Escobido fired four triples to finish with 23 points as the Stags joined the Perpetual Help Dalta in fifth place with three wins against four losses. Jessie Sumoda contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds; James Una had 13 points and seven rebounds; and Romel Calahat chipped in nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. ‘Actually, may firepower naman siya (Escobido has firepower),’ San Sebastian coach John Kallos said. ‘Every game there’s somebody who steps up. Every game, somebody turns out to be good.” ‘Malaking bagay na meron kang beterano. Thankful ako sa kanila na (It’s a big factor that you have a veteran. I’m thankful to them that) they are playing their last year for me, for San Sebastian and they are very consistent,’ Kallos added, referring to Sumoda and Calahat, who are on their final season. King Gurtiza led the Generals with 20 points and five rebounds followed by JP Magullano (14 points, 13 rebounds and five assists), Ralph Robin (13 points and four steals), and Nat Cosejo (12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block). EAC fell into a three-way tie for fourth place with Jose Rizal University and College of Saint Benilde (CSB) at 4-3. Perpetual defeated defending champion Letran (0-7), 74-59; while CSB downed Arellano (1-6), 72-66.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Nearly three weeks of volleyball action are scheduled in November with the staging of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Challenge Cup at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. Nine men’s teams and six women’s squads — all local government unit (LGU)-based — have so far confirmed their participation in the PNVF’s penultimate tournament for 2023. ‘The Challenge Cup gives LGUs the opportunity to have their own volleyball programs and we’re looking forward to discover unpolished talents through this tournament,’ PNVF president Ramon Suzara said in a news release on Sunday. The target is 16 teams for each side with a total of 64 matches set to be played Nov. 6 to 9 and Nov. 13 to 23. The teams will be divided into four pools during the eight-day elimination round. Already confirmed for the men’s tournament are Plaridel (Quezon), Davao City, Orion and Dinalupihan (Bataan), University of Batangas, VNS Volleyball Club (Quezon City), Arellano University (Manila) and Alpha Omega Elite. In the women’s side are Davao City, Parañaque City, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (Cavite), University of Batangas, Arellano University (Manila) and City of San Pedro, Laguna. The Challenge Cup precedes the culminating Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge which features the world’s top beach volleyball teams set later in November in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The PNVF then kicks off its 2024 calendar with the Champions League in February.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Seven-time champion National University clobbered De La Salle University, 91-53, to keep its share of second place in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 women’s basketball at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday. Camille Clarin scored 19 points, including five triples, on top of six rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs, who tied the Ateneo Lady Eagles at 4-1. Princess Fabruada chipped in 13 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists while Karl Pingol contributed 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists, which NU led by as much as 38 points. Lee Sario finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal for La Salle. ‘Technically, it was the challenge for us today to keep the number two spot,’ NU coach Aries Dimaunahan said. ‘Glad that we did our job today right from the get-go. Part of the good start that we had was these two girls (Clarin and Stefanie Berbarabe) beside me. They did their job early on,’ he added. The Lady Archers clawed back from a 33-45 deficit to make it 40-49 on Luisa San Juan and Sario’s triples, 5:32 remaining in the third quarter. ‘Again, basketball is a game of runs,’ Dimaunahan said. ‘They did their run. We kinda huddled up ourselves and talked about it and stayed locked in, especially on the defensive side. They were outrebounding us because of their foreign athlete (Aji Bojang).’ Meanwhile, Adamson University ended its four-game skid with a 71-41 thrashing of University of the East. Victoria Adeshina had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, while Crisnalyn Padilla contributed 11 points, three assists and two steals for Adamson. “Of course, in life in general, we always want to win. Winning is something that gives us relief. Ang goal ko naman talaga is to make the team better. May mga struggles pero getting this first win, hopefully ito na ‘yung magiging breakthrough namin (Of course, in life in general, we always want to win. Winning is something that gives us relief. My goal is to make the team better. There are struggles but getting this first win, hopefully, this will be our breakthrough),” coach Ryan Monteclaro said after his Lady Falcons joined the Lady Archers in fifth place at 1-4.

Source: Philippines News Agency