The Philippines exacted revenge against Lebanon last night when it hammered out an exciting 88-83 triumph at the start of the Four-Nation Manila Invitational Basketball Tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Slowly but surely adapting to the international brand of play, the Nationals proved too hot too handle from beyond the arc, where they made 15 out of 32 shots that eventually spelled the difference in the victory.
And no one was hotter than Renren Ritualo, who bailed out the Filipinos just as Lebanon was also starting to spew fire from the three-point area in the final period.
Ritualo engaged the Lebanese big men in a shootout midway in the final period, keeping Chot Reyes’ crew afloat as Lebanon came back from a 15-point halftime deficit.
The four-nation event is the final tournament for the Filipinos, before they vie for an Olympic berth in the Fiba-Asia Championships in Tokushima, Japan later this month.
There were shades of the Filipinos last-second defeat to Lebanon last week in the Jones Cup in Taipei when the RP cagers started to struggle and the visitors took a 71-68 lead.
But Ritualo, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood and Kelly Williams conspired for a 16-8 burst to avenge the 68-65 loss to the second-ranked team in Asia.
Ritualo canned three straight triples, the last of which tied the count at 77, and Norwood made another trey from the right flank after a defensive stop with less than three minutes left.
Playing just 18 minutes, Ritualo picked up 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from rainbow territory, earning him player of the game honors.
Except for some forced shots near the end, Alapag was splendid in the backcourt, finishing with 14 points, including four foul shots that sealed the Lebanese’ fate. The Talk N’ Text point guard also dished seven assists.
Williams made a strong case for his inclusion in the RP Team for the Tokushima joust, plucking a crucial offensive rebound and scoring on a putback with 1:26 left, part of his 13 point, 9-rebound output.
Negrense James Yap, one of the alternates in the RP Team, missed the game due to an ankle injury he sustained during RP’s final Jones Cup game against Kazakhstan. But his performance in the Philippines’ Taipei stint, where he keyed the win against Iran, has increased his chances of making the team.
The Philippines’ next assignment will be China, a 98-94 winner over Syria in the first game yesterday.
The RP-China tussle is scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum, shortly before the PBA Annual Awards and Game Four of the PBA Finals between Alaska and Talk N’ Text, which is leading 2-1. *
Thursday, July 12, 2007
On late deadlines.
I did not intend to write about the RP-Lebanon basketball game in the 4-nation Manila Invitationals because I had no idea if it will be aired by ABC5. But the network did and because I set another "late" deadline for my page, I wrote a game story, knowing that the broadsheets may not be able to include the game story because of their early deadline.
One advantage of working for a provincial newspaper, like the one that I work for, is that we have a very flexible deadline. And sometimes, I tend to abuse it. hehehe. Since my return from Manila late in May, my attention has been called a couple of times by our editor-in-chief on my deadlines.
But as much as I want to put my page to bed early, its just not possible, especially because I am a one-man army in the sports page and readers expect a page full of local stories. So my apologies to DAILY STAR readers. I can only do so much.
I dont want to justify my ocassional incompetence. Im just assuring those who follow the DAILY STAR that Im doing my best to make their sports page as good as possible. And when I say good, its not just the design or the layout, but also the fact that the stories are accurate, factual and objective.
The late deadline has actually given me the luxury of watching the Asian Cup and the Philippine Basketball Association as well as the RP Team's games recently. I call it a luxury because I am passionate about sports.
Writing about the games is just a bonus. *
One advantage of working for a provincial newspaper, like the one that I work for, is that we have a very flexible deadline. And sometimes, I tend to abuse it. hehehe. Since my return from Manila late in May, my attention has been called a couple of times by our editor-in-chief on my deadlines.
But as much as I want to put my page to bed early, its just not possible, especially because I am a one-man army in the sports page and readers expect a page full of local stories. So my apologies to DAILY STAR readers. I can only do so much.
I dont want to justify my ocassional incompetence. Im just assuring those who follow the DAILY STAR that Im doing my best to make their sports page as good as possible. And when I say good, its not just the design or the layout, but also the fact that the stories are accurate, factual and objective.
The late deadline has actually given me the luxury of watching the Asian Cup and the Philippine Basketball Association as well as the RP Team's games recently. I call it a luxury because I am passionate about sports.
Writing about the games is just a bonus. *
P.6 million in pledges for Ba-Neg softbelles
softball
Financial pledges for the Bacolod-Negros softball team bound for the 2007 World Series in the United States have reached about P600,000, half of the amount needed for the contingent’s airfare to Kirkland, Washington, Bacolod councilor Homer Bais said last night.
“We are halfway our target. But all we have are pledges. I was hoping that by this time, we have already collected something,” the councilor said.
With the World Series just a month away, Bais, who is spearheading the fund-raising campaign for the softbelles, said he is hoping that the donors will be able to firm up their commitment by next week.
The Ba-Neg delegation needs about P1.2 million for its airfare with World Series organizers expected to reimburse $10,000 (P460,000) if the softbelles make it to the US.
Bais, who is being helped by Councilor Al Victor Espino, said some of the pledges are still subject to approval by top-level management of companies.
“We have to double our efforts (in raising funds for the team),” Bais added.
While their financial problems continue to linger, the softbelles remain focused on their goal of winning the world title, Ba-Neg official Tess Himpolaran said.
“They are hopeful that they will make it. But they are also aware of the eventuality that they may not play in the World Series at all,” Himpolaran said.
Nevertheless, Himpolaran said the players have not slowed down in training as they try to improve on their second place finish last year.
The members of the team are Cindy Carol Banay, Cherry An Basco, Annalie Benjamen,
Angelique Benjamin, Michelle Lentija, Charmaine Joy Oria, Clariz Palma, Jenelyn Polinario, Cristine Sebuan, Jo-an Saul and Jusel Marie Talaban. *
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Ba-Neg girls’ hopes boosted
The Bacolod-Negros softball team’s hopes of competing in this year’s Junior League World Series in the United States were boosted yesterday when team officials were able to secure funds to pay for the contingent’s visa fees.
Ba-Neg official Tess Himpolaran last night said they will apply for visas this morning, after Bacolod councilor Homer Bais was able to lend the P70,000 that the team members needed for their application.
Bais has scheduled a meeting today with Ba-Neg officials as they step up their fund-raising campaign for the softbelles, who are slated to compete in Kirkland, Washington from Aug. 12-19.
“We will evaluate what we have done so far. We will try to make sure we know how much has been pledged to the team,” Bais, who is spearheading the campaign with Councilor Al Victor Espino, told the DAILY STAR.
Meanwhile, Himpolaran said the team is also intensifying its training regimen starting last Monday in a bid to reach peak form for the World Series.
“They (players) have been excused from their classes so they could focus on training. But if there is rain and there is no practice, we make sure they attend classes also,” Himpolaran said.
The usual morning training regimen for the softbelles starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 6 a.m. The two hours includes workout sessions on speed and skills. After classes at 2 p.m., the team trains from 3-6 p.m., Himpolaran said.*
Ba-Neg official Tess Himpolaran last night said they will apply for visas this morning, after Bacolod councilor Homer Bais was able to lend the P70,000 that the team members needed for their application.
Bais has scheduled a meeting today with Ba-Neg officials as they step up their fund-raising campaign for the softbelles, who are slated to compete in Kirkland, Washington from Aug. 12-19.
“We will evaluate what we have done so far. We will try to make sure we know how much has been pledged to the team,” Bais, who is spearheading the campaign with Councilor Al Victor Espino, told the DAILY STAR.
Meanwhile, Himpolaran said the team is also intensifying its training regimen starting last Monday in a bid to reach peak form for the World Series.
“They (players) have been excused from their classes so they could focus on training. But if there is rain and there is no practice, we make sure they attend classes also,” Himpolaran said.
The usual morning training regimen for the softbelles starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 6 a.m. The two hours includes workout sessions on speed and skills. After classes at 2 p.m., the team trains from 3-6 p.m., Himpolaran said.*
Sermona snares gold in HK track meet
Five members of the Philippine athletics team, including Himamaylan-born Julius Sermona, came through with golden performances in the Hong Kong Inter-City Athletics Championships over the weekend.
There was disappointment, however, for fellow Negrenses Arniel Ferrera, Jerro Perater and Loralie Amahit, who all missed on medal finishes in the hammer throw competitions.
Sermona captured the men’s 5000m gold by clocking 15 minutes, 11.72 seconds, more than a minute faster than his closest pursuer Joo Hyeon Joo of Korea, who timed 16:26.74. Hong Kong’s Lau Kwong Man settled for the bronze 17:47.74.
Ferrera, the SEA Games hammer throw record holder and has dominated this meet in the past, was way off his personal-best of 60.47-m.
Three Koreans snared the medals and Ferrera’s 55.88m effort was only good for fourth place. Perater was sixth with his 48.33m record.
Like Ferrera, Amahit has also ruled the women’s hammer throw event in the past. But she placed fifth this time, after posting 47.18m.
The RP gold medalists were led by 26-year-old Rene Herrera, a native of Guimaras, who smashed the meet record in the 3000m steeplechase on his way to the gold medal at the Wan Chai Sports Ground Sunday by clocking 9 minutes, 1.74 seconds.
Another athlete from Western Visayas, John Lozada, from Iloilo, ruled the 1500m event in 3 minutes, 59.14 seconds.
Mary Grace Milgar, a bronze winner in the 2005 SEA Games, timed 1:00.52 to snare the gold in the women's 400m hurdles.
Narcisa Atienza swept all seven events to accumulate 4,757 points and win the heptathlon gold in record-breaking fashion.
But there was heartbreak for top sprinter Ralph Waldy Soguilon, who missed out on the 200m gold by a hairline.
Soguilon, coming off a four-month training stint in the United States, and Tang Yik Chun initially posted similar 21.40 times but a review showed that the Hong Kong sprinter crossed the finish line at 21.393 seconds, ahead of the Filipino by .005 seconds.
Also registering a silver finish was 400m specialist Ernie Candelario, who finished second behind Taipei's Pan Ming Long (47.72), with his 48.13 clocking. Junrey Bano made it a 2-3 finish for the Filipinos, coming in at 48.61 seconds.
Dandy Gallenero registered a 62.29-m effort in javelin throw, good for the silver, behind Team ZL's Xu Zhao Peng. Emerson Obiena finished fourth in men's pole vault (4.20m).*CPT
There was disappointment, however, for fellow Negrenses Arniel Ferrera, Jerro Perater and Loralie Amahit, who all missed on medal finishes in the hammer throw competitions.
Sermona captured the men’s 5000m gold by clocking 15 minutes, 11.72 seconds, more than a minute faster than his closest pursuer Joo Hyeon Joo of Korea, who timed 16:26.74. Hong Kong’s Lau Kwong Man settled for the bronze 17:47.74.
Ferrera, the SEA Games hammer throw record holder and has dominated this meet in the past, was way off his personal-best of 60.47-m.
Three Koreans snared the medals and Ferrera’s 55.88m effort was only good for fourth place. Perater was sixth with his 48.33m record.
Like Ferrera, Amahit has also ruled the women’s hammer throw event in the past. But she placed fifth this time, after posting 47.18m.
The RP gold medalists were led by 26-year-old Rene Herrera, a native of Guimaras, who smashed the meet record in the 3000m steeplechase on his way to the gold medal at the Wan Chai Sports Ground Sunday by clocking 9 minutes, 1.74 seconds.
Another athlete from Western Visayas, John Lozada, from Iloilo, ruled the 1500m event in 3 minutes, 59.14 seconds.
Mary Grace Milgar, a bronze winner in the 2005 SEA Games, timed 1:00.52 to snare the gold in the women's 400m hurdles.
Narcisa Atienza swept all seven events to accumulate 4,757 points and win the heptathlon gold in record-breaking fashion.
But there was heartbreak for top sprinter Ralph Waldy Soguilon, who missed out on the 200m gold by a hairline.
Soguilon, coming off a four-month training stint in the United States, and Tang Yik Chun initially posted similar 21.40 times but a review showed that the Hong Kong sprinter crossed the finish line at 21.393 seconds, ahead of the Filipino by .005 seconds.
Also registering a silver finish was 400m specialist Ernie Candelario, who finished second behind Taipei's Pan Ming Long (47.72), with his 48.13 clocking. Junrey Bano made it a 2-3 finish for the Filipinos, coming in at 48.61 seconds.
Dandy Gallenero registered a 62.29-m effort in javelin throw, good for the silver, behind Team ZL's Xu Zhao Peng. Emerson Obiena finished fourth in men's pole vault (4.20m).*CPT
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Negrense cagers in UAAP
MANILA --- Three Negros Occidental-bred standouts made their debut in the Philippines’ premiere collegiate basketball league over the weekend with former West Negros College standouts Sivirino Baclao suiting up for Ateneo De Manila University and cousin Sunny Abaring and John Blargs Alisbo playing for Far Eastern University in the 70th UAAP Season here.
Roel Hugnatan and Leo Canuday also returned to action for Adamson University, which lost to Baclao’s ADMU team, 63-69, in overtime at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday.
The 6-foot-4 Baclao was a starter for the Blue Eagles but he did not make an immediate impact, picking up two quick fouls that led to his relegation to the bench until midway in the third quarter. When he returned, he became a key factor as Ateneo went on a decisive run that put the Eagles ahead, 43-37, entering the fourth period.
Baclao scored his only points off a putback. He also finished with two rebounds in 12 minutes of action.
The 6-foot-3 Hugnatan got the better of his match-up with Baclao, finishing with 14 points, mostly from post up moves in 36 minutes. The Adamson center also hauled 11 rebounds.
Like Hugnatan, Canuday was also a starter for the Falcons and registered eight points in 34 minutes.
Both Alisbo and Abaring came off the bench in a 70-73 overtime loss to National University Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Abaring patrolled the middle briefly in the second and third quarters, hitting a triple from the top of the key that proved to be his only points of the match.
Alisbo’s minutes were limited and he sat on the bench the entire second half with FEU coach Glen Capacio leaving him out of the point guard rotation.
Before their transfer with the UAAP schools, Abaring, Alisbo and Baclao were among the key players in WNC’s successful title run in the 2005 National University Games and the 2006 National Schools Basketball Championships. *CPT
Roel Hugnatan and Leo Canuday also returned to action for Adamson University, which lost to Baclao’s ADMU team, 63-69, in overtime at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday.
The 6-foot-4 Baclao was a starter for the Blue Eagles but he did not make an immediate impact, picking up two quick fouls that led to his relegation to the bench until midway in the third quarter. When he returned, he became a key factor as Ateneo went on a decisive run that put the Eagles ahead, 43-37, entering the fourth period.
Baclao scored his only points off a putback. He also finished with two rebounds in 12 minutes of action.
The 6-foot-3 Hugnatan got the better of his match-up with Baclao, finishing with 14 points, mostly from post up moves in 36 minutes. The Adamson center also hauled 11 rebounds.
Like Hugnatan, Canuday was also a starter for the Falcons and registered eight points in 34 minutes.
Both Alisbo and Abaring came off the bench in a 70-73 overtime loss to National University Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Abaring patrolled the middle briefly in the second and third quarters, hitting a triple from the top of the key that proved to be his only points of the match.
Alisbo’s minutes were limited and he sat on the bench the entire second half with FEU coach Glen Capacio leaving him out of the point guard rotation.
Before their transfer with the UAAP schools, Abaring, Alisbo and Baclao were among the key players in WNC’s successful title run in the 2005 National University Games and the 2006 National Schools Basketball Championships. *CPT
Softbelles still short of funds
Members of the Bacolod-Negros girls’ softball delegation are planning to apply for visas to the United States today but Bacolod City councilor Homer Bais, who is spearheading the fund-raising campaign for their US trip, last night said the contingent is still P70,000 short of the amount needed for their application.
Ba-Neg official Tess Himpolaran said the softbelles, who are bound to see action in the 2007 Junior League World Series from Aug. 12-19 in Kirkland, Washington, need to get an appointment for an interview with the US Embassy and apply for a visa as soon as possible for their planned departure on Aug. 9.
The team only has P30,000, which is P70,000 short for the visa application fees of the delegation, Bais said.
“From our previous experience, we need at least an allowance of one month before an interview,” Himpolaran said last night.
She added that the team has already reserved airline tickets from Bacolod to the US through a local travel agency, which estimated the cost at about P1.2 million.
Bais reiterated the appeal for financial aid for the Ba-Neg team, that had worked its way to the World Series by topping the Asia-Pacific Softball Championships in Pasig, and the Philippine Series in Batangas.
The team really needs all the financial help it could get, Bais said, adding that he is banking on the commitment of private companies and government officials, who have pledged their support.
Lagrimas Ciokon, the Ba-Neg team manager, said the team will be reimbursed $10,000 by World Series organizers if it makes it to the US in time for the tournament.
Ba-Neg deserves the help because it is not only bringing the name of Bacolod and Negros and the Philippines, but the entire Asia-Pacific, Bais said.
He said Councilor Al Victor Espino is also helping out in the fund-raising campaign for the team.
Bais also said that he has been asked by Ba-Neg officials to serve as delegation head.
He, however, has not decided to take on the role, saying his focus remains on raising funds for the softbelles so they could compete in the US.
My decision will depend on the availability of funds, Bais said. “What’s important is that the players can make it to the US and represent our city and province and our country,” he added.*
Ba-Neg official Tess Himpolaran said the softbelles, who are bound to see action in the 2007 Junior League World Series from Aug. 12-19 in Kirkland, Washington, need to get an appointment for an interview with the US Embassy and apply for a visa as soon as possible for their planned departure on Aug. 9.
The team only has P30,000, which is P70,000 short for the visa application fees of the delegation, Bais said.
“From our previous experience, we need at least an allowance of one month before an interview,” Himpolaran said last night.
She added that the team has already reserved airline tickets from Bacolod to the US through a local travel agency, which estimated the cost at about P1.2 million.
Bais reiterated the appeal for financial aid for the Ba-Neg team, that had worked its way to the World Series by topping the Asia-Pacific Softball Championships in Pasig, and the Philippine Series in Batangas.
The team really needs all the financial help it could get, Bais said, adding that he is banking on the commitment of private companies and government officials, who have pledged their support.
Lagrimas Ciokon, the Ba-Neg team manager, said the team will be reimbursed $10,000 by World Series organizers if it makes it to the US in time for the tournament.
Ba-Neg deserves the help because it is not only bringing the name of Bacolod and Negros and the Philippines, but the entire Asia-Pacific, Bais said.
He said Councilor Al Victor Espino is also helping out in the fund-raising campaign for the team.
Bais also said that he has been asked by Ba-Neg officials to serve as delegation head.
He, however, has not decided to take on the role, saying his focus remains on raising funds for the softbelles so they could compete in the US.
My decision will depend on the availability of funds, Bais said. “What’s important is that the players can make it to the US and represent our city and province and our country,” he added.*
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