By Kristel Satumbaga

 

University of the East officially announced the appointment of Jack Santiago as new coach of the Red Warriors in the coming UAAP season.

The university made the announcement on its social media platforms on Monday, showing a picture of Santiago meeting the players at the Gym 5 inside its Manila campus.

Accompanying Santiago in the meeting were UE President and Chief Academic Officer Ester Garcia and Department of Physical Education Director Rod Roque.

An assistant to coach Franz Pumaren for over two decades, Santiago has won five UAAP championships.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Santiago, particularly in the UE gym where he used to practice back when he was a member of the Asia Overseas Transport team under coach Roehl Nadurata in the 1989 season of the Philippine Amateur Basketball League.

Santiago hopes to end the Warriors’ 11-year draught into the Final Four and looks forward to improve the team’s pressure-defense potential.

The Warriors finished with four wins and 10 losses last season.

Santiago will take over the coaching chores of the late Bong Tan and team consultant Lawrence Chongson.

 

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

Saint Jude Catholic School used a blistering second quarter to break away from 7th Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) tournament host Pace Academy en route to a 77-54 victory during the weekend.

Saint Jude, bannered by Mallechi Lim with 17 points, leads the men’s division 3-0.

Pace, mentored by former Gilas Pilipinas coach Michael Oliver, opened a 15-5 lead before the Judenites, coached by ex-UST player Japs Cuan, shook off lethargy to roar ahead in the second quarter 41-31.

Pace, led by Anton Evangelista with 17 points and 11 rebounds, was held down to 9 points in the third.

In the ladies division, Saint Stephen’s High school crushed Jubilee Christian Academy 48-33.

Princess Macinas, the Milk Magic Player of the Game, towed St. Stephen with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Jubilee got 16 points from Kim Ashly Abigan and 8 points with 16 rebounds from Aryana Clarice Fenix.

Saint Jude’s Mallechi Lim shoots over Pace Academy’s Kleivz Fong.

JCA’s Samantha Ong, left, breaks up the drive of St. Stephen High’s Jazmaine Tan.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Marinerong Pilipino became the surprise winner of the sweepstakes for Jamie Malonzo after selecting the former La Salle standout as the second overall pick of the PBA D-League Rookie Draft held Monday at the PBA Office in Libis.

The Skippers didn’t hesitate taking Malonzo after the AMA Online Education Titans decided to pick 17-year-old homegrown player Reed Baclig as the top choice of this year’s proceedings.

Many had expected AMA to take Malonzo, the former Portland State University who had an impressive one-and-done stint with the Green Archers in the past UAAP campaign.

But AMA assistant coach Edwin Ancheta said it was best to go homegrown with the unknown Baclig, who has been part of the school’s program since his elementary days.

“Although nagbigay kami ng offer sa kanya (Malonzo), mas focused kami sa homegrown,” said Ancheta.
Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia was surprised that the chance to draft Malonzo fell into their lap.

“Hindi talaga namin inaakala na makukuha namin siya,” Garcia said after the Skippers selected a group of talented amateur players they hope can boost their chances of bouncing back from a runner-up finish in last year’s Foundation Cup.

Among the notable players taken by the Skippers are ex-La Salle guards Joshua Torralba (second round) and Jollo Go (third round), University of the Philippines’ James Spencer (fourth round), former Centro Escolar University guard Judel Fuentes (fifth round) and University of Cebu star and former Mapua mainstay Darrell Menina (sixth round).

Karate Kid-Centro Escolar University, under new coach Jeff Napa, picked Gilas Cadets members Jaydee Tungcab as the third overall pick, John Apacible, John Gob, UP’s David Murrell, Jamil Bulawan, Dariel James Bayla, Joseph Gabriel Pineda, Daryl Pascual, Ivan Jose and former Adamson guard Jerie Pingoy.

Wangs-Letran took Sham Banez, Kenny Rogers Rocacurva, Kobe Monje and Paolo Javillonar and Jayson Bondoc.

Only four teams took part in the draft as the other eight participants will parade an all-collegiate squad for the season-opening Aspirants’ Cup set Feb. 13 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The rest are University of Santo Tomas-Builders Warehouse, Far Eastern University, Mapua, APEX Fuel Mindanao-San Sebastian, EcoOil-La Salle, FamilyMart-Enderun, Diliman College and Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By WAYLON GALVEZ

College of St. Benilde stretched its unbeaten streak to three games with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-15 win over Letran in NCAA Season 95 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.

It was balanced scoring for the Lady Blazers as all 11 players contributed with Chelsea Umali steering with seven points.

Klarisa Abriam, Michelle Gamit and Jade Gentapa each had six points for St. Benilde, which improved to its third straight win in as many matches ahead of defending three-time champion Arellano University (2-0).

Gayle Pascual and Mycah Go came off the bench to add five points apiece for the Lady Blazers.

Letran kept close in the opening frame before St. Benilde pulled away late with Diane Ventura capping her four-point outing in the set with a kill.

St. Benilde coach Jerry Yee shuffled his lineup in the second and third set to rest veterans Marites Pablo and Abriam.

“Ang napag-usapan lang naman namin is relax lang sila, ilaro lang nila kung ano yung laro nila. After namin mag-five sets sa first game and four sets sa second game, eto madyo nawala yung pressure sa players namin,” said St. Benilde assistant coach Jay Chua.

“Hindi rin namin inasahan na 3-0 kami, pero masaya ang buong team dahil maganda ang takbo ng campaign namin. May mga games na magiging mahirap, lalo yung last two – San Beda and Arellano. Pero tuloy lang ng players yung laro nila focus sa game.”

Letran dropped to 1-1 in a tie with University of Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal University.

Chamberlaine Cuñada finished with 15 hits for the Lady Knights.

In men’s action, Ruvince Abrot scored 15 points as St. Benilde downed Letran, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22, for 2-1.

In juniors, Arieh Barba scored 10 points as Letran earned its first victory at the expense of CSB-La Salle Greenhills 25-12, 25-11, 25-8.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO

 

Chief of mission Nonong Araneta is in the process of finalizing the blueprint for the ambitious Philippine campaign in the Tokyo Olympics from July 24-Aug. 9.

“This year, everything is geared towards the Olympics,” Araneta, who heads the Philippine Football Federation, told the Bulletin yesterday.

To put the country’s bold bid in motion, Araneta is gathering the heads of about 15 national sports associations tomorrow to determine the road they are all going to trek in the pursuit of Olympic qualification.

So far, two athletes—world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo and fast-rising Italy-based pole vaulter Ej Obiena—have secured Olympic slots.

Araneta said countless NSAs are likewise in the thick of preparations to send their top bets in various Olympic qualifying tournaments overseas.

“We’d like to know everything about their respective bids to qualify, the requirements they need when they compete.”

Armed with a whopping P100-million from Malacañang, excluding P50 million from the Philippine Sports Commission, the Olympic drive is being eyed by Araneta to produce not just qualifiers but medalists.

“I just hope that the string of big wins by Filipino athletes would continue well into Tokyo,” he said.

Also being eyed to make the Olympic grade are top boxers Eumir Marcial, the 2019 world championships silver medalist, and women’s world champion Nesthy Petecio and 2018 Asian Games skateboarding queen Margie Didal, Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and a few other standouts from judo, taekwondo, athletics and golf.

There will be 33 sports and 339 gold medals at stake and these are in aquatics (49), archery (5), athletics (48), badminton (5), baseball/softball (2), basketball (4), boxing (13), canoeing (16), cycling (22), equestrian (6), fencing (12), field hockey (2), football (2), golf (2), gymnastics (18), handball (2), judo (15), karate (8), pentathlon (2), rowing (14), rugby (2), sailing (10), shooting (15), skateboarding (4), sport climbing (2), surfing (2), table tennis (5), taekwondo (8), tennis (5), triathlon (3), volleyball (4), weightlifting (14) and wrestling (18).

In the 100-year old history of Philippine participation in the quadrennial games, a gold remains the ultimate dream.

Of the ten Olympic medals brought home, five came from boxing, including two silver medals, two bronze each from swimming and athletics, and of course, Diaz’s silver four years ago in Brazil.

In Rio 2016, there were 13 athletes who competed and Araneta is upbeat that there will be more in Tokyo.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Count on the Filipino athletes to deliver when the going gets tough.

Amid distractions and doubts hovering over Team Philippines’ preparations and campaign for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Filipinos remained poised and kept their focus on the task at hand, resulting in one of the most inspiring moments in the history of Philippine sports.

In record fashion, the 1,115-strong Philippine bets delivered a total of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals out of the 56 sports during the 11-day competitions in three major clusters within Luzon.

The numbers were the highest ever tallied by the country since it began competing in the biennial meet in 1977, and more than enough to clinch for the host the SEA Games overall championship just for the second time in 42 long years.

For that momentous feat in a December to remember, Team Philippines will be bestowed with the 2019 Athlete of the Year award in the coming SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night.

The traditional gala honoring the top sports heroes and heroines of the year just passed is set on March 6 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel and is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), MILO, Cignal TV and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

This is the second time the country’s oldest media organization is recognizing the entire Team Philippines as its Athlete of the Year awardee, the first one coming in 2005 when the Filipinos first won the overall title of the biennial meet also staged on local soil.

Olympic silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz and Asian Games golden girls Margielyn Didal  Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Kaye Go, all recipients of the Athlete of the Year honor in 2018, are but some of the prominent gold medalists for Team Philippines in the SEA Games, along with world champions Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio, Tokyo Olympic-bound pole vaulter Ernest John Obienna, among others.

“The choice of Team Philippines as 2019 PSA Athlete of the Year has never been as unanimous. And it was felt the least the PSA can do to honor the men and women who brought singular distinction to the country during the 30th SEA Games is to give them one resounding, united vote,” said PSA president Tito Talao of the Manila Bulletin.

The Athlete of the Year is the highest honor solely given by the PSA which was first established in 1949 and composed of editors and sportswriters from the different broadsheets, tabloids, and sports websites.

The country sportswriting fraternity will be handing out trophies for the President’s Award, Executive of the Year, and the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year.

There are also awards for Ms. Basketball, Mr. Volleyball, Ms. Golf, Mr. Football, and Coach of the Year.

There will also be recipients of Major Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony Siddayao Awards, MILO Junior Athletes Award and citations to be led by the SEA Games gold medal winners.

Sports personalities who passed away last year will also be accorded with a posthumous recognition.

 

 

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Everyone had the same question when the Australian Open draw was revealed: What were the odds that Coco Gauff and Venus Williams would face each other again in the first round at a Grand Slam tournament?

“I was a bit shocked,” Gauff said, “I’m sure everyone was a bit shocked.”

Gauff, 15, played Williams, 39, to begin her first appearance in the main draw at Melbourne Park, just like what happened at Wimbledon last year. And, just like at the All England Club, the youngest woman in the field got the better of the oldest woman in the field, with Gauff beating Williams 7-6 (5), 6-3 on Monday.

“That was really difficult. She played really well,” Gauff said. “I was really nervous.”

It was the most anticipated match of Day 1 at the first major tennis tournament of the decade, and it did not disappoint. The first set, in particular, was intriguing, with Gauff repeatedly pulling ahead, only to have Williams — who already had won four of her seven Grand Slam singles trophies by the time Gauff was born — rebuff her.

It wasn’t until her fourth set point that Gauff finally pulled it out. She quickly grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second and never let that edge go.
Gauff already has demonstrated all sorts of terrific qualities on a tennis court, from her big, gutsy serves to an ability to track down opponents’ shots. Now you can add stick-to-it-iveness to the list.

The match was held in Margaret Court Arena, one of three stadiums with a retractable roof, and that was a good thing. For all of the concern among some players entering the tournament about air quality because of wildfires burning in parts of the country, the big issue Monday was a heavy storm that arrived in the afternoon and suspended play on outside courts for hours.

Among the players who got a chance to play — and win — were Roger Federer, defending champion Naomi Osaka, 23-time major champion Serena Williams, and 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki, who is retiring after the Australian Open.

Neither player displayed her absolute best abilities for stretches: They combined for far more unforced errors, 71, than winners, 42. One key was that Williams ended up with 41 of those miscues, 11 more than Gauff.

Another was that Williams, long one of the most feared servers on tour, was outdone in that category by her opponent on this day. Not only did Gauff face only two break points, saving one, but she often came up with the goods at the most crucial moments, pounding an ace at 115 mph, say, or hitting a risky second serve at a high velocity to the perfect spot to draw a no-good return.

All the while, Gauff was not shy about celebrating the biggest of points with a loud “Come on!” and a series of fist pumps.

Otherwise, she had her game face on, betraying little emotion, including when she walked out onto the court with earbuds in place after getting a pre-match peck on the cheek from her father, Corey, who also serves as Gauff’s coach.

Gauff is ranked 67th, and Williams, a former No. 1, is 55th. Williams was playing in a Grand Slam tournament’s main draw for the 85th time, a record for the professional era.

This is Gauff’s third major, but she sure is precocious.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By JONAS TERRADO

 

Sol Mercado is on the move again after Phoenix Pulse acquired the veteran guard from NorthPort in two-for-one trade approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office on Monday.

Mercado was shipped by the Batang Pier in exchange for point guard LA Revilla and wingman Rey Guevarra in a move that gives the Fuel Masters additional depth and experience.

The 35-year-old switched teams seven months after he was traded by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to NorthPort as part of the Stanley Pringle deal.

It will be Mercado’s seventh team in a career that started in 2008 with Rain or Shine. He also suited up for Meralco, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra where he won three championships.

Mercado also had three stints with the Batang Pier, first from 2013 to 2014, a one-game stint late in 2014 and another in the last two conferences of the just-concluded season.

He played 51 games for Ginebra and NorthPort with averages of 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the Philippine Cup, 6.7 points in the Commissioner’s Cup and 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in the Governors’ Cup.

Mercado’s season, however, ended when he sprained his ankle during NorthPort’s Governors’ Cup semifinal series loss to Ginebra.

Phoenix is banking on Mercado to fit well with coach Louie Alas’ defensive schemes and improve last season’s seesaw campaign.

The Fuel Masters made the semifinals for the first time during the Philippine Cup but the suspension handed to star forward Calvin Abueva resulted in playoff absences in the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup.

Revilla, who leaves Phoenix after two seasons, hopes to have a fresh start with the Batang Pier where he’ll fight for minutes with Nico Elorde, Paolo Taha, Jerramy King and the injured Robert Bolick, his teammate during La Salle’s 2013 UAAP title run.

Source: Manila Bulletin

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Patty Mills celebrated his heritage Sunday with a performance that typified his career.

Mills provided a late spark, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Miami Heat 107-102 Sunday.

The win came as San Antonio became the first NBA team to hold Indigenous People Night — a meaningful cause to Mills, who is an Australian of aboriginal descent.

“It’s an important night and it’s really important to Patty,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “For the indigenous people here in Texas it’s important to all of us, but it’s sort of double for him because of his history and his background.

“He didn’t play like he did because of that; he does that every night. His energy has been there his whole career. It’s who he is.”

Mills had 18 points and DeMar DeRozan added 20 as San Antonio snapped a two-game skid.

Mills requested the Spurs honor his ancestry as well as those of Native Americans, and the franchise obliged on the eve of Martin Luther King Day.

“Besides basketball, it was a win for us to be able to use basketball as a platform to be able to share culture and traditions and you saw it tonight,” Mills said.

Miami’s Duncan Robinson missed a 3-pointer with 10.2 seconds left and the Heat trailing 105-102. Miami fouled Marco Belinelli, who made both free throws to cap the scoring.

“It’s a big moment,” Robinson said. “I want to make that shot for this team. I didn’t do it. I’m disappointed in myself, but it’s nice to know these guys have my back no matter what.”

Bam Adebayo had 21 points, 16 rebounds and six assists for Miami, which had won its previous two games. Goran Dragic added 19 points and Kendrick Nunn had 18.

“I actually liked the way we competed,” said Heat forward Jimmy Butler, who had 16 points.

The Spurs rebounded — barely — after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against Atlanta in a 121-120 defeat Friday.

“We fresh off a feeling of letting a game slip away from us,” DeRozan said. “Being right back in that position, just kind of understanding how hard we needed to play down the stretch, how hard it was going to be.”

Mills fueled a late run by diving out of bounds and throwing the ball off Miami center Meyers Leonard to salvage an offensive possession. With cheers of “Patty, Patty,” still ringing throughout the AT&T Center, Aldridge drained a hook shot to pull the Spurs within 98-97 with 4:39 remaining.

A few possessions later, Derrick White used a backhanded stab to deflect and steal an attempted entry pass at the top of the key by Adebayo. That led to a three-point play by Aldridge for a 102-98 lead with 3:20 remaining.

“It was a big play,” White said. “I was just trying to be active, get my hands on the ball and make a play.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

MELBOURNE, Jan 20, 2020 (AFP) – Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka made lightning starts before rain halted day one of the Australian Open on Monday, causing further chaos after a build-up hit by haze from raging bushfires.

Hazardous smog left several players with coughs and breathing difficulties during qualifying last week, prompting speculation about whether the year’s first tennis Grand Slam would be delayed.

Air quality was rated as ‘good’ as the tournament started but four hours later at about 3:00 pm (0400 GMT), play was suspended on most courts as a downpour hit Melbourne Park.

World number three Roger Federer was briefly hauled off court while the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena, before returning to complete a routine 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Steve Johnson.

Play also continued under the retractable roofs of Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena, but was impossible elsewhere as rain persisted.

More rain is forecast for Tuesday, threatening further disruption at a tournament more often associated with extreme heat at the height of the Australian summer.

Officials said play would resume on the outside courts once the rain stops, and would continue into the evening under floodlights to complete Monday’s schedule of 64 matches.

Defending champion Osaka avoided the downpour as she dismissed Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 in 80 minutes, breaking a net fitting with one powerful serve in the process.

”It was really tough for me trying to control my nerves,” said Osaka. ”It’s tough to play someone you’ve never played before in the first round of a Grand Slam.”

Williams, on the hunt for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, won the first set against Anastasia Potapova in just 19 minutes as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win in less than an hour.

Later on Margaret Court Arena, Williams’s elder sister, 39-year-old Venus, faces rising star Coco Gauff, 15, who is looking to reprise her upset of the seven-time Grand Slam winner at Wimbledon last year.

Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty, fresh from winning the Adelaide International on Saturday, plays Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko on Rod Laver Arena.

Player anger over smog dominated the final days before the tournament, which is taking place after deadly bushfires ravaged large parts of Australia.

Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic was forced to retire from her qualifier after a coughing fit, while Britain’s Liam Broady claimed ”multiple” players needed asthma medication.

”After I practiced indoors I felt really bad with my lungs,” said Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world number six. ”I was coughing a lot had troubles breathing for a couple of hours.”

Federer was one of the competitors who criticized a lack of communication from tournament officials, who were forced to suspend practice and delay some qualifying matches last week.

Tournament officials are closely monitoring pollution and will halt play and close the three main stadiums’ roofs if particulate matter suspended in the air hits PM2.5 200.

In other results, Canadian 13th seed Denis Shapovalov argued with the umpire in a tempestuous defeat as he lost in four sets to Marton Fucsovics after earning a code violation for throwing his racquet.

Croatia’s 25th seed Borna Coric was also an early casualty as he went down in three sets to experienced American Sam Querrey.

But former champion Caroline Wozniacki, playing her last tournament before retiring, safely reached the second round as she beat Kristie Ahn 6-1, 6-3.

Source: Manila Bulletin