By WAYLON GALVEZ

After spending more than P1.3 billion on the training of athletes for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Sports Commission now shifts its focus on Olympic Qualifying Tournaments leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Philippine Sports Institute national training director Marc Velasco of the Philippine Sports Commission said the government sports agency would now be directing its attention to helping Filipino athletes secure berths to the Olympics.

“Next year we’ll recalibrate on Olympic sports,” said Velasco in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila. “That’s where the PSC would focus its energy and resources.”

Velasco said the PSC has already coordinated with Tokyo Olympics chef de mission Nonong Araneta on sports and athletes to be prioritized for various qualifying tournaments.

“We’ll study it together with the POC to really see the qualification of Olympic sports. Like if you’re rated No. 200 and then only the top five lang pala naman ang kukunin from the qualifiers,” he said.

“We’ll do an evaluation on sports if feasible. We have to have a target on what sports… there’s a difference between trying to qualify, and trying to get an exposure. If we have a sport or athlete na nasa top eight na, we’ll definitely put our resources there.”

So far, only two Filipino athletes have earned Tokyo Olympic slots – gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, while a number will see action starting January in OQTs, including weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.

The efforts of the PSC – led by its chairman Butch Ramirez – to allow Filipino athletes to train abroad and compete in various international events prior to the SEA Games helped the Philippines win overall championship for the first time in 14 years in the biennial meet.

The national team captured a total of 149 gold medals to go with 117 silvers and 121 bronzes in the SEA Games.

Velasco is confident the success in the SEA Games would continue in these qualifying tournaments all the way to the Tokyo Olympics as Filipino athletes try to win that elusive first gold medal.

He pointed out that in 2005 when the country also hosted and won the overall championship in the regional meet, the Olympics in Beijing was – at that time – three years away.

“This year it’s a different environment,” said Velasco, referring to the timing between the SEA Games and the Tokyo Olympics.

“I firmly believe that we’ll be able to carry the effort and the energy of the Philippines’ campaign in the SEA Games to the Olympics. The whole country is still excited and we are still very high because of the success.”

“I think that will continue, the support of the Filipinos, as our athletes compete in the Tokyo Olympics,” added Velasco.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Rubilen Amit crushed her rivals to qualify into the main draw of the 2019 Hainan Sanya Women’s World 9-Ball Championships at the Jinghai International Holiday Hotel & Resort in Sanya, China.

Fresh from winning the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games last week, Amit pounced on Sweden’s Monika Margeta and Poland’s Ewa Bak with identical 7-1 victories to earn one of 32 berths to the next round.

PH teammates Floriza Andal, Iris Ranola and Chezka Centeno were not as successful, relegated to the losers’ bracket after yielding in the group stage and needing to thread through the eye of the needle to earn tickets to the main draw.

Andal routed Tina Vogelmann of Germany 7-2 but lost to Austria’s Jasmin Ouschann 7-6; Rañola succumbed to China’s Zhang Muyan 7-3; and Centeno prevailed over Germany’s Melanie Seussenguth 7-3, only to lose to Russia’s Kristina Tchach 7-5.

Andal will face Chou Chieh Yu of Chinese Taipei next, Rañola meets Kristina Zlateva of Bulgaria, while Centeno awaits her opponent in the tournament staking US$44,000 to the champion.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Tuesday
(The Arena, San Juan)
4 p.m. — Alab Pilipinas vs Mono Vampire

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas goes for a third straight win and avenge its season-opening loss to Thailand’s Mono Vampire in the ASEAN Basketball League at The Arena in San Juan.

Tipoff is set at 4 p.m. with Alab looking to build on its come-from-behind 90-83 win over the Singapore Slingers in Sunday’s home opener at the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Coach Jimmy Alapag will bank on imports Khalif Wyatt and Sam Deguara as Alab attempts to exact a measure of revenge on Mono following a 111-76 loss last Nov. 17 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Alab has since won back-to-back games, including the aforementioned comeback against the Slingers that saw them erase a 13-point deficit.

Mainly responsible was Wyatt, who erupted for 20 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter spiked by five triples.

Deguara, who stands at 7-foot-4, faces his former team for the first time as he’ll try to provide a major presence down low.

Alapag will also lean on import Nick King and locals Jason Brickman and Jordan Heading.

Former PBA import Mike Singletary and Thai-American Tyler Lamb will try to extend Mono’s unbeaten start to four games.

Lamb will make a quick return to the country after Thailand settled for silver in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Tuesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. — Meralco vs TNT KaTropa
(TNT leads series 1-0)

Game Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. — Ginebra vs NorthPort
(Series tied 1-1)

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel turned the tables on NorthPort and cruised to a 113-88 victory Monday night that tied at 1-1 their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Stanley Pringle and import Justin Brownlee provided their usual numbers but it was LA Tenorio and Greg Slaughter bounced back from being MIA the last time as Ginebra atoned for its 124-90 defeat in Saturday’s series opener.

Embarrassed with how his team lacked preparation in that disappointing setback, coach Tim Cone was glad to see Ginebra make a big counter.

“I thought we came out and play with a lot of playoff intensity this time,” said Cone. “We just didn’t have the playoff intensity in the first game. They had it. They were obviously the hungrier team coming out of the blocks.

“But I thought we showed the playoff intensity that we kinda expected in the first game,” he added.

With its rhythm back after Cone and several of his players dealing with the hangover from the Southeast Asian Games, Ginebra hopes to make it two in a row over NorthPort and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five affair.

Game 3 is set Wednesday night at the same venue.

Pringle had 23 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals while Brownlee posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Slaughter dominated the paint on his way to 16 points and nine rebounds even as Tenorio scored 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting.

Scottie Thompson and Jeff Chan also played key roles with 13 and 12 points, the former adding six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Ginebra was able to neutralize NorthPort import Michael Qualls, who was scoreless until late in the second quarter when he drained a triple from the left side. He finished with a quiet output of 20 points.

The scores:

GINEBRA 113 — Pringle 23, Tenorio 20, Slaughter 16, Brownlee 15, Thompson 13, Chan 12, Aguilar 6, Mariano 5, Dillinger 3, Sargent 0, Caperal 0, Teodoro 0, Dela Cruz 0.

NORTHPORT 88 — Qualls 20, Anthony 19, Standhardinger 10, Escoto 9, Cruz 8, Elorde 7, Taha 5, Lanete 5, King 3, Mercado 2, Ferrer 0.

Quarters: 31-18; 62-44; 94-70; 113-88.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By WAYLON GALVEZ

After a silver medal finish in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, next for the men’s water polo national team is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Asian Qualifying Tournament early next year in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The national team placed second to gold medal winner Indonesia to get back on the podium after 10 years. The silver medal finish matched the 2005, 2007 and 2009 achievements of the Filipinos in the biennial meet.

With the silver medal finish, the national team qualified to the OQT for Asian countries scheduled March 2020.

“During our team meeting with our coaches after the SEA Games, nabanggit na nila sa amin na nasa calendar of events na namin yang tournament sa Kazakhstan,” said veteran goalie Tani Gomez. “Hopefully matuloy kami kasi magandang tournament yan para sa amin, added experience and exposure yan para sa buong team.”

Only the top team in the Kazakhstan meet will qualify to the Tokyo Olympics.

A total of 12 national teams will earn spots to the Games. Japan, as host, automatically qualifies, while Serbia emerged as the No. 1 team in the FINA World League held in Belgrade. Italy and Spain earned spots after finishing 1-2 in the last World Championship in Gwangju, Korea.

Australia and the United State of America clinched spots after topping their respective OQTs, the Oceania Continental and the Pan American Games.

The remaining six spots will come from Asia’s OQT and the 2020 European Championship in Hungary, while the last berths will come from the top four teams in the World Qualification Tournament in March in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Gomez said that Kazakhstan and China are in the top 20 in the FINA world rankings, and it would be tough for the Filipinos to win the Asian OQT.

Nevertheless, the OQT would be a big boost to the national team as they try to continue to develop in preparation for the Asian Swimming Championship the country will host November 7 to 17, 2020 at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

“Maganda kung mapayagan tayo dun. Yes qualified, but it’s still up to the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) and the PSI (Philippine Swimming Inc.) kung tuloy kami. Sana ok sa kanila para tuluy tuloy yung improvement ng buong team,” said Gomez.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Shawn Porter volunteered to be Manny Pacquiao’s ‘dance partner’ should the Filipino legend finally return to the ring sometime March or April of 2020.

A one-time Pacquiao sparring partner, Porter was last seen pushing the undefeated Errol Spence to the limit last September in Los Angeles.

Even though he lost on points, Porter managed to bring Spence where he had never been and almost succeeded in leaving him there.

As Pacquiao’s future remains uncertain, Porter is making himself available for a shot at Pacquiao’s World Boxing Association welter jewels.

“I do think that Manny is the more defining fight as me as well,” Porter told boxingscene.

Pacquiao, who dealt Keith Thurman his first loss in July, is said to be looking at two names: Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia (no relation).

But Porter, who spent training camp with Pacquiao in Baguio City in 2009, is in hot pursuit of a megabuck matchup.

“He’s also the number one guy on my list,” added Porter, who has a 30-3-1 record with 17 KOs.

The southpaw Pacquiao, who turns 41 today (Dec. 17), has a 62-7-2 mark with 39 KOs.

In his lone other outing this year, eight-division champion Pacquiao downed Adrien Broner in January.

There are reports that a group from the Middle East is keen on bringing Pacquiao but Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, doesn’t see it materializing.

Gibbons also represents newly-crowned World Boxing Organization bantamweight titlist John Riel Casimero and long-reigning International Boxing Federation super-flyweight ruler Jerwin Ancajas.

Source: Manila Bulletin

MELBOURNE (AFP)—Two years ago the future for Tiger Woods looked bleak to the point of darkness.

Four back surgeries, countless knee operations, marital strife and run-ins with the law meant Woods had not won a major since 2008, had no tournament victories since 2013 and had seen his world ranking plummet to 656.

But on Sunday, US player-captain Tiger Woods capped a year that has seen one of the most memorable comebacks in sporting history by driving his team to a 16-14 victory over Ernie Els’ Internationals in the 13th Presidents Cup in Melbourne.

The second coming of Tiger began with a drought-ending victory at the Tour Championship 15 months ago and accelerated with a 15th major and fifth green jacket at the US Masters in Augusta.

Having returned to the world’s top 10, Woods needed yet more surgery to his troublesome left knee in August before writing another remarkable chapter of his storied career.

In his first tournament appearance after the arthroscopic operation, Woods equalled Sam Snead’s record of 82 US PGA Tour wins when he won the inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan.

”It’s been an amazing year,” a beaming Woods told Golf TV in Melbourne. ”I’m speechless.

”To have won a major championship, a green jacket, to have tied Sam and to have won a cup with all these guys, I couldn’t have asked for a better year.”

The road to redemption began with his long-awaited win at the Tour Championship, the FedEx Cup finale, at East Lake, Atlanta, in September 2018.

Woods had endured two years out of the game and  shuffled out of the February 2018 Dubai Desert Classic, his tournament return, with back spasms, causing observers to question whether he could compete again at the highest level.

The thought had also crossed the mind of Woods.

Less than a year earlier he had hobbled into the Champions Dinner on the eve of the 2017 US Masters nursing yet another back injury, telling those assembled: ”I’m done, I don’t think I’ll ever play golf again.”

But two-and-a-half years later, Woods was unsurpassed at Royal Melbourne as he won all three of his matches and overtook Phil Mickelson for the most wins in Presidents Cup history.

”How about that? I like that stat,” smiled Woods, after being told his win-loss-tie Cup record was now 27-15-1 against his great rival Mickelson’s 26-16-13.

It left Els, not for the first time in his career, having to pick up the pieces after a defeat to Woods.

The big South African, widely praised for his captaincy which saw the Internationals lead after every session until Sunday when it mattered, might also regret his words on the eve of the tournament.

”I don’t think today (Woods) has the same kind of aura he had in the past,” Els had said.

Young Mexican Abraham Ancer is another player who might want to be careful about what he says in future.

”I would like to play against Tiger,” Ancer said before the Presidents Cup began. ”Winning a match in the singles would be very special.”

He came up against a ruthless Woods who won 3 and 2.

”Abe wanted it,” chided Woods. ”And he got it.”

Woods will fly home today to celebrate Christmas and then his 44th birthday on December 30.

Soon it will be 2020 and the continuation of the second coming of Tiger, with no one doubting more majors can follow to put him closer to Jack Nicklaus’s all-time mark of 18.

There could also be a crack at Olympic gold in Tokyo.

But first he can be forgiven for putting his feet up. ”I am now retired for the year,” laughed Woods, before heading off to join the US team’s celebrations.

Source: Manila Bulletin

ATLANTA (AP) — LeBron James finished off a whirlwind weekend with another dazzling performance.

Not looking the least bit tired, James scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to seven with a 101-96 victory over the pesky Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

The Lakers pulled even with Milwaukee for the NBA’s best record at 24-3.

“Highlights: sometimes they happen, sometimes they don’t,” James said. “I try to play the game with a lot of joy.”

After scoring 28 points in a win at Miami on Friday night, James flew to Columbus, Ohio, to watch son Bronny play a high school game Saturday night.

Then, James traveled on to Atlanta to face the struggling Hawks.

He never considered sitting out.

“I don’t know how many games I’ve got left in my career,” the 34-year-old James said. “I don’t know how many kids show up to come see me play. … That’s my obligation. My obligation is to play.”

The Hawks kept it close all the way. Vince Carter passed up an open layup and dished to rookie Cam Reddish in the corner for a potential tying 3-pointer, but the shot clanked off the rim. Danny Green went to the other end and knocked down a pair of free throws to send the Hawks to their fourth straight loss.

“We did our best to compete,” Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce said. “I’m proud of our guys.”

If the home team was hoping to get an off night from James, he quickly dispelled that notion.

James had the crowd — many of them decked out in his No. 23 jersey — oohing and ahhing with an appropriate 23-point effort in the first half.

He threw down three thunderous slams. He knocked down a couple of mid-range jumpers. He ventured out beyond the arc to swish a couple of 3-pointers — including a step-back shot from nearly 5 feet behind the stripe to finish off the first half, sending the Lakers to the locker room with a 55-48 lead.

He also had seven rebounds and blocked a shot, but the play that really had everyone talking was an assist — a no-look, between-the-legs pass that caught Dwight Howard breaking down the lane for a massive dunk.

Rondo also contributed to the “Showtime” performance, finishing off a four-on-one with a dazzling move that looked as though he was about to throw up a lob to James streaking off the wing.

The lone defender, De’Andre Hunter, was left reeling as Rondo hung on to the ball for an uncontested layup. James flew in behind his teammate like he was going for the block, adding some style points to an already impressive play.

James wasn’t done.

In the third quarter, he pulled up just inside the Hawks center-court logo and swished another 3-pointer from 36 feet to give the Lakers a 10-point edge.

“He was spectacular,” Laker coach Frank Vogel said. “He had some all-time clips.”

Atlanta trailed by as many as 11 but kept the margin in single digits nearly the entire way.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points.

Anthony Davis scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Lakers. James also had 13 rebounds, along with seven assists.

Source: Manila Bulletin

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee and will miss the game against the Bucks after spraining his right ankle against Miami.

The club listed the 20-year-old as not with the team on the preliminary injury report for the visit to the Bucks on Monday night. Doncic’s absence means the reigning rookie of the year will miss the first of two meetings with 2019 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Doncic was injured in the opening minutes of a 122-118 overtime loss to Miami on Saturday when his right foot landed on a foot of Heat guard Kendrick Nunn.

The Mavericks rallied from 24 points down without their injured star and had the lead in the final minute of regulation.

It will be the first missed game of the season for Doncic, who is averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. He missed 10 games his rookie season, mostly because of nagging minor injuries.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. — NorthPort vs Ginebra
(NorthPort leads series 1-0)

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone refused to make the recent Southeast Asian Games stint as an excuse for the lackluster showing in Saturday’s 124-90 loss to NorthPort in the opener of their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series.

Back in his familiar long sleeve and tie, Cone watched in horror as Ginebra was beaten soundly by an underdog NorthPort squad that played with tons of energy at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings had no answers for import Michael Qualls, who dropped 38 points, the activity of Christian Standhardinger on both ends and the hot-shooting of Garvo Lanete in the fourth quarter.

“It was a very ugly performance. It was embarrassing,” said Cone. “They wanted it more than we do.”

Cone lamented on how his team got beaten in aspects as evident with its 36-percent clip and 18 turnovers.

NorthPort made 46-percent of its shots highlighted by 19 threes while capitalizing on Ginebra’s miscues with 11 steals and 21 turnover points.

“They surprised us with their zone,” lamented Cone. “We didn’t handle the zone well and they changed the defenses up. They came in with a really good game plan.”

On the other side, a beaming NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio was in a jovial mood, though stressing that Ginebra remains the favorites.

NorthPort now prepares for a big response from Barangay Ginebra as it tries to go for a commanding 2-0 lead in Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jarencio stressed that Saturday’s victory is not indicative of how the series will play.

“We caught Ginebra on their off night,” Jarencio said after NorthPort won its fifth straight game since going 3-6 late in the eliminations.

“Siyempre si Tim Cone mag-adjust yun kaya kailangan mag-adjust ulit. Siguro medyo maluwag yung zipper, medyo itaas para sumikip yung zipper.” said Jarencio.

Import Michael Qualls will play another crucial part in keeping NorthPort’s motor going.

Christian Standhardinger, showing no signs of SEA Games fatigue, is out to play another important role to complement the likes of Sean Anthony, Garvo Lanete, Sol Mercado and Nico Elorde.

Ginebra could only hope that the Game 1 disappointment will result in a much-improved performance.

Key for the Kings is more production on offense, particularly from those who came off the SEA Games.

Stanley Pringle was the top local scorer with 21 points but Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio combined for only 15.

Source: Manila Bulletin