By Waylon Galvez

Standings   W L

Group A

Philippines  2 0

Vietnam      2 1

Singapore   1 2

Myanmar   0 2

Group B

Thailand    2 0

Indonesia  1 1

Malaysia   0 2

Cambodia  0 2

Games Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena)

3:45 p.m. – Cambodia vs Indonesia (M)

6:00 p.m. – Thailand vs Malaysia (M)

8:15 p.m. – Philippines vs Myanmar (M)

Gilas Pilipinas used a big second half to beat Vietnam 110-69 and claim an outright semifinal berth in basketball action of the 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

June Mar Fajardo, the reigning five-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA, finished with 23 points – 12 of which came in the third frame when he led the team’s attack to take control of the game.

From a 52-40 halftime lead, the national team used a 10-0 run capped by a layup from Troy Rosario that gave the Philippines a 62-40 advantage with 7:42 left in the third period.

That was enough for the Filipinos to slowly but surely pull away from Vietnam.

“We expect ourselves to wear down teams. We are 12-man deep, with our depth, and with our talent we can wear down teams. But we just have to be patient,” said national team coach Tim Cone.

“We kinda underestimated Vietnam. When you start to think that games will be easy, it’s going to be harder. We came out in the second half the way we want to start in the first half. That kind of keyed us in with the rhythm that we want,” added Cone.

The national team’s win improved its record to 2-0 in Group A while Vietnam suffered its first defeat after winning its first two to finish the elimination round with a 2-1 card.

Both the Philippines and Vietnam have secured semifinal berths with the Philippines gunning for a 3-0 sweep when its takes on winless Myanmar Saturday night at the same venue.

Thailand also aims for a sweep in Group B when it meets Malaysia, while Indonesia battles Cambodia.

Thailand leads its group with a 2-0 record, followed by Indonesia at 1-1, while Malaysia – silver medalist in the last SEA Games – and Cambodia sports identical 0-2 slates in the standings.

The format will have the top two teams from each group play in the crossover semifinals on Monday, with the winner advancing in the gold medal match to be played on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo also got 12 rebounds as the national team controlled the rebounding department 69-30. LA Tenorio and Vic Manuel finished with 14 points apiece, while Troy Rosario added 12 points and Stanley Pringle contributed 11 points.

Greg Slaughter, a late addition as he replaced the injured RR Pogoy, came off the bench to add 10 points.

The national team shot below 43 percent from the field, but finished the game shooting nearly 50 percent. On defense, the Filipinos held Vietnam to just 29.7 percent from the field.

Christopher Dierker, one of the players of Vietnam with American blood, led his team in scoring with 28 points, but lack of depth forced him to play for almost 36 minutes. Justin Young, another Viet-Am, was the other double-digit scorer with 13 points.

The scores:

GILAS PILIPINAS 110 – Fajardo 23, Tenorio 14, Manuel 14, Rosario 12, Pringle 11, Slaughter 10, Wright 7, Lassiter 6, Aguilar 6, Standhardinger 1, Ross 1.

VIETNAM 61 – Dierker 28, Young 13, Tran 7, Le 6, Dinh 5, Nguyen H. 4, Dinh 3, Vo 2, Du 1, Nguyen T. 0.

Quarters: 27-19; 52-40; 80-57; 110-69.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Joseph Pedrajas

Two more Filipino boxers secured their chance to vie for the gold after winning the 75kg evening session of the 30th Southeast Asian Games semifinals boxing event.

Eumir Felix Marcial hurdled with ease Malaysian foe, Che Azmi Mohd Aswan, as the referee called for a stoppage in the last 1 min. 54 secs. of the first round.

“Kilala naman ‘yung kalaban. Pinanood ko yung video ng laban nya para mapag-aralan,” said the 24-year-old boxer.

Josie Gabuco also pummeled Kieu Diem Thi of Vietnam to win via unanimous decision her 48-kg bout

“Si coach po bawat round, mayroon syang binibigay na instruction,” she said.

“Sinusunod ko lang po sya kasi alam ko pong magiging effective yun,” added the 32-year-old athlete.

Earlier, Carlo Paalam also won via unanimous decision by exacting revenge on Malaysian defending champion Fuad Redzuan in the men’s flyweight division.

Marjon Piañar and Riza Pasuit also advanced to the finals after drawing byes.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

The Philippine men’s volleyball team suffered its first loss in the 30th Southeast Asian Games after succumbing to Indonesia 25-23, 32-30, 25-20 Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The nationals fell prey to Indonesia’s stringent defense as the Bryan Bagunas-led team failed to end the preliminary round on a high note.

Indonesia, the 2017 SEA Games silver medalist, was a force to reckon with on the net, denying the Philippines’  attacks with a10-1 block points advantage.

Ironically, it was the nationals’ weapon in winning their previous games.

“Talagang nagkulang lang yung team kanina sa laro kasi nawala yung communication namin sa isa’t isa lalo na yung blockings namin. Halos wala kaming na-block ngayon game, parang nawala yung defense namin kaya siguro kami nahirapan sa game na ‘to, and yung service and receive namin medyo nahirapan din kami,” Bagunas said.

The Filipino spikers, down by two sets, started the third frame on the right footing, using a 5-0 run to open a 15-10 lead.

But the Indonesians rallied 19-all and it was downhill from there for the Philippines.

“Talagang breaks of the game. May mga nangyayari na hindi natin inaasahan saka kung titingnan natin talagang matibay ang Indonesia. Talagang pinag-aralan din kami,” national team captain John Vic de Guzman said.

Bagunas, who Mark Espejo tagged as the go-to guy of the team, led the Philippine squad with 24 points, all from attack.

Espejo contributed 17 attack points.

The Indonesian rally was powered by the trio of Rivan Nurmukli, Doni Haryono and Sigit Ardian, who exploded for 24, 18, and 13, respectively.

Both teams, however, are already assured of a semifinals slot after finishing as the top 2 teams in Group B.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Hanah Tabios

Filipino fans lauded a local surfer’s sportsmanship after saving his drowning Indonesian competitor Friday in the surfing competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in San Juan, La Union.

Social media users hailed Filipino surfer Roger Casugay as a hero for saving Indonesian surfing sensation Mencos Cosomen from drowning despite the ongoing gold medal race.

Casugay, a native of San Fernando, La Union, sacrificed his lead during the longboard semifinals competition and was the first to rescue his challenger.

Reports said Cosomen’s leash broke and he was swept away by a 10-foot wave.

The two later paddled back to the shore together as the competition was put on hold amid the incident.

The United Philippine Surfing Association also lauded Casugay for his effort to save his fellow competitor, calling it “Sportsmanship at its finest!” (with reports from Richa Noriega)

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Games Saturday
(SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink)
3 p.m. — Philippines vs Singapore
7 p.m. — Thailand vs Malaysia

The Philippine ice hockey team suffered a 10-1 loss to Thailand Friday in the final elimination round match of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink.

The team dubbed as the Eagles never recovered after conceding three goals in the first six minutes of the rugged affair while their comeback bid was foiled before it ever happened as the Thais put the puck in the net seven more times to complete the rout.

With the loss against the team it defeated for the gold in the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Philippines placed second after the eliminations with a 3-1 record and will face Singapore at 3 p.m. in Saturday’s semis.

Thailand swept all four games of the elims for a semis duel with Malaysia in the other semis match.
The gold medal match is set Sunday evening at the same venue.

Papan Thanakroeakkitat, Chanokchon Limpinphet and Phanuruj Suwachirat frustrated Eagles goaltender Paolo Spafford when they scored in that decisive opening period.

Carlo Martin Tenedero put the Eagles on the board, 13:19 in the second period. But the Thais answered with two goals from Patrick Forsner and one each from Phandaj Khuhakaew and Suwachirat.

Masato Kitayama, Khuhakaew and Forstner added three more for Thailand in the third period.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

The Philippine squash team won its breakthrough gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Friday by ruling the mixed team event at the Manila Polo Club.

Jemyca Aribado, Robert Andrew Garcia and Reymark Begornia swept their Singaporean rivals, 3-0, to already surpass the team’s two-silver, six-bronze medal haul in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.

Aribado edged Au Yeong Wai Yhann, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8; Garcia defeated Samuel Shan Mu Kang, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, and Begornia dumped Aaron-Jon Widjaja Liang, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0.

Their earlier victories came from Indonesia, 3-0 and Thailand, 3-0.

Apart from the gold, the squad also won silver courtesy of Garcia in the men’s singles and bronze from Aribado in the women’s singles.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The Philippines completed a four-game sweep of the eliminations to earn a finals berth in the 30th Southeast Asian Games baseball competitions at The Villages in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The Pinoy batters capped off their dominance of the round-robin elims with a 14-1 romp of Indonesia to advance to Sunday afternoon’s gold medal match against the team that finishes second.

Thailand and Indonesia dispute the right to face the Philippines on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Blu Boys were relegated in a do-or-die match for a finals slot in men’s softball after bowing 4-3 to Singapore.

Singapore stunned the Philippine team that swept the three-game elims to gain the first slot in the finals.

The Blu Boys will face Indonesia on Saturday for a chance to meet the Singaporeans for the third time in the tournament.

A page system is being used for the men’s softball tilt, meaning that the No. 1 team and the second-ranked opponent meet for the first finals slot.

The loser of that match plays the winner of the game between the third and fourth placers for the other finals berth.

Over in women’s softball, the Blu Girls are favored to retain the gold after cruising to the gold medal match with four wins.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

If the Philippine women’s volleyball team gave Thailand a game to remember, the home crowd gave them theirs.

Only 3,700 spectators came to watch the Philippines against powerhouse Thailand Thursday night but the pandemonium inside seemed like the whole country was crammed inside the Philsports Arena.

The home crowd, half of the 6,000 spectators in the country’s first outing, was so into the game that it looked like the home team was leading throughout instead of trailing until they turned the third set into a rubber match.

The amazing crowd, who cheered their hearts out even the country was on the losing end, was enough to boost the confidence and even bring back memories of the nationals players.

“Parang ngayon na lang ulit ako nakapagalaro na ganun yung crowd na sobrang taas ng intensity, yung parang hindi mo na marinig yung mga sinasabi ng mga kasama mo sa loob. Ang sarap sa feeling ulit na ganun yung support,” said Majoy Baron, who had a fair share of big crowds during her collegiate career especially when her school, De La Salle, was up against archrival Ateneo in the UAAP.

From the first set to the last frame, the Filipino crowd had consistently celebrated each point with deafening cheers and animated fist pumps — an effort that even long-time national team player Jovelyn Gonzaga could not get over with.

“Napaka-overwhelming ng feeling lalo na lahat ng buong crowd nagchi-cheer na and yun na nga nagja-joust na and sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi ang lagi namin sinasabi is we will give a good fight para mapasaya yung sambayanang Pilipino,” the “Bionic Ilongga” said.

Gonzaga was among the heroines in the epic third set of the Philippines as she took turns with Alyssa Valdez in erasing a five-point Thailand lead to tie at 24-all.

“Nakita ko sa bawat isa na yung puso lumalaban talaga and yung crowd sobrang nakakatulong din sila kasi sobrang binu-boost nila yung energy namin inside the court so yung third set na yun, ang nasa isip ko lang, ang nasa isip lang namin, is beast mode, don’t care. And laban talaga para sa bayan,” Mylene Paat, for her part, said.

While the crowd was already on its feet, some on the edge of their seats, the team’s playmaker Jia Morado bared that inside the court, during that 5-0 surge and the heated extension on the third set, they were just savoring the moment.

“Doon ko na-feel na nag-eenjoy talaga kami sa loob. Achievement sa amin na na-push namin yung Thailand ng ganun kabakbakan talaga…Nakaabot kami nang ganun kalayo kasi nga nag-e-enjoy kami pero nakikita rin namin yung focus sa mukha ng isa’t-isa,” Morado said.

Even national team head coach Shaq delos Santos was delighted with the crowd’s presence and intensity as he quipped, “Hangga’t maaari ayaw nga naming matapos, e kahit umabot ng 100, okay lang, alam mo yun. Yung pakiramdam kanina na tuloy lang.”

The Filipinas lost the game after pulling off a late scare which the perennial champion Thailand endured to finish off the home team 25-16, 25-22, 34-32.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Erma Edera

The Philippine bowling team hauled two more medals after bagging silver (men’s) and bronze (women’s) in the team event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Coronado Lanes in Starmall, Mandaluyong City Friday night.

Kenneth Chua, Merwin Tan, Frederick Ong and Patrick Nuqui snagged a silver with a total of 4937 pinfalls in the six-game series.

Nationals coach Biboy Rivera said it was eight years ago since the country’s men’s bowling team won a medal.

“I am very happy that both of the men and ladies won a medal in the team event especially for the men it was eight years ago since last time na nanalo ng medal noong 2011,” Rivera told the Manila Bulletin.

The men’s team bucked its slow start after placing fourth on the first three games of the team’s event with a combined total of 2446 pinfalls.

The Nationals recovered in the second half but the Malaysians still ruled the event with a 4980 total while the Thailand team took the bronze with 4896 pinfalls.

Their female counterpart, composed of Alexis Sy, Bea Hernandez, Lara Posadas Wong, and Liza del Rosario, captured the bronze medal after producing a total of 4,735 pinfalls.

The Philippine women’s team ranked first after the morning’s first block with combined pinfalls of 876 but could not sustain it as the Singaporeans, with all guns blazing, took the lead early in the second block.

Singapore’s keglers ended the eight-year gold medal drought with 4833 pinfalls followed by Malaysia copping the silver with 4803 pinfalls.

Source: Manila Bulletin

The Philippines bagged bronze medals in the men’s and women’s divisions of the beach volleyball competitions in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, medals that glittered like gold at the Subic Tennis court.

Jaron Requinton and Jude Garcia bested Kingsley Tai and Ray Meng Trevis Tan of Singapore 25-23, 21-13 in the deciding match for the men’s bronze while the women’s team of Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez swept the Singaporeans in two games.

Rondina and Pons defeated Serene Ng and Ee Shan Lau 21-17, 21-13 while Gervacio and Rodriguez humbled Eliza Chong and Gladys Lee 21-18, 21-16.

In the first match of the men’s battle for the bronze, James Buytrago and Requinton dropped a three-set heartbreaker to Tai and Fan Yang Shen 22-20, 20-22, 7-15.

In the second match, Edmar Bonono and Jude Garcia bested Nicholas Kiu and Tan 21-14, 21-14 to force a deciding battle.

The last time the Philippines bagged a medal in women’s beach volleyball was in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila courtesy of Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua.

Source: Manila Bulletin