By Nick Giongco

South African champion Zolani Tete is focused on messing up Filipino John Riel Casimero’s offense as the two fighters gear up for their Nov. 30 showdown for the World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown in Birmingham, England.

“We have been preparing for Casimero since the announcement was made in September. At some point we had to tone down our training,” said Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene in an interview Friday with the website Sowetan.

To get ready for Casimero, who lost to South African Moruti Mthalane many years ago, Tete’s team reviewed four of his fights.

“We picked up that Casimero has never fought a left-hander and we then made Zolani exaggerate his left-hand stance in training so that we frustrate Casimero,” said Tengimfene.

Loyiso Mtya, one of Tete’s trainers, insists the concentration in the final days before the fight will be on maintaining the condition and finalizing the strategy.

Mtya feels Casimero has drastically improved since he lost to Mthalane.

“He was young, up and coming then. He looks bigger and more solid at bantamweights than when he fought Mthalane at flyweights. We know him the way we think he knows us,” he said.

Casimero, meanwhile, is packing his bags in Las Vegas, where he has been training the last six weeks for the flight to the UK.

Tete, 31, holds a 28-3 record with 21 KOs while Casimero, 30, has a 28-4 card with 19 KOs, numbers that suggest that they are evenly matched.

Tete and company jet off to the UK on Friday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan has good reasons to feel optimistic of the chances of seeing one of his three teams claim ownership of this season’s PBA Governors’ Cup trophy.

With all three of his teams landing in the top three coupled with the twice-to-beat advantage, Pangilinan should feel confident that finally tasting a PBA title that has eluded him since 2015.

This conference marked the first time all of Pangilinan’s teams — NLEX, Meralco and TNT KaTropa — got the quarterfinal bonus, a feat that is usual occurrence for corporate rival San Miguel Corporation.

Only one of the three SMC clubs got the other twice-to-beat incentive, with Barangay Ginebra beating Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer and defending champion Magnolia to the punch.

All three MVP teams finished with identical 8-3 slates with NLEX securing the top seed despite dropping its last two outings, Meralco getting second by maintaining its strong showing with import Allen Durham and TNT placing third after it barely getting the bonus.

Barring any collapse in the quarters, there’s a strong chance of a first all-MVP finale could be in the offing unless the San Miguel clubs play the spoiler roles.

In fact, recent history shows that getting a higher seed does not guarantee a championship.

SMB won the Commissioner’s Cup crown last August despite placing seventh at the end of the elims and was seeded fifth before capturing an unprecedented fifth straight Philippine Cup title.

The Philippine Cup saw top two teams Phoenix Pulse and Rain or Shine falling short in the semis and No. 2 NorthPort blowing a twice-to-beat bonus against SMB.

Ginebra bagged last season’s Commissioner’s Cup trophy despite placing fifth, beating sixth-ranked SMB in the Finals.

These trend is something NLEX, Meralco and TNT are hoping to break.

TNT is eyeing its first title since the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco hopes to finally win one after title defeats to Ginebra in the 2016 and 2017 Governors’ Cup while NLEX looks to secure a breakthrough finals berth.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Carlo Biado and two fellow national team mainstays are currently in Japan as part of their final preparations for the pool events of the 30th Southeast Asian Games which starts Dec. 3 at The Manila Hotel Tent.

Biado, Johann Chua and Jeffrey Ignacio are now winding down their week-long stay by competing in the ongoing All-Japan Championship in Hyodo, a stint the three hopes will help a great deal in their quest to harvest golds in the biennial meet.

Billiard Sports Confederation of the Philippines secretary-general Robert Mananquil said the three are due to return Monday before resuming their SEAG buildup at a temporary training facility inside Harrison Plaza.

Biado won’t be defending the men’s 9-ball singles he won two years ago in Kuala Lumpur but will set his sights on winning a second gold in the men’s 9-ball doubles when he teams up with Chua.

The 2017 world 9-ball champion is also slated to participate in the men’s 10-ball singles.

Ignacio, on the other hand, will be paired with veteran Warren Kiamco in the men’s 9-ball doubles.

Ten-ball will make its return since the 2013 Games in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Source: Manila Bulletin

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived veteran center, Pau Gasol allow him to focus on his rehabilitation in hopes that he would be able to return from a left foot injury.

In Gasol‘s official Twitter account, he made a short video clip of his agreement with the organization.

“As of today, I will no longer be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers player roster. The injury that I am dealing with and for which, I know when [I went for] my surgery last May, it can take anywhere six to 12 months to heal completely.” Gasol said.

“Unfortunately, in the last few days we have assessed that my recover will take longer that we originally hope for.”

“We agreed that the team could have the option to release me, in order to have the flexibility to sign a player who can be able to help right away if need[ed] be.”

Last season, he was limited to 30 games in a split between the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee bucks, playing only three games for the Bucks after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot.

ESPN’s NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski said Gasol and the Blazers were discussing details of a coaching role. But in a video posted on Twitter the 39 year-old said he wants to resume his playing career.

The two-time NBA champion has been in the league for 18 seasons. Gasol signed a one-year deal with the Blazers in July, averaging a career-low 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. (Justin John L. del Rosario).

(Photo: Pau Gasol Twitter)

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

The resumption of Gilas Pilipinas practice session will depend on the last playdate of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal playoffs.

The quarterfinal round starts Sunday with twice-to-beat teams Meralco and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel facing Alaska and Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer, respectively.

The following day, top seed NLEX takes on NorthPort while TNT KaTropa meets Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok at the same venue.

In case of do-or-die games on the first pair of quarterfinal matches, it is set Tuesday, while the other quarterfinals pair – if it stretches to a suddendeath — is on Wednesday all at the Big Dome.

If all four twice-to-beat teams win, the practice session of Gilas is on Tuesday at The Upper Deck in Pasig City. It will be adjusted to Wednesday or Thursday depending on the results of the PBA’s KO games.

The national team’s practice session will continue at The Upper Deck on the 28th and 29th, the last one a morning and evening training. Gilas coach Tim Cone will also have similar twice-a-day training on November 30 and December 1 set at 9 a.m. to 12 noon at The Upper Deck and 2-4 p.m at the Meralco gym.

On December 2 and 3, practice session is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena, venue for the basketball event in the SEA Games, which starts December 4 when the Philippines plays Singapore.

Cone cancelled practice session last Monday after a pro team from Taiwan failed to arrive for a scheduled tuneup game. Part of the cancellation is the tight schedule of the teams that are in the quarterfinals of the PBA’s season-ending Governors’ Cup.

Meantime, the PBA takes a break to give way to the SEA Games. The semifinal round will resume right after the event.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Game Saturday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

12 noon – NU vs UST (women’s)

National University seeks to add another trophy to its burgeoning growing shelf when it guns for a title sweep against University of Santo Tomas Saturday in UAAP season 82 women’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game 2 of their best-of-three series fires off at 12 noon with the Lady Bulldogs aiming the same feat as newly crowned men’s champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, who were unblemished in 16 games.

So much, however, is at stake for NU as it tries to stretch their imposing 95-game winning streak dating back the opening day of Season 77 on July 13, 2014.

The taste of defeat may appear alien for the Lady Bulldogs, and coach Pat Aquino wants to keep it that way for a sixth straight crown.

Knowing UST’s resilience, it is easier said than done.

“I know that UST is going to come back. They’ve been great this season. We just have to play NU basketball for 40 minutes,” he said.

While Aquino expects everyone in his roster to step up the way they did in Game 1’s 70-65 victory last Wednesday, expect Fil-Am forward Kelli Hayes at the forefront after delivering 16 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Mythical Five member Jack Animam is also slated to suit up after missing Game 1 due to a right orbital fracture sustained during her stint with the national team in the 2019 FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Zealand last week.

For UST, it is all about working harder.

“There are so many breaks na we could have tied or won (Game 1),” said UST coach Haydee Ong.

“Siyempre di kami makukuntento dyan kasi our backs are against the wall. I just told the team na we still have another game, another opportunity.”

Season Most Valuable Player Grace Irebu and Tacky Tacatac are expected to anchor the Tigresses in their bid to extend the series after merging for 27 points in Game 1.

Game 3, if necessary, will be on Wednesday at the same venue.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By WAYLON GALVEZ

Based on the performance of athletes leading to the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the weightlifting national team is capable of winning five out of the 10 gold medals at stake in the biennial meet.

Veteran mentor Toni Agustin said that while Hidilyn Diaz is a solid bet to win her first gold medal in the SEA Games, three other athletes in the women’s category and one in the men’s division are likewise expected to compete for the gold medal in the regional event.

“Sa tingin namin iyun ang pwedeng mai-deliver,” said Agustin yesterday after the practice session of the national team held at the weightlifting gym in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

A total of 10 gold medals are at stake in the weightlifting event, but the Philippines will only see action in nine events.

The members of the national team are John Fabuar Ceniza (55kg), Dave Llyod Pacaldo (61kg) and Nestor Colonia (67kg), while in the women’s are Mary Flor Diaz (45kg), Elien Rose Perez (49kg), Diaz (55kg), Margaret Colonia (59kg), Elreen Ann Ando (64) and Kristel Macrohon (71kg).

Agustin said the national team will not participate in the 73kg men’s category.

Aside from Diaz, the four athletes Agustin said expected to deliver are Ando, Macrohon and Mary Flor Diaz – a cousin of Hidilyn Diaz – while for the men’s is Ceniza.

“Ito iyung aming projections to mag-add to Hidilyn’s gold medal. Sila ang ang mga nakikita namin na pwedeng mag-deliver,” said Agustin.

Colonia, a gold medalist during the 2015 Asian Championship, said that moved up from his usual division of 61kg to 67kg only for this SEA Games since he is still in the process of recovering from a knee injury.

“Bumigat yung timbang niya after ma-injury. Hindi naman pwede nahabang nagpapagaling siya isasabay yung pag-diet niya. So linagay muna namin siya sa 67kg from 61kg,” said Agustin.

The weightlifters are continuing with their training program leading up to the regional meet set Dec. 1 to 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Agustin said the athletes are raring to compete.

“Ready na lahat sila, excited na nga to compete. Hopefully maganda ang ipakita namin lalo ditto gagawin sa atin ang SEA Games, sa harap n gating mga kababayan,” said Agustin.

For her part, Diaz, the silver medalist in the Rio Olympics and gold medal winner during the previous Asian Games, is currently in Taiwan for another training camp and she is expected to return a few days before the opening of the SEA Games on Nov. 30 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

The newly-built Athletes Village at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, as well as the equally gleaming Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium earned good grades from the inner circle of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

An ocular inspection of the venues that will be used for the Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 SEA Games was done by Phisgoc, headed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday.

Phisgoc Executive Director Tom Carrasco said the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which built the entire complex, has allocated 1,500 beds for athletes from all 11 nations whose bets will compete in the Clark area.

“The facilities are ready to welcome the athletes,” said Carrasco.

The main guests of the Athletes Village are athletes competing in track and field and swimming as well as a few others.

The Athletes Village will formally begin housing athletes from the competing nations on Sunday.

The entire complex was built by BCDA in a record 18 months.

This marks the first time the Philippines, which hosted the biennial SEAG in 1981, 1991 and 2005, will have an Athletes Village.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MILWAUKEE —  Giannis Antetokounmpo had his second triple-double of the season and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Carmelo Anthony and the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 137-129 on Thursday night.

Antetokounmpo had 24 points, 19 rebounds and a career-high 15 assists to lead the Bucks to their sixth straight victory. Antetokounmpo, who also had a triple-double in the season opener, has 16 career triple-doubles. Milwaukee is 14-2 in those games.

Eric Bledsoe added 30 points and six assists in the Bucks’ highest-scoring game of the season.

After scoring 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in 24 minutes in his season debut Tuesday night against the Pelicans, Anthony had 10 points in the first half Thursday. The 10-time All-Star finished with 18 points (6-of-15 shooting) and seven rebounds for the Blazers, who were without Hassan Whiteside (hip), Damian Lillard (back), Zach Collins (shoulder) and Jusuf Nurkic (leg).

CJ McCollum scored a game-high 37 points and Skal Labissiere added 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks off the bench for Portland. The Trail Blazers lost their third straight game and seventh of the last nine against the Bucks, including sixth straight in Milwaukee.

The Bucks made their first seven shots, including three 3s, and led 17-6. Milwaukee never trailed.

The Bucks also had their highest first-half total, leading 72-58.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Stephan Schrock and Amani Aguinaldo were officially named to the national U-22 squad for the men’s football competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games which starts Monday.

The team included Schrock and Aguinaldo as its overaged players for the tournament slated at the Rizal Memorial Stadium where the Philippines will attempt to secure its first-ever semifinal appearance.

Also part of the squad are Justin Baas, Edison Suerti, Yrick Gallantes, Marco Casambre, Chima Uzoka, Jarvey Gayoso, Pocholo Bugas, Dylan de Bruycker, Mar Vincent Diano, Jordan Jarvis, Finn McDaniel, Christian Rontini, Troy Limbo, Jerome Marzan, Dennis Chung, JR Suba, Anthony Pinthus and Michael Asong.

Tapped as reserves were AJ Arcilla, Poi Saldivar, Ivan Ouano, JB Borlongan, Jovan Marfiga, Dean Ebarle and Fritz Brigoli.

Schrock made good on team manager Dan Palami’s earlier declaration of the Azkals midfielder’s interest to reinforce the SEA Games team.

The Ceres-Negros midfielder is expected to provide spunk, especially on the team’s attack while Aguinaldo, who is playing club football for Malaysian club PNKP, will be trusted to strengthen the backline.

HERE WE GO.
Are we ready to cheer for our boys, #PILIPINAS?

Tara na.

⚽️ #OneBlood #PILIPINASu22 #AzkalsxSEAG pic.twitter.com/8sH40sIuMB

— The Philippine Azkals (@TheAzkalsPH) November 21, 2019

Competition rules allow participating countries to tap two players over the maximum age of 22.

The Philippines was drawn in Group A along with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. The top two squads advance to the semifinals.

First on its assignment is Cambodia slated Monday night followed by a late afternoon match with Myanmar on Nov. 27.

Next on the schedule is Malaysia on Nov. 29 before wrapping up the group stage opposite Timor-Leste on Dec. 4.

Source: Manila Bulletin