Sports
MONDAY, MAY 15, 2017
Bulldogs, Lions post big wins
GOLF CHAMP. Thai Gunn Charoenkul (center) holds his trophy as he poses with Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive
director Narlene Soriano (left) and Orchard president/CEO Conrado Benitez II after edging local ace Clyde Mondilla by one to rule the $60,000 ICTSI Orchard Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Player course last Saturday.
THE National University Bulldogs and the San Beda Red Lions posted big wins last Saturday in the ongoing 23rd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball tournament. The Bulldogs, led by Matt Salem and Chino Mosqueda, held off the Centro Escolar University Scorpions, 8772, in Group A of the senior division at the St. Placid gymnasium inside the San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola. Salem and Mosqueda knocked in 14 and 10 points for the Bulldogs, who coasted to their second straight victory. The Red Lions banked on the inside plays of Ralph Penuelos and Kenneth Mocon in the closing minutes to get past the Manuel L. Quezon University Stallions, 7874. Penuelos scored on a charity while Mocon struck with a triple in 26.4 seconds to give the Red Lions a 73-67 cushion in the final moments of the game. In another game, the Letran Knights drew 21 points from Matthew Bernabe as they prevailed over Diliman College, 93-68, to earn their third win in four games in Group A. In the junior division, the Chiang Kai Shek Blue Dragons got 31 points from Jhon Flores as they fended off University of Santo Tomas, 101-96. The Blue Dragons picked up their first win in Group A and are behind leader San Sebastian College (3-1). The San Beda-Rizal Red Cubs, with Carlo Obenza firing 16 points, picked up win no. 2 in Group B at the expense of Hope Christian School, 80-72.
PH’s top spikers in spotlight D RAMA and tension are expected to fly as the best volleyball players in the country fight for their slots in the 18-man national team in the Clash of Heroes today (Monday) at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Games Today: (Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 pm – Pilipinas-Blue vs Pilipinas-Red (men’s) 7:00 pm– Pilipinas-Blue vs Pilipinas-Red (women’s) Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Johnvic de Guzman and his Pilipinas-Blue team tip things off as they battle Pilipinas-Red squad, bannered by UAAP MVP Marck Espejo in the men’s match at 4:15 p.m. Although Espejo remains doubtful, his squad remains solid,
giving it a razor-thin advantage in this encounter that serves as the final leg of the tryouts for the national team headed for the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur this August. Another doubtful participant is former Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez of Pilipinas-Blue team as it faces Pilipinas-Red squad, led by Aiza Maizo-Pontillas of Petron in the 7 p.m. featured battle of this event organized by the PSC-POC Media Group, in cooperation with Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, with UCPB
Gen as official insurance provider, and TV5 as official broadcast partner. But prior to the women’s match, the stars of today will pay tribute to those who have brought honor to the country in the international arena like three-time SEA Games gold medalist Arlene ApostolLadimo, Grace Antigua, Zenaida Chavez, Rosemarie Prochina and Joanne Tavera-Tomacruz. PSC Chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, LVPI president Joey Romasanta and Sen. Juan
Miguel Zubiri were also invited to do the ceremonial serve, while NCAA cheerdance champion Arellano University is tasked to bang the drums and make some noise. Valdez, arguably the most popular player in the country, was barred from competing by her mother club, Creamline, to avoid any injury as it braces for the crucial stretch of the Premier Volleyball League. Also expected to sit out are PVL stalwarts like Myla Pablo and Elaine Kasilag of Pocari Sweat and Gretchel Soltones of BaliPure. With that, their slots in the national team are in peril as the LVPI made it clear the event serves as the basis for selecting the compo-
sition of the national team. “The first thing we want to see in these aspirants is their commitment,” sad national women’s team head coach Francis Vicente. “This event is the ultimate test not only to their skills and talent, but also to their character and commitment to serve the national team.” Tasked to help Valdez -- if ever she makes a surprise appearance – in carrying the load for PilipinasBlue squad are fellow rising stars like Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes, Kim Dy, Dawn Macandili, Ria Meneses, and Frances Molina. They will be up against the seasoned Pilipinas-Red squad bannered by Maizo-Pontillas with Aby Marano, Denden Lazaro, Jaja Santiago, Gen Casugod, and Rhea Dumaculangan as support crew.
Familiar, new names emerge in Cebuana tilt A MIX of familiar and unfamiliar names emerged winners at the recent Surigao City leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Tennis Championship Series, with two local bets surviving the onslaught of visiting players from other provinces to win their respective age categories. Vaughn Spencer Codilla from the host city beat Emmanuel Pedrosa from Agusan del Norte, 6-1, 7-5, for the boys’ 16-under crown, while Ma. Nichole Bonilla was the other local player to win as she whipped Angel Marie Geraldino, 6-2, 6-3, to rule the girls’ 14-under category in the tournament supported by Dunlop as the official ball and played at the DPWH Tennis Club and Matchpoint Tennis Club courts for the 104 entries it attracted. “We gave a lot of emphasis to holding tournaments in Mindanao and the Visayas as in the past. We have seen a lot of potentials, who have emerged and this year is not different as new names continue to emerge in the these two regions,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. Cebu City’s Marc Nicole Suson, however, remains a consistent winner in the series as he again topped the boys’ 18-under age group, making short work of Prince Bo Lastimosa in the finals, 6-1, 6-1 while Butuan City’s Angely Esguerra beat local bet Alyssa Joanna Peligro 6-1, 6-2, for the girls’ 18-under title. Another familiar name was Merkisslyn Ubay-ubay, a native of Misamis Oriental, who posted an easy 6-0, 6-1 win over Surigao del Norte’s Regine Entoc, 6-0, 6-1, in the 16-under girls’ finals. A regular winner in the younger age groups the past years, Brent Sigmond Cortes from Tubod, Lanao del Norte has moved up and resumed his winning ways as he copped the boys’ 14-under title, defeating Surigao del Norte’s Jan Ceasar Paqueo, 6-3, 7-6, in the championship match.
2017 World Slasher Cup 1 champ Frank Berin with handler Jonathan Tabuloc
‘17 World Slasher Cup kicks off May 25 THE world’s most prestigious international derby will sizzle from May 25 to 31 at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum with some of the finest cockers and breeders in the roster. The nine-cock invitational derby of the toughest game fowl event in the world, known to competitors as the “Olympics of Cockfighting,” will see whose winning bloodlines will be hailed victorious in the finals. Frank Berin’s NEJ Sebastian bested over 300 entries to capture the championship title of WSC’s first edition this year. “All the best cocks compete here,” he told WSC partner Pitgames Media right after his win last February 1. “You can’t join here if your entry is weak. It is not
a joke to fight in the World Slasher Cup. Even foreign participants are here. You have to really prepare for it.” Joey Melendrez, whose entry scored 7.5 in the thick of the WSC1 finals, said in an interview: “I’ve had my Yellow-Leg McLeans and my Green-Leg McLeans for a long time. The World Slasher (Cup) has developed my lines... The birds I used for the fight are from the lines of World Slasher winners from 2007 onwards. If you want to prove how good you are, you come here.” Hosted by Pintakasi of Champions, the 7-day 2017 World Slasher Cup 2 schedule of spectacle is: May 25 and 26 (2-cock elims); May 27 and 28 (3-cock semi-finals); May 29 and 30 (4-cock finals for
those with 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 points) and May 31 (4-cock finals for those with 4, 4.5 and 5 points). Supported by Petron and Thunderbird, with Excellence Poultry and Livestock Specialists, and media partner Pitgames Media, WSC2 already has over 200 participants and counting. The derby promises a real smackdown among the finest winged-warriors from the US, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Because the odds are never truly set in this gentleman’s sport, it will be interesting to see if Berin could score back-toback wins this year; or if Magno Lim and Gary Tesorero could defend their 2016 WSC2 title or lose it to another hungry fighter.
MLQU-Victoria Sports win
MLQU-Victoria Sports, led by consultant Jino Manansala and coach Rainier Carpio
MANUEL Luis Quezon University-Victoria Sports hardly worked out a sweat in beating Philippine National Police, 75-58, in the 2017 MBL Open basketball tournament at the PNP Sports Center in Camp Crame. Gianne Rivera and Nikko Lao struck hard-
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est for the Stallions, who dominated the game en route to their first win in four matches in this eight-team tournament being held as part of MBL’s 18th anniversary celebrations. Rivera scored 17 points and Lao added 15 points for the Stallions of playing manager Jo-
mar Acuzar, consultant Jino Manansala and coach Rainier Carpio Patrick Asturiano, Jayson Grimaldo, Kevin Sumay, Alvin Detubio and Allen de la Cruz provided ample scoring support for the New San Jose Builders-backed Stallions.
Beko PH winner ‘Kicks his Way to Barcelona’ BEKO Philippines, one of the largest home appliance brands in Europe, recently treated the sole winner of “Kick your way to Barcelona: The Grand Kickoff Challenge” to an all-expense paid, tax-free trip to Barcelona, Spain to watch the live match of FC Barcelona in LaLiga. Sole winner, Rafael “Iggy” Halili, 28, who is also a football player, said that despite traveling alone for the first time, he enjoyed the seven-day trip that allowed him to watch his favorite football team play in a live match at the Camp Nou Arena. Aside from the live match Halili also enjoyed a tour of scenic Barcelona City, its iconic sites like the Sagrada Familia, as well as a side trip in the nearby town of Torre-Serona. During his stay, he was also given free hotel and food accommodation and pocket money. “It was really a fun and exciting experience. It was my first time watching a live match in Europe and I got to see my idol, Lionel Messi, score two goals. This makes the trip really unforgettable. I am grateful that Beko Philippines has given me this opportunity. I really thank them, for giving me this once in a lifetime experience,” added Halili. The “Kick Your Way to Barcelona: The BEKO Grand Kick-off Challenge” is one of the programs of Beko Philippines aimed at allowing football enthusiasts the chance show their appreciation and love for the sport. This promo is done through Beko Philippines Facebook fan page (@BekoPh). The promo attracted a number of Facebook followers who submitted and posted their creative selfies welcoming Beko’s arrival in the country with #hellobekoph. Successful entries qualified for the Kick-Off Challenge, held last January 14 at Sparta Philippines, the official event venue partner. Sparta Philippines is a sports complex that houses the country’s only indoor and FIFA 1-star certified soccer pitch. During the Kick-Off Challenge qualifier, each participant was given rapid fire attempts within one minute to try to kick a ball inside a customized mockup washing machine for as many as they can from a distance of 20 feet. The most number of goals will determine the winner. In the final round, Halili won over ten other qualifying participants. “Though the Philippines is not a football country, we recognize that there is a strong following for the sport. This promo aims to make football more popular among Filipinos,” said Dyeun Zapanta, Sales and Marketing Head of Beko Philippines. “Aside from this, we also want to emphasize Beko’s underlying brand campaign as a brand that is relevant to the mass premium market—a vibrant market of aspiring individuals who seek for reliability to overcome the demands of their day to day living—breathes its latest global brand campaign Beko as the Official Partner of the Everyday.” As a relatively new player in the country, Beko has steadily gained presence in the country’s highly competitive home appliance market. It was also known for its partnership with FC Barcelona, its global advertising anchor. With over 300 million FC Barcelona football fans around the world, this partnership connotes the brand’s dedication towards teamwork and excellence.
LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0
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