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SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

MORE FILIPINOS NOW PREFER LUXURY ITEMS

Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick Go (left) receives the Real Estate Personality of the Year Award at this year’s PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards from Property Report magazine editorin-chief and publisher Liam Aran Barnes.

ROBINSONS EXECUTIVE WINS AWARD

AFFORDABLE LUXURY.

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Angel Yang, president of Kohler, kitchen and bath division, in Asia Pacific

By Othel V. Campos

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HE expansion of the economy, along with the rise of the Filipino middle-class, fuels the growth not only of local companies but also of multinational firms that have a presence in the country.

One of them is Kohler Co., a 144-year-old US company that sells so-called “affordable luxury” products such as bath fixture and other bath masterpieces that can complement the aspiration of the country’s growing middle class.

“The Kohler company has been in the Philippines for over 30 years now. Some say our products are very expensive. I must agree with that, but with our recent promotional strategy, we have considered to focus on the Philippines, adding the higher middle class as another growth area for us here. We are here to provide the right amount of luxury to the Philippine market,” says Angel Yang, president Kohler, kitchen and bath division in Asia Pacific.

Kohler was named after the company’s founder, John Michael Kohler, who purchased a foundry in Wisconsin in 1873. It is also the name of a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Kohler K&B business started in the Philippines in the 1980s. It established a legal entity under Kohler Asia Pacifc Ltd. Philippines in 2012.

As a Kohler executive, Yang has visited the Philippines several times particularly during company meetings and sponsorship events on utilitarian art.

Yang says Kohler has a strong association with art and it has its own museum back in Kohler, Wisconsin, a village created by the long standing success of Kohler as an

American brand. It is where the company is headquartered.

“We associate Kohler with art. We started our art campaign in the US 39 years ago. Our company represents art in every product we make. This is now how we see the company, not just what we produce but an appreciation of how well we chose the art that gives life to our products,” says Yang.

Time and again, Kohler has represented the art of making bathroom products.

Yang says one of Kohler’s best product lines - Veil is all about “effortless” experience.

This line is a modern set of fixtures bordering on futuristic technology like the automatic toilet seat where apart from the automated buttons, the seat itself opens and closes upon sensing movements of the user complete with sanitized flushing technology.

The company is also intent on producing products using deep-cut technology to address conservation needs of the future, she says.

Another innovative line is the Kohler Artifacts bathroom faucet collection that features the state-of-the-art physical vapor deposition process, giving faucets a rich luster that resists scratching, tarnishing and corrosion.

“These are among other products that we introduced to the market lately. As a global leader in the manufacture of luxury kitchen and bath products, we always seek to break the mold of conventional bathroom and kitchen fixtures,” Yang says.

Kohler has four appointed distributors in the Philippines with as many as 44 showrooms.

There are about 39 showroom operated by Wilcon Depot, three by Dexterton Corp., one

by Filmon Finishing Studio and one by Sanitec Import Ventures Inc. In 2017, Kohler felt the need to add eight more showrooms in Quezon Ave., Bacolod, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Tacloban and Silang, Cavite.

Yang says the company aims to expand its footprint in the Philippines by forging partnerships with home and hotel developers.

“Our mission is to contribute to high level living for those people to experience our products.

The Philippines is more of the strategic market for us. It is a very important market.

We are putting in a lot of focus in terms of resources and support since we are very excited about Kohler’s future in this market. We see ourselves as a total bathroom solution partner, not only in terms of product but of service as well,” she says.

Yang says the Philippine market, although price-sensitive, is also brand conscious and likes anything and everything American. Filipino consumers also pay attention to aesthetic details as well as functionality.

“The trend we see in the Philippines is more of being responsible in the use of resources like water conservation. We see this a form of social responsibility. They start paying attention to sustainability like water conservation. This is an evolving trend. And we are moving high fast in this area. We have products that address this specific need,” Yang says.

She says to grow in the Philippines for another 50 to 100 years, Kohler must build a sustainable model. “ That is why we need to understand consumer behavior, the local culture. How we can provide tailor-made services and products into this market. Brand awareness or brand building is an idea that came to our minds as one of the factors that will help us sustain growth in the Philippines,” she says.

Kohler is creating a synergistic approach to growing the business through retail and by contracts with developers.

Kohler believes that the company continues to grow with the Philippine market, hence its optimism to expanding in Mindanao.

ROBINSONS Land Corp. affirms its reputation as one of the most trusted and diversified full-line real estate developers in the country with several citations in various categories during the recently concluded 5th Annual PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards held in Fairmont Hotel, Makati City.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Real Estate Personality of the Year award given to Robinsons Land president Frederick Go, as chosen by the e d i to r s o f Pro p e r t y R e p o r t Magazine. Over 250 leaders, executives and key personalities in real estate lauded the industry awardees for their excellence in project development, marketing and sales, design, quality and in other aspects.

Robinsons Land received the Best Residential Interior Design award for The Sapphire Bloc mixeduse condominium development in Ortigas Center, Pasig City; the Best Residential Architectural Design – Highly Commended award for its Radiance Manila Bay condominium project at Roxas Boulevard; and the Best Retail Development award for its Robinsons Galleria Cebu Mall in Cebu City. The company also received two special recognition awards, Sustainable Development as well as in Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We want to leave a legacy of having improved the quality of life of everyone we have touched in our businesses, whether they are a mall customer or partner, an occupant in our office buildings, a hotel guest or a homeowner,” Go said in a statement. “We are building the business of building dreams and making life better.”

The PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards is part of the regional Asia Property Awards program established in 2005.

With a professionally run awards system supervised by BDO, the world’s fifth largest auditing and accountancy firm, the Philippines Property Awards is the biggest and most credible industry awards in the archipelago, with the top and emerging names in real estate celebrating the best developers, projects and designs in Mega Manila, Cebu, Davao and emerging resort destinations.

KING SISIG EMBARKS ON EXPANSION THROUGH FRANCHISE PACKAGE AFTER posting a strong growth in the past five years, King Sisig is opening more investment opportunities for aspiring food entrepreneurs via its franchise business package.

As it eyes further expansion in urban and provincial markets this year, King Sisig is offering potential partners a lucrative franchise venture backed by proven business methods and years of experience. With a unique fast-casual restaurant concept that offers accessible, budget-friendly choices for consumers, prospective King Sisig partners are assured of high return on investment and less than three years payback period, says Fernando Iso, assistant vice president of King Sisig Royal Foods Corp., the company behind the sisig food chain.

“We are looking forward to welcoming new partners who wish to become part of our ‘royal’ family, a homegrown food chain that takes pride in serving affordable delicious sisig meals in different variants and other budget-friendly merienda fares in various accessible points in and around the metro,” says Iso. King Sisig product offerings include Lechon Sisig, Crispy Liempo Sisig, Pork BBQ Sisig, Beef Tapa Sisig, Chicken Sisig, Seafood Sisig, Bangus Sisig, King Chicken Meals, Sisig Rice Meal, Sizzling Sisig Meal, Sisig Pancit Chicken, Ice Milk, among others.

The sizzling meals come with sunny side-up egg and unlimited rice whileKing Sisig meals are served with soup of the day. The meals are upgradable to include drinks and a side dish of Veggie Sisig Lumpia,

which can also be had ala carte.

“What makes King Sisig a great franchise option is its winning combination: a bold brand that’s relentlessly hungry to dominate the sisig category and a dynamic business model that provides genuine financial rewards to our franchisees,” says Iso. A King Sisig franchise package ranges from P4.5 million to P5.5 million (depending on the size of the restaurant that one wants to operate), inclusive of the P500,000 franchise fee. On top of brand use and operational rights of a fast-growing fast food branch, the amount also covers turn-key branch construction/documentation costs, rental deposit and advance rent (for leased locations), equipment, furniture and other fixtures, initial merchandise and packaging and other contingencies.

Business

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SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 business@manilastandard.net

MOST FILIPINO BABIES BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK —PSA STUDY MOST Filipino babies were born out of wedlock in 2015, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The PSA made the conclusion based on certificates of live birth (Municipal Form No. 102) that were registered at the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrars all throughout the country.

Data show that of the 1,744,767 live births registered in 2015, more than half (909,783 or 52.1 percent) of the babies were born out of wedlock. In Metro Manila, babies born out of wedlock comprised 63 percent of total live births.

Babies born to teenage mothers (207,830) were higher than those babies sired by teenage fathers (52,789). Moreover, babies sired by fathers aged 50 years old and over (28,460) were far greater than babies born to mothers of the same age group (367) (See Table 5).

From left: Schneider Electric Philippines chief finance officer for Philippines and Taiwan Junmin Shen, Schneider Electric Philippines human resource head Tes Portillo, Go Green in the City 2017 Philippines winners Iliana Tan and Aaron Del Rosario, Schneider Electric Philippines president Claude Mazallon and Energy Undersecretary Arwin Ardon.

DLSU STUDENTS DESIGN ALTERNATIVE COOLING SYSTEM

In Metro Manila, babies born out of wedlock comprised 63 percent of total live births.

Mothers at age group 20 to 24 recorded the highest frequency of live births (498,927 or 28.6 percent).

On the other hand, fathers aged 25 to 29 were recorded to have sired the highest frequency of live births (424,115 or 24.3 percent).

The median age for women that gave birth in 2015 was 29, while most men became parents at age 33.

The PSA said the number of registered live births showed a decreasing trend in the last three years. The number declined 2.5 percent from 1790,367 in 2012 to 1,744,767 in 2015.

“However, this does not mean that the number of babies born in the country is on a decline, as some may have not yet been registered during the reglementary period of 30 days after the event occurred,” the PSA said.

On the average, there were about 4,780 babies born daily in 2015 or about 199 babies born per hour or three babies per minute.

More males (910,877 or 52 percent) were born than females (833,890 or 48 percent) which resulted in a sex ratio of 109 males per 100 females.

Go Green in the City 2017 Philippines winners Iliana Tan (left) and Aaron Del Rosario of DLSU-Manila

By Katrina Delos Santos and Jamie Andrea Turalba

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WO students from De La Salle UniversityManila who proposed an alternative cooling system for high-rise buildings have emerged as the national champions in the Go Green in the City competition organized by Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation.

Go Green in the City 2017 is the 7th edition of the ultimate global student competition, where par ticipants offer innovative solutions to solve real-world business challenges.

D L S U ’s Te a m G r e e n z o n e , consisting of mechanical engineering student Aaron del Rosario and chemical engineering major Iliana Tan, beat the teams from the University of the Philippines and Technological Institute of the Philippines in the national finals in

Taguig City on June 7.

The competition encourages students majoring in Business or Engineering to create a project that promotes the use of renewable energy. The competition is open to all participants from around the world.

Del Rosario of Team Greenzone says their project, which intends to tap the power of the sun, can provide an alternative solution to the cooling system powered by traditional electricity sources.

“We found out that the cooling solution is something really aligned to our field, so we tried to work on that,” he says.

Del Rosario says what makes their project different is “the integration of different technologies” to create a cooling solution. “We try to integrate different technologies and focus on their strengths and key functions to make up an idea that is strong,” he says.

Team Greenzone will represent the Philippines in the regional finals where they will compete with teams from other Asian countries.

Schneider Electric Philippines president Claude Mazallon cites the importance of the competition in terms of contributing to energy efficiency. “[The Go Green in the City competition] is a fantastic career activity. It’s really refreshing [and] it gives a lot of hope. People have ideas, solutions exist. In itself, it already gives a positive message,” he says.

Mazallon says the competition promotes awareness among the youth on the necessity to save energy and build a better future.

“There is no better way [but to] try to make them develop awareness,” he says.

“It’s a very different stuff when you get involved into a context where you have to find the solutions. When you spend a month [in a project], they are very committed and dedicated so they really spend their energy to come up with interesting solutions,” says Mazallon.

He says whatever the participants do in the future, they will never forget the experience of joining the competition because this is a type of advocacy they will carry around all their lives.

Schneider Electric Philippines human resources head Tes Portillo says Go Green in the City serves as an avenue for the youth to

share their ideas in solving today’s challenges of global energy.

“Every year, we will do the Go Green in the City competition because this is a great platform to really hear about the innovative ideas and at the same time, [to] have an opportunity to get to know young, bright [and] talented Filipinos that we should all be proud of,” she says.

The grand winner of each region—North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Greater China and Asia Pacific—will compete in the global leg of the competition.

The announcement of the 12 regional finalists, including eight regional winners, three wildcard finalists and an all-female group, will be on Aug. 7.

The grand finals and awarding ceremony will take place in Paris, France on Oct. 9 to 13, 2017.

A team from Ateneo de Manila University won first place in the global finals in 2013 for Oscillohump, a device that absorbs and stores energy generated from cars going through speedbumps while a team from Polytechnic University of the Philippines grabbed the third prize of the global competition in 2015 for Electrifilter which generates electricity as it cleanses waste water.

Energy Undersecretary Arwin Ardon who attended the 2017 national finals took the opportunity to discuss the energy plans of the Duterte administration and recognized Schneider Electric for encouraging the youth in creating solutions for energy efficiency.

“It’s really a part of the DoE’s [goal] to encourage our young students to do the inventions of today, especially things related to energy,” Ardon says.

MOBILE APP ACTS AS ONLINE PERSONAL CONCIERGE A MOBILE app, designed by Singaporebased techpreneurs in 2011, is now in the Philippines and serves as an online personal concierge and delivery service.

It is an all-in-one on-demand lifestyle platform that saves time by handling chores for users. A market research in Singapore finds that it takes people four hours to complete their weekly grocery runs. In Hong Kong it takes about two and a half hours.

With the unresolved traffic issue in Metro Manila, the delivery service is a welcome alternative to driving out, looking for a parking spot and lining up at the checkout counter in order to bring bulky groceries home.

The app was developed by techpreneurs Joel Sng, Isaac Tay and Jonathan Low who set out to revolutionize how mundane daily tasks are accomplished in a modern urban setting. It is now present in key Asian cities Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Niseko and Tokyo.

In the Philippines, the online grocery service is available in Makati, Fort Bonifacio, Ortigas, Quezon City (Katipunan

and Eastwood) San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig (Kapitolyo and Valle Verde), and Pasay City (Roxas Blvd - Buendia) One of the keys to the start-up’s phenomenal growth is that it teamed up with industry leaders such as Robinsons Supermarket. This is where their trained concierge handpicks the freshest produce and the premium grocery items according to the customer’s specifications, at same-store prices.

The app is set up in a way that the user feels like he or she is doing the actual shopping to meet his or her standards and product satisfaction, with the concierge even able to make substitution suggestions to ensure customer satisfaction.

The service on the app is customercentric, and there is room to leave specific instructions for the items to be purchased. Deliveries, which are marked for two hours, are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, subject to store operating hours, including weekends and public holidays.

There is a flat rate concierge or shopper fee of P150. Free delivery is offered for a minimum spend of P1,500. Otherwise,

From left: Eric Bataga, honestbee operations manager for hrocery; Mia Subido, honestbee head of business development; Crystal Gonzalez, honestbee country manager; Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Supermarket; Patricia Ann Famador, e-commerce head of Robinsons Supermarket; and Jody Gadia, general manager of Robinsons Supermarket.

a delivery fee of P99 applies. Mode of payment options are COD (cash on delivery) or credit card.

“Robinsons Supermarket’s partnership with honestbee presents us with an opportunity to even be much closer to our customers,” says Jody Gadia, general manager of Robinsons Supermarket. “They now have an option to do their grocery shopping with ease through their mobile phones or desktops and still expect the same high-quality, fresh and healthy food and products from our supermarket to be delivered at their doorsteps.”

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Supermarket says “this is just the first step in making Robinsons Supermarket’s products and services readily available to everyone.”

Honestbee.ph. also launched its additional concierge services for laundry pick-up and delivery (including drycleaning) and soon, delivery from its premium partner restaurants.

The app is available for free download on App store or Play Store.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 randyproject@yahoo.com

IN SEARCH OF THE NEXT STAR SPIKERS

Young ladies try their spiking skills under camp director volleyball superstar Michelle Gumabao.

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ICHELLE Gumabao, one of the most noted names in women’s volleyball circuit, has always been passionate about teaching children the rudiments of the sport that has allowed her to enjoy life to the fullest.

The Fil-American Gumabao was a member of the De Le Salle University team that won three consecutive titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball.

She was finals Most Valuable Player in the UAAP season 75 before completing her eligibility in the league and graduating with a degree in marketing.

She is not done yet. Gumabao will continue hitting the net as he sees action for the newly formed team United VC in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) 2017 season.

And while in active play, she can also share her skills and talents with young girls.

“It is something for them to enjoy and syempre gusto lang talaga naming i-share sa kanila yung mga natutunan namin dati from our coaches,” said Gumabao during the graduation day for participants at the University of Baguio in Baguio City.

As camp director of the Alaska Volleyball Powercamp, she can also instill the values of discipline, hard work, team work and sportsmanship.

The Alaska Power Camp made the most out of the summer months for kids to engage in different sports instead of being hooked on TV, computers or video games at home.

“To encourage them, to push

By Lito Cinco

them, to make them confident enough, to step them out of comfort zone, a lot of these kids hindi nag-iisports, I’m so happy na they trusted us and they came here to try out volleyball,” Gumabao said.

Alaska Volleyball Power Camp encourages children who are not really exposed in sports to participate and enjoy an active lifestyle.

“We really target those who don’t know how to play and those who are just starting to play. So yung mga advanced, meron kaming coaches in Manila, handling advanced team, as we all know these players are part of varsities already,” the PSL player said.

“We’re trying to teach them the discipline na kailangan naming iperfect yung basic, because that’s what volleyball is all about,” she reiterated.

Exemplifying its commitment to nation building through proper nutrition and sports, Alaska celebrated Milk Month as it held the annual Alaska Volleyball Power Camp at the University of Baguio.

Gumabao admitted that training will need a lot of hard work and patience and it will pay dividends later on.

Aside from volleyball, the Powercamp also featured basketball clinic under Camp Director Jeffrey Cariaso, an assistant coach of the Alaska Aces who won several championships with the Aces in

Michelle with two outstanding students of the Alaska Volleyball Powercamp at the University of Baguio

the Philippine Basketball Association, including a rare grandslam in 1996.

Football camp director Tomas Lozano facilitated the training camp at the Benguet State University pitch.

The Alaska Powercamp has designed a training program for children six to 18 years old to cultivate young athletes’ potential through a series of school and open clinics.

It also seeks to help these young talents form the habit of getting the right nourishment by drinking milk and through leading a healthy and active lifestyle – which is the thrust of Alaska.

According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), obesity has become one of the most pressing nutritional issues of Filipino children today with

about five in 100 Filipino kids who are overweight.

Alaska emphasizes the need for children to start leading healthier, energetic and nutritionally-balanced lifestyles through programs like the Alaska Powercamp to entice kids to put down their gadgets and pick up a sport instead.

“We have instilled these values in them because this is what real champions are made of,’’ said Cariaso.

Prior to the Baguio finale inside the Philippine Military Academy, the Alaska Basketball Powercamp was also held at the Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City, Subic, Lucena, Batangas, Bacolod and Cebu that encouraged more children to embrace the sport and discover the advantages of a healthy lifestyle at a young age. Randy Caluag

SOUTHWOODS, VILLAMOR OPENS WITH A BANG IN LUZVIMIN GOLF MANILA Southwoods, out to reclaim the crown it lost to Del Monte last year, got on the right track as it pooled a 176 to set the pace in the Champion Infinity Luzvimin golf tournament at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Pampanga last Thursday.

Annika Guangco and Lora Roberto shot identical 46 Molave points, Claire Ong added 44 points while Ma. Rafaela Singson chipped in 40 points as the Carmona-based squad took a seven-point lead over Del Monte in the Diamond division of the 54-hole tournament sponsored by Champion Infinity.

The defending champions assembled a 169 on a pair of 47 points from Pamela Mariano and Martina Miñoza while Rhea Langamin and Sophia Abarcas backed them up with 38 and 37 points, respectively, while Forest Hills-Nicklaus stood at third with 165 and Negros Occidental shot a 161 and Camp John Hay had a 126 in the premier division of the event marking a milestone 25th staging.

Sharing the spotlight in the event backed by Lexus, Metro Pacific, CranUTI, Great Depot, Inc. Srixon and Vermogen and organized and conducted by the WGAP were Elisa Thoburn of Villamor, who scored a hole-in-one on No. 16 using a pitching wedge and a Honma golf ball, while Southwoods’ Ong made an ace on the 102-yard No. 8 of Mountainview, also with a pitching wedge and Bridgestone 2.

Villamor I took charge of the Emerald division with a 158 as Terry Fasol and Shiela Ward each fired 44 points and Marie Guerrero and Nora delos Santos turned in 36 and 34 points, respectively. They seized a six-point lead over Valley Golf, which shot a 152 on Joy Sevilla’s 42 points, Inez del Rosario’s 40 and the 36 and 34 points of Violy Pegels and Cielo Fregil, respectively.

Orchard I carded a 150 for third while Camp Aguinaldo, Manila Southwoods Legends and Alabang had 142, 137 and 136, respectively, in the event held in Luzon for the first time.

A wild finish loomed in Ruby Division with Pueblo de Oro pooling a 128 for a one-point lead over Manila Golf (127) with Forest HillsPalmer just two points farther back with a 125.

Julianne Borlongan shot 37 points, Gladys Opitz had 35, and Alethea Gaccion and Chit Lastimosa each carded 28 points for Pueblo de Oro while Lorna Tabuena sizzled with 44 points to place Manila Golf, which also drew a 39 from Marit Yuchengco and 23 and 21 from Cheon Myounghee and Michiko Graf, respectively.

Corazon Atienzo fired a 34, Ma. Consuelo Conti had a 32 and Sohan Uy and Natividad Toribio added a 31 and 28, respectively for Forest Hills. Bacolod stood at 112 while Tagaytay Highlands groped with a 107 and Apo turned in a 104.

Villamor 2, on the other hand, paced the Pearl Division with a 110, nine points ahead of Alabang 2, as Bea Tronco shot a 32, Mary Anne Reyes chipped in a 27 and Glo De Villa and Marthy Fernando added a 26 and 25, respectively.

Baguio moved to third with a 95 followed by Orchard 2, Negros Occidental and Victorias with 92, 91 and 90 points, respectively.

INDOOR TRIATHLON, ANYONE?

PRESENTLY, people can only imagine the sport of triathlon as being done outdoors.

Now, there’s an indoor triathlon venue for active individuals or even competitive athletes for their training.

Located at the heart of Bonifacio Global City’s SM Aura, this multi sport zone will serve as perfect venue for triathletes without heavy traffic and inclement weather.

Credit goes to Fitness First, which has been operating in the Philippines for the past 15 years, and headed by its Country Manager Mark Ellis, himself a hard core triathlete.

And to introduce the event for the first time, Fitness First held the first ever individual indoor triathlon competition that had three national triathletes and three club members participating.

Carrying the flag for the Triathlon Association of the Philippines( TRAP ) were SEA Games gold medalist two years ago Claire

Adorna, together with Mark Hosana and Wacky Banigued, top aspirant for a slot in the Youth Olympic Games ( YOG ), while facing them were former national triathlete Kaye Lopez, Jamie Ramirez, and Myk Jamistoso.

For the venue, it was at the second floor of the 2100 sq.m. facility of Fitness First at SM Aura, with a swimming pool that can accommodate six triathletes at the same time, and state of the art stationary bikes for spinning and treadmills, all adjustable to simulate road conditions.

It goes without saying that an indoor triathlon venue like this offers a higher safety environment, particularly on traffic and carbon monoxide emissions, no rain or bad weather, no difference between day or night, National triathlon coach Angelo Lozada, one of the guests at the event, also pointed out that for coaches like him, in terms of training, he can easily monitor the performance of his wards at 100% level as he can see them train throughout the session.

Another advantage that he sees is that

it makes it easier for working triathletes, particularly busy executives, to squeeze in the needed training time whether it is only for an hour or a couple of hours.

Another national coach, many-time national champion Ani de Leon-Brown said that based on what she saw, indoor triathlon is good and exciting and comes close to an actual outdoor triathlon in terms of intensity but without some uncontrolled factors of an outdoor race.

Going back to the competition, with Hosana bucking a stoppage of his bike when the plug was accidentally pulled by onlookers, came up with a 4.4K completed distance in the bike, then literally run away in the run leg with 1.37 kilometers for a total of 6.6 cumulative distance to take first place.

Banigued finished second with a total of 5.66 kilometers while in third place was club member Ramirez at 5.55 kilometers.

Jamistoso took 4th place ahead of Adorna as he completed 5.44 kilometers in the given time.

The bike participants at the stationary bike

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Sports

SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

3-ON-3 OLYMPIC HOOPS THRILLS US LEADERS

NO SWEEP! LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers moves the ball away from Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs won, 137-116, in Game 4 to stay alive and deny the Warriors a 4-0 sweep. AFP

CAVS TO DUBS: YOU CAN’T CELEBRATE HERE

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LEVELAND—Talk from the Golden State Warriors about popping champagne corks and celebrating an NBA title on Cleveland’s court for the second time in three seasons inspired Kyrie Irving to do something to prevent it.

Irving scored 40 points and LeBron James added 31 with 11 assists and 10 rebounds to power the Cavaliers over Golden State 137-116 Friday, averting what would have been a historic win and NBA Finals sweep for the Warriors.

Golden State still leads the best-of-seven title series 3-1 and can claim the trophy at home on Monday. But the loss snapped the Warriors’ NBArecord 15-game playoff win streak and denied them the league’s first unbeaten playoff run.

“You hear some chatter going on throughout the Warriors locker room in terms of them trying to end it here, and it was another do-or-die game for us, and we had to leave it all out there,” Irving said.

“It’s part of the game, I understand that. But we knew what we were faced with. Then you add some chatter in there, and that adds some extra motivation.

“And you give us a day in between and we were ready to come out. Especially me, because that taste wouldn’t have been the same if we would have lost tonight and they would have celebrated on our home floor. So I’ll just leave that at that.”

Irving hit 15-of-27 shots from the floor, going 7-of-12 from 3-point range to set the pace for a finals record 24 3-points on 45 attempts.

But it was his extra motivation that caught the notice of James.

“I didn’t hear it, but some of the other guys heard it and told me that they wanted to celebrate on our floor once again and they wanted to spray champagne in our locker rooms,” James said.

“I think it came from Draymond (Green, a Warriors forward), which is OK, that’s Dray anyway.”

Zanieboy Gialon holds his trophy after snapping a three-year title drought with a convincing six-shot victory at ICTSI Calatagan Challenge.

Cleveland Cavaliers fans gather at The Quicken Loans Arena to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland, the defending NBA Champions, came back to win 137-116 and force Game 5 in the series. AFP

James shrugged off unbeaten runs and celebration talk and just kept his mind on the moment.

“I didn’t stress anything besides just live in the moment,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to give ourself another opportunity to keep going. We came out and this was as close to a 48-minute game as we played in the post-season. It was big for us.”

Irving said he scans social media for such slights as premature celebration talk.

“We’re in the finals. Everything is accessible.

Social media is everywhere. It raises the bar, especially the attention that goes on with it,” Irving said.

“So we see everything. I’ll be sitting up here lying saying that I didn’t see it. But I relish in that

challenge. I know my teammates do as well.

Definitely heard the chatter.”

Curry said the Warriors will be ready to answer the Cavaliers raising their game.

“We got to find our edge and respond,”Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “So all that chatter and stuff is neither here nor there. It’s whatever you need to get yourself ready to play.”

Green warned that extra motivation is little help at this stage.

“Winning a championship is enough motivation.

All the antics and stuff don’t really matter. That’s water under the bridge,” Green said. “If you need extra motivation to go close out in five, you’re screwed, because that won’t be enough motivation.” AFP

CLEVELAND—Excitement abounds in basketball’s birthplace about the fast-paced 3-on-3 version of the game being added to the Olympic lineup Friday by the International Olympic Committee.

With roots in Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park playground games and the Gus Macker series that has toured US cities for 30 years, 3-on-3 has reached a renaissance that includes an eight-team US pro league tipping off in two weeks and Olympic status starting at Tokyo in 2020.

“USA Basketball is excited that 3-on-3 basketball has been added to the 2020 Olympic Games,” USA Basketball chief executive Jim Tooley said, adding: “3-on-3 is a great way to develop the sport and expand it to parts of the world that might not otherwise be active in basketball.”

While American teams of NBA and Women’s NBA stars have dominated the familiar 5-on-5 version of the game on the Olympic stage, 3-on-3 offers nations with less depth the chance to compete at a global level much as Rugby Sevens does in its realm.

“It is a popular and growing sport,” Tooley said. It’s non-stop, fast-paced, high energy and an exciting version of the game.”

The NBA has conducted 3-on-3 events around the world, including stops in Brazil, China, Philippines, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

“Today’s announcement by the IOC to include 3-on-3 basketball in the 2020 Olympics is great news and continues to signify the growing popularity of basketball around the world,” said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum.

The Dew NBA 3X Tour, the first nationwide US elite 3-on-3 competition, is in its second year with events from May to October in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and San Francisco.

“The last few years, we have made a major push in 3-on-3 basketball with our nationwide Dew NBA 3X tour and several international 3-on-3 competitions and the Olympic stage will provide these elite athletes with the opportunity to further demonstrate their talents,” Tatum said.

‘What fans want’ Former NBA standouts Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups are among players in the new Big3 league, where eight teams play a round-robin schedule of tournaments, four games each night in various cities with playoffs and a championship.

“We would like to commend the Olympics for making 3-on-3 basketball, the most played sport in the world, an official Olympic sport,” Big3 co-founders Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz said in a statement.

“This decision reconfirms our gut instinct that 3-on-3 basketball is what sports and entertainment fans want to see.”

The Big3 tips off on June 25 at New York’s Barclays Center.

World governing body FIBA had 3-on-3 in the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games and in the 2014 edition of the event in Nanjing, China, the sport now becoming the first Youth Olympic discipline to be included in the Olympic program. AFP

GIALON COASTS TO 6-STROKE CALATAGAN WIN ZANIEBOY Gialon snapped a threeyear title spell by winning the ICTSI Calatagan Golf Challenge crown yesterday, leaning on a strong start and a stronger finish to beat Jhonnel Ababa by six on a closing 67 at the Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas.

Two birdies in the first four holes kept Gialon away from erstwhile pursuer Tony Lascuña’s reach and the diminutive shotmaker pulled away at the back with three more birdies on his way to blasting his more illustrious fellow Davaoeño rivals and nailing his fourth career victory in the P2.5 million event sponsored by ICTSI. It was the first lopsided victory in this year’s circuit marked by one-shot triumphs and a playoff finish with

Gialon anchoring his emphatic win on a brilliant third day 66 that netted him a three-shot lead over Lascuña and a near-impeccable final round effort for a 16-under 272 total worth P450,000.

“I expected to win after going 3-up in the third round. I knew it would be difficult for them (Tony and Jhonnel) to give chase,” said Gialon, who came into the event brimming with confidence following a sixth-place effort at ICTSI Manila Southwoods and a tied for fifth finish in the Philippine Masters revival at Villamor last month.

“I knew I’d contend this week since I’ve been playing and hitting the ball pretty solid. And I think Calatagan best suits my game,” said Gialon, who also

cited the support of Transview Callaway’s Kit de Chaves and Wack Wack Federation Team’s Marlon Dizon.

Ababa, who shared the halfway lead with Gialon, rebounded from a disastrous third round 73 with a 66, rallying from joint fifth to solo second at 278 worth P320,000 in the event organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Lascuña failed to flash his vaunted final round charge with poor putting, finishing with two birdies against the same number of bogeys for a 72, ending up third at 280 while Jun Bernis fought back with a 68 to snatch fourth place at 281. They received P180,000 and P140,000, respectively.

Rufino Bayron, the other player in the

championship flight, failed to sustain a third round 67 with a 73, dropping to joint fifth at 282 with Clyde Mondilla, winner of the last two Philippine Golf Tour events, who rallied with three birdies in the last eight holes for a 70.

Each took home P102,500.

Jay Bayron settled for a 72 for seventh at 283 while Gerald Rosales birdied the first two holes and wound up with a 70 to finish eighth at 284 and James Lam and Orlan Sumcad shot 67 and 70, respectively, to tie first round leader Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands, who fired a 69, at ninth at 286 in the event backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.