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SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
Business
Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net
ERICSSON PREDICTS EXPLOSION OF 5G By Kristin Mae Cortez and Aletha Jasmine Dela Cruz GLOBAL communications company Ericsson expects 5G to drive mobile data traffic 10 times faster by 2022. Ericsson Philippines and Pacific Islands president and country manager Sean Gowran, in an Ericsson Mobility Report briefing at Shangri La Makati Hotel, said 5G, an advancement from today’s LTE technology, would redefine experience in terms of enhanced mobile broadband, automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and utilities. He said download speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second that are now commercially available in Australia and have been tested in Singapore enable the possibility for high-definition or real-time video streaming from consumers almost anywhere.
PROTECTOR.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. Bloomberg Scan this icon to view the PDF
PRICE STABILITY, TETANGCO’S LEGACY
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E HAS protected the value of Filipino money from fluctuation amid political upheavals and external challenges over the past 12 years. Amando Tetangco Jr., the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor who made three presidents look good because of the thriving economy, is retiring on July 3 after accomplishing his mission—price stability that supports economic growth. Under Tetangco’s watch, Bangko Sentral helped the country achieve a period of rapid economic growth that nearly trebled the gross domestic product, pushed up gross international reserves above foreign debt, expanded the Filipino middle class with car and home buying capacity, enlarged the assets of banks to trillions and saw the rise of shopping districts and modern cities such as Fort Bonifacio. The stability in the value of the peso in terms of foreign exchange and purchasing power encouraged companies to invest, helping the economy grow and create more jobs. The record low interest rates, initiated by Bangko Sentral through its policy rates, also boosted consumer spending that supported the growth of automotive and real estate markets. As Bangko Sentral governor, Tetangco led the Monetary Board in exercising its vast powers such as setting the right bank interest rates, controlling the amount of money that circulates in the market, hoarding foreign exchange reserves and defending the peso against foreign exchange fluctuations. In taking
these decisions, the Monetary Board finds the delicate balance between taming prices and supporting economic growth. Tetangco achieved both, when he discovered the formula that is right for the Philippines. Tetangco, who started his career in central banking in 1974, rose from the ranks until being appointed governor in 2005. He was reappointed for another six-year term in 2011, becoming the first Bangko Sentral governor to serve for two terms. To help the Philippine economy sustain its growth, while taming consumer prices, Bangko Sentral set an inflation target of 3 percent to 5 percent, apparently the ideal formula for an emerging economy. This target range was later reduced to 2 percent to 4 percent, as the economy attained a greater level of stability. Beyond taking those decisions, Tetangco made another milestone in central banking— predictability of policy. His words are carefully selected to convey BSP’s monetary stance and offer hints of future actions. “Communication is now a major instrument or tool in modern central banking,” Tetangco told a group of business editors from different publications. “The policies have got to be communicated properly to the public real time. This is important because you also have a new channel of transmission of policy and that is expectations,” he said. Expectations or outlook on the economy help companies plan on their next steps, such as raising more funds to support expansion. “Before, you had interest rate channels or credit channels, now you have expectation
channels. In order to manage expectations, you need to have the right communication, real time and accurate,” Tetangco said, while acknowledging the role of journalists in communicating the policies of Bangko Sentral over the last 12 years. “That has helped us. The progress that we have achieved is due in part to the accurate and timely dissemination of information, communication of the policy of the BSP,” he said. Tetangco has been recognized by New Yorkbased Global Finance magazine as one of the best central bankers in the world, giving him a grade of “A” for eight years. He also received the ‘Lifetime Leadership Achievement Award’ from The Asian Banker on July 2. The Singapore-based financial publication cited the remarkable contributions of Bangko Sentral to the country’s financial services industry and the economy under Tetangco’s leadership. The Asian Banker recognized Bangko Sentral as a pillar of strength for the Philippine economy and the ‘Best Macroeconomic Regulator in Asia-Pacific.’ The Asian Banker said Tetangco was instrumental in helping the Philippines transform from a speculative- to an investmentgrade economy. “[He] made a huge difference... lifting his country to becoming investment grade and stepping high and tall in the league of nations,” The Asian Banker chairman Emmanuel Daniel said. Tetangco, 64, will be replaced by Nestor Espenilla Jr., who is currently deputy governor in charge of bank examination and supervision. Roderick T. dela Cruz
Sean Gowran, president and country manager of Ericsson Philippines and Pacific Islands, discusses data on LTE dominant access technology.
Regional app coverage data show that the minimum required network speed increased in many countries, including the Philippines. “Our analysis of mobile broadband app coverage across the region shows that the Philippines has improved year-on-year,” said Gowran. However, the challenge for the company in connecting the unconnected lies in affordability literacy, and provision of relevant services – rather than the availability of technology. The use of old branded cellphones will still be relevant when 5G subscription expands in 2022, but without the access to its new features. GSM users would more likely have more difficulty on accessing the new features of 5G in 2022, according to Gowran. “Life would not be really fantastic for the GSM users for 2022,” he said. Gorwan said concerns on network optimization through analytics, massive IoT coverage in the city, and remote operation of vehicles with 5G. Ericsson, a leader in communications technology and services, foresees “driverless buses on city streets” along with the 5G, which will develop remote monitoring, control capabilities and safety assurance. Its focus is to build a testbed to study and demonstrate feasibility of remote supervision and teleportation of connected vehicles using cellular networks on Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication. Gowran said Asia Pacific will lead the global rollout of 5G with its 28 million subscriptions and 180 million cellular IoT subscriptions, along with North America, which will account for around 10 percent of the region’s subscription by 2022. Countries that are expected to be among the early adopters of 5G are South Korea in 2018, and Japan and China by 2020.
WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE REOPENS AT RESORTS WORLD By Kristin Mae Cortez WOLFGANG’S Steakhouse, a US restaurant brand brought to the Philippines by Excello Restaurant Management Group of Marvin Agustin and his two partners, reopened at the Newport Mall inside the Resorts World Manila complex, after a two-week hiatus following an unfortunate incident on June 2. The famous steakhouse is back in business after the RWM attack by a lone gun man that resulted in the loss of 37 lives, including employees and guests. Excello Restaurant Management Group head Raymund Magdaluyo says Wolfgang
Steakhouse is keeping its original location at the second floor of Newport Mall, while adding two outlets at The Podium in Ortigas and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Magdaluyo says while the attack may have hurt sales initially, the RWM location is expected to recover in the coming months. “We’re hurting business-wise but I think Resorts World could come up with something, because it is the strongest casino, complex-wise [compared to other casinos in the Philippines],” he says. “Do we feel that the Resorts World is responsible for the gross-negligence? Definitely no, but there are some things
Excello Restaurant Management Group partners (from left) Marvin Agustin, Leina Bolinas and Raymund Magdaluyo lead the reopening of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse at Resorts World Manila.
that could have been done better,” says Magdaluyo. He says what happened with Resorts World was a tragedy for the entire industry but everybody had something to learn from the incident. Magdaluyo says the New York-theme restaurant remains loyal to RWM which has been its partner since 2009. RWM would “come out stronger,” he says. “We have not even talked to other casinos. We are not planning on putting up any concept other than in Resorts World. [That is] 100 percent sure,” he says. Excello managing partner Leina Bolinas says the plan is to be “more
operationally efficient” and renovate the restaurant that has its own dry-aging room and wine cellar. The company expects sales to improve by 50 percent in the next four to six months, following the drop related to the June 2 incident. “After that, everything will not just normalize. It [ Wolfgang’s] will also become stronger,” says Magdulo. Bolinas says to attract more diners, Wolfgang will host some events in the coming months. The restaurant is open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. With Aletha Jasmine Dela Cruz, Katrina Delos Santos and Jamie Andrea Turalba
Business
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SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 business@manilastandard.net
MILLENNIALS ASKED TO CONSERVE PH FORESTS THE Forest Foundation Philippines calls on millennials and social entrepreneurs to engage in forest conservation. Formerly known as the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, FFP breaks away from its traditional method of finding new solutions on protecting the forests and will now start accepting innovative ideas and solutions proposed by millennials and social entrepreneurs. FFP decided to change its name into something that resonates with the millennials whom they hope to encourage and be the champions of forest conservation. FFP executive director Jose Andres Canivel acknowledges the importance of millennials today. “We believe that the millennials now are becoming more important not because they will be living in the world [where] we leave them but rather they are important [in] deciding the path of society and the world that we have now,” he says. The organization also launched its 2017-2021 plan of action that aims to continuously empower people in communities across the Philippines and as a part of the program plan, a pitch fest is set to hold on July 22. The Forest Fest PH is a one-day gathering of enterprising thought leaders to craft targeted and innovative solutions aimed at helping protect the forests in the country. The event also invite leaders from various industries and sectors who will mentor the participants. The concept of finding new innovations and solutions is in line with FFPs main thrust—to make social entrepreneurship progressive by protecting Philippine forests. “We want to empower individuals as they understand the everyday life decisions [that] can help advance and nurture our forests,” Canivel said. Social entrepreneurs, advocacy groups, and other related individuals who have the passion and desire to protect the forests will be given an opportunity to present their innovative ideas before a panel of judges. The winning participant to come up with a good forest protection idea will take home P 450,000 as grant prize. Besides the usual type of businesses for the pitchfest, FFP chairman Antonio La Viña says there is room for social enterprises that work with indigenous people. La Viña says social entrepreneurship can serve as a platform to empower enterprising individuals and groups to jumpstart sustainable and business solutions. “Why [do] social enterprises matter? Simple, they create awareness, change attitudes, change patterns of behavior and consumption and developing way technology solutions that appeal towards segment of the population,” he says. “In this way, we hope to be able to push our goal of helping improve the quality of life of Filipinos in an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable manner,” says La Viña. US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim cites the role of the United States as an advocate of environmental conservation. He says the US government has been working with the Philippine government to supervise FFP. “Together with partners like the Philippines, we carry the responsibility to lead the global advocacy to make the environment our number one priority,”Kim says. FFP was established in 2005 under the bilateral agreements of the US and the Philippines under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. Katrina Delos Santos and Jamie Andrea Turalba
MOBILE APP BRINGS SHOPPING CONVENIENCE
Honestbee Philippines country manager Crystal Gonzalez
By Katrina Delos Santos and Jamie Turalba
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ONESTBEE, a Singapore-based premium concierge and delivery service mobile application, is now in the Philippines. “We want to make [people’s] lives easier [by] offering an all-in-one concierge app wherein we try to simplify your life,” Honestbee Philippines country manager Crystal Gonzalez says. “At the end of the day, if we’re not able to make your lives better [or if ] we’re not able to save you time, then it would not make sense,” she says. Honestbee was founded in July 2015 by Singaporeans Isaac Tay, Joel Sng and Jonathan Low. It is now also available in other Asian cities like Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Tokyo. Gonzales says while there are similar apps that also offer delivery services, what makes Honestbee different is that it is an all-in-one concierge app offering grocery, food, home
and auto supplies and laundry options. Honestbee was introduced in the Philippines mainly because of the heavy road traffic that Filipinos are experiencing every day. “I understand that the average Filipino spends two and a half hour in traffic every day, [and] that’s just crazy,” says Variam Lim, Honestbee chief operating officer. H o n e s t b e e te a m e d u p w i t h “ t h e best brands” in the Philippines. For grocery, it joined forces with Robinsons Supermarket to serve customers. “We partnered with Robinsons, [because] they are very particular of the quality. When we met with Robina Gokongwei, that’s one of the things we highlighted,” Gonzalez says. Besides Robinsons Supermarket, Honestbee also teamed up with specialty brands Fresh Options for meat, Harvestime and Incredible India for imported goods, AWC and Boozy for wine and spirits and Chicco for baby needs. In the food option, users can choose from the well-known restaurants and food shops such as Sprout, Eric Kayser, Hummus Elijah, Tipsy Pig, Bono Gelato, La Lola Churreria and others. Aside from grocery and food, it also launched delivery service for laundry, so
that people who are working late “don’t need to wait for your laundromat to open.” Honestbee is already present in Metro Manila, but plans to expand to other cities where there are a lot of smartphone users like Cebu and Davao in the next two to three months. It will also introduce more services, such as home and auto option, health and logistics. “ The idea was not only to make it convenient for Filipino consumers but to also make it convenient for companies,” says Gonzales. Besides giving users convenience through smartphones, the app also aims to provide jobs. “The other thing about this business is that we give job opportunities for people who are unable to take full-time jobs, for example, students; or moms who take care of the kids but have pockets of time [and] ready to take on small jobs,” Lim says. In Singapore, the app was able to create 10,000 jobs since it was launched in 2015. Shopperbees, or those who do the actual grocery shopping, are trained by Honestbee to become experts in choosing grocery items that have the best quality. The Honestbee app is available for free on iOS and Android.
GERMAN INDUSTRIAL GIANT EXPANDS IN PH By Katrina Delos Santos and Jamie Andrea Turalba BOSCH, a German supplier of technology and services, posted a 13-percent sales growth in the Philippines last year, its third straight year of double-digit expansion. Bosch Philippines said sales reached $56 million or P2.8 billion in 2016. “With double-digit business growth for the third consecutive year, the Philippines earns a bright spot in Southeast Asia as one of the best-per forming markets for Bosch. We continue to see many opportunities here,” said Andrew Powell, managing director of Bosch Philippines. The biggest contributor to the sales growth was the power tools division amid high demand for mid-priced product range and cordless tools. It was also the best performing division when it comes to online retail— through
Lazada, a known e-commerce in Asia — among Asean markets. The automotive aftermarket division also experienced a double-digit increase in sales, making 2016 its strongest year yet. The security systems division had a moderate growth in the same year with communication systems as the major contributor. The thermotechnology division was granted long-term contracts to offer industrial boilers for processing plants of large multinational companies in the nutrition and beverage industries. One of the key advocacies of Bosch this year is to provide vehicle safety in the Philippines and Southeast Asia by bringing in the innovation from the automotive aftermarket division—the electronic stability program which helps maintain the driver’s control when the vehicle skids through its attached sensors. The ESP followed the development of
Bosch Philippines outgoing managing director Andrew Powell (right) with successor Richard Walker.
the anti-lock braking system which gives riding stability and maneuverability when braking. “As a global innovator in vehicle
safety, we aim to work closely with the government, industry, and the motoring public to find sustainable solutions to road accidents,” said Powell.
Powell said Bosch is expanding outside Metro Manila “to be within customers’ reach.” “We aim to continue our expansion efforts outside of Metro Manila to be within reach of our customers in key provincial areas, and we are already looking into potential new locations,” he said. Bosch recently extended its services to Mindanao, by opening a business hub in Cagayan De Oro City. This was the third business hub Bosch put up outside Metro Manila, after those in Cebu and Davao. “We are growing our footprint here. Imperial Manila is not the only place in the Philippines [and] there are many other regions which we believe the provinces got their own expertise, [needs and potential],” said Powell. Powell, who is moving to Indonesia as managing director on July 1, will be replaced by Richard Walker.
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SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 randyproject@yahoo.com
PH NETTER ALCANTARA SHINES IN SINGAPORE FUTURES Tony Lascuña hoists the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship trophy after retaining the crown via a three-stroke romp over Zanieboy Gialon.
LASCUÑA BAGS ICTSI TROPHY WITH 3-SHOT WIN
Francis Casey Alcantara shows his winning form in this piece of action
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GNORING of the problems besetting the sport back home, Filipino ace netter Francis Casey Alcantara did what he does best on the tennis court and shone brightest in Singapore recently. Playing in tandem with Dutch Sem Verbeek, Alcantara completed a masterful sweep of the doubles events of the three-week Singapore Futures. The Filipino-Dutch tandem displaced all its Japanese counterparts in the quarterfinals to win the doubles championship. The duo won the title over Hiroyasu Ehara and Sho Katayama, 6-3, 6-2 in the final to bag the F1 trophy. In the following week, both Alcantara and Verbeekblazed blazed through to the championship round and emerged victorious in the F2 tournament. Alcantara and Verbeek completed a clean sweep after the duo drubbed fourth seeds Yuichi Ito of Japan and Nam Hoang Ly of Vietnam, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the finals to take home the F3 title at the Kallang Tennis Centre in Singapore. “We were very confident going in the third leg, but at the same time, nervous because of the pressure to win again. We just believed in ourselves and carried on. Words can’t describe how happy we are in achieving this feat,” Alcantara, ranked 430 in the world, said after the sweep. The 25-year-old Cagayan de Oro City native is no stranger to the international platform as he had donned the Philippine tricolors on numerous occasions and participated in elite-level events, including the 2009 Australian
Open in Melbourne. Alcantara, who reached his highest junior world standing of No. 14 in 2009, currently occupies the No. 431 seat in the rankings of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Alcantara was named as one of the players that will compose the Philippine National tennis team in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia next month. The line-up was submitted by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) to the office of Southeast Asian Games chef de mission Cynthia Carrion but it was not accepted as the final list because of the leadership squabble in the association. The lineup had the signature of Tony Cablitas, who was purportedly elected president in a recent election that was not recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee. (POC). Despite the warning by the POC that the elections called by Philta board member Romeo Magat will not be recognized, the group of Magat still proceeded with the proceedings and elected Cablitas, whose assumption to the board was still being questioned. The POC only recognizes Edwin Olivarez, mayor of Paranaque City, as Philta president and he alone can call for an election and sign documents, including lineup of athletes for international
competition, in behalf of the association. Athletes like Alcantara an unperturbed and continue to compete outside the country to gain points and boost their international ranking. Alcantara believes that tennis in the Philippines is growing despite the leadership problems and calls on youngsters to take the sport. “Hopefully people will start picking up their rackets and play tennis because it is a good sport.
We do not need to be really big and tall to play tennis. It is also a very good sport to socialize with friends.” Unlike basketball and volleyball, Alcantara admits that tennis has a long way to go in terms of local following. “I hope that tennis will be as popular as basketball and volleyball. I know it would be really hard for that to be achieved but I am really hoping that Pinoy fans would love tennis as they love those other sports. Randy Caluag
Alcantara (3rd from left) and doubles partner Dutch Sem Verbeek during the awarding rites
ANTIPOLO—Tony Lascuña powered his way to another ICTSI Forest Hills Championship crown, beating Zanieboy Gialon for the second straight year on a closing 70 and a three-stroke victory at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club here yesterday. Not even a double-bogey on No. 12 could stymie Lascuña’s drive for another championship or fire up Gialon as the latter lost his putting touch after a scorching three-birdie binge from No. 10 that pulled him within three, settling for pars which the former matched all the way to the finish. “I played according to plan—stay in control and stay focused throughout,” said Lascuña after making it two-in-row here with an 11-under 273 total worth P550,000 he received from ICTSI Public Relations head Narlene Soriano. Gialon carded a second straight 69 for a 276 and took the P370,000 runner-up prize. The victory was not as emphatic as his 11-shot triumph over Gialon and Orlan Sumcad last year but it proved to be just as crushing as Lascuña was never seriously challenged after Jhonnel Ababa threatened to within two with a birdie on No. 2 and fell back just as quickly with a double-bogey on the next. Miguel Tabuena, five behind at the start of the final round of the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI, tried to give chase with a birdie on the seventh but like Ababa, the young top gun faded with a bogey on the 10th. He ended up with a 71 for third at 279 worth P215,000. Gialon bounced back from a one-over frontside card with three straight birdies at the back but the recent Calatagan leg winner could only move no closer than three as he slowed down with missed putts and ended up runner-up for the second straight time. In contrast, Lascuña ran off seven pars to launch his final round charge then closed out the front nine with backto-back birdies and pulled away by six. He birdied No. 11 to hold off a charging Gialon and though he stumbled with a wet 6 on the par-4 No. 12, he found no need for a spectacular finish, his run of pars securing a follow-up to his Manila Masters victory at Eastridge last April for another championship to his vast trophy collection. “I was so confident even if I doublebogeyed No. 12,” said Lascuña, whose victory also erased the stigma of a string of runner-up finishes in the three of the last four legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. The victory also firmed up Lascuña’s hold of the Order of Merit lead with P1,997,702 in earnings heading to the last six legs of the circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.
BANGKARERA CELEBRATES VALUE OF SUSTAINABLE SEAS
The various winners with John Spakowski II (center), RCI Chairman, president and chief executive officer
THE coastal city of Dumaguete was the site of the recently held 2nd Pioneer National Bangkarera, as part of Republic Chemical Industries, Incorporated’s 60th anniversary celebration. Thousands gathered along the city’s main thoroughfare, Rizal Boulevard, to catch the action as 40 teams of fishing boats made up of 144 entries from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao braved the challenging waters to register impressive times. The competition had four categories: the 16HP (Open Category), 7HP (Open Category), 7HP (Angat Sa Dagat Category) and the Paddle Boat (Open Category). Team Pirata of Iligan City ruled the premier 16HP Open Category and pocketed the top purse of P110,000, followed by Team Aranicole of
Bulacan (P80,000) and Team Boracay (P50,000). “We were inspired about helping people with the way they do their living and at the same time use our products to protect and preserve the environment,” said John Spakowski II, RCI Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Republic Chemical Industries is the maker of Pioneer Epoxy bonds, paints and sealants. The race celebrates fishing as a dignified source of livelihood as well as display the high quality of Pioneer adhesives--the preferred brand of the fishermen-participants. Conservation efforts As part of the festivities, Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. (PAFI), led by Executive Director Martina Spakowski, collaborated with the
Siliman University Marine Labs to conduct the Reef Fix project in Dumaguete. The Reef Fix project is part of “Our Earth, Our Responsibility”, PAFI’s environmental campaign that responds to the growing harmful effects of global warming on our environment. During the Reef Fix project in Dumaguete, 10 volunteer divers participated and dove into the sea of Siliman Beach to remove the damaging Drupella and Coralliophilia from the coral reef. The project has also initiated activities to repair 4,600 corals as part of sustained efforts to protect marine sanctuaries in Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Alaminos and Dumaguete City to improve fish catch. Some 11,200 mangroves were also planted by about 1,815 volunteers.
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SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
KAZAKH DEFENDS TITLE IN SURABAYA
Alyssa Valdez
VALDEZ NAMED PVL MVP
Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan proudly display his ONE Championship Flyweight belt. Akhmetov defends his title at ONE: Conquest of Kings at GOR Kertajaya Arena in Surabaya, Indonesia on July 29. ONE Championship
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AIRAT Akhmetov of Kazakhstan defends his ONE Championship Flyweight World crown against Interim champion Adriano Moraes at ONE: Conquest of Kings at GOR Kertajaya Arena in Surabaya, Indonesia on July 29. It will be the first time for the promotion to stage an event in the capital of East Java. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship candidly admitted his excitement at the prospect of returning to Indonesia to stage the promotion. “There is always a tremendous atmosphere and excitement when ONE Championship visits Indonesia, and it is a delight to finally announce our first event for fans in Surabaya. We’re coming at you live and ready to showcase the world’s most authentic display of martial arts. We have a thrilling main event planned, with ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov facing Moraes, in a rematch of their first encounter to crown the undisputed king of the division.” Ticket information for ONE: Conquest of Kings is available at www.onefc.com. Akhmetov of Kazakhstan is
Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship Chatri Sityodtong says he is excited at the prospect of returning to Indonesia to stage another promotion. ONE Championship
undefeated inside the mixed martial arts cage. He boasts an unblemished 23-0 record over his six years as a professional. Akhmetov employs a devastating attack with power in both hands, as well as a tenacious wrestling game that overpowers his opponents. Akhmetov defeated top flyweight and former champion Adriano Moraes to capture the ONE Flyweight World Championship in his last bout. The two are set for a much-anticipated rematch in Surabaya. Interim ONE Flyweight World Champion Moraes had his initial title reign cut short, when he met Akhmetov in November of 2015, losing via split decision. It was a close bout, but Akhmetov’s wrestling proved difficult to handle, even for an athlete of Moraes’ caliber. As champion, Moraes was skillful and dominant, and was rarely opposed inside the ONE Championship cage. In his most recent bout, Moraes secured the Interim Flyweight World Title with a victory over Tilek Batyrov. The rematch with Akhmetov will determine the rightful owner of ONE Championship gold in a highly-anticipated title unification bout. ONE: Conquest of Kings will showcase the beauty and authenticity of the ancient Indonesian combat discipline of Traditional Silat and display the art at the forefront of Asian martial arts. Top Silat practitioners, Khamid Wichaksana and Muchamad Fauzi, will display their amazing skills in the
ONE Championship Flyweight titlist Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan (right) stalks Adriano Moraes. The two face other again at ONE: Conquest of Kings at GOR Kertajaya Arena in Surabaya, Indonesia on July 29. ONE Championship
authentic traditional martial arts. Other fights will feature 32-yearold Toni “Dynamite” Tauru of Utti, Finland facing Leandro Issa of Brazil; Polish Marcin Prachnio stakes his claim as one of the top contenders for the middleweight title against veteran Gilbert Galvao of Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Indonesian martial artist “The Terminator” Sunoto meets Filipino Rocky Batolbatol. In another exciting match Indonesian Mixed martial arts prospect Jerome S. Paye searches for his first victory inside the ONE Championship cage battles 42year old former WBA Boxing World Champion Yodsanan “Little Tyson” Sityodtong of Thailand.
Sityodtong is known as a devastatingly powerful puncher, with the ability to utilize his heavy hands to stop foes with trademark combinations. With 47 KOs in boxing and all three of his mixed martial arts victories ending in similar fashion, Sityodtong is always on the lookout for an abrupt ending to his contests. Currently riding a two-bout winning streak, Sityodtong will be going for number three against Paye. For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www. onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / ONEChampionship.
WHO else but Alyssa Valdez? Valdez, considered by many as the best female volleyball player of this generation, powered the Creamline Cool Smashers to a third place finish to earn the inaugural Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Most Valuable Player award. The outside hitter with the cannonball spikes was unpredictable and fearsome at the offensive end but steady and consistent at the defensive end. She likewise led the statistical race to win the highest individual award. Valdez is a three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines and V-League Most Valuable Player. She averaged 20.7 points per game in topping the scoring department. Her closest pursuer was Grethcel Soltones of BaliPure who scored an average of 13.1 points per game. Valdez was the most consistent spiker the past conference with 37.32 percent success rate. She was second in service aces (0.51 aces per set). The well-rounded Valdez also contributed at the defensive end for the Cool Smashers with 2.47 digs per set. Valdez—who is from San Juan, Batangas—was also named the 1st Best Outside Spiker. Soltones earned the 2nd Best Outside Spiker recognition while teammate Risa Sato and Pocari Sweat’s Jeannette Panaga earned the 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blocker awards. Dimdim Pacres of the Power Smashers was chosen the Best Opposite Spiker. Jasmine Nabor of BaliPure earned the Best Setter award after averaging 8.76 excellent sets per frame. Veteran libero Melissa Gohing of Pocari Sweat grabbed the Best Libero award with an impressive 4.16 excellent digs per set and 37.89 percent success rate with her reception in the elimination round. More good news for Valdez and Creamline fans. Former Ateneo De Manila University setter Jia Morado will beef up the squad in time for the PVL All-Filipino Conference set to start on July 1. The Cool Smashers, led by Valdez and imports Thai Kuttuka Kaewpin and American Laura Schaudt, narrowly missed the finals of the PVL inaugural conference. They settled for third place in the Reinforced Conference and are bristling to improve on that finish. Hoping to do better this PVL second conference Creamline picked up the 22-year old playmaker to reinforce the squad. Morada and Valdez teamed up with Ateneo for three years and helped the Katipunan-based university win back-to-back UAAP titles in Seasons 76 and 77.
BEERMEN TARGET PIVOTAL GAME THREE WITH their best-of-seven championship playoff against TNT KaTropa in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup tied at one win apiece the San Miguel Beermen target a pivotal victory in Game 3 tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. After TNT import Josh Smith converted a crunch time basket to allow TNT to slip past the Beermen in the first game, San Miguel Beer made sure Friday night that no other TNT KaTropa player would be able to spring another surprise. Three-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo took matters
into his own hands as he led the Beermen to the Game 2 victory. SMB import Charles Rhodes had a quiet evening but the SMB locals, led by Fajardo, picked up the slack as the Beermen roared to a 102-88 rout of the TNT KaTropa in the second game. Remembering their 102-104 loss in Game 1, the SMB locals played with a vengeance to overwhelm TNT KaTropa. The Beermen overcame a 0-17 deficit at the start of the game to post the scrambling victory. Fajardo, Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter towed San Miguel which tied the best-of-seven
championship series at 1-1. TNT started the game with both barrels blazing as they went off to a hot 17-0 start by led by Jason Castro, RR Pogoy, Anthony Semerad, Kelly Williams and Moala Tautuaa. The Ka Tropa, however, were stopped and could not contain the determined Beermen who came back strong and eventually seized command of the game and led, 5243, at halftime. Fajardo had another dominant game and came through with a double-double. He finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Ross almost had a double-double effort
with 20 markers and nine assists plus five rebounds. Santos, meanwhile, also played a key role off the bench. He had 16 points and six rebounds. Rhodes, shadowed all game long by TNT’s long-armed defense, struggled for just seven points and 11 rebounds. Smith was likewise contained and had 11 markers, six rebounds and five assists for TNT. The Beermen started tentatively and missed their first six attempts. They turned the ball over thrice before scoring a first basket, thanks to Cabagnot, with already four minutes played in the game.
Talk N Text KaTropa point guard Jayson Castro (middle) drives past a pair of San Miguel Beer defenders in Chris Ross (left) and Marcio Lassiter (13). The Beermen and the Tropang Texters battle in the pivotal Game 3 tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.