Sports
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FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
Mighty Sports faces dangerous Iran M
IGHTY Sports Apparel-Philippines battles perennial rival Iran today with coach Charles Tiu looking to start its title campaign on a high note at the Changhua gym in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Mesut Ozil
adidas, Arsenal launch new partnership ADIDAS Football and Arsenal launched a progressive new era for the London club. Revealing a fresh new home strip design that nods to the iconic adidas shirts of the past with a distinctively modern twist, the debut collection sets the tone for an innovative new partnership. The all-new kit design for the 2019/20 season features a classic allover red body, complimented by popping white sleeves and contrasting collar. The white high collar design is emblazoned with a central red stripe and black trimming. This design is repeated on both sleeves and the distinctive three stripes run across the shoulder in a bright white. The 2019/20 home kit kicks off the brand-new partnership between adidas and Arsenal, which aims to push the club forward both on and off the pitch. “Arsenal has always had a unique culture that has seen them at the forefront of innovation, redefining the game, whilst staying true to their core values. We’re excited to be a part of that and, of course, delivering iconic kits that Arsenal fans love” adidas Football General Manager Nick Craggs commented. Managing Director of Arsenal, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “adidas’ core values mirror ours, they’re progressive and innovative and their bold ambitions for the club and the partnership are aligned with our own. We’re excited to have adidas by our side as we continue to develop and push boundaries together both on and off the field, the Arsenal way”. “The release is accompanied by a film ‘This is home’, which explores a timely and powerful message of inclusion; showing how first team players from around the world feel so at home in London and at Arsenal, they’ve become part of the fabric of the club and the community, adopting accents of North London and real Arsenal fans. The spot features players past and present alongside fans including Idris Elba, Ian Wright, Tony Adams, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Vivianne Miedema and Mattéo Guendouzi.”
San Juan, Naga 5 fight for title, P1M THE inaugural season of the Community Basketball Association Pilipinas Cup will come to a fitting conclusion with National Capital Region champion San Juan and Bicol titlist Naga battling for the coveted Founder’s Cup and the whopping P1-million cash prize on Monday. CBA founding president Carlo Maceda said the winner-take-all encounter between the Knights Exile and the Water Borne will provide a fitting finish to the three-month long, community-based tournament held in different parts of the country. “We expect a good fight between San Juan and Naga for the bragging rights to become the first-ever CBA national champion and the P1-million prize,” said Maceda during the 30th “Usapang Sports” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila. “This is the product of all the hard work of the CBA and the men and women behind it, as well as the team owners, coaches and players and their respective LGUS and sponsors,” added Maceda during the weekly sports forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR, CBA and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks. San Juan first assistant coach Yong Garcia said the Knights are confident of winning the title with the championship game to be played starting at 5 p.m. on Monday at the San Juan gym.
While the roster of the five-time champion remains a mystery for both Tiu and Serbian consultant Rajko Toroman, the Go For Gold-backed Mighty Sports is not taking any chances in their 3 p.m. showdown “We still don’t know which team Iran will be fielding, but I’m sure it’s not their elite team,” said Tiu, who also served as one of the deputies of Gilas Pilipinas Youth that competed in the just-concluded FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Greece. “Still, we have to play to the best that we can since we want to have a winning start,” said Tiu. Even the godfathers of the team— Alex Wongchuking of Mighty Sports and Willy Ocier of Go For Gold—are both looking for a great start in their bid to regain the title the team won in
Game Today (Changhua gym) 3 p.m. – Mighty Sports vs Iran
its initial foray team three years ago. “We are representing our country so I told our players, to give their level best each game. That’s one way of entertaining our kababayans our there,” said Wonghuking. Out to lead Mighty Sports are former San Miguel import Renaldo Balkman, Zach Graham, McKinzie Moore, Eugene Phelps and Fil-Am Jason Brickman. Also expected to deliver the goods for the team are Jason Gray and Roosevelt Adams, who helped Mighty Sports finish third in the tough Dubai Invita-
Members of Go For Gold-backed Mighty Sports Philippines leave for Taiwan to compete in the Jones Cup—the event it won via an 8-game sweep three years ago.
tional tournament last February. Other members of the team are former PBA star Joseph Yeo, MPBL MVP Gab Banal, former Ateneo player Aaron Black and Mikey Williams. Enjoying the advantage of having seven imports, Mighty Sports posted a whopping average winning margin of 17.4 points three years ago in completing an eight-game sweep of
the championship that mirrored the 1981 feat of the Ron Jacobs-mentored Northern Consolidated After Iran, Mighty Sports faces powerhouse Jordan on Saturday, Japan on Sunday, Canada on Monday and Korea on Tuesday before taking a two-day break. “It’s a tight first five days sked for us that’s why we need to have a good start,” said Tiu.
Liyab’s Enderr 2 wins shy of historic spot in world tourney
Awesome with his long game, Angelo Que also flourishes with his irons to seize control of the stellar international field. Meanwhile, a late charge puts American Christopher Hickman back in title chase.
Que storms ahead with 65, leads by 2 CARMONA, Cavite—Angelo Que went on an attack mode and got what he wanted—a bogey-free 65 that put the Japan PGA Tour campaigner on top, two strokes ahead of American Christopher Hickman and Justin Quiban in the third round in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship at the Legends course here yesterday. Que beat Hickman and Aussie Tim Stewart in a duel of power and went aggressively for the pins with his irons, including the two par-3s at the front which he birdied, finishing with four more at the back capped by back-to-back feats to complete a solid 33-32 card he preserved with five scrambling pars. After 54 holes, the former Philippine Open champ finally took charge after lurking behind the leaders in the first two days, pooling a 16-under 197 that included a 65 and 67 – low rounds he dished out without the benefit of a practice round following a stint in the Japan PGA championship last week. “I really had a good round but it
could been bigger (lead) had I holed in a couple more birdie tries. But it’s a good thing that I made great pars on Nos. 2, 8, 11, 13 and 15,” said Que, adding another 65 would be enough to secure his first win on PGT Asia. But sneaking into the title picture is young Quiban, a former PGT Asia leg winner at Luisita in 2017 but didn’t really earn a second look when the $100,000 event took off Tuesday given the depth of the competing international field. But the former amateur hotshot, who also won a PGT leg in Bacolod last year, proved he’s up to the task, birdying the first two holes and bucking two bogeys with four more birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th to fire a 65 and earn another crack at the top $17,500 purse. And he did it after missing grabbing a share of the second round lead with two bogeys in the last three holes at the front Wednesday, dropping him instead to joint fourth, three strokes off Hickman. But with his second six-under card,
Quiban tied Hickman at second at 199 with the erstwhile leader bouncing back with late birdies, three in the last five, to shoot a 68 and stay in the title hunt in his first foray on the region’s emerging circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “I have five guys at my back who are more than capable of catching up. All of them are playing good so I have to watch out,” said Que, adding another 65 to firm up his title drive. “I think my chances are good despite going 2-down,” said Hickman. “I just have to stay patient and try to have many looks at birdies. I played my last six holes at 3-under and that’s a positive sign.” Quiban also brims with confidence despite going up against two power hitters. “I’m driving it really well and I’m confident with my wedges. My putting has been steady and I don’t think I will be intimidated by Angel (Que), who I will be playing with in the championship flight for the first time,” said Quiban.
CAVIAR Napoleon “Enderr” Acampado moved closer to an elusive stint in the Starcraft ll Fall World Championship Series of 2019 in Montreal, Canada. Enderr, a standout of Team Liyab, the professional esports team of Globe in partnership with Mineski, progressed through the group stage after racking impressive wins in the Oceania-Southeast Asia Qualifiers of the biggest StarCraft ll event in the world. “Being able to get in the group stage of the Oceania-SEA qualifier is a great confidence booster for me heading to the 2019 World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, especially if I can make it to the WCS main event in Montreal, Canada,” Enderr says. Enderr, who is seeded 5th in the event, drew a bye in the first round before facing Lobo in their best-of-three encounter. The Filipino Zerg standout blanked Lobo, 2-0, to move into the third round. In the next round, Enderr proved steadier in nipping Pezzapery, 2-1, to book a last 4 showdown against Demi12. A win in the qualifier will give Enderr an automatic slot in the Montreal WCS Finals in September. “We are continuously supporting Enderr as he takes another step towards the international stages of StarCraft ll. With consistent training, focus and determination, Enderr has shown that the Philippines can once again shine in global tournaments of professional esports,” Brian “Neme” Victa, assistant General Manager of Liyab Esports, adds. The StarCraft ll World Championship Series is a StarCraft ll professional tournament series organized and sanctioned by Blizzard Entertainment. It combines the highest levels of professional StarCraft ll competition. Moreover, it offers an-all expense paid trip to all qualifiers and a total of $100,000 in cash prizes to winners For more about Globe Telecom, visit www.globe.com.ph
Kenyans rule Manila Bay Clean-Up Run KENYANS Matthew Kipkorir Sigei, Leonard Kimboi, and Jackson Circhir—running mere seconds apart—were the top three finishers in the 21K race at last Sunday’s Manila Bay CleanUp Run, while Christine Hallasgo, April Diaz, and Maricar Camacho headed the women’s division in the same fashion. In the 10K race, James Kevin Cruz, Gilbert Laido, and Anthony Nerza ruled the men’s division, while marathon veteran Luisa Raterta, Jocelyn Elijeran, and Rica Moreno took the top three spots in the women’s division. Among the 5K racers, Immuel Camino, Evelon Abutas, and Rowel Galvero emerged winners in the men’s division, with Joida Gagnao, Joneza Sus-
tituedo, and Emmalyn Taypin taking the medals in the women’s category. And in the 3K run, Erwin Mancao, Michael Gomez, and Norbert Cailao, together with their female counterparts Lina and Liza Abutas, plus Angel Mendoza, clocked in fastest. The 2019 Manila Bay CleanUp Run was a project of Manila Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay, with support from Symdex-D, Pride detergent, Unique toothpaste, Shield bath soap, Asian Institute of Computer Studies, White Flower Embrocation, Star Wax, Smart dishwashing paste, White Rose Kojic Whitening Soap, Pocari Sweat, and Olympic Village.
Participants answer the starting gun in the Manila Bay Clean-Up Run.