Sports
Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019
Team USA forward Jason Tatum (with ball) elevates to attempt a slam dunk against the Australian Boomers during their exhibition game at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. AFP
Mojdeh, Tom to share Batang Pinoy spotlight Ravena returns to action KIEFER Ravena can count his blessings. That’s because the 25-year-old finally saw action when Gilas Pilipinas battled the Australian club Adelaide 36ers in their second tuneup game that was being played as we went to press yesterday evening. Ravena’s FIBA suspension ended on Saturday, 18 months after he was punished for taking a pre workout drink which contained banned substances. Because of this, Ravena can join in all FIBA-sanctioned basketball activities, as he finally played his first official game. “I’m in good terms with everyone (with Gilas teammates). I’m blessed to be part of a program na nagbibigay pa rin sa iyo ng chance despite being suspended for a year and a half. That matchup comes with Ravena celebrating his birthday, and with coach Yeng Guiao set to make a final decision on the team’s final composition. In their first tuneup game, the 36ers rallied from and claimed a 92-83 triumph over Gilas last Friday at the Meralco gym. The games serve as Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the coming FIBA World Cup, The 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool is on its final phase of preparation, with less than two weeks to go before the start of the 2019 Fiba World Cup in China. And Team Pilipinas will be meet 32 of the best teams in the world. The national pool welcomed the addition of Robert Bolick Jr. and CJ Perez in their tuneup game in Spain recently. Peter Atencio
By Peter Atencio
P
UERTO PRINCESA CITY—Outstanding swimmers Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Aubrey Tom will share the spotlight when the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy reels off today. With 14 gold medals at stake in swimming, Mojdeh and Tom will seek the top honors in 10 events that will be held on opening day at the Speaker Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex. During the Luzon qualifiers, the 12-year-old Mojdeh, swept all her five events, and held her ground again older rivals in the 13-15 years old level at the Isabela Sports Complex back in March. Mojdeh, a seventh-grader from Immaculate Heart of Mary College capped her amazing effort by topping the 200-meter butterfly, and she added this to earlier triumphs in the 100m and 50m fly and 200m and 400m individual medley.
Choco Mucho spiker Kat Tolentino bangs in a power hit against Chef’s Classic’s Trisha Paras in PVL Open Conference action at The Arena in San Juan.
Gilas Pilipinas Girls place third in 3X3 U-18 Asia Cup THE Gilas Pilipinas Girls team ranked eighth in the world at the end of their 2019 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 Asia Cup campaign last Saturday in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. This was after the Filipinas toppled China, 14-11 in the bronze medal match. And, this will be best finish ever for a Filipina team in the continental tournament, and after finishing with four wins and a loss. Japan and Australia later claimed the men’s and women’s crown. This was after Japan won easily over Kazakhstan, 21-13, in the men’s side. In the women’s side, Australia swept its five-game assignment, and dominated Japan, 21-10. Australia’s Shyla Heal, who is the
Despite cloudy and rainy weather prevailing in the region, Mojdeh’s effort will serve as her bid to make the final cut the national swimming team, which hold its final tryouts at the Philippine National Open swimming meet this Saturday at the New Clark City in Tarlac. And Mojdeh’s bid is expected to benefit Paranaque’s efforts in the 3-day aquatics competition. On the other hand, the 12-year old Tom is set to carry Cainta, Rizal’s campaign, and after she rule the girls 50-meter backstroke, 50m butterfly, the 200m IM, 100m freestyle and the 50m backstroke the last time around. Around 10,000 athletes from 243 local
government units are battling it out for top honors and sporting excellence. Davao City has brought in the biggest delegation of 320 athletes and seek out the honors of being best performing LGU that will receive a sports program package worth P5 million. For the runners-up, the second to fifth placing LGUs will get incentives worth P4M, P3M, P2M and P1M, respectively. There are a total of 820 gold, 820 silver and 1,395 bronze medals that are at stake in 31 various disciplines in this weeklong meet. Spots will be available to the national team which will see action in next year’s Children of Asia Games in Russia and in this event backed by MILO. Action on Day One will be in arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, dancesports, futsal, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, muaythai, pencak silat, rugby football, sepak takraw, table tennis, indoor and beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.
daughter of Australian basketball legend Shane Heal, claimed the MVP honors after leading her team with 8 points in the finals. Japan’s Saori Yasue took the MVP honors in the women’s division after totaling 42 points, Gilas Girls’ Kristine Cayabyab. The game was tied at 11-all when Kristine Cayabyab put the Philippines after following up on Ella Fajardo miss with 55 ticks to go. In the next play, Camille Clarin forced a held ball, or a turnover against China’s Xianglin Wu. Angelica Surada then stripped Yingjie Chen before being fouled, China’s seventh. Peter Atencio
US better off after shock loss —Popovich MELBOURNE, Australia—Veteran United States basketball coach Gregg Popovich insists his team are better for their shock loss to Australia, which has thrown the upcoming World Cup in China wide open. The Boomers’ 98-94 upset in Melbourne on Saturday was their first ever victory against the USA and snapped a run of 78 consecutive American wins in major competitions and exhibition games. The defeat came barely a week before the World Cup tips off, where the five-time champions will be defending their title. And they suffered another setback with Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma ruled out of the tournament with a left ankle injury. San Antonio Spurs mastermind Popovich, who has a young squad after a host of high-profile NBA stars opted out, said it was all part of the learning curve. “The loss means that we need to play better, and it’s a measure of who you are. Nobody wins forever,” he said. “This is a group of guys that has worked very hard to get to know each other and to get to know a system. And whatever comes, we can handle. “Our job is to try to get better every day, and we learned some things (against Australia),” he added. “We are actually a better team now than at the start of the game, because of the knowledge that we gained. So, you move on.” AFP
Hernandez lifts UST to PVL leadership ROOKIE middle blocker Imee Hernandez unloaded 20 points to lift University of Sto. Tomas past College of St. Benilde, 21-25, 25-22, 2519, 24-26, 15-12, yesterday, Sunday in the PVL Collegiate Conference at the Arena in San Juan. The Tigresses had to survive a maze of 46 errors as they leaned on the 16 attacks, three blocks and an by Hernandez to carve out the victory and stay unbeaten in two matches. They thus grabbed a share of Pool B lead with idle Arellano University. Hernandez scored three in a 4-1 run that pushed UST at match point, 14-12. Rachelle Roldan then nailed the final nail on cross court kill. In the PVL Open Conference, Creamline got back at PetroGazz with its power, teamwork and poise, carving out a 25-19, 28-26, 25-20 victory to extend its win run to five and firm up its hold of the lead in PVL Season 3. Celine Domingo stepped up for injured starter Pau Soriano and more than filled up the slack, unleashing a nine-attack game and coming through with two kill blocks as she complemented well with the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza and Risa Sato, playmaker Jia Morado and libero Kyla Atienza. The Cool Smashers actually bucked three set points in the second as they kept their composure while pouncing on the Angels’ faulty receptions to steal the frame then pulled away late in the third behind Sato and Valdez to complete the straight romp. The Angels, who beat the Cool Smashers to snare the Reinforced Conference crown recently, slipped to 1-2.
Unbeaten Marinerong Pilipino Skippers battle iWalk Chargers Games Monday
(Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan) 1:30 p.m. — BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare vs McDavid-La Salle Araneta 3:30 p.m. — iWalk vs Marinerong Pilipino 5:30 p.m. — Hazchem vs Asia’s Lashes
MARINERONG Pilipino targets a top two spot in Group A when it meets iWalk today, Monday in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The unbeaten Skippers can annex their winning run to five and claim twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals if they hurdle the Chargers in this 3:30 p.m. clash. And coach Yong Garcia knows it.
“Ang sabi ko nga, mate-test ang team namin. Sa next round, talagang malalakas na yung team namin kaya magandang chance ito sa amin na makaharap ng mga beteranong team,” he said. Eloy Poligrates has been the shining light for Marinerong Pilipino in this 4-0 run, as seen in its 73-51 victory over Asia’s Lashes last week. He’ll also have JR Alabanza and Jhonard Clarito by his side in this quest to assure the Skippers of an edge come playoff time. It won’t be a walk in the park, though, with the Chargers also looking to boost their playoff hopes as they currently sit with a 2-2 card. BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare also shoots for a playoff spot when it returns to action against winless McDavid-La
Salle Araneta at 1:30 p.m. The Saints are coming off a 20-day break, with their last game being an 8570 whipping of TIP back in August 5. And for coach Stevenson Tiu, with all due respect to his foes, he doesn’t feel like BRT Sumisip-St. Clare has been really tested yet through his side’s first three games. “Hindi kami ma-push to the limit, kung hanggang saan ang team namin,” he said, with the Saints’ average winning margin being 35.0 points. “Gusto din sana namin makakuha ng close games habang nasa eliminations para makuha din namin jelling.” Asia’s Lashes Tomas Morato (2-2) caps off the busy game day at 5:30 p.m. as it eyes to boost its playoff hopes when it collides with Hazchem (1-2).