Filipinos net

3 silver medals at Singapore nationals

By Peter Atencio

TEAM Philippines, preparing for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, bagged three silver medals at the close of the Singapore National Athletics Championships.

Clinton Kingsley Bautista, Joyme Sequita and John Mike Lera all settled for runner-up finishes behind their respective rivals during the three-day meet.

This gave the Filipinos a sixth-place finish, while Malaysia, Singapore and Chinese Taipei ended up in first, second and third, respectively.

Malaysia scooped up 13 golds, eight silvers and three bronze medals, while Singapore had a 7-7-6 tally, with Chinese Taipei getting six golds and three silvers.

Bautista clocked 14.16 seconds and was at the back of Hanoi Games silver medalist Ang Chen Xiang, who took the gold in 13.89 seconds.

Xiang’s performance was considered a new national record, as he broke the 13.90-second standard, according to results posted on the tournament’s official website.

Bautista’s clocking was far from the national record of 13.78 he set last year in the 2022 SEA Games.

South Korean Dae Hee Kim settled for third at 14.53 seconds.

Sequita, who will be in the men’s 4x400 meter relays with Bautista, settled for second place in the men’s open 400-meter run in 47.73 seconds.

Hanoi SEA Games bronze medallist Calvin Quek took the gold medal in 47.43 seconds.

Lera leaped to a distance of 7.48 meters in the men’s long jump open for the silver, with Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia Hsiang taking the gold medal in 7.66 meters.

Laotian bet Xaida Vongsavanh grabbed the bronze medal (7.23 meters).

A 54-member national squad in athletics has been formed to seek a better performance in the biennial meet in Cambodia.

nesian-foreign players, is seriously intent on keeping the crown as it set up camp in Australia and played with several professional teams. They even reportedly beat a squad from the National Basketball League.

Standhardinger was among the few to answer the national team’s call and reported early for practice even though he was banged up from the recent Governors’ Cup Finals.

And netizens were quick to shower him with praise.

“He is more Filipino than most Fili- pinos. He is serving the country with no complaints or excuses. I Salute you CStan with both hands,” said Michael Buminaang.

“One of the most admirable guys in the league gives little to no reasons when playing the game and gives his all,” Ian Depositario added.

An obvious Ginebra fan even branded Standhardiner as a hero.

“CStan is truly Filipino, he had the blood of our heroes who is willing to sacrifice their personal interests just to fight for the country’s pride and honor. CStan is the Man I salute you! NSD! (Never Say Die).”

Netizens also praised NLEX Warrior veteran Sean Anthony, who volunteered to be a practice player even if he was not invited.

“I admire Sean Anthony also, even though he is not called for Gilas, duty he volunteered himself for practice, while those so-called deserving, wala ‘di nasipot,” said Yetzkie Cortado.

NSAs thank POC for ‘personalized and hands on’ delivery of national team kits for SEA Games

THE Philippine Olympic Committee went the extra mile over the weekend to complete the distribution of national team kits to athletes in 44 sports and disciplines who are seeing action in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games whose opening ceremony is set Friday.

POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was hands on in the distribution process that had its staging area at the Sigtuna Hall of the Tagaytay City Atrium on Saturday and Sunday.

“The POC wants all national team kits to be in the possession of athletes and coaches as soon as possible,” Tolentino said. “We received the kits in batches last Friday and Saturday and we didn’t waste a minute to sort them and send to the preferred locations of national sports associations [NSAs].”

A total of 1,200 national team kits were disposed with the arduous task wrapping up with the final delivery to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

The kits included track suits, tech shirts, socks, backpacks, caps, shoes, towels, string bags, shorts and luggage.

“ Gymnastics supplies received! Thank you POC President @Cong Bambol Tolentino and to your tireless team,” GAP officials told Tolentino in a text message via the POC-NSAs chat group at 9:25 p.m. Sunday.

The kits included track suits, tech shirts, socks, backpacks, caps, shoes, towels and luggage.

“Karate just received all luggage, track suit and shoes,” the karate federation told Tolentino also via text message. “First time supplies are delivered and sent to NSA’s preferred location! Kudos to President Bambol and the POC team for all the hard work!”

The national team kit includes track suits, tech shirts, socks, backpacks, caps, shoes, towels, string bags, shorts and luggage.

“So many inclusions. The athletes are so happy. Thank you again,” said a message from athletes and coaches in Kun Khmer, an indigenous Cambodian martial arts that the hosts included in the Games program.

Supplies for athletes and coaches in cricket, sailing, chess, obstacle sports, volleyball and windsurfing, who flew ahead to the Games, got theirs in Cambodia.

Among those who expressed gratitude to POC via the chat group for getting their supplies were floorball, arnis, weightlifting, tennis, billiards, jiu-jitsu, judo, wrestling, boxing, sepak takraw and basketball.

The 20-year-old Edding is a 6’1” skipper from Zamboanga City, who normed 10.92 points, 7.77 rebounds, 4.62 assists, 2.46 steals in 25 minutes.

Adamson has also added 6-foot FilAm guard Mathew Montebon from Newark Memorial High School in California, along with transferee Eli Ramos from Ateneo.

Meanwhile, the National University Bulldogs will keep Patrick Wilson Yu for two more seasons.

Yu decided to stay on with NU after becoming one of the 5,887 passers in the board exams for civil engineers this year.

The 6’3” playmaker is returning after one season.

Buldogs’ coach Jeff Napa said they will have a fitting substitute to guards Kean Baclaan and Steve Nash Enriquez in their rotation. Peter Atencio

Moraes preparing for biggest fight yet in ONE meet

FORMER ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes is leaving no stones unturned entering the biggest fight of his career.

The Brazilian grappling ace looks to settle his trilogy with ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the main event of ONE Fight Night 10 on 6 May at the sold-out 1stBank Center in Colorado. Things have fallen right into place for Moraes. Not only will he get the chance to come up on top against a fighter who many consider as the greatest to ever do it — he gets to attempt it in ONE’s debut on U.S. soil.

“I consider Johnson the biggest rival of my career. He is considered the best in the world and also in the history of this division. He was my greatest victory, and at the same time, my greatest defeat,” he said.

“I was the first World Champion of ONE’s flyweight category. I’m glad to be one of the pillars of the division and to be in the main event of the first ONE Championship event in the U.S. It will be very significant to beat him here.”

In fact, he’s going full-throttle now at American Top Team in Florida to sharpen every facet of his game to prepare for Johnson’s multi-pronged attacks.

“Because it is a trilogy, the preparation is more detailed because we know each other well, but it is intense training the same way [as with any other opponent],” he said.

“I have great training partners and coaches that help me every day.

Katel Kubis for Muay Thai, Steve Mocco and Mike Brown for wrestling, Pitu and Gabriel de Oliveira in boxing, Marcos ‘Parrumpinha’ and Rani Yahya in jiu-jitsu.

“‘Cobrinha’ came here and helped, and ‘Buchecha’ helps me in grappling as well. In MMA there is Pedro Munhoz, Alexandre Pantoja, and other guys who help me a lot.”