PSC vows continued support for athletes

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann reiterated the agency’s commitment to support elite athletes as far as resources and policies would allow.

Bachmann, who has been cheering Filipino athletes fighting in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, praised their determination and dedication to win.

“It is really amazing to see their hard work translate into medals,” said the agency chief who made the rounds of training venues in the first months of his leadership, in order to get to know the athletes.

Bachmann shared that the commission is actively looking after the athletes’ needs.

The Philippine government, through the PSC, is bankrolling the participation of the delegation, covering airfare, early-arrival expenses, uniforms, allowances, equipment, supplies, manpower, medical support, and other expenses.

Highly-charged start looms as ICTSI golf unfolds

TARLAC – Unfazed by the depth of talent in the ICTSI Luisita Championship roster, Tony Lascuña expects to be in the mix early, armed with a form honed through years of practice and hard work and a confidence boosted by a recent win.

But the multi-titled Davaoeño would need more than everything to score a repeat over the cream of the country’s pro crop, made up of fellow Philippine Golf Tour leg winners Ira Alido and Rupert Zaragosa, The Country Club Invitational back-to-back champion Guido van der Valk and Asian Tour campaigners Angelo Que, Lloyd Go and Miguel Tabuena.

Add club pro Clyde Mondilla and fellow veterans Jhonnel Ababa, Zanieboy Gialon, Michael Bibat, Reymon Jaraula, Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan and young guns Sean Ramos, Gabriel Manotoc, Kristoffer Arevalo, Josh Jorge, Russell Bautista, Elee Bisera, Jonas Magcalayo and Korean Rho Hyun Ho, a scramble of a start today (Tuesday) indeed looms in the P2 million champion at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here. “I’m always ready. Daily practice keeps me in good shape,” said Lascuña, also one of the swing coaches at Manila Southwoods. “Kung ibibigay sa akin ni Lord, thank you, kung hindi okay lang. Basta alam ko lagi akong may laban.”

So do the rest of the 63-player starting field all geared up for four days of battle of shotmaking, iron play, putting and wits on an exacting course that also puts premium on accuracy and decision-making.

Lascuña last won at Luisita in 2016 when he turned what was expected to be a wild finish into a runaway victory with a closing 65. But he has not seriously figured in the title race at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.designed layout since, ending up tied at fifth in last year’s edition won by Tabuena via sudden death over Mondilla.

But given his vintage performances the last two months that saw him post back-to-back runner-up finishes in Bacolod and Iloilo and score a three-shot romp over Que and Go at Caliraya, Lascuna easily sets out as the marked player in the fourth leg of this year’s circuit put up by ICTSI.

But Mondilla, Que and Go are all hungry to join Alido, Zaragosa and van der Valk in the list of this year’s leg winners and Tabuena back to defend the crown and a slew of others, including the young guns, raring to spoil the fancied bets’ respective bids.

Mondilla, for one, hopes to get the job done after a couple of final round struggles in Bacolod and Caliraya, exuding confidence of a successful showing on a course which he also calls home and where he last reigned in 2018.

But Que is also due for a big finish and Go is out to nail the elusive first win, ensuring a highly-charged kickoff to the 72-hole championship featuring one of the strongest casts in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

The agency also took care of training, exposure competitions and other Pre-SEAG expenditures.

So far, more than P200 million has been disbursed to cover SEA Games related expenses.

Asked about the delegation’s prospects, Bachmann remarked that the aim is always to finish better than the last performance and “with all these medals coming, and the remaining expected medals which have not yet been competed in, I am hopeful for more wins.”

During the 31st edition in Hanoi last year, the country finished 4th overall with 52 gold, 70 silver and 105 bronze medals.

WANGS Basketball @27 Striker – Letran and Marinerong PilipinoSan Beda rekindle their rivalry, while Centro Escolar University and AMA Online gun for their first win in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Tuesday at the Fioil EcoOil Center in San Juan. Bringing their animosity from the NCAA, the Knights (0-0) and the Red Lions (1-1) lock horns in the main game at 4 p.m. after the opening duel between the Scorpions (01) and the Titans (0-1) at 2 p.m. San Beda split its first two outings – a loss against neophyte PSP Gymers and a big win versus reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle – before testing the mettle of long-time collegiate rival Letran in its debut.

“Kailangan handa kami sa defending NCAA champion (Letran). We have utmost respect for them, they’re the 3-peat NCAA champion for a reason. It’s a rivalry so let’s see,” said San Beda mentor Yuri Escueta, who’ll be up against a new Letran counterpart Rensy Bajar.

Bajar has been appointed last month to succeed Bonnie Tan with a mission of extending the Knights’ winning tradition, starting in the D-League.

Both squads are parading young units with the graduation of their key stalwarts. Yukien Andrada and Jacob Cortez banners San Beda’s bid against Letran holdovers Kurt Reyson and Kobe Monje.

CEU and AMA, meanwhile, are out to shrug off their opening day losses and barge into the winner’s circle at the expense of each other in an expected gritty duel.

“Most of our players are first timers in PBA D-League. They were overwhelmed not only being on TV but also playing against the defending champs. I have to do a better job of preparing them, not just physically but mentally as well,” said coach Jeff Perlas as CEU bowed to La Salle in the opener, 84-62.

“Baka i-activate na namin ‘yung key players namin. And we need to adjust our defense especially vs CEU na may import. We need gang rebounding against them,” said AMA mentor Mark Herrera.