Rizal arena readied for FIBA practice sessions

By Peter Atencio

PRACTICE venues for the world’s best basketball players, like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with other stars of the National Basketball Association comprising Team USA, are being readied inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann said this with less than 100 days left before the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Bachmann, who is also the chairman of the interagency task force in charge of the country’s World Cup hosting, said renovation of the facilities for these players and national athletes, are continuing.

“There’s a lot of construction going on,” said Bachmann.

The Philippines will play host to USA and Serbia, along with cagers from Lithuania and Greece, which have top-caliber

World Slasher Cup ‘23 lures best breeders

SOME 200 entries are expected to join the second edition of the World Slasher Cup 2023, considered as one of the most prestigious cockfighting event in the world.

Organizing committee chairman Dong Lamoste said they are welcoming their participation in the two-weekend event, slated from May 22 to 30 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We are going to see the best breeders around,” said Lamoste following Saturday’s presser at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall.

Just like last year, the top breeders from Guagua, Pampanga will mix it up with other participants and top cockfighting groups, which are mostly based in Central Luzon.

Among the top five entries who were named champions early this year are also around, namely Cali Dreamers Lagitik, Jonah, SFVM Sagupaan King Cutter, Mulawin 1, and Thunderbird II. All five ended their campaigns with 8-1 win-loss slates, with anyone of them capable of reaching the finals again.

Last year, at least three aggressive bloodlines of fighting cocks took centerstage as top entries

D’ Shipper/ BBB and Guagua Cockpit 1 made it to the finale of the 2022 World Slasher Cup 2 9-cock derby.

The two-day elimination round was slated May 22 to 23, while the semis will be from May 24 to 25.

Following a three-day break, action resumes with the pre-finals on May 29 and the finals on May 30.

Breeders have been using combined lineage of the Boston and Gray Sweaters, along with the Kelso lineage since cockfighting returned last year.

“We are expecting the biggest and most respected names in the field to join us for the second edition,” said Uniprom Inc. Chief Operating Officer Irineo Jose. Peter Atencio

NBA players in their roster.

The four are considered as among the top-ranked teams in the world and they will set foot on Philippines shores in time for the Group Phase.

Greece and Serbia will be among the teams to watch out for, with NBA stars like Jokic of Serbia and Antetokounmpo of Greece, expected to be seen at the vicinity of the Vito Cruz facilities. Bachmann bared that the badminton hall will also be used by organizers in monitoring the progress of events taking place.

The world meet will run from August 25 to September 10, with Angola, Dominican Republic, Italy, South Sudan, China, Puerto Rico, Jordan, New Zealand, Egypt, Mexico, and Montenegro also set to have games slated at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.