young Filipino gymnasts train with Yulo in Japan

By Peter Atencio

WORLD champion Carlos Yulo has welcomed his brother Eldrew and national team member, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Juan Miguel Besana in his training camp in Tokyo, Japan.

Carlos, Besana and Eldrew flew to Tokyo with national coach Reyland Capellan, a day after their competitions in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia ended last week.

Besana and Eldrew have been able to witness the practice sessions of Japanese gymnasts preparing for international meets with the 23-year-old Yulo.

“Nakakatuwa po na nakita po nila ang mga teammates ko dito. Natutulala po sila sa mga nakikita nila sa mga practice,” said Yulo in a Zoom meeting with scribes. Besana and Eldrew will be with Yulo for a month.

The 22-year-old Besana will be handled by Yulo's coach Munehiro Kugimiya, while

Uy stumbles, but recovers to pull away by 4 strokes

DANIELLA Uy checked an impending backside slide with a blazing four-birdie splurge in the last eight holes as she saved a 73 and doubled her overnight two-shot lead, this time over arch rival Harmie Constantino heading to the final 18 holes of the ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters yesterday. It was indeed a stirring rebound for the former Junior World champion, who started the round two shots clear of Chihiro Ikeda and Marvi Monsalve but looked headed for an early foldup that has marred her drive for a second crown in two of the first four Ladies Philippine Golf Tour events this year.

Uy’s three bogeys at the front and a double mishap on the par-4 10th led to a crowded leaderboard although Korean Seoyun Kim, Harmie Constantino, Ikeda and Monsalve all failed to really cash in on to dislodge the erstwhile leader.

Instead, Uy struck back with a birdie on No. 11 then built on the momentum to gain clutch strokes on Nos. 13, 14 and 16 for a 39-34. With a 143 total, Uy found herself ahead by four with Constantino taking the challenger’s role again at 147 after a 72 and Kim staying on course for a breakthrough win with a 148 after a second straight 74.

“I struggled at the front, mahirap ang pin placements,” said Uy. “But I had three long putts for birdies at the back.”

Monsalve, who also fumbled with a frontside 39, likewise made three bogeys in the first six holes at the back but birdied the last hole for a 77 for fourth at 149.

Ikeda kept Uy within sight despite a frontside 39 but fell to fifth with a second 39 marred by three straight mishaps from No. 14, her 78 dropping her seven shots off the leader with a 150.

Eldrew will be under the care of Capellan, who has since gone home to Manila following a short stay in Japan

The Yulo brothers and Besana are getting ready for two major international competitions in Singapore next month.

It was Capellan who mentored the national men’s squad, which collected four golds and two silver medals in the biennial Cambodia meet.

Eldrew is preparing to see action in the 16th Asian Junior Artistic Championships on July 10 to 13.

On the other hand, Besana, who claimed the men’s vault gold in Cambodia, will be part of the national team that will compete in the 10th Asian Senior Artistic Gymnastics Championships from July 10 to 18 at the OCBC Arena inside the Singapore Sports Hub.

The elder Yulo came out as the country’s most bemedalled athlete in the regional meet for the third straight time, taking home a pair of golds and two silvers. Besana expressed hopes that he will be able to show improvement and join Yulo to the next world championships in Antwerp, Belgium in September.

Gretchen Villacencio carded a second 76 for a 152 while Sarah Ababa also matched her first round 77 for a 154 followed by Lucy Landicho, who likewise shot a second straight 78 for a 156 even as Mafy Singson fought back from a first round 84 with a 73 to seize solo eighth at 157 and boost her bid for another low amateur honors in the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI.

Kim actually accidentally slipped at the hotel and played with a bandaged knee all day, catching Uy at the helm with a best frontside 35 on two birdies against a bogey. But she yielded strokes on the first two holes at the back and settled for six straight pars before holing out with another miscue for a second straight twoover par round.

Four-up and all-pumped up, Uy hopes to finally secure the win with a gutsy final round performance as she bids to erase the stigma of her sudden death loss to Constantino at Luisita two weeks ago that had the latter battling back from six shots down and outlasting the former in a playoff.

Constantino, meanwhile, stressed the need to work on her irons and come up with better placing off the tee as she seeks a second straight LPGT win and remain queen at Villamor after foiling top amateur Rianne Malixi in the inaugural ICTSI Match Play Invitational last November.

THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines has joined the Department of Interior and Local Government in its campaign against drug use in the country.

On Thursday, at the Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood City, the UAAP, together with professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association and Premier Volleyball League, joined forces to represent the sports sector in the launch of the ministry's "BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan)" program.

Atty. Rene "Rebo" Saguisag, the executive director of the UAAP, said involving athletes in the government's anti-drug campaign is a positive step forward since they serve as role models for the youth.

"We welcome this new approach to a long-standing problem – the landscape has changed significantly, and so must our strategies," said Saguisag, who is also a councilor in the first district of Makati City. "Today's studentathletes also play a crucial role in shaping society, and they can do so through constantly evolving platforms."

Also representing the UAAP were Season 85 Vice President Rodrigo Roque of University of the East and De La Salle University's representative to the Board of Managing Directors Emmanuel Calanog.

The UAAP will actively participate in this campaign through its sporting events.

MIAMI (AFP) – No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the NBA playoffs but after their win at the Miami Heat on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics clearly sense a chance of history.

The Heat, now 3-1 up in the series, still only need one more win to progress to the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets and remain clear favourites, so long as their flat second half performance proves to be just an aberration.

But having responded to the threat of a clean sweep from the Heat, Boston are hoping that with a raucous home crowd behind them on Thursday at The Garden they can force a game six.

"As cliche as it sounds, we just tried to take it one game at a time. We tried to break it down. We didn't play well the first three games, we didn't deserve to win, but we didn't want that to define us, define the season," said Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics with 33 points.

"We've still got a long uphill battle to go. But (this) was a good start. Just to try to carry this momentum towards Thursday".

Another below-par performance, after Sunday's heavy 128-102 loss on home court, would have raised questions about the team's spirit and the future of head coach Joe Mazzulla.

But the Celtics again looked like the determined unit who finished second in the Eastern Conference regular season and dealt confidently with Atlanta and Philadelphia in the post-season.

"We didn't want to come out and lay an egg. We wanted to come out and play together, wanted to come out and trust each other, come out and play some defense, have some pride about yourself and find a way to win a game. We're all more than capable of doing it. We got it done," said Jaylen Brown.

Heat fans had arrived hoping to celebrate a seventh NBA Finals appearance for the three-times champions but left the arena deflated.

The question is whether, after an unexpected run as the eighth seed in the East, the Heat players will suffer a similar loss of energy and spirit?

"I didn't sense any of that," said head coach Erik Spoelstra.

"At some point, this is great competition. You know, sometimes it can get skewed, because, whatever, the 3-0. But we have great respect for Boston, what they are capable of. They are a dynamic offensive team that takes extraordinary efforts and commitment to get the job done. Our guys really want this," he added.

A common refrain from the Heat players after the loss was that the team, who lost to Atlanta in their first play-in game and then beat top seeded Milwaukee in the first round before dealing with the New York Knicks, have been at their best when under pressure.

"We know and everybody else knows, we don't typically get things the easy way over here," said small forward Caleb Martin.

"This is right up our alley. This is the way it goes for us and guys like us. Again, I think it's only going to prepare us for the long run. This could be good for us."

Scorpions stay in hunt for semis seat

Games on Tuesday (Filoil EcoOil Centre)

2 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda vs CEU

4 p.m. – Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran vs Perpetual

CENTRO Escolar University outlasted the PSP Gymers in double overtime, 109-107, to stay in the race for a semifinal berth in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Ron Rei Tolentino saved the day for CEU with the go-ahead trey in the last 18 seconds as the Scorpions improved to 3-2 record and set up crucial duel against Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda on Tuesday.

Franz Ray Diaz scattered 21 with five rebounds and seven assists to show the way for the Scorpions while Tolentino finished with 20-points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Another win by CEU against San Beda (4-1) on Tuesday gives the Scorpions a bright chance of finishing the eliminations in the Top Two and the luxury of an outright semifinal berth.

“Wala na ‘yung Xs and Os dito eh. It’s all about heart. And hats off to our players for not giving up. Hindi sila sumuko against a veteran team like PSP,” said CEU coach Jeff Perlas.

“Like our game against Letran in OT, I challenged them and they responded. It’s a big win for us at iyon nga, still hoping na makaangat pa lalo sa rankings.”

The Gymers appeared on the way to another stunning win until Tolentino’s 3-point play late in regulation forced overtime.

Jerome Santos, Ayodeji Victor Balogun and Mark Anthony Anagbogu chipped in 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Scorpions, who battled the Gymers to 21 lead changes and 16 deadlocks.

PARIS – Twelve months ago, a despondent Wu Yibing was retiring with injury from a low-level clay court tournament in Italy, earning a meagre 530 euros ($570) for his troubles.

Fast-forward a year and 23-year-old Wu is his country's highest-ranked male player at 59 in the world and about to spearhead a landmark assault at the French Open where it has been 86 years since a Chinese man last played in the main draw. Wu will not be alone when the season's second major gets underway on Sunday as Zhang Zhizhen is also guaranteed a spot.

Shang Juncheng can make it three Chinese men in the tournament if he gets through the final qualifying round on Thursday.

"The excitement in China around the top Chinese male players is palpable now and there is strong media interest linked to the breakthrough of these players on tour," ATP executive vice-president Alison Lee told AFP.

Kho Sin-Khie and Choy Wai-Chuen were the last men to represent China in the French capital back in 1937.

Long overshadowed by their female counterparts, Wu and Zhang have been racking up an impressive series of 'firsts'.

Wu was the first Chinese man to make the third round of the US Open in 2022 where it took world number one and defending champion Daniil Medvedev to stop him. He took his new-found celebrity status with good humour.

"I'm a good-looking guy, I guess," he replied when told he was the hottest topic on Chinese social media. Earlier this year, Wu became the first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour title in Dallas.

Unlike the small change he pocketed at Francavilla al Mare in Italy this time last year, Wu is guaranteed at least 69,000 euros ($74,300) just by playing his first round at Roland Garros.

A US Open junior champion in 2017, Wu, the son of a boxer, was sidelined for the best part of three years from March 2019 to January 2022 with elbow, back, shoulder and wrist injuries. Covid lockdown deepened his gloom. However, he rapidly made up for lost time. In March 2022, he was 1,869 in the world; in April this year, he reached a career high of 55. Wu won his first ATP Tour-level match on clay in Rome last week and has already added two more in Geneva this week on his way to the quarter-finals. Zhang, 26, is currently ranked at 70 and has yet to win a main draw match in three attempts at the Slams.

- 'Sorry girls' -

He tried and failed to make the French Open main draw in 2021 but was defeated in qualifying. This spring, however, he went all the way to the quarter-finals on clay at the Madrid Masters from qualifying, defeating three top-30 players in a row in Denis Shapovalov, Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz. That made him the first Chinese man to make the last eight of a Masters event.

Zhang was the first Chinese man to break the top 100 in October 2022 after becoming the first from China to play in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era. Despite their landmark Paris appearances, Wu and Zhang are a long way from emulating female compatriot Li Na.

She was the first Chinese woman to capture a major at the 2011 French Open which she backed up by adding the 2014 Australian Open.

Zhang was only 14 when Li triumphed in the French capital and his memory of that historic moment is, by his own admission, vague.

"I'm very sorry, I really not watching too many matches from the girls," he said in Madrid.

The breakthrough of Wu and Zhang is timely following the pandemic and the fall-out from the Peng Shuai affair. AFP

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a consolidated resolution commending and congratulating the Philippine delegation to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games for winning 260 medals and placing 5th in the overall standing.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is the principal author of the resolution, with Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre as co-authors.

The Philippines bagged 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals, for a total medal haul of 260, in the regional sports competition held in Cambodia last May 5 to 17.

The chamber adopted House Resolution (HR) 1009 in consolidation with other resolutions.

The Speaker and his co-authors said the “remarkable finish of the athletes and the entire

By Butch Gunio

ANGELES CITY — Mayor Carmelo “Pogi”

Lazatin, Jr. on May 24, 2023 distributed

₱1.059 million worth of cash incentives to the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association winners.

The distribution was held at the Legislative Building, where the 93 studentathlete winners were present and greeted by Mayor Lazatin personally.

Mayor Lazatin was assisted by the members of the City Nutrition Office, led by Jermaine Jam Aguila.

“Congratulations student-athletes for bringing recognition and pride to Angeles City,” Lazatin said.

Angeles City garnered 21 gold, 19 silver, and 40 bronze medals during the annual sporting event last April 24 to 28.

Each gold medalist received ₱10,000;

Philippine delegation shows the Filipino spirit of rising above arduous obstacles brought by the pandemic and other challenging conditions, and inspires aspiring Filipino athletes to train hard and do their best to become sports heroes in their own fields.”

“It is but fitting and proper to congratulate and commend the indomitable spirit and exceptional performance and achievement of the Philippine delegation, including all athletes, coaches, trainers, and support staff for bringing honor and glory to the country through the gold, silver and bronze medals won in the various sports events,” they said. They credited the group’s accomplishment to the athletes’ “self-discipline, sheer determination, mental preparedness, and physical agility,” as well as to the support and training extended by a professional group of coaches and trainers.

“The top-caliber athletes and coaches displayed their heroism, sporting prowess and unrivalled sportsmanship during the multisports event,” the resolution stated.

It added that the sports competition while silver achievers got ₱7,000. ₱5,000 were allotted for bronze medalists.

“We have exhausted a budget from the Local School Board and funds from the Office of the Mayor to accommodate giving these cash incentives for them. They indeed deserve this,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin also believes that these young breed of student-athletes will soon represent not just Angeles City, but also the country.

“It is our administration’s ultimate dream to produce an Angeleño Olympic medalist. It is not impossible, with these athletes who are very dedicated and hard working in the field of sports,” Lazatin added. He vowed that he will continue to support and prioritize sports development for the youth, while thanking Vice Mayor Vicenta Vega-Cabigting, the City Council, and the Department of Education —

“promoted the advocacy of the country on gender-equality and paid tribute to women in sports when it fielded an all-female contingent during the opening parade.”

The authors also acknowledged the support lent by the government, particularly the Philippine Sports Commission led by Chairperson Richard Bachmann, and the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by former Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, and other private organizations and individuals. They said such assistance allowed the athletes to continuously improve their performance through regular training.

The Philippines had the fifth largest delegation with over 840 athletes, sports officials, coaches, trainers, team managers, and other support personnel.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam participated in the competition.

More than 6,200 athletes took part in 584 events across 36 sports.

Division of Angeles City, schools, teachers and coaches.

For his part, Division of Angeles City

Superintendent Ronaldo Pozon, said:

“Thank you very much po Mayor Pogi sa walang sawang suporta na binibigay ninyo sa mga atletang estudyante natin. Masayang masaya ang mga bata at mga magulang at siguradong magagamit ng tama itong mga incentives na binigay po ninyo.”

Among the gold medalists were Angel Luis Rendon, Althea Villavicencio, Sophia Legaspi, Jay-M Calahan, Richard Santiago, Jervie Bartaculo, Tristan Gabriel Yabut for ParaGames; Heinin Max Willem for Table Tennis; Quyncy Lee Ilan for Taekwondo; Sebastian Paul Soriano for Athletics; Carlos Joaquin Herrera, Ian Patrick Aquino, Ming Tai Chen, Cris Jemuel Mallari, Riannah Chantelle Coleman, Szyreal Jones Chaneco, Zoe Baldemor, Giada Denisse Antonio,