PH community in Sydney shows love for Filipinas

and New Zealand.

By Randy Caluag

FILIPINO soccer fans made sure the Philippines is well represented in a grand parade highlighting the FIFA Women’s World Cup Sydney Harbour Bridge Unity Celebration in Sydney on Wednesday.

The event marked the 25-day countdown to the world’s biggest women’s football competition set to kick off on July 20 in Australia

Australian Filipinos, some clad in traditional Filipino dress and others wearing Philippine flag-inspired attire, showed up during the parade of teams.

The Filipinas are now in Sydney, preparing for their historic appearance in the World Cup.

The Filipinas will have their first game against the New Zealand Football Ferns in New Zealand on July 25 in Dunedin.

The Philippines, with Australian coach Alen Stajcic, made a historic first appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup via their 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup semifinal finish.

The Filipinas took the most-sought slot after beating Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals on penalties following a 1–1 draw even as they bowed to South Korea in the semifinal.

12 points plus 4 assists, and Jason Ballesteros with 9 points plus 16 rebounds.

Marikina, which fell to 7-10, got 16 points, 7 assists and 3 blocks from Chavez and 10 points from Marwin Dionisio.

Bicol finally ended its long futility record with a 96-93 victory over Oriental Mindoro in the opener.

With James Martinez posting a triple-double of 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and Wowie Escosio carding 24 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, the Bicol Volcanoes surged ahead, 84-66, to secure their first win after 16 losses.

Mindoro dropped to 3-14 despite the 17-point, 13-assist, 8-rebound, 5-steal effort of Paolo Hubalde, the 21 points of Agem Miranda, the 18 points of Rodel Vaygan and the 17 points plus 9 rebounds of Kristan Hernandez.

The MPBL goes to the Bacoor Strike Gym on Thursday with Caloocan battling Laguna at 4 p.m., Sarangani tangling with Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and Makati testing Bacoor at 8 p.m.

LOS ANGELES—Katie Ledecky opened USA Swimming’s world championships trials with a blistering 800m freestyle triumph, clocking 8min 07.07sec on Tuesday in her fastest performance since setting the world record in 2016.

Ledecky, who won at the Rio Games in a world record 8:04.79, posted the third-fastest time ever in an event she has dominated since winning it on her Olympic debut in 2012.

Ledecky became the sixth American swimmer to qualify for a sixth long course world championships team, joining an elite group that includes Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Elizabeth Beisel and Nathan Adrian.

“It felt great,” said Ledecky, who has won the 800m free at three straight Olympics and five straight world championships.

“I’ve been so eager just to get the meet started, just watching all the fast swimming today,” added Ledecky, whose performance highlighted the opening day of the US trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I was happy with that time.”

Jillian Cox cut 10 seconds off her personal best to finish second in 8:20.28 and punch her ticket to the world championships next month in Fukuoka, Japan.

Jack Alexy won the men’s 100m freestyle, leading from start to finish to edge a tightly bunched field in 47.93sec. AFP