POC chief: Blu Girls, Filipinas are God’s gifts

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee resident Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino heaped praises on the national team’s stunning victory over New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, saying God’s hand continues to touch Filipino athletes as they battle odds on the global arena.

On the same day halfway across the globe, the national women’s softball team Blu Girls advanced to the playoffs of the Women’s Softball World Cup following back-to-back victories also over New Zealand, 5-3, and tournament host Italy, 6-5.

Fate, he said, has again presented a valuable gift to Philippine sports on almost the same day and exactly the same month two years ago when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

“It’s God’s gift,” said Tolentino of that historic 1-0 victory by the Filipinas against World Cup co-host New Zealand at the jampacked Sky Stadium in Wellington.

“The Filipinas are the underdogs.” gional Stadium in Wellington.

“Chance favors the prepared mind and in the Filipinas’ case, the prepared team,” added Tolentino as he cited the Philippine Football Federation’s relentless campaign to form the best team ever for the most prestigious tournament available.

July, Tolentino said, has become a winning month for Philippine sports.

“Two years ago, on July 26, 2021, at the massive Tokyo International Forum, Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first gold Olympic medal,” said Tolentino, who got teary eyed when Diaz was being awarded her gold medal.

Hegerberg was in the starting lineup, but sustained a groin injury during the warmups and the coaching staff only found out while they were entering the pitch to play against the Swiss side. The team decided not to field Hegerberg.

The 28-year-old Hegerberg, Norway’s top striker, has made 42 goals for the team since making her first senior team appearance in 2011.

“It was just before the game. So, we were quick to have a change,” said manager John Arne Riise.

It remains unclear if Hegerberg will play against the Filipinas on Sunday as the medical staff is still assessing her condition.

With the Philippines’ upset of New Zealand, Norway fell to the bottom of the standings in Group A.

A loss by Norway on Sunday, coupled by Switzerland beating the Ferns will give the Filipinas a big chance to advance to the knockout stage.

Coach Allen Stajcic said the Filipinas have quickly stopped cele- brating after their historic win with the Ferns.

“There is no celebrating. It ends at midnight. You win, loss or draw, we celebrate and cry until midnight,” said Stajcic.

Switching back to competition mode after learning about the situation with Norway is now important for the Filipinas.

The Norwegian side has not scored a single goal since bowing to New Zealand, 0-1, and their scoreless match with the Swiss.

“It’s very important that we switch back to competition mode, and think of what we have to do in the last game, and try to squeeze out of the group stage,” added Stajcic.

McDaniel, who took Player of the Match honors, echoed her teammate’s sentiments of the collective big fighting heart they displayed not only against their rivals but also in the face of a jammed arena of over 30,000 animated local fans who rooted for the Ferns to win.

It was left to Australian coach Alen Stajcic to elaborate and explain what both players said.

“Of heart and spirit, this team has got it in spades. In all those factors, they are 10 of 10,” said Stajcic, who tried to hold back his own emotions during the postmatch conference, while relishing their huge achievement.

“They (the Filipinas) are one of the best teams in the world for unity, collective effort and playing above themselves as a unit. When you see that and you know what you have, that is what make it really special,” the two-time World Cup veteran mentor stressed.

He amplified the significance of the win in just the squad’s second game, comparing the feat to what other countries had to go through in attaining ‘one.

“For New Zealand I think it was their 15th or 16th match or five or six World Cups,” he recalled of the hosts’ record of futility until they scored a breakthrough 1-0 triumph over Norway at Eden Park in Auckland last week.

“While watching Colombia and (South) Korea before our game, the commentator said they have one win each. Korea has been at least in five or six world cups and Colombia three or four,” he pointed out.

Ifugao pride Martin hell-bent on making up for lost time

UNBEATEN multi-regional champion, Ifugao pride Carl Jammes “Wonderboy” Martin, will end an eight-month hiatus as he takes on Oscar Duge of Tanzania on August 19 at the Mandaluyong City College Gym in Mandaluyong City. This will be Martin’s first fight since scoring a 2nd-round knockout win over Komgrich Nantapech of Thailand December of last year in Baguio City to improve his record to 21-0 with 17 knockouts.

“I was inactive for about a year during the pandemic and I struggled a bit. Looking back, I learned a lot from that inactivity and I hope to make the necessary adjustments this time,” said Martin whose latest layoff was due to a rib injury.

The 26-year-old Duge is known for his ring generalship and sturdiness. He has a record of 11-5-2 with 4 knockouts and has yet to suffer a knockout loss.

“Martin better be ready as I will aim for his world rankings. This is my chance. This is for my family. This is for Tanzania,” said Duge during a weekend zoom guesting in a Philippine sports radio show.

Martin, 24, is currently ranked No. 4 in the IBF and No. 9 in the WBO as a superbantamweight. He is the current IBF Pan Pacific champion and once held the WBA Asia and WBO Oriental Youth belts.

JOSHUA “The Passion” Pacio advises that no one should look past reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks when the American wrestler transitions to submission grappling.

In fact, he believes it will be a mistake even for ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey “Darth Rigatoni” Musumeci to take Brooks lightly. Brooks enters uncharted territory when he challenges the champ under grappling rules at ONE Fight

Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on 5 August.

Musumeci has emerged as one of the faces of ONE’s submission grappling movement, which makes him the rightful favorite. But for Pacio, overlooking Brooks’ wrestling will be a big mistake.

“They’re competing under submission grappling, so we all know that this is Mikey’s playground. However, I have experienced firsthand how strong Jarred is,” Pacio said.

“I know he can pin you down heavily, and he can submit people as well, based on his wins which comprises various submissions.”

Pacio knows all about Brooks’ competitive nature, and with a solid wrestling base “The Monkey God” shouldn’t have a problem transitioning to pure jiu-jitsu.

In fact, the Filipino bared that Brooks has been hopping from one gym to another in order to polish his grappling.

“I know Jarred isn’t stopping when it comes to working on his jiu-jitsu. He told me backstage that he’s going to different gyms and training with various people, so I think that’s where his confidence comes from,” he said.

Pacio isn’t ready to call an upset for Brooks, but he expects a highly competitive matchup between Musumeci and his old rival. In fact, he sees Brooks pushing the pace early and making Musumeci uncomfortable from the get-go.

“This will be very good,” Pacio said. “I see Jarred trying to pin Mikey early. I know Jarred’s pin is so heavy and strong. Of course, Mikey’s on a different level altogether when it comes to jiu-jitsu. He’ll take everything home with him if he can, so I really don’t want to give my prediction on this one. I think it’s a toss up.”