Stajcic: Giving hope, inspiration is greatest of all achievements

By Peter Atencio

Stajcic said this on Tuesday as his contract, along with his assistant Nahuel Arrarte’s, ended at the conclusion of the Filipinas’ campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

Team manager Jefferson Cheng said the two won’t be returning as both coaches did not seek a contract renewal and “have asked to explore other options.”

“I would first and foremost like to express my gratitude to Sir Jeff for giving us the opportunity and entrusting us with the keys to the National Team,” said Stajcic in his farewell message to the Philippine football community.

Sotto-less

RAIN or Shine is bringing in one more import to bolster its campaign as the country’s representative to the coming 42nd Jones Cup.

Head coach Yeng Guiao told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday the Elasto Painters are tapping 6’10” Nick Evans to team up with naturalized player Ange Kouame in reinforcing the squad for the August 12-20 meet in Taipeh.

Admitting the team is lacking in size, the presence of both Kouame, who is also 6’10”, and Evans would definitely come in handy for the Elasto Painters, according to Guiao.

“Nu’ng nakita namin yung lineup ng teams and ‘yung makakalaban namin doon, malakas ‘yung competition. So management decided to bring in another import. We will have Ange Kouame and itong si Nick Evans, who’s coming in siguro by Saturday or Sunday to join us,” said the former Gilas Pilipinas coach as he graced the public sports program at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Evans, a veteran big man who had stints in Japan, Colombia, Thailand, and Lebanon, will start practicing with Rain or Shine on Monday before the team leaves for Taiwan on Friday (Aug. 11).

“Cramming na naman ‘yan. Ilang araw lang na ensayo, tapos sasabak na tayo sa Jones Cup,” added Guiao, the former congressman and vice-governor of Pampanga, who is in his third Jones Cup stint.

A total of nine teams are seeing action in this year’s Jones Cup, which is making a comeback after a three-year absence following the outbreak of the pandemic.

Guaio mentioned that national teams of Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Taipeh (Teams A and B) are competing alongside the Japan U-20 team, a US te am represented by the University of California-Irvine, and reigning KBL (Korean Basketball League) and EASL (East Asia Super League) champion Any ang KGC bannered by former NBA player Omari Spellman.

Stajcic said their journey over the last 20 months yielded great results for the Filipinas.

Among the memorable accomplishments the Filipinas achieved were a semifinal trip to the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup and the team’s firstever competitive bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.

Then, there’s their ASEAN Football Federation title conquest in Manila and the Filipinas’ highest FIFA ranking of no. 46 in recent memory.

“But without question, the two best experiences of my coaching career thus far were the last two World Cup matches. Beating New Zealand on home soil and scoring our first World Cup goal and getting our first win was the things that dreams are made of,” said Stajcic.

The Australian mentor also commended members of the team for the valuable time and effort that they put in.

“To the players, I can only say, you were courageous, passionate, disciplined and loyal to the team, the flag and the country. Your sacrifices should be long remembered by all Philippine sports fans. To give hope and inspiration is the greatest of all achievements,” added Stajcic.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta said “Coach Alen Stajcic’s appointment as Philippine Women’s National Team head coach brought women’s football in the Philippines to new heights and hope.”

Cheng said the community “we will forever be grateful to them for changing the landscape of Philippine football forever.”

“They have they shown us what is possible with proper guidance, dedication and hard work, and their efforts have led to the greatest achievement in Philippine football thus far—a match won against the higher-ranked host nation at a World Cup. They will surely be our beloved heroes for decades to come,” said Cheng.

joins Heyuan tourney in China

By Randy Caluag

GILAS Pilipinas departed for China on Tuesday morning without Kai Sotto as the team embarks on its final preparation for the FIBA World Cup slated Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

The Philippine basketball team will play other World Cup-bound teams from Senegal and Iran in a series of games at the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China.

Reyes said Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson is in constant touch with Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas and will just go straight to the Philippines for the world’s top cage tournament.

The Gilas mentor said “all the plans are fluid” even as Sotto also failed to join the team in the China event and has yet clear the air as to when he will finally join the team’s practice. Sotto’s camp said he is still undergoing re- hab for his back injury.

Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee are also recuperating from injuries, while Ange Kouame will join coach Yeng Guiao’s Rain or Shine team seeing action in the William Jones Cup in Taipei.

The 14-man team for China includes June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, AJ Edu, Rhenz Abando, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, and Poy Erram

In the mini-tournament in China, Gilas takes on Senegal on August 5 and 6 at Heyuan Sports Gymnasium then battles Iran on Aug. 7 at the Xiaoqing Sports Center.

The Reyes-mentored Gilas is getting ready for the World Cup, where it is bracketed in Group A with Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy.

Iran will play in Indonesia as part of Group G with Spain, Brazil, and Cote D’Ivoire.

PERENNIAL UAAP forces La Salle and Adamson rolled past their separate counterparts to complete group sweep and march on to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The reigning UAAP champion La Salle needed only 70 minutes to dispatch CESAFI runner-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 25-14, 25-15, 25-19, while UAAP bronze medalist Adamson also blanked NCAA runner-up Lyceum, 25-17, 25-18, 25-22, in 71 minutes.

Alleiah Malaluan hammered 13 points built on 12 hits as La Salle swept Pool A of the historic SSL nationwide tilt presented by Eurotel as the official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Lady Spikers, who also drubbed University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the opener, 25-11, 25-17, 25-12, drew ample sup- port from Shevana Laput and Katrina Del Castillo with 10 points apiece.

But La Salle, without UAAP Rookie-MVP Angel Canino and ace libero Justine Jazareno, is far from being satisfied entering the knockout playoffs.

“Marami pa kaming kulang. Lalo ‘yung connection ng setters at spikers. Marami pang kailangang ayusin. ‘Yung mga unnecessary errors, kailangan masolusyonan,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo as La Salle also deals with the graduation of key cogs Jolina Dela Cruz, Mars Alba and Fifi Sharma.

Later, Lucille Almonte fired 10 points on six hits and four aces in the Lady Falcons’ second straight win under new coach JP Yude. Sharya Nicole Ancheta and Red Bascon added nine and seven points, respectively.

“Good thing na nalagpasan namin yung elims pero kailangan pa naming paghandaan kung sino makakalaban sa QF lalo at paangat ng paangat ang games,” said Yude, who succeeded former Adamson mentor Jerry Yee.

BOUNCE-BACK

WIN. The Perpetual Lady Altas bounced back from an openingday loss to UAAP defending champions La Salle Lady Spikers as they trounced University of Southern Philippines Foundation (23-25, 2512, 25-20, 25-16) in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitational Volleyball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Dennis Abrina)