Quezon foils Zamboanga; Bacolod, Pasig prevail

QUEZON Province weathered Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines’ final assaults and prevailed, 70-66, on Tuesday in the OKBetMPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the packed Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

With the Quezon Huskers ahead, 58-46, Jaycee Marcelino found his mark and the Zamboanguenos bunched 12 points to knot the count at 58 with still 3 minutes and 24 seconds to go.

The Huskers, however, found saviors in Alfrancis Tamsi, who canned back-to-back triples, and Robin Rono, who added another three, after Judel Fuentes had pushed Zamboanga closer, 62-64, with a 4-point play.

Marcelino, the reigning league MVP, drove in as Zamboanga threatened at 64-67, only for Tamsi to knock in a floater and Rono to split his two free throws, 70-64, sealing Quezon’s 17th win against 6 losses.

Tamsi wound up with 19 points, including 5 triples, while Rono, formerly of Zamboanga, contributed 12 points, laced with 3 triples, plus 4 rebounds and 4 steals.

SYDNEY—England had never won a major women’s football trophy before Sarina Wiegman became coach. Now they are closing on a second in the space of a year.

Wiegman’s European champions face co-hosts Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, with the prize a place in Sunday’s final against Sweden or Spain.

England’s squad is packed with quality but arguably their biggest weapon in Sydney will be the 53-yearold native of the Netherlands standing on the sidelines.

When Wiegman was named to succeed Phil Neville as coach almost exactly three years ago, England’s football association described her as “steely and a winner”.

It turned out to be the perfect description. She masterminded England to European glory last summer on home soil and they are now on the brink of a first World Cup final.

Wiegman smiles easily at press conferences, but gives very little away either about the team or herself.

It is clear, though, that she has the total faith of her squad, who describe her as calm but direct.

Midfielder Georgia Stanway described how Wiegman had fostered a family environment at the World Cup that allows England’s squad to thrive while also relaxing when they need to.

That includes allowing the players to have their families with them, rather than isolating the squad.

But even for her players, there is something about Wiegman that is almost otherworldly.

“We’ve all got families out here—even Sarina,” said Stanway.

Asked by a reporter to clarify what she meant by “even Sarina”, Stanway looked a little sheepishly at her coach sitting next to her and laughed.

“Sometimes, er, sometimes you don’t realise that your head coach is actually human,” she said. Worth the wait

The strength of the Women’s Su- per League and the game’s growth in England means that Wiegman has a deep pool of players from which to choose.

Even prior to leading England to European glory last summer, there was a feeling that Wiegman could be the difference between this Lionesses side and those that went before.

The former PE teacher led the Netherlands to the European title in 2017, then did the same with England.

She also guided the Netherlands to the final of the 2019 World Cup, where they lost 2-0 to the United States.

England had to wait more than a year between Wiegman agreeing to the job in August 2020 and taking charge in September 2021, because of her commitments with the Dutch at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics.

But she proved worth the wait and England have lost only once under Wiegman.

That sole defeat suddenly becomes more relevant—it was to Australia, a 2-0 loss in London in April that ended the Lionesses’ 30-game unbeaten run. AFP

Zamboanga dropped to 16-7 despite Marcelino’s 22-point, 5-rebound, 4-steal, 3-assist effort, Fuentes’ 12 points and Joseph Gabayni’s 11.

Earlier, Pasig City MCW Sports drubbed Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc., 85-62, while Bacolod routed Laguna Krah Asia, 84-68. Powered by Ryan Paule Costelo, Pasig led from the start and cruised to its 17th win against 8 losses in the elimination round of the two-division, 29-team tournament. Hardly 5-foot-6, Costelo fired 24 points, laced by 5 triples, grabbed 7 rebounds, issued 5 assists and made 4 steals. He was supported by Michael Maestre with 15 points plus 7 rebounds, Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 13 points plus 7 rebounds, and Robbie Manalang with 11 points plus 10 assists.

Valenzuela, which is already out of the playoff race at 3-21, got 27 points plus 6 rebounds from Krentz Carlos and 17 points plus 14 rebounds from Michael Angelo Macion. Bacolod climbed to 10-14 and remain in playoff contention.