C2
SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024
Slasher Cup draws world’s best breeders
SPECIAL CITATION: Standard Insurance Centennial V lady sailor Alysa Belmonte (4th from right) received a citation trophy during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel last Monday. The allFilipino sailing team, include the Richly Magsanay, boat owner and Standard Insurance chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz, Stephen Tan, Rubin Cruz, Ridgely Balladares, Joel Mejarito, Bernard Floren and Louie Perfectua.
By Peter Atencio
RSA pays tribute to PH athletes, says Paris breakthrough possible L ONGTIME sports patron Ramon S. Ang believes the country is geared to win more golds in the coming Paris Olympics as he paid tribute to all Filipino athletes, particularly those who were honored during the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards.
Ramon S. Ang
Ang, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and Chief Executive Officer, received his second PSA Executive of the Year award and this time, he shared it with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman and President Manny V. Pangilinan as their partnership paved the way for the Asiad basketball gold. He said the upcoming OIympiad will mark the 100th year of Philippines’ participation as the country looks to replicate the feat of gold-winning weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Games. “Everything is possible when all the country’s stakeholders work together. It was just three years ago when Hidilyn
Diaz shone in Tokyo for our first gold in the Olympics. And just last year, we grabbed the Asian Games gold in basketball that eluded us for 60 years. So I think another breakthrough is possible,” Ang said. “That gold medal was the result of the hard work and effort of not just the players and coaching staff, but most especially, MVP himself. The Gilas Pilipinas program is really his brainchild, and without his vision, commitment, and patriotism to see the program through all these years, we probably would not have a champion Gilas team,” Ang said. “We are proud to have been given the
opportunity to be part of it, and we thank MVP for lifting Philippine basketball to greater heights,” he added. At the invitation of Pangilinan, Ang supported the country’s successful cohosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, when Philippine team shared the spotlight with the world’s best basketball teams. “I thank the PSA for the honor and dedicate it to the Gilas Pilipinas team who worked so hard to bring home the gold medal in the face of tough odds,” Ang, who was first conferred with the PSA Executive of the Year Award in 2017, said. He added: “ I hope the amazing feat of Philippine basketball team will also inspire our athletes to go for more gold medals in Paris.” Olympian and pole vaulter EJ Obiena led those who were feted during the annual awards conducted by the country’s oldest sportswriting organization.
Malixi, 5 other Pinays launch bid in Asia-Pacific golf RIANNE Malixi sets out in a highly anticipated showdown with world No. 4 Minsol Kim of South Korea and India’s Queen Sirikit Cup titleholder Avani Prashanth, aiming for a strong start in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship Thursday in Pattaya, Thailand. They slug it out at 8:03 a.m. at the backside of the par-72 layout in one of the top match-ups in the opener of the sixth edition of the 72-hole championship, which also features Thai defending champion Eila Galitsky, Japan’s Mamika Shinchi and Rin Yoshida, Korea’s Eunseo Choi, Aussies Caitlin Peirce and Justice Bosio. The ICTSI-backed Malixi tied for third in the 2022 edition of this event won by Taiwanese Ting-Hsuan Huang at the Siam Country Club’s Waterside course, which is again hosting this year’s championship. Galitsky kicks off her title-retention drive at 12:03 p.m. on No. 1 against Korean Soomin Oh and Hinano Muguruma of Japan, while Shinchi, winner of the recent Australian Amateur, seeks back-to-back title romp against Taiwanese Huai-Chien Hsu and Bosio. Other Filipina entries are Anya Cedo, Alethea Gaccion, Nicole Abelar, Junia Gabasa and Grace Quintanilla. Cedo drew an early tee-time at 7:41 a.m. on No. 1 with India’s Heena Kang and Thai Navaporn Soon-
treeyapas, while Gaccion, a grand finalist in the inaugural Junior Philippine Golf Tour last year, also tees off on the first hole in an 8:03 a.m. flight with Hong Kong’s Siuue Wu and Mannat Brar, also from India. Abelar clashes with Thai Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Sania Wahyudi of Indonesia at 11:30 a.m. on No. 10; Gabasa also starts at the backside against Kiwi Mimi Guo and Singapore’s Xingtong Chen at 12:03 p.m.; while Quintanilla hopes to buck the odds in the 12:25 p.m. flight that includes Daniah Syed of Pakistan and Jillian Kuk of Singapore on No. 10. But all eyes will be on Malixi, who scored a breakthrough win in the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship last month. The 16-year-old shotmaker also rallied to tie for eighth in the Australian Amateur. So much is at stake in the championship, which drew 90 players from 22 countries and territories, with the winner to receive invitations to play in three major championships – the Women’s Open, the Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship. Also up for grabs are berths in elite championships such as the Hana Financial Group Championship, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, the 121st Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Rianne Malixi
Sarmiento, Quinones top Nationall Table Tennis tilt
TATAND honorary president Charlie Lim (2nd from right) and Philippine cadet top player Khevine Kheith Cruz present a souvenir jersey from Chawi Sports apparel at the 5th FESSAP National Age-Group Championship award ceremony.
NATIONAL pool members Cate Jazztyne Sarmiento and Kyle Quinones led the young achievers in the 5th FESSAP National AgeGroup Table Tennis Championship over the weekend at the Ayala Malls Cloverleaf Wellness Center in Quezon City. The 18-year-old Sarmiento, the pride of Lipa City, beat rival Ashley Allorde of PCAF to be crowned queen in the 19-under women’s class the tournament organized by former national champion and coach Julius Esposo, in collaboration with Chawi Sports Center and Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP). Quinones of Adamson University won the crown in the men’s 19-under class by defeating Sean Arvin Garcia in the tournament that was also supported by Chawi Sports Apparel, Joola Philippines, Mr. Philip Uy, Totopol Fishbroker, Vision Quest Optical Clinic, and Besttank. “We are committed to support events like the 5th FESSAP National Age-Group Championship and other grassroots programs that promote the development of table tennis at a
national level,” said Charlie Lim, honorary president of the Table Tennis Association for National Development (TATAND). “These events are not only about competition but also serve as a reunion for our community. It is an opportunity for all of us to come together, share our love for the sport, and celebrate our achievements. As we gather to compete, let us not forget that the true essence of these events lies in the joy of playing and the spirit of sportsmanship,” he said. In other results, Zane Patricia F. Cabalu of Cabalu Table Tennis Training Center won the 9-under Girls; Titus Alexander Pachica of Team PROTTEC took home the 9-under boys title; Liu Shiwen Garcia of Bulacan led the 11-under (girls); wag one 11-under (boys) Gabriel Noche of Bulacan; Ma. Mikaela Jopillo of Bulacan dominated the 13-under (girls); Prince Achilles Troy “AKI” D. Maminta of Spin Master Table Tennis Urdaneta claimed the boys 13-under and the 16-under class; while Farhana A. Abdul (Ue/Triple Arrow Chanel Team) won the 16-under girls.
TOP breeders from the United States and the Visayas region will be among those seeking out the biggest prizes at stake in the “Olympics of Cockfighting” as the 2024 World Slasher Cup reeled off on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. A big turnout of around 200 participants has excited the organizers in the event regarded as the Holy Grail of cockfighting. “Magandang turnout ito,” said chief organizer Dong Lamoste during Saturday’s launch at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, Top breeders, led by the Hawaii group of Mike For mosa, are in town, together with a Nathan Jumper’s group from Mississippi. The weeklong tournament will draw all the major players in cockfighting, including Northern Samar’s Don Destura. Their entries are expected to fight it out until the finale on Feb. 4. The participants plunge into a twoday elimination, followed by the semifinals on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. After a break on Feb. 2, the matches will resume in the Pre-Finals on Feb. 3, and the much-awaited Grand Finals on Feb. 4. Last season, two were hailed as champions in Jose Panganiban Jr.’s Infiniti Gold 6-Cock Derby June 21 Manila Arena-2 and partners Pablito Gregore and Dennis Lumpay’s 22GF/ Ormoc Joe with identical 7.5 points. The co-winners were Tata Gov/ Tata Rey, Fiscal Moises Villanueva, Eddie Gonzales, Jon Jon Cano, Frank/Guam Boys/Joey Melendres, and Nene Araneta, who accumulated seven points each while Bebot Uy and Patrick Antonio listed 6.5 points while Daday Siochi/Raymond Dela Cruz’s Old Model/SN.
Cosca, Mercado lead chase as Fr. Suarez Cup gets underway DARWIN Cosca Jr. and Chloe Mercado brace for spirited battle against a field of talented emerging stars as the Fr. Fernando Suarez M-Cup National Juniors Tennis Championships kicks off Thursday in Biñan, Laguna. Presented by Rep. Len-Len AlonteNaguiat and Dunlop, the Group 2 tournament features over 250 entries vying for top honors and ranking points, utilizing three courts at the South City Recreational Tennis Center, the Southville and the Filinvest courts. Costa and Mercado gain the top seedings in the premier 18-and-under division with the boys’ roster also drawing such talents as Ariel Cabaral, siblings Frank and France Dilao, Al Tristan Licayan, Gerard Manigque, Lervin Cunanan and Nathan Andal. On the girls’ side, Mercado, looking for redemption after a recent finals defeat to Mica Emana in last week’s Valle Verde meet, leads the charge, alongside Sandra Bautista, Ronielle Oliveros and Erynne Ong, in the event dedicated to the late healing priest, who was a tennis enthusiast and supporter. Nearly all of the nine age-group categories, including 16-, 14-, 12-and-U and 10-unisex, have drawn full-packed rosters of 32 players, highlighting the enthusiastic response of young players from the host city and nearby towns and provinces. The event, supported by Slazenger and which also features the boys’ and girls’ doubles competition, falls under the Palawan Pawnshop junior program, led by president/CEO Bobby Castro, offering Philta ranking points. Event organizer Bobby Mangunay emphasized the support from the new sets of officers of Philta (Philippine Tennis Association), headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez. This support encompasses various tournaments nationwide, such as the recently-concluded Kasadyahan Festival in Iloilo and the Valle Verde Country Club championships.