C2
SPORTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2,, 2024
Malixi trails Taiwanese, Thai by 3
IT’S SMB VS. MAGNOLIA FOR PBA TITLE.
Members of the San Miguel Beer and Magnolia teams, led by their respective governors Robert Non and Rene Pardo, and coaches Jorge Gallent and Chito Victolero, are shown during the PBA Commissioners Cup Finals’ press briefing presided over by commissioner Willie Marcial.
EASL Final 4 to be hosted at Hoops Dome in Cebu HONG KONG SAR—The undisputed champion of East Asian basketball will be crowned on March 8-10 in Cebu, Philippines, as the city hosts the East Asia Super League 2023-24 Season Final Four. Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings, and Yuki Togashi and the Chiba Jets, are among the stars set to compete in Cebu as the first fulllength EASL season comes to a thrilling conclusion. The Final Four will be played at Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, just outside Cebu City. It will feature four elimination games – two semifinals played on March 8, followed by the Third Place Game and the Championship Game on March 10. The four teams competing for the title of East Asian champions have been confirmed after Korean Basketball League (KBL) side Seoul SK Knights qualified Wednesday night with an 89-57 rout of the New Taipei Kings in Seoul, South Korea. The other qualifiers are: New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+), Chiba Jets (Japan B. LEAGUE), and reigning KBL and EASL champions Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters. Final Four host city Cebu is a basketball heartland in the Philippines and has produced a host of great players, including seven-time Philippine Basketball Association MVP June Mar Fajardo. It is also one of the country’s most popular travel destinations, with superb air travel connections and accommodation options. EASL CEO Henry Kerins said, “Cebu is an incredible venue for the first EASL Final Four. It has some of the most passionate basketball fans in the Philippines. The Hoops Dome is a great arena that will be packed with local and travelling fans. And this is an amazing tourist destination – we are excited to showcase Cebu, including the magical resort island of Mactan, and the beautiful culture of the Philippines to our fans across the region. “The Final Four is going to be a world-class sports entertainment experience.”
MVP calls 2023 golden year for Philippine sports P LDT Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan is this year’s Sports Executive of the Year awardee, alongside San Miguel Corporation CEO Ramon S. Ang at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards. This is the second time that Pangilinan was given this recognition, underscoring his massive contribution to the development of sports in the Philippines.
PLDT chairman, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan expresses his pride as MVPSF athletes were recognized at the Philippines Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night.
Aside from Pangilinan and Ang, the PSA also recognized sports organizations like the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and athletes who made massive contributions to the country’s sports development, including MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF)-backed national athletes EJ Obiena, Gilas Pilipinas, Philippine Women’s National Football Team (Filipinas), Caloy Yulo, to name a few. “This award is truly special for me. But accepting this with Ramon Ang just made it extra special. We cooperated in forming and sending a new Gilas Pilipinas team to Hangzhou, which brought home the crown of Asian basketball. That was a supreme and unifying moment, not just for Philippine basketball but for our country as well,” Pangilinan said in his speech. “It was a
Rianne Malixi (R&A)
Lito Adiwang confident of explosive win vs. Williams
JINGGOY’S INTERVENTION SOUGHT. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada inquires into the case of some Wrestling Association of the Philippines members currently embroiled in a row with the organization’s leadership over the performance evaluation of the coaching staff. Twelve of the coaching staff, purportedly removed by WAP president Alvin Aguilar, have requested Senator Estrada to look into the alleged misconduct of the former in managing the organization.
Several negotiations are still ongoing to fill up the remaining spots in Taguig FC’s roster, which as of now boasts of several veterans, a bevy of newcomers and former members of the Azkals. The source, likewise, revealed that a Pinoy Football icon is also set to make a comeback by suitThe Designated Kit Man ing up with the team. The opportunity is also his Erel Cabatbat chance to assess if he can still play competitive football or at least, end his career on his own terms. Another Azkal, who is dying to play in the domestic league, is also negotiating with the team for a possible spot. “Kakausapin pa namin within the week,” the source said. The team official also denied that reports of another Azkal joining the team are not true. “He is not part of any talks right now,” the source WHILE some teams have been creating much noise for clarified. The same source, however, revealed that they are just the upcoming season, one is silently preparing to field a competitive squad once the actual tournament begins finishing up some documents and requirements before finally revealing more details about Taguig FC, its players, next month. Taguig Football Club or Taguig FC may be a new- management and its supporters and patrons. Several teams are also active on social media ancomer in the league, among the several that are expected to see action in the Philippine Football League, but nouncing their recent signings and expressing their from what The Designated Kit Man has heard, manage- gratitude to players who left or set to leave the club to ment is working hard to assemble a strong and sustain- play elsewhere. Overshadowed, too, in the buildup to the domesable team that will give the competition some fits and tic league is the preparation for the March qualifiers even a good run to the top of the standings. In a chat with someone who enjoys a front row seat on against Iraq. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) remains the dealings of Taguig FC, at least 20 plus players have been signed or have committed to play for the team. quiet on the home-and-away games versus Iraq. Just These include Philippine Azkals’ mainstay Kevin In- hoping that behind the silence, the PFF is actually cookgreso and Arnel Amita, formerly of Kaya FC Iloilo. ing something for the crucial games next month.
New kids on the pitch
proud moment for our people—to be Kings of Asia again—and to do it in China for better measure.” He also looked back at the milestones that happened in 2023, what he called the golden year for Philippine sports. “The FIBA Basketball World Cup last year was of course an apex moment for the country; the Philippines took center stage to the world.” A staunch advocate of sports development in the country, PLDT and Smart, together with the MVPSF, have launched many initiatives to support athletes – from the grassroots to collegiate, amateur, and professional levels, producing Olympians, medalists, and overall world-class athletes to help them in their journey as they represent the country in global tournaments. “We support sports because it has a mysterious unifying power, whose roots can be deeply spiritual—because sports celebrate values such as fair play, discipline, and hard work—as well as being magnanimous in victory, humble in defeat,” he said. But aside from the athletes, Pangilinan also acknowledged the important role that sports-loving Filipinos all over the world played in making 2023 memorable for Philippine sports.
RIANNE Malixi banked on a solid backside start to card a 70 as she trailed Thai Navaporn Soontreeyapas and Chun-Wei Wu from Chinese-Taipei by three after 18 holes of the Women’s Amateur AsiaPacific Championship at the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand Thursday. Malixi sizzled with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 where she teed off with Korean world No. 4 Minsol Kim and India’s Avani Prashanth then birdied the par-5 18th to go three-under and keep Soontreeyapas and Wu within sight. But she bogeyed No. 3 against a run of pars as she turned in a 37-33 to slip to provisional joint 10th with 13 others, including Kim, who put in a 36-34 card. But Soontreeyapas took the spotlight in the opener of the sixth edition of the region’s premier championship, spiking her 33-34 round with an ace on the 150-yard No. 7. She gunned down five birdies against two bogeys to share the clubhouse lead with Wu. “I’m so excited and it’s very good,” said Soontreeyapas of her fiery start. “Yeah, I think I can win,” added Soontreeyapas, seeking to become the third Thai to win the coveted crown after now LPGA stalwart Atthaya Thitikul, who ruled the inaugural staging in 2018 and Eila Galitsky last year.
LITO “Thunder Kid” Adithis goes to the canvas—acwang doesn’t expect his cording to Adiwang—is if next match to last long one of them gets desperate in when he looks to continue the striking exchanges. his winning ways in ONE “Both of us are strikers, so Championship. we’ll see who gives in and Adiwang is gearing up turns into a wrestler because for war against the alhe can’t take the damage on ways-game Danial “Mini the feet,” he said. T” Williams in a straw“Definitely excited for weight MMA bout at ONE this bout. I’m visualizing Fight Night 19: Haggerty Lito Adiwang this bout to be electrifyvs. Lobo inside Lumpinee ing and entertaining. This Boxing Stadium on 17 February. is going to be a beautiful, explosive The chances of this fight reaching the striking battle.” judges’ scorecards are close to zero conIf it comes down to that, Adiwang sidering that Adiwang has taken home welcomes it. finishes in 12 of his 15 wins, while five Though primarily a striker, “Thunder of Williams’ six victories in MMA have Kid” isn’t worried about the fight spillalso ended before the final bell. ing over to the ground, noting how he’s a With a shared 81 percent finishing rate more well-rounded fighter than the Thaibetween the two of them, the only way Aussie striker.
The Azkals or the Men’s National Football Team will be up against a tough opponent when the qualifiers resume. Despite failing to go deeper in the tournament, Iraq and Indonesia managed to survive the group stage to advance to the last 16. Iraq lost, 3-2, to Jordan in the knockout stage, while Indonesia’s scintillating run in the tournament ended with a 4-0 defeat to Australia for a seat in the last eight. But despite the setbacks, the two squads are both matchfit ready and are expected to vent their ire on our team. The Azkals will play three of their remaining four games in hostile crowds, which will be tough to say the least. The Women’s National Football Team, on the other hand, has remained busy the past few weeks and is set to compete in the Pinatar Cup. It has also conducted several camps overseas to identify potential Filipinas for future competitions. Just hoping that more Philippine-based players can also join the ID and training camps overseas. Speaking of joining training camps, a source told The Designated Kit Man that several players and parties close to these overseas-based Filipinos have expressed their interests in playing for the national team next month. Some of these players were invited before to play for the country, but for several reasons failed to show up. Nonetheless, this development is something to cheer for, just hoping that they will eventually show up when invited this time around. Meanwhile, the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific is just around the corner once more and to jumpstart the new season, Riot Games is set to hold the VCT Pacific Kick Off tournament from
February 17 to February 25, 2024. Team Secret will represent the country in the VCT Pacific Kickoff, going up against 10 other teams coming from different countries in the region. The tournament will determine which teams will eventually advance to Masters Madrid which is set to unfold in late March up to early April in Spain. Aside from the title, teams will also have the opportunity to take home thousands of dollars from the tournament that offers a total cash prize of $250,000. VCT Pacific is one of the four international leagues in the expanded VCT structure that also includes VCT Americas, VCT EMEA and VCT CN. There are at least three global events for teams to look forward to such as Masters Madrid, Masters Shanghai and Champions. But for teams to qualify to these mega events, they need to hurdle the opposition in the Kickoff, Stage 1 and 2 events. To be able to compete in the Champions tournament, teams will have to get Championship points with consistent performance throughout the whole season. On a personal note, catch The Designated Kit Man, Chino Trinidad and Cong. Butch Pichay at Larong Pilipino sa DZME this coming Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 2pm-3.30pm. We will have PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and legendary volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb as guests. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps! For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat