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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph
Mercado-Cruz duo lifts Shopinas past Philips By Peter Atencio
FORMER La Salle standouts Stephanie Mercado and Charleen Cruz provided the key points as the Shopinas Lady Clickers got past the Philips Gold Lady Slammers, 25-18, 26-24, 29-27, yesterday at the Arena in San Juan. Mercado, who had nine points with Cruz, came up with a key play in the final set, helping power the Lady Clickers to their second straight win and the solo lead in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference 2015 Volleyball tournament. The 5’8” Mercado blocked Michelle Gumabao’s placement shot at the net to put Shopinas
ahead, 28-27. A net error from Myla Pablo then settled the issue in favor of the Lady Clickers. “Pinatunayan ng mga players ko na malaki ang natutunan nila since I handled them in college. The girls need to jell more. Pero nandu’n ang diskarte,” said Lady Clickers coach Ramil de Jesus.
After Shopinas took a sevenpoint advantage in the first set, the Lady Slammers stayed close in the second set and moved ahead, 24-23 on Mic Laborte’s block. They then took the second set, following a killshot from Cruz, and Rossan Fajardo’s net error. Philips drew 13 points from Gumabao, including two attacks which allowed them to grab the upperhand, 22-20, in the third. Gumabao’s net miscue and Alexa Tan’s kill at the right flanks allowed Shopinas to tie the match 22-all. Lady Slammers’ spiker Desiree Dadang’s service error then gave the Lady Clickers the chance to remain close, 27-all. Despite the third-set heroics by
Laborte and Dy, and Philips Gold’s 34 turnovers, Shopinas coach Ramil de Jesus also credited their win on their ability to stop the Lady Slammers’ attackers, especially her former player, Gumabao. “I know her weaknesses, and we took advantage of them” said De Jesus, who won three titles for De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, with the pretty Gumabao on the firing end. “But I’m happy and proud that Michelle had a very good game. I know she wants to prove something and she wants to show that she is still improving although she’s no longer playing for me. I’m glad that she stepped up on both ends of the floor.”
Philips Gold’s Michelle Gumabao is foiled by Micmic Laborte and Cha Cruz of Shopinas in a Super Liga game won by the Lady Clickers, 25-18, 26-24, 29-27. ROMAN PROSPERO
Pactolerin, Cuello head cast Roach... in PGAP pro-am golf tourney
Foreign pros join Asian Cup triathlon FOREIGN triathletes seeking qualifying points for the ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup series, as well as the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic triathlon event, are set for a battle royale in the two-day 2015 Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup 2015 event copresented by SPEEDO set for April 25 and 26 at the Subic Bay Freeport. On the Elite category are eight from Japan, three from Macau and about 40 up-and-coming triathletes representing Australia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Syria, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada. Among the foreign pros to watch out for is Australia’s Kelly Perkins, who is coming off an impressive performance in the March 14 Maloobala Oceania Cup and will be challenged by the tough national triathletes of Japan. John Chicano will lead the Philippine team. On the distaff side of the event supported by SPEEDO, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department Tourism Department, New Balance, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, Philippine Sports Commission, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Asian Center for Insulation, Standard Insurance, East West Building Technology, Inc., the Lighthouse Marina Resort, RaceDay, SBR. ph, Multisport, Kikay Runner and Pinoy Fitness, Philippine age-grouper Kim Kilgroe and Malaysia’s back-to-back 13-15 category champion Zoe Bowden will make their respective debuts in the elite competitions. Under the mechanics of the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with the SBMA, Asian Triathlon Confederation and the International Triathlon union, the top local and international elite athletes will get ITU points for Asian and world ranking, and qualification to major international competitions. The elite junior (ages 1619) competition, meanwhile, will have Britain’s Sam O’Shea and the United States’ Kyle Izzo testing their mettle with the Philippine delegation, led by Edward Macalalad, Julius Constantino, Justin Chiongbian and Jimuel Patilan.
From A16
VETERAN tour campaigners Robert Pactolerin and Rodrigo Cuello head close to 40 teams clashing for top honors in the PGAP pro-am golf tournament unfolding today at Club Intramuros. A total prize fund of P200,000 is up for grabs in the event, one of the club’s premier tournaments, featuring some of the country’s leading pros and amateurs and lady golfers. Format is a two-man team event with the lowest combined output from the pro’s gross score and the amateur’s net score through Blind Callaway winning the top P20,000 purse. However, the top 30 pros in the current Order of Merit of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour will not be allowed to team up with a current member of the
national team, a foreign amateur or a player with a 10 handicap or better, according to the organizing Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines, headed by president Jun Bustamante. Joining Pactolerin, a former Philippine Open and many-time Masters champion, and Cuello, who won the Hong Kong Open in 1996, in the roster are senior campaigners Juanito Pagunsan, Mario Manubay, the 1986 Phl Open winner, and Caloy Nival. Club Intramuros chief operating officer Mark Lapid and resident manager Adelfo Mendoza III will join Bustamante in the ceremonial drive kicking off the 18-hole tournament which also offers fabulous prizes for the top amateur finishers.
with a fighter from San Diego, whose name the trainer wasn’t sure of. “Manny was good,” said Somodio. Despite it being a long week, Somodio said Pacquiao followed the fight strategy for the showdown with undefeated pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2. American trainer Rick Staheli, who steered Pacquiao to his first world title when he scored an eighth-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxing Council flyweight crown on Dec. 3, 1998, has expressed some concern over reports that Pacquiao has been suffering from recurring cramps in his calves. “Pacquiao should stop training like he’s 25,” said Staheli, who noted the
cramps may be caused by a lack of potassium or an imbalance in salt. He said the decision to turn to sprints on the track oval is “spot on.” At the same time, Staheli wondered whether Mayweather’s decision to recruit Alex Ariza as his strength and conditioning coach may backfire. He said Ariza, who worked with Pacquiao during a rousing run when he demolished David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, may put Mayweather “into untraveled waters and this may hurt him in fight night.” Staheli noted that because of the magnitude of the Fight of the Century, both Pacquiao and Mayweather are “trying too hard and because of the way they train, may leave something in the gym.”