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Red carpet to be rolled out for FIVB world meet
The Philippines will leave no stone unturned for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 – in terms of hosting the event for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Stewart Cink, 50, part of five-way tie for Valspar lead
(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Fifty-year-old Stewart Cink shot a 4-under 67 to join a five-way tie for the lead at the Valspar Championship before play was suspended Friday in Palm Harbor, Fla. As the field endured rainy conditions at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course, 20 golfers did not complete their rounds before darkness fell. They will resume their second rounds Saturday at 9 a.m. The five co-lea.....»»
Stewart Cink, 50, part of five-way tie for Valspar lead
(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Fifty-year-old Stewart Cink shot a 4-under 67 to join a five-way tie for the lead at the Valspar Championship before play was suspended Friday in Palm Harbor, Fla. As the field endured rainy conditions at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course, 20 golfers did not complete their rounds before darkness fell. They will resume their second rounds Saturday at 9 a.m. The five co-lea.....»»
Pinoy booters bow to Iraqis
New-look Philippines put up its best effort against powerhouse home team Iraq but ended up empty-handed in a 0-1 defeat in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Thursday night in front of a 63,750-strong crowd at the Basra International Stadium......»»
Philippine men’s volleyball coach puts premium on performance for 2025 worlds
Philippine men’s national volleyball team coach Sergio Veloso said that performance will be the main factor in building the team roster for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) men’s world championship next year......»»
Go rules ICTSI Palos Verdes romp with 4-shot romp
With a commanding lead, Lloyd Go turned the final round of the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship into a victory lap here Friday, essaying a four-stroke victory over Michael Bibat and Guido van der Valk despite a 74......»»
Paris Olympic gold remains top priority for Marcial
More than winning his professional fight against Thai boxer Thoedsak Sinam on Saturday, a gold medal in the upcoming Paris Olympics is the bigger goal for Eumir Marcial......»»
Hidilyn in final push for Paris
Hidilyn Diaz has a chance to become only the second athlete from the Philippines to participate in five Olympics but it will take a major lift to clinch a ticket to Paris in the final qualifying event at the World Cup in Phuket on March 31-April 11......»»
Big Dome, MOA eyed for FIVB world meet
The Philippines will be the only second Asian country, next to Japan, to host the FIVB Men’s World Championship when the 32 best teams in the world converge on local soil to duke it out for the coveted volley crown on Sept. 12 to 28 next year......»»
Time to Shine: Make Your Mark for Earth Hour at SM Malls
Small actions can make a big difference. This year, SM Supermalls invites everyone to #GiveAnHourForEarth by joining millions around the world in the annual Global Lights Switch Off on March 23 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. This 2024, SM marks 16 years of commitment in supporting the annual campaign initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).....»»
Philippines to host Volleyball Men s World Championship 2025
MANILA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is set to host the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Men's Volleyball Championship in 2025 after winning the bid on Wednesday night. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomed the hosting opportunity, saying the country is looking forward to the success of the global sports event. "The Philippines' hosting of this global volleyball event bo.....»»
Late miscue stalls Pagdanganan s fightback
Bianca Pagdanganan endured a late frontside setback, missing a chance for a joint fifth place finish with a one-under 71 as she trailed American Sarah Schmelzel by three strokes at the start of the Women’s World Championship......»»
Berberabe eyes winning UAAP exit with Lady Bulldogs
NU Lady Bulldogs ace playmaker Stefanie Berberabe is optimistic she can end her collegiate career on a high note as she has the chance to win her second career championship and the first with the Sampaloc-based team......»»
POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine
If you’re a talented fighter nursing dreams of becoming a world champion, there is one guy you need to get in touch with. If you’re a promoter who has got a bevy of promising fighters but with no strong connections to the guys who matter in the world of big-time boxing, you have to meet the fellow who makes things happen. That dude is no other than Sean Gibbons, who heads MP Promotions and a sprinkling of other influential outfits in the United States that gives boxers from all over the opportunity they deserve. Having trouble with your boxer’s stagnant world rating? Call Sean Gibbons. Can’t seem to get the big breaks? Call Sean Gibbons. Being given the run-around by a scammer, give Sean Gibbons a call. You see, Gibbons is a do-it-all boxing man who is a big daddy to just about any major Filipino fighter. He has got a deep knowledge of the fight game since he used to fight during his heyday. But before you start conjuring up images of Gibbons battling it out with boxing’s marquee names, pinch yourself first. Gibbons never achieved greatness as a boxer. He was more of a pretender than a contender, having racked up a 14-7-3 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts before finally calling it a day in 1996. He never even fought in Las Vegas and instead showcased his wares in obscurity, hopping into one small town and city after another. After spending his first five pro bouts in Oklahoma City, Gibbons brought his act elsewhere and in places he never knew existed: Hugo, Purcell, Waubeek. A year before he retired in 1995, Gibbons, now 56, even traveled to Germany and fought and lost by knockout to local boy Ruediger May. Two more bouts on American soil — the first in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second in Miles City, Montana — paved the way for one final stop in Denmark against Peter Madsen. Gibbons would lose that by stoppage again and decided that enough was enough. Pretty soon, Gibbons got himself doing odd jobs in boxing through a relative — uncle Pat O’ Grady — father to former world lightweight champion Sean O’Grady. “I got the boxing bug from him. I would set up the ring, help sell tickets and train fighters… I started from the bottom,” Gibbons, born in Long Beach, California, said, noting that the first fighter he trained was heavyweight Wimpy Halstead. Oftentimes, Gibbons “would jump in as one of the fighters in the card and I was able to travel the world.” He also got aligned with Top Rank and credits Hall of Fame Bruce Trampler and fight coordinator Pete Susens as his mentors and takes great pride in his close association with eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao. Gibbons actually came to the Pacquiao show rather late. But his seven-year stint working for Pacquiao was the most memorable, saying it doesn’t compare with the 35 other years of involvement with boxing. “Seven years I spent with him were better than the other 35 years,” Gibbons, who graduated from Simi Valley High, said. Gibbons revealed that after Australian banger Jeff Horn elbowed and butted and wrestled his way in carving out a controversial points win in Brisbane in July 2018, “Pacquiao had pretty much been left for dead by some people.” It was right at this time when Gibbons entered the scene as Pacquiao’s go-to-guy for meaningful fights while also providing other Filipino boxers the break they need to become successful. Gibbons didn’t disappoint and was instrumental in striking a deal for fights involving Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman that resulted in a “tremendous run.” The victory over Thurman would go down as an epic as it made Pacquiao the oldest to win a world welterweight crown in July 2019 in Las Vegas. Now that Pacquiao has sailed into the sunset, Gibbons is dedicating his time and effort to the betterment of the other talents under MP Promotions, the Pacquiao-owned company that has majority of the country’s top ring talent under contract. And this is where Gibbons wields his expertise and proof of his savvy can be seen on Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, Rene Cuarto, Mark Magsayo and current two-belt world super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales. Also under Gibbons’ care are Jonas Sultan, Vincent Astrolabio, Jade Bornea and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist Eumir Marcial. Though not every one of them managed to win a world title, Gibbons draws utmost satisfaction from the helping hand that he had extended to them. “The most satisfying thing is to change lives of the fighters and take fighters who wouldn’t normally get these opportunities.” Also, Gibbons points to Pacquiao as a reason why he was able to pull it off. “I had the name Manny Pacquiao promotions and Manny Pacquiao was behind me but the biggest, biggest key was Al Haymon and he took my word for guys like Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, Jonas Sultan and many, many others.” And there is no stopping Gibbons from doing the same thing especially when his clients’ welfare is on the line. A few months ago, Gibbons earned the ire of a state commission and got slapped with a ban. Still, Gibbons swears it is his way of showing that he always got his clients’ back. So how does he want people to remember him? “I would like to be remembered as someone who gave his all, no regrets. Just you know, when I work with someone, I put all my heart and soul into it. I got suspended for five for screaming at referees but I would like to be remembered for a guy who always had his client, fighters and boxers’ back and that when we went at it, we gave it our all.” If you end up going to war, you’d certainly want somebody like Sean Gibbons right by your side. The post POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lopez relishes fresh start with UP in UAAP Season 86
There’s more than a championship on the line for UP’s Francis Lopez, as he has a unique chance to restart his career after a halted professional stint in the US......»»
Quo Vadis Gilas?
Over the past week, basketball crazy FIBA co-host Philippines has been the mecca for world basketball. Hordes of foreign basketball fans eager to support their teams have trooped to our country, and along with thousands of local fans, including yours truly, have endured the hardships of hours long traffic, bewildering weather of humidity, heat and massive rainfall melding intermittently all within the day enroute to the venues, just to witness live the World Cup’s top hoopsters. Despite what I felt were atrociously expensive tickets for the lower box sections, being an incorrigible basketball fanatic, I just felt that I could not pass up the chance to be part of the once in a lifetime World Cup experience, particularly since I would be in the company of family friends, businessman basketball-sportscaster Dominic Uy who shared his insightful off-court commentaries and who was responsible for getting us some great seats, my erstwhile golfing partner Cookie la’O who had partnered with me decades back to bag the prestigious Mango Tee Tournament championship in Alabang, and my son-in-law, noted New Balance shoe designer Gabe la’O, who flew all the way from New Hampshire to watch some top-notch games. Never mind that they are all as La Salle Green as can be but their youthful energies in cheering their hearts out for every basket, block, steal and mad breakaway was infectious. I watched the US-Greece and Gilas-Italy games live and the experience did not disappoint. The highlights of those games in consonance with the tremendous roars of the fans will be replayed in my memory bank over and over again for a long time to come. But, of course, like all true-blue basketball aficionados, recounting and analyzing the wows of a won game and the what-ifs of a heartbreaker and the future of Gilas is par for the course. So here goes. Despite the four heartbreaking defeats to the Dominican Republic, Angola, Italy and South Sudan, the last game of Gilas winning against the undisputed Asian champion, China, has given us a slight glimmer of hope, again, to have a chance to make it to Paris next year. Although the win was masterfully achieved as a team effort, undoubtedly it was Jordan Clarkson who practically carried Gilas on his shoulders with his hot 3-point shooting in the third quarter. Even China’s coach Sasha Dordevic and NBA star Li Kaier of the Minneapolis Timberwolves pointed to Clarkson as the main reason for their never-before lopsided loss to Gilas. Because of this win, Gilas is ranked 24th out of the 32 participating countries, enough to allow us to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and so the buzz over Gilas’ chances continues. What changes are needed? As far as the team composition is concerned, unless there are injuries, I believe the current line-up is as good as it can get. All are unquestionably standouts. On the other hand, as far as the coaching leadership is concerned, Chot Reyes already declared immediately after the win over China that he is stepping down because the incessant social media abuse from his critics has been “brutal” for him and his family. Kudos to Chot for his service to the country and for making this move rightly expected of any leader who has not delivered on the goals. The options, however, are limited. And worse, there is an extremely short timeline to make the choice because the Asian Games starts on 23 September. Tab Baldwin of course is the popular clamor, but the UAAP season begins as well this September and I don’t think he will leave the Blue Eagles coachless. Also it seems that there could be some pushback from certain SBA and PBA quarters who might not be too keen on Tab’s up front in your face style. Tim Cone is my own bet because not only is he an equally great coach but also for continuity since he is already in the Gilas coaching staff. Regardless of the choice, however, the problem of conflicting schedules of the players with their home teams will continue to be an obstacle to building a Gilas team that needs to be properly honed with significant playing time together. PBA and SBP will have to somehow firmly reach an understanding, otherwise Gilas fans will have to face up to the reality of more heartbreaks. Quo Vadis Gilas? Until next week… OBF! For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com The post Quo Vadis Gilas? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jetski National Championship returns for new round in Subic
Some of the country’s top jetski riders will get another chance to strut their stuff in Round 3 of the 2023 JSAP Jetski National Championship slated August 12-13 in Subic......»»
BURNING RUBBER
Clark International Speedway in Pampanga is still cooling down after the adrenaline-fueled weekend that marked the return of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup. Last weekend, the racetrack was once again set ablaze with action, as the longest-running premier one-make-race series of Toyota Motor Philippines kicked off its 2023 season. This year's TGR Vios Cup kicked off with a twist that has redefined the classic Circuit Championship format. [caption id="attachment_155577" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MICHAEL Keilani Jordan currently sits at 5th overall after the first leg[/caption] For the first time in its history, the series included an endurance racing event in its third leg, marking an evolution in the level of challenge and excitement for racers and spectators alike. The opening round was a spectacle of skill and speed, as both seasoned and new racers took to the track. After three races, Russell Cabrera of Toyota Team Cebu currently leads the Sporting and Promotional Class, followed by Maila Avila of JBT Racing/Toyota Isabela and Ben Corpino of Obengers Racing Team. In the premiere Super Sporting Class, Gerard Loy of R Racing Team went on an assault to take this leg’s lead, ahead of JD Motorsports-Ribbon Arc’s John Dizon and Red Diwa of JBT Racing/Toyota Isabela. Notably, actor Enzo Pineda, a Vios Cup Autocross alumnus, made his debut in the Circuit Promotional Class under Team Toyota Gazoo Racing PH and currently sits at 13th overall. Meanwhile, the Super Sporting Class saw the return of veteran racer Troy Montero, who sits at 8th overall after the first leg. [caption id="attachment_155578" align="aligncenter" width="525"] CHRIS Gleeson edges Julia delos Angeles during the action-packed race.[/caption] In addition to the circuit racing, the Autocross Challenge also made a comeback this year, featuring a roster of social media personalities, including Macoy Dubs, Genesis Redido, Ezra Domingo and Apple David. Former Autocross racers, Reph Bangsil and model Arianne Bautista, as well as beauty queens Carla Lizardo and Megan Young, graced the track. The 2023 Autocross lineup was completed by previous season champ Migy Romulo, and 2022 favorites Benedict Cua, Bianca Yao and Lexi Mendiola. In the Autocross Challenge Promotional Influencers Class, Bianca Yao leads after the first leg ahead of Arianne Bautista and Apple David. The Sporting Influencers Class, meanwhile, saw Miguel Romulo take first place ahead of Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil. In the Promotional Media Class, Patricia Tenorio came out on top, winning over Cesar Miguel and Riz Javier. Siegwald Go took first in the Sporting Media Class ahead of Justin Young and John Rey San Diego. The TGR Vios Cup has long been a significant platform for promoting motorsports in the Philippines, and this year's event was no exception. Since its inception in 2014, the series has not only fostered a love for racing but has also inspired new generations of drivers, shining a spotlight on local talent, and bringing motorsport to a broader audience. The event was open to all, and for those unable to be there in person, the exhilarating action was streamed live on the official Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Facebook page. Beyond the on-track action, the event also offered the full Toyota Gazoo Racing experience. Attendees were treated to a display of various Toyota GR cars, the chance to try out the TGR GT Cup racing rigs, and a host of activities and prize-winning opportunities from TMP and TGR Vios Cup sponsors. The event was organized in cooperation with Bridgestone and Petron, with further support from sponsors including Denso, 3M, AVT, ROTA, OMP, Tuason Racing, myToyota Wallet and Kinto One. The opening event of the 2023 TGR Vios Cup season proved once again that the series is more than just a race. It's a beacon of inspiration for aspiring racers, a testament to the spirit of motorsport, and a celebration of talent both old and new. The thrilling spectacle we witnessed on Saturday is a promising sign of what's to come in the rest of the season, as the TGR Vios Cup continues to fuel the growth of motorsports in the Philippines. The post BURNING RUBBER appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kim climbs US Open leaderboard with sizzling third-round start
Tom Kim turned in a record-equalling front nine at Los Angeles Country Club then found himself holding on for dear life as he tried to play his way into contention at the US Open. The 20-year-old from South Korea had seven birdies in the first 10 holes -- his 29 on the front nine matching the championship nine-hole scoring mark. Kim joined Vijay Singh in 2003 at Olympia Fields, Louis Oosthuizen in 2015 at Chambers Bay and Neal Lancaster, who did it back to back in 1995 and 1996 at Shinnecock and Oakland Hills. Coming in, however, there were bogeys at 13, 15 and 16 by Kim as the sun-baked course, hosting a US Open for the first time, showed its teeth. "Those three bogeys really don't feel like bogeys because I barely missed it by a yard or two," said Kim, whose four-under par 66 put him at three-under 207 for the tournament. "But major championship golf, US Open, really brings it out of you. "Would have been nice to kind of par in and see that bogey-free or see one or two more birdies, but if you told me at the start of the day, I'd take that score." One of Kim's bogeys came at the par-three 15th, playing Saturday at just 81 yards. Birdies were proving even harder to come by there than they had in the first two rounds, when it played at 124 and 115 yards and saw three holes in one. Kim said it still offered one of the few "realistic" birdie chances on the back nine because players are hitting a wedge off the tee. "If you have a wedge, you have a chance to get it close and have a chance," he said. - No room for error - But at 81 yards, there's certainly no room for error. "I mean, it was 76 yards, 80 something to the hole. You have four yards of green to work with," Kim said. "You're long, you're dead; you're short, you're dead. It's a really simple wedge shot, but with the wind kind of going down to left, you've got to really hit it at the right time. "It's a wedge. You don't want to bail out left. Then you have like a 40-footer down the hill. "I just kind of got cute and kind of got plugged in the bunker. A bogey from 80 yards stats-wise isn't great, but definitely double is in play there." Kim, who earned his second US PGA Tour title at TPC Summerlin last October and owns two titles on both the Asian Tour and Koran Tour, is chasing a first major title. He's trying to follow the trail blazed by Asia's two male major winners: South Korean Yang Yong-eun -- who out-dueled Tiger Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship -- and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion. Although he'd told himself not to watch the scoreboard, Kim admitted he couldn't help himself as the birdies were falling. "It did catch my mind once I was seven-under, after 10 where, man, if I can keep this going, have a good finish -- and if the leaders kind of stumble -- I might have a chance to be really close up there on Sunday," Kim said. "But it was a really short thought because I still had the hardest part of the golf course right in front of me." bb/js © Agence France-Presse The post Kim climbs US Open leaderboard with sizzling third-round start appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Boston makes Miami feel heat
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Boston poured in 16 three-pointers in a dominant 110-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday that kept the Celtics alive in the National Basketball Association championship chase. For the second straight game, the Celtics fended off elimination, cutting the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals to 3-2 with the wire-to-wire triumph. Miami will get another chance to close it out when they host game six on Saturday. The Celtics will be trying to take one more step toward becoming the first NBA team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. “The only thing that can stop us is us,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said in an on-court interview. Before a rapturous, raucous crowd at TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics looked every inch the favorites they were before the series started — before the upstart eighth-seeded Heat grabbed the first two games in Boston, then embarrassed the second seeds in game three. Four Celtics starters scored more than 20 points, with Derrick White leading the way with 24 on a night when he made six of eight attempts from three-point range. “Got some good looks and was able to knock them down, and just kind of rolled with it,” said White, who said the Heat’s defensive focus on Brown and fellow star wing Jayson Tatum gave him more room to operate. Marcus Smart added 23 and had five steals while Brown and Tatum scored 21 apiece. More importantly, the energetic Celtics harried the Heat into 16 turnovers that led to 27 Boston points. They had 17 second-chance points compared to Miami’s seven. “Tonight we were the tougher playing team,” Brown said. “We set the tone from start to finish.” Boston was locked in on both ends of the floor from the opening tip-off, roaring to a 23-7 lead in a matter of minutes. After Tatum was whistled for a technical foul with 8:43 in the first quarter, the Celtics responded with three consecutive three-pointers. Tatum scored 12 points in the first quarter and Brown took over with 12 in the second. Meanwhile, Heat talisman Jimmy Butler struggled to get going, scoring eight points in the first half and finishing with 14 — his lowest-scoring game of the playoffs. He sat out most of the fourth quarter. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points off the bench. Bam Adebayo scored 16 points but coughed up six turnovers. Kyle Lowry starting at point guard after Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a sprained ankle, scored five points with four turnovers. “We’ve just got to play better,” Butler said. “Start the game off better, on the starters, make it more difficult for them. “They are in a rhythm since the beginning of the game,” Butler added. “But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We’ll just have to close it out at home.” Butler said the Heat allowed their shooting struggles to affect their defensive intensity. “But that’s easily correctable,” he said. “You just have to come out and play harder from the jump.” The Heat, who won the NBA title in 2006, 2012 and 2013, still only need one more win to reach a seventh NBA Finals. Boston, whose 17 NBA titles are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in history, last won it all in 2008 and came up short in last season’s championship series against the Golden State Warriors. The winners of the series will play the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time. White said the Celtics expect a formidable challenge in Miami on Saturday. “The crowd is going to be in it. It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “It’s going to take 48 minutes of battling, scratching, clawing, and we’ve got to find a way to win.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was unconcerned that two big defeats had demoralized his team. “Who cares about mood?” Spoelstra said. “We have a gnarly group. It’s a competitive series. You always expect things to be challenging in the conference finals.” The post Boston makes Miami feel heat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»