Southeast Asian Games
The biennial multi-sport event from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia will be from May 12th to May 23rd.
đź“·: SEA Games Official Website
Recap. Host Philipines won 11 gold, eight silver, and eight bronze medals three years ago at the New Clark City in Tarlac.
Great start for the Azkals. Philippine Men’s Football team dominated Timor Leste to open the SEA Games campaign on a strong note, 4-0.
Sprint Queen Kristina Knott would not be back to defend the 200-meter gold due to injury. Knott suffered a plantar fasciitis tear on her left foot and decided to prioritize her recovery and be ready for the Asian Games in China, and for the World Championships in the United States. She has the SEA Games record after clocking 23.01 seconds in the 2019 edition in the Philippines. She also won a gold in the 4×100 mixed relay event—with Eric Cray, Anfernee Lopena, and Eloiza Luzon—and two silver medals.
Boxer Rogen Ladon will represent the Philippines over Olympic silver-medalist Carlo Paalam. Ladon has been selected to represent the country and defend the crown. The Alliance of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) felt that he will be the best bet at this point in the men’s flyweight category. ABAP secretary-general Marcus Jarwin Manalo said, “We do not have a problem in this weight class, they have the same quality and we are one of the best.”
Azkals captain Stephan Schrock: We are well-prepared. The veteran midfielder is believing that the current Philippine Football team is more prepared than the last time. “The team looks very solid and looks very good at what we are doing—I was positively surprised when I joined the team,” he said, then proceeded to tell how he has enjoyed the training sessions and the inputs. Azkals fell short of advancing to the semifinals in 2019.
Kiefer Ravena will get a chance to win his sixth SEA Games gold medal. Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) released the 5-on-5 men’s basketball team lineup that will compete in Vietnam. Backcourt players are Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Roger Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Alas, Kib Montalbo, and Lebron Lopez. Frontcourt players are June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, Mo Tautuaa, and Isaac Go. Gilas Pilipinas coach said that Dwight Ramos has obligations with Japan B.League team Toyama during the biennial meet, Japeth Aguilar is still recovering from a calf strain, Robert Bolick begged off as his dad is sick in the US, while Poy Erram and Caelum Harris are the other players cut from the team.
Philippine Basketball Association
Reverting to a three-conference format. Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that PBA will stage three conferences in the 47th season—Philippine Cup, Commissioner’s Cup, and Governors’ Cup.
Ricky Vargas continues to be the Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. The TNT governor has been elected by the board for a fifth straight term. Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales will remain as vice chairman, while Phoenix’s Raymond Zorilla has succeeded Dickie Bachmann as treasurer.
Philippine Cup finalists to represent the country in EASL. Finalists in Season 47 Philippine Cup will represent the Philippines in the East Asia Super League (EASL). Although, TNT would not participate in EASL even they finish as either champion or runner-up since the team will be the Gilas Pilipinas core that will be competing in FIBA Qualifiers to 2023 World Cup. EASL will feature champion ball clubs from PBA, Korean Basketball League, Japan B.League, P. League+ of Taiwan, and Bay Area Dragons team in Hong Kong to represent the Greater China. The grand champion of EASL will win USD 1,000,000.
PBA 3×3 will go nationwide. PBA plans to expand 3×3 into a nationwide league. Simultaneous tournaments will be held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The season will culminate in a national championship.
Adjusting to developments in global basketball. PBA Board of Governors will propose amendments regarding the Uniform Player’s Contract (UPC), the use of player’s image even after retirement, and sanctions for violators. UPC has been an issue since Kiefer Ravena decided to play in the Japan B.League despite a live contract with NLEX.
PBA Season 46 Leo Awards Night. PBA plans to hold the awarding ceremony on June 5th at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. No official list of candidates for individual awards has been released but Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva are automatically considered finalists for the Most Valuable Player award—after bagging Best Player of the Conference awards in the Governors’ Cup and Philippine Cup, respectively. Other awards are the Mythical Selection, the Rookie of the Year, the Sportsmanship Award, and the Best Defensive Selection.
UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball
Ateneo advanced to its fifth straight Finals appearance. On May 4th, Ateneo de Manila University eliminated Far Eastern University after cruising to an 85-72 victory. BJ Andrade scored 18 while Ange Kouame flirted with a triple-double—9 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks.
đź“·: Tiebreaker Times
UP survived La Salle to book a ticket to the Finals. Evan Nelle scored career-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting, five made three-pointers, and added 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in De La Salle University’s 83-80 victory against the University of the Philippines on May 4th. In the do-or-die game on May 6th, the Fighting Maroons escaped the Green Archers after pulling a 78-74 win. Rookie Carl Tamayo rescued UP after finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Deschon Winston’s 26 points went to naught.
No repercussions for student-athletes who will apply for the PBA Draft. Executive director Rebo Saguisag confirmed that seniors who are eligible for the PBA Draft can submit their application forms before its deadline on May 7th. “It really serves the best interest of the student-athlete who does not have to wait for another year,” said Saguisag. Before, UAAP schools did not allow their student-athletes of entering the draft due to fear that they might lose focus in the games.
Bucket of Hope. University of the Philippines high-flying swingman Ricci Rivero has raised close to PHP 140,000 for UP Ikot Drivers Association which has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the start of the season, Rivero said he will donate PHP 250 for every point for the Fighting Maroons. Other people also pledged to his program—his agent Charlie Dy of Virtual Playground (PHP 250 per point) and UP College of Human Kinetics dean Kiko Diaz (PHP 50 per point).
NCAA Season 97 Men’s Basketball
Perpetual upset Benilde to take the last Final Four spot. On May 4th, Fifth-seeded University of Perpetual Help System DALTA snatched the Final Four spot from College of Saint Benilde sans leading scorer Kim Aurin, 76-64. Altas will face unbeaten Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Five UPHSD players scored double-digits—led by John Abis (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists)—and spoiled JC Cullar’s performance (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals).
Japan B.League
Dwight Ramos recorded six steals. Ramos had a rough offensive night—6 points on 3-of-10 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 6 steals—but Toyama managed to bounce back with an 81-78 win against Mikawa on May 1st.
Great performances went to naught. Kobe Paras scored 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting from deep in Niigata’s 75-89 loss against Gunma, their 15th straight defeat. Meanwhile, Thirdy Ravena finished with 16 points and 3 rebounds as San-En fell short versus Shinshu, 85-88.
UAAP Season 84 Women’s Volleyball
UST, NU, La Salle, and UP opened the season with a win. University of Santo Tomas swept Far Eastern University but lost Imee Hernandez spraining her ankle due to a bad landing. Rookie-laden National University dominated Adamson University in three sets. De La Salle University took a four-set win over Ateneo de Manila University. Rookie Alyssa Bertolano dropped 20 points in her debut to lead the University of the Philippines to a three-set victory over the University of the East.
Miscellaneous
Postponement of Asian Games. The Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in September was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the host country China.
Vote to replace the equestrian element in the Olympic Games. Obstacle course racing is set to be voted as the replacement for the equestrian element in the modern pentathlon at the Olympics Games from Los Angeles in 2028.
Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players due to the Ukraine invasion. Rafael Nadal believes that Wimbledon chose the most drastic option, which has been heavily criticized by both the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). According to the 21-time major winner, it is unfair to his Russian colleagues. He believes that the players are not responsible for what is happening with the war.
Korean Basketball League coach to scout Filipino players. South Korea national team coach Cho Sang Hyun is set to come back to the Philippines to scout Filipinos who could possibly sign as their Asian quota Player. He is the head coach of the Korean Basketball League club Changwon LG which finished in seventh place last season with a 24-30 win-loss record.