BEIJING—Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) officials were expected to arrive here late Wednesday with the intention of strengthening the association’s ties with the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).

                Expected to arrive were BAP-SBP chairman Governor Oscar Romero, vice chairman Ricky Vargas and executive director Noli Eala. Association president Manuel Pangilinan is due Thursday. The officials’ flight from Hong Kong was delayed, according to Eala.

                “We’ll try to catch the basketball games tonight,” said Eala in a text message. He was referring to the US-Australia and Greece-Argentina quarterfinal matches which were scheduled later in the evening Wednesday.

                The group is also scheduled to visit the Olympic Village Thursday, according to Team Philippines official Eleonor Navarro-de la Peña. They are also expected to watch Mary Antoinette Rivero’s fight Friday. Rivero is sponsored by Smart, which is headed by Pangilinan.

                Meanwhile, RP Olympics chief of mission Monico Puentevella emphasized the need for sports psychologists to work on the Filipino athletes in future international competitions.

                Puentevella said there are no sports psychologists in the Philippine delegation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which he believes is important.

                “That is the reason I introduced motivational sessions because there are no psychologists,” said Puentevella in a teleconference with Manila-based mediamen in the Philippine Sports Commission Olympics monitoring group

                Taekwondo jin Toni Rivero became the lone hope of the Philippines for a gold after Tshomlee Go lost his first round bout Wednesday. Rivero springs to action Friday.

                “Since walang psychologist, I’ll try my best to motivate Toni,” said Puentevella.

Puentevella has suggested it to PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez in Beijing and will further propose it in a scheduled Philippine sports summit slated September 4 in Subic.

“Nag-usap na kami (Ramirez), kailangan natin ng sports psychologists para sa lahat,” said Puentevella. 

Tshomlee one and done, too

BEIJING—Taekwondo jin Tshomlee Go crashed out in the first round, just like boxer Harry Tañamor before him.

Beating Malaysian, making semis is all Fabriga hopes for

BEIJING—Like almost everyone else, Rexel Ryan Fabriga is going for the modest in men’s 10-meter springboard of diving in the 29th Olympic Games.

Torres banishes fear of world-class foes

BEIJING—Marestella Torres walked with a limp as she roamed, for the first time in two weeks, the spacious Olympic Village on Wednesday. With a heavily bandaged left knee, Torres shopped for souvenirs with diver Shiela Mae Perez.

Toni puts studies on hold to chase Olympic dream

TONI Rivero has sacrificed a lot so as to prepare herself for a tough task, that is winning a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Back home, pundits believe Go didn’t get points for his hits

LOCAL taekwondo pundits believed that some points were not awarded to Tshomlee Go, who lost his first-round match to Ryan Carneli of Australia, 1-0, Wednesday.

STRONGER RP-F.I.B.A. TIES

BEIJING—Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) officials were expected to arrive here late Wednesday with the intention of strengthening the association’s ties with the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).

Part Of The Game: Sports star

We wish. That seems to be our collective sigh as we watch the Olympic Games unfold day by day in Beijing.