Sports getting closer to beating Covid-19
ONE quick glance at how Philippine sports were played just over the weekend could compel one to surmise that Covid’s been beaten—if not, about to be beat.
Team PHL winds up ‘fighting’ 4th place
TEAM Philippines returned home on Monday morning proud of the 52 gold medals won from the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games that ended on Monday night with a friendly and cozy closing ceremony at the My Dinh Stadium at the heart of Hanoi.
Gilas women lose, too, but keep gold
HANOI—The national women’s team absorbed a first loss to Malaysia, 96-93, on Friday but still retained the gold medal on the final day of the basketball competitions of the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.
Horror in Hanoi!
HANOI—Eumir Felix Marcial and two other boxers won their final bouts on Sunday but the biggest news—or more appropriately the saddest—came from the men’s basketball final where Indonesia scored a monumental upset and snatched what is considered as the most important gold medal for the Philippines.
Vanessa Sarno: Princess of PHL weightlifting
HANOI—Vanessa Sarno put on a remarkable show of strength and grit that could very well earn her the title as the princess of Philippine weightlifting.
Rockin’ and rollin’ in billiards, tennis
HANOI—The guaranteed victories in billiards and tennis were officially etched on Saturday but the Philippines anxiously stared at breaking the 50-gold medal barrier and a potential fourth-place finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games that winds down to its last day of active competitions.
Basketball twin victories within reach
HANOI—The Philippines is now one win away from sweeping and claiming the 31st Southeast Asian Games gold medals following convincing victories on Saturday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.
PHL hoops teams try to keep records unscathed to finals
HANOI—Even the kings need a rest but for the Philippine men and women basketball squad, they handled Friday’s off to focus on keeping their records unblemished on their way to the gold medal matches of 31st Southeast Asian Games basketball action.
Hidilyn will always be Hidilyn
HANOI—Hidilyn Diaz accomplished her mission at the 31st Southeast Asian Games—retain the women’s 55 kgs gold medal of weightlifting.
SEA Games hosts prefer
popularity over medals won
HANOI—World champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo may have won five gold medals but it’s the hometown’s choice who’s perched atop the race for the Most Favorite Athlete in the 31st Southeast Asian Games that end on Monday.
Paris 2024 on Hidilyn Diaz’s mind
HANOI—It’s mission accomplished for Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz at the 31st Southeast Asian Games as she retained her title in women’s 55 kg of weightlifting.
Team PHL teeters in 4th place in SEAG
HANOI—The gold medals came in trickles anew on Thursday and with victories notched in only two fronts—bowling and judo—in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, the Philippines dropped to a tight race for fourth place in the overall medals race that host Vietnam solidly gripped with four days of action remaining.
Bowlers reap 2nd gold medal
HANOI—Merwin Tan captured a second gold medal at the 31st Southeast Asian Games after he anchored the country’s entry to bowling’s team of four event at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes on Thursday.
Cramping Hallasgo settles for marathon silver at SEA Games
HANOI—Christine Hallasgo clinched silver in women’s marathon to cap the country’s campaign in athletics at the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday.
PHL hangs on to 3rd place with lean 3-gold haul
HANOI—Filipino-American Kayla Richardson emerged as the fastest woman of the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday when only three gold medals were added to the Filipino athletes’ coffers that imperiled the country’s grip of third place in the overall medals race.
Pool ace, archers deliver golds
HANOI—Johann Chua won an all-Filipino final with Carlos Biado in men’s 9-ball of billiards as eagle-eyed sisters Abby and Pia Bidaure and Phoebe Amistoso gave the country its first archery gold medal on Wednesday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
PHL avoids Games shutout with Malixi’s bronze medal
HANOI—Rianne Malixi beat Singapore’s Suanne Loh in a fourth playoff hole to give the country a bronze medal in women’s golf team match play event in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Heron Lake Golf course in Vinh Phuc Province on Wednesday.
Beach volleybelles remain spotless
HANOI—The Philippines shut out host Vietnam, 2-0, to stay in gold medal contention in the 31st Southeast Asian Games women’s beach volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Tuan Chau Beach in Quang Ninh.
Prado, Morales lead criterium bid
HOA BINH—It will be the road riders turn to shoot for the elusive cycling gold medal as Jermyn Prado leads the women’s team and Jan Paul Morales heads the men’s squad in the criterium event of the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday morning here.
Amit, Cray, Barbosa scoop golds for PHL
HANOI—Rubilen Amit, Eric Cray and Kurt Bryan Barbosa snatched gold medals on Tuesday and although the mints came in trickles, the Philippines remained in the thick of the fight for the second and third places in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Gilas women brace for vengeful Thais
HANOI—The Philippine women’s basketball team faces a big test in the 31st Southeast Asian Games when it battles a revenge-seeking Thailand side on Wednesday Tat the Hanh Tri Gymnasium.
Go and co. relegated to duel for bronze in women’s golf
HANOI—Thailand’s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap edged Lois Kaye Go in a playoff to douse dashing the Philippines’s gold medal hopes in women’s golf team match play on Tuesday at the Heron Lake Golf Course in Vinh Phuc.
Cool, calculating Amit snares 9-ball mint
HANOI—Rubilen Amit topped the women’s 9-ball on Tuesday for the country’s first gold medal in billiards at the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Hadong District Sporting Hall.
Yulo’s gold haul: Gimme 5!
HANOI—Carlos Edriel Yulo was a world-class act at the 31st Southeast Asian Games as he won two more gold medals to emerge with a total of five titles in men’s gymnastics competitions.
Bowlers, finally, strike gold in SEAG
HANOI—Merwin Tan struck gold in men’s singles to end an 11-year winless spell in Southeast Asian Games bowling on Monday.
PHL cagebelles hurdle Indonesians
HANOI—Quick, agile and obviously superior in skill set, the Philippine women’s team foiled Indonesia, 93-77, to kick off its gold medal-retention bid in Southeast Asian Games women’s basketball action on Monday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.
Rivera prevents shutout in cycling’s crosscountry
HOA BINH City—Jericho Rivera clinched a bronze medal in mountain bike’s crosscountry for men on Monday for the Philippines’ third cycling medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
SEAG: Yulo, Mangrobang lead PHL’s golden charge
HANOI—World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo bagged two gold medals and double-event athlete Kim Mangrobang snatched her second mint this time in duathlon as the Philippines went on a seven-gold harvest on Sunday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
2 Golds for Kim
HANOI—Kim Mangrobang rules women’s duathlon on Sunday to follow up on her success in triathlon only the day before at the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Downhill cyclists bag 2 bronze medals
HANOI—The downhill gold medals in cycling escaped the Philippines’ grip but John Derick Farr and Naomi Gardoce still salvaged bronze medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Sunday.
Obiena sails to new SEA Games record as PHL scoops golds
HANOI—Ernest John “EJ” Obiena could have blindfolded himself and still come out winner in men’s pole vault he easily dominated to highlight a productive Saturday for Team Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
PHL MTB downhill bets ready for action
HANOI—John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira aim to retain their gold medals in the downhill events of mountain bike as cycling in the 31st Southeast Asian Games get under way on Sunday in Hoa Binh City.
Yulo triumphs, 2 golds for PHL
HANOI—Carlos Edriel Yulo emphasized the meaning of world champion that’s been twice attached to his name by ruling the men’s all-around of gymnastics for the Philippines’ second gold medal after Kurash on Friday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Rowers land three SEAG bronze medals
HANOI—Filipino rowers just couldn’t find their rhythm at the Hai Phong on Friday and settled for bronze medals in men’s lightweight coxless and men’s and women’s lightweight quadruple sculls in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
World champion Yulo starts gold campaign
HANOI—There was no gold medal thrown into the Philippine coffers on Thursday when the 31st Southeast Asian Games opened with an elaborate ceremony in rainy conditions at the 40,000-seat My Dinh Stadium.
PHL dribblers open defense of 3×3 crown
HANOI—The campaign to post another sweep of the basketball gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games begin on Friday as 3×3 action kicks off at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.
Padios gives PHL 1st gold
HANOI—Mary Francine Padios delivered the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday following her victory in pencak silat’s women’s seni (artistic or form) tunggal single event at the Bac Tu Lien Gymnasium.
Technology, traditional Vietnamese arts to mark SEAG opening ceremony
HANOI—Vietnam vowed to showcase a unique mix of state-of-the-art technology and traditional arts during the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the My Dinh Stadium on Thursday evening.
Senator Pia leads filing of motion to cite PATAFA in contempt on EJ Obiena issue
SENATOR Pia Cayetano on Wednesday led the filing of a motion to cite in contempt the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) board for disobeying the Senate Committee on Sports’ order for PATAFA’s to amicably settle its differences with world-ranked pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena through mediation procedures facilitated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Grounded to a halt
THE mediation process to resolve the burning issue between world-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and his federation rolled out after lunch time on Monday and grounded to a halt an hour past sunset.
Hidilyn Diaz: One great Filipino athlete of all time
A girl with spunk and true grit from the far south gives a pandemic-walloped nation the happiest news of the year.
The Indispensables
Working constantly behind the scenes, the trainers, nutritionists, counselors and support staff who helped the Philippine athletes survive the Tokyo Olympics deserve their own medal of sorts.
‘Best ever’ PHL finish draws rewards
TOKYO—And because the Tokyo Olympics that ended on Sunday became the best ever for the Philippines in its 97 years of participation, the silver and bronze medalists deserve additional bonuses.
What more could you ask for?
TOKYO—One gold, two silver and one bronze medals. The best performer among Southeast Asian Games countries.
Paalam: Silver medal ‘a symbol of my life’
TOKYO—A much-anticipated second gold medal came in the form of a silver as Carlo Paalam yielded to Great Britain’s Galal Yafai in the men’s flyweight final of boxing at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
Saso fires 65 in final round, grabs share of ninth place
TOKYO—Yuka Saso put on a mighty show of what she’s made of and carded an eagle-spiked 6-under 65 to gain a modest finish in the women’s golf competition of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Paalam in harness to bag 2nd gold in Tokyo
TOKYO—What Hidilyn Diaz accomplished in weightlifting at the start of the Tokyo Olympics, Carlo Paalam aims to match with similar emphatic flourish in boxing on the penultimate day Saturday of the Games that looked headed to surviving the Covid-19 pandemic with aplomb.
Paalam locks in on Gold No. 2
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam fights an opponent from Great Britain in the men’s flyweight final of boxing on Saturday afternoon hoping to nail a gold medal that would more than a thousand times underscore that the Philippines has overachieved in these Tokyo Olympics.
Saso cards 67 in third round, climbs to 20th place
TOKYO—Yuka Saso found her rhythm in the third round on Friday, submitting a four-under 67 to move up the leaderboard in the women’s golf competition of the Tokyo Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Paalam gets shot at PHL’s 2nd gold in Tokyo
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam unleashed a dominant form to outclass Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka on Thursday and send the entire nation glued toward a possible second gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
Paalam fights for gold
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam put on a dominant performance in a men’s featherweight semifinal clash against Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka on Thursday to prime himself up for the country’s second gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics that looks bound to survive the Covid-19 pandemic in three days.
Bianca, Yuka out of contention
TOKYO—Bianca Pagdanganan carded an even-par 71 on another scorching summer day that saw American Nelly Korda taking over the reins after the second round of the women’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
You can’t win ’em all: Marcial exits in semis
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial’s golden dream at the Tokyo Olympics ended with a bronze medal following his loss to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak—an opponent he admitted to be more superior.
POC, MVPSF to reward P.5M each to non-medalists in Tokyo Games
TOKYO—Irish Magno isn’t coming home yet.
Guiao calls on Pagcor ‘to restore 5% share to sports commission
TOKYO—Former Pampanga congressman Joseller “Yeng” Guiao called on government to restore the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) full share from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) “to sustain the gains made by national athletes in the country’s best Olympic finish in history.”
Tokyo hot for golfers; 2 boxers in big fights
TOKYO—Bianca Pagdanganan stayed within striking distance while Yuka Saso refused to melt under the sweltering Japanese summer heat as golf resumed with the women’s event where the country is pinning its chances to add to the gold medal Hidilyn Diaz already won in weightlifting.
Bianca, Yuka in the hunt
TOKYO—Bianca Pagdanganan carded a two-under 69 and Yuka Saso went three over with a 74 and the two Filipinas stayed within striking distance of the pace at the start of the women’s competition of golf at the Kasumigaseki Golf Club course in Kawagoe on Wednesday.
‘Golden silver’ makes Nesthy beam all over
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio was beaming like she just won a gold medal the morning after losing to a Japanese opponent in the women’s featherweight final of boxing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Marcial vs Ukrainian, Paalam battles Japanese in crucial boxing matches
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial and Carlo Paalam resume the country’s gold medal quest in the Tokyo Olympics when they seek final round berths in boxing at the Kokugikan Arena on Thursday.
Nesthy bags silver; boxers, golfers chase gold
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio’s silver medal in boxing glittered as the best performance on Tuesday for Team Philippines, whose quest for more gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics now rests on two boxers and two golfers.
Nesthy Petecio puts up gallant stand, takes home Olympic silver
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio lost in the gold medal bout of boxing’s women’s featherweight class on Tuesday, putting up a gallant stand against Japan’s Sena Irie but falling short of giving the Philippines its second gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Paalam slays Uzbek star, advances to medal round
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam slayed a giant of the boxing world’s flyweight division, winning on points by split decision over Olympic and world Shakhobidin Zoirov for a guaranteed bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Saso, Pagdanganan begin gold bid amid scorching Japan heat
TOKYO—The country’s gold medal campaign shifts back to the Kasumigaseki Golf Club with Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan battling not only a star-studded field but also the scorching Japanese summer heat.
Yulo hints on taking ‘break’ after Tokyo stint
TOKYO—Will the sporting world see less of Carlos Yulo for the next three years?
Petecio emotional in silver medal-clinching boxing campaign in Tokyo
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio lost in the gold medal bout in women’s featherweight of boxing on Tuesday, putting up a gallant stand against Japan’s Sena Irie but falling short of giving the Philippines its second gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Yulo misses bronze, Petecio targets PHL’s 2nd gold
TOKYO—Carlos Yulo came so close to clinching a medal in his Olympic debut, finishing fourth in the men’s pole vault final of gymnastics at an almost empty Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
Nesthy goes for sports immortality
TOKYO—For Nesthy Petecio, all roads lead to the fabled Kokugikan Arena as she steps atop the ring for the biggest fight of her life on Tuesday.
Obiena chilling out in preparation for finals of men’s pole vault
TOKYO—Ernest John “EJ” Obiena was “chillin out” on the eve of the men’s pole vault final of athletics when chanced upon by Filipino sportswriters at the Conrad Tokyo.
Knott melts in Tokyo heat
TOKYO—Kristina Marie Knott missed her modest target and crashed out of the women’s 200 meters of athletics on Monday—no thanks to the Japanese summer heat—at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.
Marcial knocks out Armenian foe
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial is living up to his lofty billing at the Tokyo Olympics. And he did so emphatically on Sunday.
Marcial’s fists do the talking
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial sent fellow pro Arman Darchinyan of Armenia crashing down to a painful knockout defeat on Sunday, thus advancing to the semifinal round and assuring the country of a third medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Yulo seeks redemption in vault
TOKYO—Carlos Yulo returns to the Ariake Gymnastics Center on Monday night for the finals of the men’s vault in artistic gymnastics.
Juvic settles for 55th place in Tokyo golf
TOKYO—Juvic Pagunsan closed out with a one-under par 70 on Sunday to wind up in 55th place in a field of 60 in the men’s competition golf at the Tokyo Olympics.
Knott sets modest goal in 200m
TOKYO—Kristina Knott gets the chance to “show off and show out” in her Olympic debut when she competes in the women’s 200 meters heats of athletics on Monday morning at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.
Inspired Petecio boxes way to gold medal round
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio eliminated on Saturday a taller opponent from Italy to shove the country closer to another potential gold medal after Hidilyn Diaz’s historic feat in women’s weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics.
Paalam clobbers Armenian, fights Olympic, world champ next
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam advanced to the men’s flyweight quarterfinals of boxing almost effortless, booking a lopsided 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Algeria’s Mohamed Flissi on Saturday at the Kokugikan Arena.
After Hidilyn, PHL athletes brace for tough fight
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio squares off with a taller opponent anew on Saturday, hoping to nail a victory against Italy’s Irma Testa to get into the gold medal play in women’s featherweight class of boxing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Nesthy tries to move closer to golden goal
TOKYO—Already assured of giving the Philippines its first women’s Olympic boxing medal, Nesthy Petecio is aiming for a metal that shines brighter when she steps atop the ring against an Italian rival who moved one division lighter to get into her comfort zone.
Spotlight on EJ in men’s pole vault
TOKYO—Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is finally bringing his act on the Olympic stage on Saturday when he takes on the challenge from a world-class field in men’s pole vault on Saturday morning at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.
Juvic falters in 2nd round
TOKYO—Juvic Pagunsan faltered with a two-over 73 to drop into a tie for 25th place after two rounds of men’s individual play in golf at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.
Expect high demand for Gao’s services–Ramirez
TOKYO— Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen could be headed elsewhere—to a wealthy nation perhaps—now that he has two Olympic gold medal-winning wards in his portfolio.
Nievares, 21, sees promising future in Olympic rowing
TOKYO—Never mind if Cris Nievarez finished second to last in men’s single sculls of rowing at the Tokyo Olympics in the event’s final day on Friday at the Sea Forest Waterway.
Marcial advances to quarterfinals
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial sent a strong message—but not Irish Magno—on the boxing ring; Juvic Pagunsan squeezed into contention in men’s golf; and EJ Obiena and Kristina Knott were put on heightened alert halfway through the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
No sweat for Eumir
TOKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial hardly sweat in his Olympic debut on Thursday to move a victory shy of a guaranteed podium finish.
Diaz to get additional P5 million for records
TOKYO—The rewards continue to flow Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz’s way.
Juvic 3 shots off in Tokyo
TOKYO—Juvic Pagunsan carded a five-under 66 in a rain-interrupted first round of the men’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday to find himself three shots off leader Sepp Strata of Austria.
Magno yields to cunning Thai
TOKYO—Irish Magno fell to a superior opponent from Thailand to be the first Filipino boxer to be eliminated in the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
EJ Obiena, Kristina Knott on ‘heightened alert’
TOKYO—World No. 2 Sam Kendricks of the US is out of the men’s pole vault competition of the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19 on Thursday along with German Chiaraviglio of Argentina.
Nesthy advances to medal round
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio took care of unfinished business in the boxing competitions at the Kokugikan Arena at about the same time Hidilyn Diaz was boarding a plane for home bringing with her the Philippines’s first Olympic gold medal.
Team Diaz model formula for success–Chairman Ramirez
TOKYO—Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez emphasized on Wednesday that the Team Diaz (TD) model is testament to a comprehensive and effective template that guarantees success on the Olympic stage.
Juvic kicks off gold medal quest in men’s Olympic golf
TOKYO—Juvic Pagunsan sets off as another gold medal potential when the men’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics gets going on Thursday at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama.
PHL, Thailand going head-to-head
TOKYO—Thanks to Hidilyn Diaz’s gold medal in weightlifting, the Philippines stood head-and-shoulder with Thailand on the medal tally board five days into the Tokyo Olympics.
Watch out for Ando!
TOKYO—Watch out for Elreen Ann Ando come the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Her Majesty Hidilyn coming home
TOKYO—A heroine’s welcome sans the fanfare and festivities awaits Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz when she sets foot in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.
Simple AFP welcome for Hidilyn, for now
TOKYO—There won’t be a ticker tape parade to welcome Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz when she returns home on Wednesday, not even a red carpet.
Scare for Team Diaz, coach Gao
TOKYO—Hidilyn Diaz’s biggest scare didn’t come on the competition stage of the massive Tokyo International Forum on Monday night.
Nothing’s impossible–Hidilyn
TOKYO—“Good morning, thank you God.”
Tracing gold medalist Diaz’s route to success
TOKYO—A diminutive but muscular figure sits alone for breakfast at the Cerise casual dining restaurant of Conrad’s Tokyo the morning after the entire Philippine nation celebrated Hidilyn Diaz’s gold medal in women’s weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics.
Heroine’s going home
TOKYO—Hidilyn Diaz will be flying home on Wednesday with that precious gold medal hanging from her neck.
Nesthy eyes medal round
TOKYO—Nesthy Petecio returns to the boxing ring on Wednesday against Colombia’s Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda in a women’s featherweight bout hoping to advance to the medal round at the Tokyo Olympics.