By Francis Ochoa
Inquirer

TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN–As it were, all the Philippines really had at most to cross the wide expanse between here and Beijing was a bridge made of straw.

And on Monday, even that was burned down, torched by a Jordan team that played its best basketball at the right time — depending on which side of the coliseum you were watching — on the way to an 84-76 victory over San Miguel-RP in the FIBA-Asia men’s championship at the Asty Tokushima.

Jordan shredded the Philippines’ Olympic hopes in twos, with resident stars Rasheim Wright and Zaid Alkhas doing the tango in the third period and Islam Abbaas and Sam Daghles completing the demolition job in the fourth to book for their team a quarterfinal slot in this Olympic-qualifying event.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–From ardent cheerer to champion car racer.

That’s the amazing transformation Karen Navarrete-Anton underwent in just one week recently.

Karen, a Polynesian Dance School owner who used to cheer whenever her multi-titled racer-husband Carlos Anton is competing, found she also has the knack for competition driving when she emerged overall champion in the Marlboro Red Racing Competition at the Ferrari-owned Varano race track in Italy.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines amassed 40 gold medals in different events and age groups in the First World Taekwondo Cultural Expo in Jeollabukdo Province in South Korea recently.

In the kyorugi or sparring, the RP team picked up 29 golds, 14 silvers and nine bronzes, and collected 11 golds, 16 silvers and 11 bronzes in individual poomse or form and three silvers and seven bronzes in group poomse.

“This kind of tournament is used as an incubation for our future stars,” said national coach Ricky Santiago, who added that Olympian Thsomlee Go and Southeast Asian Games winners Veronica Domingo and JR Rivero used to compete in this type of competitions.

With ages ranging from 10 to 28, the national jins competed against their counterparts from Korea, Russia, China, United States, Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

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HERE’S an interesting sport that many Filipinos might not even be aware of — underwater hockey.

According to the Philippine Underwater Hockey Confederation site, it’s the fastest-growing water sport in the country.

Check out these clips of PUHC matches from the YouTube channel of jagcarpio to see this sport in action. Who knows, you might be inspired to try it out yourself.

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By Salven Lagumbay
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao’s looming fight against Mexican rival Marco Antonio Barrera has been overshadowed by recent world title conquests by a pair of unheralded Filipino boxers.

And if plans don’t miscarry, five more Filipino pugs will show that there is more to Philippine boxing than just Pacquiao, the top-grossing pound-for-pound king.

Bohol’s Czar Amonsot is scheduled to face Michael Katsidis on July 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Amonsot will be trying to unseat Katsidis as World Boxing Association interim lightweight king.

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By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer

TWO big men are amazingly shaking off the underachiever tag that had hung over them for several seasons in the UAAP men’s basketball competition.

Long consigned to the background, Ford Arao of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and Joseph Linga-Lingao of the National University Bulldogs came out of their shells over the weekend and took charge in their team’s first-day victories.

“He really wants to make a big impact this season,” NU coach Manny Dandan said after his starting center powered the Bulldogs to a 73-70 overtime victory against Far Eastern University in Saturday’s opener.

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By Salven Lagumbay
Cebu Daily News

JAKARTA, Indonesia–He left the Philippines a virtual unknown. Now, he knows he is returning with celebrity status.

Florante “The Little Pacquiao” Condes, raised in poverty in Sampaguita, Looc, Romblon, said he is preparing himself for the media and numerous interviews the moment he steps out of a Philippine Airlines flight from this city to Manila.

Condes, a devastating war machine of a human being, shocked the whole of Indonesia last Saturday evening by knocking down International Boxing Federation champion Muhammad Rachman twice en route to scoring a split decision verdict to snatch the IBF world minimumweight title.

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WHAT a great weekend indeed for Filipinos, particularly boxing fans!

From out of nowhere, two underdogs have been crowned world boxing champs.

Here’s an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer story, which includes a report from Inquirer contributor Salven L. Lagumbay and Inquirer wires:

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By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The University of the East Warriors got as much production from their bench as they did from their stars to put the University of Santo Tomas Tigers’ title defense off to a bad start via a 73-60 trashing Sunday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

“I’m very happy that everybody played well, especially the five guys from the PBL (Philippine Basketball League),” said coach Dindo Pumaren, who cited the solid performances of Mark Borboran, who paced UE with 13 points, Marcy Arellano, Elmer Espiritu, Kelvin Gregorio and Jorel Cañizares.

James Martinez added 12 markers, including back-to-back triples that pushed the Warriors ahead, 65-54, with 2:52 remaining.

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WHO’S your pick for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament? Why do you believe your team will be the champion this year?

In Saturday’s opening ballgames, comebacking La Salle massacred my alma mater, University of the Philippines, while National University shocked Far Eastern University in overtime.

Here’s an excerpt from Jasmine Payo’s story for the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

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