PARIS – Team USA, the favorite to win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dominated Puerto Rico 104-83 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) and will face Brazil in the men’s basketball quarterfinals.

Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves led the charge with 26 points in the victory at Lille’s Pierre Mauroy Stadium.

Joel Embiid added 15 points, Kevin Durant scored 11, and LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Davis each contributed 10 points for the star-studded American team. Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans led Puerto Rico with 18 points.

Team USA topped Group C with an undefeated record and will play Brazil, which finished third in their group, at Bercy Arena on Tuesday.

In other Group C action, Serbia defeated South Sudan 96-85 and will face Australia in the quarterfinals, also on Tuesday. Host France will take on Canada, and Germany will battle Greece.

Women’s basketball

In women’s basketball, Spain defeated Serbia 70-62 to top Group A with three victories, both teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Spanish small forward Maria Conde led all scorers with 15 points, while Serbian point guard Yvonne Anderson had 18 points.

China kept its quarterfinal hopes alive by defeating Puerto Rico, which was eliminated after losing all three games.

(ia/mnm/Sourced online)

MANILA – Nine Filipino volunteers are set to undergo specialized training in preparation for their roles in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission in collaboration with the French Embassy and France Volontaires-Philippines, this initiative aims to equip the volunteers with the necessary skills and cultural knowledge to effectively support the successful execution of the events.

Scheduled on April 25 and 26 at the VIP Room of Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall, the training program will feature lectures designed to instill a sense of pride and manage expectations among the selected volunteers.

Beyond logistical support, volunteers will receive insights into French culture to enhance their roles as Committee Assistants and Sports Facilitators across various sporting associations.

They will join a cohort of approximately 45,000 individuals tasked with welcoming, directing, and assisting spectators and athletes throughout the games.

PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann expressed full endorsement of the program, emphasizing its alignment with the nation’s commitment to enhancing the overall experience for all participants of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The selection process, which began in August 2022 with 112 applicants, culminated in the final nine volunteers announced during the French National Day celebrations hosted by the embassy.

Before their selection, volunteers underwent rigorous preparations, including immersion in major sporting and volunteering events such as the FIBA Draw Festival, Sports First-Aid Training, French Language classes, and French Volunteering Day.

The diverse composition of the Filipino volunteers spans various professions, including youth leaders, para-athletes, athlete coaches, entrepreneurs, and multimedia specialists, reflecting a broad spectrum of expertise and dedication.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8, these volunteers are poised to play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and successful execution of one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.

(el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA – The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) has commended pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for earning a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The world’s No. 3 Obiena cleared the Olympic standard of 5.82 meters to claim the silver medal during the 2023 Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden on July 2.

World’s No. 1 Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden registered 6.05m to claim the gold medal while Pal Haugen Lillefosse of Norway (5.72m) settled for the bronze medal.

“On behalf of President Terry Capistrano and the PATAFA, we congratulate EJ Obiena for securing the Paris Olympic slot for pole vault in his first competition during the Olympic qualification window,” the PATAFA said in a statement on Monday.

PATAFA is hoping that Obiena’s achievement as the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics will inspire other Filipino athletes to work hard to make it to the world’s most prestigious sports event.

“We are delighted that EJ can now focus on preparing for the Olympics, Asian Athletics Championships, and the Asian Games. We are grateful to the continued support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee to EJ. We also extend our thanks and congratulations to EJ’s coaching team. Mabuhay ang Atletang Pilipino!” the statement added.

Obiena, 27, also qualified for the last Tokyo Olympics but failed to win a medal.

Meanwhile, Obiena will lead the national athletics team in the Asian Championships scheduled from July 12 to 16 in Pattaya, Thailand.

Other members of the team are Eric Cray (men’s 400m), Janry Ubas (men’s long jump), Umajesty Williams (men’s 400m and 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m), Michael Carlo del Prado (men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m), Frederick Ramirez (men’s 400m and 4x400m), Joyme Sequita (men’s 4x400m), Maureen Schrijvers (women’s 400m and 4x400m), Robyn Brown (women’s 400m Hurdles and 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m), Bernalyn Bejoy (women’s 800m and 4x400m), Jessel Lumapas ( women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m), Sonny Wagdos (men’s 5000m and 10,000m), John Cabang Tolentino (men’s 110m Hurdles), Clinton Bautista (men’s 110m Hurdles), William Morrison (men’s shot put), Aries Toledo (men’s decathlon), Johnmike Lera (men’s decathlon), Arlan Arbois (men’s 10000m), Gennah Malapit (women’s javelin throw), Joida Gagnao (women’s 3000m steeplechase), Ronne Malipay (men’s triple jump), Sarah Dequinan (women’s heptathlon) and Kristina Knott (women’s 100m and 200m).

Coaches Jojo Posadas, Sean Guevara, Dario de Rosas, Danilo Fresnido, Eduardo Buenavista, Emerson Obiena, Isidro del Prado, Martin Dela Fuente (Spanish coach of Cabang), Samantha Cray (wife-coach of Eric) and Vitaly Petrov (Ukranian coach of EJ) will accompany the athletes.

Also joining the trip are Capistrano and PATAFA Executive Vice President Guillermo Torres and Secretary General Edward Kho, national training director Renato Unso and Jasper Tanhueco, who will serve as team manager.

The other Cambodia SEA Games medalists in the team are Cray (gold, 400m), Ubas (gold, long jump), Ramirez (bronze, 400m); Del Prado, Ramirez, Sequita and Williams (gold, men’s 4x400m relay); Arbois (silver, marathon); Williams (silver, 400m); Wagdos (1500m); Gagnao (3000m steeplechase); Brown (400m); Malipay (silver, triple jump); Dequinan (hepthatlon); Malapit (silver, javelin throw); Bejoy, Brown, Lumapas and Schrijvers (silver, 4x400m relay); Brown, Lumapas, Ramirez and Williams (bronze, mixed 4x400m relay); Toledo (bronze, decathlon); and Tolentino (bronze, 110m hurdles). (PNA)