Team Gilas Pilipinas poses with the national team of Ivory Coast following a tune-up game on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of the SBP).
MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas basketball team is poised to wrap up its series of preparatory matches ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a face-off against Mexico.
Scheduled for Monday at 8:00 PM, the Philippine team will clash with Mexico, currently ranked 31st in the world, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Drawing on their experience from the 2014 World Cup in Spain, Mexico relies on their dynamic playmakers and lethal shooting prowess, which have led to several remarkable upsets against the United States over the past two years.
Leading the charge for Mexico are key offensive contributors such as Paul Stoll, Pako Cruz, Orlando Mendez, and Gabriel Giron, while Daniel Amigo and Joshua Ibarra will anchor the team’s presence in the paint.
Coming off a recent friendly game against Montenegro, Gilas will utilize this contest to further integrate Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto, and Scottie Thompson into their system, aiming to reduce the turnover count that reached 18 in their previous match.
In reference to the new additions to the team, former Philippines head coach and current Serbia mentor Rajko Toroman, who observed the Ivory Coast tuneup, commented, “This is the first game with Jordan Clarkson. They need time to iron out everything, to build the chemistry. But you can see that Clarkson brings a lot to the game; he showcased dominant play here. It’s just a matter of establishing chemistry among all the players.”
Toroman, also a former consultant for Barako Bull, praised the current crop of national team players, asserting, “They possess size and all-around skills, even players with international exposure like Kiefer Ravena and Dwight Ramos. I believe this is the strongest team in the history of Philippine basketball.”
On the other side of the court, the Filipino squad faces similarities in their game against Montenegro, where they encountered the challenge of Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic. Standing at 6-foot-9, the former Orlando Magic center presents an array of offensive skills, reminiscent of Karl Anthony-Towns, who will lead the Dominican Republic in their inaugural match at the Philippine Arena on the 25th. (ai/mnm)
In an evening filled with suspense in Brisbane on Saturday, co-host Australia emerged victorious with a 7-6 win in penalties against France, propelling them to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the very first time.
The Australian team’s next destination is Sydney on Wednesday, where they will face the victors of the final quarter-final clash between England and Colombia.
Capping off an extraordinary shootout that witnessed both squads taking 10 penalties each, Cortnee Vine sealed the deal by netting the winning penalty. The quarter-final match itself had concluded 0-0 after an intense 120 minutes of play that had spectators on edge.
Maintaining her composure, Vine’s successful shot ignited jubilation in the crowd and kept the Matildas’ aspiration of clinching the World Cup on their home turf alive.
Australia’s goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, encountered a rollercoaster of emotions during the shootout. While her own penalty attempt hit the post, she redeemed herself by making crucial saves against Kenza Dali. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) flagged that Dali had stepped off her line during the first attempt.
In a climactic moment, France’s Vicki Becho faltered in the 10th penalty attempt, leaving the spotlight on Vine. With nerves of steel, Vine secured Australia’s passage by besting France’s substitute goalkeeper, Solene Durand, who had been specifically brought on for the shootout.
For France, the exit was a heart-wrenching outcome after a tense showdown witnessed by a packed crowd of 49,461. Les Bleues had harbored aspirations of reaching the semi-finals for only the second time, following their earlier defeat in the same stage back in 2011.
Remarkably, Australia achieved this victory despite their standout player, Sam Kerr, once again starting on the bench. The Matildas’ influential captain, now recovered from a calf injury, entered the fray early in the second half and later confidently converted her penalty during the decisive shootout. (Sourced online/MNM/AI)
Fijivillage photo courtesy
Spain secured a spot in the World Cup semi-finals by defeating the Netherlands in extra time.
Salma Paralluelo, 19, emerged as the hero with a decisive goal during the additional period.
The match saw a 2-1 victory for Spain, with Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt managing to equalize in the closing moments of regular time, responding to a Mariona Caldentey penalty that had given Spain an initial lead.
This victory now sets up a semi-final encounter for Spain against the winner of the Japan versus Sweden match, which was ongoing at press time. (Sourced online/MNM/AI)
AUCKLAND – Fighting for its survival, Norway vented its wrath against the Philippines Sunday night with a clinical 6-0 win that ended the Filipinas’ campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup on a downbeat note at the close of Group A action at Eden Park here.
Finally living up to their lofty pedigree, the Grasshoppers were dominant from start to finish, with striker Sophie Roman Haug doing most the damage with a hat trick in the sixth, 17th and 95th minutes as they fashioned the much-needed lopsided win.
Celebrated striker Caroline Graham Hansen had a blistering goal for the other marker in the 31st minute while Guro Reiten converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute that boosted the former World Cup champions to second place on super goal difference and into the next round.
On a miserable night for the plucky charges of coach Alen Stajcic, defender Alicia Barker came off the bench and scored an own goal in the 48th minute during a goalmouth while substitute Sofia Harrison was flashed a red card 11th minutes later that left them with only 10 players on the pitch.
Also seeing their bid of advancing to the next round cut short were the hometown Ferns, who were held to a frustrating scoreless draw by Switzerland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Thanks to largely to their 1-0 win over the Philippines in the same venue last week, the Swiss sealed top spot in the group with five points while the Norwegians took second with four points on superior goal difference as they both made it to the knockout round.
New Zealand, which finished third, and the Philippines were left out in the cold.
At the post-match press conference, Stajcic conceded that they played to a much superior team.
“As we said, they are a very classy team. They were favorites to win this group and they showed some of their class today,” he noted. “They really picked us apart in some of the battles in the box early and this allowed them to be more creative as the game went on. “
But he praised his squad for fighting till the end despite being outclassed and outmanned, especially in the second half.
“We tried to fight to the end with 10 players and we kept them out from 25 to 30 minutes. I am so proud with the heart and spirit of the team. They fought till the end, to the death, and from that perspective it has been an amazing World Cup,” the coach stressed.
Haug, who plays for AS Roma in the Italian Serie A, opened the floodgates in scoring two consecutive goals in the first 17 minutes, booting the icebreaker with a left-footed flick inside the box in the sixth minute then did it again 11 minutes later with a glancing header almost from the same spot.
A star at Barcelona, Hansen blasted a sizzling roller from the right side of the fringe of the penalty area in the 31st that gave Norway an imposing 3-0 lead.
The Norwegians padded that lead to 4-0 when Barker couldn’t clear the ball in the face of intense pressure that she accidentally drove the ball into the Philippine goal three minutes into the second half, after which Reiten added the fifth with a penalty kick off Anicka Castaneda’s tackle inside the box.
Fittingly, it was Haug who scored the last goal with a stunning strike five minutes into injury time.
Among the changes that coach Stajcic made was giving youthful striker Isabella her first start after coming off the bench in the game against New Zealand, giving the squad another option on offense, but that apparently went for naught.
The Filipinas’ side seemed energized from the huge crowd of Filipinos, numbering in the thousands, who came out to watch them play and hopefully prayed that they would pull another milestone.
Just like in Wellington, they paraded around the arena early in the afternoon, wearing the red-and-white and blue national colors and brandishing flags and flaglets, some of them wearing the traditional “salakots” to identify themselves as coming from the Philippines.
And they just kept on cheering them on even when the outcome was beyond saving.
Among those in the huge “hometown” gallery were Sen. Pia Cayetano, the head of the PH contingent, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, who arrived from Manila last Saturday night, and UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag. (ai/mnm)
GAMES TODAY
(EDEN PARK, Auckland)
7 p.m. – Norway vs Philippines (3 p.m. Manila time)
(FORSYTH BARR STADIUM, Dunedin)
7 p.m. – Switzerland vs. New Zealand ( 3 p.m. Manila time)
AUCKLAND – Facing their most menacing foes yet, the upset-conscious Filipinas are excited but unfazed as they tackle the fancied Grasshoppers Sunday for a coveted place in the next round at the close of thrilling Group A play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park here.
“Obviously we are looking forward to the game (against Norway). It’s a massive game, a massive occasion for us. Playing at a special sporting ground like Eden Park, a hallowed turf,” noted Australian Alen Stajcic at the pre-match conference Friday of playing at the fabled arena.
“From a team perspective, we are all very excited. And looking forward to the game tomorrow,” he added of the venue familiar to rugby and cricket fans worldwide, and where his charges are eager to break new ground further in the world’s greatest football tournament for women.
As before, the Australian tactician declined to get carried away by the moment and only had one thing on his mind when the two teams tangle at 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Manila time). The match will coincide simultaneously with an equally vital clash in Dunedin between host New Zealand and Switzerland, with the winner likewise sealing a spot in the round-of-16.
“We treat every game the same. I don’t care if we are playing Norway, I don’t care if we are playing America, Myanmar, or Hong Kong. Every single game is the same preparation. So it is not really relevant if we are playing life or death tomorrow, or if we need to win or need to draw,” he said.
“We go out to win every game.”
Ace defender Jessika Cowart, who joined Stajcic at the briefing, also appreciated the importance of the meeting against a side ranked No. 12 in the world, 34 rungs higher than the Filipinas, but was undaunted by their favored rivals.
“It’s football, there are 11 of us and 11 of them. There is a ball and we want to score and we want to keep them out of our net,” said Cowart of the bottom line.
“Of course, there are other factors like the world stage, the players we are playing against. That’s all added pressure, but it’s what you make it. How you perceive it. We are going out there as hard as we can, fight with pride, puso (heart),” she stressed. “We will play the game we love and we know and that’s all that matters.”
At the prospect of defending against Norwegian star forwards Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Hansen, she replied: “I am excited to play football, so whether it is up against Caroline Graham Hansen or someone from Woodside, California, I’m excited.
“And so it makes no difference to me whoever comes down from the field.”
Stajcic reiterated the significance of their surprise status of remaining in contention when virtually everyone else considered them out of the running by the time they played their third game.
“From a coaching perspective I am really proud of the whole group that we got to this point in this tournament,” he pointed out. “We are still alive. No one thought we would be alive and we were everyone’s underdogs.
“(But now) we are going up against a superpower of women’s football, historically, and knowing that we have a chance of progressing into the next round.”
Focused more on his team’s preparations, the Aussie coach declined to comment on Norway’s reported internal issues, saying: “I have a lot of respect for them as a country and what they have given to the world game.
“I am sure tomorrow when they come out here, they are going to fight for their country like they always have for the last 30 years. They are champions historically for their clubs and their country so we have a lot of respect for them. That is how we will be treating them.”
Besides the match, both coach and player looked forward to the Filipino fans who are expected to come to Eden Park in droves to provide them with a huge and much-needed inspirational boost.
“We can’t just wait to come out here tomorrow and perform for them one more time and show them the true spirit of our team and perform for them on a world stage, It is just wonderful to see and it is really what is special about our team and about the World Cup,” Stajcic said.
“It is amazing to have them. They bring that type of home game feeling every time we set out on the pitch and are really grateful for it,” Cowart echoed.
(ai/mnm)
ANKARA – FIFA on Thursday extends its “deepest condolences” over a shooting in New Zealand hours before the start of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“FIFA extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following the incident which occurred this morning in Auckland, New Zealand, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident,” world football’s governing body said on Twitter.
Following the incident, FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke to New Zealand authorities, who told him the incident “was not related to football operations,” and the opening match of the World Cup at Auckland’s Eden Park will take place as planned, FIFA added.
“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place,” it said.
At least two people were killed and at least six were injured, including a police officer, on Thursday when a man opened fire at a construction site in Auckland, according to local media.
The male shooter also died, said the New Zealand police.
Police launched an investigation into the incident and urged the public to steer clear of the area.
New Zealand takes opener
New Zealand beat Norway 1-0 in the opening game as the co-hosts bagged their first win in the Women’s World Cup’s history.
In the early minutes of the second half at Auckland’s Eden Park, New Zealand forward Hannah Wilkinson scored in style in the box after quick teamwork.
Wilkinson, 31, has scored in three different editions –2011, 2015 and 2023.
In the second half, Norway’s Tuva Hansen had an effort from distance to hit the woodwork but New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson made a fingertip save.
In the 89th minute, New Zealand were awarded a penalty after a VAR review for a handball. However, Ria Percival hit the goalpost to keep Norway’s hopes alive.
Norway’s Guro Reiten lost a chance in the box in injury time, as New Zealand took a historic win.
In their next fixture in Group A, New Zealand will face the Philippines on July 25 in Wellington.
On the same day, Norway will play Switzerland in Hamilton.
Before the kickoff, both New Zealand and Norway players, and the fans in the stadium observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Auckland shooting.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup will run through Aug. 20. (Anadolu)
MANILA – The Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) has expressed interest to host the Asian BMX Championships again as well as the International Cycling Union (UCI) BMX World Cup in 2025.
PhilCycling president Abraham Tolentino has made an early bid to host the twin events during a meeting with Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) secretary-general Onkar Singh and UCI management committee member Datuk Amarjit Singh of Malaysia on the final day of the 2023 Asian BMX Championships for Freestyle and Racing at Tagaytay City BMX Park on Sunday.
“With the success of this year’s Asian BMX championships, Tagaytay City is declaring its bid not only for the continental championships but also for the UCI World Cup in 2025,” Tolentino, also Tagaytay City mayor, said in a statement on Monday.
More than 200 athletes and officials from nine countries, including riders as young as six years old who competed in the Challenge events, joined the three-day tournament which was the last qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tolentino, also Philippine Olympic Committee president, said the current BMX track has to be modified for the World Cup.
“Innovations on the current BMX track would be implemented, especially on raising the start ramp from its present 5-meter height to the world championships and World Cup standard of 8 meters,” he said, adding that plans to build a V-shaped start ramp — 5 meters and 8 meters — would be implemented soon.
“But hosting the Asian Championships and the World Cup would have to be in the first five months of the year when the rains and the Tagaytay fog are scant,” said Tolentino.
The ACC and UCI officials, as well as foreign commissaries, praised the track and the organization of the championships and agreed in principle on Tolentino’s proposal for 2025.
Onkar Singh said he expects more Asian countries to take part in 2025, noting the high standard of the track and efficiency of the local organizing committee.
Japan reigned at the event, winning a total of six gold medals, including three on the final day of the competition. (PNA)
The Philippine Blu Boys gather together on the pitcher’s mound prior to the commencement of the third inning in their quest for third place against Hong Kong in the 12th Men’s Softball Asia Cup on Wednesday, June 28, in Kochi, Japan. ASAPHIL PHOTO captures the moment.
MANILA — The Philippine Blu Boys have successfully qualified for the World Cup. In the 12th Men’s Softball Asia Cup held in Kochi, Japan, the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed team dominated Hong Kong with a 7-0 victory, securing the bronze medal.
This achievement also earned them the third and final spot available for the Men’s Softball World Cup.
The Japanese and Singaporean teams have already claimed the first two World Cup slots, competing for the Asian title at the time of this report. Jean Henri Lhuillier, President of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil), expressed immense pride in the Blu Boys’ performance, highlighting the role of their passion in achieving victory. Asaphil is thrilled to support the team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup, acknowledging the hard work they put into reaching this stage.
The national team, comprised of talented athletes such as John Israel Antonio, Jerome Bacarisas, Leo Barredo, Denmark Bathan, Melvin de Castro, Lyonas de Leon, Juliuz de la Cruz, Mark Janzen Gaspi, Francis Generoso, John Norwen Lucas, Efril Ian Mercado, Micheal Pagkaliwagan, Reagan Parco, Gerone Riparir, Justine John Rosales, and Kenneth Torres, showcased their exceptional skills during the tournament. The coaching duties were handled by Jasper Cabrera and Isidro Abella.
With the Blu Boys’ qualification, Asaphil will now send four teams to the World Cup organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The Philippines had already secured spots in the Women’s Softball World Cup, Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball World Cup, and the Women’s Under-15 World Cup, further enhancing the country’s presence in international softball competitions.
(ai/mtvn)