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The Lasallian community is joining hands to help one of their own, Lim Eng Beng, after the former King Archer was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. A mixed volleyball tournament is being planned after the Lenten break between several members of the three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women's volleyball champion Lady Spikers and the La Salle men's basketball team. Lady Spikers' Abi Maraño, Melissa Gohing, Ara Galang, Michelle Gumabao, Mika Reyes and Rochelle Sison, and the Green Archers' Jeric Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, Norbert Torres, Almond Vosotros, Yutien Andrada, Jason Perkins and Thomas Torres are the players who will be competing in the fundraising event. Henry Atayde, La Salle’s representative to the UAAP board, said this is just one of the many ways the La Salle community is helping raise the P3 million Lim needed for his liver transplant. "For a guy who never drank alcohol, the La Salle community is very concerned abou...

Brunei could face suspension and a heavy fine from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after its unexpected withdrawal from the AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers, which opened Friday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the Asean Football Federation (AFF), of which the Philippines is also a member, already has a rule on how to handle teams that back out at the last minute. "I’m not sure if a similar situation occurred in an AFC tournament before, but I’m sure the AFC would give sanctions and fine Brunei," said Araneta after watching Turkmenistan’s 7-0 demolition of Cambodia in the opening of the Group E qualifiers on Friday. "The AFF has already set some rules that if a team that has already confirmed participation in a tournament but pulls out at the last minute, will be given a minimum fine of $10,000. Brunei’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports issued a sta...

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will hold a month-long search for players who will comprise the national under-23 training pool. PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that since the U23 Suzuki National Cup began in 2011, the tournament has served as a key tool for promoting and developing football in the country. "Through the U23 Suzuki National Cup, we get to see the future of Philippine football. With the Philippines’ pleasing performance in the recent (Asean Football Federation) Suzuki Cup, we are indeed optimistic that football will continue to flourish in the country," said Araneta. Araneta said the third edition of the PFF U23 Suzuki National Cup opens next month with the Luzon teams facing off at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna, from April 8 to 13. The Visayas teams will converge fn San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, wfrom April 15 to 20, hile Davao City will bhostthe Mindanao leg from April 22 to 27. The top two teams a...

Philippine national men's football team manager Dan Palami and coach Michael Weiss believe the Azkals are a more mature and cohesive unit this time around than the squad that competed in the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup main draw. Palami said that the Azkals no longer need motivation since they know what should be done. "They (Azkals) know where the team wants to go. We are on the same page on the significance of the tournament. We've taken it several steps at a time." He added that the Philippines' strong performance in the 2012 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup is an indication of the Azkals' willingness to secure one of the remaining 12 spots in the AFC Asian Cup, which Australia will be hosting in 2015. "The players are motivated and everybody knows what’s at stake," said Palami, a few days before the Azkals again try to qualify for the Challenge Cup's 2014 edition in the ...

San Miguel is on a roll, with the Beermen cruising to their fifth straight win with an 80-55 crushing of the Saigon Heat on Sunday in the fourth Asean Basketball League at the Tan Binh Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Chris Banchero scored 20 points while imports Brian Williams and Justin Williams combined for 26 rebounds to spearhead the Beermen’s 39-19 edge in the battle of the boards. It was Banchero's second 20-point game in San Miguel's five-game winning run as the do-it-all guard posted an average of 19 markers per outing. Brian Williams added 16 points while Justin Williams, who also had a team-high four block shots and four steals, contributed 11 more for the 8-3 Beermen, who are now a full game behind defending champion Indonesia Warriors (9-3). The Beermenhaves have not lost since absorbing an 82-76 setback against the Westports Malaysia Dragons on February 16. It was also the fourth straight game that the Beermen had held an opponent to und...

The coaching staff and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) have released the final roster of the Philippine Azkals for the 2013 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers, which open on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. It will be a veteran-filled line-up led by brothers James and Phil Younghusband, and Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong. Marwin Angeles, Misagh Bahadoran, Dennis Cagara, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason de Jong, Neil Etheridge, Robert Gier, Chris Greatwich, brothers Angel and Juan Luis Guirado, Jerry Lucena, Carl de Murga, Paul Mulders, Roland Muller, Javier Patiño, Jose Elmer Porteria, Patrick Reichelt, Ed Sacapaño, Stephan Schrock and Matthew Uy are the other members of the team. The Philippines opens its Challenge Cup qualifiers campaign against Brunei on March 22, will face Cambodia on March 24 and will meet Turkmenistan on March 26 for its final match. The Azkals' games are scheduled at 7:30 p.m.

World Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is ready to put his foot down and tell Manny Pacquiao to finally hang up his gloves this year if he ever sees anything wrong in the eight-time world champion's training camp. Roach was quoted on BleacherReport.com as saying that Pacquiao would watch his prized fighter's training more closely this time. "I will make sure that everything is in place. If something is not in place, I will cancel that [a fifth with Juan Manuel Marquez] fight and he will retire," said Roach. The Hall of Fame trainer even hinted that Pacquiao might fight only once this year after dropping and losing his two fights in 2012—the first a controversial one to Timothy Bradley and the second a sixth-round knockout to Marquez—and the Filipino southpaw needs a redemption of sorts to get his sting back on the ring. "Either we fight a young stud [Brandon Rios type of guys] or we fight a rematch with Marquez [right away]. I think the rematch...

San Miguel coach Leo Austria must be heaving a sigh of relief after the Beermen are playing more consistently after rolling to their third straight game in the fourth Asean Basketball League. The Beermen scored a 64-53 win over defending champion Indonesia last week at the Warriors' home court, playing defense and challenging the hosts' shooters the whole 40 minutes. It was San Miguel's second time to limit Indonesia to less than 60 points after it also scored a 64-53 win in the first game of the season. It was also the third game that the Beermen held a team to under 60 points following a 66-55 win over Singapore last month. Austria has been calling on the Beermen to play more consistently on defense after allowing their opponents to score 80 points or more in a roller-coaster campaign in mid-February. He’s been telling his players to return to the basic rules of defense. With the defense holding, Chris Banchero and J.R. Cawaling took care of the offensive side by...

If Azkals coach Michael Weiss and goalkeeper trainer Pascal Zuberbühler had their way, Ed Sacapano would be their hands-down choice as the team’s keeper for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers from March 22 to 26. Weiss hinted that Sacapano, with the way he played in last year’s Suzuki Cup, could easily make it to the Azkals' final roster. "To make the decision (of Scapano), playing or not, is heartbreaking. (He’s been) playing fantastically and is a different person than two years ago when I arrived," Weiss said. "Sacapano will always be with the team; he knows his role and pushes himself to the limits." The German coach, who signed a six-month extension to coach the Azkals, said their decision to use Sacapano as the team’s keeper in the Suzuki Cup is in anticipation of Neil Etheridge and Roland Müller not playing in the group stages. Weiss said he expects Sacapano to play more matches for the team. "Ed is at a certa...

If the Philippines' performance in the 2013 Australasia IPSC Handgun Championships is the gauge, Filipino shooters will be seeded for next year's 2014 International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun World Shoot XVII. A 139-strong Philippine team, led by veteran and 2004 Athens Olympian Jethro Dionisio, collected 63 medals—30 golds, 22 silvers and 11 bronzes—to rule the week-long event in Rotorua, New Zealand, which was participated in by 25 other countries. The Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof, Florida, will host next year's World Shoot from October 7 to 19, where 88 countries, including the Philippines, will compete. Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA) president and Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu said the expectation is for another excellent performance by Filipino shooters after a 63-medal haul in New Zealand. "It was an excellent performance by the Philippines. We dominated the event, and this ...

Team captain Abi Marano and Michelle Gumabao were two of the players who helped De La Salle University complete a three-peat in Season 75 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament. However, there’s a possibility this will be the last time they play together this season, since the latter is still undecided about whether she’ll return when the Lady Spikers shoot for a fourth straight women’s volleyball crown. Marano, who shared the Season 75 MVP honours with Ara Galang, already confirmed that she’ll be playing her final eligibility year for La Salle, giving the Taft-based spikers a reliable middle hitter when they defend the crown. “I’ll take a long rest since it has been a long season for us. I’ll also concentrate on my studies since, as a student-athlete, you need to pass your subjects for you to be able to play,” said Marano after La Salle’s 25-23, 25-20, 25-16 Game Two win to remain the queens of the volleyball court. Playing for the Philippine team also beckons for...

Embattled Philippine Volleyball Federation President Gener Dungo said he is willing to reconcile with the group of ousted Secretary-General Vangie De Jesus to settle their differences. Both camps have been throwing allegations and various accusations at each other, but are willing to put the national interest first. De Jesus said she and Ramon “Tatz” Suzara also want to sit down with Dungo to reach a consensus on forming a national team to compete in the 27th Southeast Asian Games. Dungo and De Jesus are willing to talk and unite all PVF stakeholders to help revive interest in volleyball, which now enjoys a massive following, with Shakey’s sponsoring the annual V-League women’s tournament. The collegiate leagues, like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, also contributed to popularizing the sport. Volleyball fans have already filled venues, like the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Araneta Coliseum, to t...

UAAP Secretary-General Junel Baculi will allow FEU to handle the alleged marijuana incident involving two players of the Tamaraws' men’s basketball team. FEU big man Anthony Hargrove and Adam Mohammed, a member of the Tamaraws' Team B, were allegedly arrested for possession of marijuana last week at the University Belt Area in Manila, according to a radio news report. FEU UAAP board representative Anton Montinola could not be reached for comment. Baculi, National University's Athletics Director and the school's alternate member to the UAAP board, said the incident that happened early Wednesday morning is still hearsay. "There's no concrete proof yet. For me, you are still innocent until proven guilty. I don't want to comment on the issue until I see proof,” said Baculi. "All allegations are hearsay. It will be unfair to the two players and to FEU if we judge them right away. The names of the police officers were not even mentioned...

Import Gabe Freeman's suspension forced San Miguel coach Leo Austria to change his game plan against Westports Malaysia on Saturday in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Austria had already mapped out his strategy to exact revenge against the Dragons, who scored a 77-65 win over the Beermen in their first meeting at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, where the visiting team played man-to-man defence. “They’re afraid of teams playing them man-to-man; they could not adjust that easily. They always expect teams to play them in the zone,” said Austria, who was planning to utilize Freeman’s six-foot-six frame to limit the touches of Malaysia’s American import Sammy Monroe. “Gabe can play the 2-3 spot. But now, I have to utilize my bench with his suspension. We’re planning to double-team their big men to force them to give up the ball.” Austria said they will no longer appeal the suspension; however, he was surprised that the league suspended...