Philippine Sports News for Filipino fans around the world

When University of Santo Tomas stepped on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium hardcourt early Thursday afternoon to lock horns with University of the Philippines, the Growling Tigers were dreaming of no less than a fourth straight win and a sure playoff for the last semis berth. Instead, they woke up two hours later to a horrible nightmare that could prove costly in the final stretch of the 69th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball dogfight.

The UP Maroons, already ousted in the Final Four race and were actually just playing the spoiler’s role against UST, did just that in the form of a 70-67 win that put a stop on the Growling Tigers’ semis bid.

With the game tied at 67-all and only under half a minute left in the game, prolific rookie Migs de Asis flaunted nerves of steel for UP when it mattered most, scoring three points on two separate plays in the dying seconds to seal the victory that somehow felt good on the ousted Maroons’ wounded pride.

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Two Asian Games-bound bodybuilders are leaving no stone unturned in search of a potential “godfather” to help defray their food and training expenses three months before the Philippine contingent wages war in Doha, Qatar.

Bantamweight Ricky Posas and flyweight Dick Takiban are knocking on the doors of private sponsors to augment the support they got from the Philippine Sports Commission.

They will need roughly P240,000 each for the duration of their training, the bulk of which will go to food (P87,000) and supplements (P177,900), according to Sonny Lim, bodybuilding president.

“We’re not giving up,” said Lim, who has petitioned Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City for assistance while seeking to renew his sport’s partnership with the businessman Ernest Escaler, bodybuilding’s sponsor during the Manila Southeast Asian Games.

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Grandmaster Joey Antonio and FIDE Master Wesley So will lead Tagaytay City in its title-retention bid in the 2006 National Inter-Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship on Sept. 13-17 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Davao City.

The veteran-prodigy tandem led Tagaytay-A to the title last year at the expense of Tagaytay-B.

So is set to become the country’s youngest international master after completing the required three norms in a recent tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He just needs to breach the 2400-barrier. His current rating is 2330.

GM Mark Paragua completed the IM requirements at the age of 15. So, on the other hand, is only 12 years old and, barring any hitches, stands to break Paragua’s mark before the year ends.

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Eighteen schools bannered by traditional powerhouse La Salle and Ateneo vie for honors in the 7th Samsung Interscholastic Golf Championship slated Sept. 5-7 at the north courses of the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna.

La Salle and Ateneo will be fielding teams in four of the five divisions as they again vie for supremacy in the Samsung-backed annual championship for enrolled students of top universities and schools in Metro Manila and nearby towns.

Aside from the three branches of La Salle (Zobel, Greenhills and Taft) and Ateneo, also participating in the three-day tourney are Academy of St. John, Beacon School, Brent International, Claret, Colegio de San Agustin, Maria Ausciliatrice, Miriam, Poveda, School of Tomorrow, Seton Homes, St. Paul Pasig, The Masters Academy and the University of Asia and the Pacific.

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The Philippine athletics team will compete in several international tournaments as part of its preparation for the 16th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar this December.

All but two of the 12-member RP squad will compete separately in the Singapore Open on Sept. 2-3 and the Malaysian Open on Sept. 18-19.

Departing for Singapore with coaches Joseph Sy and Luisito Artiaga are Maristela Torres (long jump), Eduardo Buenavista (10,000m), Rene Herrera (steeplechase), Julius Nieres (400m), Danilo Fresnido (javelin) and Marcedita Manipol (5,000/10,000m).

Athletes bound for Malaysia with coach Isidro del Prado are Ernie Candelario (400m), Rodrigo Tañuan (400m), Arnel Ferrera (hammer throw) and Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito (long jump).

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