Philippine Sports News for Filipino fans around the world

Anna Isabel Villafuerte, an 11-year old teenager emerged victorious in the recently concluded 2007 Ice Skating Institute “Skate Beijing 2007″ held April 6-8 in Beijing, China. Anna bagged 8 gold medals from 8 different categories.

The only Filipino in the game, Anna bested some 300 skaters from 5 different Asian countries. Her perfect execution in every event wowed the panel of judges at the World Trade Center in Beijing. She expressed her happiness shortly in a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday afternoon.

“In some events, I was really scared because my competition, their programs were really good and then when it came to me, sometimes I was shaking. But when it came to the results, I was really surprised, I mean I didn’t know I did that good a job,” Villafuerte said.

Anna’s first taste of skating was 3 years ago when she went to the mall and fell in love with skating. She never stop since. In 2003, she won bronze in her first mall competition.

Anna’s family and friends coudn’t be happier in her recent victory. Her mother, Fe Villafuerte,who watched her during the competition said that they were just hoping for 3-gold but when Anna swept all the gold she couldn’t believe it . It was truly an unexpected win and they’re all very happy with the result.

Anna’s next stop is in the ISI World Team Recreational Championships in Chicago in July, a competition that could improve her chances of representing the country in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. But Anna said, she’s not in a rush to compete in the Olympics. Meantime, she will practice more and improve her craft for her fight in July.

Anna is the granddaughter of Camarines Sur Congressman Luis Villafuerte.

HARBOUR-RP BASKETBALL TEAM GETS AHEAD WITH MALAYSIA

Looks like the Philippine basketball team is off to a good start. As the battle continues of the ongoing 2007 Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Champions Cup in Jakarta, Harbour Centre-Philippines  made a remarkable game winning over Malaysia in an 87-72 score last Tuesday night’s game.

The four starters-Vidal Massiah, Julius Nwosu, Marvin Cruz and Jason Castro gave their best performances in the game. But it was Vidal Massiah who put an edge to the team as he came out with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting in 27 minutes of action.

Coach Junel Baculi was all smiles after the game and praised heavily his first five. This win surely boasts the Philippine team’s ego and we’re hoping that they will not be too confident but practice more to win the title.

Harbour Centre-Philippines is hoping to secure a slot in the FIBA-Asia Championship Cup in Iran if they win in the SEABA Champions Cup.

ANTHONY FERNANDO LEADS DHL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Anthony Fernando shot two-under par 70 in the 12th DHL National Amateur Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North Course in Canlubang, Laguna boosting his lead to 3 strokes against Mario Labajo.

The 23-year old golfer from Zamboanga, posted 36-hole total of 136 that kept him comfortably ahead from Libajo. Talking in Filipino, Fernando said he was struggling in the game but managed to hang-on and hit the fairways and greens and aimed for a birdie.

2007 Ice Skating Institute “Skate Beijing 2007″

Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA)

12th DHL National Amateur golf championship