Team Philippines SEA Games MVPs!

Did you know that these three Filipino athletes were named most valuable player of the Games on 3 different occasions? All of them were swimmers!

Akiko Thomson (1989)
Eric Buhain (1991)
Miguel Molina (2007)

4-time swimming gold medalist Miguel Molina was named the Most Valuable Male Player of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, the third Filipino (and also the third Filipino swimmer) to bag the major award for outstanding SEA Games performance after Akiko Thomson in 1989 Kuala Lumpur Games and Eric Buhain in the 1991 Manila Games.

He is the winner of the 200 and 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter breaststroke in the Manila SEA Games, gained a slot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when his clocking of 2:03.06 in the 200m IM met the Olympic qualifying time of 2:05.65

No other than De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tankers and Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Stingrays member and 2007 UAAP swimming championship men's division MVP Ernest Lorenzo "Enchong" Dee participated at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games swimming competitions at the Aquatic Center, His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, when he was in lane 8 of men’s 100-meter butterfly finals on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at past 6:29 p.m. local time (7:29 p.m. Manila time) and lane 1 of men’s 200- meter butterfly finals on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at past 6:20 p.m. local time (7:20 p.m. Manila time) due to activists clashed with riot police in Manila, Quezon City, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Marikina, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa and San Pedro, and he was the eighth place finish in the said event with the time of 56.87 seconds (100-meter butterfly) and 2 minutes, 11.47 seconds (200-meter butterfly).

Despite the live broadcast streaming of the aquatics events at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games included swimming, diving and water polo in mall activity centers nationwide, also at the Activity Center of Star City amusement park, the police clash with protesters in the Filipino capital Manila at past 7:29 p.m. of Sunday, December 9, 2007 near the Sofitel Philippine plaza hotel to Star City, also they marched to One ECom Center in SM Mall of Asia complex.

Besides Molina and Dee is fellow DLSU Green Tanker and Makati Skipjacks Swimming Club member Johansen Benedict "Johan" Aguilar in men's 200-meter backstroke heats and finals last December 7, 2007.

Flanking next to Olympian Molina, DLSU Green Tankers Dee and Aguilar is University of the Philippines (UP) Maroon Tanker Kendrick "Ken" Uy in men's 100-meter freestyle finals last Saturday, December 8, 2007 at past 6 p.m. (7 p.m. Manila time).

Aside from Uy is fellow UP Maroon Tanker and 2007 UAAP Swimming Championship Juniors Division MVP Gian Berino in men's 1,500-meter freestyle finals last Monday, December 10, 2007 at past 6:29 p.m. (7:29 p.m. local time).

In photo and video shoots, when Enchong is wearing arena AGL-1400_ EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F, while Johan wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Legskin - Black (8-008083218), Ken wears arena ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400 YLRD goggle and rimic nux-F ARN-6015 DRED and Gian wears speedo FASTSKIN LZR RACER Legskin - Black (8-018040001), again Enchong wears arena ARN-4091 WHT Silicone Swimming Cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6005M GRN One-Piece Long Spats nux-K Power Strush and his sister Anj wears ARN-4091-WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400_ EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6004W GRN NEW RIMIC nux-K POWER STRUSH, Johan is wearing speedo Aqua V Silicone Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Bodysuit - Black (8-008053218), Ken wears arena ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400 YLRD goggle and ARN-6009M RED RIMIC nux-K and sister Kim wears ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400_ EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6004W BLU NEW RIMIC nux-K POWER STRUSH and Gian wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and LZR Racer Men's Bodyskin (8-018030001).

Anj Dee for JINS LRF-13A-708 and arena ARN-6012W DGRN RIMIC nux-F

Anj and Enchong Dee for arena nux-F

Enchong Dee for arena ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F

Anj Dee for arena ARN-6012W DGRN RIMIC nux-F

Renovation of old facilities seen as rebirth of PH sports

In this photo taken on December 15, 2016, street dwellers sleep outside the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

There are several promising athletes that remain untapped to this day due to the lack of sports facilities.

With the renovation of facilities inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and Philsports in Pasig City being undertaken by the Philippine Sports Commission, these undiscovered athletes will now have a world-class training ground where they improve their craft.

Members of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development visited both complexes on Wednesday and hailed the renovation as the renaissance of Philippine sports due to the opportunities these venues can provide to the Filipino athlete.

“There are more Lydia De Vegas, Elma Muros, Isidro Del Prados and Teofilo Yldefonsos out there, who don’t have the chance to hone their skills due to the deficiency of world-class facilities,” said House committee chairperson Eric Martinez.

“These new facilities inside RMSC and Philsports will address the need,” added the representative from the 2nd district of Valenzuela City.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez toured Martinez around the complex with House committee members Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III of Isabela, Rep. Strike Revilla of Cavite, Rep. John Rey Tiangco of Navotas and Rep. Jose Teves Jr. from TGP party-list.

The newly-refurbished Rizal Memorial Coliseum inside RMSC will be completed come Nov. 15, the first time it experienced complete renovation since the 1935.

Three hundred meters away is the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which will reopen on Nov. 21, nine days away from the kick-off ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

These facilities are part of the P842.5-million financial assistance that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has given to the PSC for the total facelift of both complexes.

https://sports.inquirer.net/372488/renovation-of-old-facilities-seen-as-rebirth-of-ph-sports

Enchong Dee 2009 UAAP swimming Championship MVP profile with JINS Airframe U377 Spider

Legends send off current Nationals Nov. 13

Boxing heroes Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr. and Leopoldo Serantes, bowling Hall-of-Famers Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno and Olivia “Bong” Coo will tell their stories of victory to inspire Filipino athletes bound for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Together with track legends Lydia de Vega-Mercado and Elma Muros-Posadas, those great personalities will be in a festive get-together on Nov. 13 to send off the athletes who will be tasked to reclaim the overall title in the 11-nation event starting on Nov. 30.

No less than President Duterte will join them along with the country’s top sports officials during the “Team Philippines Send-off ng Bayan” at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

All 1,115 Filipino athletes from 56 sports are expected to join the assembly as yesterday’s sports heroes share their secret recipes for success.

Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, a former national team standout during his prime, will also have his time to say some inspirational words.

Bamboo, known as the Prince of Philippine Rock, will be the main act during the entertainment segment of the sendoff ceremony where the theme song of Team Philippines will also be unveiled.

The Philippines last hosted the Games in 2005 and won the overall title with an astounding haul of 112 gold medals and 290 overall.

Thailand finished second that year with 87 gold medals and 117 bronzes making up the bulk of its 283 tally.

Team Philippines also had 85 silver and 93 bronze medals.

The country will be banking heavily on combat sports like taekwondo, boxing, karatedo, judo, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, arnis, wushu, wrestling and muay as primary gold-medal sources in the Games.

Other medal-rich events are athletics, aquatics, billiards, chess, dancesport, triathlon, traditional boat race, weightlifting, golf and team sports basketball, softball, baseball, ice hockey and rugby sevens.

https://sports.inquirer.net/371787/legends-send-off-current-nationals-nov-13

Enchong Dee, Johansen Aguilar

Nowadays for Enchong Dee and Johansen Aguilar of De La Salle University Green Tankers wearing Jins in partnership with Adidas, Jersey Haven, Nike, Titan 22, because they drink Milo Ready to Drink.

Enchong wears JINS Airframe U377 (Spider), 2009 adidas DLSU cap (Unisex, Fairway/White) and hoodie (fairway/white) and 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (white and green), while Johan wears JINS MMF-15S-U046 (Black Steel), 2012 Nike De La Salle (DLSU) game jacket and pant (green) and 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (green and white).

Again, Enchong wears arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6015 DGRN rimic nux-F and Johan wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Legskin - Black (8-008083218) and compete in men's 50-meter butterfly; men's 100-meter butterfly; men's 200-meter butterfly and men's 400-meter individual medley events; again Enchong wears AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-f and competes in men's 1,500-meter freestyle event while Johan wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Bodysuit (8-008053218) and competes in men's 200-meter backstroke event.

arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type)

arena ARN-6015 DGRN rimic nux-F

Sacho Ilustre makes early case for MVP as La Salle ends Day 1 on top

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA — La Salle leaned on the masterful performance of Southeast Asian Games-bound Sacho Ilustre and the rest of its swimmers, grabbing the top spot after Day 1 of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Swimming Championships, Thursday at the Trace Aquatic Center.

The previous season’s top rookie made case for this year’s Most Valuable Player plum after bagging the golds in both the 100 and 800-meter freestyle events, to put the title favorites up at 77 points.

Ilustre topped Miguel Barlisan of Ateneo and Christian Anor of University of Santo Tomas in the 100 meters with 52.07, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Barlisan. Anor touched in third at 53.40. The second-year Green Tanker then took the 800 meters title at 8:53.09, ahead of Ateneo’s Ianiko Limfilipino and University of the Philippines’ Keane Ting, who finished at 9:01.51 and 9:02.97, respectively.

The Green Tankers opened the night with the gold as well, with Gummy Torres, Jexter Chua, McTracy Alindogan, and Alfonso Bautista coming in at 1:49.12. Ateneo came in second at 1:50.14 with Akiva Carino, Joshua Taleon, Drew Magbag, and Dominic Buhain at 1:50.14; while UST bagged the bronze at 1:51.75 with Kevin Dagum, Jay Cabulit, Joshua Alvaran, and Renz Gawidan.

The UST Tigersharks with Juan Abad, Russel Latorre, Angelo Dela Cruz, and Christian Anor snared the other relay gold with 8:10.93 in the 800-meter freestyle relay. UP finished with the silver as Joshua Vitangcol, Kyle Bagusto, Sebastian Arcilla, and Patrick Galvez ended at 8:17.96. La Salle then capped their great night with the bronze with 8:23.13 off Kelles Que, Alnair Guevarra, Antoine Mendoza, and Richmond Santos.

Defending five-time champion Ateneo was not far behind at second with 73 points, paced by the gold of Limfilipino in the 200-meter individual medley. The second-year Atenean finished at 2:13.54, even as Fighting Maroons Sebastian Arcilla and Andrae Pogiongko took the silver and bronze at 2:15.69 and 2:15.84, respectively.

UP rounds out the top three after the night’s events with 60 points.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/sacho-ilustre-makes-early-case-for-mvp-as-la-salle-ends-day-1-on-top/166131