Over a thousand bikers of all ages and skill levels set off for another fun ride with a cycling legend and a number of celebrities/sportsmen as the Sun Life Cycle PH gets going today at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Former three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen, who has seen the big improvement in the local cycling scene being a visitor the last six years, joins regular triathlon campaigners Piolo Pascual and Matteo Guidicelli in the non-competitive event which features the kids ride, short ride (20K) and long ride (40K) categories around Taguig, Makati, Manila and Pasay.
“The Sun Life Cycle PH is getting bigger and better every year. I have watched the event grow and involve so many people from as young as two-years-old to serious elite cyclists, families and 60+ years-old,” said McEwen, an Australian cycling legend and Olympiad veteran during yesterday’s launch of the event put up by Sun Life Financial Philippines and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., now part of the IRONMAN Group.
“This year, we have a large number of riders from PH Police, Army, Navy and Traffic Enforcement taking part in the 20km and 40km rides. The highlight, however, is always the kids ride on the closed circuit so they can get active and discover a love for biking,” he added.
The event includes the tricycle ride (100-m distance for two-to three-year-olds), kids’ ride (500-m for 4-5 years), the family ride (30-minute ride for 6-15 with adult companion) and the solo ride (30-minute ride for 6-15).
McEwen, Pascual and Guidicelli, along with the other Star Magic artists, will see action in the long distance ride (40-km for 10 and above).
https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/11/23/1971056/sun-life-cycle-bgc
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Gators Head to Atlanta for Georgia Tech Invitational
The No. 6 University of Florida men's swimming and diving teams will wrap up the fall portion of their schedule at the Georgia Tech Invitational on Nov. 22-24 in Atlanta, Ga.
The Gators (6-1) head back into action with a two-meet win streak after defeating Georgia and Florida State in back-to-back weeks at the O'Connell Center Natatorium on Nov. 1 and 8.
The annual three-day event will have UF competing against Alabama, Eastern Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah.
Prelim heats each day will begin at 10:00 a.m., with the top-30 prelim times from each event moving onto the finals in at 5:30 p.m. later that same evening.
Live results will be available here and the Meet Mobile App. The meet can be viewed in its entirety on ACC Network Extra.
Gator History at the Georgia Tech Invite
The Gators travel to Atlanta to compete in the Georgia Tech Invitational for the eighth time since 1998. In the previous seven trips, Florida has finished in first-place three times and posted runner-up finishes the other four times at the event.
Last season, the team won the three-day event with 1,224.5 points and led at the conclusion of each day. Kieran Smith and Khader Baqlah were members of the 400 free relay team that posted the 10th-fastest swim in school history. Additionally, Will Davis set the sixth-best 50 free time in school history on the first day of the event.
Prior to last season, Florida also posted wins in 2014-15 and 2004-05.
UF's finished runner-up in 2016-17, 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2009-10.
Quotables
Head diving coach Bryan Gillooly- "The Georgia Tech Invitational is always a really good meet. Along with some SEC schools, we get to see a little variety from other conferences as well. Although we are still early in the season, we should see some good diving here. It's great for us to be able to rehearse diving in a championship format as well."
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 22
Event 1- Women's 200 Free Relay
Event 2- Men's 200 Free Relay
Event 3- Women's 500 Free
Event 4- Men's 500 free
Event 5- Women's 200 IM
Event 6- Men's 200 IM
Event 7- Women's 50 Free
Event 8- Men's 50 free
Event 9- Women's Diving
Event 10-Men's Diving
Event 11- Women's 400 Medley Relay
Event 12- Men's 400 Medley Relay
Saturday, Nov. 23
Event 13- Women's 200 Medley Relay
Event 14- Men's 200 Medley Relay
Event 15- Women's 400 IM
Event 16- Men's 400 IM
Event 17- Women's 100 Fly
Event 18- Men's 100 Fly
Event 19- Women's200 Free
Event 20- Men's 200 Free
Event 21- Women's 100 Breast
Event 22- Men's 100 Breast
Event 23- Women's100 Back
Event 24- Men's 100 Back
Event 25- Women's Diving
Event 26- Men's Diving
Event 27- Women's 800 Free Relay
Event 28- Women's 800 Free Relay
Sunday, Nov. 24
Event 29- Women's 1650 Free
Event 30- Men's 1650 Free
Event 31- Women's 200 Back
Event 32- Men's 200 Back
Event 33- Women's 100 Free
Event 34- Men's 100 Free
Event 35- Women's 200 Breast
Event 36- Men's 200 Breast
Event 37- Women's 200 Fly
Event 38- Men's 200 Fly
Event 39- Women's Platform Diving
Event 40- Men's Platform Diving
Event 41- Women's 400 Free Relay
Event 42- Men's 400 Free Relay
Looking ahead:
The meet will serve as the final event for the swimmers for 2019, while the Florida's divers will compete in the Auburn Diving Invitational in Alabama on Dec. 17-19.
The Gators will have a nice break before coming back to the O'Connell Center Natatorium when they welcome Auburn on Jan. 25. The meet will serve as Senior Day and the final home dual of the season.
https://floridagators.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-swimming-diving-gators-head-to-atlanta-for-geogia-tech-invitational.aspx
BCDA to maintain Clark sports facilities
New Clark City―Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon assured Thursday that the world-class sports facilities constructed in Tarlac province for the Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 30 will not become “white elephants.”
“The last thing that this government will ever allow is for these facilities to become white elephants...,” Dizon said at the sidelines of a media tour sponsored by BCDA.
“These facilities were not built just for the SEA Games... these are parts of a masterplan [for the New Clark City],” Dizon said.
The sports facilities will host the aquatics and athletics events for the games. It also has dormitory facilities for the participating contingents.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the project worth of P6 billion was “well spent” not only for Filipino athletes but also for the country. “This is a world-class facility... The last time we had a world-class sports facility, which is Rizal Memorial Coliseum, was in 1934,” Dominguez said, adding the facility would also boost tourism in the area.
“The last thing that this government will ever allow is for these facilities to become white elephants...,” Dizon said at the sidelines of a media tour sponsored by BCDA.
“These facilities were not built just for the SEA Games... these are parts of a masterplan [for the New Clark City],” Dizon said.
The sports facilities will host the aquatics and athletics events for the games. It also has dormitory facilities for the participating contingents.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the project worth of P6 billion was “well spent” not only for Filipino athletes but also for the country. “This is a world-class facility... The last time we had a world-class sports facility, which is Rizal Memorial Coliseum, was in 1934,” Dominguez said, adding the facility would also boost tourism in the area.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
TV5 executive upbeat on station’s prospects
The head of TV5 Network Inc. vowed to turn around the broadcasting network in the next coming years as it set to implement new strategy.
“I’ve always been transparent and it continues to struggle but what I’m most proud of is recently I just secured approval for the strategic plan of TV5 and hopefully in the next coming years I’ll be able to turn around the business,” Jane Basas, president and chief executive of TV5, said.
“There are other major announcements that will happen in the next months, but we’re not at liberty to say yet. When we’re ready to say it, we’ll make the announcement,” she added.
TV5 earlier said it was planning to overhaul its programming strategy next year to boost advertising revenues.
The network aims to break even this year.
Basas also said the company expects to generate more revenues for the broadcasting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games from November 28 to December 11.
http://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/310536
“I’ve always been transparent and it continues to struggle but what I’m most proud of is recently I just secured approval for the strategic plan of TV5 and hopefully in the next coming years I’ll be able to turn around the business,” Jane Basas, president and chief executive of TV5, said.
“There are other major announcements that will happen in the next months, but we’re not at liberty to say yet. When we’re ready to say it, we’ll make the announcement,” she added.
TV5 earlier said it was planning to overhaul its programming strategy next year to boost advertising revenues.
The network aims to break even this year.
Basas also said the company expects to generate more revenues for the broadcasting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games from November 28 to December 11.
http://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/310536
Alkhaldi banking on crowd support
There are no promises but tanker Jasmine Alkhaldi vows to put in a best effort in a bid to improve on her previous SEA Games performances.
Winner of four bronze medals in the Kuala Lumpur meet two years ago, the Olympic veteran sets her sights on copping a medal of different color – a silver or a gold.
“I never project a medal because swimming is unpredictable. You never know the result but all I want is to improve on my last SEAG campaign. I’m getting tired of a bronze finish so I want to change the color or maybe increase the number,” said Alkhaldi during the presentation of SEAG athletes backed by Blackwater the other day.
A native of Las Piñas, Alkhaldi has been donning the national tri-colors since she was 15. Having won a total of 12 bronze medals, the 26-year-old swimmer is eyeing to get over the hump with the help of an anticipated wild home crowd at the newly built New Clark City aquatics center.
“Maybe that’s the missing key – the Filipino crowd. It’s gonna be different because I’ve never experienced having our people watching and cheering. Usually when I swim, I’m in the zone and I don’t hear anything. This time, I want to hear the Filipino crowd cheering for me,” added Alkhaldi who already represented the country in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
To familiarize herself with the FINA-certified swimming venue at the NCC Complex in Capas, Tarlac, Alkhaldi and the rest of the national swimming team have started training since last week.
This home court session for the seasoned tanker is her last build-up after a series of international training camps in US and Europe funded by supporter Blackwater.
Alkhaldi will swim in nine events – 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke, 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle, 4x100 meter freestyle relay, 4x200 meter freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay.
She is confident of podium finishes in at least four individual events but is also looking to post good time to make the Olympic cut for the third straight edition as this upcoming SEA Games also serves as qualifier to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/11/21/1970646/alkhaldi-banking-crowd-support
Winner of four bronze medals in the Kuala Lumpur meet two years ago, the Olympic veteran sets her sights on copping a medal of different color – a silver or a gold.
“I never project a medal because swimming is unpredictable. You never know the result but all I want is to improve on my last SEAG campaign. I’m getting tired of a bronze finish so I want to change the color or maybe increase the number,” said Alkhaldi during the presentation of SEAG athletes backed by Blackwater the other day.
A native of Las Piñas, Alkhaldi has been donning the national tri-colors since she was 15. Having won a total of 12 bronze medals, the 26-year-old swimmer is eyeing to get over the hump with the help of an anticipated wild home crowd at the newly built New Clark City aquatics center.
“Maybe that’s the missing key – the Filipino crowd. It’s gonna be different because I’ve never experienced having our people watching and cheering. Usually when I swim, I’m in the zone and I don’t hear anything. This time, I want to hear the Filipino crowd cheering for me,” added Alkhaldi who already represented the country in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
To familiarize herself with the FINA-certified swimming venue at the NCC Complex in Capas, Tarlac, Alkhaldi and the rest of the national swimming team have started training since last week.
This home court session for the seasoned tanker is her last build-up after a series of international training camps in US and Europe funded by supporter Blackwater.
Alkhaldi will swim in nine events – 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke, 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle, 4x100 meter freestyle relay, 4x200 meter freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay.
She is confident of podium finishes in at least four individual events but is also looking to post good time to make the Olympic cut for the third straight edition as this upcoming SEA Games also serves as qualifier to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/11/21/1970646/alkhaldi-banking-crowd-support
Aldin Ayo not going anywhere: ‘I love UST so much’
Aldin Ayo is here to stay.
Ayo on Wednesday quickly squashed rumors that he is on his way out as University of Santo Tomas head coach.
“I’m not leaving UST unless it’s UST that doesn’t want me anymore,” said Ayo in Filipino after the Growling Tigers lost to Ateneo, 86-79, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball Finals Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I was aware of that (rumors) but all I can say is I love UST so much, I love the community. The reason why I transferred to UST is because I want to achieve personal growth and I got that.”
Ayo has been with three teams in the past five years starting with a lone season with Letran where he led the Knights to the NCAA title in 2015.
From Letran, Ayo then moved to De La Salle and led the Green Archers to two finals appearances and a championship in his first year in the UAAP in 2016.
After losing to Ateneo in the 2017 finals, Ayo moved back to his Dominican roots, transferring to UST and led the rebuilding Growling Tigers to the championship round before bowing to Ateneo, which became the first UAAP team to complete a 16-0 sweep.
“I learned a lot when I transferred to UST, not just in basketball but in life,” said Ayo who studied Philosophy for college in Letran, UST’s sister school in the Dominican order.
“The way the priests treat us, the community, the students, and the alumni, that’s the first time I got that kind of support.”
https://sports.inquirer.net/374213/head-coach-aldin-ayo-not-going-anywhere-i-love-ust-so-much
Take a look at the cars that will be transporting SEA Games athletes and teams
WITH more than 50 competition venues spread across Luzon, the 30th Southeast Asia Games will need more than a traffic simulation to make sure that it runs smoothly and goes according to schedule.
British heritage car brand Morris Garages, now known as MG, has officially partnered with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee and Mediapro Asia to address mobility concerns in the upcoming SEA Games and the 10th ASEAN Para Games.
"To be part of the 30th Southeast Asian games — an edition that features so many milestones and firsts — is a distinct honor for us at MG Philippines," MG Philippines President & CEO Alberto B. Arcilla said. "As the official mobility partner of the multi-sport biennial event, we are grateful to provide meaningful assistance to all local and international athletes and teams by equipping them with safe, comfortable, and stylish rides for the duration of the games."
A total of 80 MG vehicles will be used to transport Filipino and foreign athletes and teams to and from games that will be held in four clusters: Clark, Subic Metro Manila, and other areas. The special edition cars will carry the 30th SEA Games logo as they travel the country over the course of the competition.
Game venues include the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, select parts of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac, among others.
Atty. Arcilla added, "It is our privilege to be of service to all athletes as they battle it out for their respective countries, and it invigorates us to see so many energetic talents sharing in the spirit of competition and camaraderie. Through this partnership, we uphold the long sporting heritage of MG and enliven the competitive spirit that fuels MG to excel."
https://www.spin.ph/life/cars-and-tech/morris-garages-sea-games-mobility-partner-a547-20191120
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Thirdy Ravena blazes own trail toward UAAP greatness
Thirdy Ravena went from being the younger brother to arguably one of the greatest Ateneo players of his generation.
The Blue Eagles superstar etched his name as the league’s only three-time Finals MVP after he led Ateneo to a sweep of University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball Finals – doing it as his own man.
Ravena, a one-time high school MVP, carried much hype heading into his first year as a Blue Eagle but his rookie season was largely forgettable, playing under the shadow of his older brother Kiefer.
And it wasn’t until Tab Baldwin’s arrival that Ravena learned to play his game and realize his potential.
“I think what happened was I took myself out of my brother’s shadow, not just this year but ever since coach Tab came in,” said Ravena after Ateneo’s 86-79 victory over the Growling Tigers in Game 2 Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 22-year-old Ravena said it was Baldwin, who pushed him to blaze his own trail and not be pressured to follow in the footsteps of his brother and dad, Bong Ravena, who was also a basketball star.
“He (Baldwin) said that the biggest pressure shouldn’t be trying to be like my brother or my dad but it should be being myself and being the best player that I can be,” said Ravena, who had 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
“With that I effectively removed myself from my brother’s shadow and focus on how I could be the best player I could possibly be, not just for myself but for my teammates.”
Playing true to form, Ravena averaged 24.5 points on 55 percent shooting from the field, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the finals.
“For me, it’s not even about accomplishments. It’s about trying to work for something and not trying to be like someone,” said Ravena. “I’m just trying to be the best version of me.”
https://sports.inquirer.net/374209/thirdy-ravena-blazes-own-trail-toward-uaap-greatness
Mark Nonoy says finals loss will be UST’s motivation in UAAP Season 83
University of Santo Tomas’ inspiring run in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament has come to an end after losing to Ateneo 86-79 in Game 2 of the championship round.
The Growling Tigers got swept in their first finals appearance since 2015 and Mark Nonoy, the Rookie of the Year, said the defeat will serve as the team’s fuel come Season 83.
“This will be our motivation going forward to achieve our goal,” said Nonoy in Filipino Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena. “Although we lost three seniors today, what we did was for them and we’ll also dedicate our campaign next year to them.”
UST lost seniors Renzo Subido, Zachy Huang, and Enrique Caunan due to graduation but the superstar duo of Nonoy and Season MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo will still be with the team.
Captain CJ Cansino and Rookie of the Year runner-up Sherwin Concepcion are still in the fold.
Nonoy and the rest of the Growling Tigers flew under the radar heading into the season but they emerged as the fourth seeds after the elimination round with an 8-6 record.
The Growling Tigers then, went through a gauntlet in the stepladder semifinals, beating Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines in knockout duels en route to the finals where they were once again the underdogs.
Ateneo walloped UST, 91-77, in the finals opener before fending off the Tigers to clinch its third consecutive crown.
“I think it hurts because we didn’t get our goal but we will bring this pain next year season,” said Nonoy who had 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Game 2. “We will prepare not just for the silver, but for the gold.”
https://sports.inquirer.net/374122/mark-nonoy-says-finals-loss-will-be-ust-motivation-uaap-season-83
Ateneo makes UAAP history, sweeps UST for 3rd straight title
 |
| The Ateneo Blue Eagles celebrate after becoming the first team in the UAAP to complete a 16-0 sweep following an 86-79 win over the UST Growling Tigers in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball Finals on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net |
The Eagles completed a historic 16-game sweep in UAAP history with a dramatic 86-79 victory over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in Game 2 for their third straight crown before a mammoth crowd at MOA Arena.
Thirdy Ravena delivered a solid follow up to his 32-point explosion in Game 1, finishing with 17 points including critical baskets in the final period, while SJ Belangel tallied a career-best 15 points as the Eagles found answers to every punch thrown by the gritty Tigers.
The Eagles began the season with huge expectations after keeping the core of the team that won the last two titles. They knew they had to back it up with solid performances.
Time and again, Ateneo, under the guidance of Tab Baldwin, proved more than equal to every challenge, culminating with a tremendous Game 2 performance against a UST team that refused to quit.
An emotional Ravena stood at the top of LED board right in front of the Ateneo gallery and raised two hands in the air, drawing cheers from a delirious blue-clad crowd.
Ravena earned Finals MVP honors for the third straight season after averaging 24.5 points in the series.
https://sports.inquirer.net/374139/ateneo-makes-uaap-history-sweeps-ust-for-3rd-straight-title-uaap-season-82
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