Swimmer Lacuna retires

Philippine swimming is in good hands. Keep inspiring. The future is bright.

Olympian Jessie Khing Lacuna is retiring after swimming for the national team for 10 years.

The 25-year former Ateneo de Manila University standout called it quits after competing in his last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which the country hosted.

“To swimming, you’ll always be (a) part of my life. Will always be my forever,” Lacuna posted on his Facebook account. “You taught me a lot of things and about life.”

In a decade of service, Lacuna had won numerous local and international titles and the Pulilan, Bulacan native had won three silvers and four bronze medals in the SEA Games.

One of the highlights of his career was when he represented the country in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, held in London and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, respectively.

The recent biennial meet saw the emergence of young male swimmers of the national team led by Sacho Ilustre.

The Philippine swimming team won one gold, courtesy of James Deiparine, six silvers and nine bronze medals in the 30th edition of the SEA Games and Lacuna said he’s leaving the sport he loved in good hands.

“Philippine swimming is in good hands. Keep inspiring. The future is bright,” the five-foot-seven swimmer said.

“I hope I made you proud, Philippines. It was an amazing journey. It was such an honor representing the Philippines for the past 10 years,” he added.

Overall, Lacuna won 51 medals, 35 from local tourneys while the rest he scooped in international stage.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/12/14/swimmer-lacuna-retires/

Jessie Lacuna calls it a day after SEAG

The King signs off

Two-time Olympian Jessie Lacuna has retired from national team duties after 10 years of serving the country.

The 25-year-old native of Pulilan, Bulacan made the announcement through his Facebook account.

“To swimming, you’ll always be a part of my life. It will always be my forever.

“You taught me a lot of things about life. Thank you,” his post read.

Lacuna, who was part of the Philippine team that competed in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, made his final swim for the national team during the recently-concluded 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

The product of Ateneo was part of the 200m freestyle (1:52.58, 7th), 400m freestyle (4:03.63, 8th), 200m butterfly (2:01.58, 5th), and 400m individual relay (4:32.53, 6th) while also being part of the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay squads.

But for him, his time has passed and that he is turning over the team to the likes of James Deiparin, Sacho Ilustre, and the other young guns of Philippine swimming.

“Philippine Swimming is in good hands. Keep inspiring because the future is bright.”

During his service, he won three silvers and four bronzes in the Southeast Asian Games.

Then in the UAAP, Lacuna became a two-time Athlete of the Year, winning 35 golds for Ateneo during his spectacular five-year career there.

For all of this, he is forever grateful.

“I hope I made you proud, Philippines.

“It was an amazing journey! Such an honor representing the Philippines for the past ten years. Ang daming pinagdaanan, ups and downs, habang buhay ko itong papahalagahan,” he closed.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/jessie-lacuna-calls-day-seag/173954

the former Olympic swimmer is now a blogger on Instagram and YouTube

JB Walsh

The former national swimmer who compete at 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, 2005 Manila and 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Southeast Asian Games and 2006 Doha Asian Games is no other than Filipino-American James Bernard "JB" Walsh is now a photo and video blogger and start compiling all photos from 2004 to 2010.

His personal Youtube and Instagram accounts (Magichands JB) will compile all the photos and videos of swimming career in Florida Gators Swimming & Diving from 2004 to 2008 and swim clinics in the Philippines from 2009 to 2010.

But he is retired in 2010 to concentrate on his medical studies, is also set to conduct his own series of clinics, this time in his hometown Leyte where swimming is being planned to be the province’s new sport.

“The clinics were very well attended and a new series is planned for January. Being part Waray, the two-time Olympian and multi-medalist, Walsh will be conducting a series of swim clinics in Tacloban next month,” said former aquatics chief Mark Joseph.

“This goes hand in hand with the Leyte Governor’s decision to make swimming a priority sport for the province. Leyte has a brand-new Olympic pool used in the Palarong Pambansa,” he added.

“JB, who will be hanging up his suit and moving onto medical schooling in the US, will also be leading a two-month long medical mission to reach out to the province’s impoverished communities

Johansen Aguilar

Aftermath: 2007 Southeast Asian Games men's 100 meter butterfly final

Then: Chinese Olympic swimmer Wu Peng compete at men's 200m butterfly swimming event at the 2006 Asian Games was held on December 2, 2006 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, Qatar. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GukgrPhNKIU

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 competition 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 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 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 swimming competition of the said event in activity centers inside shopping malls and even plazas of city and municipal halls and provincial capitols nationwide, the police clash with protesters in the Filipino capital Manila at past 7:29 p.m. of Sunday, December 9, 2007 near Sofitel Philippine plaza hotel to Star City amusement park in Pasay City.

They tried to pass through a police barrier to get close to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), with about 700 officers deployed at the scene.

Again, Mr. Dee wears arena ARN-4091 WHT Silicone Swimming Cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and aile-bleue ARN-6005M GRN One Piece Long Spats nux-K POWER STRUSH and competing in men's 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley heats and finals and 1,500-meter freestyle heats and finals.

But in photo and video shoots, when Enchong is wearing arena ARN-4091 WHT Silicone Swimming Cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6015 DGRN RIMIC nux-F and sister Anj wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket - Black (8-705891549) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Female Recordbreaker Costume – Black (8-008153218), Timothy is wearing Valentino Schoolwear White Swim Cap DL1000 Latex, arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F, Ken is wearing arena ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400 YLRD swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6015 DRED RIMIC nux-F, Johan is wearing speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001) and speedsocket Mirrored Goggle – Black (8-705890000) and agonswim Florida Gators Mesh Training Suit Fully Front & Back Lined (ACX111510TRS2MES), Miggy wears arena arena ARN-4091 WHT Silicone Swimming Cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and speedo endurance+ Neuron Male 8cm Brief – Dark Blue and Sky Blue (8-009333322) and sister Mariel wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket - Black (8-705891549) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Female Recordbreaker Costume – Black (8-008153218) inspired from episode 3, part 3 of Your Song Presents: Boystown and shot on location at the swimming pool of Makati Aqua Sports Arena while Gian is wearing speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN LZR RACER Male Legskin - Black (8-018040001) and shot on location at Loyola Schools Swimming Pool, Ateneo de Manila University.

At past 8 p.m. of the same day when Star City Mayor Elpidio "Deo" Macalma was accompanied by Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr. arrived at the PICC Meeting Room 2 for the live press conference with the help of PLDT myDSL.

Besides next to swimmer Dee in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, while in Manila, the Philippines when Sen. Pia Cayetano, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino general manager Marco Protacio, Rina Go and Paolo Abrera to spend a few more days before the grandest worldwide celebration of Christmas 2007 and new year 2008.

Aside from Sen. Cayetano, Protacio, Go, Abrera and Dee are kart racers Matteo Guidicelli, Tyson Sy, Mark Bumgarner and Javi Benitez, race car driver Enzo Pastor and Cebu basketball player and businessman Jeremy Ryan Huang along with Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr.

Corruption in the 2019 SEA Games live broadcasting contract?

THINKING PINOY

By RJ NIETO

Organizers take pride in hosting a record number of sports in this year’s installment of the Southeast Asian Games, but it appears that they had no intention of making all the 56 sporting events as accessible as possible to the Filipino public that paid for hosting them, or they’re simply too stupid to realize what they’ve done.

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chose only two networks — ABS-CBN and TV5. While both have multiple channels at their disposal, there’s simply no way for both of them to air all 56 events live.

Phisgoc Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano and COO Tats Suzara ignored this reality and decided to grant live broadcasting rights exclusively to these two networks, to the detriment of sports that these two networks will inevitably fail to air live, and of the general public whose taxes paid for hosting the games.

Water polo is a prime example.

For whatever reason, neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 was there to broadcast live the crucial November 29 match between our men’s team and Singapore’s, so the Philippine Water Polo Team itself took the initiative to live-stream the game on Facebook.

Some time in the second half, online viewers heard a Phisgoc official telling the cameraman that live-streaming is prohibited. The stream abruptly ended, to the irritation of thousands watching the game online.

Being an avid fan of the Water Polo team myself, I vehemently protested against Phisgoc’s rules. I told Phisgoc officials that the rule is grossly disadvantageous to taxpayers who wish to support our hardworking and talented water polo athletes.

I argued that the Filipino people, whose taxes paid for these games, have the right to watch live whichever game they want in the most convenient way they want to.

Hours later, a high-ranking SEA Games official told me that he would allow live-streaming if the official live broadcasters aren’t available, and I took his word for it.

On December 1st, I went to the New Clark Aquatics Center to watch the game between the Philippines and Malaysia. Neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 was there, so I started live-streaming the event as soon as it started.  During the 2nd quarter, and just like what happened to the Philippines-Singapore match, a Phisgoc official approached me and told me to stop streaming because I am not an “accredited broadcaster.”

I asked, “So how will Filipino water polo fans watch the game live?”

No answer.

Exasperated, I told the Phisgoc official that it is the right of every Filipino to watch the games, and Phisgoc rules make it impossible to do so. I also told them I will not stop streaming the water polo match, and the only thing that can stop me if they forcibly throw me out of the premises.

After the match and out of sheer frustration over Phisgoc’s corruption and/or stupidity, I told my 1.4 million Facebook followers that I would stop live-streaming altogether.

I said covering such events is expensive, and I have used my hard-earned money to pay thousands for gasoline, telecoms, and manpower, to do so. I wanted to do it for you guys for free as part of public service, but Phisgoc illogical rules prevent me from doing so.

The post has garnered over 16,000 reactions to date, which likely prompted Phisgoc to issue an advisory shortly after the post.

The relevant part of the grammar-optional advisory stated:

“The live-streaming of portions of the games via social media shall be uploaded and shared on personal platforms and social media accounts only.”

Phisgoc, in so many words, basically told me that nobody except ABS-CBN and TV5 could stream the games live, even if neither are streaming the game, even if the live-stream is for non-commercial use.

Surely, streaming a game that both networks ignored should be no problem, unless the live-stream takes away viewers from the other games they chose to air.

As they say, never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.

With the generous assumption that Phisgoc officials concerned are not morons, there is only one possible explanation that I can think of: Phisgoc wants to protect the ratings of its two exclusive live broadcasters.

But worrying about TV ratings is not Phisgoc’s job. Instead, Phisgoc should worry about whether taxpayers get the most value out of the billions of public funds used to stage the SEA Games.

I blame neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 for this. It is their job, as a commercial enterprise, to optimize returns on investment.  Capitalist enterprises are by nature greedy, and the government’s primordial responsibility is to put a cap on that greed for the sake of the people it governs.

Either Phisgoc forgot that, or Phisgoc never knew that the entire time.

With that said, I believe that a review of the live broadcasting contract is in order, as soon as the SEA Games end on the 11th.

The live broadcasting contract is disadvantageous to the government.

I believe some Phisgoc officers engaged in malfeasance or, worse, violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

For reactions, please email Tp@ThinkingPinoy.net

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/07/corruption-in-the-2019-sea-games-live-broadcasting-contract/

Regencia finally gets his time on ice

The Philippines’ Jan Aro Regencia battle Thailand’s Ken Kindborn for the puck during the Ice Hockey preliminary round of the 30th South East Asian Games 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

Aro Regencia’s favorite moment as a hockey player is not the Philippines’ gold medal clincher over Thailand in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

“I couldn’t even remember it,” he told the Inquirer with a chuckle. “I barely had ice time so I was just tense and was praying the whole time.”

The first-line forward, though, has emerged as one of the Philippine Eagle’s integral cogs in its hot start in this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

And that’s quite a statement for one of the only three teens in the bunch, and for someone who had been sickly most of his life.

“I used to have asthma; I was also prone to flu, colds and the like,” said Regencia. “Miraculously, they’re all gone.”

Regencia, 19, was clutch in the Nationals’ match with Singapore, where the Philippines was lethargic in the first and middle periods.

He hit a pair of goals late to preserve the heavy lifting of skipper Steven Füglister and Sam Bengzon, and eventually seal the win for the Eagles.

Regencia also had a steady outing in the crucial win over Indonesia last Wednesday, the game that assured the Eagles a semifinal slot.

The two other youngsters in the team are 17-year-old Jann So Tiong and 16-year-old Carlo Tigaronita.

If there was a pivotal moment for his young career, Regencia said it would be during the team’s campaign in the Challenge Cup of Asia here last year.

“That was the first time they made an experiment—they tried putting me on the first line,” he said.
It probably also helped Regencia that he is close to Füglister.

“There was a time we just talked purely hockey. He just told me to not put so much stuff in my head. It all became clear to me after that,” he said.

As it turned out, it was the moment of clarity he needed. As a teen, Regencia said he was expectedly cynical.

“Since [some of us] are young, [we’re] prone to negativity,” he said. “Whenever we look at other teams, we see they’re big. They have better builds. [We felt there’s so much] difference.”

“But I told myself and the others that the only way we cope with those differences is by being smart,” he said.

“Hockey’s a really fast game. It’s a game of mistakes. You can’t afford to be indecisive because one slip up could adversely affect the team’s play,” he said.

Regencia swears by this approach, as he feels it’s also the very reason why he has been on a roll lately—also after the fact that the Eagles are now given ample attention, which translated to six months of proper training.

“I thought to myself, I need to step up,” he said of his recent showing. This is the first line, so I might as well.”

“I don’t want to be the one that hinders this team’s potential.”

https://sports.inquirer.net/377446/regencia-finally-gets-his-time-on-ice

SEA Games: Semis-bound PH men’s volleyball drops 1st match

The Philippine men’s volleyball team failed to sweep Pool B, losing to Indonesia, 25-23, 32-30, 25-20, in its final preliminary match in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Philippines managed to stay in step with the 2017 silver medalists, thanks to excellent receptions and a bunch of highlight plays, to help them lead 16-11 in the third set.

However, on-point attacks from scoring ace Rivan Nurmulki and Doni Haryono, who registered 19 and 18 points, respectively, snuffed the life out of the Filipinos.

“Our execution was bad earlier. We lacked but we’ll know needs to be done if in case we’ll face them again,” Philippines’ head coach Dante Alinsunurin said in Filipino.

Indonesia’s air tight defense was also evident throughout as the Filipinos had a hard time making their hits go past the mighty Indonesian wall.

Former NU standout Bryan Bagunas lead the scoring for the Philippines with 24 points, all from attacks, while Marck Espejo tallied 17 points and 10 excellent receptions.

Despite dropping its first game, the Philippines still goes to the semifinals and will face perennial champions Thailand on Sunday.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377444/sea-games-semis-bound-ph-mens-volleyball-drops-1st-match

SEA Games: Philippines absorbs 1st loss in ice hockey

The Philippines’ Rigel Lancero II battle Thailand’s Patrick Forstner for the puck during the Ice Hockey preliminary round of the 30th South East Asian Games 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

The Philippines fell to Thailand, 10-1, for its first loss in the ice hockey tournament of 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday night at SM Mall of Asia ice skating rink.

The Eagles found themselves trailing early, 0-3, after an early barrage led by Papan Thanakroekkiat six minutes into the contest.

Already assured of a semifinal slot after their hot 3-0 start, the Nationals settled for the second spot in the preliminaries.

The Thais, who the Filipinos beat for in the 2017 gold medal match, went on to convert four more in the middle period.

Philippines’ lone goal make came from Carlo Martin Tenedero, who scored in the sixth minute of the second frame.

The Eagles crank their title-retention bid up when they play Singapore, a team they beat 5-3 in the group phase, when the knockout stage gets going this Saturday.

Thailand faces Malaysia in the other semifinal pairing which comes off wraps at 3 p.m.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377423/sea-games-philippines-absorbs-1st-loss-in-ice-hockey

SEA Games: PH wins 3 more bronzes as Singapore, Vietnam rule swimming

NEW CLARK CITY — The Philippine men’s relay team salvaged a silver against the Joseph Schooling-powered Singapore Friday night in the 30th Southeast Asian Games swimming here.

Luke Gebbie, Jean-Pierre Khouzam, Maurice Sacho Ilustre and Jarod Hatch reset the Philippine record in finishing second to Singapore in the men’s 4X 100-meter freestyle.

They clocked 3:22.32, improving the PH mark in 2009 SEA Games (3:24.35).

That, however, was way slower compared to the Singapore cruisers who timed 3:16.02, which is established as new SEA Games standard. They bettered their own 2017 record of 3:17.82.

Vietnam finished third clocking 3:22.46.

Amid the Singapore Vietnam romps, the Philippines also salvaged two bronze medals.

Remedy Rule and Chloe Kennedy Isleta settled for third place in their respective events as Singapore and Vietnam split the day’s golds on offer.

Rule picked up her third medal, a bronze in the women’s 200-meter freestyle. The 23-year-old from Texas had earlier had a silver in 200m butterfly and a bronze in 4X200m free relay.

Twenty-one-year-old Isleta, a standout from Arizona State University, placed third in women’s 200m backstroke.

Both their events were ruled by Vietnam’s Asian Games champ and Olympian Nguyen Thi Anh Vien.

Singapore has been lording over swimming competitions here at NCC Aquatics Center with 12 golds medals after three days.

Olympic champion Joseph Schooling claimed his second and third gold medal in ruling the men’s 100m fly and leading the relay team.

Vietnam currently has seven victories, two coming from the 23-year-old Nguyen.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377418/sea-games-ph-win-3-more-bronzes-as-singapore-vietnam-rule-swimming