Red Warriors, naghari sa PNVF U-21 volleyball tourney

ni VA @Sports | Jan. 3, 2025

Photo: Tinanggap ni Isaiah John Roca ng University of the East ang plake bilang Most Valuable Player mula kay PNVF President Ramon Suzara sa awarding ceremony ng PNVF U21 Men's Volleyball Championships 2025 National Finals sa Ninoy Aquino Stadium. (Reymundo Nillama)

Nagawang makarekober ng University of the East mula sa malamyang simula at gitlain ang Zamboanga City, 22-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-29 upang magkampeon sa Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-21 Championship National Men’s Division sa Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Kinailangang magising ang Warriors ayon kay Coach Jerome Guhit sa second frame matapos ang mabagal na laro sa opener.

“We don’t play that fast. I had to tell them to slow things down, think about the game plan and how we really play,” ayon kay Guhit. “I’m glad we were able to pull it off, the level of talent in this tournament is high and it’s a huge help in the development of our players.”

Itinanghal si Isaiah John Roca ng UE na Most Valuable Player sa limang araw na torneo na inorganisa ni PNVF head Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Unang naka-bronze medal sa battle-for-3rd place ang One Silay Sports na nagigitla rin sa kasagupa, pero umiskor sa huli ng 22-25, 32-30, 25-20, 25-19 na panalo kontra Umingan.

“We’ve been having some problem getting to fighting form at the start of matches here, we’re not used to cold playing conditions,” saad ni coach Ronald Premaylon. “It was disappointing to drop the first set, but I had no doubt they would raise their game after the difficult start.”

Si Ike Andrew Barelia, 20, ang umatake ng 30 points, at si Vin Mark Canoy, 19 ng 17 markers. “I’m very happy with our performance this week because we were able to execute our plans,” ani Premaylon.

Nakagawa ang 16-anyos na si Michael Angelo Fernandez ng 18 points, habang si Milson Janrey Galzote, 20, ay may 17 points sa Umingan VC.

20 atleta masusubok sa 9th Asian Winter Games

ni VA @Sports | Jan. 3, 2025

Photo: Inihahanda na ang 20 atletang sasabak sa Winter Games sa Pebrero sa Harbin, China sa pamumuno ni POC president Abraham Tolentino kung saan lalahok ang teams sa skateboarding, curling at figure skating. (pocpix)

Nakaakdang magsugo ng 20-kataong koponan para sa ika-9 na edisyon ng Asian Winter Games na gaganapin sa China sa Pebrero 7-14 sa winter resort city ng Harbin.

Misyon ng delegasyon na maihanda ang entablado para sa posibleng unang medalya ng bansa sa Winter Olympics. "We've already accomplished the dream in the Summer Olympics—three gold medals in consecutive games," pahayag ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino noong Miyerkules pagpasok ng taong 2025.

"And that dream we want to also achieve in the Winter Olympics."

Wala pang kumpletong record kung may ilang mga Filipino winter sports athletes ang lumahok sa naunang walong edisyon ng Asian Winter Games, subalit naniniwala si Tolentino na ang bilang ng mga Pinoy na sasabak sa Harbin ang pinakamarami.

"And our athletes are competing in six of the 11 sports on the Harbin program," ani Tolentino. Sa sports na Curling may pinakamalaking bilang ng mga atletang Pinoy ang sasabak sa bilang na sampu na kinabibilangan nina Marc Angelo Pfister, Enrico Gabriel Pfister, Christian Patrick Haller, Alan Beat Frei, Jessica Pfister, Benjo Delarmente, Kathleen Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano at Anne Marie Bonache.

Ang iba pang miyembro ng Team Philippines na pamumunuan ni chef de mission Richard Lim ay sina Paolo Borromeo, Aleksandr Korovin, Cathryn Limketkai, Isabella Marie Gamez at Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank sa figure skating; Francis Ceccarelli at Talullah Proulx sa Alpine skiing; Laetaz Amihan Rabe sa freestyle skiing; Peter Joseph Groseclose sa short track speed skating ay Adrian Tongco sa snowboarding.

Nagwagi ng tatlong gold medals ang bansa sa dalawang sunod na edisyon ng summer Olympics sa Tokyo(2021) at Paris (2024) sa husay nina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (1 gold) ar gymnast Carlos Yulo (2 golds) sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ni Tolentino sa POC bilang pangulo. "The Winter Olympics are as extremely tough as the Summer Olympics, but we have proven that it could be done," wika pa ni Tolentino. Sa Italy idaraos ang 25th edition ng Winter Olympics sa Milan at Cortina d'Ampezzo sa Pebrero 7- 22 2025.

Panlilio, tuloy ang tiwala sa POC mula nang maka-3 ginto sa Olympics

ni VA @Sports | Nov. 9, 2024

Photo: Sina Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, first VP Al Panlilio at dating pangulong si Ricky Vargas.

Programang tuloy-tuloy at magandang samahan sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang asam ni Al Panlilio sa muli niyang paghahanap ng puwesto bilang POC first vice president sa ilalim ng tiket ni reelectionist president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. “I believe in his lea¬dership,” saad ni Panlilio kay Tolentino.

“And I will talk to him on how to sustain our programs or surpass it for the athletes and Philippines sports.” Nakamit ng Pilipinas sa ilalim ng liderato nina Tolentino at Panlilio ang kauna-unahang Olympic gold medal mula kay weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz noong 2021 sa Tokyo.

Hindi nagtagal ay dalawang ginto naman ang nasungkit ni gymnast Carlos Yulo mula sa Paris Games. “Our sports are p¬rogressing after Hidilyn Diaz won gold in the Tokyo Olympics, and now we won two golds courtesy of Carlos Yulo in Paris,” saad pa ni Panlilio, pangulo ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

“We have to surpass previous achievements and provide for sustainable platforms for our athletes.” Nakapetsa ang pilian ng bagong liderato sa POC sa Nobyembre 29 sa East Ocean Seafood Restaurant sa Parañaque City.

Panibagong termino ang naghihintay kina Tolentino at Panlilio kasama si 2nd VP Richard Gomez. POC Working Team ang tawag ni Tolentino sa kanyang tiket kasama sina Dr. Jose Raul Canlas ng surfing (treasurer) at Donaldo “Don” Caringal (auditor) ng volleyball at sina Alvin Aguilar (wrestling), Leonora “Lenlen” Escollante (canoe, kayak and dragon boat), Alexander “Ali” Sulit (judo), Ferdinand “Ferdie” Agustin (jiu-jitsu) at Leah Jalandoni Gonzales (fencing) bilang Executive Board members. Pagkakaisa rin sa lahat ng national sports associations ang pinanawagan ni Panlilio.