Rampaging Fullback: Five things we learned from the Azkals’ Peace Cup win

Ryan Fenix, special to InterAKTV · Monday, October 1, 2012 · 2:11 pm

The Philippines made football history once again by winning its first tournament in 99 years, as the Azkals romped to a convincing 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei en route to lifting the Philippine Football Peace Cup at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
After racing to a 3-0 halftime lead, the result was never in doubt as the Azkals made it three wins in three games, topping the table against Chinese Taipei, Guam and Macau.
Here are five things we learned from the recently concluded Peace Cup.

1. This was a coming out party for the Azkals’ new boys

InterAKTV/Roy Afable

Coach Hans Michael Weiss singled out four players who stood out for him this tournament: Demitrius Omphroy, Matthew Uy, OJ Porteria, and Denis Wolf.
Omphroy’s performance on the right side of the Azkals in the first game certainly merited him man of the match honors, and he would build on that performance in the succeeding games against Macau and Chinese Taipei. “Omphroy will certainly challenge for the right wing spot. It will be a tough decision with him and James Younghusband”, says Weiss.
Matthew Uy’s deceptively stocky physique belies the nimbleness of his feet, as opposing midfielders found out to their cost. The Azkals No. 36 built from the back, breaking up opponent’s play while delivering the killer ball in the next instant, garnering him the selection committee’s nod for the Best Midfielder Award for the Peace Cup.
OJ Porteria burst into national consciousness with a sterling performance for the Under-23 side last year. In the Peace Cup, he certainly has shown that he is ready to take the leap to the senior team. Calm, composed and showing maturity beyond his years, Porteria’s star looks to shine brighter in the years to come.
Weiss has stuck with Wolf during his recent scoring drought, and Denis Wolf has repaid Weiss’ faith this Peace Cup four times over, by scoring four goals en route to the Golden Boot Award. Perhaps the breakout star of this tournament, Wolf would certainly have punched his ticket to the Suzuki Cup with this performance.

SOURCE: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/rampaging-fullback-five-things-we-learned-from-the-azkals-peace-cup-win

Racela debuts as Petron Blaze coach vs Rain or Shine; Barako Bull, Air 21 clash

InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 3, 2012 · 12:17 am

AKTV/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Olsen Racela debuts as Petron Blaze head coach on Wednesday against Rain or Shine in the main game of the 2013 PBA Philippines Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Racela faces a veteran coach in Yeng Guiao when the Boosters and the Elasto Painters square off at 7:30 p.m.
In the opening game, a retooled Air 21 five battles Barako Bull at 5:15 p.m.
Racela admitted that the excitement is there on his first game as a PBA coach but he wants to stay calm in his first game as a bench tactician.
“Gusto ko relax lang kasi baka maapektuhan yung team,” Racela told InterAKTV. “Kung ano mangyayari sa akin, magre-reflect yun sa team.”
Racela, who replaced Ato Agustin, said he’s been with the team for a more than a month and they are still working on a lot of things.
“Yung execution of our game, that’s something we are working on. Hindi maganda pre-season games namin pero tulungan naman kami dito,” he added.
Aside from Racela, also debuting today is No. 1 overall pick June Mar Fajardo and third overall selection Alex Mallari.
Rain or Shine, which came from a successful Governors’ Cup campaign last season, kept an intact roster plus the addition of ‘veteran’ rookie Chris Tiu.
Tiu, the former SMART Gilas team skipper, also debuts today after skipping the draft last year.
In the first game, the Express test their revamped roster against the Energy Cola, who also made key acquisitions in the preseason after losing Willie Miller in the trade.
Air 21 has new players in John Wilson and Nino Canaleta from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Rob Reyes and Nonoy Baclao from Petron.
“Everybody is excited to play their first game,” said Express mentor Franz Pumaren who also signed rookies Simon Atkins and Yousef Taha.
Barako Bull also has new faces on its lineup in Rico Villanueva, Josh Urbiztondo, Sean Anthony, Jason Ballesteros and rookies Lester Alvarez and Dave Marcelo.
“We have to build up our chemistry at the soonest time,” said Energy Cola coach Junel Baculi. “Air 21 is pushover no more.”

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/racela-debuts-as-petron-blaze-coach-vs-rain-or-shine-barako-bull-air-21-clash

'Dynasty' in works as Jinkee, Pacman brother throw hat in political ring By the staff

Aside from Manny Pacquiao who is seeking a second time as Sarangani representative, his wife Jinkee and youngest brother Rogelio are also seeking elective posts in next year's polls. Jerome Ascano

MANNY Pacquiao looks set to widen his political clout down South as his wife Jinkee, youngest brother Rogelio, and key allies joined him in filing candidacies for next year's local elections.
Pacquiao, bidding for a second term as representative of Sarangani, filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday where he was joined by Jinkee who after months of speculation finally threw her hat into the political ring by running for the position of vice governor of Sarangani.
Aside from the power couple, Manny’s youngest brother Rogelio, currently chairman of Barangay Apopong in General Santos City, has now set his sights on the congressional seat of the first district of South Cotabato against representative and former mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr.
Another brother Bobby, the former WBO Asia Pacific lightweight titlist, is not joining the fighting Pacquiaos in the political arena but his wife could become part of a budding dynasty after being elected barangay chairman of Labangal two years ago.
Jinkee's foray into politics is expected to seal the Pacquiaos' alliance with the influential Chiongbian family. She is expected to be the running mate of current vice governor Steve Chiongbian-Solon. Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez is serving out his last term. 
After his People's Champ Movement had linked forces with United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the world-renowned boxer has moved to consolidate his political forces in his area by fielding other candidates for elective posts.
Among them are Councilor Ronnel Rivera, son of fishing magnate Rodrigo Rivera Sr., who is vying in the General Santos city mayoral race against incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio, the same woman who defeated Pacquiao in his first foray into politics in the 2007 congressional race in South Cotabato.
Aside from his political plans, eight-division champion Pacquiao is also preparing for his fourth fight against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on December 10 in Las Vegas.

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/boxing/news/dynasty-in-works-jinkee-pacman-brother-throw-hat-into-political-ring

All eyes on celebrated rookies as Petron, Rain or Shine square off By Richard Dy

All eyes will be on top rookie pick June Mar Fajardo, left, and longtime amateur star Chris Tiu in Wednesday's PBA game between Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine. Jerome Ascano

TWO of the personalities that made the biggest news in the offseason – rookies June Mar Fajardo and Chris Tiu - make their much-awaited PBA debut on Wednesday night when Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine clash in the Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-10 Fajardo, the top pick overall in the rookie draft who attracted a lot of attention in the offseason because of his immense potential, and longtime amateur star Tiu are expected to play major roles in the 7:30 p.m. main game of the season's first double-header.
Fajardo is expected to start at center for the Boosters but will have his work cut out for him against Beau Belga and JR Quinahan, Rain or Shine's centers who have the wide frames to body up on Fajardo inside as well as the outside touch to challenge the rookie's dexterity on defense.
“Their (Elasto Painters) big men shoot from the outside, so for us, it will be a challenge," said Petron rookie coach Olsen Racela. "June Mar will have to come out to defend the perimeter. But this will be a good game and good test for us on how we have improved.”
On the other hand, Tiu, taken in the first round by Rain or Shine, is set to alternate with pal TY Tang in handling the playmaking duties for the Elasto Painters while reigning Rookie of the Year Paul Lee recuperates from shoulder surgery.
Fajardo has showed the public a glimpse of what he can do during the team’s preseason games. He has a decent shooting touch from 12 to 15 feet, a good post move and knows how to use his size inside.
The former University of Cebu star also knows what his role in the team would be.
“Kailangan ko pa mag-improve sa depensa ko. Since di naman ako kailangang umiskor gaano dahil marami namang scorers sa team,” Fajardo said, pointing to Arwind Santos, Fil-Am Chris Lutz, Joseph Yeo and Jay Washington as the team’s top gunners.
Lutz and Dorian Pena are set to play for the Boosters against the Elasto Painters after recovering from injuries. The 6-3 Lutz was sidelined during the past Petron practice games to let his hip flexors/adductors strain heal while Pena has fully recovered from his hamstring injury.
However, the Boosters are still expected to be without guard Marcio Lassiter, who is nursing an MCL injury and may need to sit out the team's first three games.
Racela should also be attracting his share of the attention as he coaches his first game since replacing Ato Agustin, who has assumed the new role of assistant team manager. The longtime San Miguel star will have former national coach Rajko Toroman by his side as consultant.
“I’m learning from coach Rajko. And that’s really part of the adjustment I need to make as the coach. Of course, Rajko will play a major role for us in our campaign this season,” Racela told Spin.ph.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said being the smallest team in the league, he expects his players to gang-rebound throughout this season and run at every opportunity.
“Rebound is effort, we need to cultivate that constantly,” said Guiao as he challenged undersized frontliners Larry Rodriguez, Jervie Cruz and Ronnie Matias to rise to the occasion.
“We’re going to be a running team. That’s the only way to keep pace with bigger teams. We don’t want to play half-court game. We want to play the up-tempo game,” he added.
Retooled ball clubs Air21 and Barako Bull kick off their campaigns in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser.

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/all-eyes-on-celebrated-freshmen-as-petron-rain-or-shine-square-off

Untested Rockets turn to Lin for leadership Associated Press

Jeremy Lin answers questions from the media before joining the Houston Rockets in training camp. AP

HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Lin became a Broadway sensation, a coveted free agent and a merchandising magnet in Asia, all in less than a year.
In Houston, Lin will return to a role he used to enjoy at Harvard — team leader.
The rebuilt Houston Rockets met with the media on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) before heading south to begin training camp, and they'll turn to their charismatic new point guard for leadership and direction.
The 24-year-old Lin is hardly a seasoned player with only 25 starts in the NBA. It just seems that way after Lin soared to international stardom during a remarkable run with the New York Knicks last February. A restricted free agent, Lin signed an offer sheet with Houston, but Knicks coach Mike Woodson said New York planned to re-sign him.
The Rockets amended the offer to three years and about US$25 million, with about US$15 million backloaded to the final year. The Knicks backed off, and Lin returned to the team that cut him last December.
"It kind of reminds me of college," said Lin, who started 87 games in the Ivy League. "Just coming in, trying to lead, trying to work hard, trying to build a culture of playing a blue-collar brand of basketball."
Coach Kevin McHale concedes the Rockets will have to rely on scrappiness and guile to stay afloat this season, with most of the nucleus of last year's team — Kyle Lowry, Courtney Lee, Goran Dragic and Luis Scola — gone to other teams.
"We have a lot of young guys. We have to find a rotation, we've got a lot of stuff to do," McHale said. "Our goal is to try to win as many games as it takes to put ourselves in a position to get into the playoffs. That's going to be a hell of a challenge, but that's what I told our guys. We've got to find a way to get it done."
McHale also is eager to learn the capabilities of each player, most of them virtually untested at the NBA level. Donatas Motiejunas, a 7-foot forward from Lithuania, averaged 16 points and 6.6 rebounds in Europe last year, and first-round picks Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White begin their first training camps after playing for Houston's summer-league team.
"We just have so many unknowns, so many guys who haven't played with each other yet," McHale said. "It's hard to project what they're going to do. But I would be shocked if we don't play really hard and get after it."

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/untested-rockets-turn-to-lin-for-leadership

UFC 152: Jones recovers from shaky start to dominate Belfort

Mikkel Bolante, InterAKTV · Monday, September 24, 2012 · 12:22 am

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones bucked some early adversity, getting caught in a deep armbar in the first round, before dominating challenger Vitor Belfort and finishing the fight with an americana lock in the fourth round of their main event fight of UFC 152 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It was Jones’ fourth successful title defense – all against former champions – as the prodigious fighter took an eighth straight victory and moved up to 11-1 in his UFC career. He finished seven of his last eight wins by either TKO or submission.
The 25-year-old Jones faced what may have been the biggest scare of his title run, though, after taking Belfort, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, down early in the fight and finding himself in an armbar that looked to have fully hyperextended his right arm. But Jones pulled out of it and eventually dominated the rest of the round, landing punishing elbows from on top and busting Belfort open before the bell, forcing the fight doctor to have to check out the cut between rounds.
Belfort was deemed okay to continue, but took a lot of damage from Jones’ kicks in the second while having trouble catching the champion. Belfort pulled guard near the end of the round and tried for a triangle attempt but still got the worse of the exchange on the ground.
Jones landed a couple more kicks in the third, including a big kick to the ribs that dropped Belfort to the mat. The champion followed him to the ground and controlled the round with some ground and pound, including more of his dangerous elbows, as he cruised to another round.
In the fourth, Belfort went down early and Jones capitalized, working his way into a mounted crucifix and locking an americana and got the submission win.
Jones admitted after the fight that Belfort had the armbar locked in very deep in the first round and that he felt his arm pop.
But that didn’t matter too much as the champion expectedly cruised to another one-sided defense.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/ufc-152-jones-recovers-from-shaky-start-to-dominate-belfort

Marquez already hard at work in training; Pacquiao to report second week of October

Lee Jimenez, InterAKTV · Tuesday, October 2, 2012 · 9:58 pm

Reuters

While Manny Pacquiao is neck-deep in his political career, Juan Manuel Marquez is in the thick of training in the mountains of Toluca, Mexico, as the Mexican counter-puncher revs up for his December 8 faceoff with the Filipino icon in Las Vegas.
InterAKTV was told by Mexican sources yesterday that Marquez logged 13 kilometers of roadwork in the Nevado de Toluca mountains under the watchful eyes of his long-time training assistant Raul de Anda.
Marquez complained of body pain after the first two weeks of training but the 39-year-old insists he will get used to it in due time as he expressed his excitement to bang bodies with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand.
Last week, Marquez also visited the same rugged terrain and chopped wood and hit the tire with a sledgehammer ala Rocky Balboa.
A 3-1 underdog, Marquez is confident there will be no need to stage a fifth fight because he will score a convincing stoppage victory.
Marquez said training for this fight will be focused on how to stop Pacquiao so he can prevent the judges from tinkering with the score sheets.
Pacquiao countered that he will do the same thing to prove that his two wins over Marquez were genuine.
But Pacquiao won’t be reporting for training at the Wild Card until the second week of October and yesterday, he actually filed his candidacy for congressman of Sarangani.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/marquez-already-hard-at-work-in-training-pacquiao-to-report-second-week-of-october