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| PNVF-UAAP Partnership: UAAP Season 85 President Fr. Aldrin Suan (seated, center) and Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (seated, second from left) with UAAP board members and officials (standing, from left) Sergio Lim and Nilo Ocampo of National University, Em Fernandez of Ateneo, Mark Molina of Far Eastern University, Rod Roque of University of the East, UAAP Season 85 Secretary Treasurer Fr. Andrew Bayal also of Adamson University, Nonong Calanog of De La Salle, Dean Francisco “Kiko” Diaz of University of the Philippines, UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag, Edwin Reyes also of De La Salle; and (seated, from left) Lady Gudmalin of the UAAP Secretariat. Seated at right is PNVF Secretary General Don Caringal. (Image Source: Malaya Business Insight/Philippine National Volleyball Federation) |
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) drew the commitment of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on the national team program, the thrust of which is to establish a wide pool of young potential players for major international competitions. The commitment was forged in a PNVF-UAAP board meeting held on the morning of August 16, 2022 at Adamson University, host of the UAAP’s 85th season slated to open on October.
“Yes, the UAAP is very supportive of the national team program,” said Adamson University athletic director and UAAP Season 85 president Fr. Aldrin Suan. “The PNVF is thankful for the commitment of support from the UAAP. With this, we have a secured future for the national team,” said PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara who was accompanied in the meeting by his secretary general Don Caringal. The commitment borders on the UAAP aligning its volleyball schedule with the International Volleyball Federation’s program of world calendar and the league lending its players to the national team. The national team to the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games campaign, however, won’t have UAAP players because of its proximity to the end of the UAAP volleyball season. The Cambodia games are set May 5 to 16, 2023, the same period when the UAAP is about to conclude its season.
“The Vietnam and Cambodia SEA Games were scheduled in May, not the traditional SEA Games schedule of November up to December because of the offshoot of the Covid-19 pandemic. But come 2023, the SEA Games return to its traditional schedule and the UAAP players would be free for the national team by then," Suzara said. The FIVB’s world calendar starts in May and ends in October of each year for the so-called national team window. Also present in the PNVF-UAAP meeting were National University’s Sergio Lim and Nilo Ocampo, Ateneo’s Em Fernandez, Far Eastern University’s Mark Molina, University of the East’s Rod Roque, UAAP Season 85 Secretary-Treasurer Fr. Andrew Bayal of Adamson University, De La Salle’s Nonong Calanog and Edwin Reyes, University of the Philippines’ Dean Francisco “Kiko” Diaz, University of Santo Tomas’s Gigi Kamus and UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag.
“The UAAP is fully supportive of the initiatives of the PNVF, but for this immediate season, we have made preparations for our respective calendar of events. In fact, our current schedule of events fits perfectly with theirs [PNVF], so I don’t see any conflict," Diaz said. The major competitions that could see UAAP players on the national team include the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in September 2023, Asian championships, Asian Volleyball Confederation Cups for Men and Women and the Asean Grand Prix.
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PH To Host Finale Weekend Of East Asia Super League's Inaugural Season
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/East Asia Super League) |
Manila will host the Final Four of the East Asia Super League Season 1 on March 2023. The league announced the choice of the Philippines as the venue for the three-day event which will serve as the culmination of the EASL’s inaugural home-and-away season. The Final Four tips off on March 3 featuring two semifinals games, a music festival on March 4, and finally, the Finals on March 5.
“We couldn’t ask for a better city to host the first EASL Final Four. I would like to thank the local government authorities, our colleagues at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and the Filipino fans for welcoming us. The Final Four weekend will be unique and memorable, bigger than any event EASL has ever held, featuring a music festival and a variety of fan activations,” said EASL CEO Matt Beyer. No pre-departure or on-arrival COVID testing, nor quarantine is required for fully vaccinated travelers, meaning that Manila is ready for a warm-up event to the FIBA World Cup taking place in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines beginning in August 2023. “The decision to stage the inaugural EASL Final Four in Manila this March is a welcome development. The Philippines is a basketball-loving country and Filipino fans will be following the EASL games closely. Hosting the Final Four would be an exciting prelude to the FIBA World Cup as our country opens its doors to the global basketball community next year,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
TNT Tropang Giga and San Miguel Beermen have clinched two PBA berths to represent the country in the kick-off season on October 12 and are set to compete each other in the finals of the Philippine Cup. Reigning champion Seoul SK Knights and runner-up Anyang KGC will represent the Korean Basketball League (KBL) in the meet, the P. League + of Chinese Taipei is sending the Taipei Fubon Braves, the B. League of Japan will have the Utsonomiya Brex and Ryukyu Golden Kings, and the Bay Area Dragons are competing in behalf of Greater China. “Having recently spent time in Manila for the EASL inaugural grouping ceremony, I can say with certainty that this is a great decision by EASL to host the Final Four Weekend in this magnificent city. Manila is truly a basketball city with some of the biggest and liveliest crowds,” said KBL Commissioner Kim Hee Ok.
EASL also announced that the Final Four Weekend for Season 2 taking place in early 2024 will be held in Okinawa, Japan. “The prefecture of Okinawa and the OCVB couldn’t be happier to partner with EASL in the planning and promotion of the 2024 EASL Final Four. We are thrilled that Okinawa has been chosen as the destination for this global sporting event at our state-of-the-art Okinawa arena. We are promoting a ‘Sports Island Okinawa,’ and we are confident that it is a world-class place with great sports resources. The EASL Final Four solidifies Okinawa as a world class destination for sports and entertainment. We look forward to hosting all of the guests taking part in the EASL Final Four,” said Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau Chairman Yoshiro Shimoji.
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PATAFA Resumes Weekly Relay Series To Promote A Return To Active Lifestyle
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| (Image Source: Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) |
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), along with the Philippine Sports Commission, is excited to announce the return of its Weekly Relay Series that began on August 14, 2022 and will conclude on November 20, 2022. All events will be held at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most if not all sports facilities were shut down. The resumption of the PATAFA Weekly Relay Series marks the return of the grassroots athletics competition program after having been halted for two years.
The primary objective of the 15-week series is to provide athletes, coaches, and technical officials the proper venue to not only promote a return to physical activity, but also allow the sharing of technical knowledge with one another. Furthermore, the series also aims to encourage athletes at the grassroots level to participate in athletics. “We are excited to return back to action after two years of canceling this event due to COVID-19. In addition to the series being great for current athletes, it also serves as a tool for our coaches to identify new talent in hopes of developing them into the national pool for future competition. We thank the PSC for their support along with our sponsors, CEL Logistics, MILO, Wireless Link, Cellife Cellular Nutrition, G-Shock Casio, Masiv Sports, and PenserQ MultiMedia,” said PATAFA President Terry Capistrano.
There are four categories for participation, namely Elite Men and Women (any athlete 20 years old and above in 2022), Under 20 Men and Women (any athlete 18 or 19 years old in 2022) and Under 18 (any athlete below 18 in 2022). More information about the PATAFA Weekly Relay Series is available at https://www.philathletics.org.
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Cleanfuel Motocross Park Kicks Off 2022 Motocross Invitational Series
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| (Image Source: Business Mirror/Cleanfuel Motocross Park) |
Cleanfuel Motocross Park, the newest outdoor adventure trail park for two-wheels, will hold its first Motocross Invitational Series for motocross riders of all ages. The four-leg series aims to bring out and develop young amateur motorcycle riders in preparation for national championships while promoting safe and competitive riding. Sanctioned by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association, the event is designed to enhance public awareness of the sport locally and further hone world-class motocross riders.
Cleanfuel Motocross Park President and CEO Atty. Jesus Bong Suntay explained that the invitational series is a way to discover the skills and talents of motocross riders in the country. “Our goal in building the Cleanfuel Motocross Park is to create a safe and comfortable place for kids to learn the sport. There are several similar tracks outside the Metro, but I’m proud to say that our place stands out from the rest as we offer the finest facilities, from air-conditioned training rooms, riders shower rooms, lounges for family members and friends, and of course, our well-planned and safe track,” Suntay said. An avid motorcycle rider himself, the chief executive of Cleanfuel Motocross Park shared his excitement for the upcoming races. “This is the first time we have formally unveiled our motocross park and sponsored an event like this. This outdoor recreational park for two-wheels will serve as the training grounds for young riders who are into Motocross,” Suntay said. “We are ecstatic to put up such an amazing event. This activity will help our local motocross community to showcase talents and skills that the Philippine Motocross team could take advantage of and promote local tourism in Cavite as well,” Suntay added.
Participants aged 8 to 50 years old are welcome to join the event. The categories in the series include the following: 50-cc starter shaft drive single speed automatic (8 years old and below), 50-cc 2-stroke/70-cc 4-stroke starter chain drive single speed automatic (8 years old and below), 50-cc 2-stroke/70-cc 4-stroke single speed automatic (9 years old and below), 65cc (12 years old and below), 85cc 2 stroke/150-cc 4 stroke production (14 years old and below), ladies class (24 years old and below), local open endure (locally manufactured motorcycles), beginners open production, novice open production class, veterans beginner (40 years old and above), veterans expert, and the exciting new electric categorystacyc class. Meanwhile, Cleanfuel Brand Ambassador and Motocross Park head coach Kenneth San Andres explained that the categories were trimmed down based on the current roster and capacity of the track. “The best age to learn motocross is between 6 to 7 years old. Here at Cleanfuel Motocross Park, we allow them to acquire the right perspective to ensure we are creating safer and smarter riders,” San Andres said. “This exciting event series brings all grassroots young and veterans riders together in a safer track,” added San Andres.
For those who wanted to participate, you may register now at https://bit.ly/3oZsv2O. Registration fee is Php1,000 (including loot bags and freebies). All four rounds of the 2022 Cleanfuel Motocross Invitational Series will be held at the company’s Motocross Park in Silang, Cavite beginning on August 27, 2022. The event is powered by Smart, Maya Business, and De Guzman & Co. Watches.
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TAP DMV Is Official PH Broadcaster Of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar
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| (Image Source: CGTN) |
With Philippine football back in the limelight courtesy of its national women's football team which will soon see action next year in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Filipino football fans and sports enthusiasts will have something to look forward to and dream about for the men's squad as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, one of the world's greatest sporting events, makes its way to Philippine television through the event's official broadcaster TAP Digital Media Ventures (TAP DMV).
As officially appointed by FIFA, the country's leading sports and entertainment company is set to broadcast the world's most popular football event taking place in Qatar starting November 20 until December 18 via TAP Sports, Premier Sports, Premier Football and subscription-based online streaming platform TAP GO. TAP DMV is also set to launch a new PPV channel dedicated to the 2022 FIFA World Cup tentatively named World Cup TV (WC TV). WC TV will show live the entire depth and breadth of the 22nd edition of the premier football event through the FIFA WC 2022 All Access Pass. Fans will get to watch all the live matches and more for only Php1,999.00. Plus, they will also have the option of choosing which overlapping matches they wish to view live.
“That’s all 64 matches involving 32 nations from the group stages to the knockout stages. The Round of 16, the quarterfinals, semifinals and the finals will be broadcasted live on World Cup TV, including all player and coach pre and post-game interviews, match highlights, off-pitch special features as well as replays. We are very excited to be able to air one of the world’s most popular events involving the global game,” said TAP DMV Chief Technology Officer Gonzalo “Bogie” de Guia. More information on WC TV will be available on TAP GO's official Facebook page.
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MPBL Now Available Worldwide Live And On-Demand Via iWantTFC
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| (Image Source: YouTube/iWantTFC) |
The premiere regional basketball league in the country goes abroad as iWantTFC brings to Pinoy audiences overseas the coverage of the ongoing season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), live and on-demand for free. In partnership with Pilipinas Global Network Limited (PGNL) anew, ABS-CBN Global continues to deliver more world-class Pinoy sports content to Filipino audiences abroad with the MPBL on iWantTFC following the successful streaming of collegiate games from the UAAP and the 47th season of the PBA.
Founded by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in 2017, the MPBL aims to give opportunities to deserving Pinoy hoopers from all walks of life to showcase their talents on the bigger stage, with thousands of fans nationwide cheering and representing their hometown teams from the Northern and Southern Divisions. Now on its fourth season (dubbed as the Mumbaki Cup), the league has reached greater heights from its humble beginnings, with 22 teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao vying for the coveted national championship. Catch Kyt Jimenez, Domark Matillano, Mark Yee, Yves Sazon, Marcy Arellano, Gerald Anderson, plus more of your favorite rising standouts and local veterans in the MPBL live and on-demand on iWantTFC, available for free in countries outside the Philippines.
Apart from the MPBL, catch the recent UAAP games from the UAAP Varsity Channel (for subscribers outside the PH) and the global coverage of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the San Miguel Beermen and defending champions TNT Tropang Giga (for subscribers outside the PH and US) on iWantTFC Premium. iWantTFC is accessible via its website (fb.com/iWantTFC), Twitter (@iwanttfc), and Instagram (@iwanttfc) to stay updated on the latest game schedules.
