Category: Uncategorized

Germany sets focus on Olympics as Manila stint ends

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Germany VNL 2024 Manila

Germany celebrates during a VNL match.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Germany ended its Volleyball Nations League (VNL) stint with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Iran as it shifts its focus to the Paris Olympics on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Moritz Karlitzek delivered the goods for the Germans with 21 points off 17 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, while Moritz Reichert added 13 points to finish their VNL stint with a 5-7 record.

“We’re super happy that we finished the VNL this year for us with a victory and can go home with a good feeling,” Karlitzek told reporters. 

READ: VNL 2024: Canada sweeps Germany for back-t0-back wins

“The tournament here was perfectly organized. We felt really well and also playing in front of the crowd was amazing. The fans were all the time supporting us so we had a good time. Thank you for supporting us and making this event nice and well,” he added. 

Gyorgy Grozer, who sat out the game, was proud of their campaign despite not making it to the Final Eight.

It was very important for our team to finish the VNL with one very good game. Iran showed this week that they are very strong also against USA and other teams. So for us, it was important I think that we played good and we go home with the final result of 3-0,” Grozer said.

“I think we did our maximum in the VNL. We had some players who were resting in the beginning. I think for us it was the perfect practice games before the Olympics to find more and more together. Of course, we need still time, we have one month more so we will work on some things more.”

READ: VNL 2024: Germany beats France, stays in Final Eight hunt

Germany will fly back home hours after its game as Grozer expressed his gratitude to the Filipino fans.

“It was amazing. I hope there will be next time also in Manila something with volleyball because I see that people love volleyball whichever country is playing against each other they’re super supportive. Everything was fine and thank you one more time for the fans. It was much easier to play volleyball that’s for sure,” the German veteran said.

Iran wrapped up its VNL with a 2-10 record getting two victories in Manila against powerhouse USA and Netherlands.

Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Poriya Hossein led the Iranians with 19 and 10 points, respectively.



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Dutch star scorer proud of team despite missing Olympics

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Netherlands’ Nimir Abdel Aziz in the VNL 2024.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Nimir Abdel-Aziz’s greatest scoring nights went for naught after the Netherlands ended up winless in Manila to cap its Volleyball Nations League (VNL) season.

Abdel-Aziz scored another 37-point explosion highlighted by six aces but the Netherlands fell to Canada in five sets,  21-25, 25-22, 28-26, 14-25, 15-9, on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Dutch star emerged as the league’s top scorer with a total of 284 points built on 235 spikes, 40 aces, and nine blocks. He was the only VNL player to score 30-plus points in five matches. 

But he’s not thinking about his scoring tear as all he wanted was to give his best for his team. 

“I just try to do my best like all the teams. We wanted to fight, we wanted to give our best. And I really don’t care about the individual points because I am just proud of the team and how we stood on the court,” said Abdel-Aziz, who averaged 29.8 points in four games in Manila.

The Netherlands lost all four games in Manila, missing the Final Eight with a 3-9 record to end the VNL season. But Abdel-Aziz remained proud of his teammates.

“I think we had a good fight, we gave everything. It was not enough but I am proud of the team [despite] not qualifying for the Olympics and everything. We continued to fight so we did great,” he said. “It’s our third year in a row. Every year, [we’re] improving. This year was great, so I think it’s only gonna get better.”

The 32-year-old Abdel-Aziz admitted that some of the Dutch players are retiring after the VNL, passing the torch to the young guns.

“We will see what’s gonna happen in the next year because I think some of us won’t be there anymore. So, it’s also time for some young generation guys. So we’ll see how they will develop and how they can continue to reach a higher level,” he said.

Despite the winless Manila stint, the scoring machine expressed his gratitude to Filipino fans for supporting them.

“The thing for us volleyball players, it’s one of the best places to play because the fans are here, they are supporting everybody. So, it’s not just the home crowds like in other venues,” Abdel-Aziz said. “Here, we feel support from everybody, every game, doesn’t matter who we play. Maybe a little less against Japan but for the rest, we feel a lot [of support], so it feels great to play here.”



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USC basketball star JuJu Watkins throws strike at Dodger Stadium

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University of Southern California basketball player Juju Watkins gestures after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES — USC basketball star JuJu Watkins had a different kind of ball in her hand at Dodger Stadium.

She threw out a ceremonial first pitch Saturday night before the Freeway Series matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers.

“This is probably the most nervous I’ve ever been,” she said beforehand. “Basketball comes easy, not baseball.”

READ: Sarina Bolden throws first pitch at San Francisco Giants game

Watkins had said she would be throwing left-handed because of a sprained right index finger. But she warmed up tossing right-handed and stuck with her dominant hand to deliver a strike to Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone, who was behind the plate.

“I always see it on social media,” she said. “Never did I think I would be throwing a pitch.”

Watkins wore a personalized Dodgers jersey and after throwing from the top of the mound, she gave the traditional pre-game call of “It’s time for Dodger baseball.” She was accompanied by her parents and a cousin.

READ: Wembanyama throws out ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium

As a freshman, Watkins led Southern California to its best season in years, winning the Pac-12 championship before falling one victory short of a Final Four appearance. She’s riding the wave of increased interest in women’s sports, especially basketball.

“The women in the sport are incredible and just to see the rise of the game, it’s so inspiring,” she said. “It’s definitely a collective effort. I wouldn’t say I hold any sole responsibility. Just make sure I’m doing my part.”

Watkins took a break after the season ended and recently vacationed in Mexico.

“Now I’m ready to get back to it,” she said. “There’s so many things to get better at.”



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Kento Miyaura steps up for Takahashi-less Japan in crucial win

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Japan’s Kento Miyaura celebrates during a game against France in the VNL.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Kento Miyaura stepped up when it mattered most for depleted Japan as he provided the spark off the bench to book a ticket to the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Final Eight.

After missing Ran Takahashi due to a nagging injury, Japan suffered another blow as Yuji Nishida needed to be subbed out early in the second set due to abdominal pain but Miyaura showed his next-man-up mentality to rise from two sets down and stun Olympic champion France, 17-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10, on Saturday evening before an ecstatic 11,879 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.

The 25-year-old spiker dropped 19 points off 16 attacks, two aces, and a block, expressing his gratitude to the Filipino fans, who inspired him to unleash his breakout game in Manila.

READ: VNL 2024: Yuki Ishikawa, Japan rally past Olympic champion France

“Sometimes this kind of situation [happens] but we were able to keep our concentration and Philippine fans pushing a lot for us. It’s a nice atmosphere,” Miyaura said.

Miyaura conspired with captain Yuki Ishikawa, who erupted for 33 points, as they delivered the finishing blows in the fifth set for an improved 8-3 record to secure their entry to the final round in Poland.

He believes that tough games like this will help them prepare for the Final Eight and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I can’t believe [we won] this match because it was so difficult match but I’m so happy to win and also it will be helping us for the Olympics,” said Miyaura, who plays in the French pro league.

READ: VNL 2024: Japan bounces back with sweep of Netherlands

Japan coach Philippe Blain lauded Miyaura and his wards for showing a never-give-up attitude against the 2022 VNL champions amid the absence of their stars. 

“In the first two sets, France played so good, making no mistakes, [and had a] great defense. We just kept on fighting. In these kinds of moments, we have to stay patient and try to stay inside the match. And fortunately from the third set, [our] substitution [worked] and controlled a bit more of the game,” Blain said. “It was a very tough match and I’m very proud of how my team stayed calm with their minds. It was a great experience tonight and I hope it will be very useful for [future] tournaments.”

Miyaura vows to stay ready for Japan as it wraps up its VNL Manila campaign against fellow fan-favorite USA on Sunday at 7 p.m.

“We are prepared for the next match. And it will be tougher,” he said.



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Ong and Tigresses send women’s hoops a little shine

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Coach Haydee Ong, Tantoy Ferrer and the UST Growling Tigers celebrate UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball title. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

This season was like no other for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) women’s basketball squad.

There is that little thing about winning the UAAP women’s basketball crown for the first time in nearly two decades and ending a seven-year dynasty of the magnificent National U Lady Bulldogs.

And then there are the other unfamiliar, but much-welcomed, parts.

At the end of each season, the Tigresses often break up into individual vacations, being with family for however short a period is allowed before they return to camp.

This time, however, an invitation shoehorned an event into their calendars.

“First time, yes,” UST champion coach Haydee Ong told the Inquirer late Monday evening during the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Awards Night. “And I’m so happy.”

Kent Pastrana and Tantoy Ferrer, two of Ong’s top guns, were ecstatic, too. Even if they walked into the Discovery Suites ballroom trying to figure out what in the world they were doing there.

“Why did I become a part of this? Why am I here?” Pastrana said, laughing.

“When I entered the room, a lot of [journalists] interviewed me. It’s like, I’m here, they’re here, this is fun,” Ferrer added.

The CPC gave them reason to be there. Ong, Pastrana and Ferrer were honored by the group that covers collegiate sports, which for the first time included women’s basketball in its roster of awardees because of “the group’s mandate and vision, slowly and one by one, of expanding our awards night to as many sports as possible for inclusivity and fairness.”

“We started by feting only the achievers from the staple events such as men’s basketball and, last year, women’s volleyball for the first time but we intend to honor more as all athletes simply deserve it. We’re humbled to be the stage for that,” the CPC added Saturday in a statement provided to the Inquirer.

Building on momentum

The three Thomasians used the CPC’s stage to further push women’s basketball into the mainstream consciousness.

“I’m an advocate, not only for women’s basketball, but generally, [for] women in sports,” Ong said. “So, yeah, this (the CPC event) is [removing] barriers for women in sports. So, we’re very happy that we were being acknowledged and honored tonight.”

Ong was named UAAP women’s basketball coach of the year while Pastrana won the inaugural women’s collegiate basketball player of the year. Ferrer joined Pastrana in the UAAP women’s basketball mythical selection.

“I didn’t know there was an award like this,” Pastrana said.

“As a woman who plays, [being honored] feels really good,” Ferrer said. “We feel inspired because we get to [help] people appreciate how women’s basketball plays.”

In receiving their awards, the Tigresses stressed the importance of building on the momentum generated by one of the most watched seasons of their discipline. For the first time, women’s basketball games in the UAAP packed venues with screaming fans. And joining the usual CPC roster of honorees brightens the spotlight.

“Women’s basketball is becoming more and more popular,” Pastrana said. “It’s exciting to watch because you can see a lot of physicality that many think isn’t there because women are the ones playing.”

And the Tigresses hope to push that showcase further.

“We need to continue showing that we play hard and that we’re always competing,” Ferrer said.

For Ong, riding the wave means giving audiences more venues to watch women’s basketball outside of the collegiate scene.

“I think [we need] the consistency of other leagues, not just UAAP, even in preseason, right? Like, we have games in G-Ball or Manila Cup,” Ong said. “There are [people] who are live streaming [the games]. I think those are the necessary platforms for women’s basketball.”

For now, the honors bestowed on them will push the Tigresses to work even harder.

“I won’t let this opportunity go to waste. This will be an inspiration for me,” Pastrana said. “I think we are also an inspiration to other kids.”



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“This is not only for me,” Ong said of her award. “[This is] also for the women coaches who are dreaming to be recognized for women’s basketball. I think it’s something they can aspire for, being the Collegiate Press Corps Coach of the Year.”

Petecio takes on ‘elder’ role for Filipino Olympians

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Weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando, boxers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan, Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, rower Joanie Delgaco and weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza left Saturday for a training camp in France. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Nesthy Petecio has fully embraced her role as the eldest sibling in the present batch of Filipino athletes bound for the Paris Olympics.

And what made it superbly special is the affectionate treatment that the Tokyo Olympics boxing silver medalist has instilled within their clique.

“We treat each other as family. I want my fellow Olympians to be as close to each other as possible,’’ Petecio told the Inquirer during the sendoff ceremony at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Petecio, on her second straight tour of duty to the global sports spectacle, left for the Metz training camp in France on Saturday along with eight other athletes, roughly five weeks before the opening of the Games.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo, rower Joanie Delgaco, weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno and boxers Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas also received a parting gift of P500,000 each from Sen. Bong Go.

Joining the eight athletes at the monthlong camp in Metz, a three-hour train ride from Paris, are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, fencer Samantha Catantan, boxer Eumir Marcial and gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo and Levi Jung-Ruivivar.

Petecio and Paalam have been designated the nation’s flag bearers during the opening rites as Team Philippines aims to accomplish a similar objective of capturing a gold medal achieved by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in 2020 Tokyo.

“We know there’s an attractive incentive waiting for us. But we don’t only fight for those incentives. We fight to reach the dreams of our families and give pride and honor to our country,’’ said Petecio.



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Carlos Yulo focusing on pommel horse as Paris Olympics nears

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FILE–Southeast Asian Games – Artistic Gymnastics – Olympic Marquee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 8, 2023 Philippines’ Carlos Yulo in action during the men’s qualification REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

MANILA, Philippines—Carlos Yulo will be competing in various events in his latest Olympic bid and if there’s one particular event that he is worried about ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s the pommel horse.

Seeking perfection, Yulo admitted he still has some work to do in the pommel horse with a month to go before the Games.

“For all around, I’ll be joining six events so I’ll see what I can improve on in practice but I’m having difficulty in the pommel horse,” said Yulo in Filipino during the Philippine delegation’s send-off ceremony at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros on Friday.

READ: ‘Grateful’ Carlos Yulo wants more after Asian meet success

“I’m also more focused on injury prevention in practice, I’m strengthening my endurance and building my muscles because I really shrank after the Asian Championships having done a lot to try and improve my skills. So I need [to lift] weights but right now I’m super healthy and I’m grateful that I have no injuries.”

While the floor exercise is Yulo’s pet event, the pommel horse isn’t really his strong suit.

The last time the 24-year-old Yulo made the podium in the said event was in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where he won silver.

READ: Carlos Yulo adds two more golds as PH rises to 2nd

“I’m trying to see where I can improve. I became experimental so what happened before [in previous competitions] isn’t that good but they’re all good experiences.”

“Despite those results, I took it as a learning experience.”

Yulo is also well aware of his competition in Paris.

“I feel like all those top-level athletes are proven and tested and they have a lot of experiences like me so maybe I’ll practice to be more confident in performing and have trust in myself and all things I’ve been practicing.”



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U18 squad eyes sweep for promotion, redemption

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Gabby Ramos against Indonesia defenders Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup Seaba Qualifiers. –FIBA BASKETBALL

Gilas Pilipinas is back in the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup and will be shooting for redemption—and Division A promotion—nearly two years after a heartbreaking loss that had the squad settling for third place.

The young Nationals, coached by longtime women’s program mentor Julie Amos, arrived in Shenzhen, China, on Saturday (Manila time). Still sore from a friendly with the La Salle Lady Archers and a long trip from the airport to the Chinese city, they immediately rolled their sleeves and got to work, eager to erase the heartaches of the past.

“Even though coming from an early flight, we were able to rest a bit and get back to training,” Amos told the Inquirer. “We had our first training today at 2 p.m. and [we hope to do it tomorrow] 2 p.m. again before June 24.”

The Philippines’ path will first go through the Maldives, a side they picked apart with methodical precision in their last meeting, 110-28, in the previous edition of the tournament held in Bangalore, India.

The clash is set at 4:30 p.m. at Futian Sports Park with the likes of Naomi Panganiban, Gabriella Ramos, and Tiff Reyes expected to match their strong showing during the Asia Cup qualifiers in Thailand last May.

2022 heartache

Amos noted her charges’ zest but knows all too well that it will all be for naught without the proper mindset.

“We all know that this will be a tough competition. And for us to be able to win, to face all [sorts of] adversities, we have to be ready mentally and physically,” she said. “Being resilient and determined is what [we need to do] in this tournament. The girls are excited and ready.”

Gilas is also slotted with Syria and Lebanon in Group B.

The Philippines was on track to reach the you-or-me finale during the 2022 showcase, but ran into a tough-as-nails Malaysian side that prevailed in overtime, 66-65. Gilas, then starred by the likes of Kate Bobadilla, Kristian Yumul, and Louna Ozar, played Samoa to wind up in third place.

A sweep of the Shenzhen showcase will finally send the Philippines to Division A, where continental powerhouses China, Japan and Australia compete.



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After soaring into PBA lore, Newsome hopes to make the same impact for Gilas Pilipinas

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Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Last week saw Chris Newsome weave himself into PBA lore with a shot that ended Meralco’s long wait for a championship.

But next week will see Newsome test himself once more against some of the best international basketball has to offer, with a bigger role expected of him for Gilas Pilipinas in the OIympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

“I’m a natural competitor, and I want to see what I’m capable of,” said Newsome, who is seen as a key cog in Gilas’ daunting task facing host Latvia and Georgia in Riga for the final phase of qualification for the Paris Games.

Odds are stacked against Gilas, with Latvia and Georgia seen as the two sides progressing past Group A of the OQT phase which starts July 2.

But Newsome will head to the OQT with confidence at a high level following a performance that keyed Meralco’s triumph over San Miguel and end the franchise’s 14-year wait for a PBA crown.

Important presence

His heroic role, ending with a baseline jumper in Game 6 that sealed the championship, capped off a season in which Newsome has been playing at a level never before seen since he entered the league in 2015.

Much of the credit is on his important presence in Gilas’ victory in the Hangzhou Asian Games, a result that ended the Philippines’ 61-year gold medal drought.

“It definitely helped me going up against [some of] the best in the world,” he said. “It helped me understand where I am as a player and what skills that I have to work on.”

Winning a PBA title and his newfound status as one of the country’s best players, however, can’t satisfy Newsome, who’ll now try to not only put Gilas in a position to give both European countries a run for their money, but also hold his own against the players he’ll go up against.

“Sometimes, I fail. But I’m okay with failing, because I know I did my best,” he said. “Even with this [PBA] championship, I have so much to improve on.”

Gilas is wrapping its short camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, and is scheduled to take on the Taiwan Mustangs of The Asian Tournament on Monday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.



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Then it’s off to Europe for Gilas for tune-up matches with Turkey and Poland in the leadup to the OQT.

VNL 2024: Yuki Ishikawa, Japan rally past Olympic champion France

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Japan team celebrates in the VNL 2024 Week 3 game against France. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Yuki Ishikawa took matters into his own hands to help depleted Japan complete an epic comeback-from-behind 17-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10 win over Olympic champion France in the Volleyball Nations League on Saturday evening before a roaring crowd at Mall of Asia Arena.

With Ran Takahashi flying home to Japan due to a nagging injury and Yuji Nishida sitting out after the second set due to abdomen pain, Ishikawa willed Japan back from two sets down, with 33 points off 31 spikes, one ace, and a block in front of 11,879 fans.

“First two sets, we were not working well. At the same time, we made too many mistakes, especially in our attacks. After the third set, we worked on our chemistry, our attack, and defense,” said the Japan skipper. “We have to push all the time. First and second sets we were a little bit nervous.”

READ: Japan’s Ran Takahashi leaves Manila to treat knee injury

“[33 points] is not important for me. What’s important is the team, so our teammates played very well, so I had to make the right plays,” he added.

Kento Miyaura, who came off the bench, also stepped up with 19 points built on 16 spikes, two aces, and a block as Japan improved to 8-3 in fifth place with one last assignment remaining against the USA on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Miyaura powered the Japanese to an early 10-5 start in the fifth set before Ishikawa delivered the killer blows to complete the comeback win against the 2022 VNL champions.

READ: VNL 2024: Japan bounces back with sweep of Netherlands

“It’s our last game in the Philippines, so we will do our best every time, and we will continue to play well,” said Ishikawa of USA. “It’s a really, really tough game for sure. United States plays fast, so our service needs to be well.”

Akihiro Yamauchi and Kentaro Takahashi added six points each as Japan won the second of its third assignment in their third consecutive VNL Manila leg.

France absorbed its second straight defeat in Manila, sliding to a 7-4 record in sixth place after a tough loss to the also-ran Iran.

Jean Patry led the balanced attack of the French Spikers with 21 points off 18 attacks, two aces, and a block. Trevor Clevenot backstopped him with 15 points, while Yacine Loati and Nicolas Le Goff had 11 and 10 points, respectively.



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France tries to end its skid against Brazil on Sunday at 3 p.m.