Nambatac deal signals TNT transition to young core

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Rey Nambatac makes his debut for Blackwater Bossing in the PBA Philippine Cup.–PBA IMAGES

The recent acquisition of Rey Nambatac is seen more as a move to help TNT return to its perch as one of the PBA’s perennial contenders.

But Nambatac’s entry to the Tropang Giga camp from the Blackwater Bossing should also continue the transition to a younger core that would ease the responsibilities of those who brought the franchise to multiple championships.

“That’s the plan really,” TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa told the Inquirer after the Nambatac deal was given a go-signal by the league last Tuesday.

Getting Nambatac meant that TNT had to give up role player Kib Montalbo, big man Jewel Ponferada and a second round pick in the PBA’s 53rd season Rookie Draft which would likely be held in 2028.

Nambatac’s lone conference with Blackwater resulted in averages of 11.1 points on 35-percent shooting with 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals in 11 games during the Philippine Cup, showing why he can still produce after his minutes dwindled in his first PBA team Rain or Shine.

He put up 27 in his Bossing debut last February against the Meralco Bolts, and had five games of scoring at least 10 points the rest of the way. His offense at the backcourt position could benefit the Tropang Giga.

And it could also lessen the load carried by longtime guard Jayson Castro, who averaged 12.4 points after playing all 14 games in the Philippine Cup. But TNT knows the 38-year-old Castro needs all the help he can get.

“We don’t have much time for our vets, and we need to transition into younger players,” said Lastimosa.

That transition has been somewhat felt during the recent two-conference season which saw TNT failing to reach the semifinals in both the Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup.

Calvin Oftana has emerged as the Tropang Giga’s go-to-guy on offense, with RR Pogoy, who missed a portion of the Commissioner’s Cup after dealing with a heart ailment, producing numbers as well.

Kelly Williams has taken a bigger responsibility, and has been efficient despite being 42, but TNT missed serviceable frontcourt players due to injuries in Poy Erram and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who was traded from NLEX before the Philippine Cup started.



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De Brito seeks cooperation to solve longtime national team problem

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Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen (No. 10) led Vietnam against the Philippines. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito thinks that the way forward for women’s volleyball is for the national program to eliminate a longstanding problem.

“What we really have to do is this training camp in Japan will help us but also we need to have our players more time together to work so we can add something in the system that would be applicable,” De Brito said after the national team dropped a 25-14, 25-22, 25-21 decision on Friday to Southeast Asian (SEA) powerhouse Vietnam in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Alas Pilipinas will have a two-week training camp in Japan starting on July 14 before the team faces SEA Games rivals in the SEA V.League in August.

“Hopefully, we can keep these players since we have 14 days in Japan to practice. We’ll be better, you can make some changes, chemistry will be better because every single day we’ll train together two times a day.”

National team skipper Jia De Guzman also believes in the improvement that can be gained from keeping the national pool core intact.

“We’re going against teams which already grew old with their national teams so for us, our goal is to also grow old together in the national team,” the crafty setter said.

“That’s how longevity [happens], that’s how you build chemistry, that’s how you build a strong team in the long run,” the seasoned playmaker added after Alas finished seventh in the eight-team tourney, just above Argentina.

Keeping players together for continuity has been a problem for high-profile national programs like basketball and volleyball, especially with talents signed to professional clubs or school teams.

From De Brito’s current team alone, standouts Eya Laure and Jen Nierva were not allowed by their PVL club, Chery Tiggo, to join national team practices.

What De Brito hopes is that there will be some sort of agreement that will allow the national pool members to continuously train with the program without interruptions.

“We need the support from the fans, clubs, companies, UAAP board, PVL board and team owners,” he said. “All of us are part of the Philippine environment so we need to work together. We’re not gonna win, we’re not get better without the support.”

“We can’t expect that after one loss, one adversity, we need to switch it up immediately. [We need] to keep the same people, add new people, reinforce the team,” De Guzman said. “That’s how you make a team strong. So hopefully, that’s really what we will achieve.”

Gateway to VNL

Vietnam, led by Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen’s 30-point explosion, asserted its mastery of the Philippines to reach the semifinals of the tournament that serves as a gateway to the country-hopping Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

The winner of the Challenger Cup earns a spot to next year’s VNL circuit.

After the loss, De Brito said that while the program is gearing for the 2025 SEA Games, his main focus is to develop the current pool and add more players to it.

“It’s [still] far [ahead] to think about but there’s still time to work [with these players],” De Brito said of the SEA Games. “We have one and a half years to do that. Enough time, if we’re supported by the clubs and the schools, then we can do it.” the Brazilian coach told reporters.

De Brito admitted that Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are still the top three squads in the region. That’s why he seeks to make the most of the longer preparation time with the new breed of national players.



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“It’s always a challenge for us but we’re trying to improve also. What we have to do is play hard and hard and minimize the distance between the No. 4 to No. 3 and then be able to beat them. It’s not a long way but it’s hard. Every step is really hard,” he said.

Gilas ends Olympic bid, but not after showcasing elite program

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Dwight Ramos (with ball) rues loss to Brazil, but lauds the national program’s progress. —FIBA.BASKETBALL

There will be chock-full of stories and thought pieces on Gilas Pilipinas’ run in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia.

The Filipinos ended their stint—and their bid to make it to the Paris Olympics—after a 71-60 loss on Saturday to Brazil in the capital city of Riga.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s funny we didn’t expect to be here but then when we got here we’d expect to win. So it’s painful that we didn’t especially having that halftime lead,” national coach Tim Cone said after the game.

READ: Gilas’ Olympic dream ends, bows out of Fiba OQT with loss to Brazil

His players, however, know they earned something from the arduous journey.

Take Kai Sotto, for example.

“I think the basketball world doesn’t give the Philippines much respect,” the 7-foot-3 big man said in an interview with the Olympic Channel.

“I think that’s our job to prove to the world [so] that teams got to respect us more,” he added.

The Philippines wowed global basketball with an 89-80 upset of World No. 6 Latvia and went on to prove that such a triumph was no fluke taking a narrow 96-94 loss to No. 23-ranked Georgia just 18 hours later.

HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas Pilipinas vs Brazil Fiba OQT semifinals July 6

“Now we know we could compete and we know we could play with European guys,” Cone said in an earlier television interview. “It’s just a matter of putting a really good game together.”

They almost did that, this time against a South American superpower ranked 12th in the world.

The Philippines took control of the first half and were up six at the break, before the Brazilians asserted themselves at the start of the third quarter to pull away.

“Them (Brazilians) going on a, what, 12-0 or 14-0 run on us to start the third quarter, was painful to watch. But there’s a reason Brazil’s 12th-ranked in the world and they proved that tonight,” Cone said.

READ: Gilas win over Latvia puts spotlight on Tim Cone’s triangle offense

It was actually an 18-0 run by the South Americans that had the Filipinos’ hopes of an Olympic stint caving in.

“[I]t just takes one night. You don’t show up and you lose. [S]o today we just didn’t play our best and Brazil just beat us,” said guard Dwight Ramos, a Gilas program fixture who finished with 13 points.

But it was also Ramos who earlier gave the Olympic Channel a perspective of what the team was able to do in Latvia.



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“[W]e’re finally making strides, hanging tough with the teams, and beating teams we shouldn’t,” he said. “I think it’s a great feeling, and the progress we’ve been making over the years—I’m glad to be a part of it from the beginning.”

Gov’t must invest and focus on ‘sports economy’, say lawmakers

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FILE–The Philippine national team had a four-medal haul in the 2023 Asian Games with pole vault star EJ Obiena and jiujitsu women’s stars Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez leading the way.

Representatives Alfred Delos Santos and Joel Chua push for strengthening “sports economy,” urging different government sectors to support Filipino athletes through various programs and policies.

The two congressmen said that recognizing the sports sector as a sports economy will allow major investments from the private sector and government to pour in to elevate the Philippines’ ranking in the international sports scene like the Olympics.

“Looking to the future, I call for recognition and intensive focus on the sports economy so that sports will be among the same category of national development priorities as agriculture, services, manufacturing, infrastructure, and information technology,” said deputy minority leader Alfred Delos Santos in a statement.

READ: Paris Olympics-bound athletes are ready and equipped, says PSC chief

“By treating the sports sector as a sports economy, the government and private sector can pour into it the massive investments needed to elevate the Philippines to a sports powerhouse in Asia and the world. Only with massive investments can we sustainably level up our medal harvests in the Olympics, world championships, and regional competitions,” Ang Probinsyano Partylist solon Joel Chua expressed.

While donations and sponsorships pour in for Filipino athletes, the lawmakers said that these are “not enough and short term, and not sustainable.”

READ: How Atletang Ayala supports Olympic hopefuls

While Filipino athletes are preparing for the Paris Olympics, Chua called on the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to include sports in the trade and investment chapter.

“To the NEDA, I appeal that they recognize, promote, and support the Sports Economy. The Philippine Development Plan mentions sports only five times in its human resource chapter, and none of those five times are about sports as human capital, investment, or economic activities. In the trade and investment chapter, there is zero mention of sports as an economic or investment sector,” he said.

The Ang Probinsyano Partylist solon also urged the Board of Investment on the creation of a local industry that will massively produce high quality equipment for the sports sector. He also nudged the Department of Finance to craft policies “that promote investments in sports as human capital” to further invite companies engaged with sports to register in the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Chua further stated that major investment in sports will extra boost the efforts of the sports community in the country.

READ: Track stars could up number of PH bets in Paris to 23

“I commend the ongoing efforts of Gilas Pilipinas, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and all the other sports groups. They are doing the unenviable and herculean tasks needed in Philippine sports. Their plans and programs need the super boost and upsizing that only massive investments can produce.”

The Philippines could have as many as 23 athletes competing at the Paris Olympics set from July 26 to August with hurdlers John Cabang and Lauren Hoffman and sprinter Kristina Knott just awaiting confirmation of inclusion.

Gilas Pilipinas is also looking to book a trip to the Paris Games via the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia. Gilas is two wins away from an Olympic berth, facing Brazil later at 8:30 p.m. for a spot in the OQT final.



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READ: Gilas faces Brazil with Paris Olympics just two wins away


For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity.

Now we know we can compete

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Coach Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas ends its Fiba OQT campaign with their heads held high despite falling short of advancing to the final. –FIBA PHOTO

Still reeling from Gilas Pilipinas’ loss to Brazil that ended the Nationals’ bid to make the Paris Olympics, national coach Tim Cone on Saturday said there is still something pleasant to take away from the campaign.

“It’s hard to talk about this after you lose but it’s a growth experience for us,” Cone said on the heels of a 71-60 defeat at the hands of the World No. 12 Brazil in the semifinal of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Arena Riga.

“It’s, kinda like a ‘now we know’ moment, ‘Now we know we can compete. So now, how [do] we get that next step in so we can get a little better—and not just compete, but win?”

HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas Pilipinas vs Brazil Fiba OQT semifinals July 6

Like many in the Gilas Pilipinas’ quarters, Cone believes that the Riga campaign replenished the program’s belief in itself.

In just the past week, the Philippines toppled World No. 6 Latvia on its home turf and less than 24 hours after that threatened a tall, No. 23-ranked Georgian team that was fighting for life.

Gilas Pilipinas Fiba OQT run Paris Olympics Brazil in the semifinals Tim Cone

Gilas Pilipinas ends it Fiba OQT run and dreams of making it to the Paris Olympics with a loss to Brazil in the semifinals. –FIBA PHOTO

More than the tactical lessons, it’s the confidence manufactured off those games that will spur Gilas Pilipinasas it turns its sights on the next dream in Qatar where the next Fiba World Cup will be played and berths to the Los Angeles Olympics will be dangled.

“Playing this kind of tournament, where you’re playing 3 games in 4 days, it just gets harder and harder every game. These are things that we’ll need to adjust to,” Cone said.

READ: Gilas win over Latvia puts spotlight on Tim Cone’s triangle offense

“We didn’t expect to be here but once we’re here, we expected to win. It’s an incredible disappointment for us and we’re not going to jump up and down and say, ‘Yay, we did our thing and everybody was proud of us.’ Hopefully, that doesn’t get into our mindset,” he added.

“We need to keep pushing and moving forward, getting better.”



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Ryan Garcia sorry for racial slurs, says he is going to rehab

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FILE–Ryan Garcia reacts after their WBC Super Lightweight title bout against Devin Haney at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Ryan Garcia apologized in a series of social media posts on Friday after he used racial slurs against Black people and disparaged Muslims in livestreamed comments.

The 25-year-old Garcia, who was expelled by the World Boxing Council on Thursday over his remarks, also announced on the social media platform X that he was going to rehab.

“I take all responsibility for my words,” Garcia wrote in one post. “And it’s been a tough couple of months as everyone can tell but I AM SORRY.”

READ: Ryan Garcia expelled by WBC after racial slurs in livestream

Garcia added: “I struggle with substance abuse and it hard for me with everything going on.”

Last month, Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, which also ruled that his April 20 victory over Devin Haney would be considered a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

After his apology, Garcia posted several more times. Among his comments: “I stand on the fact that a black man can be racist” and “In the hood everyone has said the N word.”

Garcia also complained that other fighters had made racist statements without being disciplined by the WBC.



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Gilas’ Olympic bid ends, bows out of Fiba OQT with loss to Brazil

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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo against two Brazil defenders during the Fiba OQT semifinals game in Riga, Latvia. –FIBA PHOTO

Gilas Pilipinas saw its dream to make it to the Paris Olympics end on Saturday night after losing to world No. 12  Brazil, 71-60, in the semifinals of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia.

A third-quarter meltdown for Gilas Pilipinas spelled the end after the Filipinos allowed Brazil to go on a crippling 24-6 run that erased whatever strong start they had to the game.

It was all Brazil from that point with its star Bruno Caboclo catching fire and fueling his team’s push for the Summer Games. Caboclo, who played for several NBA teams, finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs Brazil Fiba OQT semifinals July 6

Justin Brownlee, who averaged 27 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in the group phase for Gilas, just couldn’t find his usual shots and was limited to just 15 points–all but three in the first two quarters.

Brownlee only found his mark again with 4:11 left to play after he picked up his fourth foul. He made a crucial 3-pointer that put Gilas within a realistic distance to make a last-ditch rally, 61-49.

Brazil, though, quickly responded with a 6-2 run making sure the Filipinos don’t get anything going.

After leading by as many as 12 in the first half, the Filipinos suddenly hit a wall in the third quarter while the Brazilians found their rhythm and quickly wrested the momentum.

Gilas Pilipinas went scoreless for more than six minutes into the third quarter.

June Mar Fajardo and

Despite the semifinal exit, Gilas Pilipinas still turned heads in Riga after stunning world No.6 and host Latvia and eliminating No.23 Georgia in the group phase.



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Czechia sets up Challenger Cup Final vs Puerto Rico for VNL spot

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Czechia celebrates a point against Vietnam during a FIVB Challenger Cup game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A new Volleyball Nations League participant will debut next year as Czechia and Puerto Rico clash in the gold medal match of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Czechia sent Vietnam crashing with a dominant 25-19, 25-14, 25-19 win in the Challenger Cup knockout semifinal on Saturday.

Gabriela Orvosova poured in 16 points built on 13 kills, two aces, and a block to lead the collective effort of the Czechs, who drew contributions from Helena Havelkova and Ela Koulisiani scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively.

READ: FIVB Challenger Cup: Puerto Rico reaches final for first time

“I’m really happy that we won it was a different style of volleyball [facing Vietnam] so we showed a team effort,” said Orvosova

Katerina Valkova dished out 21 excellent sets as Czechia outwitted Vietnam in spiking, 46-31, while Magdalena Jehlarova led their block party of 13 kills blocks with five to finish with 10 points.

Czechia and Puerto Rico have yet to play in the VNL. They fight for the lone ticket at 6:30 p.m.

READ: FIVB Challenger Cup: Czechia sweeps Argentina for semis berth

“I hope we’re gonna play the same volleyball as today like enjoy the game and play as a team. We will see how will it be, we will do video [scouting before the game],” Magdalena Bukovska said.

Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen, who erupted for 30 points to eliminate Alas Pilipinas in the quarterfinal, was limited to just 12 points on 12-of-33 attacking clip. Trần Thị Thanh Thúy contributed nine points.

Vietnam, which swept the AVC Challenge Cup, plays in the bronze medal match against Belgium at 3 p.m. on Sunday.



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France sends Ronaldo, Portugal packing on penalties

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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo walks to take his shot a penalty shootout after the match end goalless during a quarter final match between Portugal and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

HAMBURG, Germany — France’s heartache in penalty shootouts is over. So is Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-ever European Championship.

In a clash of the football superstars, it was Kylian Mbappé — and not Ronaldo, his idol — advancing to a semifinal match against Spain as France beat Portugal 5-3 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw on Friday.

Portugal substitute Joao Felix hit a post with the only miss in the shootout and Theo Hernández showed no sign of pressure by converting the clinching kick into the top corner.

READ: Ronaldo says he is playing his ‘last European Championship’

It was a record sixth and final European Championship for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and ended up consoling fellow veteran Pepe afterward as the 41-year-old defender cried on his captain’s shoulder.

“We need to go through this moment of our loss, which is very painful,” Pepe said.

Ronaldo’s 20-year career in the Euros included the title in 2016 — when Portugal beat France in the final — and it remains to be seen if the five-time world player of the year will continue playing for his country through to the 2026 World Cup, when he will be aged 41.

“Everything is too raw,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, when asked if that was Ronaldo’s last game for his country. “We are suffering a defeat as a team — there are no individual decisions at this point.”

The victory ended the recent heartbreak of Mbappé and France in shootouts, having lost in them at their last two major tournaments — in the last 16 at the Euros in 2021 and in the 2022 World Cup final.

READ: Portugal beats Slovenia at Euro 2024 despite Ronaldo penalty miss

Before that, the French were also defeated on spot kicks by Italy in the 2006 World Cup final so it had been 26 years — since beating the Italians in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1998 — that Les Bleus had been victorious in a shootout.

Mbappé didn’t even take a penalty this time, having been substituted during halftime of extra time following a couple of knocks to his broken nose that was covered by a protective mask. France coach Didier Deschamps said his captain was tired, too.

Les Bleus didn’t need their star player, as Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all found the net in the shootout — held at the end housing Portugal’s vocal fans — before Hernández’s coup de grâce set off jubilant scenes for the French inside the stadium in Hamburg.

“It wasn’t easy,” France goalkeeper Mike Maignan said. “We didn’t always play that great, it was a complicated game.

Cristiano Ronaldo EUro 2024 France Football

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score during a quarter final match between Portugal and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

“We got to the penalty shootout and didn’t waver. We can be proud of ourselves.”

France will play Spain in the semifinals after its extra-time win over Germany in Stuttgart earlier Friday, with Les Bleus staying on course for a third European Championship title after 1984 and 2000.

Deschamps’ team has reached the last four despite no France player having scored from open play so far in the tournament. Fortunately for Les Bleus, they have been excellent at the other end, conceding just one goal — a retaken penalty by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in the group stage.

“We are solid and exemplary in defense and that is essential at a major tournament,” Deschamps said. “When you don’t score a lot of goals, it’s best not to concede a lot of goals, either.

“But we need to score more goals .. we are at the mercy of our opponents.”

Portugal exited having failed to score in either of its knockout games — the team beat Slovenia on penalties in the last 16 — and its final group match, leaving Martinez plenty of questions to answer.



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“From our side, we deserved to win,” the Portugal coach said. “But we are talking playing against the best players in Europe. It’s a sad night.”

Farm Fresh names Japanese Shota Sato as new coach

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New Farm Fresh Foxies head coach Shota Sato.–FARM FRESH FOXIES PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Shota Sato has taken over the coaching reins of Farm Fresh ahead of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference starting July 16 at Philsports Arena.

The Foxies on Saturday announced that Sato replaced Jerry Yee, who took over their sister team, ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

“Meet our new head coach who will call the shots for the Foxies starting in the Reinforced Conference, all the way from Japan, Shota Sato,” the team wrote. “We look forward to see the team continuously learn from you, coach! Let’s do this!”

READ: PVL: Farm Fresh taps Yeny Murillo for Reinforced Conference

Sato became the third Japanese head coach in the PVL after Taka Minowa, who started with Nxled before transferring to Akari, and Petro Gazz mentor Koji Tsuzurabara.

Sato, an assistant coach for reigning PVL Invitational champion Kurashiki Ablaze, has started working with Farm Fresh in the All-Filipino Conference as part of Yee’s coaching staff, which includes Japanese consultant Hideo Suzuki and deputy Shimizu Mikihiro and Asaka Tamaru, who will serve as ZUS Coffee’s import.

Sato will be inheriting young guns Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Caitlin Viray, Alyssa Bertolano, Louie Romero, and Rizza Cruz as well as Colombian import Yeny Murillo.

READ: PVL Draft: Farm Fresh Foxies still mulling their picks

The Foxies will pick fourth overall in the Rookie Draft on Monday at Novotel.

Farm Fresh opens its campaign against Chery Tiggo on July 16.

The Foxies are slated in Pool A, which includes All-Filipino champion Creamline, PLDT, Galeries Tower, and Nxled.



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