Tag: looms

Three-way fight for two national finals spots looms

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A three-way fight for two National Match Play finals berths in the girls’ 13-15 division will take centerstage when the ICTSI Junior Philippine Golf Tour concludes its three-leg Visayas series in Bacolod starting Monday at tree-lined Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Tiffany Bernardino, Alexie Gabi and Rane Chiu are locked in a tight race for the two slots in the finale set in October at The Country Club in Laguna, with Bernardino having a lot of momentum after ruling last week’s stop at Bacolod Golf Club in nearby Murcia town.

Players are allowed to compete in multiple series, with their best three results considered. The top four players from Luzon and the top two from Visayas and Mindanao will advance to the match play finals, with the top player from each age category across all series also earning a finals spot.

Gabi topped the Iloilo leg, followed by Bernardino and Chiu. Bernardino then edged out Chiu and Gabi by a stroke last week with Chiu topping Gabi in the countback for runner-up honors.

Points are awarded based on finishes in each leg of the five-month, 14-stage nationwide series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., with the winner earning 15 points, while the second and third placers gaining 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Other age group categories include 8-9, 10-12, and 16-18 for both boys and girls.



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Julia Coronel looms as a prime PVL Draft catch

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Julia Coronel during the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

As if her schedule isn’t jampacked as it is with a commitment to the Alas Pilipinas team and the completion of her degree at La Salle, former Lady Spikers captain Julia Coronel is also set to turn pro after joining the first-ever PVL Rookie Draft.

After deciding to forego her remaining UAAP eligibility years, the 5-foot-6 playmaker is taking on a new challenge and swears that she’s ready for it.

“This is a different experience,” Coronel told the Inquirer with a mix of Filipino on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City during the Draft Combine where she got to play against La Salle teammates Thea Gagate and Maicah Larroza in scrimmages.

Coronel was a part of the formidable La Salle crew under coach Ramil de Jesus, which for the last three seasons landed podium finishes including a championship in Season 85.

“[Everything is] happening a bit too fast for me, but I am just here taking on every challenge that comes and I will try to do my best in every situation that will be given to me,” she said.

It is with the national team that Coronel crossed off a longtime dream of playing alongside veteran setter Jia de Guzman, something which greatly influenced her decision to turn pro.

“It was unexpected, because I never imagined being teammates with [De Guzman] cause I’ve been looking up to her for the longest time,” Coronel said. “I got to learn from her, from one of the best from our country.

“I really learned a lot [from her], which I am excited to apply hopefully in my future pro team,” she added.

National team first

With a standout resume, Coronel, who also made her versatility as an opposite hitter known, said a few PVL teams have already reached out to her, though nothing is final yet until the July 8 Draft.

She made it known, though, that on top of her commitments list is playing for the national team.

“With that hectic schedule, I would really say that I have to compromise, but my priority is the national team for the time being,” she said. “I hope that my future PVL team will also be understanding of that because I am not there just to play but to also serve our country.

“It’s still national team period, so once that is over, that’s when I’ll be fully committed [to my future PVL team].”

Coronel has stood out in the two-day combine after exhibiting her leaping abilities by logging a 27.78 inch standard vertical jump—the best in the class.

Given her productive years in the UAAP, Coronel looms as a sure first round pick and has promised to do her job right.



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“To the team that will pick me, I am a versatile player so whatever is needed of me, I am willing to fulfill that,” Coronel said.

‘Watch out for me,’ Petecio says as last gold chance looms

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Nesthy Petecio (right) may not be announcing it to the world, but gold is the goal of every athlete in the Olympics. —AFP

In what could be Nesthy Petecio’s last time to represent the country in the Olympics, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist will be looking to do things a little different than the way she handled her Summer Games debut.

“If you’re asking me how I will be [in the Paris Olympics], I will just be chill with everything that I will do,” Petecio said in Filipino during a send- off event for the country’s bets in Makati City last week.

Chill means never needing to brandish her target for everyone to see. But even as Petecio isn’t vocal about what medal she will be chasing in Paris next month, she also knows she isn’t kidding anyone.

“All of us athletes are aiming for the gold medal; no one is thinking of not getting that and we are all working hard in training,” Petecio said. “But I don’t want to be the kind of person who says what color of medal I want to get, what I want is for all of you to watch out for me in every fight.”

“Whatever pressure I will encounter, I already know about that because us athletes are always accompanied by pressure … we should just focus on what we can handle and what I can handle is how I will perform,” she added.

Petecio ended the country’s Olympic medal drought in boxing when she landed a silver medal three years ago in the Japanese capital.

After two flawless preliminary bouts, the Davao del Sur native advanced to the quarterfinals to beat Yeni Arias of Colombia and assure herself of a medal in the inaugural women’s featherweight event.

Asian Games target

In the semifinals, Petecio carved out a majority decision win against Italian Irma Testa but fell short to the also debuting hometown bet Sena Iria via a unanimous decision.

“Imagine, I was going to sleep before my fight the next day and when I lifted my blanket I saw the Japanese flag—that’s how intense the pressure I felt was because it was my first time to reach this high level,” Petecio said.

“It was really different so I prayed ‘Lord, remove this pressure that I am feeling,’ because it was really hard to fight when even while sleeping I was seeing the Japanese flag,” she added.

With Father Time catching up, the first female Filipino Olympic boxing medalist might be looking at her last shot for the elusive gold. Petecio is 32 years old and because of politics surrounding the sport, boxing could lose its spot in Los Angeles in 2028.

If that pushes through, Petecio would be shifting her focus to the Asian Games.



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“I am getting older, but I am still raring to get a medal in the Asian Games because I have come up always zero in that so I still need to push one last time,” Petecio said. INQ

EJ Obiena nabs gold in Poland tilt as Paris Olympics looms

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EJ Obiena wins gold in the Irena Szewinska Memorial in Poland. –WORLD ATHLETICS

MANILA, Philippines–EJ Obiena continued his season by reigning victorious in his most recent conquest in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Friday (Manila time).

Not only did he snag gold in the Irena Szewinska Memorial, but the Filipino pole vaulter also registered his highest jump of the year at 5.97m.

Obiena expressed his excitement over winning gold while competing in Poland with hometown bet Paweł Wojciechowski.

READ: EJ Obiena bounces back with pole vault silver in Norway tilt

“I am extremely happy to have shared this [trophy] with friends and especially @wojciechowski_pv (Pawel) as he bids his farewell to his home fans,” wrote the Tokyo Olympian.

“We hold the despedida! Poznan is still to come!”

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According to Obiena’s post, it was Wojciechowski who invited him to compete in the Szewinska Memorial.

Emmanouil Karalis of Greece won silver after clearing 5.92m while home bet Piotr Lisek rounded up the podium with 5.75m cleared.

READ: EJ Obiena wins gold in Croatia to begin 2024 season

With just a few weeks away from the Paris Olympics, Obiena will continue his season with more competition before the quadrennial sporting event in France.



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Next up for Obiena is a competition in Poznan with just two days to prepare.

“Til’ next time! Now some much needed rest and we go again to Poznan on the 23rd!” wrote Obiena.