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Philippine Showbiz Today
THE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association ( Patafa ) is in high spirit as far as its campaign in the Southeast Asian Games is concerned despite being embroiled in another issue with its prodigal daughter .
Patafa president Philip Ella Juico said no amount of distractions could keep the Filipino track bets out of focus in their training for the August 19- 31 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .
Juico is confident about the country ’ s chances , convinced that his charges have what it takes to surpass the five gold medals another national team won in track and field during the Singapore edition of the meet two years ago .
He said reigning SEA Games sprint king Eric Cray , pole vaulter Ernest Obiena , triple jumper Mark Harry Diones , and long jumper Janry Ubas , who recently leapt 7.88 meters during the Patafa trials , can deliver gold medals .
Juico ’ s display of positive mindset in the weekly Philippine
PH Athletics forecast in Kuala Lumpur : 5 golds
Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel yesterday came a day after the Patafa dropped Olympian marathoner Mary Joy Tabal from the national team due to what officials described as her lack of discipline and respect for
federation rules and regulations .
Tabal , who represented the country in marathon in last year ’ s Rio Olympics , won a silver medal in Singapore two years . The 27- year-old pride of Cebu remains as the country ’ s best woman marathoner .
“ I just want to stress two points here . One , we represent the Patafa community , the athletes and coaches , and what we ’ re doing is to preserve and protect the community and the value that it stands for ,”
Juico said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp ., Golden Phoenix Hotel , Accel , and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp . where he was joined by secretary-general Renato Unso ,
June 8 - 21 , 2017
SPORTS
national coach Jojo Posadas , and marketing manager Edward Kho .
“ And second is technical excellence and adherence to core life ,” he added . “ We try to be fair to all our athletes . Walang special treatment dito , walang VIP treatment dito .”
Reading between the lines , there seems to be a slim chance of Tabal being reinstated in the national team , especially with the marathoner having sent feelers that she ’ s willing to iron things out with Patafa officials .
“ We will cross the bridge when we get there ,” said Juico .
But the Patafa chief said it wouldn ’ t be easy , especially with the federation needing to deal with majority of the national team members . “ We have a community of athletes here , and we value their feelings and beliefs on issues like this ,” Juico said . “ So we ’ ll think of the welfare of athletes and coaches who have been very professional about what we ’ re doing .” ●
- Malaya
NBA 2017 Finals , who will it be ?
Basketball
If 2016 is to LeBron James of the NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers , year 2017 could be to Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors .
This was the consensus gathered from those who believe Warriors , with Durant reinforcing the 2016 runners up this time , have what it takes to avenge the setback they suffered a year ago and bring back the much-coveted championship the Cavs deprived them that season .
World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Many Pacquiao , former senator and local basketball ’ s ‘ living legend ’ Robert “ Sonny ” Jaworski Sr ., fellow PBA greats Bogs Adornado , Atoy Co and Philip Cezar and ex- Philippine Youth Team standout Danny Francisco were one in projecting that Durant could be the key to Warriors ’ title win this season .
“ Other than the fact than the Warriors continue to command the biggest Filipino followers of the NBA in the U . S ., the addition of Durant represents yet the biggest boost to their winning this year ,” Pacquiao told this writer in an interview during lull in his training last Thursday .
Pacquiao , who was among those Spin . Ph interviewed in a survey conducted early this week , is currently in deep training for his coming title fight with Jeff Horn
of Australia scheduled July 2 in Brisbane .
“ That is why lalo akong naniniwala na kayang ibalik ng GSW ang kampeonato ng NBA sa Bay Area . Isang napakalaking tulong ang magagawa ni Durant para sa Warriors . Isa rin siyang dating MVP , so dalawa na sila ni Steph ( Curry ) na magtutulong ) for the Warriors to wi their third championship in three years ,” the eight-division titlist reasoned out .
“ Of course , idagdag natin ang milyon-milyong Pilipino , both in the U . S , at maging dito sa Pilipinas na n a g d a d a s a l na manalo ang Warriors ,” he added .
“ Understandable naman yun na maraming Pilipino na lokong-loko sa basketbol ang pinasasasaya ang Warriors kapag nanalo sila .”
Pacquiao has established a closed friendship with Curry who , at one time or another visited him while training at trainer Freddie Roach-owned Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles .
Jaworski , former playingcoach of Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA , agreed , saying , “ Inspite of the Cav ’ s complete and healthy lineup , I pick GSW to win . The Warriors have shown their commitment to win by the consistent decorum of team members , from the coaches , players and staff in every game .”
“ Other than their key players Curry , ( Klay ) Thompson , ( Draymond ) Green and of course , Durant , expect to see their teammates ( Andre ) Igodoula ,
( Dave ) West , Shaun Livingston and others to show the exemplary attitude , desire , team pride , mental toughness and philosophy they ’ ve been displaying from the elimination round to the playoffs ,” Jaworski observed .
Which was exactly what the Warriors just did in the opening game of their best-of-seven championship title series Friday at their home turf Oracle Arena where they routed the Cavs , 119-91 , serving notice of what to come next time around .
Barring any major injury to the Warriors , Jaworski , the “ Big J ,” or “ Jawo ” to fans , believe Golden State to settle the issue in six or seven games .
To which former Crispa teammates Adornado , Co and Cezar , Francisco , fellow former national player Jimmy Mariano and Zaldy Realubit , current PBA mainstays Arwind Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo , Rain Or Shine co-owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que ad Team MaHindra assistant coach Chris Gavina concurred in
Coach Gavina , or his part , said : “ While I feel like Lebron simply played at an unbelievable level last year being on a mission to bringing Cleveland their first championship , I feel that same level of urgency from Kevin Durant this year . I think his previous past setbacks has ignited his inner fire for greatness . I say it goes to 7 games with Warriors winning an epic 4-3 series .”
Pacquiao ’ s chief trainer Freddie Roach and other members of Team Pacquiao that Spin interviwed also expressed belief the Warriors will prevail . They included the champ ’ s younger brother Bobby Pacquiao , assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and Jake Joson .
Incidentally , only five of those interviewed believed James and the Cavaliers will take the measure of the Warriors .
And all of them are members of Team Pacquiao – Mahindra assistant team manager Joe Ramos , Senate staff members Choi Garcia , David Sisson , Carlo Gragasin and Johnny Bantilan . ●
- Eddie G . Alinea