Philippine Showbiz Today 23
Basketball
March 22 - April 7 , 2017
COMMISSIONER Ramon Fernandez of the Philippine Sports Commission yesterday said he would file a libel suit against Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr . in Cebu City next week so he would have a proper forum to respond to the latter ’ s accusations of gamefixing .
“ This way I can answer his accusations in the proper forum ,” said Fernandez , who was accompanied by his lawyer , Atty . Ramsey Quijano , during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at the Aura ballroom of the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City .
At the same venue two weeks ago , Cojuangco , upset by the supposed meddling of Fernandez into the affairs of the POC and National Sports Associations , claimed the commissioner had no right to interfere into these
Around 300 participants , including foreign entries , are expected to see action in the first Capiz International Triathlon set on April 22 and 23 .
Organizers of the event dubbed as “ TriAksyon ,” led by Greg Atienza , are tempering expectations about the holding of the first major international triathlon competition in Capiz .
Atienza is hoping the meet will help promote sports and tourism in the city known as the “ Seafood Capital of the Philippines .”
“ We ’ re not looking at a huge participation since it ’ s the first time Capiz will be holding a big international triathlon event ,” Atienza said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters
Philippine Showbiz Today 23
Fernandez to sue Cojuangco for libel matters because allegedly was involved in fixing games during his playing days with Toyota in the PBA .
“ Is this the kind of ( sports ) leader that we want ?” Cojuangco asked .
The POC chief pointed to Pastor Boy Saycon , a friend and political ally who is reportedly close to former Toyota team manager Dante Silverio , as having allegedly told him of the shenanigans of Fernandez , a four-time PBA Most Valuable Player .
A prominent businessman now based in Cebu , Fernandez said he will sue Cojuangco to protect his reputation and his family .
Fernandez had earlier asked the POC chief to account for the P38 million the government sports agency had given the POC in hosting the Asian Games golden anniversary celebrations in early 2014 . He said the Olympic Council of Asia had subsidized the event
The Asian Games Golden
James Yap turns back time , wins PBA Player of the Week citation
The conference break gave James Yap enough time to work on his conditioning and a strong resolve to bounce back following a so-so stint with his new team Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup
Ṅo wonder , the 6-2 Yap has started the 2017 Commissioner ’ s Cup like a house on fire , leading the defending champion Rain or Shine with back-to-back victories over NLEX and Mahindra , respectively .
Yap opened the mid-season conference with averages of 19.0 points and 3.0 rebounds en route to capturing the first Accel- PBA Press Corps Player of the
Week for the period of March 17 to 19 , beating Meralco ’ s young backcourt of Baser Amer and Chris Newsome for the citation .
The 35-year-old Yap tossed in 26 points , his highest scoring output in over 3 years in Rain or Shine ’ s conference debut to seal a 113-105 win over Yeng Guiao and NLEX . Close Ad X Flashing his vintage form , Yap capped his hot-shooting night with five three-pointers , including the step-back triple that shook off Bradwyn Guinto to eventually seal NLEX ’ s doom .
Two days later , Yap came off the bench to add 12 points ,
Big cast for Capiz triathlon
Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City .
“ But we do hope to promote tourism in the province and make it as an emerging sports hub in the country ,” he added .
Atienza said entries from Thailand , Australia , and voluntary members of the Peace Corps are among the foreign entries joining the event featuring categories in tri-kids , sprint , relay , and standard .
Majority of the participants come from the neighboring provinces of Panay , Negros , and Cebu .
“ There are others , too , coming from Mindanao , and in other parts of the world ,” added Atienza in the session presented by San Miguel Corp ., Golden Phoenix
Hotel , Accel , and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp
The standard race is a 1.5K swim , 40K bike , and 12K run event that will start at the scenic Baybay beach in the city of Roxas and will pass by the century-old Roxas City bridge and the Sta . Monica Parish , a UN heritage site that houses the largest bell in
SPORTS
Jubilee was originally slated in 2013 in Boracay but was shelved when typhoon Yolanda devastated huge areas in the Visayas . ●
laced with three triples as Rain or Shine scraped past Mahindra in overtime , 99-95 .
“ I felt last conference , his ( Yap ) knee wasn ’ t that good pa , pero nung offseason medyo maganda takbo niya sa practice ,” Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said of the rejuvenated Yap . “ He comes early , shoots the ball , nagda-dunk pa sa practice to show he ’ s healthy .
Rain or Shine , which is eyeing a successful title defense of the Commissioner ’ s Cup , takes a weeklong break before returning to action next Sunday against Blackwater at Ynares Center in Antipolo . ● - PS
Asia .
“ All of these are ideal for swimming , biking , and running ,” Atienza said , adding the champion will receive P30,000 .
The two-day event is being held in conjunction with the foundation day of the province of Capiz . ● - Malaya