Philippine Showbiz Today 23
March 22 - April 7 , 2018
SPORTS
Vigan City is ready to roll out the red carpet for more than 15,000 delegates from the country ’ s 17 regions who are expected to converge in the Ilocos Sur capital for the Palarong Pambansa next month
Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali made the pronouncement on behalf of the provincial government after personally inspecting the different venues where the various sports events for the April 15-21 meet will be held .
“ Vigan is definitely ready . The province hosted a regional qualifier of the Batang Pinoy last year and that shows its readiness to stage such big multi-sports event such as the Palaro ,” Umali said in yesterday ’ s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Market in Cubao .
“ We had our final technical conference meeting a couple of weeks ago para tingnan sa huling pagkakataon ‘ yung preparation ng lalawigan . And no doubt , the facilities are of international standards . Handang-handa na sila ,” Umali said .
“ Overall , I would say Vigan , Ilocos Sur is definitely ready .”
Umali said DepEd expects 12,000 athlete-delegates to compete
Philippine Showbiz Today 23
Vigan to roll out red carpet for Palarong Pambansa
Azkals ’ Palami calls for fan support
in 21 regular sports events in the secondary level and 15 in the elementary side of the event for student-athletes aged 18 and below .
Perennial champion National Capital Region is again favored to win the overall title although Umali noted the emerging rivalry between Calabarzon-Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas regions , which engaged in a close-battle for runner-up finish in the 2017 edition of the annual event held in Antique
In addition , Negros Island Region , which placed fourth last year , has now been made part of Regions 6 ( Negros Occidental - Western Visayas ) and 7 ( Negros Oriental - Central Visayas ).
“ So we ’ ll have to see kung ano ang effect pag ibinalik ulit as Regions 6 and 7 ‘ yung Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental ,” Umali added in the session presented by San Miguel Corp ., Tapa King , and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp .
DepEd will continue to hold the demo sports of pencak silat , aero gymnastics , and dance sports and special Para events in aquatics , track and field , bocce , and goal ball .
Umali said the Palaro will observe the practice of not holding games from 10 a . m . to 3 p . m .
“ All games to be held during that time are indoor events ,” he said
There will also be water dispensers at different venues for athletes and officials while ambulances , doctors , and nurses are also on standby on the playing courts and billeting quarters , as well as police personnel .
Umali also said the host province will provide transportation for delegations coming from the Visayas and Mindanao regions .
“ This is the first time the host LGU will shoulder transportation means or cost by providing buses to our athletes from Mindanao and the Visayas coming from a drop-off point lang . And lahat sila dadalhin sa Vigan , Ilocos Sur ng libre ,” he said . ●
- Malaya Sports
PAL President Bautista wins Harley-Davidson bike for his first Hole-in-One
Philippine Airlines President Jaime J . Bautista notched his first-ever hole-in-one at Sta . Elena Golf Club during the recent Mercedes Trophy national finals , using a Majesty 5- wood club and a Titleist ball on the 170-yard 14th hole . Photo shows Bautista riding his prize , a brand-new Harley-Davidson . He also won a TW Steel watch . With him is Felix R . Ang , president of CATS Motors .
Philippine Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami calls for support for the upcoming matches of the national team , taking place on March 22 and March 27 , 2018 , to be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium .
The Azkals will see action on March 22 against Fiji , for an International Friendly Match , which will serve as a tune-up game for the crucial AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifier match on March 27 , 2018 .
Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami says , “ This is an important match for the country , and the cards are not exactly stacked against us . We are currently on top of the table of Group F with 9 points . We win or we draw , we will move forward and the country will be part of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time .”
Palami continues , “ We want the ‘ 12th man ’ to be there in both the tune-up game and the Asian Cup qualifier match . This sport deserves
all the support it can get , as we have already gone far , since 2010 , when I took over as Team Manager of Azkals .”
“ We should also be proud of our national team players who are doing well internationally in their various clubs . Such as Neil Etheridge , currently with Cardiff City , and all other previous PFL club players , who are doing well and are now playing for neighbouring Asian countries , such as Ian Ramsay , who is currently with Felda United and Misagh Bahadoran , who is with Perak FA … And maybe this is the only way that the country or the youth can see , that aspiring for an international football career is not that impossible ”, says Palami .
Tajikistan is currently ranked 124th , while the Philippines is currently ranked 122nd , in its latest rankings by FIFA , while Fiji is currently ranked 168th . ● - ABS-CBN Sports