Lakays make weight, all set for ‘Pride of a Nation’

One FC Photo

WITH their toughest mix martial arts fight yet, the trio of Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon and Honorio Banario are all set for battle in the One Fighting Championship event Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The three made their weight during Thursday’s weigh-in at the Big Dome, venue of the fight night for Asia’s biggest mix martial arts promotion dubbed “Pride of a Nation.”

But Folayang and Banario have to shed off some pounds in their official weigh-in although Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao sees no problem for both fighters during fight night.

“I think there will be no problem because they have already rehydrated and will get a full rest,” said Sangiao in a text message.

Belingon, the URCC flyweight king, collides with Rising On titlist Soo Chul Kim of Korean, while lightweight champion Banario will also test his mettle against fellow Filipino Andre Benibe.

“Honorio’s game plan is to aim for the knock-out while for Kevin, they have the same style of fighting with Kim, but we’ll try to use Kevin’s speed against the Korean,” said Sangiao where they hold their last week of hard training then cool down next week before fight night.

Although things turned bleak the last time out for the Team Lakay after suffering setbacks, Sangiao said the three mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters are motivated to get back their winning ways, especially with Folayang.

“I’ll try to dictate the phase of the fight and from then on whatever he throws at me, I’ll be prepared,” said Folayang, who will be facing CFC champion Swiss–Jap Felipe Enomoto.

The entourage of Team Lakay left Baguio Monday afternoon following of more than three weeks of high altitude training in the Summer Capital despite the continuous heavy rains brought about by typhoons that frequented the city.

Eric Kelly, a Baguio raised fighter now based in Malaysia, also sees action against American UFC veteran Jens Pulver in a featherweight showdown.

Two former UFC Heavyweight Champions will meet for the fourth time in a grudge match that has escalated over the years.

Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia will clash in Manila after a series of fights that saw Sylvia lose the first bout, and subsequently win back-to-back fights against the tough Belarusian. Sylvia is currently in the midst of a three-fight winning streak and has won seven of his last eight bouts.

The entire card, which is headlined by DREAM Bantamweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes and CFC Australia Bantamweight Champion Gustavo Falciroli, will be available live on Pay-Per-View.

Lady Cards opens title retention bid with big win

Redjie Melvic Cawis Photo

WOMEN’S defending titlist University of Baguio Lady Cardinals needed only 45 minutes to dispatch Pines City Colleges as action heats up in volleyball competition of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League season 26.

In making short work of the Lady Warriors, the Lady Cardinals scored 25-5, 25-10, 25-3 win as it sets in its motion for another shot at retaining the title they won over rival and neighbor Saint Louis University Lady Navigators.

But it would still be a long way to the top for the Gen. Luna based squad as it lost three in their starting six including Mylene Paat, a vital cog in their last year’s championship run.

“We definitely lack the height but we will try to make it up by strengthening our defense,” said coach Jun Nisperos.

Even with returning team captain Mhey Madulid and Joan Lunday at the front line, Nisperos said their rival SLU will still be the team to beat in this year’s tournament as it beefed up with high school players taken from the Palarong Pambansa.

“SLU will still be the team to beat because of their line up although marami din ang nawala sa kanila,” added Nisperos.

Nisperos said he will just have to rely to his four veterans, five rookies and three come backing sophomores.

Early on, the SLU Lady Navigators opens their title bid during the weekend as it scored a back to back win over the Lady Warriors, 25-5, 25-3, 25-12, then followed it up with three set victory against Baguio Central University Lady Eagles, 25-4, 25-6, 25-14.

Six time champion University of the Cordilleras Lady Jaguars also scored a three set victory against the Lady Eagles, 25-12, 25-8, 25-21 with Cordillera Career Development College Lady Admirals escaping University of the Philippines Baguio, 25-17, 25-7, 25-18.

SLU survives gritty Admirals for third win

BOY Wonder. Follwing his 33 point output against a loss
with the UB Cardinals, rookie sensation Jervy Calibo once
again fired 41 points to lead the BCT atoms  in their first win
in the BBEAL with s 92-88 victory over UP Maroons Baguio.
Photo by Redjie Melvic Cawis 

SAINT Louis University withstood a huge run by Cordillera Career Development College in the fourth quarter to win their third straight in the men’s basketball of the ongoing Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League.

The Navigators stayed unbeaten after three games with a 100-84 victory over the slumping Admirals who suffered their second loss in the three starts despite taking an early lead late in the opening canto at the CCDC gym.

Up by 20 early in the third canto, the Admirals slowly clawed their way back into the ball game that saw them tying the ball game at 72 all with 8:28 remaining in the payoff period but Laurence Gallano fired five successive points to stop the rally and pull the Navigators away by five, 72-77.

“I told the boys not to panic, we need to step up a bit because the Admirals are stepping up also in their game,” said returning Navigators coach Tony Dela Cerna, who once steered the Admirals to its first championship way back in 2007.

Gallano, together with Alvin Ray Dumuk finished with 22 points while Raymund Austria chipped in 19 for the Navigators.

Trailing at 18-21 at the end of the first period, the Navigators pulled off a 13 -2 run to take an early 31-23 lead with 7:45 left in the first half.

The Navigators then had their biggest lead at 54-34, with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter before the Admirals unleashed a 48-18 run to tie the ball game at 72 all.

“We are relatively a young team, we lost key players this season but we are moving on and I hope we could rebuild around these young players,” said Admirals coach Delson Terceno who suffered their back-to-back defeat following a loss against Philippine Military Academy during Sunday’s game, 89-70.

Jayford Pacis had a game high of 34 points for the Admirals who is off to their worst start in years despite a huge victory over University of the Philippines-Baguio Maroons , 77-66 in the opener Saturday.

SLU rode high on their two game winning streak after opening the league with a win over Benguet State University Buffalos, 104-87 and another win against Baguio Central University Eagles, 78-71.

The Eagles however scored a victory over the PMA Cavaliers, 81-61, but lost against defending champion University of the Cordilleras Jaguars, 105-76.

University of Baguio meanwhile scored another back to back win over UP Baguio, 126-65 and PMA, 111-62.

Newcomer Baguio College of Technology Atoms barged into the win column as it leaned on the heroics of Jervy Calibo’s 41 point production in defeating UP Baguio, 92-88.

In the women’s division, defending champion SLU Lady Navigators scored a two straight wins by defeating UP, 69-39 and CCDC, 82-45.

Last year’s runner-up in UC Lady Jaguars meanwhile pulled off a convincing 119-44 victory with UB scoring a 40-36 victory over the Lady Buffalos.

Jaguars devour Buffalos to open title retention bid

DEFENDING champion University of the Cordilleras Jaguars opened their title retention bid in men’s basketball with a bang in clobbering Benguet State University Buffalos at the SLU Gym to give newly appointed Haynes Acdong his first win as head coach.

The Jaguars also welcomed the return of JP Jularbal in annexing a 120-75 victory in the Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League season 26 where he conspired with Leilmar Garcia to top the scoring with 23 markers each.

From a 66-33 lead at the close of the first half, the defending champion was a bit off in the third period that saw the Buffalos cut the deficit to 24, 72-48 on a 15-6 run with 5:26 remaining in the quarter.

“We just went hard on our offense and defense and I told them not to let up on this game,” said Acdong where he is picking up the chores left by another former Jaguar, John Carlo Domingo who migrated to Canada early this year after delivering the school’s first crown in 16 years.

Back-up court general Andrew Payas added 19 points for the reigning champions  with Jopson Dail and rookie Erwin Jay de Guzman adding 16 points each while Chad Russel Villanueva chipped in 11 points.

After an 84-55 count at the close of the third canto UC unleashed a  12-6 run in the first three minutes to simply close out the Buffalos and enjoy a 96-60 lead with 7:26 remaining in the ball game.

Despite the lopsided win, Acdong said he still needs to find the right rotation for the team where four of the five starting line-up in last year’s title run returned with the addition of Jularbal after two years of absence in the league.

Jeconiah Solamo, a vital cog in last year’s championship run will not be eligible to play but Acdong will pin his hopes on the returning Garcia, Dail, Villanueva and Payas for this year’s BBEAL including four more veterans, six rookies and two sophomores.

“Marami pang dapat gawin, lalong-lalo na kulang kami sa no.2 at no.3 position pero kailangan mag step-up din nung ibang player para mapunuan yung kulang,” added Acdong.

The Buffalos were led by Joey Kimao’s 23 points and the 10 markers courtesy of Zanny Liquidan.

Cardinals too classy for newcomer Atoms

Photo by Redjie Melvic Cawis

UNIVERSITY of Baguio showed too much class in welcoming Baguio College of Technology, scoring a 100-67 victory as men’s basketball gets going in the opening of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League season 26 at the UB gym.

Clyriel Elefante had a team high of 20 points for the UB Cardinals that pulled away from a 7-6 lead early in the ball game and conspired with an eight to zero run and earn a 15 – 6 with 6 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Elefante stood the tallest as they made BCT look like what they really are: Atoms, amidst a pro-BCT crowd who stormed the Cardinals gym to see how their team would fare in the big leagues.

It was a gallant but losing stand for the newcomers who lorded over the Cordillera Higher Education Sports Athletic Association and who knocked at the BBEAL’s door three years ago.

Richard Bilibli’s return took him nearly 10 months as the most needed man in last year’s third and final game returned with a bang, adding 18 points for the Cardinals which is raring to get the title back from arch rival University of the Cordilleras which upset them last year.

“Medyo hirap pa.  Adjustments na lang at okay na,” said team captain and play maker Kevin Orduña as he allowed his team mates to score nearly at will against the debutantes, who were rather manhandled in their coming of age at the BBEAL.

Big man Noel Cathedral, Jr. added 10 points for UB, which is seeking its 22nd BBEAL title.

Jervey Calibo scored half of the Atoms total with 33 as BCT struggled to find form in the BBEAL but still one of the teams to watch despite its poor opener.

“Adjustment lang talaga, mabigat ang simula dahil mabigat ang kalaban since we don’t really know them,” said coach Roger Basto, whose debut last year was foiled by a Jaguars upheavel.

But Orduña and the Cardinals expect UC to be still their biggest threat. “It could be UC or SLU (Saint Louis University),” said Orduña referring to the teams that could really give them the difficulty.

“SLU, because they have the system although they may not have an explosive player,” assessed Orduña.

Aritao riders shine in Bontoc MTB Cross Country Challenge

TEAM Aritao came up with a 1-2 finish in the senior male category to top the Bontoc MTB Cross Country Challenge participated by 85 biking enthusiasts from across northern Luzon.

Dennis Pelerio edged fellow Team Aritao Rider Jason Omilao for the top purse in the 19-39 years-old age group, while Baguio’s Edison Morales (BGH) finished third with Nelson Sonny Inyoh(Nomads Team), Sonny Lamsis(BGH) Jun Cruzat, Larry Alingcayon, Benjie Vallo, and Jerson Gimmik completing the top nine finishers.

In the Executive class or the 40 years old and above division, Ricky Atienza of Cauayan City Riders topped the class with Edgar De Guzman (Aritao) bagging the first runner-up finish. Second runner-up went to Bong Tolentino (Aritao), third runner-up was Brett Carlos Garcia, and fourth runner-up was Ben Pudlao, both from BGH team.

Anna Liza Maran topped the female division with Prescilla Ekid placing second in the event organized by Xtreme Igorot Multisports Group, Foresite 1911 Gun Club and Team Montañosa.

Judron Acay of Bontoc was the lone participant in the junior category of the event also backed by provincial sports development office, Provincial Tourism Office with Barangay Gunaang and Mainit Communities.

Special awards also went to Mapetak Bikers of Tabuk as the best team for having the most number of participants in the fun ride while the 2nd best team was given to Aritao Bikers Club.

The youngest rider plum, meanwhile, went to Rexan Saguitan of Mapetak bikers, while the toughest veteran rider was awarded to Juan Peralta of Aritao Biker with the top 5 winners given Trophies, medals and cash prizes.

Participants in the one day bike fest came from as far as Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya; Tabuk, Kalinga; Roxas, Isabela; Baguio City; Benguet; Cauayan; Isabela; and Mt. Province.

SEAG medalists open 26th BBEAL season

SOUTHEAST Asian Games (SEAG) medalists Alice Kate Aparri and Katherine Kaye Santos will lead the opening rites as the annual collegiate wars in the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League formally kicks off its 26th season.

In opening the season hosted by University of Baguio, Aparri, the SEAG boxing gold medalist in 2011, will light the symbolic torch while Santos, long jump bronze medalist also in the 2011 SEAG, will lead the Oath of Sportsmanship.

The city’s Big Three universities defend their respective titles with Saint Louis University leading the charge as it defends in eight of the 15 events from eight sports discipline during the first semester of play.

“Laban talaga kami,” said SLU athletics director Henry Fuentes as the city’s biggest school of more than 25,000 students defends the titles in women’s basketball, men’s volleyball, women’s chess, women’s table tennis and both the titles in archery and badminton.

“Kayang sumabay sa mga sport na medyo alanganin,” added Fuentes, referring to table tennis and archery.

Fuentes is also hopeful that his female volleyball team returns after 11 years to the top podium and after last year’s upset loss to neighbor rival UB.

He added: “Although we have a relatively young team, we will be there against the city’s best volleyball squads,” referring to rivals UB, a three-time and defending champion, and six-peat winner University of the Cordilleras, owner of nine straight men’s crown and eight straight women’s titles.

Host UB Cardinals is expected to make a big splash anew this year as swimming was moved to the first semester while the University of the Cordilleras defends the most coveted men's basketball crown since the BBEAL was started 16 years ago and nine years before that, and in sepak takraw, the only event this semester open to men.

Baguio College of Technology, the youngest member in the BBEAL will also be tested when it goes up against many time champion Cardinals in the men’s basketball after the simple yet colorful opening program.

“Our main weapon is our defense. Walang player na malas sa depensa, yan ang laging emphasis ko sa aming team,” said BCT coach Wilfredo Antonio.

BCT will be called Atoms now after carrying the name Eagles in the other league but has to change it since the name is carried by Baguio Central University.

Eight of the 10 schools will also debut today in men's basketball with SLU facing Benguet State University, now named the Buffalos from Musangs (Wildcats), two-time champion Cordillera Career Development College up against the University of the Philippines Maroons and Philippine Military Academy against BCU.

Defending champion UC Jaguars, meanwhile, opens their title retention bud against BSU Sunday at the SLU gym.

On Sunday, men’s volleyball champion SLU debuts against BCT after rivals UB and UC played BCT and UP-Baguio Saturday at the SLU gym. CCDC goes up against PMA, while BSU opens the games against Pines City College.

Also to be played on Sunday, SLU plays PCC, UP up against CCDC and UC tests BCU in women’s volleyball at the UB gym. PMA goes upo against UC, UP against UB and PCC and CCDC collide in the afternoon games for men.