Anton draws 1st blood in hillclimb kick-off leg

  FIRST BLOOD. Multi-titled race car driver Carlos Anton is congratulated by Castrol team 

manager Ced Morales after a near perfect run in the Hills of Pias La Union. Contributed Photo.

INSPIRED by his recent victories in several races, Carlos Anton opened his campaign in the kick off leg of the 2011 Philippine Hillclimb Championship with a win.Anton, the defending title holder, bagged first place in group 5 and the overall best time for the day with a 1:31.18 second run up the La Union Pias Stage.

Anton led his Yokohama-Castrol team to a 1-2-3 finish with Alfie Concepcion posting the 2nd fastest time of 1:35.20 and Dennis Aoyong with a 1:39.17 run using his Lancer Evolution 5 racecar.

“It’s great to have a perfect start to the season, I hope we can continue our winning ways over the next rounds.” Anton said after his run up the mountain with his ever faithful 200 horsepower Honda CRX prepared by the Mark Young racing team.

Anton’s Castrol-Hornitex team mate and defending Group 2 champion Frankie Domingo (1:42.14) picked up where he left off last year and won the division over Edmund Dupo with a time of 1:42.94.

Jimson Balmeo lorded it over group 3 division while Ronnie Manalo ruled the Historic car class and BJ Frondoso won the “S” class. Over 35 racers participated in the event sponsored by Castrol Oils and supported by the La Union Government.

Anton was conferred the Driver of the Year award in the field of Hillclimb racing in the prestigious 2011 annual Automobile Association of the Philippines Awards Night earlier this year.

The Baguio-native backed up by Yokohama, Castrol, Hornitex, Autoshack, Home outlet, and Sizzling Plate, holds the rare distinction as one of the few racing drivers from various racing disciplines in the country to be feted by the AAP which is the local governing body for motorsports affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA).

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 07, 2011.

G-string clad booters open MGD football Cup

 BAGUIO City National High School eked out a hard-earned 6-5 victory in a penalty shootout in an exhibition game, which marked the opening of the first Mayor Mauricio Domogan Football Cup at the Melvin Jones Football grounds.

The BCNHS squad almost took the victory after an easy goal in the first half courtesy of Jay Foken but Pinsao-Baguio United Hard 11 scored an equalizer courtesy of Christian Cawiding right at the opening minutes of the second half.

With both squads failing to score after regulation, BCNHS, led by Foken scored two more goals in the shootout with Reymark Tengco, scoring two more goals, while Manuel Cawis scored the winning goal in the game.

Pinsao was led by Cawiding's two goals, one during the regulation and another during the shootout, while Miller Akiapat, Clemente Luis and Gabriel Lomasok added one goal each in the event hatched by the Baguio United Football Club.

The g-string clad booters were an exhibition game as part of the grand opening of the football tournament backed by Goshen Land Capitals.

"We conceptualized this exhibition game because we want to showcase the sport as one where Cordillerans can excel because of our physique," said Goshenland, chief executive officer Alex Bangsoy during the opening.

It will be the first month-long football tournament to be played all weekends of July with seven teams competing in the men's open with Goshendland, Benguet State University, BSU Alumni, Pinsao Hard 11, City High FC, Team Onse, and Philippine Military Academy.

Meanwhile, Baguio Representative Bernardo Vergara promised to bring in more football tournaments to the city to give the sport a big boost in the Summer Capital.

"If there is a Domogan Cup, we also promise to bring in Vergara Cup in our effort to promote sports in the city of Baguio," Vergara said during the opening.

He added with the improvement being undertaken in the nearby Rose Garden, the Melvin Jones Football grounds will also be developed into a world-class football playing field.

As of this writing, the national men's open finals bound GoshenLand Baguio was battling the BSU varsity, while the BSU Alumni was squaring off against the Pinsao Hard 11 in the 11-a-side men's open.

Aside from the men's open, a ladies open and age group competitions will also see action in the month long tournament to be held during the weekends. (Roderick Osis)

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 04, 2011.

Baguio bets banner wushu team to Indon SEA Games

A MIX of veterans and rookies will banner the country’s flag in the wushu competition of the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated November in Indonesia.

Veterans and Baguio-based wushu campaigners John Keithley Chan, Mark Eddiva, Benjie Rivera, Edward Folayang, brothers Daniel and Denver Parantac, and Thornton Quieney Lou Sayan will banner the 18 man field in the biennial competitions.

Joining the group are Jessie Aligaga, Mary Jane Estimar, Engelbert Andongan, Denbert Arcita, and Eleazar Jacob.

Completing the team are female wushu artists Rhea May Rifani, Marianne Mariano, Kariza Chan, Kathlynn Sabalburo, and Natasha Laxamana.

The five female wuhsu players are also based in the city.

The group was culled from the recently concluded Philippine National Games where Baguio won 41 gold medals, including 28 silver and 14 bronze medals in the wushu competitions and where the Summer Capital bagged the over-all title.

Close to 4,000 athletes in 34 disciplines showcased their wares in national competitions organized by their respective national sports associations doubling as tryouts for the 26th Indonesia SEA Games in November.

Jayvie Espada, who won in the juniors division of the women’s 48 kilogram, Jaymie Gayman (56kg), and Harold Banario (60kg) are earlier said to have earned possible slots in the juniors national team of wushu-sanshou.

2009 SEA Games bronze medal winner Parantac, a taulo practitioner, together with Eddiva, will be also be eyeing a stint in the upcoming 2011 World Championships in October in Uzbekistan.

The Wushu Federation of the Philippines also lined up a three to four month build up program in Taijuan, China under an agreement forged by the Philippine Sports Commission and its Chinese counterpart.

Unlike last year, the Philippine team will have ample training to prepare for the twin tournaments the country is committed to participate in.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 05, 2011.

Banario defends URCC crown in Davao

UNIVERSAL Reality Combat Championship lightweight champion Honorio Banario is set to defend his title when he faces former champion Angelito Manguray in a grudge match.

But Banario will be fighting in an unfamiliar territory this time as he is set to fly to Davao City for the upcoming Colt 45 URCC Davao Digmaan III later this August.

This will the second time both fighters will square off in the lightweight division after Banario snatched the crown in last April’s URCC encounter dubbed ‘Collision’ as one of the co-main event of the evening via a rear naked choke in the eight-minute mark of the second round scheduled for two rounds.

Banario dictated the tempo of the fight, which kept Manguray, previously undefeated after four fights, at bay before catching the 40-year-old dentist with a choke forcing the tap out.

“Sobrang unexpected yung nangyari. Magaling din kasi sya yung pinakamatagal kung nakalaban sa ring kasi karamihan puro sa first round lang,” said the 21-year-old Banario after winning his first belt in the URCC.

The lightweight champion has already started workouts together with welterweight champion Eduard Folayang who will also be scheduled for another fight in Singapore.

Banario’s win is the fourth weight class championship belt of Team Lakay.

Both fighters were undefeated prior to their April match, however, Banario came out with a big win for his fourth consecutive win, all on submission.

Manguray, a dentist by profession has four wins, all on technical knockout with only the loss against Banario marring his record.

To make things bigger and more exciting, Davao will also witness the crowning of the first URCC Mindanao Champion, as Benjie Lumacad and Isaac Tuling vie for the URCC Mindanao Bantamweight Belt.

Lumacad, 2-0, a boxer turned MMA fighter is best known for winning the epic 3-round battle with Jilmar “Stone Cold” Tangayan in the first Davao Digmaan.

Tuling, 2-1 in URCC, is known as a devastating finisher but came up short as a replacement fighter against URCC Flyweight Champion Kevin “Silencer” Belingon in URCC XIX.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 06, 2011.

Aggressiveness key to Azkals’ Sunday win – coach

SHOWING they wanted the victory more, the Philippine Azkals came out aggressively than their Sri Lankan counterpart during the second leg of their World Cup qualifying match at the rain soaked Rizal Football stadium

“The Azkals showed they want it more than the Sri Lankans,” said Baguio City National High School football head coach Aries Bocalan.

In front of a drenched full-capacity home crowd, the Azkals clobbered the visiting Brave Red, 4-0 for an aggregate two game total of 5-1and advance to the second round where the Filipino booters will face Kuwait.

“Big factor yung home field at maganda yung pitch, sa start pa lang mas aggressive na ang Azkals kaya we won it,” added Bocalan.

Still recovering from a recurring hamstring injury, Phil Younghusband scored twice while Chieffy Caligdong and Angel Guirado added one goal each.

The men’s national football team will face a higher-ranked team in a very different and Middle Eastern climate unlike the rain-drenched match they just had.

Kuwait, which is at 102th in the FIFA ranking will host the Azkals (159th) on July 23 with the return match set five days later at the Rizal Memorial football field.

In addition to qualifying to0 the second phase, the Azkals also pulled off that elusive first win for Philippine football in a World Cup qualifier.

The Azkals, playing in front of 13,000 supporters went on a relentless attack from the get-go, making a whopping 26 attempts at the goal where four went in.

“If we want to replicate our victory against Kuwait, yung team should be attack oriented and control the possession most of the time. The team should be more aggressive dahil malakas yung Kuwait,” said the former Ateneo Blue Eagle who the crown in the UAAP from 2004-2007. (Roderick Osis)

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 05, 2011.

Councilor proposes for city to host 2012 PNG

ALTHOUGH the city still lacks a sports facility to cater to national and international competitions, a resolution is being proposed for the city to bid for the hosting of the Philippine National Games next year.

Proposed by Councilor Elmer Datuin, the resolution seeks to submit the bid to the Philippine Sports Commission and to the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The resolution stemmed from the over-all performance of the Summer Capital after scoring 68 gold medals, including 66 silver and 76 bronze in the resurgent games which was last staged 15 years ago.

Hosting the national games, according to the resolution, aims to take the momentum of the Baguio squad of their success and for the Baguio residents to witness their excellence.

Datuin, in his resolution, said Baguio City is already known by world class athletes as a high altitude training area and conducting national games in the city will further provide an added attraction.
“There is an overwhelming clamor not only from the residents of Baguio but from all over the country, that it’s now about time the City of Baguio to host the national games,” the resolution stated.

The resolution added if the national games will happen in the Summer Capital, it will be a perfect time to instill sports and health consciousness to the constituents of the city and its neighboring areas. It is also an opportune time to promote the tourism industry since participants are coming from the different regions of the country.

Datuin added the conduct of the national games may also be done in partnership with the province of Benguet and La Union as venues of some sports disciplines.

The resolution also seeks to partner with the PSC for the rehabilitation and repair of the city’s existing sports facilities once the hosting of the PNG is approved.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 01, 2011.

Local MMA legend returns to ring September

FAST becoming mix martial arts legend Eduard Folayang gears up anew for a stint in another MMA promotion in Singapore on September.

The reigning Universal Reality Combat Championship welterweight champion will strut his wares in the upcoming One Fighting Championship, as he battles Manila-born Danish Ole Laursen in the competition.

It will be Folayang's first return to the ring after almost a year of absence in competitive fighting. He last saw action in Martial Combat in October of 2010 when he defeated Vuyisile Colossa in a grueling three round unanimous decision.

"We just started our training and right now we are currently studying my opponent's strength and weaknesses," said Folayang.

With a record of nine victories and a loss in his mix martial arts career, Folayang will face a tough professional kick boxer with a record of 34 wins and 19 losses.

Although Folayang may be a bit rusty as he steps into the ring, he has been keeping his condition in check as he supervised the training of other mix martial artists Kevin Belingon, who defended his bantamweight title against Ryan Diaz, and pinweight champion Roy Docyogen last March.

Folayang was supposed to fight in Abu Dhabi last March but things did not work out well. On the other hand, he assured he will continue to see action in upcoming international mix martial arts events and is being primed to defend his welterweight title in the URCC later this year.

But Folayang's opponent is not a push over as he also carries an impressive record in his back.

Laursen had his first MMA fight with K-1 Hero's in 2006 and had two fights with the promotion losing both of his matches against strong opposition in Genki Sudo and Caol Uno.

Despite the losses, Laursen became more familiar with MMA training as he focused less and less on Muay Thai and kickboxing, and worked on his takedown defense, going on to win his next five matches, including defeating Eduardo Pachu to win the Martial Combat Superfight Lightweight title.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on June 30, 2011.