Philippine Showbiz Today 23 SPORTS
January 8 - 21 , 2018
PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2018
National riders hit road in Subic
Riders in the national and continental teams stake their reputation against equally-potent cyclists on a level playing field – the PhilCycling National Championships for Road – which gets going tomorrow and Saturday in Subic and Bataan .
At stake is the right to wear the coveted national champion ’ s jersey in the Men and Women Elite , Under 23 and Junior categories , according to PhilCycling President Abraham “ Bambol ” Tolentino .
The national championships highlight the PRU Ride PH 2018 , a cycling festival staged annually by Pru Life UK . The event will be graced by Filipino-American Coryn Rivera , one of the world ’ s best women elite rider who won
MMA : Mixed Martial Arts
With its Gilas program in place , the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is also putting emphasis on 3-on-3 from the grassroots level , hoping the Philippines can qualify in both the regular men ’ s basketball and the inaugural 3- on-3 competition in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo .
Spearheading the cage body ’ s nationwide grassroots program for 3-on-3 basketball is SBP chair Sen . Sonny Angara , who will also play a key role in SBP ’ s plan to put up a pool of naturalized players who can alternately play for Gilas Pilipinas in the long series of qualifying games for the 2019 and the 2023 FIBA World Cups .
“ The good senator is very supportive especially because 3- on-3 will be an official medal game in the 2020 Olympics ,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios .
The Philippines hosts the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup on June 8-12 with the provisional list of participants including Brazil , Canada , Croatia , Ecuador , Estonia , Japan , Jordan , Kyrgyzstan , Latvia , Mongolia , Netherlands , New Zealand , Philippines , Poland , Romania , Russia , Serbia , Slovenia , Ukraine , and Uruguay in the men ’ s side and Andorra , Argentina , Bahrain , China , Czech Republic , France , Germany , Hungary , Iran , Italy , Kazakhstan , Malaysia , Netherlands , Philippines , Russia , Spain , Switzerland , Turkmenistan , USA and Venezuela in
Philippine Showbiz Today 23 SPORTS
last year ’ s Tour of Flanders in Belgium .
“ The national champion ’ s jersey is the most prestigious jersey a cyclist riding for his country would ever want to wear ,” Tolentino , also a congressman from Tagaytay City said . “ We therefore expect a very tough competition among our best cyclists .”
Tolentino is expected to grace the races , along with PhilCycling Chairman Alberto Lina and Secretary General Atty . Billy Sumagui and Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga .
The men ’ s road race on Friday , January 12 will be on an out-and-back 138.27-km course at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center . ●
- MB Sports
ONE Championship : Catalan eyes first win for 2018
With 2018 bringing in a whole new set of good opportunities for local talents in the Philippines , homegrown Filipino combatant Rene “ The Challenger ” Catalan is looking to kick off the Philippine mixed martial arts scene ’ s promising new year with a sweet win as he dons the country ’ s colors on the undercard of “ ONE : KINGS OF COURAGE .”
Catalan squares off with China ’ s Peng Xue Wen in a threeround strawweight affair at “ ONE : KINGS OF COURAGE ,” which takes place at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia on Jan . 20 .
A highly-decorated Wushu practitioner , Catalan seeks to continue his winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage after picking up two noteworthy victories in 2017 .
Basketball
Catalan started his 2017 on a high note by submitting Indonesian prospect Adrian Matheis via a second-round armbar in January before routing China ’ s Bu Huo You Ga by way of unanimous decision seven months later .
As the lone Filipino representative at ONE Championship ’ s first live event of 2018 , Catalan seeks to tally the country ’ s first win in Asia ’ s premier martial arts organization this year .
“ I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training . I want to keep on winning ,” Catalan said . “ I am inspired to win my match this coming January 20 because I am representing the Philippines . It is always an honor to fight for my country . My goal in this bout is to win and bring pride to my nation .”
For Catalan , his first trip to
Angara backs all-out drive for 3-on-3
SBP chairman Sen . Sonny Angara the ONE Championship cage this 2018 is another step in his evolution as a martial artist , hoping to keep up his winning streak and inch him closer to a potential shot at the ONE Strawweight World Championship .
“ My goal is to compete for the ONE Strawweight World Championship . I know before I get to that stage , I still have a lot of work ahead of me ,” he stated .
Catalan had a rough beginning to his tenure in ONE Championship , but over the past year and a half , he has completely turned his career around .
Catalan expects that if he secures a decisive win over Peng at “ ONE : KINGS OF COURAGE ,” it will grant him a rematch with Silva for the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt . ●
- MB Sports the distaff side .
Team Phl , composed of Kobe Paras , Kiefer Ravena , Jeron Teng and JR Quinahan , placed 11th in the 2017 event in France .
Meanwhile , the legislator from Baler , Aurora will sponsor the naturalization bill in the Senate while Antipolo Rep . Chiqui Roa Puno , wife of SBP vice chair Robbie , does her part in Congress .
“ No specific names yet . Coach Chot Reyes will make a thorough study . We don ’ t want a shotgun approach ,” said Barrios .
In the first place , there ’ s no urgency since Andray Blatche is still very much committed to play with Gilas . ●
- Nelson Beltran , PS