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Since the Philippines joined the Olympics in 1924, the unofficial count is 419 athletes have represented the country. The roster lists only participation in the Summer Olympics and excludes the Youth Olympics, Winter Olympics and demonstration or non-medal sports.
You can’t say enough about the fighting heart of the five Philippine boxers who qualified for the Paris Olympics. Lightheavyweight Eumir Marcial was first to book a ticket by making it to the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou last October. Then, lightflyweight Aira Villegas and featherweight Nesthy Petecio got their passes at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March. Finally, featherweight Carlo Paalam and middleweight Hergie Bacyadan secured their entry at the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last week.
Meralco had never beaten Barangay Ginebra in four previous best-of-seven series, all of which were in the PBA Governors Cup dating back to 2016. Only once did they battle it out in a Game Seven until this Philippine Cup. In all, Ginebra had repulsed Meralco in six of seven conference playoffs over the last seven seasons. The exception was Meralco’s 2-1 win in the 2022 Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals.
In case you haven’t heard, there’s an amazing basketball reference book, authored by coach Joe Lipa in collaboration with sports marketing expert Peter Lopez, former UP College of Human Kinetics dean Ronnie Dizer and nutritionist Faith Rahi, outlining plays, unraveling philosophies, detailing conditioning drills, explaining dietary regimens, divulging scouting tips and just sharing experiences from some of the sport’s most notable practitioners. There’s even a glossary of basketball terms to keep readers abreast of the game’s evolving language. The 280-page book deserves a place in the library of every casual or serious fan. Those involved in any media capacity will find it a refreshing compendium of stories, insights and basketball secrets to keep you glued to each page.
Although they’re about 10,000 miles away from each other, the Boston Celtics and San Miguel Beermen did the same thing in sweeping to the Finals in their leagues. In the NBA, Boston blanked Indiana, 4-0, to make it first to the Last Dance. In the PBA Philippine Cup, San Miguel blitzed Rain or Shine, 4-0, to also finish first to the Finals. Both appear destined to go all the way to the Promised Land.
Barangay Ginebra is one win away from barging into the PBA Philippine Cup Finals and coach Tim Cone’s squad could nail it with a victory over Meralco in Game Six of their semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight. If the Bolts force a Game Seven, it will be held in San Jose, Batangas, on Friday.
Gilas is hoping against hope to make what appears to be an impossible dream come true in seeking a ticket to Paris at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, on July 2-7. The Philippines is in a tough conclave with Georgia, Latvia, Brazil, Cameroon and Montenegro in the blitz competition where only one Olympic slot is up for grabs. In the prelims, the Philippines will play host Latvia on July 3 and Georgia on July 4. If Gilas finishes first or second, it advances to face the top two finishers from the other group in the knockout semis. Then, the winners slug it out for passage to Paris.
Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Philippines has not sent a delegation of more than 19 to the Summer Games. The Sydney contingent of 20 included four boxers and four taekwondo jins. None came home with a medal. POC president Mayor Bambol Tolentino recently said he’s hoping for a delegation of about 25 athletes in Paris and it will be the largest in 28 years.