SPORTS NEWS

1. SKYGO EDGES CEBU LHUILLER IN CAGE MATCH
by Tyrone Jay V. Samson

Cebuano spitfire Mike Manigo saved his best for last.

After displaying much of his offensive arsenal and game smarts early in the first half, Manigo drilled his only three point basket with only 1:25 left in the game to lead the Skygo Riders past the Cebuana Lhuiller Pawnbrokers, 92-88, in the Cebu Basketball Federation (CBF) extension match held last October 6 at the Cultural and Sports Center in Dipolog City.

The former Cebu Gems starting point guard displayed his scintillating shooting prowess en route to scoring 23 points, including seven three pointers made.

“That was just pure luck, those three point shots I made was not in our play, it just so happens that the open looks were there so I took them,” the ever-humble Manigo said in the post-game interview.

The first half saw the Riders execute their offensive plays to near perfection anchored on Manigo’s playmaking and Dodong Cavan’s hot shooting from the outside. The game was headed for a rout as the Riders posted a 55-38 advantage after two quarters.

With their wounded pride, the Pawnbrokers rallied behind former Cebu Gems Roy Lura, Carlos Sayon and Socsargen Marlins mainstay Max Delantes to close the gap to within striking distance by the third canto. Lura dished out 5 assists in the said quarter while Sayon continuously attacked the basket drawing the fifth and last foul of Riders center John Caputolan.

Then Nonoy Maglasang joined into the fray and almost single-handedly beat the Skygo five as he collected 17 of his 27 points in the second half to cut the Riders lead to within two, 87-85, with just 1:53 left in the game clock.

That is when Manigo unleashed his dagger three from beyond the arc drowsing the Pawnbrokers momentum even after Maglasang converted his fast break lay up which made the score 90-88. Cebuana Lhuiller had one last chance to tie the game after Manigo missed a three-point attempt, but the veteran Delantes made an unusual miscue committing a traveling violation in the ensuing possession. Cavan then finished off Cebu Lhuiller with a break away lay up.

Aside from Manigo, Cavan also made a good account for himself by scoring 22 markers for the Riders. On the other hand, giving ample support to Maglasang was Delantes who managed 13 points and 13 rebounds in a losing effort.

In the first game, the Saint Vincent’s College (SVC) Valiants trounced the Andres Bonifacio College (ABC) Patriots, 88-82, to win their match up for basketball supremacy in the Orchid City.

Moreover, in games played last October 5, the Cebuana Lhuiller Pawnbrokers stamped their class on the ABC Patriots with a convincing 87-58 win while the Skygo Riders humbled the SVC five with a 133-87 victory.

The two-day crossover competition was organized and managed by the Early Bird Basketball Association (EBBA) in cooperation with Gillamac Marketing.

DEFY FIBA, POC OFFICIAL SUGGESTS

With time running out, a top Philippine sports official suggested yesterday that the country appeal to Malaysia to ignore the suspension imposed by the international
basketball federation against the Basketball Association of the Philippines so the country can defend it's basketball title in the Southeast Asian Games next month.

Tennis association president Salvador Andrada, also the chairman of the membership committee of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said such move has a precedent. He recalled that in 1989, the International Tennis Federation refused to sanction the SEA Games tennis event also in Kuala Lumpur because of a misunderstanding with that country’s sports officials.

But the KL organizers went on with the tennis event with no lasting damage from its relations with the ITF.

“There is this small chance of basketball making it to the SEA Games. And that is to ask the organizers to allow us to field a team in the meet in spite of the FIBA suspension,” said Andrada.

“Technically,” Andrada said, “ the international federation and even the International Olympic Committee have nothing to do with the SEA Games since this is an effort by the Southeast Asian Federation.”

The key here, said Andrada, is for the POC “or the Basketball Association of the Philippines” to appeal directly to the Malaysian organizers.

But the other problem is which BAP would submit the names and which one will be recognized by both the POC and the SEA Games organizers.

That problem will have to be solved later. Andrada said the immediate problem is to ask the organizers if such proposal is feasible.

“If the SEA Games organizers would approve it, then we should grab that opportunity so that we can defend the basketball title in Malaysia.”

The FIBA reaffirmed the suspension of the BAP after the two factions headed by Quintellano Literal and Gonzalo Puyat refused to resolve their leadership dispute.

At the same time, both camps have submitted basketball lineups to the POC.

Literal’s group had gone one step farther by reportedly submitting a list of players to the Malaysian organizers, bypassing the POC.

The POC, on the other hand, was asked by FIBA to submit a Philippine basketball team lineup to the organizers to be approved once the power struggle between Literal and Puyat is solved before the SEA Games deadline.

ERAP CITES SIARGAO AS SURFING CAPITAL

SIARGAO, Surigao -- President Estrada returned to Manila yesterday after opening the 5th International Surfing Cup competition, saying, ''Through this competition, we are telling the world that Mindanao is a nice place to live and a paradise for tourists.''

"It is the country's pride to hold an international surfing competition here, and a greater pride after having been told that Siargao is now universally affirmed as a superb surfing site in our archipelago and the Philippines as the surfing capital of Asia," the President told a big crowd of participants and village people at the surfing site.

Sen. Robert Barbers met the President in Surigao City before the latter and his party took a helicopter that flew him to Siargao, the largest island in the municipality of General Luna, off the Surigao mainland. Gen. Luna enjoys a 27-kilometer stretch of white sand and enriched with what tourists call "incredible reef breaks."

In Siargao, the President and members of his Cabinet were met by Rep. Constantino Navarro Jr. and Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas, Mayor Alfonso Casura, and Col. Santiago Brigido.

Cabinet members accompanying the President were Local Government Sec. Alfredo Lim, Agriculture Sec. Edgardo Angara, Public Works Sec. Gregorio Vigilar, Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno, and Tourism Sec. Gemma Cruz Araneta.

Newly-installed Land Bank President Gary Teves and Philippine Tourism Authority Secretary Lito Banayo were also with the Presidential Party. Senator Niki Coseteng was also a guest.

The President, before declaring the surfing competition open, released P10 million to upgrade and lengthen the Siargao airport to help accommodate the expected increase of commercial flights carrying surfers and tourists who have found Siargao island "a Shangri-La for adventurers and lovers of the sea."

Siargao's surfing waves are reputed to combine the best features of Hawaii's famous "pipeline" waves as well as the renowned surfing waves of Indonesia.

The island's powerful "Pacific roller" waves are ranked among the top five breaks in the world, including the now famous "Cloud Nine," cited as among the world's top surfing waves.

In his speech, the President welcomed foreign media who have gathered at Siargao island for the international surfing contest.

"I welcome all local and foreign media who came here to cover this competition, as well as the local and foreign tourists, some of whom traveled halfway around the globe just to witness this sports event," the President said.

The President cited tourism events such as the international surfing fest as "important take-off points to the development of the country's tourism industry."

"This competition translates to more trade, more job opportunities and more development in the lives of our people here in General Luna. It is the power of tourism that can turn this little town and the tiny island of Siargao into progressive and worldrenowned tourism destinations," the President stated.

160 STUDENTS JOIN THE PALARONG PANLALAWIGAN SWIMMING COMPETITION IN DIPOLOG

Zamboanga del Norte—There were one hundred sixty elementary and secondary students with special swimming skills and ability who joined the swimming competition at the Palarong Panlalawigan last February 20-21, 2001.

A swimmer was lighting the symbolic torch in the opening of the Palarong Panlalawigan held in the Municipality of Sindangan and Dipolog City simultaneously as the Provincial swimming pool is located in Dipolog.

The swimming competition was one of the main and oldest games of Palarong Panlalawigan held in the Municipality of Sindangan but because they lack the necessary facility, the competition was conducted at the provincial government swimming pool in Dipolog City.

The Palarong Panlalawigan is an annual activity of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) with the continued support of the provincial government.

Furthermore, the swimming competition has been successful despite the burning heat of the sun. The winner of the secondary girls category was the 3^rd Congressional District wherein they have gathered eight gold medals. In men’s category, the Second Congressional District won and brought with them eight gold medals.

The winners will soon compete for the Regional Level in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur this year.

“ BATANG PINOY ” SMALL BASKETTERS CHAMPION IN 2^ND NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES

Dipolog City- City Mayor Roberto Uy committed himself in supporting the entire team of Small Basketters as Champion in 2^nd National Youth Games “ Batang Pinoy” National Championships.

He congratulates the “Batang Pinoy “ Small Basketters who won the 2^nd Championship in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

They went to the Office of the Mayor yesterday thanking the Local Government Unit in supporting the “ Batang Pinoy’ National Championships in Sta. Cruz, Laguna was held in January 21-28 2001.

Gladly Mayor Uy distributed the Certificate of Appreciation signed by Chairman Carlos D. Tuason from the Philippine Sports Commission for the brilliant performance of the athletes of Batang Pinoy in the competition. Who vigorously encouraging the youth in this City to use their God-given talents in a right way not to use it in any vices like drugs.

He challenge the youth to involve in sports because this will help their personality development and his administration is willing to support whatever sports they want. The officials of the team who got the championship in Batang Pinoy Small Basketters headed by Mr. Alex Lim.

International Competition of Small Basketters on October 2001 in Australia. In correlation of this the Officials of Dipolog in unity of Mayor Roberto Uy, Fiscal Chandlier Ruiz, Mr. Alex Lim, City Information Officer Atty. Julius Napigquit and others will make program they believe will succeed in this event particularly the International Competition of Australia.

DLSU BRASS AIR APPEAL: GO EASY ON MARK CARDONA
Top officials of league-leading De La Salle University (DLSU) have appealed to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) board to go easy on one of their main men, Mark Cardona.

DLSU president Bro. Rolando Dizon said declaring shaven-skulled Cardona ineligible to play would be "a great travesty of justice."

In a prepared statement which was released to the media in a press conference yesterday at Café Adriatico, Dizon is urging the UAAP board to drop the case against the flashy forward armed with a mouth-watering jump-hook.

"La Salle is appealing to the sense of justice and fair play of the UAAP board," wrote Dizon. "The good name and reputation of Cardona and La Salle have already been placed in doubt."

"Before any further damage is done, we ask the UAAP to drop the case."

The 6-2 Cardona, who has played a pivotal role in the defending champions' quest for their fourth straight cage crown, has been the subject of controversy during the last few days owing to an alleged technicality in his documents.

In March the UAAP board passed a new eligibility rule stating that no athlete who has studied overseas for three years within the past five years will be allowed to play in the league unless he establishes a two-year residency.

Last week the board decided by a vote of 6-1 to interpret the eligibility rule "at least three years studying abroad to mean any portion of any three years," Dizon said.

"It was not three academic years or three 365 days, but any portion of any three years."

Based on Cardona's school records obtained from Carson High in California, he studied a total of two years and three months before deciding to fly back to Manila owing to financial constraints.

Documents show that Cardona was enrolled at Carson High from September 1996 until June 1997, September 1997 to June 1998 and September 1998 to December 1998.

Cardona, who has blossomed into a prolific scorer and a pesky defender, was admitted at the De La Salle in June after getting a certificate from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports in April.

Before being allowed to suit up for La Salle for the 2001-02 season, Cardona passed the UAAP screening test.

Dizon said the rule "has been substantially changed and to interpret the rule against Cardona is incorrect and morally unjust."

In the event the board rules not in La Salle's favor, the games wherein Cardona played would all go straight to the waste basket and translated into losses.