Sports

In a recent awarding ceremony held in Taguig City, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) officially concluded the 2022 season of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Vios Cup.

Ligo Anton of the Toyota North Edsa-Obengers Racing Team was named the overall victor in the Super Sports Class following the completion of three victorious legs of the TGR Vios Cup Circuit Championship. The winners of the Sports and Promotional Classes were Royce Sarmiento of the RMS Cars Racing Team and Jay Lao of the Happy Hotels/OTR Racing Team.

Jules Aquino won the Autocross Challenge’s Advanced Influencer Class trophy, while Miggy Romulo, a rookie, was crowned victorious in the Beginning Influencer Class. Pablo Salapantan won the Beginning Media Class, while Jamil Lacuna was named the overall winner in the Media category for the Advanced Media Class.

TMP held the night to commend and show appreciation to the racers who not only contributed to the success of the 2022 TGR Vios Cup, but also served as ambassadors for TMP and TGR’s goal of promoting motorsports in the country.

“TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup is one of our most celebrated milestones. This would not be possible without you, our racers, and the whole team behind every driver. You gave life to this motorsports program,” TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Danny Cruz said.

Topping off the night’s celebration, the overall Team Award was handed to the Obengers Racing Team. The team’s collective effort and skills on and off tracks made them the best among all the racing teams.

“We contribute to Philippine motorsports by developing more racers,” Obengers Racing Team Co-Principal  Richie Uy said as he received the award on stage with the rest of the Team Obengers racers.

Below is the complete list of the 2022 season’s podium finishers:

When the 2022 TGR Vios Cup comes to an end, TMP keeps its promise to ignite the country’s rising passion for motorsports through its numerous motorsports activities that demonstrate how it pushes the envelope for better. In addition to Petron and Bridgestone, additional sponsors of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup 2022 included Brembo, Denso, OMP, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, ROTA, myTOYOTA Wallet, and Kinto One.

Visit toyota.com.ph/gazoo for more information on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and to stay updated, and follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH on Facebook and Instagram.

After months of arduous training, the RP Blu Boys face TEAM USA on November 26 at Rosedale Park in Auckland, New Zealand, to start their quest for World Cup success.

The Men’s National Softball Team of the Philippines, who qualified for the World Championship by placing second in the Asia Qualifiers, is grouped in Group A with other very competitive teams including Argentina, the United States, Cuba, the Czech Republic, and the host nation, New Zealand.

“Our RP Blu Boys’ confidence is on a high.  They have been doing well in practice and in tune-up games and we hope to translate those to good performances in the upcoming games.  It will be a tall order but we’re gunning for a win or 2 against the very strong teams in our bracket”, said ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier.”

“Our men are prepared. We are all eager to compete, and the preparations have gone well. Jasper Cabrera, head coach of the RP Blu Boys, said, “We don’t want to make any guarantees other than to give every game and every inning our best effort in the hopes that we may pull off some victories.”

The WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup is scheduled to take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from November 26 to December 4. Japan, Canada, Venezuela, Denmark, and other strong teams from participating nations make up Bracket B.

The 11th Men’s Softball Asia Cup was recently held in Japan, and Cebuana Lhuillier and ASPHIL president Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the men’s national softball team, the RP Blu Boys, for their outstanding performance there.

“We are really pleased with the entire RP Blu Boys squad and want to extend our congratulations for their outstanding accomplishment in the Asia Cup. We are aware that they gave each game their utmost effort. We were able to demonstrate to the world what Filipino softball players are capable of and that we can compete with players from other countries because of them.”

After losing to Japan, the RP Blu Boys finished second in the Asia Cup and were able to qualify for the World Cup (2-9).

“We are eagerly anticipating our softball team’s trip to the World Cup in Auckland in November. To ensure that the team is once more well-prepared for the competition, we will undoubtedly continue to help them, Lhuillier continued.

The WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from November 26 to December 4.

By supporting the Gilas Pilipinas squad during its recent match against Saudi Arabia, BingoPlus furthered its goal of giving happiness and enjoyment to Filipinos. With a lottery draw that gave lucky ticket holders in the arena crowd the chance to win enormous prizes totaling P50,000, BingoPlus made the halftime break more exciting.

BingoPlus girls collect raffle entries at the Mall of Asia Arena

BingoPlus, a partner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), supported Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers through its audience pep-up activity to “push on and celebrate the Pinoy passion for basketball”.

“BingoPlus is passionate about entertaining and providing high-value experiences to Filipino audiences. By supporting Gilas Pilipinas and our other basketball involvements, we acknowledge and nurture the pure love of basketball that is a great part of our Filipino culture,” said Jasper Vicencio, AB Leisure Exponent Inc. president, the company that launched the Bingo Plus brand.

“We are here to push on our “Mabuhay spirit,” he added.

RP Blu Boys, Philippines National Men’s Softball team
Photo credit: Coach Apol Rosales

The Philippine softball team RP Blu Boys, sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, has qualified for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Softball World Cup, which will be held from November 26 to December 4 in Auckland, New Zealand, following a series of games in the Asian Cup qualifier held in Kochi, Japan.

Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president, RP Blu Boys’ benefactor, and Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed his pride and praised the team for their phenomenal performance.

“I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the team for earning a World Cup berth and putting us in the international scene. It’s been a tough journey for our softball players, but it is without a doubt that they have the capacity to compete with other international players and rise above the challenges. We will continue to support them especially as they prepare for the World Cup. This will be a good experience for our players as they test their mettle against world class teams.”

Apol Rosales, the Head Coach of the RP Blu Boys, believes that there is still more work to be done before the club can claim the coveted championship. “We are pleased to be traveling with the Philippines, and Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier has always had our team’s best interests at heart. We’re determined to play with all of our might in the forthcoming games and demonstrate to the world the might of the Philippine team.”

The RP Blu Boys won against India (8-1) despite losing to Singapore (5-6) and Japan (0-7) in the Super round, advancing them to a rematch with Japan for the Asian championship.

Vermosa Sports Hub Track and Field Stadium

Following the successful staging of the Green Run, a multi-level run for elite athletes, training athletes, fun runners, and fitness enthusiasts, last July, Ayala Land’s 750-hectare Vermosa Estate is stepping up development to make it a comprehensive venue for an active and healthy living down south.

Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (AVSH), which was established in 2018 as a multi-sports facility situated in South Luzon, is already known as the premier training ground south of the city. It was created to aid national and aspiring athletes hone and prepare them to achieve their individual and group goals. Its multi-featured Sports Hub includes a football field with natural green grass, an IAAF-certified athletics center with a world-class track oval, an aquatic center with an Olympic-sized pool that meets FINA standards, and a gym run by Santé Fitness Lab.

Vermosa Sports Hub Football Pitch and Track Oval

In the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, AVSH was the playing venue for underwater hockey. Today, national athletes continue to train at the Sports Hub due to partnerships forged with the Philippine Athletic and Track and Field Association, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, World Archery Philippines and the Philippine Rugby Union.

Vermosa Sports Hub facilities are constantly growing and evolving. The Aquatic Center now has a 25-meter warm-up pool and 240-seater bleachers around the Olympic-size pool. The installation of a lighting system has made the track oval ready for evening events. Also available is the Athlete’s Lounge that can also be a venue for seminars and small gatherings like product launches.  Soon to rise is an athletes’ dormitory called The Athletes’ House.  The initial phase will have 30 rooms, with 3 beds per regular room and 2 beds for PWD rooms, with a total of 87 beds.

Vermosa Sports Hub Olympic Size Pool

 “The Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub was built with athletes in mind,” said Moses “MJ” Aragones, Vermosa Project Development Manager. “We want athletes to come here and consider it their training place and call it home.”

“The Athletes’ House aims to support the needs of elite national athletes who will train in the Sports Hub. It lets them do lock-in training so they can avoid the hassle of transporting to and from the training venue. We want our athletes to start preparing already for the 2024 Olympics,” Aragones said.

A multi-purpose field where sports like archery, frisbee, and rugby can take place is also in the planning stage. Eventually a multi-purpose gym will also be built where indoor sports can be played, with spectators.

The world-class facilities and thoughtful features for competitive athletes and believers in a healthy lifestyle, all show Ayala’s commitment to developing the Filipino athlete. To ensure nurturance while keeping fit, there are food establishments around Vermosa Sports Hub, such as the Vermosa Food and Lifestyle Market, Mc Donald’s, Jollibee, Starbucks, and Chicken Peri-Peri.

“These continued improvements have made AVSH grow into a viable venue for hosting key local and international sporting events,” said Vermosa Estate Head Jay Teodoro.

“Hopefully, we can continue to make this place a home and training ground to more athletes and enthusiasts.  This is for all athletes to realize their dreams and for individuals to move forward in their pursuit of a healthy and active lifestyle.” Teodoro added.

Visit vermosa.ph to learn more about Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.

It’s time to appreciate the green outdoors and have some fun in the sun after two years of silence and isolation. The event is being led by Vermosa, an Ayala Land Estate in Imus Cavite. It is a modern suburban development that encourages residents to be healthy and active. With the staging of Green Run on Sunday, July 3, everyone is urged to lace up and run for a greener tomorrow. It will be a one-day multi-level run on the 750-hectare site, which is quickly becoming known as the new sports and fitness hub in the south.

Consisting of 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K distance categories, the Green Run is targeting elite athletes, fun runners, fitness enthusiasts, athletes in training, weekend athletes, families, barkada, and just about anyone who is eager to run.  Various running routes winding through wide open spaces and abundant greenery punctuated with wide pedestrian walkways, bicycle and jogging lanes, and enhanced greenways will make this Run a truly pleasant experience.

Vermosa’s famous Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, a state-of-the-art professionally–managed sports facility that has already hosted various national and international sports events will be the center of activities for registration and information. Featuring a FINA-standard Olympic size swimming pool, a warm up pool, an IAAF standard 400m track oval, field with natural tiff grass, an Athletes Lounge, and a gym operated by Sante Fitness Lab, a premier training ground for amateur and professional athletes.

Vermosa has partnered with Pinoy Fitness, the running, fitness and multisport event organizer, to conduct the Run. A beautiful medal created by artist Cynthia Bauzon-Arre of Forest Foundation Philippines, will be among the perks that runners will get for their participation. Proceeds of the Run will go to Haribon Foundation’s Adopt-a-Seedling Program, to build a greener tomorrow.

Vermosa Estate Head Jay Teodoro, a sports and fitness enthusiast himself, says “As more places begin to reopen, we can now enjoy the outdoors with more activities to engage in. I personally advocate sports and spending time outdoors as it helps boost physical and mental health. Physical activities, like running, provide a change of scenery and help reduce stress. This is why we organized the Vermosa Green Run. We want people to rediscover their surroundings, appreciate nature, enjoy the fresh air and boost their health. With an abundance of wide-open spaces and the state-of-the-art sports facilities at Vermosa Sports Hub, Vermosa provides one of the best venues to engage in physical activities.”

Those interested in participating in Green Run can register at ayalaland.myruntime.com.

ABOUT VERMOSA

Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (AVSH) is located within Ayala Land’s sprawling 750-hectare estate along Daang Hari Road, Imus, Cavite.  It brings together residential, retail, commercial spaces and a school all within the estate.  AVSH highlights an active lifestyle by offering athletes a number of sports facilities and wellness amenities including the nine-lane 400-meter track and field oval, football field, Olympic-size lap pool, warm up pool, The Athlete’s Lounge, a gym operated by Sante Fitness Lab, and green open spaces. With its state-of-the-art features, AVSH is home to some National Sports Associations and renowned teams in the country.

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the country’s largest regional basketball league, recently announced its agreement as a title sponsor for its fourth regular season league with OKBet, a corporation and one of the fastest-growing sports betting gaming platforms.

OKBet, as the title sponsor of the MPBL, supports the whole season as a firm dedicated to promoting aspiring Filipino athletes. The fourth season of the MPBL will feature twenty-two teams from various provinces, with asazOKBet sponsoring three teams: Marikina Shoemasters, GenSan Warriors, and Sarangani Marlins. OKBet is sponsoring a big sports gaming event for the first time, in line with its mission of promoting Filipino players, particularly in basketball.

“We are excited to be part of MPBL and experience the adrenaline of the basketball teams competing for this year’s regular season. We are glad to support several teams this year. As we support this MPBL regular season, OKBet is looking forward to a stronger and long-term partnership with the major sporting leagues in the country, especially on sponsoring more athletes. We want to be part of the success of our Filipino athletes in whatever sport, starting with basketball through  MPBL.” Robert Chen, OKBet Vice President – Marketing & Business Development.

Basketball was always known for being a nation-building sport in the Philippines. With its popularity in the country, OKBet eyes to enhance the gaming experience through its platform with this partnership. As OKBet strengthens its presence in the sports betting platform industry in the country, they also aim to reach out to every Filipino through their love for this popular sport, together with MPBL.

“As a Filipino company, we embody the Filipino culture of Bayanihan. With that, we are glad that it is MPBL that we have chosen as a partner for basketball sports. We believe we have the same goal of not just providing entertainment through sport but also providing support to our kababayans. Through this partnership with MPBL, we believe that it can be a way of bridging small communities and being able to promote camaraderie among the Filipinos.  We are inspired by their motto, ‘Ang liga ng bawat Pilipino’ which is basically what we also stand by, ‘by Filipinos, for the Filipino people.” Mr. Chen, added.

Senator Manny Pacquiao

In June 2022, OKBet is expected to sign an official contract with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). Respected executives from both businesses will attend the event, including OKBet representative Mr. Robert Chen, MPBL Founder Senator Manny Pacquiao, and representatives from the three OKBet-sponsored teams. Both brands have yet to reveal the location of the contract signing.

OKBet offers a diverse selection of athletic events, including best-of-breed organic systems that meet the needs of its clients, partners, and users. Visit https://okbet.com/ to learn more about OKBet.