Sports

The Philippine delegation made waves at the prestigious Waterjet World Cup 2024, held last December in Pattaya, Thailand. Representing the country with determination and skill, the team returned with remarkable achievements and unforgettable experiences that highlight their resilience and passion for the sport.

This year’s event marked a significant milestone for the Philippines, with seven young athletes, aged 14 to 22, proudly carrying the nation’s flag. These rising stars not only conquered the waters but also navigated the challenges of competing at an elite level against the world’s best. Their exceptional performances underscore the determination, discipline, and passion that define the Philippine delegation.

At just 14, Vito Tinio shone in the Junior 13-15 category, finishing as World No. 4 in Spark Stock. “Every race was a test of grit and focus,” shared Vito, who also emerged as champion at the Kundang Jet Sports Malaysia Seadoo Junior Time Attack 2024. “I had to stay calm under pressure and focus on improving with each round,” he added.

Adding to the pride, Cody Lorenzo Pontino claimed the World Champion title in the Novice Ski Stock category, a testament to his skill and perseverance. “The toughest part was staying consistent throughout the competition. Every race felt like a chance to prove what I’m capable of,” Cody shared.

Another noteworthy achiever, Angelo Iñigo A. Ventus, secured multiple titles across continents, earning the coveted title of Overall Triple Crown Champion. “The global stage is exhilarating but also incredibly demanding. The key is to adapt to different courses and stay mentally strong,” Angelo said. He brought home multiple titles, including Novice Runabout Stock Champion in both Europe and America, and a 3rd-place finish in Thailand.

Sisters Kristine Kate and Kayla Marie Povadora Mercado also shone brightly in the Women Runabout 1100 Stock. Kristine emerged as a Triple Crown Champion, while Kayla earned 2nd place in the series. “It’s not just about competing—it’s about representing the Philippines and inspiring others,” said Kristine. Kayla added, “Being part of this journey with my sister made the experience even more special.”

The team’s diversity and camaraderie were evident throughout the competition. For Marchael Louie Buhisan, who placed 2nd in Endurance Open and 3rd in Pro-Am 1100 Open, balancing endurance and speed was the ultimate challenge.

Meanwhile, Jesse Arcilla, one of the youngest riders, reflected on the growth he gained from competing alongside seasoned athletes: “It’s an honor to race on such a big stage. I’m learning so much from every competition.”

Their coach and mentors believe these young athletes embody the spirit of Filipino excellence. “They’ve proven that no matter how young they are, they can face challenges head-on, adapt to pressure, and thrive against the best in the world,” said their coach, emphasizing the team’s dedication.

As the delegation celebrates their successes, they also aim to inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes. Their collective story is one of perseverance, teamwork, and the unyielding desire to uplift the country in the world of water sports.

• Curling Pan Continental Championships: Philippines win B-division
• Advancement to A-division brings team closer to Olympic dream
• Entrepreneur Alan Frei’s team remains undefeated

The Philippine curling team made history at the Pan-Continental Curling Championships in Canada: in a thrilling tournament, the team was the only one to remain undefeated and secured first place in the B division by beating Kazakhstan in the final. This historic triumph paves the way for the team to move up to the A-Division and brings them a big step closer to realizing their dream of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

In the twelve intense games, the team, consisting of Christian Haller (vice), Enrico Pfister (second), Marc Pfister (skip) and Alan Frei (lead), showed their extraordinary strength and determination. The victories in the preliminary round against strong opponents such as Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Puerto Rico already demonstrated the team’s strong teamwork, but the road to the final was not without challenges: In the semi-final against Hong Kong, the team mastered a hard-fought victory, demonstrating its strong nerves and team harmony. In the final against Kazakhstan, an opponent they had already narrowly defeated, they triumphed with confidence on Saturday afternoon.

Team skip Marc Pfister emphasizes: “This promotion to the A Division is an incredible achievement and the result of tireless work. We have grown as a team and proven that we can deliver under pressure. Now we are looking forward to the next challenge, playing against the best teams in the world and tackling the qualification for the Olympics.”

“This is incredible, I’m overwhelmed by what we’ve achieved here!” says Alan Frei. “This last year has been an intense learning process for all of us – from the first time on the ice to this decisive moment here at the Pan Continentals. Today, all the training, passion and determination paid off. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Olympic qualifiers!”

The next step: qualifying tournaments for Milano Cortina 2026

With their promotion to the A Division, Team Philippines will now face the best curling teams in the world. This new challenge opens up the possibility of qualifying for the 2025 Olympics in two (pre-)qualifying tournaments – a goal that is now within reach.

Team vice-captain Christian Haller said: “This success is proof of what can be achieved when you work as a team and aim for the impossible. The Philippines are united behind us – and we’ve also received an incredible amount of support from Switzerland – and that’s a huge motivation for us as we face the next challenges!”

With their unique blend of Swiss precision and Filipino passion, the Philippines team has established itself as a true underdog in the curling scene, comparable to iconic sports stories such as the Jamaican bobsled team and ‘Eddie the Eagle’.

About the team

• Christian Haller (Vice): With 26 years of curling experience, Haller brings the technical know-how to the team.
• Enrico Pfister (Second): Supports the team with his many years of experience at the international level.

• Marc Pfister (Skip): The experienced curler and Enrico’s brother leads the team with strategic skill.

• Alan Frei (Lead): The entrepreneur, who underwent a complete transformation, is the heart of the team with his story “From obese to Olympics”.

Next tournaments

• February 7-14, 2025: Asian Winter Games, Harbin, China
• October 17-24, 2025: Pre-Qualifier (location tba)
• November 2-9, 2025: Pan Continental Curling Championship (World Cup qualifier)
• December 6-20, 2025: Olympic Qualifier (location tba)

Game Plan & Results Team Philippines

Terry Que, a co-owner of Rain or Shine (RoS) Elasto Painters, was both pleased and disappointed with the team’s performance in the just finished PBA Governor’s Cup.

The franchise, which Raymund Yu also co-owns, saw its season campaign come to a premature end after losing their best-of-seven series to the Tropang Giga on TNT.

Since the Elasto painters were pitted against the more seasoned TNT Tropang Giga, just making it to the semifinals is itself a significant accomplishment. It was a difficult task, but regardless of the result, RoS learned an important lesson.

“Nakarating kami ng semifinals for the first time sa mahabang panahon. Malaking achievement na yun. Pagdating dito, alam naman namin na malakas yung kalaban namin,” said Que. “Alam naman namin na mahirap sila talunin sa series. Pero umasa kami na maka-isa, maka-dalawa. Kaya saying”, added Que.

While the team displayed flashes of brilliance and fought hard in every game, inconsistencies and injuries ultimately ended their playoff run.

“We had a good start to the conference, but we had some challenges” Que admitted. “It’s frustrating but we have to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger next season. Tsaka sabi ni Coach Yeng positive lang. So, positive din kami” shared Que.

The Elasto painters began the conference with a strong 3-0 record, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive intensity. However, during the middle of the season, RoS experienced a dip in form, losing several crucial games and dropping to the middle of the team standings.

The Elasto painters made a late push to climb back into contention, but it was not enough to secure a playoff berth. Other factors include injuries to several key players, disrupting the team’s chemistry and depth.

Rain or Shine has shown signs of promise despite the dismal ending. The Elasto Painters can strive to be a formidable force in the forthcoming Philippine Cup with a healthier team and increased consistency.

The team learned an important lesson from their performance in the Governor’s Cup. Rain or Shine will also be hoping to get stronger in the league and learn from their mistakes as the PBA season progresses.

The much-anticipated PBA Governors’ Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT Tropang Giga kicked off with a bang, drawing a massive crowd to the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. A total of 11,021 fans attended Game One of between Barangay Ginebra and TNT – the largest PBA crowd in the venue.

The game, which saw TNT dominate Ginebra 104-88, was a testament to the league’s enduring popularity.

PACKED TO THE RAFTERS

The Ynares Center was filled to capacity, with fans from both teams creating a vibrant and electric atmosphere. The passionate crowd cheered on their respective teams, adding to the intensity of the game. The huge turnout underscored the intense rivalry between Ginebra and TNT, two of the most popular teams in the PBA.

BARANGAY GINEBRA AND TNT TROBANG GIGA RIVALRY

The high attendance for Game 1 is a promising sign for the rest of the series. With both teams boasting talented rosters and passionate fan bases, the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals is expected to be one of the most exciting and competitive series in recent years.

The crowd attendance surpassed the previous high of 10,952 set on December 21, 2011 during a quarterfinal doubleheader between Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine, and Petron and Meralco during the 2011-12 Philippine Cup.

Long time PBA fan Marlon Estrada who came with his wife Eloisa enjoyed the action-packed Game 1 even if his PBA team San Miguel Beer is not playing for contention. “Thankful ako kasi yung finals ng PBA nandito sa Ynares Center. Malapit sa amin sa Teresa and tamang-tama, Sunday ngayon kaya parang date na din namin. Masaya akong nakitang enjoy ang asawa ko kasi first time din nyang nakanood ng PBA” shared Estrada.

Rizalenyos and PBA fans from nearby provinces and even cities braved the traffic going to the venue. The PBA Game 1 tickets between Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Giga were selling like hot cakes and PBA fans can be seen entering the Ynares Center even after the start of the game.

Incidentally, Game One was also for a cause as the PBA Board announced during a press conference in Taguig City that all Game 1 earnings will go to the calamity victims.

Board chair Ricky Vargas of Meralco said all Game 1 earnings will be coursed by the PBA through the Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility organization of TV5 Network Inc.

21 teams battled it out for the ultimate title of Purple Champions

COO of Inspire Brands Asia, Mark De Joya takes an energizing group photo with our Purple Champions

Battle of the Purple Champions, Anytime Fitness’ much-anticipated strength competition, returned on August 25, igniting the spirit of community and strength once more. The occasion showcased the abilities of its community members around the nation and highlighted the best in health and fitness. With challenges based on real-world situations, this year’s competition offered something new and challenged competitors to go beyond standard training regimens.

Samuel Diones, John Kenneth Solonia, Danilo M. Quirabo Jr., Tristan Ivan Melgarejo, and Dexter Ansaldo were the winners of Team Anytime Fitness Ecoland Davao. With this triumph, they have now won three straight championships; they have also won in 2018 and 2019. In an astounding period of seven minutes and eighteen seconds, the team secured the victory. It is indeed a fun and enthralling fitness activity, as they have shared their talents and camaraderie and are able to move their bodies at the same time. We totally enjoyed all the performances and got inspired by the dedication.

Team Anytime Fitness Ecoland Davao consisting of Samuel Diones, John Kenneth Solonia, Danilo M. Quirabo Jr., Tristan Ivan Melgarejo, and Dexter Ansaldo wins First Place at Battle of the Purple Champions!

Securing second place was Team Anytime Fitness Bacoor with a time of 8 minutes and 44 seconds, while Team Anytime Fitness Mall of Asia took third place, completing the course in 9 minutes and 2 seconds.

Strength in Teamwork

Winning the title didn’t come easy for Team Ecoland Davao. All teams faced grueling workouts in the qualifying rounds, striving to complete the challenges in the shortest time. For the champions, teamwork, focus, and effective communication were key to their success.

Reflecting on their third win, the team shared, “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to compete again and proud to be champions. This event reminded us that anyone can be a champion if they work hard and persevere. Our journey shows that dedication pays off.”

The team members hope their victory inspires others to pursue an active lifestyle and reminds everyone that you can be a champion anywhere, Anytime.

“To be a champion, you need discipline and consistency in your workouts. We didn’t become champions overnight; it took patience and hard work. Not everyone can persevere through the challenges, but if you stay focused and committed, the results will come,” the team emphasized.

A Unique Comeback

This year’s Battle of the Purple Champions embraced a new approach, turning everyday activities into fun, fitness-oriented challenges. With Anytime Fitness’ state-of-the-art equipment on hand, participants pushed their limits while engaging in creative tasks.

The competition kicked off with Moving Day, a challenge inspired by the milestone of moving houses. Teams were tasked with organizing a shuffled room by lifting and arranging furniture to match a given layout.

Next was the Sandbag Shuffle, where teams carried five sandbags, loaded them onto a sled, and navigated through obstacles, testing their core, leg, and upper body strength.

To acknowledge the growing biking trend in the Philippines, the Bike Race challenge required teams to alternate between stationary biking and high jumps on a plyometric box, combining endurance and explosive power.

The final challenge, Champion’s Climb, saw participants racing up and down a staircase while carrying kettlebells, reminiscent of the strength required during travel.

Although Team Ecoland Davao emerged as the champions, every team exemplified the event’s core message that “real life never stops.”

Celebrating Champions

Mark de Joya, COO of Inspire Brands Asia, commented on the success of the event: “We are proud not just of our athletes who gave it their all during Battle of the Purple Champions, but for all who came to celebrate with us. At Anytime Fitness, we always want to push boundaries; that said, we want to take this chance to remind everyone that anyone can be a Champion – you just need to have a fighting spirit committed to making yourself a better version of yourself everyday.”

Anytime Fitness, the largest and most varied fitness network in the area and the creator of the 24/7 fitness franchise concept, is the sponsor of Battle of the Purple Champions. Anytime Fitness, which has more than 5,500 clubs worldwide, is unwavering in its dedication to offering every opportunity for growth and well-being.

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For more information about Anytime Fitness Philippines visit https://www.anytimefitness.ph/