Sports

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.

The most inspired riding and trying tracks in a race this year, the 2022 UCI Gravel World Series Philippines is in the books, literally in the history books, as the starting point of the first-ever race series of its kind under the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The multi-nation, multi-leg race series began on April 3, 2022 in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, a lovely municipality that has become a favorite destination among the international bicycling community in recent years.

Butuan native Riemon Lapaza won the Philippine leg in all categories, finishing in at 3:06:46.7 after weathering the gravel road with a flat tire near the finish line. Rick Nobel of Netherlands, who won the men’s 19-34 category, trailed behind the victor of the men’s 35-39 year old category.

Mellisa Jane Jaroda topped the women’s 19-34 category, and ranked first among female racers with 3:39:00.639.

Close to 400 riders were in attendance, all vying for the chance to finish the 85-km race. Each qualifier was awarded with a finisher medal, and 25% of each rider category earned a UCI qualifying medal and automatically made it to the UCI World Championships.

Participants from the Philippines and the rest of the world powered through all the ascents, river crossings, water features, and everything else that Bongabon’s legendary terrain put in front of them. As Vic Narciso, one of the riders, described the journey as he crosses the finish line, “it was the most challenging and violent race I’ve ever done, but I can’t stop smiling.”

Ann Aleonar, who has been racing since 2010, shared that she was overwhelmed with gratitude. “I took a 5-year break from racing, and anyone who’s raced knows that it isn’t easy to come back – especially up to racing level,” Aleonar said. “And then the pandemic happened, it really wasn’t easy. When I actually finished and qualified, the first feeling I felt was gratefulness.”

The Philippine leg attracted competitors from Europe and Asia, who not only found victory here in the country, but a biking scene that welcomed them with open arms. Tokyo’s Junro Nagashima of cycling team Roppongi Express, said that he was not surprised at how friendly the Filipino riders were, but that he was surprised at how comfortable they all made him and his teammate feel. Rick Nobel from the Netherlands, who placed first in the 19-34 Male category, was also seen smiling from ear-to-ear, in the midst of his newfound friends within the local riding community. Jared Hui, a rider from Singapore, wrote a long testimony on Facebook about how local MTB legend Bans Mendoza lent him his personal bike after he realized that his own two-wheeler wasn’t the right setup for the race.

Bongabon Mayor Allan Gamilla also made an appearance and expressed gratitude to the organizers for tapping Bongabon, Nueva Ecija as the first and only Asian leg in the 2022 UCI Gravel World Series. “This is a big boost for Bongabon as a destination for sports tourism. We hope to make use of the municipality’s potential to help promote the country, and further establish it as major global hub for gravel riding.”

These are just a few examples of how an incredible athletic event can bring people from all walks of life together, with everyone leaving the arena with full hearts and eagerly anticipating the next race. UGWSPH clearly left an impression in more ways than one.

Visit www.wjctiming.com/main-results for the complete results of the 2022 UCI Gravel World Series Philippines. Follow UGWSPH on the following social media platforms for additional information and content: www.facebook.com/ugwsph www.instagram.com/ugwsph

The ONE ChampionshipTM (ONE) staged a live pre-event news conference at the Singapore Indoor Stadium to kick off a spectacular ONE X event week. Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was in attendance, along with ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Champion Stamp Fairtex, 12-time Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson, and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, as well as 12 other ONE X athletes. ONE Championship also unveiled a new ONE World Title belt, as well as a range of premium TUMI items, one of the world’s leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance companies.

ONE Championship also revealed a newly designed ONE World Title belt along with a line of premium products from one of the world’s leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brands, TUMI.

ONE X broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 26 March.

[ONE X Press Conference Photos]

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It has been a crazy 10 years. When I look back at the journey, all the highs and lows … I could never have imagined this. I truly believe we have the greatest World Championship roster of any organization in the world. ONE X will be an event the whole world will talk about [for years to come], the single greatest martial arts event ever pulled off in history.”

“As a lifelong martial artist, this has been a very deeply personal journey. It’s one filled with gratitude — for my team, for our athletes, for our fans, our partners, our broadcasters, our brands — everybody who has been a part of this incredible journey, past and present. But as I always tell my team, this is just day one, literally the very beginning of the ONE story

[ONE X Press Conference Highlights]

Angela Lee, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, stated: “I think it’s wrong to label this as a striker versus grappler fight. This is an MMA fight. We’re both mixed martial artists. Stamp, she has evolved a lot. I don’t see her as a striker only. I do understand that is where her strength lies. But I know that she’s coming into this fight as a well-rounded mixed martial artist. For me, being raised up, learning mixed martial arts as a whole, obviously I feel that MMA is where my strength lies. It’s a huge honor [to headline ONE X] and also a lot of pressure. There’s a lot of weight on my shoulders as it is, having the time off. But I’m definitely going to make up for that and make sure I put on a great performance on Saturday night.”

Stamp Fairtex, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Champion, stated: “For me, I will try my best to prevent her from using her grappling and takedowns. I’ve been training to use the best of my MMA skills for this fight. I’ve really been preparing for this, because as I’ve said before, she is my idol. This is a very great opportunity for me to finally get the chance to fight with Angela, someone that I look up to. I’m ready to take the belt from her. I want to bring the belt back to Thailand.”

[WATCH: ONE X Press Conference]

Demetrious Johnson, 12-time Flyweight World Champion, stated: “I feel great. I’m super excited. You know, Rodtang, he’s one of the best in the world in Muay Thai. When I accepted this fight, I had a big smile on my face. I’m looking forward to the opportunity, and we’ll see how things go. I remember telling Chatri that I would love to try Muay Thai one day. And then when he presented this [special rules] fight, I was game for it. I’m looking forward to it.”

Rodtang Jitmuangnon, ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, stated: “I feel honored and I feel great that Khun Chatri approached me for this [special rules] fight. I’m really looking forward to going from Muay Thai to MMA. This is a good opportunity for me.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com or follow us on:
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Demetrious Johnson, Adriano Moraes, Christian Lee, Aung La N Sang, and More Headline U.S. Prime-Time Events Every Wednesday in April on TNT

Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), and Turner Sports have announced four weeks of blockbuster martial arts events airing in U.S. prime time with “ONE on TNT.

The “ONE on TNT” series will air every Wednesday from April 7 to April 28. Each week will include a preliminary card digitally streamed exclusively on the Bleacher Report App and B/R Live from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, followed by three main card fights televised exclusively on TNT in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET.

“We are absolutely thrilled to kick off 2021 with the announcement of our first season of ‘ONE on TNT’,” said Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship. “We look forward to introducing our unique brand of martial arts to the U.S. on prime time. American fans can expect something fresh, new and completely different from anything that is currently available in the U.S. As always, we will feature some of the greatest World Champions across various martial arts alongside a few familiar, legendary names.”

“ONE on TNT I” kicks off the series on Wednesday, April 7, with a main event World Title bout between reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes and ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.

The stacked card will also feature unranked Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez against #2-ranked lightweight contender Iuri Lapicus in the co-main event, plus reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon taking on the UK’s Jacob Smith in a non-title bout.

“ONE on TNT II,” airing April 14, will feature the return of reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee, as he defends his World Title against #3-ranked lightweight contender Timofey Nastyukhin.

“ONE on TNT III,” airing April 21, will see former ONE Middleweight World Champion and current ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang face former ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash in a trilogy bout to determine a #1 contender in the middleweight division.

“ONE on TNT IV,” airing April 28, will cap off the series with more high-stakes bouts to be announced at a later date.

“ONE Championship has a passionate global fan base and this next step in our partnership elevates the exposure for its top martial arts events in the U.S,” said Tina Shah, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Turner Sports. “This multi-faceted approach combines two leading platforms in Bleacher Report and TNT as we further expand the reach of these premier events and drive additional engagement with a broader audience.”