Connect with us

NEWS

Cargo Movers repel Troopers in PVL debut

March 16, 2022 9:51 p.m.

Dragged into an extended duel, F2 Logistics launched its Premier Volleyball League debut with a kind of smashing start expected from a talent-laden, champion squad, beating Black Mamba Army, 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, to set the tone in the Open Conference at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila yesterday.

The Cargo Movers shook off the rust of nearly four months of inactivity, putting up a performance that proved enough to outhustle and dominate an Army side that failed to sustain its big third set fightback behind veteran Honey Royse Tubino.
“We just held on, it’s our first game so, we’re trying to feel our way around,” said Benson Bocboc, the designated head coach of F2 Logistics with former mentor Ramil de Jesus listed as the team consultant. “Everyone is still building that (team) connection.”

The Cargo Movers, who had to delay their keenly awaited PVL debut in the league’s pro inaugurals last year due to player injuries, imposed their power and will early to sweep the first two sets in emphatic fashion.

But the Lady Troopers came out of the third set an organized lot with Tubino anchoring their gutsy stand by going 9-of-20 on attacks, the last giving the Troopers a 23-21 cushion before an F2 net violation and a play miscue sent the match into a fourth set.

Army kept the game close in the ensuing frame but the Cargo Movers unleashed a strong finishing kick to frustrate their rivals and complete their one-hour, 44-minute victory in Group A play of the short, month-long tournament organized by Sports Vision.

Kim Dy fired 20 hits, including four blocks, while Ara Galang, Majoy Baron and skipper Aby Maraño backed her up with a combined 30-point output, and playmaker Iris Tonelada produced 27 of the team’s 32 excellent sets to help anchor the victory.

“We haven’t played against Army and we know they are tight in defense,” added Bocboc. “Madami din silang bagong players na naka-contribute sa attack.”

But it was veteran Tubino who stood out in their losing stand, producing the lone double-digit output of 18 hits with new recruit Mich Morente adding nine points and seasoned MJ Balse-Pabayo and Jeanette Villareal chipping in six hits apiece.

Army actually had more attacks – 48, seven more than F2, but the Cargo Movers dominated the net on defense, coming through with 10 blocks, with Dy and Maraño combining for seven, against their rivals’ one, courtesy of Villareal.

F2 also scored six aces against none by Army.

Meanwhile, defending champion Chery Tiggo, which shocked Creamline to crown itself the first PVL pro league champion in bubble setup last year, was playing Cignal HD at presstime.

Creamline and Petro Gazz, on the other hand, seek to likewise get to a strong start as they take on PLDT and BaliPure, respectively, today (Thursday) in the second of the grueling grind of the second season of the pro league, compressed to a four-week tournament to make way for the training of the national squad vying in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in May.

The Cool Smashers, out to reclaim the crown with an intact roster, face the PLDT High Speed Hitters at 6 p.m. following the 3 p.m. encounter between the Angels and the Purest Water Defenders.

Choco Mucho, meanwhile, launches its campaign tomorrow (Friday) against Army at 3 p.m. while Chery Tiggo and F2 Logistics tangle at 6 p.m. in a rematch of teams that disputed the PNVF (Philippine National Volleyball Federation) Champions League crown late last year

NEWS

SM Prime explores potential partnership with Japanese firm for waste-to-fuel solutions

September 25, 2023 12:39 p.m.

Shown here are (from left) SM Supermalls Vice President Liza Silerio, SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, GUUN Chief Executive Officer Shinji Fujieda, GUUN Philippine Branch Senior Managing Director and General Manager Takeshi Konishi

Leading real estate developer in Southeast Asia, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s GUUN Co. Ltd. to explore a potential partnership to implement waste management solutions by recycling waste paper and plastics as an alternative source of energy called ‘fluff fuel’.

Fluff Fuels are one type of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) which are produced from shredded and compressed plastics, papers, and fibers. These are used as fuels in cement manufacturing, paper mill companies, or power companies in Japan.

SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy is positive that a partnership with GUUN will contribute to the waste reduction goals of the country. “Today, Japan’s waste management and recycling technology is among the most advanced in the world,” he said. “There is no better partner for SM because we do not just talk about being big, we make sure we do it; we do not talk about being environment friendly but we do take bold steps to save the environment. I am looking forward to growing with GUUN as among leaders in solving environmental issues in the Philippines.”

GUUN Co., Ltd., founded in March 2001 and headquartered in Yokohama City, Japan, piloted the production of fluff fuel from plastic waste in Inayawan, Cebu in 2014 and recently inaugurated its P200-million, 2,400-square meter waste recycling plant in Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu.

Since then, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has adopted GUUN’s waste-to-fuel technology as a model for advanced low-carbon technology innovation for further deployment in developing countries.

“This will be a milestone partnership for us,” GUNN Chief Executive Officer Shinji Fujieda said after the signing ceremony. “I understand very much how important waste management is for SM and for the Philippines and we look forward to more projects we can do with the properties of SM Prime.”

SM Prime’s initiatives for waste management include waste reduction and effective waste collection and segregation. Over the years, it has implemented programs such as Trash to Cash, Plastic Waste Collection, and E-Waste Collection that have contributed to reducing the total solid waste generation across its real estate portfolio.

Through its pioneering Trash to Cash recycling market, SM Prime has collected and recycled 1.4M kg of plastics, paper, metals, and others in 2022. “We have saved 16,766 trees from the 986,222 kg of paper recycled,” SM Prime disclosed in its 2022 Integrated Report to shareholders.

Meanwhile, SM’s Plastic Waste Collection program, a partnership with the Plastic Credit Exchange that was launched in February 2021, has accumulated 42,541kg of plastic waste from 14 mall sites. Also present in all its 83 SM Supermalls is the E-Waste Collection program for the responsible disposal of WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment). This drive has helped process close to 7,000 kilograms of e-waste. (ENDS)

Continue Reading

NEWS

Satisfy your cravings with these best-selling Nanyang drinks

September 15, 2023 3:30 p.m.

Nanyang isn’t only known for its Laksa Prawn, Cheesy Chicken Chop Noodles and Singapore’s best selling Hainanese Chicken Rice and Kopi.

It also has several best-selling drinks to whet your appetite and satisfy your sweet tooth, such as Iced Teh Melaka, Kopi Jelly Milk Tea, Milo Dinosaur and Kopi O.

Head over to your nearest Nanyang branches nationwide.

Continue Reading

NEWS

USA back on top; Germany takes Top 3 spot in FIBA World Ranking

September 15, 2023 1:28 p.m.

MIES (Switzerland) – The recent completion of the prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 has produced some eye-catching positive climbs in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike.

USA reclaim pole position with 786.6 points after benefiting from their consistency at major tournaments over the last three summers. Finishing in fourth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup where they outperformed former number one nation Spain, their run to the Semi-Finals came off the back of winning an Olympic title at Tokyo in 2021 and also taking bronze at the FIBA AmeriCup 2022. 

Recently crowned FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 champions Germany have another slice of history to enjoy as they step into the top three of the rankings for the very first time after moving up a massive eight places and onto 759.7 points. Their stunning success made all the more incredible because of the fact they made the journey to the top step of the podium without tasting defeat. 

Canada also have another reason to celebrate too, with their maiden FIBA Basketball World Cup medal fueling an even bigger rise of nine spots. They now occupy sixth position with 745.5 points. 

Serbia performed in outstanding fashion to make the title game and their second-placed finish gave their fans something to be proud of. Those supporters can also now enjoy and reflect on their country being a top five nation again as they move up a place and into fifth position on 755.6 points.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the scale and impact of climbing the rankings in the upper echelon, nobody can match Latvia. They have rocketed up a staggering 22 places and into the top 10 after their heroic underdog displays which ensured they took fifth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They now sit in 8th position on 743.7 points.

There were many other teams who impressed at the flagship event, including Brazil who recorded three wins in five games and moves up a place into 12th in the rankings on 660.5 points. The Americas region can also boast a nice move upwards of five places into 16th for Puerto Rico on 611.1 points, while Dominican Republic rise six spots into 18th place on 561.9 points.

There were also notable improvements for Georgia who move up 10 positions and into 23rd on 465.9 points, Japan jump 11 spots to 26th on 432.2 points and Lebanon claim an uplift of 16 places into 28th on 423.3.

One nation that truly made everyone sit up and take notice at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 were first-timers South Sudan. They made history by beating China to claim a first win at the event, then pushing on to beat the Philippines and Angola. This has resulted in a sensational climb of 32 spots in the rankings. They now find themselves in 31st place with 375.5 points.

For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Men, please refer to the “How It Works” section.

Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike.

Continue Reading