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Red Lions live to fight another day, set deciding Game 3 duel with Cardinals

December 10, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Game Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m.- Mapua vs San Beda

San Beda used Jacob Cortez as a battering ram and turned back Mapua, 71-65, yesterday to forge a no-tomorrow showdown for the NCAA Season 99 senior basketball crown.

Playing before a season-high 22,465 MOA Arena crowd, Cortez made true to his vow on bouncing back from a forgettable Game One effort and fired 21 points including a pair of booming triples in the fourth quarter that turned things around in their favor.

Forget about the nine missed free throws, Cortez, who struggled and had just 12 points in Game One, just delivered when his team needed it most.

“That kid is special and he doesn’t want to lose,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta of the 21-year-old son of former PBA and collegiate star Mike Cortez.

It was San Beda’s first win over Mapua after three losses this season including a 68-63 defeat Wednesday while it knotted their duel to a game apiece.

Most importantly, it sent the showdown to a sudden death set Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“One more week before Game Three and we want to bring the same intensity,” said Escueta. “The only thing we did and told ourselves is to stay together, wag sumuko, laban lang sa dulo.”

For Cortez, it was a collective team effort.

“It’s not just me, the other guys stepped up as well, not just offensively but defensively, it’s about sticking together as a team,” said Cortez.

In the league’s first battle for third game, College of St. Benilde eased the sting of its unmet expectations as it claimed third place with a 93-83 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University earlier.

Robi Nayve and Miguel Corteza saved their best for last and fired 18 and 14 points, respectively, while Josh Cajucom scattered 15 for the win that is historic since the Blazers became the first to receive the league’s third place trophy in senior basketball.

“We’ll take it, we would have been fourth under normal circumstances,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

In this game, CSB has officially bid goodbye to its senior players—Nayve, Corteza, Will Gozum and Miguel Oczon among them.

“We have a lot of recruits, seven guys out officially, six seniors and Oczon,” said Tiu. “At least nine guys are coming in that can compete for a spot in the team. I guess it’s a better problem to have than no player.”

“It’s a completely different team, I feel I’m starting from scratch,” he added.

CSB needed a massive third quarter attack to turn what was once a tight contest into a ghastly rout.

The Pirates, who were already without Enoch Valdez who already signed and playing for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, were paced by Mclaude Guadana’s 16 points and Alvin Penafiel’s 15 points but just didn’t have the killer instinct as before.

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Atayde named Siklab’s Trailblazer of the Year awardee

3:49 p.m. December 4, 2024

FOR putting premium on grassroots sports development, Quezon City first district Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde will be honored with the Trailblazer of the Year award in the Nickel Asia Corporation Siklab Youth Sports Awards 2024 on Thursday at the Market! Market! Activity Center, Ayala Malls BGC in Taguig City. 

Atayde’s efforts as a prime mover of the Youth Football League (YFL) will be recognized as well as for establishing the D1 basketball and volleyball leagues for the youth in Quezon City’s first district, where tournaments are shown live on Facebook everyday to inspire more kids to get into sports.

The QC District 1 Warriors, the team formed and supported by Atayde, crowned themselves champions of the 2024 CLS Cup in Indonesia last June after beating ACBA Tigers Sydney in the final. 

The actor-lawmaker is also a staunch supporter of the QCSEP fencing team of City Councilor Joseph Juico that produced the likes of Paris Olympian Samantha Catantan, while giving life-changing opportunities through the YFL with his uncle YFL president Mike Atayde in discovering and developing 18-and-under talents through the years. 

Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Paralympic Committee-Philippine Olympic Committee Media Group, the Siklab Youth Sports Awards’ Trailblazer of the year plum is awarded to outstanding individuals who promote quality grassroots sports development that created massive impact to the sporting community. 

Three more special awards will be presented to Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio as this year’s Sports Idol, longtime sports manager Agapito “Terry” Capistrano as Godfather of the Year and noted youth sports supporter Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A total of 80 youth and junior athletes from 37 sports will be recognized in the fourth edition of the awards night supported by Nickel Asia Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MVP Sports Foundation, CEL Logistics, Go For Gold, Barley + WHEATGRASS Entrepro, Pacquiao Coffee, Milo, San Miguel Corporation, PLDT and powered by Smart.

World junior champions Tachiana Mangin of taekwondo, weightlifters Angeline Colonia and Lovely Inan headline the Young Heroes Awards together with 2024 US Junior Girls champion Rianne Mikhaela Malixi of golf and wushu’s Alexander Gabriel Delos Reyes.

Joining them are Asian junior gymnastics gold medalist Karl Eldrew Yulo, world youth champion Isabella Butler of ju-jitsu, Asian age-group swimming gold medalist Jamesray Mishael Ajido and table tennis youth champion Kheith Rhynne Cruz.

Muay thai world champions Janbrix Ramiscal and Lyre Anie Ngina, chess Olympiad gold medalist Ruelle Canino will likewise be honored in the Super Kids Award category.

Three-time jiu-jitsu world champion Aleia Aielle Aguilar, Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalists Albert Jose Amaro II (seven golds) of swimming, Mitchloni Dinauanao and Francis Dave Sombal (five golds each) of dancesports will banner the Rising Stars Award category.

Also leading the list are world youth muay champion Royeth Rosa, fencers Yuna Canlas, Willa Galvez, Hagia Del Castillo and Nicol Amethyst Canlas along with golfers Francesca Nicole Gaisano Gan, Geoffrey Drew Ong Tan, swimmer Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh and figure skater Dawn Jasmine Gothong.

Thirty awardees have been lined up in the Youth Heroes Award including Ana Bhianca Espenilla (athletics), John Andre Aguja (cycling), JR Pandi (badminton), Brandon Sanchez (baseball), Kieffer Alas (basketball), Marc Dylan Custodio (bowling), Nick Anjelo Payla (boxing) and Naina Dominique Tagle (archery), Gavin Moses Bangayan Ti (obstacle course racing), Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (swimming), Jonathan Reyes (squash), Jeniva Consigna (sambo) and Joseph Godbout (modern pentathlon).

Meanwhile, Ella Olaso (wrestling), Danielle Escolano (bowling), Xian Baguhin (boxing) Elaiza Yulo (gymnastics), Sebastien Mañalac (karate), Julia Claret Bintulan (karate), Zyche Mae Cruz Jizmundo (pencak silat), Shai Nitura (volleyball), Mariam Grace Balisme (wrestling), Paul Sondrei Capinig (wrestling), Andreas Lucho Aguilar (wrestling), Johanna Jeiel Barbero (wushu), Mark John Lazo (wushu), Carlstein Jade Dulay (sailing), Josa Gonzales (sailing), Marvin Mandac (cycling) and Thirdy Mana-ay (cycling) complete the roster for the Super Kids accolade.

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Shop local at DTI’s Christmas Village Fair in SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall

3:36 p.m. December 4, 2024

Celebrate the holidays at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bagong Pilipinas Christmas Village Fair at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Halls 2 and 3, happening from November 30 to December 4.

Discover unique gifts, festive treats, and handcrafted treasures created by talented local entrepreneurs. Shop local and make this Christmas truly special!

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9 Dynasty Cares helps typhoon victims in Kawit, Cavite

3:15 p.m. December 4, 2024

A GROUP of businessmen  from Asia that provides entertainment across the continent including the Philippines donated a total of P3 million worth of relief goods last week to the recent typhoon victims in the province of Kawit, Cavite.

The 9 Dynasty Group, headed by its representative Derris Wong, together with his crew, met at least 1,000 affected families at the Barangay Santa Isabel in Kawit and provided them each with canned goods, bed sheets, noodles, rice, and other relief goods. 

“At 9 Dynasty, we believe that in times like these, being there for one another is what matters most,” Derris said. 

“Typhoons are merciless. So, we, here at the 9 Dynasty Group through our 9 Dynasty Cares program has spearheaded the donation drive for the typhoon victims.”

The residents of Cavite recently experienced the devastating impact of Typhoon Carina, and Tropical Storm Kristine last October, affecting their livelihood, while many people especially in Kawit were displaced due to heavy flooding in most areas. 

Derris said in his speech during the donation activity at the barangay complex that they want the people to realize that there is still hope after every storm. 

“We are here together to rebuild lives and transform this adversity into a story of hope,” he said. 

“To help, we are providing ₱3 million in aid to support families with essential supplies and to rebuild homes, ensuring everyone has a safe place to stay before the holidays. We are here to let you know that you are not alone,” Derris added. 

Derris Wong of 9 Dynasty Group conducted a donation drive last month in Barangay Santa Isabel, Kawit, Cavite as part of its social activities to help recent typhoon victims.

Aside from the 9 Dynasty Group, the donation drive was attended and coordinated by Santa Isabel Barangay Captain Avelino “Tamby” Fallago, his secretary Josephine Memije and VAWC personnel Remie Santonil. 

“We are incredibly grateful and happy to 9 Dynasty Group’s generous act,” Fallago said on behalf of his constituents.

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