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.
NEWS
Your SM Foodie Festival experience, made sweeter with delicious deals!
4:34 p.m. September 13, 2024
It is all about food at SM Supermalls for the entire month of September! Indulge your taste buds in delicious flavors from your favorite SM mall food establishments—made even more scrumptious with these sweet deals from SM Malls Online and SM Deals!
The most AweSM deals!
Craving that delicious char of grilled ribs or chicken? Satisfy it at Gringo-Chicken Ribs and enjoy a 15% discount on all products!
Dive into a hearty Merienda Deal at Taste of Czaczacza! For just P300, indulge in a savory Lomi Solo paired with a refreshing Blue Pea Lemonade drink!
Warm up your day and share it with a friend! Classic Savory’s promo deal promises a Buy 1 Get 1 deal on its delicious Savory Classic Lomi Soup for only P305!
SM Food Court has something special for you lined up this September! Gather your friends and family for a feast, because every group meal purchase worth P599 or more gets you a FREE 1.5L Coke—the perfect pair to a perfect meal!
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just because, you deserve to celebrate in the sweetest way! Get 15% off all products when you buy your cakes and pastries at Honeybon!
Sometimes, you want a delicious meal meant just for you, and only you! Well, Chili’s has got just the promo for you—for only P380, choose a solo-size starter, soup or salad, a solo-size entree, and a drink and enjoy! Available all day, every day until November 30, 2024!
Snacks abound all September!
Dunkin’s Famous Bundle deal gets even better—instead of P420, treat yourself, your friends, and the whole family to a delicious selection of 6 Classic Donuts and 6 Premium Donuts for only P399!
Brighten your day with a delicious and healthy serving of Pinkberry frozen yogurt! Made with real milk, real yogurt, and the freshest ingredients, any small, medium or large size purchase will get you 10% off your order!
Delicious food made for sharing until the month ends!
Treat your family to a Max’s Restaurant meal—you might just get a little thank you for your patronage! For a minimum spend of P1,000, you and your loved ones can enjoy a FREE ala carte serving of their famous Lumpiang Shanghai!
Double the fries, double the fun! Enjoy your snack time by dropping by Tokyo Tokyo from 2 PM to 5 PM to get a second order of fries for free!
Snack time with the barkada has never been this good! Visit The Beanery from 10 AM to 3 PM and for a minimum spend of P1,000, you’ll get 1 order of Potato Mojos or 1 order of Korean Chicken Pops for FREE!
Delightful drinks to quench your thirst all month long!
Perk up your afternoons with a friend and Bo’s Coffee! From Monday to Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM, buy a Large Hot or Iced Cafe Latte, to get a Medium Hot or Iced Americano for free!
Barkada bondings get better with a delicious thirst quencher in hand! For just P299, you can get 4 cups of the refreshing Wonder Trio at Just Squeezed—perfect for sharing with your friends!
Share a sweet (and healthy!) treat with a special someone! Buy the Avo-licious Bundle at Avocadoria and get 2 refreshing, creamy and delicious Avocado Shakes for only P300!
Variety is the spice of life, and BLK 5 Cafe’s got a lot of it! Pick up any Venti drink from their selection of coffees, frappes and milk teas and enjoy 10 pesos off your order!
Drink coffee the Korean way! Get 10% off on all Grand-sized Drinks at WouldULike, the innovative South Korean coffee chain that makes each drink fresh and sealed in cans to preserve its delicious taste and temperature!
Your perfect cup just got bigger! Buy any hot drink from B&R Cafe and enjoy a free upsize from 8oz to 12oz!
Perk up with a little bit of zest! Buy any Venti Flavor at Fruity Lemon and get a FREE Fruity Lemon Petite!
Additional deals you don’t want to miss!
Eating like a King doesn’t mean breaking the bank! Enjoy delicious rice meal deals with Burger King’s King Saver Rice Meals! Choose from Mushroom Gravy Chunky Chicken Fillet, Creamy Parm Chunky Chicken Fillet, or Smoky BBQ Chunky Chicken Fillet for only P85 each—and get a free drink to boot! This deal runs until September 13, 2024 at all SM branches of Burger King, so don’t miss out!
Cafe Siklista has you covered for payday! On September 15 and September 30, choose from 22oz Iced Coffee & White Chops, 12oz Hot Coffee & Cheesecake, and Pasta & Clubhouse combos for only P180 each!
Mom’s Ube & Triple Chocolate Champorado promo is a perfect after-school reward for your bulilit! Buy 2 of any size and get 1 Small Champorado for free! Prices start at P35, and promo runs from September 20 to September 30 only!
Enjoy a complete selection of delicious Japanese favorites and get an incredible deal in return! Use your Security Bank Card when you dine at Tsurumaru Udon X Tempura on Mondays to Fridays until October 31, 2024 for 20% off on a total bill of P1,000 or more!
Celebrate your birthday by dining in at Shaka Cafe and get a FREE slice of cake of your choice! Just present proof of your birthdate and spend a minimum of P500! September celebrants, now is your time! Everyone else, don’t fret—this offer is valid until December 31, 2024!
Enjoy these tasty treats, delightful drinks and mouth-watering meals all through September with SM Supermalls’ Foodie Festival 2024! Download the SM Malls Online app and swipe to avail of these AweSM deals! For more information and to stay updated, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on Facebook.
NEWS
SM Supermalls celebrates Donald Duck’s 90th Anniversary
6:20 p.m. September 12, 2024
SM Supermalls was the epicenter of a quackin’ celebration as it hosted an unforgettable 90th anniversary party for Donald Duck. From August 1 to 13, 2024, mall-goers were treated to an array of themed installations, photo spots, and activities that paid tribute to one of Disney’s most beloved characters.
SM Mall of Asia launched the celebration in its Main Mall Atrium, with the space adorned in bold nautical colors, setting the perfect backdrop for the festivities. Multiple photo spots and a themed retail space delivered excitement of Donald’s 90th anniversary to Filipinos. Fans could browse a wide range of merchandise from Toy Kingdom Express featuring Donald Duck and other beloved Disney characters, from plush toys to stylish apparel.
Famous for his funny antics, Donald Duck debuted in 1934 in “The Wise Little Hen” cartoon and has since become one of Mickey Mouse’s best pals. For his 90th celebration, Donald Duck was also at the launch to greet and take photos with families.
A selection of plush toys from Toy Kingdom Express inspired by beloved Disney characters sit on display at SM Mall of Asia’s Main Mall Atrium.
Alongside the launch at SM Mall of Asia, Donald Duck took his birthday celebration on the road to two other SM malls in South Luzon. At SM City Santa Rosa and SM City Dasmarinas, Donald played with families and friends who came to greet him. Both malls also opened a retail space that featured collectibles, stuffed toys, and other merchandise to commemorate Donald Duck’s 90th anniversary.
For more information and to stay updated on the best family-fun activities, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on social media.
NEWS
Office of Civil Defense strengthens ties with Japan
8:49 p.m. September 10, 2024
Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said that there will be a continued effort to strengthen the ties with Japan on disaster risk reduction and management.
Nepomuceno said the initiative would be beneficial to the OCD following a courtesy call by officials from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) last week at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“We are pleased with the recent visit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense to OCD. Japan is one of our steadfast partners or strong allies in DRRM. We are grateful for their continued support to us. Their best practices in DRRM are invaluable and worthy of emulation,” Usec. Nepomuceno said.
During the visit, the OCD provided a briefing on various systems, mechanisms and efforts relative to the Philippine DRRM.
The discussion covered topics on Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the Philippines; Standard Operating Procedure for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Evacuation Plans and Safe Zones for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines; and the Ongoing Efforts to Improve Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness in the Philippines.
Officers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense are currently in the Philippines for Japan-Philippines Humanitarian and Disaster Response Cooperation Project 2024 from September 1 to 7, 2024 at the Headquarters of Philippine Army, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, and in Legazpi City, Albay.
Moreover, the OCD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been engaged in several capacity-building initiatives as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Capacity Enhancement Project Phase partnership program.