Offcials disagree on merger p. 27
What killed the Tour winner? p. 27
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n JOBANNIE C. TABADA Editor
HEFT IS MIGHT ‘Baby Shaq’ anchors Skygo win
BURLY DEFENDER. Ro-nald Quiñahan was the focal point of Skygo’s tough defense against Mega Mix. (SUN.STAR FILE)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2004
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
61-1 win margin in soccer NEW DELHI – Two Indian football teams each competing for promotion to a premier league scored 116 goals between them in separate matches after their opponents had clearly been paid off, press reports said yesterday. The clubs in western India’s Goa state, Curtorim and Wilfred, could be banned for life along with their opponents after notching up basketball-like scores of 61-1 and 55-1 respectively in a bid to sneak past each other, newspapers reported. The Goa Football Asociation (GFA) had ordered
simultaneous kick-offs for the two matches played at different venues Tuesday night, as the team scoring the most goals would be promoted to the premier league. But club officials posted at the two grounds kept in touch with each other by mobile telephones to report progress. Even the goalkeeper of one of the teams joined in the scoring feast, the Indian Express said. GFA secretary Savio Nessias suspended all four clubs, saying “they made a mockery of football.” (AFP)
THE GURU SPEAKS:
Beware of Michael GAMES ON SATURDAY (Venue TBA)
7 p.m. – General Feeds vs. Jaz 9 p.m. – Skygo vs. Hapee BY ROMMEL C. MANLOSA Sun.Star Staff Reporter
LONDON – Sven-Goran Eriksson has told England’s Euro 2004 rivals to beware the goal threat of striker Michael Owen. Eriksson, speaking ahead of England’s friendly away to Euro 2004 hosts Portugal in Faro on Wednesday, said he believed Liverpool forward Owen’s injury-enforced break this season would leave him fresh for international action at the end of what would otherwise be a long domestic season. “It might help Michael to have had a break,” Eriksson said on Tuesday. “For the World Cup, we had some players not playing – Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard – and some others – Michael Owen and David Beckham – who were not 100 percent fit,” the Swede added. “You can always discuss whether it was 100 percent right for me to pick them and play them. But when you talk about David Beckham and Michael Owen, I think that I should do it again.”
J
OSEPH Ronald “Baby Shaq” Quiñahan proved to be an immovable force in the paint as he led Skygo Motorcycle Riders in executing a zone defense to break General Feeds Mega Mix and stay unbeaten following a 68-56 triumph Tuesday night in the 2004 CBF President’s Cup hosted by Barangay Sawang Calero at the San Nicolas Sports Complex. Meanwhile, Jaz Cola had an impressive showing as it handed defending champion Hapee Toothpaste winless in two games after scoring a 79-62 drubbing in the opening match. With Quiñahan parading the shaded lane, Skygo pulled away from a tight contest in the final canto to give the Gillamac Marketing Inc.-franchise its second victory, while handing the Feeds Masters their first defeat after a 78-67 victory Sunday over the Hapee Sparkling Knights. The give-and-go game of the Riders proved to be an enigma for General Feeds coach Jun Tan, who had a tough time solving the problem laid down on the court by his opponent across the bench – Boy Cabahug. With Quiñahan playing in MVP form and flashy guard Ronaldo Bucao and Neil “Smooth Operator” Rañeses also contributing, Skygo pulled away from a 53-47 lead at the start to the fourth quarter to a double-digit win.
PROFILE
ENGLISH FOOTBALL. England’s Swedish manager Sven Goran Eriksson (top) answers a question during a press conference. Eriksson considers Michael Owen (above, foreground) one of two important players of the English team. (AFP FOTOS)
Name: Michael Owen Nickname: Midget Gem Position: Attacker Club: Liverpool Birth date: Dec. 14, 1979 Birthplace: Chester, England Height: 5-8 Weight: 141 lbs Eye/Hair: Brown/Brownish-Blond League Debut: vs. Wimbledon (May 6, 1997) First goal scored: vs. Wimbledon (May 6, 1997) First full cap: February 1998 vs. Chile First full international goal: vs. Morocco, 1998 Honors: - Voted P.F.A. Young Player of the Year in 1998 - Youngest player to gain a full cap (a recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for his country) this century, when capped for England against Chile at the age of 18 - Joint leading scorer in Premiership (England’s top-level soccer league) season 1997/1998 with 18 goals