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M arcial, 27, is training in Las Vegas for his fifth professional fight next month and he’s expected to join the national team training shortly after.

POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed high hopes on Marcial’s commitment, saying the four-time Southeast Asian Games middleweight king provides a great impact to the nation’s campaign in Hangzhou.

Luana Bühler said.

It’s just a moment in the game. There are hundreds of moments that happen in the game, and that just happened to be in the penalty box. [The Swiss] had luck in that moment. But they made their own luck with good play,” said Alen Stajcic, Philippines head coach, on the penalty that led to Switzerland’s first goal.

Switzerland will face Norway, coming off an upset loss to New Zealand, in Hamilton, while the Philippines takes on an energized New Zealand in Wellington. Both matches are Tuesday.

B achmann converted the penalty kick in the 45th minute and Piubel wrapped the game up on a point blank follow-up in the 65th minute.

I n what could have changed the entire complexion of the game, forward Katrina Guillou struck from the right wing after slipping past a defender in the 16th minute, only to see it ruled offside by Togo referee Vincentia Abedome.

W hile acknowledging that the Swiss were the better overall side, Stajcic was mildly puzzled the referee awarded the penalty kick to the Swiss.

Did you see it the offense of Stewart? Was it clear? I did not see the replay, but if it is a penalty it should be clear,” Stajcic told a foreign scribe about the initial goal.

But it has to be admitted that the Swiss were dominant during the last 10-minute period and when you work that hard, you create your own luck,” the Aussie tactician added.

Stajcic also pointed out that if Guillou’s goal was counted “this would have change the tenor of the game because it would put the pressure on them not us.”

S witzerland’s German coach Ingmar Gings complimented the Filipinas in their tough play in the first half and was relieved that her favored charges settled down on the way to completing the muchneeded win. AP

Asiad, eyes Paris berth

“ I believe Eumir will win and qualify for the Olympics,” Tolentino said.

The boxing competitions in the Asian Games—set September 23 to October 8—are a qualifier to the Paris Olympics.

M arcial is guaranteed of a slot to the Asian Games because there are no other aspirants at 80 kgs (middleweight) in the ABAP pool, according to Manalo.

There won’t be a boxoff for 80 kgs, unlike in the 51, 57 and 63.5 kgs,” Manalo said. SWIMMING

Olympian Ryan Arabejo will coach the team formed by the World Aquatic-backed Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) headed by newly elected president Miko Vargas and secretarygeneral Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain. “

The world’s top swimmers makes this tournament a fierce competition, no doubt about it,” said Buhain, a Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer and considered the most decorated Filipino swimmer. “But our athletes are out to experience the atmosphere in a high-level tournament, try to improve their personal best time, and sharpen their skills.”

T he Filipinos qualified for the annual event based on their World Aquatics points collated in all sanctioned events they participated in.

Objective is to get the highest World Aquatics Points through their best performance and get a chance to compete in the Paris Olympics. We’re hoping for the best for our swimmers,” Buhain added.

A lkhaldi, the face of Philippine swimming in years, qualified for the 50 meters freestyle where she has a personal best of 25.50 as well as in 100m butterfly with a best time of 1:00.45 she recorded in clinching the bronze medal at the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May.

The 21-year-old Chua, who trained in Australia as part of her preparation for the Sea Games, registered to compete in the 400m individual medley and 200m backstroke where she has a good chance of finishing strong considering the progress of her time since her return from Down Under, according to his personal trainer/coach former Olympian Pinky Brosas.

“Considering the progress of her time since her Australia training, the prospects are good for Xiandi,” Brosas said.

T he Ateneo student won the gold medal in record-fashioned in Cambodia clocking 2:13.20 shattering the SEA Games record of 2:13.64 set by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Anh Vien in the women’s 200m backstroke at the 2017 edition in Jakarta. She reset her 4:56.82 performance in Australia trials with an impressive 4:52.08 clocking in winning the bronze also in SEAG.

Malixi pulls off shocker vs Rischer, barges into quarters

RIANNE MALIXI birdied three of the last five holes in stirring fashion, overcoming a two-hole deficit and nipping Audrey Rischer, 1-up, to crash into the quarterfinal round of the upset-marred US Girls’ Junior Match Play Championship in Colorado Thursday.

shock, so dejected that she holed out with a bogey.

T he ICTSI-backed ace faces No.

17 Farah O’Keefe in the quarterfinals Friday morning with the eight survivors bracing for another grueling test of stamina with the semifinals slated in the afternoon.

really cold in the first 12 holes,” said Malixi, who missed five birdie chances inside 6 feet before falling two holes down as Rischer dominated the long holes and birdied Nos. 9 and 11. Malixi missed another chance on No. 12 and Rischer halved the next hole to sit on the two-hole cushion with five holes left.

THE Philippines’s No Mac Tallo, Dennis Santos, Paul Desiderio and import Marcus Hammonds are ready for China tourney.

in the pro circuit,” Mascariñas added.

Seeded 11th in the main draw, Manila! Chooks! will open Pool C play on Saturday against world No. 7 Beijing of China at 4:35 p.m. before facing world No. 15 Utrecht of the Netherlands at 9 p.m. The Wuxi Challenger also serves as a qualifier for the World Tour

Shanghai Masters set October 14 and 15, with the top three finishers assured of slots to the Level 10 event.

A fter missing the knockout stages of the Chooks-to-Go FIBA

3x3 World Tour 2023 Manila Masters last May, Lanete said the group is determined to finish better in its latest campaign.

Not only did the win net the 24th ranked Malixi a spot in the quar terfinals packed with bidders who hacked out stirring reversals over their respective highly-ranked rivals but it also gave the 16-year-old Filipina the confidence and momentum she would need as she steps up her drive for the coveted championship.

Two holes down with five to go, Malixi came through with three birdies in the pressure-packed stretch, including a match-clinching tap-in feat on the closing par-4 hole of the Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue course that left her American rival in total gains confidence and momentum.

But while Malixi toughened up in the face of adversity, the No. 25 Rischer cracked trying to stay ahead and ward off any of the former’s plausible stretch-run rally. The American failed as she bogeyed the 14th and though she hung tough by matching Malixi’s pars in the next two holes, the latter proved clutch, rolling in a delicate 15-foot putt for birdie on the 17th to force an all-square match.

I know that it was a tough match. But it was never over until it’s over. So I kept on grinding and fighting back,” said Malixi.