Let’s rally behind Gilas pool–Panlilio

Mondilla did match Jaraula’s exploits on Nos. 10 and 11 to wrest solo second but failed to gain any stroke in the stretch with a spate of pars marred by a couple of late bogeys and saw his drive to end a long title drought hampered by a missed birdie putt from 4 feet at the par-4 No. 9 of Valley South.

I n contrast, Jaraula fueled his own bid with a big par-save on the same hole, punching a shot from the trees to the front of the green then chipping way past the sloping hole.

But he returned a pressurepacked putt from 6 feet, drawing subdued applause from the gallery, that, however, was left in virtual shock as Mondilla blew his birdie try from close range.

Averting a possible 2-shot swing, Jaraula kept his overnight twostroke lead intact over Alido while holding off the charges of Korean Chon Koo Kang, Japanese Ueda Atsushi, Jhonnel Ababa, Go and Mondilla in a round that started in a shaft of sunlight, played through dark skies midway through before ending in sweltering conditions at mid-noon.

The Del Monte ace then pulled away by 5 with that big backside blast, coupled with Alido’s uncharacteristic double-bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13, that not even his miscues on Nos. 16 and 18 could derail his claim to a second Philippine Golf Tour crown.

There was pressure from the start—I had a couple of mishits and bogeyed the first two holes. But I told myself to just relax and try to rebound at the back nine,” said Jaraula in Filipino.

Tapales freed of mandatory rematch

UNIFIED world super bantamweight king Marlon

Tapales could now fully focus on either elite champions American Stephen Fulton or Japanese Naoya Inoue after he was freed of a mandatory rematch against Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

“ Marlon can now focus on targeting the bigger picture ahead of him,” international matchmaker Sean Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Friday after learning that the World Boxing Aassociation lifted Tapales’s voluntary title defense against Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev.

Tapales captured the WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight titles after beating Akhmadaliev via split decision last April in San Antonio, Texas.

Super bantamweight champion Fulton and former undisputed world titleholder Inoue square off on July 25 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

PVL Invitationals draws 13 teams

THE biggest Premier Volleyball League (PVL) conference will kick off on June 27 at the Filoil Ecooil Centre with 13 teams— including three new members and two foreign guests—competing in the midseason crown won by Creamline last year.

The new additions are the Foton Tornadoes, Farm Fresh Foxies and Gerflor Defenders.

With volleyball in the country growing by leaps and bounds over the past decade, we feel that it’s about time to increase the number of member teams in the PVL,” league president Richard “Ricky” Palou said.

This will not only bring more excitement for our fans but also provide players with more opportunities to have a career in volleyball. The new teams are also committed to staying with us in the long term,” he added. The Foton Tornadoes will make their return to competitive volleyball after three years.

“

We are happy that the league and the member teams allowed us to join starting with the Invitational Conference,” team manager Aaron Velez said. “With two teams, this will give our company added exposure and our players a chance to further hone their skills.”

The Farm Fresh Foxies will feature the core of the College of Saint Benilde team and will have Jerry Yee as the head coach.

The PVL is a big platform to introduce our product, which is the first real fresh milk in the market,”

Foxies team manager Janica Lao said.

The Gerflor Defenders will feature a mix of veterans and young players and will be coached by Edgar Barroga.

“ But I regained my confidence after saving par on No. 9 then made a birdie-eagle start at the back,” added Jaraula, whose 10-under 278 total netted him P360,000, four years after hitting paydirt with a playoff victory over Tony Lascuña at Pueblo de Oro.

Go rallied with a 69 to tie Mondilla, who scrambled for a 72, at second at 283 and received P186,000 each while Aidric Chan took the low amateur honors with a day-best 66 as he fashioned out a strong joint fourth place finish with recent Villamor Philippine Masters winner Ababa, who also closed out with 72, at 284. A lido missed his birdie chance on No. 10 but birdied the next although his mishaps in the next two holes dropped him out of the title chase. The Bacolod leg winner wound up with a 76 and finished at joint sixth at 285 with Zanieboy Gialon, who shot a 69, Gabriel Manotoc, Rico Depilo and Guido van der Valk, who matched 70s, and Keanu Jahns and Lascuna, who carded identical 72s. Jaraula’s bogeys in the first two holes had hinted at the coming of a wild finish to the P2 million championship put up by ICTSI and though Alido, who started the final round two shots off the former, also tripped with two bogeys in the first three holes, it enabled at least seven players to get a crack at the crown.

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng

Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio on Wednesday called on the Filipino people to rally behind the Gilas Pilipinas national pool as preparations for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup (FIBAWC) goes into overdrive with a series of pocket tournaments and friendlies in Europe.

“ We humbly seek the full support of our countrymen for our national pool. They are about to begin the critical part of their training for the World Cup and they need everybody to fall behind them,” said Panlilio, recently elected second vice president of the FIBA Asia Board.

“ We’re praying for the good health and safety of all the players, coaches and everyone involved with Gilas Pilipinas,” he said. “This is our national team, and they are all committed to give their utmost best as they go up against the best players in the world.”

O n the hosting side of the event, Panlilio assured that SBP and the FIBAWC Local Organizing Committee had left no stone unturned in making sure the country will be delivering the best World Cup ever, adding everything is right on schedule.

With the help of the government and our friends in the public sector, SBP has put in place an elaborate network that works 24/7 to guarantee a World Cup built on organization, teamwork and our fellowmen’s innate hospitality and love for the game,” Panlilio said.

SBP announced on Tuesday the composition of the 21-man Gilas pool, which will reconvene this week to set into motion the final process leading