CONGRATS TO BRO. CARLO AND HAIDE

Bro. Carlo Bacalla and Haide Acuna in this file photo courtesy of Cebu Sports Blog

The LDS Runner would like to congratulate Bro. Carlo Bacalla and Haide Acuna for conquering the Bataan Death March 160K (100 miles) Ultamarathon. This particular endurance race traces the route US and Filipino POWs death march after they surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army after the fall of Bataan in WWII.

            Originally, the Bataan Death March (BDM) only features 102K. This year, retired Army General Joven Narcise aka The Bald Runner, who organized the event, added the 160K version to the traditional 102K race. The 160K route starts from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.

            The 160K race was slated on February 26-27, 2011.

            Bro Carlo was reported to have finished 14^th with a time of 26 hours and 8 minutes. Haide, on the other hand, registered a time of 31 hours and 8 minutes.

            Again, the LDS Runner congratulates Bro. Carlo and Haide. These two ultra marathoners made Cebu proud last year after they finished the BDM 102K race. This year, they went even farther and made us prouder this time!

SHOWDOWN IN LA

Griffin dunks over two Bulls players. Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Two weeks back I wanted to be in Bacolod City; this time I want to be in LA. If had my way, I may add, to watch this year’s 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend?

            This is a showdown.

            I’d like to watch Blake Griffin throw down those dunks! There’s the likes of Demar DeRozan, Sege Ibaka, Javalee McGee who are all capable to rocking the rim too.

            Griffin has been in every highlight almost every week. This rookie could fly, hand on air and stuff it. Can’t wait for the contest to begin. If I were LeBron James I would sign in as a late registrant!

Paul versus Ray in the 3-point shootout

 Of course there’s the main attraction will be the All-Star game on Sunday (Monday in the Philippines). Kobe, Carmelo, Kevin, Chris and Ming (he’s injured and will be replaced) will go up against LeBron, Dwayne, Ama’re, Derrick, and Dwight.

            Pop will handle the West and has put Duncan to start in lieu of Yao while Doc gets to coach the East for the second straight year.

            West reserves have three first time invitees in Griffin, Love, Westbrook. But the East has got it all in green with Kevin, Paul, Ray and Rajon making the list. Will Doc put Dwight in with his four stars?

            What I’d love to watch is the match-up at point between Derrick and Chris, two of the hottest PG’s in the NBA this year.

            For the past two years, the East had been having their way with the West. I think it’s about time for the West to return the compliment.

            The curtain raisers are just as mouth watering starting with the Rookies versus the Sophomores and the Skills Challenge.

GO AZKALS!

Some members of Azkals pose for a picture. Photo courtesy of Azkals Photostream.

 

If I had my way, I’d be at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City tonight to watch the football game between our very own Azkals and Mongolia. But it’s my wife’s birthday and I just couldn’t dig up enough courage to ask her that I’ll be going to Bacolod City. Despite the bouquet of flowers, I left on the dashboard of our van this morning, (for her to obviously discover) I just couldn’t summon enough courage to leave.

            She knows my passion for football and would watch gleefully as I play with our youngest son James, who by the way, wants to be a football player!

            I’ll probably request that after dinner, we watch the game on TV, just like when the Azkals played Indonesia in semis of the Suzuki Cup.

            This is a great moment in Philippine football history. Never has there been so much adoration and expectation for a Philippine football team than these Azkals. And they deserve every accolade.

As for expectation, that would be a different story. I think some of us are expecting too much.

            There’s not much we know about Mongolia. They arrived in Bacolod City the other day without any fanfare. Looking at the picture of the group, they seem young and very serious.

            Looks could be deceiving but I think they know they’re the underdogs here. Wait until they host the other game on March 16 at their national stadium of Ulan Bator.

            The Azkals is 30 rungs higher in ranking (152) than the Mongolians (182) and the favorites in this qualifying series for the AFF.

            This is the first meeting between the Azkals and Mongolia. The two sides have faced Macau. The Azkals beat Macau 5-0 while the latter beat Mongolia 2-0. The scores may indicate the “competitive level” of Mongolia but anything could happen in the pitch.

            If Phil Younghusband would have his way, however, he said he’d put in two goals for the Azkals tonight. That might a little boast but Phil is the country’s leading scorer and has played at Panaad many times. “I expect to score at least two goals in that game. I have standards for myself. If I don’t (score two goals), I will be disappointed,” the 23-year-old striker was quoted as saying.

            I’ll be eyeballing Phil tonight. My eyes will be on him every time he has the ball because I took his word for it. This means the Azkals will win by at least two goals.

            For this game, German Coach Michael Weiss has the following line-up.

            Neil Etheridge (GK), Eduard Sacapaño, Rob Gier, Anton Del Rosario, Alexander “Aly” Borromeo (Captain), Ray Anthony Jonsson, Jason Sabio, Joebel Bermejo, Jerry Barbaso, Rey Palmes, Kristopher Relucio, James Younghusband, Emelio Caligdong, Jason de Jong, Patrick Henrichsen, Simon Greatwich, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margarse, Roel Gener, Phil Younghusband, Ian Araneta, Peter Jaugan and Yanti Barsales.

            Recent call-ups include Cebu’s Christopher Camcam, Michael Atienza, David Basa, Gino Pavone, Mark Drinkuth, Christopher Greatwich and Manuel Ott.

            GO AZKALS!

ACCIDENTAL WINNER?

Joel Alcorin sprinting his way to the finish line of the PLDT Smart 10 Miler

Joel Alcorin, the 31-year-old runner from Bacolod City, said he didn’t expect to win the PLDT Smart 10 Miler last Sunday.

            But when the opportunity presented itself in the last 200 meters or so of the race, he went for it to upset Adonis Singson.

            “When stepped on the track, I saw him almost approaching the turn. But I realized I have done a lot of speed work and went for it,” Alcorin told this writer in Hiligaynon after the race.

            Alcorin was just behind the pacesetting Singson. As the two runners made the last turn at Fuente Circle, he was just a few meters behind. Singson wisely increased his pace and reached the entrance of Cebu City Sports Complex first.

            Alcorin insists he didn’t expect to win.

            When told that Singson was 2010 Milo Cebu elimination winner in the 21k category, that Philip Duenas is one of the formidable runners in Cebu, that Mendel Lopez used to belong to PH Training Pool, he could only manage a grin.

            What makes Alcorin’s win special is that he never really had any formal training.

            Grace Ruperto, Smart’s Trade Marketing Operations in Visayas and Mindanao, said Alcorin’s foster parents are missionaries and they encouraged him to go into sports.

            So Alcorin got into sports – all sorts – like running, javelin, discuss, etc. But running was his favorite.

            Ruperto, who brought Alcorin and two other runners from Bacolod City, added that Alcorin would train but never had any chance to compete because there’s not a many races in Bacolod City.

            Coach Precing Capangpangan observed that Alcorin has the potential and could be more competitive if he could go into proper training.

            Alcorin maintains he didn’t expect to win. To this writer though, he wasn’t just an accidental winner.

            PLDT Smart 10 Miler Top Finishers

            

            16k (Men)

            Joel Alcorin, 56:06.42

            Adonis Singson, 56:17.59

            Philip Duenas, 59:12.79

            Mendel Lopez, 1:19.15

            Noel Tillor, 1:28.88

            Alvirg Busa, 1:01:23.57

            Dandy Maturan, 1:02:10.23

            Prince Joey Lee, 1:02:48.36

            Leyhan Rotilles, 1:08:47.99

            Chris Burdette, 1:08:52.67

            16k (Women)

            Mary Grace Delos Santos, 1:08:50.07

            Madelyn Carter, 1:11:49.11

            Lhoriz Echavez, 1:19:28.88

            Milette Chiongbian, 1:20:36.57

            Sharon Vega, 1:20:59.67

            Emeralde Hermosilla, 1:25:11.57

            Ma. Milagros Tanudtanud, 1:25:13.23

            Tessie Escasinas, 1:27:03.36

            Mary Ann Benedicto, 1:28:07.99

            Carmel Angel Suico, 1:38:02.67

            10k (Men)

            Jobert Carolino, 34:57.13

            Ian Bernido, 34:57.16

            Jess Gonzaga, 35:39.88

            Reprinel Banzon, 37:25.57

            Roland Felicio, 38:09.67

            Franie Cahumay, 38:11.57

            Harold Estrada, 39:04.23

            Leo Abello, 40:04.36

            Michel Largo, 40:49.99

            Ramil Adlawan, 42:16.67

            10k (Women)

            Mary Joy Tabal, 42:58.13

            Christy Tutor, 43:48.11

            Joeyry Lee, 45:09.88

            Emily Rosas, 47:37.57

            Merlita Dunkin, 48:59.07

            Mary Ann Canape, 55:23.57

            Bea Villo, 58:07.23

            Helen Dionson, 1:02:11.36

            Jennifer Cenzon, 1:04:23.99

            Cecilia Asegurado, 1:05:13.67

            5k (Men)

            Joel Delposo, 18:52.13

            Jorry Ycong, 19:08.11

            Russell Camilo, 20:37.88

            Jaime Antiporda, 22:50.67

            5k (Women)

            Aiza Suaybaguio, 22:29.57

            Lorna Olarita, 25:25.23

            Rose Marie Adlawan, 26:08.36

            Lynle Cardenas, 26:47.99

            Rejeeli Sumaya, 27:09.67

BAD DAY FOR PH SPORTS

Some member of Smart Gilas Basketball Team pose with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in this file photo taken by Abac Cordero of the Philippine Star.

Just when I felt so good because of clear skies Sunday morning, I wasn’t that happy. Smart Gilas lost an Egyptian team in the finals of a basketball tournament in Dubai and then GM Wesley So settled for a tie of fourth and seventh places in Tata Steel Chess 2011 at Week Aan Zee, the Netherlands.

            Not even shaking the hands of Pato Gregorio, the sports marketing honcho of Smart Gilas, before the opening ceremony of the PLDT Smart 10 Miler at the Cebu City Sports complex early Sunday morning could appease me. I was disheartened.

Smart Gilas, for instance, was poised to nail its first international crown but Al Ethihad Alexandria of Egypt beat them 84-75 for the crown of the 22^nd Dubai Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Smart Gilas bucked the loss of its import Marcus Douthit who was ejected in the first half after an altercation with Dareen Kelly of the Egyptian team.

Smart Gilas squandered a 44-33 halftime lead to succumb to the taller Egyptians in the second half. It’s back to the drawing board for Smart Gilas.

The latest news is that Coach Rajko Toroman wants PBA players to reinforce his squad. He wants these players to commit to a longer stint with the team so they could practice and play together for a longer period.

Next for Smart Gilas is a stint in the PBA as a regular team and then the Jones Cup in Taiwan before embarking playing in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China in September. The winner of this tournament gets a ticket to the London Olympics in 2012. The last time a Philippine basketball team played in the Olympics was in 1972.

Filipino super GM Wesley So.

After a string of four straight victories, many of his fans thought GM Wesley So could win the title this time. After a loss to GM Li Chao of China in the 9^th round, So could only extract a point in the last three rounds.

So went for the kill against Dutch GM Friso Nijboer in the next round but could only extract an 80-move draw. The youngster’s game against English GM Luke McShane in the penultimate round was a disaster. He blundered in the endgame and resigned in forty moves. He drew his last game against Polish GM Radek Wojtaszek (the topseed) to tally 7.5 points good for joint fourth to seventh places.

GMs Luke McShane and David Navara were joints winners with 8.5 points and will get the invitation to play in Group A next year.

So will play next in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, Russia beginning Feb. 9.