SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014

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02 03Inflation surges to 33-mo high

Page 06

Sundigan junks JPE bail petition

MANILA: Protesters display placards behind a “Stop Bombing Gaza!” message after lighting candles recently, in suburban Quezon city,northeast of Manila, Philippines. The protesters called for a stop to the bombings in Gaza which have killed hundreds of Palestinians,including women and children. —AP

MANILA: The government is verifying a report thatsome Filipino Muslims were being recruited as fight-ers in conflict-affected countries in the Middle East.Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte saidin a radio interview yesterday that the Foreign AffairsDepartment was ordered to verify a report that some200 Filipinos went to Syria and Iraq to train and fightwith the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). Shealso said that the Bureau of Immigration was “veryalert when it comes to those who are supposedlyeither going to Iraq, to Syria, or to other transit points.“We don’t want them to be dragged into the conflict,”she said. —Xinhua

Gov’t verifying report of Filipinos recruited as

fighters in Middle East

MANILA: Inalerto ng pamahalaan ang mga Pinoy at mul-ing nanawagan na magsilikas sa Iraq kasunod ng kautu-san ni US Pres. Barack Obama na air strikes laban sa mgamilitante sa northern Iraq. Ayon kay Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose,nakatuon ang pagmamalasakit ng gobyerno sa seguridadng mga Pinoy sa Iraq kung saan nananatiling ipinatutu-pad ang crisis alert level 4 o mandatory evacuation sanasabing bansa maliban sa Kurdistan region na nasa alertlevel 2. Sinabi ni Jose na base sa rekomendasyon ngEmbahada ng Pilipinas sa Baghdad, mananatili ang alertlevel 2 sa Kurdistan habang ang mga natitirang lugar saIraq ay nasa pinakamataas na alerto. Kinumpirma ni USPresident Obama sa pakikipagpulong sa kanyang nationalsecurity team, na binigyan na nito ng awtorisasyon angUS military na magsagawa ng limitadong air strikes labansa Islamic State fighters sa northern Iraq at military air-drops ng humanitarian supplies para sa mga religiousminorities doon. Ang aksyon ni Obama ay upang maprotektahan umanoang mga Amerikano sa Kurdistan capital at maiwasan angpotensyal na “act of genocide” sa Arbil kung saannakabase ang mga militante. Magugunita na noongHunyo 19, 2014, itinaas ng Department of Foreign Affairssa crisis alert level 4 sa Iraq dahil sa walang humpay nabakbakan at sapilitang pinalilikas ang tinatayang mahigit6,000 Pinoy sa nasabing bansa. Sa kabila ng mandatoryevacuation, ayaw pa ring magsiuwi ang karamihang Pinoysa Iraq.—PSN

Mga Pinoy sa Iraq inalerto sa air strike!

MANILA: The World Bank lowered its Philippinegrowth forecasts Thursday to 6.4 percent this year and6.7 percent next year but says the country remains oneof East Asia’s fastest growing economies.

World Bank officials said the revision reflects theeconomy’s sluggish takeoff in the first quarter of 2014after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, slower gov-ernment spending in the second quarter and tighten-ing of monetary policy in the first seven months.

The projection contained in an updated report onthe Philippine economy is down from the previous 6.6percent forecast for this year and 6.9 percent for nextyear.

But the government is on the right track, withrecent data suggesting sustained high growth hasbegun to cause significant reductions in poverty, bankofficials said.

Some 2.5 million Filipinos were lifted out of poverty

in 2013 in a break from “many years of slow povertyreduction,” said Rogier van den Brink, the bank’s topeconomist for the Philippines. The proportion of peo-ple living in poverty in 2013 was 24.9 percent, down 3percentage points from 2012.

In the 12 months through April, the economy alsocreated 1.7 million jobs, but there is a need for higherquality employment, he said.

Continue on Page 3

WB lowers Philippine growth forecast

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 2MANILA: Inflation accelerated to a 33-month high in July amid soaring foodprices and increases in utility rates andtransportation fares. From 4.4 percent inJune, the rate rose to 4.9 percent lastmonth, the fastest pace since the 5.2 per-cent recorded in October 2011. Withoutfood or oil prices, core inflation settled atthree percent in July, up from 2.8 percent inJune.

“The July inflation outturn is within theBSP’s forecast range, albeit at the upperend. This confirms our assessment that theeconomy could see more near-termincreases in select food prices, partly due toweather-related supply concerns,” BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M.Tetangco Jr. said in a text message toreporters.

The central bank’s inflation forecast forJuly was 4.1 percent to 4.9 percent. The BSPcited the increasing food prices followingtyphoons that devastated the country latelast year and earlier in 2014.

“The BSP will therefore more closelycoordinate with other agencies of govern-ment towards developing solutions tothese constraints,” Tetangco said.

“At the same time, BSP will continue tomonitor developments and calibrate mon-etary policy, as needed, to help guide infla-

tion expectations and address secondround effects that may develop,” he contin-ued. “Even as we have already taken a seriesof policy actions to address liquiditygrowth and its attendant financial stabilityrisks and to temper inflation expectations,we will not hesitate to use any of our toolsto help guide markets to keep inflationwithin the target range over the policyhorizon,” the BSP chief further said.

The BSP has forecast inflation to average4.33 percent this year, above the midpointof its three to five percent target range.

Last week, monetary authorities hikedkey policy rates by 25 basis points each as apreemptive move to keep inflation incheck, particularly for 2015. The centralbank raised its forecast average for 2015inflation to 3.72 percent, already nearingthe upper end of the two to four percentgoal for that year.

The next rate-setting meeting has beenslated for Sept. 11. The July inflation printbrought the seven-month average to 4.3percent, still within the BSP’s target.

Looking at inflation by region, the ratein the National Capital Region quickened to3.9 percent in July from 3.6 percent in June.Areas outside the capital, meanwhile, sawinflation climb to 5.1 percent from 4.7 per-cent. —The Philippine Star

Inflation surges to 33-mo high

MANILA: A customer buy garlic at a market in Manila recently. Philippine inflation shot up to a nearlythree-year high of 4.9 percent in July, the government said, when many Filipinos were priced out offood items such as garlic. —AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 3

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MANILA: Senate Minority Leader Juan PonceEnrile cannot be granted bail before the courtassesses the evidence against him, the

Sandiganbayan ruled.It denied yesterday Enrile’s motion for recon-

sideration and stood firm on its July 3, 2014

decision denying him bail.The anti-graft court’s Third Division said in

capital offenses, bail can only be granted andfixed after the prosecution fails to prove thatthe evidence against the accused is strong.

“In this case, accused Enrile filed a motion tofix bail, not a motion for bail, based on his sub-mission that he is entitled to bail as a matter ofright pending presentation of the prosecutionof its evidence showing proof evident of hisguilt,” read the decision. The Sandiganbayansaid the accused conveniently overlooked thefact that he is charged with a capital offense.“Bail as to him is discretionary and such discre-tion is exercisable by the court only after theprosecution presented its evidence in a bailhearing,” they said.

Enrile filed a motion to fix amount of bailafter he was ordered arrested and detained inCamp Crame.

The Sandiganbayan said it cannot determinethe amount of bail prior to determining if bailcan be granted. Enrile appealed the ruling,insisting that he has a right to bail.

However, the anti-graft court said it is onlyafter the prosecution had presented evidencethat it could determine that the evidence ofguilt is not strong against Enrile, thus he coulddemand bail as a matter of right. “Then andonly then will the court be duty-bound to fixthe amount of his bail,” read the decision.

—The Philippine Star

Sandigan junks JPE bail petition

NAYPYIDAW: Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries pose for a photo prior a meeting of the 47thASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Plenary Session at the Myanmar International Convention Center(MICC) in Naypyidaw on Friday. Myanmar will host the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting(AMM) and 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the capital Naypyidaw from August 8 to 10. —AFP

WB lowers ...Continued from Page 1

Karl Kendrich Chua, the bank’s senior economist forthe Philippines, said the country can sustain highgrowth by accelerating reforms and increasing invest-ments in infrastructure and in health and education.

The World Bank estimates that the country needs tospend an additional 5 percent of GDP on health andeducation to raise labor productivity and competitive-ness of Filipino workers on top of the government’splanned doubling of infrastructure spending to 5 per-cent of GDP. The government has already doubledspending on social services and injected more fundsinto infrastructure. World Bank economists said sustain-ing those efforts will close the remaining gaps broughtabout by decades of lagging public investment.

The Philippines’ spending on infrastructure as wellas machines and equipment has been declining sincethe 1970s and is below its neighbors. It also spends 30-50 percent less on infrastructure, health and education.

Chua said the country’s tax system must be madesimpler and more equitable, with the tax burden andcost of compliance reduced for small businesses andwage earners. He said the government has successfullyraised tax revenue equivalent to 1.2 percent of GDP inthe last three years through the tobacco and alcohol“sin tax” reform and improved tax administration.

“Accelerating the reform momentum would helpthe country yield additional tax revenues to furtherexpand growth that can benefit more poor Filipinos,”he said.—AP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 4

KUWAIT: ‘Little Princess Philippines Kuwait 2014’ candidates paraded their talents last Friday in a pre-pageant event. The most awaited ‘coronation night’ was alsoannounced. It will be held at the Boy Scout Association, Hawally Kuwait slated on August 22, 2014 from 5pm onwards. The event is being organized by Kapampangan KengKuwait and Kooperatiba ng Manggagawang Pinay sa Kuwait. The event is prepared in the intention to help the renovation of some parts of the Holy Family Hall CathedralChurch, Kuwait City and Outreach Program to fellow OFWs in Kuwait. For more information please contact Arch. Gerrievelle Garcia Guinto, the Founding Chairman-Kapampangan Keng Kuwait and Founding Adviser-Kooperatiba ng Manggagawang Pinay.

Stage ready for ‘Little Princess Philippines Kuwait 2014’

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 5

MANILA: Buddhist monks yesterday led a religious service inManila to mark the fourth anniversary of the Manila hostagecrisis.

The service was held at the Luneta where the bloody 2010incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2010, according to a report onGMA News TV’s “News TV Live.” Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada,who wore a barong, attended the rites. It was the first ritesince Estrada led a Philippine delegation to Hong Kong to

offer apologies for the 2010 incident. On Aug. 23, 2010, a dismissed policeman took a busload of

tourists from Hong Kong hostage in Manila, to demand hisreinstatement.

He and eight of the hostages were killed in a botchedpolice rescue operation.

The incident prompted Hong Kong to issue a black traveladvisory discouraging travel to the Philippines, even as

President Benigno Aquino III refused to issue an apology. Butafter the apology offered by the Estrada-led delegation lastApril, Hong Kong lowered its black travel alert.

The Philippine government at the time also expressed its“most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy” for the victimsof the Aug. 23, 2010 incident. Following the apology HongKong also reinstated the visa-free privileges for Philippine gov-ernment officials visiting Hong Kong. —GMA News

Monks lead service marking 4th anniversary of Manila hostage crisis

MANILA: Chinese Buddhist monks perform rites for a day of special prayers at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila recently, in memory of the victims of a hostage-taking inci-dent where eight Hong Kong people were killed and seven were wounded by a disgraced Philippine policeman in 2010. The incident frayed relations between the Philippinesand Hong Kong, which have only recently been repaired. —AFP

MANILA: Japanese lead actor Takeru Satoh of the hit movie“Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” thanked Filipino fansThursday for a warm welcome, saying he hopes the film willpave the way for more Japanese movies to be shown in thePhilippines.

The stars and director of the movie traveled to thePhilippines for the film’s Asian premiere on Wednesday.

Satoh said it was difficult to think of what film to makenext. But he said he hopes to “create some great movies”again with Keishi Otomo, director of the Kenshin trilogy.

On Wednesday night, Filipino fans loudly cheered Satoh,

actress Emi Takei, actor Munetaka Aoki and Otomo as theyarrived on the red carpet before the screening at SMMegamall. Satoh told a news conference Thursday that themovie about Kenshin Himura, a legendary assassin turnedconflicted hero during Japan’s Meiji era, may have appealedto Filipino and other Asian fans because action movies have“one language, everyone can appreciate it.” But he said themovie also shows the intricacies of Japanese culture in hopesthat people will appreciate and understand them.

Satoh, who practiced three months prior to shooting hisintense sword-fighting scenes, said he was injured many

times during the filming. Aoki said he lost a tooth but did notmind it.

The fast-action film by Warner Bros. Japan begins its regu-lar run in the country on Aug. 20. It is the first of a two-partfinale of the franchise based on the hit Japanese comic, ormanga, called Rurouni Kenshin.

The action and drama film is about a once-feared swords-man during the turbulent fall of Japan’s shogunate in the19th century who adopts a peaceful life after the arrival ofJapan’s “new age.” It has captivated fans in the Philippines andother parts of Asia.

‘Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno’ stars in Manila

MANILA: This photo released by the Philippine National Police Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) in Manila, Philippines, Khair Mundos, a top commander of the Abu Sayyafextremist group who is in the U.S. list of most-wanted terrorists is booked by police following his capture near Manila’s international airport recently. The captured AbuSayyaf commander has told investigators that a top Southeast Asian terror suspect, who the military reported was killed in a U.S.-backed airstrike two years ago, is alive andbeing harbored by a hardline Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, a confidential police report said. —AP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 6Balitang Showbiz Plus

CHIKA LANG PO! Chika- chika lang ito...Tong-tong pakitong kitong ang tamaan huwag magalit ang pumiyok

ay Concernnnnnnn !!... Mga Kabayan kung concern...panawagan lang po.. Kung may time:expat residency violators who are arrested will now be given an opportunity to legalize their sta-tus and remain in the country... but you have to pay the two dinar per day penalty... Hala !! mgadaga dyan humabol na sa mga papalicious... Well kung totoo ang balitang ito ay naku mgadaga dyan magipon-ipon na ng datung tapos a good “kapil” to transfer the chair! Kasi dahandahan “Vote Out” as in evict kayo sa bahay ni Kuya...if....kayo din..kulong sa accommodation ngmatagal...forever.. Kaya mga tago dyan.. huli ka! The same routine as usual mga kabayan..

lll

Nasagot na ni MatteoGuidicelli ang naglalabasangbalita na diumano’y may tam-puhan ito o nagtatampo siMatteo sa girlfriend na si SarahGeronimo. Ang dahilan, hindiraw kasi nakapunta si Sarah saIronman event ni Matteo saCebu. Ang siste, kesyo hindi rawpinayagan si Sarah na pumuntaat magbigay ng moral supportsa kanyang boyfriend ng mgamagulang. Kung may isa rin samasasabing mahalaga para kayMatteo ngayon, ito ay angsports niya. Pero, as private asthey could, siyempre, no onespeaks about it. Ewan kung saan nanggaling ‘yung kesyo nagtatampo nga si Matteo sagirlfriend, when sa tingin naman namin, sa dami na rin ng pinagdaanan ng dalawa at kahitna bago pa nila aminin ang relasyon nilang dalawa, Matteo knows better naman sigurokung ano ang mga limitasyon pa rin nila ni Sarah bilang mag-boyfriend-girlfriend na walasa iba, ‘di ba? Anyway, sinagot na rin naman ito ni Matteo sa isang presscon kung saan, sin-abi niyang, “wala naman” sa isyung may tampo siya sa girlfriend. Kay Matteo rin nanggal-ing na, “bising-busy siya ngayon. Marami siyang ginagawa.” Naniniwala rin si Matteo namas nagwo-work at nagagawa nilang pribado pa rin ang lovelife nila ni Sarah sa kanilangtrabaho.

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Parating na ang malaking pagbabago ngayong Agosto sa “master teleserye” ng ABS-CBNna Ikaw Lamang, sa pagpasok ng mga bagong karakter na bibigyang buhay ngpinakamahuhusay na aktor sa bansa. Matapos gampanan ang mga karakter nina Samuel atIsabelle, ipagpapatuloy ng grand slam Best Actor of the Year na si Coco Martin at 2014 Yahoo!Actress and Celebrity of the Year Kim Chiu ang kwento ng Ikaw Lamang, bilang ang susunod

na henerasyon ng pamilyaHidalgo at Severino na sinaGabriel at Andrea. Makakasamanila ang 2014 FAMAS BestActress na si KC Concepcion, nagaganap bilang ang nakatatan-dang kapatid ni Andrea na siNatalia. Ngayon pa lang, ram-dam na agad na siya ang mang-gugulo kina Coco at Kim.Tampok naman sa Ikaw Lamangsimula ngayong Agosto ang sea-soned actors na sina Amy Austriabilang Isabelle, Joel Torre bilangSamuel, Rio Locsin bilang Lupe,Nonie Buencamino bilangCalixto, at Christopher de Leonbilang Franco.

Matteo, walang tampo kay Sarah!

Ni Bong Pagutayaopanorama@kuwaittimes.net

BengarciaFILES

Ni Ben Garciabengarcia@kuwaittimes.net

Politics sa Pilipinas ang karamihangusapan natin during the last fewweeks...maiba tayo....dumako tayo

sa pulitikong Pinoy sa Kuwait. Kung gustomo raw tuklasin ang tunay na Pilipinaspuede mo itong makita sa kumunidadPinoy sa Kuwait—ang sinasabing larawanng ‘Philippine Politics’ or epitome(embodiment) of real Philippines.

Pinag-isipan ko ito bago ako nagsulatng kapirasong artikulong ito. Maramingmagtataas kilay, maraming magagalit atmarami ding mananahimik. Ang layuninnito ay upang mapukaw ang atingkamalayan, isipan sa katotohanan bilanglahi at nanalaytay ang dugong Pilipino,kahit malayo tayo sa ating bayan.Dumating po ako sa Kuwait towards theend of 1990’s. Ang populasyon natinnoon ay nasa 40-50,000 pa lamang, sangayon, 180,000 na! Inabutan kongAmbassador ng Pilipinas dito si ShulanPrimavera. Mula kay Primavera pumasokna ambassador si Sukarno Tanggol napinalitan naman noon ni AmbassadorBayani Mangibin. Pinalitan si Mangibin niAmbassador Ricardo Endaya at bumalikbilang ambassador si Shulan Primavera,ngunit nanatili ng halos dalawang taonlamang. Itinalaga bilang ambassadorngayon si Ambassador LambertoMonsanto.

Sandali... Mayroong mga kuwento angkanilang pagdating at pag-alis bilangambassador sa Kuwait. Gusto niyongmalaman? Tawagan nyo ako (tawa). Hindiko po kasi puedeng idiscuss dito dahilang ilan ay iniimbestigahan ng mgaawtoridad natin at bilang galang na rin sahost country natin. Ang gusto kong pag-usapan natin ay ang mga Pinoy organiza-tions sa Kuwait..mga socio-civic orientedorganizations, mayroong ding charity,sports etc.

Bawal kasi sa Kuwait ang politicalorganizations kaya wala tayong lantad naorganisasyon politically orientedalthough mayroong mga nagtatagobilang charity organizations, etc. Maramiding religious organizations. Naalala ko,way back mga late 1990’s. Mayroongkakarampot na bilang ng mga organiza-tions sa Kuwait. Pero kahit kakarampot(maliit na bilang), aba’y very active, pro-gressive at very dynamic ang mga Pinoydito.

Ito ang kanilang behikulo upangtahakin ang katotohanan at harapin anghomesickness, malayo man sa sarilingbayan at malayo man sa mga mahal natinsa buhay. Totoo. Nakakapatid ng uhaw

kapag-nagsasama-sama tayo at nangin-gibabaw ang espiritu ng pagkakaisa atpakikipag-kapwa-tao, sa ilalim ng com-munity organization.

Habang tuloy ang pagdami ng mgapopulasyon ng mga Pinoy sa Kuwait, hin-di talaga mapipigilan ang pagdami rin ngmga organizasyong mapagkakakilanlannatin sa isa’t isa. Bagay na siyang dahilannaman pagkakanya-kanya, parang ‘Iyoang Tondo, akin ang Cavite style’ lang.Kaya naging witness ako sa mga iringanng mga ilang grupo, from late 1990’s uptill present. Hindi ko alam kung dapat batayong matuwa na sa bawat pag-sulpotng isang community organization, pagis-ing mo kinabukasan nanganak na ulet itong isa pang grupo. Lungkot dahil, sapagkabiyak ng grupo nasa likod noonang pulitika. Kadalasan, hindi makasun-dong lider, o kaya, most of the time, peraang dahilan. Pero may-konti ring saya,kasi sa pagkahati ng grupo, asahan mongmagiging dynamic o agresibo ang isa,magreresulta ito ng aktibo at mas-lalongpinagaling/pagyabong ng grupo, angtinatawag na competitive value aynasusubukan dito. Ang resulta, mas-yayabong at uunlad ang isa-isa. Pero sanaganun lang ano? Wala sanang nagtatanimng sama ng loob. Kasi noong mga unangpanahon, hindi naman katagalan pa, angiba, kinamatayan nang mayroon silangkaaway/kalaban/kagalit sa kabilanggrupo. Hindi sila nagpapansinan, o kungmayroon mang pansinan, aba’y plastikanlang ang ipinakikita. Hindi naman po tayomagtatagal sa mundo. Sabi nga ng ilan,tayo ay mga bisita lamang sa lugar na ito,o kahit umuwi man tayo sa sariling bayan,hindi rin naman tayo tatagal ng morethan 120 years old pa. Isa din lang anguuwian natin at the very end. Gasino baang 70-80 years old, kung puro sama ngloob ang ating ipapadama sa kapwa.Panawagan sa mga organisasyong Pinoy,sports man yan or kahit anung socio-civicorganizations. Igalang natin ang isa’t-isa.Tigilan ang pagkakanya-kanya/bangayanat siraan. Magbigayan at magtulungan.Kung mayroong samaan ng loob mulingipakita ang ningning ng bayanihan,unawaan at pagkakapatiran.

Gusto ko pong ibukas ang pahinangito ukol sa inyong mga experiences saKuwait. Kung gusto nyong mag-share nginyong mga experiences bilang lider nginyong organisasyon, bukas po ang pahi-nang ito para sa inyo. Eto po ang akingnumber Tel 650-20-905. Most welcome poang lahat kahit hindi leader!

Pulitikang Pinoy sa Kuwait

Matteco

Coco

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 7

KUWAIT: The Filipino BadmintonCommittee formally concluded its48th badminton Tournamentdubbed as Alamia-Bhasin Cup.

The winners are: Also, FBC held its 1st Free One

Day Tournament participated bymembers from different badmintonorganizations.

During the break, FBC’s VicePresident for Training &Development Engr. Doy Viray con-ducted the Basic Badminton Trainingfor beginners. FBC President ReginePanesal is inviting all badmintonenthusiast to join its upcoming 49thBadminton Tournament that willstart on August 15, 2014 from 8:00AM until 6PM at Kuwait DisabledSports Club, Bin Khaldoun hawally.

Meanwhile,FBC Chairman Dr. ChieUmandap is inviting all badmintonEnthusiast to join its 50th Badmintonfor a Cause dubbed as “ Chairman’sGolden Cup” which also start onSeptember 5. Proceeds of the saidtournament will be donated toZamboanga Sibugay E-Televisionpackage under the ABS CBN Adopt aHometown School Project.

The Chairman’s Golden Cup is ateam event and Champions willreceive Gold necklace. ForRegistration and sponsorshipinquiries please call 97197268.

Alamia-Bhasin Cup

FBC concludes 48th badminton tournament

Photos by Albert Dimaculangan & Jimmy Carandang

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014

FBC concludes 48th badminton

tournament

Page 7

MANILA: Batang Gilas made a gutsy stand before falling shortto fellow first-timer Angola, 72-82, Friday night at the start ofthe FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai, UAE. Before thetournament, Batang Gilas coach Jamike Jarin vowed that theteam will show the world what the Filipino heart is made of.

“Yung maturity at confidence level is up, no fear eh. Theyare more excited than nervous. They know that the odds areagainst them but they are coming with a lot of confidence,”Jarin told Philstar.com before they flew to Dubai. Gusto nam-ing ipakita yung puso ng bawat Pilipino.”

And they did. The shorter Filipinos scored the opening basket and were

still very much in the game until they faded in the home-stretch against the taller and more athletic South Africanteam.

Batang Gilas fought back from as many as 14-point deficitto threaten at 68-76 but UP Fighting Maroon Diego Darioflubbed a three-pointer that could have chopped the lead tojust five in the final 55 seconds. The outside shooting, which isone of their weapons in the FIBA Asia Championship, wasnowhere to be found as they could only hit five-of-35 fromdowntown for only 14.3 shooting percentage that did themin.Despite the sour outside shooting, they played though witha big heart but the size disadvantage was too much to over-come as three Angolans pumped in double-double efforts.Angola’s top player Joao Jungo, a 6-6 athletic forward, had 26points,11 rebounds and three blocks while 6-1 guard EricAmandio (17 and 12) and the towering 6-8 forward ValdirManuel (10 and 13) also did their share as the South Africanyouth team enjoyed a huge 70-46 rebounding advantage.

Batang Gilas, who are in the world championships for thefirst time after winning the silver medal in the FIBA Asia U17Championship, did not back down engaging the Angolans to atooth-and-nail battle three-fourths of the way.

The Filipinos made up for their lack of size with their quickand scrappy play forcing Angola to 22 turnovers and to enjoy a10-2 advantage in the steals department that led to 19-8 fast-break points disparity.

SEABA MVP Jolo Mendoza led Gilas with 16 points and four

steals while 5-11 Paul Desiderio stood tallest for the short-handed Phl team with 10 rebounds and nine points. Jollo Goand Diego Dario added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The final score could have been closer had the Filipinos didnot go into fouling spree. Angola had a total of 38 free throws

but only made 12 while Batang Gilas went 9-of-11 from thestripes. Batang Gilas’ courageous play drew praises fromnational men’s team coach Chot Reyes, who watched theirgame online in Vitoria, Spain where they are holding camp alsofor the FIBA World Cup later this month. —The Philippine Star

Chot praises Batang Gilas for gutsy debut in World Cup

DUBAI: Paul Desiderio, the 5-11 shooting guard of Batang Gilas, tries to grab the rebound against Angola’s 6-6 for-ward Joao Jungo (12) and 6-foot guard Edmilson Miranda (8). —FIBA.com

By Recah Trinidad

MANILA: Raring to honestly be at his best, WBO juniorwelterweigt titlist Chris Algieri has reportedly startedworking out in earnest a full month before formallyopening training camp for his world title challengeagainst Manny Pacquiao in November. Algieri, 30, alicensed dietician working for a doctorate in nutrition, isalso making sure he gets the perfect super diet for thebiggest, most daring assignment of his pro boxingcareer.

So far, there has been no word on Pacquiao’s train-ing plans, except that, as head coach, he would be train-ing his KIA Motors team in the Philippine BasketballAssociation in the same facility where he would workout for his defense against Algieri in Macau.

There were, however, intriguing deficiencies on thepart of both fighters that started to surface after TeamAlgieri initiated a verbal offensive in a bid to sell theWBO welterweight championship, mainly to theAmerican PPV audience. There’s the poor punchingpower on the part of Algieri, who has only eight knock-outs in 20 wins.

For Pacquiao, there’s the defensive defect character-ized by inferior head movement, which Algieri obvious-ly plans to exploit, based on earlier pronouncements.

Like it or not, Pacquiao and Algieri have no choice

but work on these weak points for their scheduledchampionship to at least be both colorful and thrilling.

A failure on the part of either fighter could end indisaster, with the bout slipping into a tasteless mis-

match. On the other hand, the championship couldindeed rise into a classic-that’s if both fighters take timeout to gain the cutting edge. Algieri has made it nosecret that his main weapon will be his jab which, heclaimed, would be the great equalizer. Yeah, FreddieRoach sneered, “He has a jab, that’s it!” Actually, Algierineed not be told that, in order to be aptly combativeagainst Pacquiao, he should add a form of viciousnessto his jab, or inject necessary venom to it.

Anyway, if it had escaped Algieri, Roach was tryingto make it clear that the over-exposed Algieri weapon,which the famous trainer had seen close-up raw, couldpose no danger to Pacquiao’s health.

For this weapon to be effective, they must convert itinto solid weapons of assault, not merely foils meant toannoy. For Pacquiao though, the certified Filipino fire-fighter can’t afford to just wade in carelessly, a lessonRuslan Provodnikov learned the hard way in losing hisjunior welterweight crown to Algieri.

In fact, records bear it out that Pacquiao had beenknocked out cold twice in his career-by ArnulfoTorrecampo in 1995 and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012-after digging in with his chin uncovered.—PDI

BELMONT: Jennifer Rosales of thePhilippines watches her second shot onthe 18th hole during the first round ofthe Meijer LPGA Classic at BlythefieldCountry Club on Thursday in Belmont,Michigan. —AFP

Pacquiao-Algieri: Who gets the cutting edge?

Manny Chris