by James De VeraIn 1905, the oldest football association in Asia was born in the Far East. Though it was the first on the continent, the Philippines has never been regarded as a force in this sport. We have been smothered, murdered and trashed by our neighboring countries until the "Azkals" was born. Composed of home-grown and half-bloods, this newly formed Philippine team rapidly developed the quality of football in the country. 2010 was the start of the Philippine resurgence in the world of football and since then, the country has slain giants and shocked some traditional powers in Asia.
Today, I give you five of the most unforgettable moments in this era of Philippine football. 1. Miracle in Hanoi (December 5, 2010) Coming as underdogs, nobody thought that a traditional bottom-dweller in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup would beat a vicious Vietnam team by two goals. Captained by Aly Borromeo, the Azkals would make the biggest upset in the tournament's history by stunning the defending champions, 2-0. Veteran skipper Chris Greatwich and dynamic striker Phil Younghusband both scored one goal each in this match. This win in Hanoi started the renaissance of football in this basketball-crazy nation. 2. Fall of the Garudas (November 25, 2014) The Philippines finally defeated Southeast Asian powerhouse Indonesia for the first time in history as they humiliate the Eagles, 4-0, in the group stage of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup in Hanoi. This big win made waves in the international news and created a buzz in the social media. PH star striker Phil Younghusband, versatile midfielder Many Ott, dynamic wingman Martin Steuble, and ace defender Rob Gier each scored one goal in this historic victory for the Philippines. 3. The Philippines ousted Bahrain at last! (June 11, 2015) After four tries of beating Bahrain since 2011, the Azkals finally won a game against "Al-Ahmar" in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in the Philippine Sports Stadium. This 2-1 victory showed the whole world that the Philippines has already evolved from being merely a push-over squad to a team to beat in the international football scene. Filipino strikers Misagh Bahadoran and Javier Patiño provided the goals for the Azkals in a game that was watched by more than 6,000 fans from the Philippines and Bahrain. 4. Victory in Bishkek (September 6, 2016) A jam-packed Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan witnessed the Philippine Azkals defeat their national team, 2-1. The White Falcons were shocked by a team that was 29 ranks lower than them in the September 2016 FIFA Ranking. Thanks to the youngster Kevin Ingreso and Misagh Bahadoran, the Philippine team has beaten a giant once again. 5. Upset in Manila (March 29, 2016) The Philippines came back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 3-2, in their ultimate FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers game in the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila. Ian Ramsay’s last-minute goal saved the day for the Azkals as they cruise to their first ever victory against one of Asia’s finest football squads, DPR Korea. Misagh Bahadoran and Manny Ott were the other goal scorers for the Philippines in this game. There’s no doubt that this epic match will be remembered as the greatest victory in this Philippine football era.
0 Comments
by James De VeraHow good are you with sports facts? Are you sporty enough to answer these questions correctly without googling? Test yourself and dig into this edition of Sports Alert!
1. He was the only player in the history of the oldest professional basketball league in Asia to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award in just a single season. He was popularly known as the "Tower of Power". a. Robert Jaworski b. Alvin Patrimonio c. Benjie Paras d. James Yap 2. The oldest football federation in Asia. It was established in 1907. a. China b. Philippines c. Thailand d. Korea 3. The current national sport of the Philippines. a. Sepak Takraw b. Basketball c. Arnis d. Sipa 4. Senator Manny Pacquaio is currently the head coach of this team in the PBA. a. Mahindra Enforcers b. Blackwater Elite c. Shanghai Sharks d. NLEX Road Warriors 5. This country has the most FIFA World Cup titles. They've won it five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002). a. Argentina b. Brazil c. Germany d. England 6. Asia's first chess Grandmaster. a. Abhijeet Gupta of India b. Zhou Jianchao of China c. Eugene Torre of the Philippines d. Ardiansyah of Indonesia 7. A martial art which originated from Korea. a. Jiujitsu b. Karate c. Taekwondo d. Muay Thai 8. The second man to knock out Manny Pacquiao in a professional boxing game. a. Timothy Bradley b. Rustico Torrecampo c. Juan Manuel Marquez d. Medgoen Singsurat 9. This sport recently made its return to the Olympics. a. korfball b. rugby c. handball d. netball 10. The First Overall Pick in the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft. a. Calvin Abueva b. June Mar Fajardo c. Marcio Lassiter d. Terrence Romeo 11. The Tallest player to play in the NBA, standing at 7'7". a. Yao Ming b. Gheorge Muresan c. Manute Bol d. Shaquille O'Neal 12. Ping pong (table tennis) originated from what country? a. England b. Azerbaijan c. Japan d. China Already finished answering? Click here to see the correct answers! by James De VeraDespite a disappointing performance in this year’s FIBA Asia Challenge, the Philippines should not be disheartened. Fielding a young squad to participate in a competitive international contest is a developmental step for Gilas. Currently ranked 28th in the world and 3rd best in Asia, Philippines is still a formidable force in Asian basketball.
For Gilas to have a fighting chance against top caliber teams, Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) have to critically select the best gunners to join a handful of talented young ballers in the country. I’ll be listing here five players that our national team must have to become a dominant force in the upcoming tournaments. Jayson Castro (Point Guard, 5’10”) The two-time best point guard in Asia will surely have a big impact on the morale of this young team. Despite being one of the shortest players in the region, Castro's quickness and three-point shooting prowess will fuel the team’s spirit against taller opponents. Jordan Clarkson (Guard, 6’5”) Regarded by some as the future of the Los Angeles Lakers, JC will definitely have the biggest impact on the young Gilas squad. Playing his third year as a pro in the NBA, Clarkson will definitely bring explosiveness to the squad with his deadly shooting and ankle-breakers. With his excellent knowledge of the game and overflowing talent, Gilas will surely be an A+ team with him around. Marcio Lassiter (Shooting Guard, 6’3”) Arguably the sharpest shooter in the country, San Miguel Beermen elite Marcio Lassiter will undoubtedly be a head turner in the competitions to come. This three-point sniper has impressed a lot of critics because of his superb shooting accuracy and high basketball I.Q. Having this kind of weapon in the national team will be a great addition to the young arsenal of the national team. While his teammates could learn a lot from him, other squads will definitely have a hard time stopping him. Junemar Fajardo (Center, 6’11) “The Kraken” has evolved from an overrated soft big man to a wrecking force in the PBA. To have him into the mix of the new Gilas line-up will be a big plus for the team especially in the size department. Expect the most dominant player in the Philippines to surprise other teams with his soft touch and versatility, making him a marked man in the tournaments to come. Andray Blatche (Forward/Center, 6”11”) Blatche is the most versatile 6’11” in Asia. With his height, he can shoot everywhere on the court and he can also handle the ball very well. However, Andray should focus more in his role as the country’s top big man rather than settling for jump shots and shooting threes. If he can do that, this young team would be more efficient. by James De VeraPhilippines is rich in basketball culture and history. This basketball-crazy nation has won numerous Asian Championship titles and has dominated Southeast Asian tournaments. Aside from its continental glory, Team Pilipinas has also captured the precious bronze medal in the 1954 FIBA World Cup, which until now is the only medal an Asian country has ever won on the world stage. PH has produced a lot of world-class basketball players. Many talented Filipino basketball legends have showcased their talents and forged their name in the history of Philippine basketball. In this article, I will be featuring five of the best Filipino ballers that have ever played the game.
Allan Caidic (Shooting Guard, 6’2”) “The Triggerman” was once named the most lethal shooter in the country and in the whole Asian continent. The prolific scorer once broke a handful of PBA records in just one game. Caidic scored 79 points in a single game, the most points by a Filipino player, where he also hit 17 triples which is until now the most three points made in a PBA game. It was also during this game that he produced 37 points in a single quarter and 53 points in a half, both still holding the records for most points in a quarter and in a half. The former PBA Most Valuable Player is also a part of the last Philippine team to win an Asian Championship title which they did in 1986. Without a doubt, Allan was the best shooting guard that has ever played in the PBA. Johnny Abarrientos (Point Guard, 5’7”) Johnny was the shortest PBA player to ever win an MVP award. In 1996, Abarrientos had his best playing season as he led the Alaska Aces to a Grand Slam Season. In this year, he also garnered the Best Player of the Conference Award in the Commissioner’s Cup and the PBA’s Most Valuable Player. The “Flying A” was known not just by his dynamic scoring and killer crossovers but also with his tenacious defense. The Naga-born legend was a seven-time PBA All-Star, Six-time PBA Mythical First Team and five-time PBA All-Defensive Team. Benjie Paras (Center, 6’6”) He might be known by young Filipinos as a comedian/actor but this guy was once the most dominant force in Philippine basketball. The “Tower of Power” was the only rookie in PBA history to win both and Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player award. With his towering prowess in both offense and defense, Paras led his team, the Shell Turbo Chargers, to three PBA championships. The 10-time PBA All-Star was also a part of the Philippine team that has won a silver medal at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. Alvin Patrimonio (Forward, 6’3”) Known as “The Captain”, Alvin Patrimonio was one of the most beloved basketball icons in the country. This dynamic scoring machine has collected five championships with Purefoods, the only team that he has played for in his entire career. Patrimonio has also won numerous awards including four PBA MVP titles, three Best Player of the Conference awards and a PBA Press Corps Newsmaker of the Year recognition. He has also given honor for the country in the Asian Games where he collected one silver and two bronze medals. Carlos Loyzaga (Center, 6’3”) Arguably the best player who has ever played basketball in the Philippines, Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga led the country to its only medal in the Basketball World Cup. In 1954, he led the Philippine Nation to a bronze medal finish in Brazil, where they defeated France in a virtual third place playoff, 66-60. Averaging 16.4 points per game, “The Big Difference”, was chosen as a Mythical Team member of the tournament. Aside from those enormous achievements, he also anchored the national team to two Asian Championship titles and four gold medal finish in the Asian Games. There is no doubt that this legend is the most decorated Filipino player to ever walk in the basketball courts of the world. |
AuthorJames Matthew De Vera ArchivesCategories |