Rigondeaux hands Donaire his first loss in 12 years

MANILA, Philippines - The winning streak of Nonito "The Filipino" Flash Donaire ends on the hands of undefeated Cuban fighter Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux in a superbantamweight unification bout Sunday, Philippine time at Radio City Music Hall, New York City. 

Via unanimous decision, the judges score in favor of the Olympic gold medalist, 115-112, at 116-111. 

This means that aside from the WBA superbantamweight belt, Rigondeaux now holds the WBA and the RING titles. 

"We made a mistake. I made a mistake. I didn't study the fight and I should've," Donaire said in a report by ABS-CBN's Yong Chavez. 

From the opening round, the Cuban already showed force with Donaire taking his time finding the right rhythm. 

Rigondeaux's speed gets in the way of the Filipino fighter as the fight progresses. 

Donaire struggled to land his killer blows with Rigondeaux running away, squaring the perimeter of the ring. 

By the 10th round, down goes Rigondeaux after the Filipino successfully landed a straight punch. 

Donaire committed to keep the face lost the momentum still having a hard time chasing the very fluid Cuban. 

Enter the last round, Donaire's left eye went bleeding apparently due to a straight left he took from the opponent making it even harder keeping the pace

As Donaire's winning streak ends, Rigondeaux' stretches to 12 . 

Meanwhile, this is the first time The Filipino Flash lost for the past 12  years. 

Azkals advance to Challenge Cup main tourney with vengeance vs Turkmens

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals is advancing to 2014 AFC Challenge Cup main tournament in Maldives after beating last year's tormentor Turkmenistan Green Men. 

Phil Younghusband powered the lone goal of the match to seal Azkals victory topping Group E of the qualifying round before a tumultous crowd at Rizal Memorial Stadium Tuesday night. 

Twice in their previous meetings, the Azkals suffered defeat against the Indo-Chinese including last year's fall to qualify for tournament's finals. 

But Younghusband's glorious lift was cut short after being handed his second yellow card by pulling the jersey of one of the Turkmens. The first one was earned at first half after an obvious handball. He was sent-off the game at the 84th minute and will not play the Azkals next match. 

Myanmar, Kyrhyztan, Afghanistan and Palestine are also advancing to the main tournament next year after topping their respective groups. 

By rule of AFC, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan also earn tickets to Maldives as top second-placers of the qualifying round. 

The Azkals also defeated Cambodia in their match last Sunday, 8-0, with four goals from Younghusband, two from newbie Fil-Spanish striker Javier Patino and a piece each for Stephan Schrock and Carli De Murga. 

Signal to the world

A draw or even a loss not more than a seven goal deficit will also qualify the Azkals for the main tournament. 

But Philippine national team head coach Hans Michael Weiss told the team to focus on winning this match against the team that twice defeated them. 

"I said forget that we already qualified. We have to win this match. We have to send it as a signal to the world," he said. 

True enough, the Azkals proved what was said in papers being the strongest lineup the national team has ever mustered. 

Less than a minute after the referee signaled the beginning of the match, Schrock earned possession of the ball with a cross to Younghusband who fired immediately but was denied by the post. 

This was followed by an attempt by Patino through a header in the second minute but went wide. 

The Azkals appeared to be in the driver's seat of the match but by the end of first half, the Turkmens fired up with more decent attempts to goal. 

Banking on the Azkals' fouls, the Green Men made use of penalty kicks that almost made it to the goal post. 

Team captain Rob Gier and Dennis Cagara played the defensive line really well with Schrock engineering superb chances for Patino and Younghusband to goal.

At 66th, Younghusband broke the ice with a goal from Cagara and Patino driving the ball from inside the box. 

The Turkmens, determined to get even, resorted to physicality verging on dirty tactics but their hope was drowned when Philippine goal keeper Roland Muller denied them after a solid attempt at the 93rd. 

Scene for 2014

With former AFC Challenge Cup champions India and Tajikistan failing to qualify for main tournament, eyes are set for Philippines and Turkmenistan's heated rivalry. 

Beating the tournament's favorite, Weiss and Azkals team manager Dan Palami are quick to dismiss the thought of earning the spot. 

The team that will champion the Challenge Cup will earn a spot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Australia. 

Chieffy Caligdong nominated as AFF's Player of the Year

MANILA, Philippine - Philippine Azkals veteran Chieffy Caligdong is among this year's nominee as Asean Football Federation (AFF) Player of the Year. 

Fox Sports Asia's Gabriel Tan reported that Caligdong, along with Singapore's captain Shahril Ishak and Thailand's star striker Teerasil Dangda, is in the running for the prestigious award. 

The AFF will also confer the the Coach of the Year award, Team of the Year award and the National Team of the Year award. 

The awarding ceremony will be held this April. 

Azkals need only a draw vs Turkmens for sure finals ticket

Fil-Spanish Javier Patino on his very first game for the Philippine Azkals in
 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round held Sunday under heavy downpour at
the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. Photo lifted from ABS-CBNNews.com

A draw versus Turkmenistan would secure a finals spot for the Philippine Azkals in their campaign for the 2014 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup. 

This after the Azkals completely demolished Cambodia in an eight-nil win at last night's battle under heavy downpour at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. 

The Philippine now tops Group E with an advantage against next opponent Turkmenistan. 

A win would send the Azkals straight to Maldives but even if the Philippines would not be lucky enough and lose over its last year's semi-finals tormentor, it still has a huge chance of advancing. 

Aside from the winners of Groups A, B, C, D and E, the top two best second-placer among the entire collective teams will also gain a ticket to the finals. 

Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Palestine are already advancing to finals after winning on their respective group while the leading second-placer is Bangladesh with six points and five goals difference. 

Right now the Azkals gained six points after winning versus Cambodia and an automatic three after Brunei backed out from the tournament. 

This means that at the very least, a 0-2 loss over Turkmenistan would still take them to the much anticipated finals next year. 

Last year, the Azkals vowed to the Turkmens in AFC semi-finals and even the FIFA world ranking is placing the Philippines five places below the opponent. 

However, this is said to be the strongest line-up the Philippine national football team has ever built. 

It's newest striker Fil-Spanish Javier Patino of Cordova CF delivered two goals in last game versus Cambodia. 

Also, the Philippines is no more relying alone on its first choice goalie Neil Etheridge with the highly improved two keepers Roland Muller and Eduard Sacapano. 

There's still Phil Younghusband who took more than a hat-trick from the latest game plus the availability of other foreign-based players like Fil-German Stephan Schrock.

_______________________

Follow me on Twitter @erikreports

E-mail me at @inbetweenheadlines@gmail.com

More reports on DZMM.com.ph 

Baculi: New UAAP rule will address 'pirating of homegrown talents'

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is defending newly established rule where a transferring high school student will have to sit on two year residency before being eligible to play for the league.

UAAP secretary general Junel Bcauli explains that the new residency policy aims to protect the entire league and that this was unanimously approved by the UAAP board. 

"It's now two years instead of one, but we will still polish the implementing guidelines. But in concept, in principle, it was unanimously approved by the board," Baculi said in an interview with ANC's Hardball. 

He admits the new rule targets to stop the "pirating" of homegrown talents. 

"I will be frank. We dont want the member schools to pirate the so-to-speak homegrown talent because it would be detrimental to the league," he further said. 

The UAAP secretary general said this will benefit UAAP-members who want to keep their best junior players. 

He adds that this does not violate the rights of UAAP players. 

"Playing is not a right, but a privilege for every individual so you can study first for two years then play for the rest if you're playing for another university," he explained. 

The new UAAP rule earns the ire of netizens including players and former UAAP athletes. 

Ateneo cager Kiefer Ravena started the hashtag #NewUAAPRules where netizens post their criticisms of the two-year residency policy. 

@kieferravena : "Basketball is turning in the wrong direction. Instead of seeing kids use their full potential, we hinder from doing so."

Ravena was later joined by fellow Blue Eagle Nico Salva, Jeric Teng and Jeric Fortuna of UST Growling Tigers and even Sen. Pia Cayetano who was a former UAAP volleyball player for the University of the Philippines. 

@nicobesalva : "yo uaap board just let the kids play and study where ever they want to. its their right to choose their school!"

@jericfortuna : "They took away the players' freedom of choice. #UAAP"

@jericteng16 : "wow. So grade school pa lang dapat nag re recruit na talaga haha"

 ‏@piacayetano : "For now Ill say, as a former UAAP athlete (UP Vball, UAAP Champ)and a mom of athletes, I think their 2yr residency rule sucks!"

Effect

The new residency rule is effective immediately. 

Directly affected is UAAP juniors two-time MVP Jeric Pingoy who plans on transferring to Ateneo Blue Eagles from FEU Tamaraws. 

Should he decide on pursuing the blue line, he cannot play for the coming 76th season of UAAP. 

Tagalog version can be found [here]

UST's Fortuna trains with San Mig Beermen

MANILA, Philippines – Former University of Sto. Tomas (UST) guard Jeric Fortuna has begun training for the San Miguel Beermen of the Asean Basketball League (ABL).

Fortuna, who led the UST Growling Tigers to a finals appearance in the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball tournament, had previously played for Blackwater in the PBA Development League.

In a text message to radio DZMM, Fortuna confirmed that he will continue his basketball career in the ABL.

“I started last Wednesday. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have the chance to play in the ABL,” Fortuna said.

“This will really help me grow as a player. Hopefully, everything turns out well,” he added.

Fortuna was one of the best point guards in the UAAP last season, averaging a league-leading 5.5 assists per game to go along with 8.4 points.

Fortuna’s Tigers lost to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 75 finals, but they gained a measure of revenge by winning the Philippine Collegiate Champions League over Ateneo.  – Report from Erik Tenedero, DZMM

Originally published at ABS-CBNNews.com

Filipino version version can be found here: Fortuna ng UST, sumabak na sa training ng San Miguel Beermen