2007 A Great Year for RP Sports
Four world boxing champions - an unprecedented event in the country’s sports history - and a near sweep victory in the prestigious Boxing World Cup are just few of the many reasons why the Filipinos can look at 2007 with hearts flaming with joy and pride for what had been another great year for Philippine sports.
Donnie Nietes (WBO minimumweight), Nonito Donaire, Jr. (IBF/IBO flyweight), Gerry Peñalosa (WBO bantamweight), and Florante Condes (IBF minimumweight) etched a historic feat that should serve as an inspiration for the rest of the nation’s aspiring boxers.
Though they are all worthy to be hallowed in golden pedestal, it can’t be denied that ring superstar Manny Pacquiao remained as the towering figure in RP’s sweeping success in the squared arena.
With all the legal troubles and stinging defeat in politics now behind him, Pacquiao went on to score a spectacular win that sent Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera into retirement last October. That cemented his status as the world’s most exciting and best pound-for-pound fighter today.
In the World Cup, the
The good thing is that the much-improved Bautista bounced back from that debacle and showed to the world he still has what it takes to be a world champ by pounding out a lopsided unanimous decision win over Mexican Antonio Meza last December 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Also worth mentioning for is
It’s not all glorious moments for the Filipino ring gladiators though. Z “The Dream” Gorres faltered in his bid to wrest the WBO super flyweight title from defending champion Fernando Montiel, Czar Amonsot sustained a nightmarish defeat in an attempt to dethrone WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis, and after a long wait and sacrifices, Bert Batawang’s dream to be a world title-holder was shattered when he was stopped in round nine by IBF light flyweight titlist Jorge Solis. Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol too suffered the same fate at the hands of Solis.
In summation, 2007 is a meaningful year for Philippine sports inspite of some drawbacks in other fronts particularly RP’s sixth place finish in the 24th SEA Games in
And we look forward to another year full of zest and enthusiasm, The Freeman Sports Staff has compiled all sporting events and happenings that took place here and abroad in the year that was.
January
Bowling
* Decorated Cebuano bowlers Jomar Jumapao, Kim Lao and Alexis Sy stamped their class in the 14th Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC) National youth Championships at the
Boxing
* AJ “Bajooka” Banal of the ALA Boxing Gym terminated Thai Terdkiat Jandaeng via TKO in the ninth round of the “Stars of the Future” boxing series at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Tennis
* A rampaging Roger Federer beat Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4 to win his third Australian Open crown and tenth grandslam title. Unseeded Serena Williams of the
February
Basketball
* Barangay Ginebra Kings claimed the 2006-07 Talk N’ Text PBA Philippine Cup title before a mammoth crowd at Araneta Coliseum in Manila following a 96-94 victory over sister team the San Miguel Beermen.
* Kobe Bryant scored 31 points to take home the MVP award as the West posted a 153-132 win, snapping a two-game losing streak, to the East in the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Game.
Boxing
* Cebuano ring star Z “the Dream” Gorres faltered in his first shot at the world title, losing by controversial split decision to WBO super flyweight champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel in the bout dubbed the “Moment of Truth” at the Cebu City Sports Center.
March
Basketball
* The La Fortuna Hotel-sponsored University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars completed a two-game sweep over the gritty Southwestern University Cobras with 78-73 win in Game 2 to grab the first ever championship of the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA) men’s basketball tournament at the University of San Carlos (USC)-Main gym.
Billiards
* Filipino Ronnie Alcano etched his name in history as the first ever billiards player to hold the world 9-ball and 8-ball titles at the same time. Alcano first won the 9-ball title and, four months later, pocketed the 8-ball crown.
Golf
* World number one, Tiger Woods, fired a one-over par 73 to win the $8M World Golf Championship in
Multi-Sport Event
* The Cebu City Niños won their 14th overall crown in the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) Meet after dominating the 2007 edition in Negros Oriental.
April
Basketball
* Six-foot-seven center Rino Berame lifted CDO Hamburger-University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers to a blistering 78-63 victory over the VFI Hotdogs-University of
Beach Volleyball
* The M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF)-backed University of the Visayas conquered former grandslam champion
* Four Cebuanos, led by Dondon Cortuna made it to the list of Philippine representatives to the Mr. & Ms. Asia Pacific bodybuilding competition in Boracay, after ruling the eliminations here in
Bowling
* Cebuano Jomar Jumapao made history as the youngest and the first visiting player to capture the overall championship of the Tenpin Bowling Association of Makati (TBAM) Fiesta Classic Bowling Tournament, outplaying former and current national team members to dominate the event’s 9th edition at the Powerbowl in
Boxing
* The
Dancesport
* Cebu City-Dancesport Team bagged five gold medals in the Singapore Millennium 2007 competition at
Golf
* Zach Johnson is no Tiger Woods, but the unheralded golfer from rural
May
Basketball
* Dirk Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks superstar forward from
Boxing
* Boxing’s bad boy Floyd Mayweather Jr., beat the Golden Boy, Oscar De la Hoya via split decision in their 12-round bout to win the WBC 154-lb title, his first at that weight category.
Karatedo
* The Cebu-based Advocacy for the Strengthening of Karatedo (ASK) bagged three golds, five silvers and two bronzes in the 20th National Open Karatedo Championships at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City.
Multi-sporting event
* Motocross patron Iluminado “Lou” Ornopia was named Sportsman of the Year, pro cager Dondon Hontiveros received the ORLASCAN Memorial Award, and cycling benefactor Alan Choachuy claimed the “Presidential Award”, while Antonio Gabica and Sally Mae Siso were named Athletes of the Year in the 25th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corporation (SAC-SMC) All-Cebu Sports Awards.
Cycling
* Cebuano cyclist Niño Surban bagged gold and bronze in two of the three events he competed in the 2007 Arafura Games in
Racing
* David Lim set four national records in drag racing during the Mayor Tomas Osmeña National Drag Race at the SRP. Lim’s records include the fastest speed mark, fastest Honda car, fastest front wheel and fastest four-cylinder car.
Tennis
* Spain’s Rafael Nadal overpowered Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-4 to win the Barcelona Open for a record equaling third time and extended his clay court winning streak to 72 matches.
* Vince Marc Tabotabo scored a grandslam in the Dunlop-Alina National Juniors Tennis Tournament winning the unisex 10-under division in
* Jacob Lagman won the Headpenn-Olivarez Cup 12-under crown in
Wushu
* The Agbay sisters, Mary Stephanie and Mary Evangeline, led other Cebuano wushu martial artists in dominating the 2007 National Wushu Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in
June
Basketball
* Arthro dethroned M.Lhuillier for the MVBA Visayas crown, winning 87-82 in the winner-take-all game at the
* San Antonio Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the 2007-2008 NBA title at Quicken Loans Arena in
Boxing
Miguel Cotto of
Golf
* Angel Cabrera of
Tennis
* Justin Henin became the second woman to win three French Open titles in a row after defeating Serbian Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-2 in the final at Roland Garros in
July
Basketball
* Alaska Aces collared the Talk N’Text PBA Fiesta Cup championship against Talk N’Text 99-96 before a sellout crowd at the Astrodome.
* Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire dethroned the previously unbeaten Armenian Vic Darchinyan to wrest the IBF/IBO flyweight titles in
* Czar Amonsot, also of ALA Boxing Gym, failed to snatch the WBO interim lightweight title from the undefeated Australian Michael Katsidis and instead landed in the hospital after 12 rounds of brutal action in
Dancesport
Cebuanos grabbed 10 golds, four silvers and three bronzes in 2007 DSCPI National Mid-Ranking dancesport contest at the Philsports Arena.
Football
* British football sensation David Beckham was formally presented as Los Angeles Galaxy football player.
Volleyball
* The
Tennis
* Venus Williams booked her fourth women’s
Wushu
* Cebuana Mary Stephanie Agbay won gold and silver in the 4th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in
August
Basketball
* Michel Lhuillier was appointed SBP-BAP Visayas head, Raul Alcoseba for Region VII and Lorenzo Chao Sy for
* Emmanuel “Noli” Eala stepped down as PBA Commissioner after four years of serving
* Jong Uichico was named PBA Coach of the Year by the PBA Press Corps.
* Joe Devance became the top pick in the 2007 PBA Draft Pick and signed a 3-year maximum pay contract with the Welcoat Dragons. Cebuano JR Quinahan was the seventh pick of
Baseball
* Barry Bonds overtook Hank Aaron as Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader with 756 career home runs.
Boxing
* Rodel Mayol failed anew in his quest for the IBF light flyweight title after losing to defending champion Ulises Solis of
* The
Running
* Mendel Lopez and Leizl Lumindas-Getaruelas emerged as
September
Basketball
* The San Miguel Beermen edged the CESAFI All-Stars 90-86 during a charity basketball match organized by Cebuano basketball star Dondon Hontiveros at the Cebu Coliseum
Boxing
* Eriberto “Yukka”Gejon faltered anew in his title bid after losing to defending WBA minimumweight champion Yutaka Niida of
Cycling
* Antonio Nebria ruled the inaugural staging of Quickflight-Copa de Cebu.
Tennis
* Justine Henin of
Judo
* Team Cebu City-Judo won seven golds, four silvers and four bronzes in the Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas finals in
* The
October
Baseball
* The Boston Red Sox finished off the Colorado Rockies in Game 4 to complete another World Series sweep in Major League Baseball at Coorsfield in
Basketball
* The University of the Visayas celebrated a double victory with its secondary and tertiary squads dominating the 2007 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI) basketball event.
* Sacred Heart School-Jesuit also scored a rare double after winning both the Passerrelle and SBP divisions of the Milo Best Cebu finals at the Capitol Parish.
Boxing
* Kelly Pavlik stopped fellow American Jermain
* Donnie “Ahas” Nietes became
* Another
* Manny Pacquiao, after an arduous training in
* Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr., saved
Cycling
*
* Pangasinan’s Emilio Atilano won the overall title of the five-day Omega Pain Killer Tour of Cebu, the biggest cycling competition in
Racing
* Kimi Raikkonen claimed the World Formula One title in
* Cebuano Patrick Gandionco won the ROK junior division title of the 2007 Shell Helix Karting Super Series’ penultimate leg in
Golf
* Ernie Els rejuvenated his stalled career with a victory in the World Match Play Championships on Wentworth’s West course in
Softball
*
Table tennis
* Neilben Carreon returned triumphant to action by winning
Volleyball
* The
November
Basketball
* Sacred Heart School-Jesuit won the SBP title of the 2007 Milo BEST Visayas in
* Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI) commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy resigned from his post without disclosing any reasons.
* The University of the Visayas settled for a runner-up finish after losing to the Ateneo de Manila University in the final showdown of the Collegiate Champion’s League at the Arena in
Billiards
* Darryl Peach broke the hearts of Filipinos after beating Roberto Gomez to take home the 2007 World Pool Championship’s top honors via a come-from-behind 17-15 victory at the Araneta Coliseum.
Boxing
* Juan Manuel Marquez retained his WBC super featherweight title with a 12-round decision over Rocky Juarez at the Desert Diamond Casino in
* Undefeated championship Miguel Cotto scored a unanimous decision over “Sugar” Shane Mosley to retain his WBA welterweight crown in
* Sammy Gello-ani formally announced that he parted ways with longtime friend and boxing patron Antonio L. Aldeguer of the ALA Boxing gym.
Tennis
* Martina Hingis retired from professional tennis after being accused of testing positive for cocaine in
* Justine Henin defended her crown in the WTA Championship after defeating Maria Sharapova 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.
Multi-sporting event
* Joaquin Fernandez gave Team Cebu City-Judo a gold medal in the Philippine Youth Judo Championships at the Rizal Memorial Stadium while teammate Allan Antigua bagged silver.
* Team Cebu City-Football won the 15-under title of the Philippine Olympic Festival’s National finals after defeating early favorite
* Lahug District ruled the elementary division of the 17th Cebu City Olympics, Tejero topped the secondary level and the
Racing
* Evel Knievel, a motorcycle daredevil who jumped over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and
December
Basketball
* The M. Lhuillier Jewelers defended their MVBA Visayas crown after outplaying rival Landmaster-Mandaue, 73-65, at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex and later emerged as the 2nd Conference champion after beating MisOr 75-62 in Game 3 at the Cebu Coliseum. As if, not having enough, the Jewelers added more glitter to its name after winning the MVBA Christmas Cup against Holcim Money Gram 101-94.
Boxing
* AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Rey Bautista retained their WBO regional belts. Banal stopped Mexican Jovanny “Bambino” Soto in the ninth round, while Bautista clobbered Antonio Meza at the Araneta Coliseum.
* Nonito Donaire knocked out Luis Maldonado of
* Cebuana Sally Mae Siso, RP’s no.1 girls’ 14-under tennis player, became the only Pinoy entry to sweep all singles and doubles titles at stake in her division at the Malaysian Junior Tennis Tour featuring four legs all over Malaysia. Other medal contributors from
Golf
* Tiger Woods won the US PGA Tour Player of the Year award for the third straight time.
Multi-sporting event
* The Philippine team finished sixth overall in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in
In the SEAG, former University of Cebu trackster Julius Nierras won a gold in the men’s 400m run and Marites Bitbit snatched a gold in cycling’s road race and a bronze in the mountainbike cross-country event.
Four other Cebuano athletes won medals. Noel Espinosa and Antonio Gabica bagged silver medals in karatedo’s kata competition and men’s 9-ball event in billiards, respectively. The other medalists were Niño Surban, who won a bronze in the mountain bike cross-country event, and Metodio Suico and Harrison Castaneda in the hoop event of sepak takraw.
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