More wishes for 2019

Here are five more wishes in our list of 10 for the New Year. In yesterday’s column, our first five wishes were the successful staging of the 30th Southeast Asian Games here on Nov. 30-Dec. 11, Gilas qualifying for the FIBA World Cup in China on Aug. 31-Sept. 15, the Philippine tennis team breaking out of Group 2 in the Asia/Oceania Division of the Davis Cup, the PSC and POC moving forward and gymnast Caloy Yulo booking a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Pacquiao disposes of Broner to seal a rematch with Mayweather. WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao stakes his crown for the first time against four-time world titlist Adrien (The Problem) Broner at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 19. Although Pacquiao is picked to win, the unpredictable Broner has the tools and creds to pull an upset. A convincing victory could catapult Pacquiao into a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the year. The rematch is highly anticipated since Pacquiao battled Mayweather with an injured shoulder starting the fourth round in losing on points in 2015, putting the decision in doubt. A return fight should settle who’s the better man. But first things first. Pacquiao has to hurdle Broner before even coming to the table to discuss a rematch with the undefeated Mayweather.

Azkals steal the thunder in the AFC Asian Cup. The Philippines makes its debut in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup this year, a milestone for the Azkals. The Asian Cup was inaugurated in 1956 and the coming tournament is the 17th edition of the region’s most prestigious football event. The qualifying process involved 45 countries from March 2105 to March 2018 and the Philippines booked a ticket, along with 23 others, to the joust set in Dubai on Jan. 5-Feb. 1. It’s the first time the Asian Cup will welcome 24 teams split into six groups, up from 16 that participated in 2004-15. Azkals coach Sven Goran Eriksson has assembled a pool of 23 for the meet. The Philippines’ schedule in the first round lists South Korea on Jan. 7, China on Jan. 11 and another Asian Cup rookie Kyrgyzstan on Jan. 16. The top two in each group will advance to the Round of 16. The top four of six third placers, in terms of records, will also move up.

FIBA recognizes Fil-foreigners as “locals” regardless of when they were issued their Philippine passports. At the moment, FIBA recognizes athletes with multiple citizenships as naturalized players if they apply to represent a country where they weren’t born in and were issued passports of that country after turning 16. That disenfranchises Fil-foreigners, born outside the Philippines, to play for the Philippines as “locals” or “regulars” despite clear Filipino lineage if they weren’t issued their Philippine passports before turning 16. Under Philippine law, Fil-foreigners enjoy the privileges and rights of any Filipino citizen, including representing the country in international sporting competitions, without considering when they were issued their Philippine passports. The FIBA rule is the reason why Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Newsome and Jordan Clarkson may play for the Philippines only as naturalized players. Another FIBA rule allows only one naturalized player for each country. FIBA initiated the eligibility restrictions to curb the abuse of certain countries in converting foreigners into locals to make a mockery out of the rule limiting each team to one naturalized player. The SBP is proposing DNA testing to authenticate heritage in pushing for Fil-foreigners to play for the Philippines as “locals” regardless of when they were issued their Philippine passports.

Volleyball lands a podium finish in the SEA Games. The game is gaining popularity all over the nation and it would surely be a treat for the homecrowd if both the men’s and women’s teams claim a medal at the SEA Games here late this year. After a 10-year hiatus, Philippine volleyball returned to the SEA Games in 2015. The men took sixth place and the women, fifth. In 2017, the men finished sixth and the women, fourth. Since 1977, the women’s team has collected six gold, three silver and four bronze medals but it hasn’t landed a podium finish in 14 years. The men’s squad has a silver and three bronzes in its trophy room. The women are making strides in establishing a competitive presence in Asia. At the Asian Women’s Championships in Thailand last September, the women beat Kazakhstan twice, 3-1 and 3-2 and lost close matches to China and Iran, both via 3-2 cliffhangers. Larong Volleyball Sa Pilipinas, the POC-recognized NSA for the sport, has its hands full in refereeing the rival leagues PSL and PVL but for as long as the squabble doesn’t affect the formation of the best possible national team for men and women, the game shouldn’t suffer from the competition.

PBA remains the country’s No. 1 sports entertainment vehicle. The pro league opens its 44th season at the Philippine Arena on Jan. 13 with the Leo Awards preceding one inaugural game. There are exciting plans to make the in-venue experience for fans worth the price of a ticket and commissioner Willie Marcial expects every game to be more fiercely fought with the influx of rookies, transfer of several key veterans, introduction of new rules and improved officiating. Last season, three different teams won the championships of three conferences, indicating a clear path towards parity. The PBA can only get better as the new season is geared to begin with a bang.

Happy New Year to one and all!