2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Philippines beats Palestine 4-3 in the battle for 3rd

Playing without star keeper Neil Etheridge, the Azkals scored enough goals to survive and win against the Al Fursan despite conceding 3 goals. Etheridge was suspended in the 3rd place match after getting a red card in the Philippine‘s heartbreaking semifinal loss to Turkmenistan. In for the Fullham goalkeeper is Philippine Army‘s Eduard Sacapaño. Sacapaño made enough saves to help Philippines win the high scoring match.

Phil Younghusband had a brace to up his total to six goals in tournament. He was awarded the golden booth after the tournament. The goal scores for the Philippines were the Guirado brothers. Angel Guirado scored his second goal in the tournament for a 3-1 lead at the half. Brother Juan Luis scored his first ever as an Azkal in the second half. Juan Luis’ goal turned to be the game winner.

Abdulhamid had 2 goals for Palestine. The third goal of Al Fursan was courtesy of Fahed attal in the 78th minute.

The third place finish in the AFC Challenge Cup is  big achievement for the Philippines where football lags in popularity to basketball and boxing. The good finish in this recent tournament will surely improve the country’s standings in the FIFA World Rankings where it is ranked 155th.

Azkals Celebrate (from goalnepal.com)

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PBA Results November 2, 2011: Cone and Alaska win in the same night

November 2, 2011 will be remembered as the date when Alaska won its first game in the post-Tim Cone era. The Cone-less Alaska Aces brought back to earth the streaking Barako Bull Energy, 93-72. In the main game, ex-Alaska coach Tim Cone steered his new team B-Meg Llamados to a 76-65 when over Shopinas.com Clickers.

Alaska 93 – 73 Barako Bull

A few days after Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi declared that his team is for real and a big title threat, the winless Alaska Aces showed that it is too early to declare any team as a title contender. The losing streak of the Aces now coached by Joel Banal ends at 5. Center Sonny Thoss led a fiery second half barrage to humble the Barako Bull Energy who were seeking to tie league leaders Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. From being outscored at the first half, 36-40, the Aces turned the tables and routed the Energy 57-32 in the final 2 quarters.

Thoss finished with a career-high 27 markers and towed 3 other Aces players in double figures. Rookie Mac Baracael, point-guard L.A. Tenorio, and swingman Cyrus Baguio combined for 41 points. Rookie Dylan Ababou led Barako Bull in scoring with 19 points while veterans Don Allado and Sunday Salvacion added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

B-Meg 76 – 65 Shopinas.com

Not to be outdone by his former team, Tim Cone made sure that they will win against the winless Shopinas.com. The Llamados relied on a big fourth quarter run to deny Franz Pumaren and the Shopinas.com Clickers their first victory. The win was the third for the Llamados in 7 games while the Clickers fell to 0-6.

The game was pretty tight in the first 3 periods as the Llamados only had 3 point lead at the end of the third period, 51-48. Rookie Mark Barroca starred in an anti-climactic 22-8 run in the first half of the final period to pull away from the Clickers. With a 72-56 lead, B-Meg just coasted to get the victory. Barroca finished with 13 points. Peter June Simon topped the scoring for B-Meg with 18. James Yap had 12 markers in the game. Elmer Espiritu was the lone Clicker in double figures with 13.

The scores:

ALASKA 93 – Thoss 27, Baracael 16, Tenorio 15, Baguio 10, Dela Cruz 9, Reyes 8, Cablay 8, Custodio 0, Eman 0.

BARAKO 72 – Ababou 19, Allado 11, Salvacion 10, Seigle 9, Artadi 6, Miller 5, Salvador 4, Pena 4, Pennisi 2, Arboleda 2, Sorongon 0, Avenido 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 36-40, 61-54, 93-72

B-MEG 76 – Simon 18, Barroca 13, Yap J. 12, De Vance 9, Raymundo 7, Pingris 5, Urbiztondo 4, Reavis 3, Yap R. 3, Maierhofer 2, Acuna 0.

SHOPINAS.COM 65 – Espiritu 13, Sena 9, Jazul 9, Hubalde 8, Duncil 6, Canlas 5, Mirza 5, Ritualo 5, Menor 4, Aquino 1, Sison 0, Hermida 0, Daa 0, Se 0.

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The Gold Medallists of the 2011 Pan American Games

Guadalajara, Mexico – The goal of every athlete in any major competition is win the gold medal. The gold medal symbolizes being the top athlete in a certain event. Here are the gold medal winners at the 2011 Pan American Games:

Women’s Mountain Bike - Cross Country:  Heather IRMIGER 

Men’s Mountain Bike- Cross Country:  Hector Leonardo PAEZ 

Women’s Taekwondo - -49 kg:  Ivett GONDA 

Men’s Taekwondo – -58 kg:  Yulis Gabriel MERCEDES REYES 

Women’s Modern Pentathlon: Margaux ISAKSEN 

Women’s Rhythmic  Gymnastics All Around:  Julie Ashley ZETLIN 

Women’s Swimming 100m Butterfly:  Claire DONAHUE 

Men’s Swimming 400m Individual Medley:  Thiago PEREIRA 

Women’s Swimming 400m Individual Medley:  Julia Elizabeth SMIT 

Men’s Swimming 400m Freestyle:  Charles Gipson HOUCHIN

Women’s Swimming 4x100m Freestyle Relay:  UNITED STATES

Women’s Road Race Inidividual Time Trial:  Maria Luisa CALLE 

Men’s Road Race Inidividual Time Trial:  Marlon Alirio PEREZ 

Equestrian Team Dressage:  UNITED STATES

Rhythmic Gymnastics Groups All Around:  BRAZIL

Men’s Modern Pentathlon:  Oscar  SOTO 

Women’s Taekwondo -57kg:  Irma Edith CONTRERAS 

Men’s Taekwondo -68kg:  Jhohanny JEAN BARTERMI 

Men’s Shooting 10m Air Pistol:   Daryl Lee SZARENSKI 

Women’s Shooting 10m Air Pistol:  Dorothy LUDWIG 

Women’s Swimming 100m Backstroke:  Rachel BOOTSMA 

Men’s Swimming 100m Freestyle:  Cesar CIELO 

Women’s Swimming 200m Freestyle:  Catherine BREED 

Men’s Swimming 100m Breaststroke:  Felipe FRANÇA 

Men’s Swimming 4x100m Freestyle Relay:  Brazil

Women’s Table Tennis Team :  Dominican Republic

Men’s Table Tennis Team:  Brazil

Women’s Rowing Pair:  Argentina

Women’s Rowing Double Sculls:  Cuba

Men’s Rowing Double Sculls:  Argentina

Men’s Rowing Four:  Argentina

Men’s Shooting 10m Air Rifle:  Matthew Lee RAWLINGS 

Women’s Shooting 10m Air Rifle:   Emily Jean CARUSO 

Men’s Squash Doubles:  Mexico

Women’s Squash Doubles:  Mexico

Men’s Track Cycling Team Pursuit:  Colombia

Men’s Track Cycling Team Sprint:   Venezuela

Women’s Track Cycling Team Sprint:  Venezuela

Women’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Hoop:  Cynthia Yazmin VALDEZ

Women’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Ball:  Julie Ashley  ZETLIN 

Women’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Groups 5 Ball:  Brazil

Women’s Taekwondo 67kg:  Melissa AGNOTTA 

Men’s Taekwondo 80kg: Sebastian CRISMANICH 

Women’s Swimming 400m Freestyle:  Gillian Rene RYAN 

Men’s Swimming 200m Butterfly:  Leonardo DE DEUS 

Women’s Swimming 100m Breaststroke:  Ann Catherine CHANDLER 

Men’s Swimming 100m Breaststroke:  Thiago PEREIRA 

Women’s Squash Individual:  Samantha TERAN 

Men’s Squash Individual: Miguel  RODRIGUEZ 

Women’s Rowing Single Sculls:  Margot SHUMWAY 

Women’s Rowing Lightweight Double Sculls:  Mexico

Women’s Rowing Pair:  United States

Men’s Rowing Pair:  Argentina

Men’s Rowing Lightweight Double Sculls:  Mexico

2011 Rugby World Cup: Australia beats Wales, places 3rd

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The Wallabies of 2011 got some sort of revenge for the 1987 team as they beat an equally young Welsh side for the bronze medal in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Australia survived 2 crucial injuries early in the match to hold on and beat unlucky Wales.

Fly-half Quade Cooper and full-back Kurtley Beale were injured inside 25 minutes in the match at Eden Park. Cooper could be out for as long as 6 months as he is suspected to injure his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Beale reinjured his hamstring that prevented him from playing in their semifinal match against New Zealand last week. The Wallabies had enough firepower to beat Wales that also missed some key players. Absent for Wales were missing suspended skipper Sam Warburton, plus injured pair Rhys Priestland and Adam Jones.

Australian centre Berrick Barnes started the scoring with a try and a conversion by wing James O’Connor  barely 11 minutes into the game. Wales promptly answered via a James Hook penalty.  In the 44th minute, Hook had a chance to narrow the gap but missed an easy penalty. In the 49th minute,  Shane Williams put the Welsh on top, 8-7, after making an amazing try using kicks twice. Hook, however, missed the conversion attempt. Coach Warren Gatland decided to substitute Hook with  Stephen Jones.

The Wallabies took back the lead in the 53rd minute via James O’Connor penalty. O’Connor added 3 more points for Australia in the 58th minute to extend the lead to 5, 13-8. Barnes made a drop goal in the 67th minute to make it an 8 point lead. Welsh Stephen Jones got 3 points back three minutes later. Australia number 8 Ben McCalman scored the second try of the game for the Wallabies to put the game out of reach at 21-11. O’Connor failed to convert the extra points. Halfpenny scored for Wales in added time followed by a Stephen Jones conversion for the final points of the game. Australia won 21-18.

The third placers have been decided and there is only one match left. It is for the hardware, France vs. hosts New Zealand. It is a 1987 finals rematch at the same venue. The match is expected to be close but more than half of the rugby world is rooting for the All-Blacks.

Aussies celebrate!

 

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2011 MLB NLCS: Cardinals win Home Run battle to clinch WS berth

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Tony LaRussa  and St. Louis Cardinals relied on their bats to clinch another World Series spot. The wildcard Cards outslug the NL Central Champs Milawaukee Brewers, 12-6, in Game 6 of the 2011 National League Championship Series (NLCS) in Miller Park, Milwaukee. The game was between the best hitting team in the NL (Cards) and the best home run team (Brewers). The Cardinals showed the Brewers that they can hit out of the park was well.

Game 6 featured 6 home runs in the first 3 innings, 3 for each team. The Cards though scattered 14 hits, twice more than the Brewers can produce. In the game, the Cards batted .368 against the 7 Brewer pitchers who came to the mound. David Freese, NLCS MVP, had 3 hits to raise his series average to .545. He hit .297 in the regular season. LaRussa again depended on his bullpen that pitched 7 of 9 innings of the game. All in all, the legendary manager made 26 pitching changes in the series.

The Cards will have the home field advantage in the World Series owing to the Prince Fielder homer that clinched the All-Star Game victory for the National League. The World Series will start on Wednesday (U.S time).

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PBA 37: Meralco notches first win minus 4 key players

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10/12/2011

Mark Cardona, Sol Mercado, Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Ross were not able to suit for Meralco’s second game of the season but their absence hardly mattered as the other players stepped to give Coach Ryan Gregorio his first win of the season. The Meralco game was a big opportunity for Shopinas.com to get its first ever win but veteran big man Asi Taulava hit fade-away jumper with 25 seconds left to make it a 2-possession ballgame at 77-72.

Shopinas wasted their next possession and was forced to foul Mark Macapagal for the final points of the game. Gabby Espinas led the Bolts in scoring with 16 markers. The three Marks (Macapagal, Isip, and Yee) all scored in double figures. Paolo Hubalde who scored a PBA career high 21 points led Shopinas.

With the win, the Bolts evened their record to 1-1 while dropping the Clickers to the cellar at 0-2. Meralco will face Ryan Gregorio’s former team, the B-Meg Llmados on Saturday while Shopinas battles Petron on Sunday for their next assignments.

The scores:

MERALCO 79 – Espinas 16, Macapagal 14, Isip 11, Yee 10, Lanete 8, Taulava 7, Borboran 6, Timberlake5, Omolon 2, Ballesteros 0.

SHOPINAS.COM 72 – Hubalde 21, Menor 9, Sena 7, Duncil 7, Ritualo 7, Mirza 6, Se 6, Hermida 4, Sison 2, Jazul 2, Canlas 1, Espiritu 0.

Quarterscores: 9-11, 32-31, 58-52, 79-72

 

 

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Philippine Azkals blank Nepal 4-0 in friendly match

Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila – The 166th ranked Philippines played a friendly with the 135th ranked Nepal yesterday. The home side gave the visitors a rude welcome as the Azkals blanked the Gorkhalis 4-0. The game marked the local debut of some of the newest recruits by the Azkals.

The first half was marked by goals by the Younghusband brothers. Phil Younghusband struck fist in the 17th minute as he made good move to outwit Nepalese goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu. In the 28th minute, brother James scored his 7th international goal via a fine strike just aside the area. The Philippines had a comfortable 2-nil by halftime.

In the second half, new acquisition Dennis Cagara showed why he is one of the most highly touted Filipino midfield prospects as he set the table for the Azkal goals in the second half. His technique is evident as he sent a fine cross to Phil Younghusband in the 55th minute. Younghusband completed his brace by shooting the ball away from the diving Limbu. The Cagara-Younghusband combination figured well in another goal before the end of the game. Cagara made another superb cross to Younghusband in 89th minute. Younghusband then set-up fellow Filipino-British Matthew Hartmann for his first international goal.

The Man of the Match was clearly Phil Younghusband who dedicated the game to his late mother Susan who passed away a month ago.

 

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NFL 2011: 2 teams still undefeated after Week 5

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The division rivalry at the NFC North is heating up as the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions remained perfect after 5 weeks of NFL action. The defending Super Bowl champions looked sharp in rallying against playoff contender Atlanta Falcons while the Lions beat the defending NFC North winner in Monday Night Football.

Here are the game recaps for each undefeated team:

Green Bay (5-0) 25 – 14 Atlanta (2-3)

The last time the two teams met was last year’s playoffs where the Green Bay Packers routed the Falcons on their way to their way to winning the Super Bowl. The Packers won again after being down 0-14 at the start of the game. The Packers started tentative in the red zone as their first 3 scores were courtesy of K Mason Crosby. The offense started humming at the end of the third and early in the 4th as Rodgers connected with James Jones and Greg Jennings to pull away from the struggling Falcons. Crosby capped the scoring with another FG with one minute left in the game.

Chicago (2-3) 13 – 24 Detroit (5-0)

The game is the first Monday Night Football game for the Lions in a decade and they faced a Bears looking to keep up with the NFC North leaders. 67,861 fans went to Ford Field, the second biggest ever crowd at Detroit. The fans were indeed a factor as they forced the Bears to several false starts. The Lions struck first with a 73 yard TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson. The Bears answered with 10 straight points to lead at halftime 10-7. The 3rd quarter though belonged to the Lions, as Stafford connected with TE Brandon Pettigrew for a TD. Jahvid Best added a TD with a career high 88 yard run, the longest run for a Lions player since 1950. The defense then took care of the rest as they just held Chicago’s offense to just one field goal and pressuring Jay Cutler the whole time. The Bear’s offensive line was constantly beaten by an energized Lion’s defensive line. Jason Hanson made 300th game as a Lion memorable by capping the scoring with a 31 yard FG late in the final quarter. Hanson now holds the record for most games played with one team in the NFL. He has been a Lions fixture for 20 years.

What’s next for the 5-0 teams?

Green Bay Packers – The Packers will host Sam Bradford and the winless Rams at Lambeau field. 6-0 is definitely reachable unless the bye week helped the Rams turn their fortunes this season. The 0-4 has never scored over 16 points this season and they have the worst run defense in the 2011 NFL. If the Rams win, I am sure those who bet for them in Vegas will be instantly rich.

Detroit Lions – the Lions will have a shorter break this week as they host a game against the equally surprising San Francisco 49ers (4-1) on Sunday. The Niner’s loss this season was against Lion’s victim Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. The 49ers routed another Detroit victim, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Week 5. A lot of experts are saying that the 49ers-Lions match-up will be the game to watch next weekend. A win by Detroit will truly send a message to the NFC about being real title contenders.

 

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AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011 Light-flyweight: Zou and Shin win; Barriga gets free trip to London

The light flyweight semifinal matches are finished. Chinese boxer Zou continued his domination in the lightest weight level as he beat Russian David Ayrapetyan, 15-8. The victory means that Filipino pug Mark Anthony Barriga gets an olympic slot since AIBA awards the top 10 boxers in the lighter weight divisions. Shin Jong of Korea won the other semifinal bout and he will face Zou in the gold medal match.

Men’s Light Flyweight (-49Kg)

ZOU Shiming  15 - 8  David AYRAPETYAN (4)

Serdamba PUREVDORJ (3)  11 - 20  SHIN Jong (2)

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2011 MLB Playoffs: 3 “win or go home” Game 5′s coming up

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It is still the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball playoffs and 3 of the 4 division series match-ups are going to a deciding Game 5. Only the defending AL champion Texas Rangers managed to grab a place in the League Championship Series.

The Detroit-NYY series will be decided tomorrow. In the NLDS, the home teams Cards and Dbacks were able to win their games a few hours to arrange game 5. St. Louis will travel to Philadelphia for Game 5 while Arizona goes to Milwaukee for the series ender.

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