US conducts surveillance in West Philippine Sea

A 7-hour surveillance mission was conducted by the US forces over the West Phil Sea last Saturday. The mission was joined by the Pacific Fleet chief Admiral Scott Swift, on-board a P-8A Poseidon plane, this according to the US Pacific Fleet Website.

The participation of Swift allowed him to witness first-hand the full range capabilities of the P8-A Poseidon. A day before the mission was conducted, Admiral Swift assured US Allies, including the Philippines, that the American forces are prepared to respond to any contingency in the South China Sea.

Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Chief of the Phil Armed Forces Western Command, with responsibilities that include the Philippine territories in the disputed Spratlys chain, said there is nothing wrong with the surveillance mission because it was conducted over international waters. Adding that “only the Chinese claim that these area are theirs”.

China is claiming virtually the entire South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Preparing Gilas, The Philippine National Pool

Now that the PBA season is over, National Coach, Tab Baldwin is now working with the PBA for the formation of the national pool to conquer the 2015 FIBA Asia Championsip on September 23 to Oct 3 in Changsha, China.

 

The American-New Zealander coach has two months to prepare Gilas for the 2015 FIBA Asia championship where the winner gains automatic berth in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Baldwin is expected to announce the members of the national pool before the month ends. Gilas is set to start training on august 1, when naturalized player Andray Blatche is set to arrive in the Philippines to join Gilas.

 

Players who are likely to be included in the list are two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, guards Jayson Castro and Paul Lee, forward Ranidel de Ocampo and Ginebra bigman Greg Slaughter. Players from Blackwater, KIA and NLEX are unlikely to join the pool since these teams will not be touched by Baldwin.

Subic Bay is a Military Base Again

The Philippine government will reopen the former US naval base in Subic Bay and will station  new fighter jets and two frigates in the once one of the biggest US naval facilities in the world. This is in response to the Chinese continued expansion in the South China Sea.

The naval base was shutdown in 1992 after the senate terminated a bases agreement with Washington. Manila converted the facility into an economic zone.

Using the Subic Bay would allow the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy to respond to Chinese moves in the West Philippine Sea more effectively.

The full squadron of FA-50s would be based at Subic, two of which will arrive in December.

WATCH: Bobby Ray Parks Dunk in his best played game yet

Bobby Ray Parks played his best game yet after getting some minutes in the NBA summer league. Parks finished the game in double figures with 10 points, including five rebounds and four steals in more than 20 minutes of playing time.


The Filipino-American, former NU cager  helped the Dallas Mavericks beat a D-League selection Thursday (Friday Manila time) at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.

SWEET SWEEP! San Miguel Beermen is the 2015 Governors' Cup Champion

"Finally got one", game's best player said. Arizona Reid finally got a championship after four years. Finishing the game with 33 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The runner-up for the best import of the conference got it going in the 2nd half of the game after scoring just 13 points in the first half. The two-time best import shot 6 out of 12 from the three point line.

While MVP June Mar Fajardo gave the Alaska Aces a very hard time inside the paint securing rebounds defensively and offensively.

The Beermen started to take the game away after outscoring the Aces by 17 points in the 3rd quarter and continued the run early in the fourth resulting in a 16 point lead in the 8th minute mark, the largest lead of the game. The Aces tried to comeback with a 6 to nothing run, but the beermen answered every point the Aces made.

The Beermen ended the game with a 10-point lead, Final score is at 91-81.