Philippines will be hosting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

It will be another great year for Philippine Basketball, as the country prepares for the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Phillipines has been selected by FIBA as one of the 3 countries that will host the 2016 OQT. It will be held on July 4 - 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The other two host countries are Italy and Serbia. FIBA announced #‎FIBAOQT‬ hosts for the ‪#‎RoadToRio‬ last tuesday, January 19, 2016. 

Gilas Pilipinas will face five of these teams in Manila: Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France, Greece, Czech Republic, Angola, Tunisia, Senegal, New Zealand, Iran, Japan, Latvia, Croatia and Turkey. 

The draw for the team grouping will be on January 26, 2016. 

7 Piso na lang ang Pamasahe!

Pitong piso na lamang ang pamasahe sa jeepney simula biyernes, ika-22 ng enero,  ito ay ayon sa LTFRB (Land Transportation and Regulatory Board). Ang pagbaba ng pamasahe mula php 7.50 papuntang php 7.00 ay para sa rehiyong 3, 4 at Metro Manila.

Metro Manila's Awesome Fireworks During New Years Eve

We have seen videos of war in other countries where explosions and rockets are everywhere. In every New year eve, Metro Manila is like a war zone too, except it is very beautiful to watch as fireworks all over the metro are simultaneously lit when the clock struck 12!

Watch the video from youtube here:

New Years eve of 2015

New Years Eve of 2016

Fire Hits Residential Areas on New Year Celebration

A flying firecracker called “Kwitis” caused a fire that engulfed almost 1,000 houses in Tondo Manila, which lasted 6 hours and reached the General Alarm. Around 3,000 families were affected and are now in evacuation centers. The fire was declared out at 6 in the morning.

A kwitis that accidentally flew inside the house of a certain Salvacion Maurelio, also caused a fire that engulfed 70 houses in barangay 56 Pericohon Tacloban. The incident displaced 84 families.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is again calling for the nationwide banning of all fireworks to avoid similar incidents from reoccurring.

PBA Semis starts on Monday January 4th

The 1^st match of the PBA semi-finals will start on January 4^th at MOA arena, Pasay City with Global Port’s Pringle-Romeo duo challenging the defensive prowess of Alaska Aces. The Global Port Batang Pier will be playing its first Semi-final appearance after beating Barangay Ginebra on a very controversial game which left 2 referees suspended. The Batang Pier will have its handful in containing the inside threat of Alaska’s Manuel, Thoss and the very hardworking Abueva.

Next Day will be a match between the favoured teams, San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

January 4, 2016, Monday 7:00 PM, MOA Arena

                Global Port Batang Pier                 VS                           Alaska Aces

January 5, 2016, Tuesday, 7:00 PM, MOA Arena

               

               San Miguel Beermen                      VS                           Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

January 6, 2016, Wednesday 7:00 PM, Smart-Araneta Coliseum

                Alaska Aces                                  VS                          Global Port Batang Pier

January 7, 2016, Thursday, 7:00 PM, Smart-Araneta Coliseum

                Rain or Shine Elasto Painters          VS                         San Miguel Beermen

January 8, 2016, Friday 7:00 PM, MOA Arena              

  

                Global Port Batang Pier                  VS                         Alaska Aces

January 9, 2016, Saturday 5:00 PM, Smart-Araneta Coliseum

                San Miguel Beermen                      VS                         Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

January 10, 2016, Sunday 5:00 PM, Smart-Araneta Coliseum

                Alaska Aces                                  VS                         Global Port Batang Pier

January 11, 2016, Monday 7:00 PM, Smart-Araneta Coliseum

                Rain or Shine Elasto Painters          VS                         San Miguel Beermen

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.