SPORTS

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. The Negros Island Region (NIR) softball team only needed five innings to mark their first win in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, a 20-0 demolition of the Zamboanga Peninsula at the Camp Fullon Field in San Fernando, Antique. The team is looking to win back-to-back championships. The Negrense team is scheduled …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. The Elite 60 Development Camp selected ten aspiring basketball players during their recent tryouts for the Visayas at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. Andre Chua, Christian Manaytay, Andrew Velasco, Joshua Fuentabella, and Franz Diaz were named among the 18U selections; while Michael Jhaye Jordan, John Edward Aguilar, Anskie Espina, Rey …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Capitol Boys opened their 2017 D-League Basketball Tournament campaign beating defending champions AA Electrical, 63-58, at the STI-West Negros University (STI-WNU) gymnasium, last week. The two teams went into the half tied at 30-all, however, the eventual winners went on a 26-11 run in the third period, putting them ahead …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. The 1st Congressman Greg Gasataya Basketball League opened this weekend, with Sum-ag scoring a big 101-56 win over Barangay 33 in the open category; while Granada beat Barangay 3, 80-57, and Barangay 23 defeated Barangay 5, 89-63, at the STI-West Negros University (STI-WNU) gymnasium. The tournament’s namesake, Bacolod Lone District …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Former IBF junior bantamweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa defeated WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion and Bago City-native ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva via unanimous decision over the weekend in a title eliminator bout at the Manchester Arena in England. Following the fight, Villanueva thanked his supporters and said, “I tried …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. The Negros Island Region (NIR) earned its first gold medal in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, currently taking place in Antique, through 13-year-old Kiana Marie Alagaban of Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS), who won the elementary division all-around gold medal in gymnastics. All 16 competing regions each sent three athletes …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Athletes from across Negros Occidental are set to compete in the Panaad sa Negros Sportsfest 2017, which begins today, April 22, and runs until April 30 at the Panaad Park and Stadium. Among the events set to take place include taekwondo, football, boxing, chess, athletics, karatedo, and arnis. Special events …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Around 12,000 student-athletes, coaches, and officials are expected to take part in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, set to open on Sunday in San Jose, Antique. Expected to lead the opening rites are Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, along with other provincial officials, Senator Loren Legarda, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Young basketball players will have the opportunity to join national youth teams with the Elite 60 Development Camp regional tryouts for the Visayas taking place at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, today. The program will be divided into two phases, the regional development camp, which runs for two days and …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion and Bago City-native ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva is set to take on former IBF junior bantamweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa in a title eliminator bout today, April 22, at the Manchester Arena in England. If Villanueva is successful, he next faces Filipino WBO bantamweight …