Did you know that the United Arab Emirates regards jiu-jitsu as its national sport? Jiu-jitsu, which originated in ninth-century Japan and whose style was later adopted and modified in Brazil in the 1920s (hence the name Brazilian jiu-jitsu), has been a compulsory subject in the UAE’s public schools since 2008. It is now integrated into...
Author: Charles E. Buban (Charles E. Buban)
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The Philippines at the 19th Asiad: highs and lows
With the close of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 8, the Philippines can take solace in the fact that with four gold medals, it has at least matched its harvest in the 2018 edition of the quadrennial tournament held in Jakarta, Indonesia. With 4 gold, 2 silver, and 12 bronze medals,...
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Hitting our stride together
To celebrate World Animal Day on Wednesday, Oct. 4, the nongovernment organization Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) sponsored “Run Fur Life” last Sunday at Bridgetowne Estate in Pasig City. The event, now on its eighth year, had over 1,000 runners registered—a record achievement for AKF. My running buddy was a two-year-old red Golden Retriever named Angus....
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Filipino athletes at Asiad eye golds, ticket to 2024 Paris Olympics
The biggest Asian Games (Asiad) in history opens on Sept. 23 in Hangzhou, China, with over 12,000 athletes participating, or more than the 2020 Tokyo Olympics’ 11,420. For the 395 Filipino athletes competing in 37 sports from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, the 19th edition of the quadrennial event—which was delayed a year due to...
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Calm before the storm, no panic for coach Cone
Gilas Pilipinas may have been confronted by major issues these past few weeks, but there was a distinct calm on Sept. 14 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City, where the team engaged in a late-afternoon practice session open to the public. Newly named Gilas head coach Tim Cone did not seem fazed that he has...
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Gilas Pilipinas trounces China, 96-75, salvages FIBA World Cup pride
It’s one win that meant little in terms of the standing at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but so much for millions of Filipinos unhappy with the state of their national basketball program and aching for relief from a string of defeats. Before an 11,000-plus crowd that packed the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last night (Sept....
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Luckless Gilas Pilipinas moves to salvage World Cup ranking
Before their Aug. 29 match at Smart-Araneta Coliseum versus the Azzurri of Italy, Gilas Pilipinas had the daunting task of drawing up a game plan that would not only beat the Italians but also be ahead by at least 12 points. It looked achievable considering that the Azzurri were awful at the 3-point arc in...
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Gilas Pilipinas lives and dies with Jordan Clarkson
A Gilas Pilipinas game plan that lives and dies with NBA star Jordan Clarkson ended in a heartbreak loss, 87-81, to the Dominican Republic in last night’s (Aug. 25) first FIBA Basketball World Cup group stage match. The Philippines is, of course, still in contention, but it’s a tough road ahead as Clarkson and the...
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Philippines pulls out all the stops for FIBA World Cup
All roads lead to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Aug. 25, the opening day of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. After the opening ceremonies, the first game, between Italy and Angola, will commence at 4 p.m. The Philippines’ Gilas Pilipinas will then see action against the Dominican Republic in a game that...
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Spain’s World Cup victory is a triumph for women’s sports
It was the only goal Spain would make for the entire 105 minutes of the final match against England on Sunday night, Aug. 20, in Sydney, Australia. Yet it was the only point that La Roja—the Red One—would need to lift their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy. The goal came early: Just 29 minutes...