smea_chan

from #64 last year, to #3 after her first Grand Slam final ever,
pushing eventual champion Maria Sharapova to her limit in Roland Garros,
at only 22 years old…

#RESPECT

The Philippine women's national team "Malditas" will be holding an exhibition match to benefit the victims of the recent calamities that hit the nation. They will square off against a selection of standouts gathered from the local clubs and collegiate teams. While admission is free, donations will be asked from the patrons and fans



The Malditas recently reached their highest FIFA ranking ever, 75th out of 186 nations. Their most recent outing was finishing 2nd in the Asian Cup Qualifiers, first walloping Iran 9-0, then heartbrokenly lost to Thailand 0-1 (years before the Thais would easily massacre them for 9-0) then bounced back against Bangladesh with a 4-0 win to end the campaign.

Meanwhile, the players of the all-star team are fresh off the success of the inaguaral Pinay Futbol League, a competitive league consisting of nine teams, seven of them university-based. The league hopes to revitalize the state of women's football in the country and aims to organize more tournaments and competition in the future.

The game promises to be a good clash, which will showcase the best of Philippine women’s football. From the national team with members that have competitive experience in the United States, to the best players the schools and clubs in the Philippines have to offer.
The game will also serve as the Malditas' final tuneup before heading out to Myanmar for the Asean Football Federation Women's Championships where they are grouped with Japan U-23, Myanmar, Laos, and Indonesia.


Philippine Malditas Selection:
Chalise Baysa, Joana Houplin, Patricia Dull, Heather Cooke, Marielle Benitez, Dominique Oro, Olivia Schmitt, Claire Lim, Jillian Jamero, Sydney Pagador, Natasha Alquiros, Sam Nierras, Patricia Impelido, Cristina de los Reyes, Marisa Park, Inna Palacios, Camille Wilson, Aisa Mondero, Kristyn Alonzo, Sunshine Soriano, Nikki Regalado*, Amanda Empleo, Raylene Larot, Natalie Sanderson


Pinay Futbol All-Star Selection:
Gely Tiu, Mea Bernal, Haya Ibarra, Loreta Ladero, Hope Solis, Analou Amita, Biggie Abuan, Regine Metillo, Camille Rodriguez, Nikki Regalado, Jennizel Cabalan, Adrianne Yniguez, Alesa Dolino, Chermaine Guancia, Milka Romero, Kali Huff, Maan Cadayona, Marianne Narciso, Mary Ignacio, Molly Manalansan, Pearl Aguilar, Sara Castaneda, Jessa Sumagpao, Marice Magdolot, Julie Ann Sucob


The match will take place on Sunday, September 1 at 4:30pm in the Emperador Stadium at McKinley Hills in Metro Manila.


(ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WOMEN'S SOCCER UNITED)

1. Iran
2. Philippines
3. Korea
4. Chinese-Taipei
5. China

wow, even until now it hasn't quite sunk in yet. and to think China are only at #5? well the landscape sure is changing.



our very own Jason "The Blur" Castro was part of the Mythical 5 i.e. FIBA Asia's first five along with Iran's Hamed Hadadi at center and Oshin Sahakian at power forward, the baggy eyed and balding Lin Chih-Chieh of Taiwan at small forward and the relentless South Korean 3-ball sniper Kim Min Goo.



we may have lost out on being #1 in Asia to the larger Iranians but victory sure still is sweet as winning silver still guarantees you the opportunity to play on the world stage and it's the first time in over two decades that the Philippines are relevant in international basketball again. hard to even believe that our boys will be jostling up against the likes of Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose or even Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio next year!

the one team that kept standing in the way all those years before were the South Koreans, perpetual tormentors of Team Pilipinas in the knockout stages, mostly in the semis.

here are some articles detailing the painful history the Philippines had when facing Korea:
Philippines versus South Korea: A History of Heartbreak in Basketball
GRANTLAND: The Philippines Try to Avoid the South Korea Bogeyman in the FIBA Asia Semifinal

that's why when Gilas Pilipinas prevailed over Korea it felt like we won the whole thing.









clinching that semifinal win meant two key things:
1. an automatic ticket to the FIBA World Cup and getting to play against the world's best (the main objective of the team); and,
2. breaking the curse of the South Koreans to whom we always choked against before that day, and it made things a hell lot sweeter.



it was amazing. we watched this game right after an already particularly special Saturday of basketball where we darted off to Charlie's, the burger joint with a TV on the first floor (the basketball facility was on the 3rd). even tho we weren't actually there in the arena on the other side of the city, it was so fun watching with a big crowd and we, all the diners, were loudly cheering after every huge point. it was a festive atmosphere i would never forget. during the tense last few minutes of the game when you'd think it was all over for the Philippines, me and my teammates linked our arms like we were the players on the bench. and you could say that that passion has been rewarded as our team somehow found a way to win even when the odds were stacked against us (go-to big man Marcus Douthit down, Korean curse). ha, it was really awesome. even the restaurant manager couldn't hold back tears of joy :)

the postgame reactions were really priceless with some players aware of how much this game meant to them openly breaking down and crying:










there is no doubt the very successful FIBA Asia in Manila stint instilled a fierce sense of unity and national pride. :)




Laban Pilipinas! PUSO!!

“It's pretty awesome how many NBA players expressed support and sadness over Kobe's injury. Speaks to the respect he carries.” — Andy Kamenetzky

of course it had to be this way.

inaugural Women's Club World Cup set to start today! hosted in Saitama City, Japan, the International Women's Club Championship 2012 (Mobcast Cup) will feature four of the strongest clubs from around the world:





- reigning European champions, OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS FÉMININ (a powerhouse with most of the French WNT's star players such as Louisa Necib, Sonia Bompastor, Camille Abily including Swedish star Lotta Schelin and Japanese upstart Ami Otaki),

- defending Australian champions, CANBERRA UNITED FC,





- and two from Japan: League Cup winners, NTV BELEZA (with key Nadeshiko Japan figures Asuza Iwashimizu, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Mana Iwabuchi),






- and League champions, INAC KOBE LEONESSA (featuring World Cup 2011 hero Homare Sawa, along with fellow Nadeshiko Shinobu Ohno, Yukari Kinga, Nahomi Kawasumi, Ayumi Kaihori and Americans Beverly Goebel-Yanez and Rebecca Moros)





UPCOMING FIXTURES:
NTV Beleza vs. Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (4:30 p.m. on November 22, Japan time)
INAC Kobe Leonessa vs. Canberra United FC (7:20 p.m. on November 22, Japan time)
The Third-Place Match (1:30 p.m. on November 25, Japan time)
The Cup Final (5:20 p.m. on November 25, Japan time)


SOURCES: WSU, Viranesque

scores four goals against England.
scores goal of the century.



#whenyoureonyouareon

answered this survey over at ontd_football, might as well post it here :)


1. Who was your MVP this tournament? MVT (Most Valuable Team)?

Coach Norio Sasaki!


LOL just kidding! XD



Christine Sinclair, Canadian Football Team. i love captains who singlehandedly carry their respective teams on their backs. like Homare Sawa (with success!) at last year's WC and Diego Forlan in WC 2010.



MVT: Team USA, Women's Basketball. what's not to love about these goofs!? scary elite goofs, i might add. (5 STRAIGHT GOLDS, NOT A SINGLE LOSS SINCE '96!)


2. Your most favorite match of the tournament?

without any shred of doubt,



Roger Federer of Switzerland defeats Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, 3-6 7-6(5) 19-FREAKING-17 in the longest best-of-3 singles match ever anywhere anytime clocking in at almost 5 hours!

for football,




Spain vs Japan in men's football = MASSIVE UPSET!
(Spain later left the Olympics WINLESS and SCORELESS!!)


3. Any moments that stuck with you the most?




the greatest INJUSTICE of all time: Shin Lam, South Korea, during the women's epee individual fencing semi-finals. (see story)


4. Who was your biggest crush this tournament?




Kohei Uchimura, Japan, GOAT gymnast and his anime hair and his pole-dancing and... /)///_///(\


5. Did you discover any new found appreciations for sports you didn't know existed before?

well, i did not really not know about it, i just haven't really appreciated it until London.



ARCHERY!!! and this girl, Ren Hayakawa was boss for Japan in the team event!