Sports bits

MBA closes shop

Although vowing to rise from the ashes of defeat, the Metropolitan Basketball Association has already called off the remaining games of the season, leaving its stable of officals, players and coaches without jobs.

The closure of the MBA was deemed inevitable when the league's chief financial backer television network ABS-CBN backed out before the season started. The league has yet to settle the salaries of players, coaches and staff plus the lease on stadiums and coliseums nationwide and the money owed to the National Broadcasting Network (NBN), the league's broadcaster post-ABS-CBN.

According to MBA Chairman Santi Araneta, the MBA will keep its offices including those in the provinces and its Web Site (mba.ph), which will continue to run news on league developments before it reopens hopefully next year.

RP pool artists need breaks to top Asiad

Even with the inclusion of Francicsco "Django" Bustamante and Efren "Bata" Reyes in the Pusan-bound national team, the Filipino pool players will still need the all the luck to win the gold and help the country erase the stigma of the country's dismal finish in the Bangkok Asian Games four years ago.

"Malaki ang tsansa natin pero siyempre, mahirap sabihin na sigurado tayo sa gold. Knockout format ang laro sa Asian Games pero ngayon pa lang madami na ang nagtatanong na mga Japanese at Taiwanese players kung lalaban kaming dalawa ni Bata sa Asian Games," said Bustamante.

The Philippines won three gold medals, all courtesy of boxing, in the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994, and salvaged a mere gold medal in Bangkok in the closing days of competition through the efforts of Gandy Valle and Romeo Villanueva in 9-ball doubles.

Bustamante was not in the initial list of the country's entries but he was given the slot nonetheless following a runner-up finish at the recent World Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales. Django will be paired with Antonio Lining in 9-ball doubles in Pusan, a slot originally reserved for Warren Kiamco who will compete in the 9-ball singles. Lining, who topped the local series of 9-ball eliminations, will also vie in the singles event.

Reyes will compete in the 8-ball singles, giving the Philippines a clear shot at the gold in all three pool events rather than have Bustamante and Reyes team up in 9-ball and leave a gap in the 8-ball event.

Another entry in the 8-ball singles event is the youthful Lee Van Corteza, while the likes of Marlon Manalo, James Al Ortega and Benjamin Guevarra will represent the country in the snooker competitions.

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PSC faces budget deficit

After its proposed budget was cut in half owing to governmen belt-tightening measures, the Philipine Sports Commission (PSC) faces a huge budget deficit next year.

The PSC budget officer revealed that the Department of Budget and Management announced that only half of the P800 million-plus budget proposal would be released by 2003.

With the projected income of some P360 million from PAGCOR, P16 million from the racing industry and the P2 million from the GSIS, the PSC will have to do with only P452 million for 2003.

"Kulang 'yan para makagalaw ang PSC. We have the Palarong Pambansa and the SEA Games next year, these two alone would drain our budget," said PSC deputy executive director for finance Ed Mateo.

The bad news came at a time when the PSC is already hard-pressed to raise the P30 million needed to fund the country's campaign in the Asian Games in Pusan, Korea this October.

Mateo added that PSC chairman Eric Buhain is deep into negotiations with private and business sectors to sponsor the Asian Games budget.

"If he's successful, that's P30 million savings for the PSC, if not, the PSC will have to get the money from its own pockets and that is not good for the rest of the expenses next year, " added Mateo.

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Adducul joins Yunnan int'l tourney

Rommel Adducul, considered one of the country's best basketball players will suit up for Spring Cooking Oil in the prestigious Yunnan International tournament set Sept. 11-21 in Yunnan, China.

The 6-6 Adducul, until recently with the Pangasinan Waves, became available after the country's other pro league, MBA, folded up.

Also seeing action for coach Tito Palma's Spring Cooking Oil are 6-9 Jeffrey Flowers, another MBA star and seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks. Completing the squad are Ricky Magallanes as assistant coach, Braulio Lim, Carlo Espiritu, Rodel Manuel, Joel Co and Archer Calacar.

Spring's trip is sponsored by Liwayway Marketing Corp., Alfa Laval Phils., and Morning Star Travel and Tours and supported by the Basketball Association of the Phils., the PSC and Adidas.

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La Salle continues quest for fifth straight title

It's still status quo at the UAAP. La Salle is still on top, the National University bulldogs are still cellar-dwellers. Gunning for their fifth straight crown, the Archers have yet to register a loss in their pursuit of the championship. As of this writing, the Green Archers display an unblemished 6-0 card prior to a big game with arch rival Ateneo.

The Blue Eagles meanwhile are still reeling from shock back to back losses against the UP Maroons and the UE Warriors last week before rising to the occasion by beating Adamson. Ateneo is sporting a 4-2 card.

Tied with Ateneo at second place is the University of the East Warriors, also with a 4-2 mark but with a higher win-loss quotient. The UST Growling Tigers are also at 4-2, while the UP Maroons have two wins and three losses while FEU has a win and 5 losses. The National Univeristy Bulldogs have yet to win a game.

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