More bold predictions

Here are five more bold predictions for 2019 to complete our list of 10. In yesterday’s column, our first five bold predictions were that Gilas will qualify for the FIBA World Cup in China this year, that the Philippines will stage a successful Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 30-Dec. 11, that there will be one team, neither from the San Miguel nor MVP Groups, to win at least one conference title in the PBA this season, that WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao will face Floyd Mayweather in a rematch and win and that the POC will broker a unification to finally end the long division of stakeholders in swimming.

Heads will roll as the PSC cracks down on backsliders. The PSC has withheld financial support to NSAs with unliquidated accounts but continues to provide allowances for athletes under the blackballed NSAs so they are not prejudiced by the sanction. But will the officials of the outlawed NSAs be held accountable for their failure to explain unliquidated amounts? Will they get away with murder? Surely, they should be singled out, identified and vilified in media so the public may know the kind of sports officials they are. They should also be charged in court. It’s about time the PSC cracks the whip on scalawags. Unscrupulous sports officials take advantage of their positions to help themselves to the luxuries of authority at the expense of athletes. The POC might also want to take action against sports officials who can’t explain what happened to funds entrusted to them as either NSA or POC custodians.

Caloy Yulo will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 18-year-old wunderkind is on his way to becoming the first Filipino gymnast in the Olympics since 1968. Only 50 slots are allocated in the men’s individual quota for the all-around and six apparatus events in Tokyo. Aspirants accumulate qualifying points in various competitions throughout the season but if Yulo lands a podium finish at the World Championships in Stuttgart on Oct. 4-15, he’ll earn an outright ticket. Yulo bagged a bronze in the floor exercise at the World Championships in Doha last Oct. 25-Nov. 3, a bronze in the same event at the World Challenge Cup in Cottbus, Germany, last Nov. 21-25 and silvers in the floor exercise, vault and parallel bars at the Toyota International Cup in Japan last Dec. 8-9. Yulo has been training in Tokyo for nearly two years, sacrificing without family and the comforts of home. The hard work is paying off and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion is confident that with the support of the PSC and other backers, Yulo will mark a breakthrough at the 2020 Olympics.

FIBA will allow Fil-foreigners to represent the country as locals, regardless of when they were issued their Philippine passports, on condition their heritage is authenticated. At the moment, FIBA recognizes Fil-foreigners as locals only if they received their Philippine passports before turning 16. If their Philippine passports were issued after turning 16, they’re classified as naturalized citizens. But SBP president Al Panlilio is renewing efforts to appeal for reconsideration with new FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis who succeeded the late Patrick Baumann. Zagklis, a 38-year-old Greek who was previously FIBA’s general counsel and director of legal services, is aware of the SBP’s position regarding Fil-foreigners. Under the Philippine Constitution, a Fil-foreigner enjoys the rights and privileges of a Filipino citizen if a parent is Filipino, regardless of when he or she was issued a Philippine passport. A favorable FIBA ruling will clear the way for Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Newsome and others to represent the country on the national team as locals.

At least two more Filipinos will capture world boxing titles. At the end of last year, eight Filipinos reigned as world boxing champions – WBA welterweight Manny Pacquiao, WBA bantamweight Nonito Donaire Jr., WBO superflyweight Donnie Nietes, IBF superflyweight Jerwin Ancajas, WBO minimumweight Vic Saludar, IBO bantamweight Michael Dasmarinas, interim WBA featherweight Jhack Tepora and interim WBA bantamweight Raymart Gaballo. Coming close to world title shots are superflyweight Aston Palicte, flyweight Giemel Magramo, lightflyweight Jonathan Taconing, superbantamweight Albert Pagara, featherweight Genesis Servania and featherweight Mark Magsayo. Others with the potential to ascend the throne include lightflyweight Edward Heno, superbantamweight Marlon Tapales, former two-time titlist Johnriel Casimero and minimumweights Melvin Jerusalem and Robert Paradero.

Ateneo and San Beda will continue to rule men’s collegiate basketball. The competition in the UAAP and NCAA will be more intense this year but when the smoke clears, the defending champions will retain their crowns. In the UAAP, coach Tab Baldwin’s Blue Eagles will return with only Anton Asistio out of last season’s two-peat championship squad. That means Thirdy Ravena, the Nieto brothers, Ange Kouame, Will Navarro, Raffy Verano, Isaac Go, Tyler Tio, Gian Mamuyac, S. J. Belangel, Jolo Mendoza, Aaron Black and the rest will be back. Adamson is supposedly bringing in Nash Racela as head coach and Gilbert Lao as assistant while FEU is elevating Eric Gonzales as head coach. La Salle is also making a coaching change with Jermaine Byrd as active consultant. In the NCAA, the Red Lions will be missing Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Joe Presbitero, Jeramer Cabanag and Radge Tongco but coach Boyet Fernandez’ magic touch will keep San Beda on top of the heap. New recruits may include former Red Cubs Peter Alfaro and Ain Obenza. Cameroon import Donald Tankoua has a year of eligibility left but is undecided on whether or not to return.

Postscript: Rotary Club of San Pablo City’s First Golf Invitational Tournament will be held at the Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, tomorrow, starting at 11 a.m. A dinner/dance follows with a grand raffle prize of P50,000 in cash and other giveaways. The event is sponsored by the ANC+ Group of Companies (Honda/Subaru). Tickets for tournament and dinner/dance are available for P3,500 each or P1,200 for just the dinner/dance. For more info, please call/text 0915-502-9163/ 0916-320-4811 or 0920-97-5636.