Following their 1-1 draw against Costa Rica last Saturday (Manila time), earlier this morning, the Filipinas lost their rematch.
Despite ending the first half with the lead, 1-0, it was the second half where Costa Rica came alive to score two goals that edged the Filipinas’ effort. With two goals from La Sele, the match ended 2-1 in their favor.
FULL TIME: Not the way anyone wants to lose a game. We will learn from this!
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 11, 2022
Today marked the second of two international friendlies against the Central American team. Additionally, it also caps off the Filipinas’ training camp in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Costa Rica gets the comeback
After the kickoff, the start of the match saw both sides of the field hungry to score. Costa Rica earned their first chance only three minutes in, while the Filipinas attempted theirs in the ninth minute. Before the first half went into extra time, the keepers on both ends had saved multiple shots.
Advertisement
However, in the second minute of extra time of the first half, Carleigh Frilles scored the first goal of the game, converting a through ball from Isabella Flanigan. With this, the Filipinas were able to close the first half on top.
HALF TIME: Two words: Carleigh Frilles! Also let's just say we love buzzer beaters at the moment 😆
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 11, 2022
Coming into the second half, Costa Rica was eager to come back from behind. Raquel Rodriguez had an early chance to score, but it was waved offside.
However, in the 61st minute, Rodriguez was able to score the equalizer off of a penalty from a handball. Following this, the Filipinas continued to press hard in hopes of coming back in the lead but were unable to get past Costa Rica’s defense.
G⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️LLLL DE COSTA RICAAAAAA @raque_rocky puso el empate desde el punto de penal.
67 minutes in, Gloriana Villalobos scored their second goal to put Costa Rica on top of the Filipinas, 2-1. The Philippine side nearly found a way to level the game once again with a shot from Jessica Cowart, but it was saved by Daniela Solera.
Advertisement
The whistle blew to end the match, 2-1.
🎦 HIGHLIGHTS: See how things went down in a tough 1-2 loss to the hosts Costa Rica.
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 11, 2022
These two international friendlies in Costa Rica were the Filipinas’ first time playing against a Central American team. And going up against the 37th FIFA-ranked women’s team, the 53rd-ranked Filipinas were able to put up a good fight against the team.
Although they may have capped off their training camp with a loss, the opportunity to play a World Cup-experienced team will certainly prove to be valuable in the Filipinas’ own journey to next year’s Women’s World Cup.
Featured
After a draw against Costa Rica, the Filipinas are set for a rematch
Last Saturday morning (Manila time), the Philippine Women’s National Football Team competed against Costa Rica in an international friendly match.
Ahead of the kickoff, Coach Alen Stajcic expressed that they “are looking forward to the challenge of playing them on their home turf.”
And on their home turf, the Filipinas came in the final minutes to end the match in a draw, 1-1. Now, both FIFA Women’s World Cup-headed teams will be looking to go for the win in their rematch.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow at 1:00 AM (Manila time).
Coming in the clutch
The Filipinas spent the start of October in a training camp in San Jose, Costa Rica. There, they have been prepping for their matches against the national team. And with their performance in their first meeting with the Central American side, they showed that their preparations have paid off.
Ranked 37th in the world, Costa Rica scored first in the 57th minute of the game. A shot to the top right corner by Priscilla Chinchilla put La Sele on top. And until extra time, it looked like they would finish ahead.
Advertisement
Just a cool Kat @guillouk6 out there scoring, equalizing and nabbing (a point) like it's nobody's business 😎
However, in the third minute of extra time, a long ball from Olivia McDaniel found Katrina Gillou, who put it in the back of the net to end the game, 1-1.
After the match, the Filipinas’ goalscorer shared that the team came into the second half stronger. “We were all there for that one last push, and we were able to put it away,” she said.
“We showed a lot of heart and determination in the last game and I think it showed especially in the last few minutes that the momentum shifted to us. If we had a couple of minutes, maybe we could have gotten something out of the game,” Hali Long shared in a press release.
Advertisement
Now, coming into their second meeting, both teams will be looking to finish this round of friendlies on top.
One more shot
Ahead of their first match against the Central American team, Coach Alen Stajcic shared that the team’s next step is “to start beating these higher-ranked teams.”
In line with this, we may expect to see a more aggressive and adjusted Filipinas in their second meeting.
In the Philippine Football Federation’s press release, assistant coach Nahuel Arrate shared his thoughts on competing in Costa Rica. “Latin or Central American teams are very different and it’s the first time we’ve come across that. The tempo of the game might change but coming across technically gifted players is a great experience.”
𝗨𝗣 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 for the Filipinas is a rematch against Las Ticas 🇨🇷 on Tuesday, October 11 at 11AM local time (Wednesday, October 12 at 1AM PHT).
Ultimately, as the Filipinas continue on their path in preparing for the much-awaited FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, each match is an opportunity to learn. And, competing closely with the 37th-ranked team in the world, the Philippine side is sure to gain confidence and skill.
Advertisement
The Filipinas and Costa Rica will be competing tomorrow at 1:00 AM (Manila time).
Featured
DLSU vs ADMU: Which team served the best looks in the tunnel?
Last Sunday, the DLSU Green Archers beat the ADMU Blue Eagles. It was their first victory over their rivals in five years. However, the Blue Eagles put up a good fight right up until the end, and throughout the game, it was difficult to predict how it would end.
Although DLSU may have won their first-round matchup, we still don’t know if the Ateneo Blue Eagles can make up for their Sunday loss by beating the Archers in a game of fits.
So, let’s look at both the Eagles’ and Archers’ best pre-game outfits from the game. Scroll through last weekend’s Tunnel Vision outfits and you tell us who you think won the fashion game between the two university rivals.
Let’s start off with the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ starting five outfits.
#1: Dave Ildefonso
What we’re loving about Dave’s look: It would seem superstition isn’t Dave’s thing, showing up to play against the Green Archers in green bottoms.
The GAME’s favorite part: The Medium Curry Nike Dunks.
#2: Inand Fornillos
What we’re loving about Inand’s look: The blue and white in the details—the Dodgers cap, the tee, the sweats, and the shoes.
The GAME’s favorite part: The COMMES des GARÇONS tee.
#3: Paul Garcia
What we’re loving about Paul’s look: He definitely looks ready to ball.
The GAME’s favorite part: The headphones, ready to get in the zone.
#4: Chris Koon
What we’re loving about Chris’ look: Running into Koon, we wouldn’t be able to guess that he was going to a basketball game.
The GAME’s favorite part: Reppin’ blue for the Eagles.
#5: Sean Quitevis
What we’re loving about Sean’s look: Like Koon, we’d sooner assume that Sean’s ready to take off for some well-earned vacation.
The GAME’s favorite part: The matching colored shoes, slides, and suitcase.
Now on the other side of the court, let’s take a look at the DLSU Green Archer’s top five looks.
#1: Ben Phillips
What we’re loving about Ben’s look: The we-mean-business vibe.
The GAME’s favorite part: Honestly, everything.
#2: Earl Abadam
What we’re loving about Earl’s look: The orange on his shirt’s print that subtly matches the orange Nike Jordans.
The GAME’s favorite part: The Air Jordans in Orange/Olive.
#3
What we’re loving about Evan’s look: Read that print again.
The GAME’s favorite part: The shirt’s print, obviously.
#4: CJ Austria
What we’re loving about CJ’s look: A black-and-white look is always bettered with a little touch of red.
The GAME’s favorite part: A good graphic tee goes a long way.
#5: Schonny Winston
What we’re loving about Schonny’s look: The head-to-toe monochromatic look.
The GAME’s favorite part: We’re loving the black-and-white prints.
So, while DLSU may have won the battle on court, the verdict is up to you. Who do you think won the battle in the tunnel?
Featured
Fan behavior: 5 of the world’s most committed sports fans
All sports fans believe that their favorite team or favorite player has the most passionate fanbases. And even though it’s difficult to put a measure on passion, in reality, that just can’t be true for everyone.
And while every fanbase is different, these five teams have supporters that have something in common: loyalty, along with the numbers to back it up.
So while these are only five out of the many incredible fanbases around the world, they are definitely some of the most popular.
Max Verstappen
While all Formula 1 teams have many of their fans, and though Ferrari’s fans, the Tifosi, are among the most passionate in the sport, Max Verstappen’s fans are something else. And their presence at F1 races has grown in popularity.
Ever since Dutch Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen started driving for Red Bull, his fans have been following him everywhere. And we mean everywhere.
No matter what Grand Prix it is, you’ll always find a bunch of fans dressed in bright orange. In fact, if you watch F1, you’ve most likely seen a sea of orange in the grandstands more than once. And though it would be easy to mistake them for McLaren fans, more often than not, they’re part of Verstappen’s Orange Army.
Advertisement
In fact, the Orange Army can take up to 10,000 seats in one race alone, often more than any other fanbase for one driver alone.
Orange is the national color of the Netherlands, where Verstappen is from. And if you notice, no other driver has represented a color so distinctly as he does. Not to mention that last year, an F1 survey put Max as the most popular driver among fans.
The Dallas Cowboys
If you look up “most popular sports franchises in the world”, the Dallas Cowboys always comes up. That’s because, for years, they have been one of the biggest teams, not just in the NFL, but in the world. And some might say that it’s because of sheer passion.
The Cowboys may have won five NFL Championships and been to Super Bowl eight times. But, their last appearance was in 1995 and their last win was in 1972. And through the years, they’ve had many ups and downs as a team.
Advertisement
But through it all, their fans have stayed consistent. In fact, currently, the team has an average of over 93,000 fans in attendance at their games. And based on ESPN’s list, no other team averages more than 80,000. Historically, they even had a streak of 160 sold-out regular and post-season games.
Nineteen NFL teams hosted fans over the course of the 2020 regular season.
The top three teams in attendance were:
🏟 Dallas Cowboys averaged 28,187 fans 🏟 Jacksonville Jaguars averaged 15,919 fans 🏟 Tampa Bay Buccaneers averaged 14,483 fans pic.twitter.com/XASFaMn6F6
They are also the team with the most followers on social media, and globally, are recorded to have over eight million fans. So while they may not have the most Super Bowl wins, they do have some of the most committed fans in the world.
The Chicago Bulls
Next up, we have the Chicago Bulls.
Similar to the Cowboys, the Bulls have not seen any major recent successes in comparison to other teams. Their last trip to the finals was in 1998, which was also their last NBA championship. And although they’ve seen dips in attendance, they do have some of the most loyal fans in the league, no matter where they stand.
Advertisement
From 2010 to 2018, the Bulls consistently had the most fans in attendance of their games, their percentage never going below 90%. And although the numbers may have dipped for the team from 2019 to 2021, last season, they were back on top.
In the 2020 season, the Bulls struggled. They finished 11th in the Eastern Conference and suffered 43 losses. But even so, they had the second-most fans in attendance at their games. And just last season, the team topped the averages with over 20,800 fans per game.
Even without a stellar record, and without any major breakthroughs, the support for the team rarely wanes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers
While the New York Yankees are arguably the most popular baseball team in the world, the Los Angeles Dodgers have an incredible fanbase. And they may be recent champions, but their fans’ support has been consistent beyond that.
Advertisement
Similar to the Chicago Bulls fans, Dodgers supporters are always in the stands. Since 2013, the Dodgers have seen the most fans in attendance at their games in comparison to any other MLB team. And before their 2020 World Series win, they hadn’t won a title since 1988.
In addition to this, from their last title to 2012, the Dodgers have only failed to bring two million fans to their games every season on two occasions. And, in the past 11 years, they surpassed three million at Dodger stadium nine times.
Their fans are committed. It’s no wonder why playing at home for them must feel so good and why they have remained at the top of their division in the ongoing MLB season.
Manchester United
We’ve previously established that European football fans have a passion of a different kind. But, in all of Europe, Manchester United may have the best ones.
Not only is Manchester United the most popular team in England, but they are also the most popular team in the world. Globally, they report having a community of over one billion fans and followers. And no matter how the team performs, the support stays consistent too.
United’s latest Premier League trophy is from 2012. And in the last ten years, the team has struggled in many ways. But even so, from 2009 to 2022, their average attendance per year has only gone below 72,000 twice—the seasons affected by the pandemic.
Apart from their attendance, United fans are also notoriously vocal. If they don’t approve of their manager, are unsatisfied with their players, or unhappy with the ownership, they’ll make it known. And they have.
If you are a Dota 2 player and you have played Ogre Magi, that is the sound you want to hear—it means that your ultimate skill, the Multicast, has proc’d.
That is also the sound you hear when you check The International’s prize pool tracker, which now amounts to $13,166,768.00: a giant PHP 770,460,012.90. Not to mention that the amount will still increase given that we are still a few weeks away from TI. You can check out the tracker here.
Will Team Spirit, TI10’s champions, hoist the Aegis again in this year’s The International?
However, this is a measly amount compared to last year’s The International 10 prize pool, which hit the $40 million mark. Yes, that is PHP 2.35 billion. But such is the world of eSports, and you might be wondering why.
Advertisement
Not a mere computer game
eSports events boast million-dollar prize pools. And although Dota 2’s The International offers the highest prize pool for the grand champion, other eSport games are not really far behind.
The 2019 Fortnite World Cup Finals? $30 million. The 2018 League of Legends World Championship? $6.4 million. The 2020 Call of Duty League Championship? $4.6 million. To say that there is money in eSports is a terrible understatement.
Since 2013, the evil geniuses (pun unintended) at Valve Corporation, Dota 2’s developers, have come up with a Battle Pass mission-reward system within the game. Cosmetics, iconic voice lines (for example, Lon and Dunoo’s Lakad Matatag! Normalin Normalin!), Arcana sets, and even Taunts are all purchasable in-game.
Advertisement
A quarter of all the revenue directly funds The International.
The official battle pass promo from the Dota 2 website
Yes, TI is, to a huge extent, crowdfunded. Because a lot of Dota 2 players engage in these micro-transactions, from casual players to Arab princes purchasing everything upon release, TIs have become the largest single-tournament prize pool among all eSports.
This year, Valve made a change in the Battle Pass system–there will be TWO sets of it instead of the usual one. The first battle pass happens before TI, and the second one happens after. This move by Valve polarized the Dota 2 community, with a lot of pundits calling this a “cash grab” from the gaming giant. Ka-ching!
Bounty hunters
Because Dota 2 tournaments are lucrative, especially the Valve-sponsored ones, a lot of young players are being drawn into the uber-competitive Dota 2 pro scene. For instance, the oldest member of TI10 champions Team Spirit is only 25 years old. However, a lot of pro players have expressed their dismay over the 2022 2-part battle pass hullabaloo.
Advertisement
Insiders have leaked that 100% of the revenue from the second installment of this year’s battle pass will be kept by Valve. A lot of experts are predicting that the prize pool will be significantly lower this year, which bucks the trend of TI always breaking the record of the previous year’s prize pool amount.
Tommy Le (OG. Taiga)
Pro player Tommy Le, better known as Taiga of OG, suggested that Valve use a portion of the revenue to fund next year’s DPC (Dota Pro Circuit) to benefit teams and players who won’t win TI.
Dota 2 Streamer Singsing even called the promo a “beta” battle pass.
Regardless of how this situation develops, one thing is certain: The International is here to stay for as long as we play Dota 2. After all, who does not want that new, kick-ass male Phantom Assassin persona?
Advertisement
Featured
Filipino driver Eduardo Coseteng bags his first British F4 victory
Last Sunday, October 9, was a day to make a name for yourself in the world of motorsports. Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prixand his second F1 Drivers World Championship. In addition, the British Formula 4 also has its newest race winner: Eduardo Coseteng.
The Filipino F4 driver has been competing in the ROKiT F4 British Championship for two seasons now, and yesterday, he finally bagged his first victory in England.
Eduardo Coseteng entered the F4 British Championship in 2021. Argenti Motorsport included him in their team for the 2021 season, making him the first driver from the Philippines to race in Formula 4.
Advertisement
In his first season with Argenti, he was able to claim one pole position, one podium finish, and three fastest laps. However, he was unable to bag a race win.
Get to know … Eduardo Coseteng 🏁
🙋♂️ 17 years old 🏠 Manila, Philippines 🏆 Multiple Asian karting champion 🏎 #BritishF4 debut in 2021 🇵🇭 First Filipino in British F4 👊 Ready to make his mark this year 💬 “lakas ng pinoy” #ArgentiMotorsportpic.twitter.com/2jm9GnUqTW
The following season, he moved from Argenti Motorsport to another F4 team: Hitech GP. And with his first season with the team, he was finally able to secure his maiden single-seater victory.
Holding on for the win
At the British F4 race at the Brands Hatch track in West Kingsdown, England, Eduardo Coseteng fended off the pressure to take hold of his first race win.
The race went off with a three-man battle for first place between Coseteng, Louis Sharp, and Michael Shin. Despite Sharp having the best start, it was the Filipino racer who came out ahead before the safety car was released by the end of the first lap.
When the race restarted, Coseteng was able to defend his lead and build a considerable gap between him and the rest of the gap. But, toward the end of the race, Shin started to bring down the lead.
However, Shin was unable to make the move on Coseteng, and the Hitech GP driver narrowly won with a gap of 0.276 seconds. On top of the victory, the Filipino also bagged the record for fastest lap of the race.
Advertisement
CHEQUERED FLAG! 🏁
It's a maiden win for @EduardoCoseteng after soaking up race-long pressure from Shin!
Sharp rounds out the podium after a mammoth overnight rebuild by @CarlinRacing 👏
With the ROKiT British F4 season coming to a close after this weekend, Alex Dunne being crowned their champion, Coseteng was able to take one for the road before the end of the season.
He finishes in the Championship Standings in seventh place after recording 198 points throughout 30 rounds of racing. At only 19 years old, we’re sure we’ll be seeing more of Coseteng in the future.
Featured
All The Crazy Things You Missed From a Chaotic Japanese Grand Prix
From a long race stall, pit crews playing card games, and an unexpected World Champion crowning, the Japanese Grand Prix had it all.
If you watched the Japanese Grand Prix over the weekend, you know precisely how chaotic it was. From a first lap with no visibility, a long red-flag waiting period, to an unexpected World Championship win—the Japanese Grand Prix had it all.
But if you didn’t get to witness it or just want to relive its best moments (so do we), we’ve got you. Here are the crazy things from the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix.
Killing time at the McLaren garage
The rain poured down on Suzuka, giving way to a wet start. And while we fans love a wet race, the drivers? Not so much. And neither did race control, so after a lot of action within the first lap alone, Race Control threw out the red flag to stop the race.
Advertisement
The race was put on hold for more than an hour. So, everyone in the garages was left to their own devices. Some drivers were busy strategizing, while others were staying in the zone. Meanwhile, over at the McLaren garage, the pit crew was killing time playing UNO.
No, but seriously—we need to know who won this game.
Just Fernando things
As we said earlier, with over an hour of red-flag time to kill before the race restarted, some drivers were busy strategizing or staying in the zone. But Fernando Alonso, having started over 350 Grand Prix in his career, has been here before. So here he was, just being Fernando.
Whether Fernando was telling us the state of the visibility on track, or if he was simply being silly for the cameras, this was quite possibly the most entertaining bit of Formula 1’s race broadcast throughout the long wait for the race restart.
Advertisement
However, the two-time World Champion didn’t just come to the race to play. After pitting in the last few minutes of the race, Alonso’s fresh intermediates helped him climb the grid to finish in seventh. But, he nearly got to sixth, going for a literal photo finish against Sebastian Vettel.
Mr.S.Vettel aka “You Beauty” beats Fernando Alonso ro the line with a full 0,011 seconds 😱 pic.twitter.com/DVuTDcB1cO
Definitely one of the most entertaining drivers both on and off the track.
The best fans in the world?
While it was easy to sit at home and wait for the cars to come back out to race, it must have not been as easy doing so from the track itself. But under the rain, the fans at Suzuka prevailed. And not only did they brave the unfavorable weather conditions for over three hours on Sunday, they also showed up with some of the best looks.
And finally, we have someone looking for a job. Any openings, Ferrari?
‘Til the end of the line
After the race finally restarted, we still had to wait until the last few minutes for the most exciting moments on the track. Fernando Alonso was chasing driver after driver to climb the pack. Esteban Ocon fended off Lewis Hamilton.
Advertisement
And, in a season-defining battle, Sergio Perez was trying desperately to get past Charles Leclerc for second place.
The battle went on until the final lap, where Charles Leclerc ended up going wide on the chicane. Although he crossed the line second, he was handed a five-second penalty. In the classification, Perez finished second, and Leclerc third.
And it proved to be the title-deciding moment of the race.
Champion? Not champion?
Other than a brilliant first lap to defend his pole position, Max Verstappen had a pretty easygoing race. After the restart, he pulled away comfortably and finished with a 27-second lead.
However, given the shortened race, Max was not fully certain if full points were to be awarded, and if the title fight would go on to the next race. Multiple people had to confirm it for him, including Jenson Button on the podium. But watching Verstappen’s confusion on the matter was possibly the most chaotic part of the Japanese Grand Prix.
I mean, I think it’s safe to say that most of us were equally as confused with the given circumstances. But when the fog had lifted, we all knew we had a World Champion for 2022.
And when it was confirmed, Verstappen and Red Bull were free to celebrate appropriately.
Once again, Max Verstappen was surprisingly crowned World Champion. But, as unexpected as the circumstances were, his title win was a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
So, despite the anti-climatic nature of his victory, with all the twists and turns and side stories of the Japanese Grand Prix, this race was definitely the climax of the season.
For the last two months, we have witnessed, by far, the most competitive season of Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Philippines since Season 5 in 2020.
No clear-cut champions. No sensational win streaks. And after eight weeks of nerve-racking team fights and insane backdoor plays, Echo, Blacklist International, ONIC Philippines, Bren Esports, Smart Omega, and RSG Philippines have booked their tickets to the MPL-PH Season 10 Playoffs.
Reaching the Grand Finals will not just give these teams a shot for greatness, but it will also guarantee them a slot in the M4 World Championship in January in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Advertisement
Just before the clash for the coveted title starts, here are the storylines to watch out for in the Playoffs.
A title to seal a legacy
Winning the Season 10 crown means cementing their legacy for Blacklist International’s royal duo Jonmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario.
V33Wise is currently next in line to Karlito “Ribo” Ribo Jr., said to be MPL-PH Greatest of All-time, in most tournament championships. Claiming their third MPL-PH championship this season and successfully defending the country’s title in the M4 World Championship will set OhMyV33NUS and Wise as the winningest players in the MLBB scene.
However, that will be a tall order for the Tier One-backed squad as their Regular Season performance wasn’t that dominant compared to their run in Seasons 7 and 8. After sitting out for a season, OhMyV33NUS’ shot calling on the most crucial moments and Wise’s capacity as a utility type of jungler will again be tested.
Advertisement
Earning more than just respect
No one expected them to be here, but ONIC Philippines has been the tournament’s dark horse.
The rookie-laden squad took MPL-PH Season 10 by storm and defeated powerhouse teams such as Blacklist International, RSG Philippines, and Smart Omega.
During post-game interviews Coach Mark Kevin “Bluffzy” Deloy Reyes would often say the phrases “bibigyan namin sila ng magandang laban” and “gusto lang namin makuha yung respeto nila.” But now that the team has proven their place in the league, ONIC PH is looking more than just earning the respect they deserve.
Who would have thought that a team mainly composed of players from the amateur scene would be the league leader at some point during the Regular Season?
Definitely, surpassing the success of ONIC PH legends Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy and Gerald “Dlarskie” Trinchera would be difficult for a bunch of rookies. But one thing’s for sure, all teams should watch out for the new kids on the block.
Advertisement
If not now, then when?
Billy “Z4pnu” Alfonso, Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog, and the rest of the gang were already considered the uncrowned kings of MPL-PH even before Smart Omega acquired them in Season 8.
The fan favorites have been consistent podium finishers for the last three seasons, and even though they have conquered the region in MSC 2021 title back in Execration, the MPL-PH title is still elusive to the team.
If not now, then when?
While veterans Renz “Renzio” Cadua, team captain Patrick “E2MAX” Caidic, and Ch4knu are still undeniably deadly in the Land of Dawn, they are already past their prime form. Meanwhile, young stars Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Dean “Raizen” Sumagui are already approaching the peak of their careers which means they need teammates who can keep pace with them.
Advertisement
Besides, V33Wise, their rival, has returned and there’s no better way than winning their first MPL-PH championship while beating the royal duo at the same time.
Road to world domination
After conquering MPL-PH last season and Southeast Asia in MSC 2022, there’s no way to go up for the reigning champion RSG Philippines. And for them to do it, the raiders have to reach the Grand Finals once again.
Coach Brian “Panda” Lim has been experimental with his approach this Season 10. After being dealt with a sweep to start their title defense bid, the decorated mentor shared that a combine system was implemented to eliminate complacency and spark motivation in his 10-man roster.
Unfortunately, it resulted only in a roller coaster ride for RSG PH. Just by the time the team has started to find its rhythm after a three-match winning streak, they suffered back-to-back losses in the hands of ONIC PH and Bren Esports.
The journey to the top may be grueling for RSG PH for now but it is expected that come playoff time, Coach Panda would once again field in the lineup that gave him his second MPL-PH title.
With Blacklist International, RSG Philippines, ONIC Philippines, Echo, Smart Omega, and Bren Esports vying for the coveted MPL-PH Season 10 title, the upcoming playoffs is bound to be toughest road to be legendary in league history.
Featured
Recovery and Redemption: Carlos Yulo gears up for World Championships
Later this month, Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo will be heading to the 41st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England. And as a two-time gold medalist at the World Championships, he is favored to win again.
In addition, in his recent competition, the All-Japan Seniors Championships, he won the gold medal for the men’s floor exercise. However, he was unable to compete in the rest of the events after sustaining a minor hand injury.
Road to recovery
Carlos Yulo impressed at the men’s floor exercise event of the 55th All-Japan Seniors Championships, taking home the gold medal. In addition, at the tournament last month, he was also able to win the bronze medal for the vault event.
Advertisement
Congratulations Carlos Yulo for winning the gold medal gold medal at the 55th All-Japan Seniors Championship after topping the men's floor exercise on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.
His performances in Japan have been a platform for him to prepare for his next big event: the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship.
However, the Filipino Olympian sustained a hand injury after a bad fall on the horizontal bar. Yulo also posted a video on Instagram, and in the caption wrote, “It’s all about standing up after that fall. To give your all till the dismount, to not give up on what you love, to search for ways to improve and to not lose to yourself in every day training.”
The President of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), Cynthia Carrion also released a message yesterday, asking for prayers for his recovery from the injury.
Despite the worry surrounding Yulo’s injury, his long-time coach Munehiro Kugimaya believes that the gold medalist will be recovered come the World Championships.
Advertisement
Road to redemption
This year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will mark Carlos Yulo’s fourth time competing at the event. His first appearance was in 2018, when he won the bronze medal for his main event, the floor exercise.
In the following edition, he went on to improve and win the gold medal in the said event. However, in 2021, he finished fifth in the floor exercise, although he still bagged the gold for vault and the silver for the parallel bars.
This year, Carlos will definitely be looking to redeem himself from his last floor exercise performance. But more than that, he will also be striving to defend his gold medal in the vault event.
Advertisement
During an online program held by the Philippine Sports Commission yesterday, GAP President Cynthia Carrion shared, “This will be a great opportunity for Caloy.”
Thus, Yulo’s team will be capitalizing on this opportunity fully. As the tournament will start on October 29 to November 6 in Liverpool, the Filipino will be preparing at a five-day training camp in Paris from October 19 to 24.
Featured
Filipinas vs Costa Rica will be “a great test of our depth and flexibility in the team”
Over the start of October, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, better known as the Filipinas, have been in San Jose, Costa Rica training for their two friendly matches against the country’s national team.
The Filipinas’ first match against Costa Rica is taking place tomorrow, October 8 at 9:00 AM (Manila time). After this, they are set to play a second time on Tuesday, October 11.
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 1, 2022
Ahead of both matches, Coach Alen Stajcic remains optimistic and enthusiastic about another chance to compete. “We are looking forward to the challenge of playing them on their home turf,” he expressed.
Advertisement
World Cup foes
Throughout the start of October, 25 of the Filipinas have set up camp in Costa Rica in preparation for their two friendly matches against the national team.
“We’ve only just begun the camp in Costa Rica but it’s a beautiful place with such a rich football history and culture,” Coach Alen Stajcic shared. “Their National Training Centre is amazing and it’s clear to see both their love of the game and why they have been so successful lately in both men’s and women’s international football.”
Indeed, Costa Rica’s football teams have been successful internationally.
Their women’s team qualified for the Women’s World Cup in 2023 after winning their group-stage matches at the CONCACAF Women’s tournament earlier this year. This marks their second World Cup qualification after 2015, when the team was eliminated in the group stage.
Advertisement
Additionally, their men’s team is also headed to the FIFA Men’s World Cup later this year.
For the Filipinas, going against yet another team with experience in the World Cup will certainly be a huge learning opportunity.
Aiming for the next step
Last month, the Filipinas also played another World Cup-experienced team, New Zealand. Although the Philippine side led at halftime and was able to keep up with the 22nd team in the world, they lost the game, conceding two goals in the second half.
Despite the loss, the Filipinas have actually gained confidence that they will be taking into their next set of matches.
“The motivations of the team are at an all-time high and confidence too is in a good place,” Coach Alen Stajcic emphasizes. “We now know we can compete with the likes of New Zealand and Ireland. The next step is to start beating these higher-ranked teams.”
Keep grinding until that first meeting against Central American foes in a few days!
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 5, 2022
This game will be the first time the Filipinas will be playing against a Central American team. Thus, in order to challenge Costa Rica, they have been preparing on their opponents’ home soil for the past week.
Advertisement
As Coach Alen Stajcic mentioned, Costa Rica has a rich football history and culture. And with their international experience, he shares, “It will be a great opportunity for us to play a Team with World Cup experience and one that is filled with players with high-level passing and dribbling qualities.”
Taking every opportunity
With their training and recent experience, the Filipinas are confident and motivated ahead of the Costa Rica matches. However, it will still certainly be a test of the team, especially in their buildup for the World Cup.
In addition, the team is also faced with other challenges they will have to overcome. “With a few injuries and bouts of illness in the Team this week, it will be a great test of our depth and flexibility in the team.”
Advertisement
Tomorrow we face off against #FIFAWWC qualified side 🇨🇷 at 7PM local time (9AM PHT).
Fans can come down to Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto to watch the match which will also be 🅻🅸🆅🅴 our FB!
— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) October 7, 2022
But despite the challenges, Coach Stajcic sends a message of optimism among the team. “The motivations of the team are at an all-time high and confidence too is in a good place,” he expresses. “We are looking forward to the challenge of playing them on their home turf.”
The Filipinas’ first match of two against Costa Rica takes place tomorrow at 9:00 AM. You can watch the match live on the team’s Facebook page.
Stay tuned to The GAME for more updates.
Advertisement
To provide a customized ad experience, we need to know if you are of legal age in your region.
