batista ( interview) what makes him filipino at heart sports

Boxing Shoes - What a Buyer Should Look For

The most essential thing you want to find when shopping for boxing shoes is comfort. Consider all of the dancing and jumping about that comes along with the boxing sport as well as working out, and you will understand just why it is so important that the shoes you pick won�t hurt your feet. They also need to contain adequate padding and not be too rigid. Everyone has different needs personally as far as what their feet require, so be sure to do some research and use your own instincts. Other requirements are safety, traction, and ventilation. 

Boxing shoes should be checked for support straps and shock absorption. This is a very important part of your safety check. Look for a mid-sole that acts as a shock absorber as many shoes will have them. These prevent your joints from being shocked as well as adding more comfort. Some of the better shoes will have support straps located on the arch. The straps supply more cushion while reducing slippage. 

Be sure to find boxing shoes that have plenty of ventilation for your feet. These usually come in the form of little mesh windows surrounding each shoe and allow your feet to breathe properly during a workout or boxing session. If you have wet shoes after working out, this tells you that your feet are suffocating. It is important that your shoes have proper cooling. 

Another choice you will be faced with is whether you want your shoes to be high or low top. It really is not that important unless you are a kick boxer. A kick boxer will need to select shoes with high tops so the ankles and shins are protected. 

Last, but not least, be sure that the traction is sufficient. This is very important considering all the moves executed while wearing boxing shoes. You need shoes that have rubber soles and an anti-slip pattern on them. You are guaranteed not to sleep while working out or boxing.


by Dave Toub.
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.punchingbagspro.com

Dream careers made easy with sports scholarships by Conrad Burt

In today’s world, you can make a fantastic career with the right decisions. There are many interesting career choices out there that you can consider and pursue depending on your interest. Having a career related to sports is one of those few things that many people want. Pursuing a sports career was difficult in the past as there were few avenues that would offer aspiring sportsmen with good opportunities. Also, the cost of pursuing such a career choice isn’t less and that deterred many talented professionals. However, now all these problems have been avoided with the help of sports scholarships that can be used to live that career of your dreams. 

The way in which you can get to live that sporting career of your desire is by getting enrolled in a college with a sports scholarship. This can happen if the right talent seekers find you and that can be facilitated by special agencies that help sporting career aspirants. Studying in college and working hard for that sporting career will not be easy if you don’t have financial backup. This is where you will be able to get options like athletic scholarships to help you out. These agencies are connected to several sporting talent hunters and companies that support budding sportsmen. Thus, these agencies will be able to give you the golden ticket towards your ideal career. 

The procedure that you can normally follow with these scholarship offering agencies is that you can submit an application stating your general information. Then these agencies will take that information and contact coaches who will be able to channel your budding talent and help you get that sporting finesse. Then you will be able to get your financial aid like football scholarships if you are interested in making it big as a football star. The best incentive that you can get with these solutions is that you will be able to get in touch with several talented coaches and mentors who will be able to guide as your sports scholarships support your financial needs. 

These athletic scholarships can be used for a wide range of sporting areas like American football, baseball, basketball, bowling, fencing, golf, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, etc. It will be easier for you to focus on your sporting skills in college when baseball scholarships take care of all your expenses and financial needs. With sound finances on your side, you will be able to concentrate on improving your game and honing your talents. 

Everyone isn’t really blessed with a great talent for a fine sport and that is why such talented individuals should be encouraged to follow their talents and get a fantastic career. Good sporting talent should get the right recognition at the right stage of life and financial assistance also should be offered to help them take the right course. With the help of sports scholarships, you can be assured of the fact that you will be able to get on that career path that will lead you towards the ultimate sporting glory.


Source: ArticleCity
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.athletes-usa.com

How Running Make People So Different

Many runners may be puzzled about how to make running performance be the best. In fact, running is not so hard thing, they just like work, you need to be skilled and try more new ways. We would introduce 8 best running tips for you in this article.


The time of running should be controlled by self healthy conditions. But a principle is that you would better run more than 30 minutes at one time, do it every day is better, but when some emergency difficulties come, you may exercise once two days. Do not exercise more than two days will make little effect. If you get enough time, dusk is good for healthy, exercising every morning hungry is not scientific. You would better run before have supper, remember do not do exercise after dinner.
Long-term running can make legs slim and strong. Jogging to lose weight is to uphold the long-term exercise conditions. Each continuous run time can not be less than 40 minutes, every day is better.
For jogging, the uniform speed is better, that started more slowly, and then slowly speed the running speed to the second half to maintain uniform. This can save up the time on exercising. The maximum speed should be accord to runner's healthy level. Great arm swing is usually in fast running, for jogging, arm just play a balancing role, and do not deliberately consider that.
If you want to participate in the marathon, it is recommended to participate in amateur training, or get a sport teacher to guide for you. Pay attention on the basis at the beginning of training. Long time is better, about 70 to 90 minutes every time, first is to complete that, do not worry about the speed, Uninterrupted as long as you can. Improve the running speed is the direction of post-training phase.
When it is serious pollution, do not exercise outside, you may go to the exercise cub, if financial is not so good. However, if no conditions can take a thin mask, will be the beginning of respiratory discomfort, adhere to the habit of just fine.
Some women have special body condition. Female menstrual period is usually mild activities. Some women can adhere to the run, but the best of halving the amount of exercise, should rest on the second day of menstruation.
Strengthen the power of running as much as possible. With enough durance bases, the easiest way is mountain running. Regular exercise do great to daily running, make better running performance. Mountain runners can not only increase thigh strength, enhance coordination of legs, but also enhance the coordination of the brain. A greater role in aged runners. Researches indicate that bone density of elder runners is more than those who did not participate in the training.
First of all, you do not have to do training in the mountains very steep. Ideal of the mountain run, a quarter-mile length of its mountain, not so steep.
Get one pair of most suitable running shoes. When are you going to start running exercise, one important thing is to understand their own feet, and then buy a pair of line with the characteristics of their feet running shoes. Only in the condition that you get comfortable shoes, you can stick to running and avoid injuries. The top running shoes brand can be Nike, Asics, and New Balance.


Source: articlesfactory.com
Author: Steve Clis
http://www.nikefrees30.com.

Martial Arts And How It Can Benefit Your Child by Melissa Adamson

The children nowadays are prone to various attitude problems. This is why parents enroll their kids in after school pick up programs to hone skills and develop their kids' personality. 

One of the most popular after school pick up programs are martial arts classes. Martial arts are known to help kids handle conflicts inside themselves, as well as conflicts that they may face when they are outside their homes. Various martial arts techniques such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Wrestling also teach kids respect for others by first teaching them to respect themselves. It also teaches self-control, self-discipline, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility. 

It is notable to stress that one of the most important benefit children get from martial arts training is that they generally become more disciplined from the unique formalities of martial arts classes. This is one difference that this type of lesson offer compared with types of sports. No matter what their social economic backgrounds are, children with problematic attitudes behave well as a result of taking classes a few times per week. 

Parents are very happy to see how their seemingly problematic children come out of pick up programs smiling and positively interacting with other kids. Some children even show rising grades after continuous martial arts session. 

How do all of these happen? Choosing a martial arts school is of course a very important factor. The environment in which your child will learn new things certainly affect how his outlook in life changes. There are a lot of dojos and school around Tampa and Carrollwood but be wary on making your choices. Choose a school that offers many forms of martial arts techniques. It has a positive effect on the kids if they are made to decide what pick up program to enroll in, whether it is MMA, Karate, Taekwondo, etc. 

Instructors also play an important role in molding students. Instructors who care enough to sit and talk beyond the kickboxing or wrestling sessions reach the mind, heart, and soul of their students. Some trainors also include accomplishing schoolwork requirements in their pick up programs. This strengthens the bonding of the martial arts students and make them more active when training for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. 

Indeed, martial arts has so many benefits in the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspect of one's life. It is not hard to understand why it has become a popular activity for the children, youth, and adults. Just keep in mind though that not all programs will produce all of the benefits mentioned in this article. As we have said, it all depends on the teacher and the school. Martial arts programs that are limited to teaching combat fighting techniques may not result in the desired mental, emotional, and social transformation we hope for. Give yourself enough time when searching for a school. Choose one that will give your kids the most number of benefits at the least possible price. 


Source: ArticleCity.com
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.graciebarraevolution.com

Dennis Orcullo

Dennis Orcollo (born January 28, 1979), sometimes called Dennis Orcullo, is a Filipino professional pool player, nicknamed "Surigao" (name from a province in the Philippines) and "RoboCop". He has been called "the Philippines' Money-game King".

Like a number of upcoming players from the Philippines, Orcollo was first seen on television in his contention at the Rising Stars Tournament in 2000.

Dennis Orcollo (right) alongside Jose Parica at 2006 International Pool Tour tournament in Las Vegas

At the 2002 WPA World Nine-ball Championship, he unexpectedly beat champion Ralf Souquet 9-8 in the last 64, but eventually lost 6-9 to Efren Reyes in the last 32.

In 2006, Orcollo began his campaign in the U.S.. There, he won a number of tournaments, including the Reno Open, the Hard Times Nine-ball Tournament and two bar table events. Because his compatriots had entered a less prestigious event in Asia, Orcollo was the only player from the Philippines to compete in the World Straight Pool Championship, which was ultimately dominated by Thorsten Hohmann. Although he neither won nor received any prize money, Orcollo made a respectable high run of 91. The following year, he made a better straight pool run of 93 at an exhibition in the USA. Also in 2006, Orcollo won the last edition of the World Pool League tournament against Niels Feijen.

In 2007, he was runner-up to his fellow countryman Ronato Alcano at the WPA World Eight-ball Championship. Also in this year, he won the BCA Open Nine-ball Championship, a tournament where three fellow Filipinos were defeated in the final in past editions of that event. He competed for the second time at the World Straight Pool Championship. Unlike the previous event, where he was the only Philippine player in contention, Warren Kiamco joined him. He had a much better performance in the tournament and achieved a high run of 117 (the fourth highest in the tournament). However, he was defeated by Oliver Ortmann, the eventual winner of the event, in the quarter-finals by a lopsided 200-7 score, the largest margin in the history of the tournament.

In 2011, Dennis Orcollo won the WPA World Eight-ball title, besting Niels Feijen in the championship match.

Source: Wikipedia

Manny Pacquiao Listed as one of the Asia's Greatest Sports Heroes by CNNgo.com

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao has won welterweight, lightweight, flyweight, featherweight and super featherweight, and bantam weight championships. He is the first boxer to win championships in seven different weight classes. The Pacman is revered in the Philippines. How revered? Check out this post from a fan on his website: "Manny's life is so likely with Jesus Christ coming from the poorest of the poor but became famous, adore, love, praise, betroth and idolize. Manny was a chosen one from the Far East. He was called to be redeemer in a modern way. He was as popular as He was. Jesus Christ was the King of Kings and Manny is the King of the ring. Is Manny the chosen one to lead us..."

Read more: CNNgo.com

24/7 Pacquiao Margarito: Best of Pacquiao - Basketball Court (HBO)

HBO Boxing: Manny Pacquiao's Greatest Hits (HBO)

Champion Motor Racer Maico Buncio dies at 22

Manila, Philippines - The four-time national champion superbike racer Maico Buncio died yesterday. 


He was considered as the country's fastest man on two-wheels. 


Saturday afternoon, he was brought to UST hospital after the fatal injuries while on a time trial practice at Clark Field, Pampanga. The next day he died, despite the effort of the doctors to save him.


Buncio, the official Philippine representative to the Asian Road Racing Championships (ARRC) started riding his motor bike when he was only  2 years old. 


His family is planning to file a suit against the organizers and the owner of Clark Speedway Racing Circuit for being negligent in their race track that apparently has a steel railing which caused the injury.


Source: loqal.ph

Pacquiao on Steroids? ABS-CBN NEWS

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao belied rumors circulating in the internet about his supposed “steroid use,” adding that the Filipino champion doesn't need drugs to win fights.

His chief of staff, Jake Joson, said Pacquiao, who is also a congressman representing the province of Sarangani, has never touched steroids.

“Sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon na pinagsamahan po namin ni Cong. Pacquiao, ni sigarilyo, ni gamot hindi po gumagamit ‘yan,” Joson told radio dzMM.

He said Pacquiao only uses food supplements, which he takes during training.

“Sa training lang po siya gumagamit ng kanyang vitamins and supplements. ‘Yun lang po ang ginagamit niya at wala na pong iba,” said Joson.

Pacquiao’s camp reacted to rumors spread through Twitter and the web about a supposed Filipino sparring partner who claimed to have injected Pacquiao with steroids.

The “sparring partner” allegedly gave Pacquiao the injections in the locker room of the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where he trains in the US.

The rumor was picked up by Shane Mosley, who spread the news through his Twitter account.

Pacquiao defeated Mosley via a unanimous decision last Saturday (May 7) to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

Joson said Pacquiao, the only 8-division boxing champion in the world, has won his fights fair and square.

“Natural lang po lahat ng kanyang lakas na ipinapakita niya sa bawat laban,” he said.

Source: ABSCBNNEWS.com

PALARONG PAMBANSA 2011 (Dapitan City)

Final Tally

Winners:

1st Place = NCR with 572.7 points

2nd place = Region 6 (Western Visayas) with 479.5 points

3rd place = Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 430.5 points

4th place = Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 333.5 points

NCR number one sa Palarong Pambansa (gma news)

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

What's Next For Boxer Manny Pacquiao?

Spirit Sports College (SSC)

The first in the Philippines, a school specially made for sports will be open in August this year. Spirit Sports College is a 100 hectares college for sports education, a good ground for training future athletes and sportsmen. The professional athletes and experts in sports here in the Philippines and around the world will compose the faculty.

This college houses a racing car track, a golf course and indoor and outdoor facilities for basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, tennis, golf and swimming and others.

Philippine Sports Committee is also part of this project that will truly benefit us in the future, especially now we are losing hope in getting gold in the Olympics.

Paul Monozca (one of the trustees) said “this will really a breakthrough for Philippine education a specialized school with the right infrastructure with the right people and the best minds.”

Manny Pacquiao as the Best Paid Athlete (ESPN Magazine)

A wapping $28 million (1.376 billion when converted to Philippine Peso) was earned by our fighting congressman for his fights in 2010 alone. Last year he defeated and crushed Joshua Clottey in March and  Antonio Margarito in November.


ESPN Magazine lists the Best Paid Athlete for the year 2010 that includes some of the known players from different field in different part of the globe. Some of the personalities named are Kobe Bryant of LA Lakers with $24,800.000, Kimi Raikkonen the formula one champion with $26,333,333, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees with $32,000,000 and other sportsmen.


This year, we can expect Congressman Pacquiao to earn more as his line up of fights will start early with Sugar Shane Mosley on May 7.

Watch Replays of AFP Challenge Cup

After the successful play of the Philippine Azkals in the qualifying round in the AFP Challenge Cup. Here are the links to see the best in Philippine Football trying to make a history.


Ph Azkals vs Myanmar
Watch now!


Ph Azkals vs Palestine
Watch Now!


Ph Azkals vs Bangladesh
Watch Now!

Mountain Biking in NEGROS (Sports Unlimited)

Try these bikes for sale on Amazon.
Pacific Stratus Men's Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels)
Schwinn High Timber Men's Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Matte Green)
Racor Pro PSB-1R Single Folding Bike Rack
Pacific Chromium Men's Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels)

*NEW ESPN* Manny Pacquiao On Fighting Shane Mosley interview with Kenny

Pacquiao sparring gets serious on day 1

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao and his sparring partners were supposed to take it nice and easy as one would on the driver’s seat of a car that just rolled out of the showroom.

But while there was not enough time for Pacquiao and sparmates Shawn Porter and David Rodela to go full throttle, it was a four-round session that had all the trappings of a Pacquiao workout.

“Manny did what he always does,” said Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz from Baguio City, site of the Filipino’s preparation for the May 7 clash with Shane Mosley.

“It was good considering that it’s just the first day (of sparring),” said Koncz.

“They really went at it.”

Pacquiao will rack up more rounds with sessions set for Thursday and Saturday, just before Team Pacquiao leaves for the US to resume the buildup at the Wild Card in Hollywood.

Porter and Rodela are old hands in Pacquiao’s training camp but always put up their best whenever they share the ring with the pound-for-pound king. Source Manila Bulletin

Pinoy tennis player na si Jeson Patrombon, pasok sa Top 10 ng Int'l Federation Junior rankings

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Hard Ball TV Show- Paeng's 3rd Guinness Record

He is Paeng Nepomuceno, a proud Filipino athlete, who is a six time World Bowling Champion. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for three records: 1) for most Bowling World cup wins, 2) for being the youngest ever to win the Bowling World Cup (at 19 years of age), and 3) for having won the most number of bowling tournament titles. In total, Paeng has 118 career bowling titles. Paeng who still actively competes up to this day is the only bowling athlete to have won or awarded titles in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Highlights of Philippines-Mongolia match 1st half

ALI

This is an interview of Howard Bingham of READER DIGEST with Muhammad Ali when he was already 60 years old.

Bingham: When you became a Muslim, the religion was perceived as anti-white. Has that changed?

Ali: The real Islam comes from Mecca. All people are God’s people. The devil can be any color.

Bingham: Do you know some black devils?

Ali: A lot of them.

Bingham: Has it become easier to be Muslin in America?

Ali: Yes. When I first accepted the religion, you’d say you were Muslim, people thought that’s funny. Now there’s not half the trouble.

Bingham: How do you feel about different religions?

Ali: Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams. They have different names, but all contain water. Religion has different names but all contain truth.

Bingham: What does your faith means to you?

Ali: It means a ticket to heaven. One day we’re going to die and God’s going to judge us, our good and bad deeds. If the bad outweighs the good, you go to hell; if the good outweighs the bad, you are going to heaven.

        I’m thinking about the judgment day and how you treat people wherever you go. Help somebody through charity, because when you do, it’s been recorded.

        I go to parties, to see good-looking girls. I take a box of matches with me. I see a girl I want to flirt with, which is a sin, so I light my matches, touches his finger- ohh, hell hurts worse than this. Buy a box of matches and carry them with you. Put one on your finger and see how long you can hold it. Just imagine that’s going to be hell. Hell’s hotter, and for eternity.

Bingham: What was your best fight ever?

Ali: The fight against famous Joe Frazier in Manila.

Bingham: Which loss hurt most?

Ali: Amos Johnson in the Pan Am trials in 1959.

Bingham: Did you ever win a fight that you thought you’d lost?

Ali: No.

Bingham: Did you ever lose a fight that you thought you’d won?

Ali: No

Bingham: Should boxing be banned, like so many people advocate?

Ali: They said it should be banned because it’s too brutal. Football is brutal, and wrestling. Motor-car racing. The reason they think its bad is black people control it.

Bingham: Knowing what you know now, would you go back and change anything?

Ali: In boxing I would do everything the same, wouldn’t change nothing.

Bingham: What about taunting Joe Frazier?

Ali: Joe Frazier, I‘d do everything the same, wouldn’t change nothing.

Bingham: All those years back, you were a kid who believed in himself enough to tell everyone that one day you would become champion of the world. Where did your confidence come from?

Ali: I had it in my heart. I believed in myself, and had confidence. I knew how to do it and had natural talent and I pursued it.

Bingham: Now, after you were older, who influenced your life and the beliefs that you have?

Ali: After I started boxing, Sugar Ray Robinson. And my idol was a man named Elijah Muhammad. His Islamic teaching is what made me so confident.

Bingham: What people have inspired you- or who is the most unforgettable character you’ve ever met?

Ali: Malcolm X. He said courageous things, wasn’t afraid of nothing. He was a good speaker about black people and their condition and treatment by whites.

Bingham: Your wife, Lonnie, Asaad’s mother… you’ve been with her longer than any of your first three wives. What does she mean to you?

Ali: Everything.

Bingham: You’ve said that some people are chosen to spread a message and that you were chosen to spread the word of Allah. What exactly do you mean by that?

Ali: For an example, black people called themselves Negroes for hundred years, and now they say Afro Americans. But that started after they heard Elijah Muhammad. They didn’t accept all Elijah said, but the part about Afro Americans they did. Chinese have Chinese names; Cubans have Cuban names, Germans after Germany, Indians after India – all people by the name of their country. There’s no country called Negro.

        When I heard that, It shocked me. We have our names for Chinese. Castro- here comes a Cuban. But here comes Jones of Washington, he doesn’t know who he is. He got slave names. Negroes named George Washington.

        So we took- we have- slave names. Muhammad Ai is Muslim.

Bingham: What does Muhammad Ali mean?

Ali: Muhammad Ali worthy of praise and praiseworthy and Ali means the most high. Clay means dirt. When I heard that. Then everything came together. We’re taught to love white, hate black. The color black meant getting put out, you are being blackballed. Black was bad. There’s blackmail. They made angel cake white and devil’s food chocolate. Think about that, angel’s food white and devil’s food chocolate. They ugly duckling is the black duckling. Black magic.

        I mean, black is good. In business you want it black. Blackberry juice- the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. The rich dirt is black. Black ain’t bad. The greatest baseball players are black. The greatest football players are black.

Bingham: Everything but boxers, huh?

Ali: The greatest boxers are black.

Bingham: What were your thoughts when you lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta?

Ali: It showed that people in the past didn’t hold it against me because here I am rejecting the Vietnam War, joining the Islamic religion, and then, of all people, raising the flag. They were thinking of me to light the Olympic flame, so that was a good thing.

Bingham: Do athletes have a responsibility to become role models for people?

Ali: They don’t have to, but it’s good if they do because then the kids look up to them and wants to be like them. It’s good to be an example for them I the way they live.

Bingham: Are you a role model that people look up to?

Ali: I’ve been told so.

Bingham: Why?

Ali: Because I’m daring, bold courageous!

Bingham: If there was one thing that you could make happen in this world, what would it be?

Ali: I’d find a cure for cancer.

Bingham: What disease do you have?

Ali: Parkinson’s.

Bingham: Have you ever asked yourself “Why me?” for no condition. There’s so much good, I’ve been so blessed. God tries you. Some things are good. Some things are bad. All of them are trials.

Bingham: How would you like to be remembered?

Ali: He took a few cups of love, one teaspoon of patience, one tablespoon of generosity, one pint of kindness, and stirred it up well and serves it to each and every deserving person.

Drifting

David Feliciano said that drifting is not all about slipping and sliding, but about power and control.” He is one of the two scholars of Goodyear Philippines to be sent to Second Annual Goodyear Formula Drift in Thailand.

He is armed with the “great white” his white 1989 Nissan Silva PS13 and his companion Norman Agojo have Nissan Silva RPS13.

This new sport is still in the process of being known. And only those who have the means can participate in this sport. A well maintain car that has a 350+ horsepower with some good tires to strike gold in the competition.

Both Feliciano and Agojo are scholars of Goodyear Philippines as it strengthen its commitment to the drifting sport.

Pauline Lopez

Pauline Lopez, 14 years old lass, the youngest in the Philippine contingent in the past Guanzhou Asian Games in taekwondo

She is a 9th grade school student of Vistamar High in California. She was endorsed to replace Antoinette Rivero who was injured two months before the game.

Last October she won gold in the Korean Open, beating other athletes at least three years older than her, that earned her a slot in the National Team. The coaching staff believed that she should be given a chance because she is tough for her age.

Jun, her father is also a teakwondo expert who trained her and her older sister in this field.

Pauline and other contingents are our hope for the campaign of the Philippines for gold. If we keep on supporting these young talented individuals, in the near future we might win gold in the Olympics.

Efren Bata Reyes

We would like to acknowledge our Filipino Athletes for their endeavor in their chosen fields and contribution to the Filipino pride.

One of which is Efren Bata Reyes.

Efren Bata Reyes is most popular billiard player in the Philippines and also known as the Magician mainly because ability to overcome improbable shots.

He is the first Asian billiard player to be the Hall of Fame awardee of Billiards Congress of America in 2003 and paved the way for televised billiard match in the Philippines.

In 2004, he ruled the inaugural WPA 8-ball championship, becoming the pool’s first ever double winner and the year’s richest cue artist.

During his peaked, he made many commercials including the San Miguel beer advertisement, with an appearance fee of million of pesos. And he made a movie with FPJ and some TV guesting that contributed to his popularity.

Now he competes with fellow champion Jango Bustamante in tournaments in and out of the country despite of his age and blurring vision.

Rey Saludar

In the recently concluded Asian Games in Guanzhou, China, Filipinos athletes were sent to compete on different events including boxing, karate, bowling, chess, diving and others. Few of them lost but there were some who emerged as winners in the tournament.

Rey Saludar of a talent-rich Panabo, Davao del Norte, became the newest toast of amateur boxing as he gave the country its lone gold in boxing in the Asian Games.

He defeated the hometown boy Yong Chang by a score of 13-11, although many people said that the he deserved to win in a bigger margin.

“Suntok ginto sa Olympics/Punch for gold at the Olympics” the battle cry of Filipino Athletes in China. Ricky Vargas president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines said that “we are proud of our athletes and coaches in China”. We should keep on sending athletes outside of the country to compete for them to gain experience and in effect we might get our first gold in the Olympics.

3 Million pesos was rewarded to Rey saludar for getting the only gold in Asian Games to be given by Manny Pangilinan, a businessman and the godfather of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines. Silver and bronze medalists were awarded with 1 million and 500k respectively.

At the end, Philippines got 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.