WB lowers Philippine growth forecast

Transcription

1 02 03 Inflation surges to 33-mo high Sundigan junks JPE bail petition SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 Page 06 Gov t verifying report of Filipinos recruited as fighters in Middle East MANILA: The government is verifying a report that some Filipino Muslims were being recruited as fighters in conflict-affected countries in the Middle East. Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in a radio interview yesterday that the Foreign Affairs Department was ordered to verify a report that some 200 Filipinos went to Syria and Iraq to train and fight with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). She also said that the Bureau of Immigration was very alert when it comes to those who are supposedly either going to Iraq, to Syria, or to other transit points. We don t want them to be dragged into the conflict, she said. Xinhua Mga Pinoy sa Iraq inalerto sa air strike! MANILA: Inalerto ng pamahalaan ang mga Pinoy at muling nanawagan na magsilikas sa Iraq kasunod ng kautusan ni US Pres. Barack Obama na air strikes laban sa mga militante sa northern Iraq. Ayon kay Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose, nakatuon ang pagmamalasakit ng gobyerno sa seguridad ng mga Pinoy sa Iraq kung saan nananatiling ipinatutupad ang crisis alert level 4 o mandatory evacuation sa nasabing bansa maliban sa Kurdistan region na nasa alert level 2. Sinabi ni Jose na base sa rekomendasyon ng Embahada ng Pilipinas sa Baghdad, mananatili ang alert level 2 sa Kurdistan habang ang mga natitirang lugar sa Iraq ay nasa pinakamataas na alerto. Kinumpirma ni US President Obama sa pakikipagpulong sa kanyang national security team, na binigyan na nito ng awtorisasyon ang US military na magsagawa ng limitadong air strikes laban sa Islamic State fighters sa northern Iraq at military airdrops ng humanitarian supplies para sa mga religious minorities doon. Ang aksyon ni Obama ay upang maprotektahan umano ang mga Amerikano sa Kurdistan capital at maiwasan ang potensyal na act of genocide sa Arbil kung saan nakabase ang mga militante. Magugunita na noong Hunyo 19, 2014, itinaas ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa crisis alert level 4 sa Iraq dahil sa walang humpay na bakbakan at sapilitang pinalilikas ang tinatayang mahigit 6,000 Pinoy sa nasabing bansa. Sa kabila ng mandatory evacuation, ayaw pa ring magsiuwi ang karamihang Pinoy sa Iraq. PSN MANILA: Protesters display placards behind a Stop Bombing Gaza! message after lighting candles recently, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. The protesters called for a stop to the bombings in Gaza which have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children. AP WB lowers Philippine growth forecast MANILA: The World Bank lowered its Philippine growth forecasts Thursday to 6.4 percent this year and 6.7 percent next year but says the country remains one of East Asia s fastest growing economies. World Bank officials said the revision reflects the economy s sluggish takeoff in the first quarter of 2014 after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, slower government spending in the second quarter and tightening of monetary policy in the first seven months. The projection contained in an updated report on the Philippine economy is down from the previous 6.6 percent forecast for this year and 6.9 percent for next year. But the government is on the right track, with recent data suggesting sustained high growth has begun to cause significant reductions in poverty, bank officials said. Some 2.5 million Filipinos were lifted out of poverty in 2013 in a break from many years of slow poverty reduction, said Rogier van den Brink, the bank s top economist for the Philippines. The proportion of people living in poverty in 2013 was 24.9 percent, down 3 percentage points from In the 12 months through April, the economy also created 1.7 million jobs, but there is a need for higher quality employment, he said. Continue on Page 3

2 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, Inflation surges to 33-mo high MANILA: A customer buy garlic at a market in Manila recently. Philippine inflation shot up to a nearly three-year high of 4.9 percent in July, the government said, when many Filipinos were priced out of food items such as garlic. AFP MANILA: Inflation accelerated to a 33- month high in July amid soaring food prices and increases in utility rates and transportation fares. From 4.4 percent in June, the rate rose to 4.9 percent last month, the fastest pace since the 5.2 percent recorded in October Without food or oil prices, core inflation settled at three percent in July, up from 2.8 percent in June. The July inflation outturn is within the BSP s forecast range, albeit at the upper end. This confirms our assessment that the economy could see more near-term increases in select food prices, partly due to weather-related supply concerns, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said in a text message to reporters. The central bank s inflation forecast for July was 4.1 percent to 4.9 percent. The BSP cited the increasing food prices following typhoons that devastated the country late last year and earlier in The BSP will therefore more closely coordinate with other agencies of government towards developing solutions to these constraints, Tetangco said. At the same time, BSP will continue to monitor developments and calibrate monetary policy, as needed, to help guide inflation expectations and address second round effects that may develop, he continued. Even as we have already taken a series of policy actions to address liquidity growth and its attendant financial stability risks and to temper inflation expectations, we will not hesitate to use any of our tools to help guide markets to keep inflation within the target range over the policy horizon, the BSP chief further said. The BSP has forecast inflation to average 4.33 percent this year, above the midpoint of its three to five percent target range. Last week, monetary authorities hiked key policy rates by 25 basis points each as a preemptive move to keep inflation in check, particularly for The central bank raised its forecast average for 2015 inflation to 3.72 percent, already nearing the upper end of the two to four percent goal for that year. The next rate-setting meeting has been slated for Sept. 11. The July inflation print brought the seven-month average to 4.3 percent, still within the BSP s target. Looking at inflation by region, the rate in the National Capital Region quickened to 3.9 percent in July from 3.6 percent in June. Areas outside the capital, meanwhile, saw inflation climb to 5.1 percent from 4.7 percent. The Philippine Star

3 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, Sandigan junks JPE bail petition MANILA: Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile cannot be granted bail before the court assesses the evidence against him, the Sandiganbayan ruled. It denied yesterday Enrile s motion for reconsideration and stood firm on its July 3, 2014 NAYPYIDAW: Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries pose for a photo prior a meeting of the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Plenary Session at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC) in Naypyidaw on Friday. Myanmar will host the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting (AMM) and 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the capital Naypyidaw from August 8 to 10. AFP decision denying him bail. The anti-graft court s Third Division said in capital offenses, bail can only be granted and fixed after the prosecution fails to prove that the evidence against the accused is strong. In this case, accused Enrile filed a motion to fix bail, not a motion for bail, based on his submission that he is entitled to bail as a matter of right pending presentation of the prosecution of its evidence showing proof evident of his guilt, read the decision. The Sandiganbayan said the accused conveniently overlooked the fact that he is charged with a capital offense. Bail as to him is discretionary and such discretion is exercisable by the court only after the prosecution presented its evidence in a bail hearing, they said. Enrile filed a motion to fix amount of bail after he was ordered arrested and detained in Camp Crame. The Sandiganbayan said it cannot determine the amount of bail prior to determining if bail can be granted. Enrile appealed the ruling, insisting that he has a right to bail. However, the anti-graft court said it is only after the prosecution had presented evidence that it could determine that the evidence of guilt is not strong against Enrile, thus he could demand bail as a matter of right. Then and only then will the court be duty-bound to fix the amount of his bail, read the decision. The Philippine Star WB lowers... Continued from Page 1 Karl Kendrich Chua, the bank s senior economist for the Philippines, said the country can sustain high growth by accelerating reforms and increasing investments in infrastructure and in health and education. The World Bank estimates that the country needs to spend an additional 5 percent of GDP on health and education to raise labor productivity and competitiveness of Filipino workers on top of the government s planned doubling of infrastructure spending to 5 percent of GDP. The government has already doubled spending on social services and injected more funds into infrastructure. World Bank economists said sustaining those efforts will close the remaining gaps brought about by decades of lagging public investment. The Philippines spending on infrastructure as well as machines and equipment has been declining since the 1970s and is below its neighbors. It also spends percent less on infrastructure, health and education. Chua said the country s tax system must be made simpler and more equitable, with the tax burden and cost of compliance reduced for small businesses and wage earners. He said the government has successfully raised tax revenue equivalent to 1.2 percent of GDP in the last three years through the tobacco and alcohol sin tax reform and improved tax administration. Accelerating the reform momentum would help the country yield additional tax revenues to further expand growth that can benefit more poor Filipinos, he said. AP Live the summer with KD 10 Postpaid Package & a FREE Postpaid Exclusively with VIVA, get the brand new Huawei Ascend P7 for free when you subscribe to the KD 10 Postpaid Package. Featuring a 7 - layer construction, the water drop curve unibody is not only incredibly strong but also beautifully elegant. Packed with a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera, you ll get high quality photos wherever you re standing. Get this feature filled phone today and ascend your expectations with Huawei. For more information, please visit our website at viva.com.kw or call our contact center at 102. Terms and conditions apply. Switch to VIVA.

4 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, Stage ready for Little Princess Philippines Kuwait 2014 KUWAIT: Little Princess Philippines Kuwait 2014 candidates paraded their talents last Friday in a pre-pageant event. The most awaited coronation night was also announced. It will be held at the Boy Scout Association, Hawally Kuwait slated on August 22, 2014 from 5pm onwards. The event is being organized by Kapampangan Keng Kuwait and Kooperatiba ng Manggagawang Pinay sa Kuwait. The event is prepared in the intention to help the renovation of some parts of the Holy Family Hall Cathedral Church, Kuwait City and Outreach Program to fellow OFWs in Kuwait. For more information please contact Arch. Gerrievelle Garcia Guinto, the Founding Chairman- Kapampangan Keng Kuwait and Founding Adviser-Kooperatiba ng Manggagawang Pinay.

5 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, MANILA: Chinese Buddhist monks perform rites for a day of special prayers at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila recently, in memory of the victims of a hostage-taking incident where eight Hong Kong people were killed and seven were wounded by a disgraced Philippine policeman in The incident frayed relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong, which have only recently been repaired. AFP Monks lead service marking 4th anniversary of Manila hostage crisis MANILA: Buddhist monks yesterday led a religious service in Manila to mark the fourth anniversary of the Manila hostage crisis. The service was held at the Luneta where the bloody 2010 incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2010, according to a report on GMA News TV s News TV Live. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who wore a barong, attended the rites. It was the first rite since Estrada led a Philippine delegation to Hong Kong to offer apologies for the 2010 incident. On Aug. 23, 2010, a dismissed policeman took a busload of tourists from Hong Kong hostage in Manila, to demand his reinstatement. He and eight of the hostages were killed in a botched police rescue operation. The incident prompted Hong Kong to issue a black travel advisory discouraging travel to the Philippines, even as President Benigno Aquino III refused to issue an apology. But after the apology offered by the Estrada-led delegation last April, Hong Kong lowered its black travel alert. The Philippine government at the time also expressed its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy for the victims of the Aug. 23, 2010 incident. Following the apology Hong Kong also reinstated the visa-free privileges for Philippine government officials visiting Hong Kong. GMA News MANILA: This photo released by the Philippine National Police Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) in Manila, Philippines, Khair Mundos, a top commander of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group who is in the U.S. list of most-wanted terrorists is booked by police following his capture near Manila s international airport recently. The captured Abu Sayyaf commander has told investigators that a top Southeast Asian terror suspect, who the military reported was killed in a U.S.-backed airstrike two years ago, is alive and being harbored by a hardline Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, a confidential police report said. AP Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno stars in Manila MANILA: Japanese lead actor Takeru Satoh of the hit movie Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno thanked Filipino fans Thursday for a warm welcome, saying he hopes the film will pave the way for more Japanese movies to be shown in the Philippines. The stars and director of the movie traveled to the Philippines for the film s Asian premiere on Wednesday. Satoh said it was difficult to think of what film to make next. But he said he hopes to create some great movies again with Keishi Otomo, director of the Kenshin trilogy. On Wednesday night, Filipino fans loudly cheered Satoh, actress Emi Takei, actor Munetaka Aoki and Otomo as they arrived on the red carpet before the screening at SM Megamall. Satoh told a news conference Thursday that the movie about Kenshin Himura, a legendary assassin turned conflicted hero during Japan s Meiji era, may have appealed to Filipino and other Asian fans because action movies have one language, everyone can appreciate it. But he said the movie also shows the intricacies of Japanese culture in hopes that people will appreciate and understand them. Satoh, who practiced three months prior to shooting his intense sword-fighting scenes, said he was injured many times during the filming. Aoki said he lost a tooth but did not mind it. The fast-action film by Warner Bros. Japan begins its regular run in the country on Aug. 20. It is the first of a two-part finale of the franchise based on the hit Japanese comic, or manga, called Rurouni Kenshin. The action and drama film is about a once-feared swordsman during the turbulent fall of Japan s shogunate in the 19th century who adopts a peaceful life after the arrival of Japan s new age. It has captivated fans in the Philippines and other parts of Asia.

6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, Balitang Showbiz Plus BengarciaFILES Ni Bong Pagutayao panorama@kuwaittimes.net Matteo, walang tampo kay Sarah! CHIKA LANG PO! Chika- chika lang ito...tong-tong pakitong kitong ang tamaan huwag magalit ang pumiyok ay Concernnnnnnn!!... Mga Kabayan kung concern...panawagan lang po.. Kung may time: expat residency violators who are arrested will now be given an opportunity to legalize their status and remain in the country... but you have to pay the two dinar per day penalty... Hala!! mga daga dyan humabol na sa mga papalicious... Well kung totoo ang balitang ito ay naku mga daga dyan magipon-ipon na ng datung tapos a good kapil to transfer the chair! Kasi dahan dahan Vote Out as in evict kayo sa bahay ni Kuya...if...kayo din..kulong sa accommodation ng matagal...forever.. Kaya mga tago dyan.. huli ka! The same routine as usual mga kabayan.. lll Nasagot na ni Matteo Guidicelli ang naglalabasang balita na diumano y may tampuhan ito o nagtatampo si Matteo sa girlfriend na si Sarah Geronimo. Ang dahilan, hindi raw kasi nakapunta si Sarah sa Ironman event ni Matteo sa Cebu. Ang siste, kesyo hindi raw pinayagan si Sarah na pumunta at magbigay ng moral support sa kanyang boyfriend ng mga magulang. Kung may isa rin sa masasabing mahalaga para kay Matteo ngayon, ito ay ang sports niya. Pero, as private as Matteco they could, siyempre, no one speaks about it. Ewan kung saan nanggaling yung kesyo nagtatampo nga si Matteo sa girlfriend, when sa tingin naman namin, sa dami na rin ng pinagdaanan ng dalawa at kahit na bago pa nila aminin ang relasyon nilang dalawa, Matteo knows better naman siguro kung ano ang mga limitasyon pa rin nila ni Sarah bilang mag-boyfriend-girlfriend na wala sa iba, di ba? Anyway, sinagot na rin naman ito ni Matteo sa isang presscon kung saan, sinabi niyang, wala naman sa isyung may tampo siya sa girlfriend. Kay Matteo rin nanggaling na, bising-busy siya ngayon. Marami siyang ginagawa. Naniniwala rin si Matteo na mas nagwo-work at nagagawa nilang pribado pa rin ang lovelife nila ni Sarah sa kanilang trabaho. lll Parating na ang malaking pagbabago ngayong Agosto sa master teleserye ng ABS-CBN na Ikaw Lamang, sa pagpasok ng mga bagong karakter na bibigyang buhay ng pinakamahuhusay na aktor sa bansa. Matapos gampanan ang mga karakter nina Samuel at Isabelle, ipagpapatuloy ng grand slam Best Actor of the Year na si Coco Martin at 2014 Yahoo! Actress and Celebrity of the Year Kim Chiu ang kwento ng Ikaw Lamang, bilang ang susunod na henerasyon ng pamilya Hidalgo at Severino na sina Gabriel at Andrea. Makakasama nila ang 2014 FAMAS Best Actress na si KC Concepcion, na gaganap bilang ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Andrea na si Natalia. Ngayon pa lang, ramdam na agad na siya ang manggugulo kina Coco at Kim. Tampok naman sa Ikaw Lamang simula ngayong Agosto ang seasoned actors na sina Amy Austria bilang Isabelle, Joel Torre bilang Samuel, Rio Locsin bilang Lupe, Nonie Buencamino bilang Calixto, at Christopher de Leon Coco bilang Franco. Ni Ben Garcia bengarcia@kuwaittimes.net Pulitikang Pinoy sa Kuwait Politics sa Pilipinas ang karamihang usapan natin during the last few weeks...maiba tayo...dumako tayo sa pulitikong Pinoy sa Kuwait. Kung gusto mo raw tuklasin ang tunay na Pilipinas puede mo itong makita sa kumunidad Pinoy sa Kuwait ang sinasabing larawan ng Philippine Politics or epitome (embodiment) of real Philippines. Pinag-isipan ko ito bago ako nagsulat ng kapirasong artikulong ito. Maraming magtataas kilay, maraming magagalit at marami ding mananahimik. Ang layunin nito ay upang mapukaw ang ating kamalayan, isipan sa katotohanan bilang lahi at nanalaytay ang dugong Pilipino, kahit malayo tayo sa ating bayan. Dumating po ako sa Kuwait towards the end of 1990 s. Ang populasyon natin noon ay nasa 40-50,000 pa lamang, sa ngayon, 180,000 na! Inabutan kong Ambassador ng Pilipinas dito si Shulan Primavera. Mula kay Primavera pumasok na ambassador si Sukarno Tanggol na pinalitan naman noon ni Ambassador Bayani Mangibin. Pinalitan si Mangibin ni Ambassador Ricardo Endaya at bumalik bilang ambassador si Shulan Primavera, ngunit nanatili ng halos dalawang taon lamang. Itinalaga bilang ambassador ngayon si Ambassador Lamberto Monsanto. Sandali... Mayroong mga kuwento ang kanilang pagdating at pag-alis bilang ambassador sa Kuwait. Gusto niyong malaman? Tawagan nyo ako (tawa). Hindi ko po kasi puedeng idiscuss dito dahil ang ilan ay iniimbestigahan ng mga awtoridad natin at bilang galang na rin sa host country natin. Ang gusto kong pagusapan natin ay ang mga Pinoy organizations sa Kuwait..mga socio-civic oriented organizations, mayroong ding charity, sports etc. Bawal kasi sa Kuwait ang political organizations kaya wala tayong lantad na organisasyon politically oriented although mayroong mga nagtatago bilang charity organizations, etc. Marami ding religious organizations. Naalala ko, way back mga late 1990 s. Mayroong kakarampot na bilang ng mga organizations sa Kuwait. Pero kahit kakarampot (maliit na bilang), aba y very active, progressive at very dynamic ang mga Pinoy dito. Ito ang kanilang behikulo upang tahakin ang katotohanan at harapin ang homesickness, malayo man sa sariling bayan at malayo man sa mga mahal natin sa buhay. Totoo. Nakakapatid ng uhaw kapag-nagsasama-sama tayo at nangingibabaw ang espiritu ng pagkakaisa at pakikipag-kapwa-tao, sa ilalim ng community organization. Habang tuloy ang pagdami ng mga populasyon ng mga Pinoy sa Kuwait, hindi talaga mapipigilan ang pagdami rin ng mga organizasyong mapagkakakilanlan natin sa isa t isa. Bagay na siyang dahilan naman pagkakanya-kanya, parang Iyo ang Tondo, akin ang Cavite style lang. Kaya naging witness ako sa mga iringan ng mga ilang grupo, from late 1990 s up till present. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba tayong matuwa na sa bawat pag-sulpot ng isang community organization, pagising mo kinabukasan nanganak na ulet ito ng isa pang grupo. Lungkot dahil, sa pagkabiyak ng grupo nasa likod noon ang pulitika. Kadalasan, hindi makasundong lider, o kaya, most of the time, pera ang dahilan. Pero may-konti ring saya, kasi sa pagkahati ng grupo, asahan mong magiging dynamic o agresibo ang isa, magreresulta ito ng aktibo at mas-lalong pinagaling/pagyabong ng grupo, ang tinatawag na competitive value ay nasusubukan dito. Ang resulta, masyayabong at uunlad ang isa-isa. Pero sana ganun lang ano? Wala sanang nagtatanim ng sama ng loob. Kasi noong mga unang panahon, hindi naman katagalan pa, ang iba, kinamatayan nang mayroon silang kaaway/kalaban/kagalit sa kabilang grupo. Hindi sila nagpapansinan, o kung mayroon mang pansinan, aba y plastikan lang ang ipinakikita. Hindi naman po tayo magtatagal sa mundo. Sabi nga ng ilan, tayo ay mga bisita lamang sa lugar na ito, o kahit umuwi man tayo sa sariling bayan, hindi rin naman tayo tatagal ng more than 120 years old pa. Isa din lang ang uuwian natin at the very end. Gasino ba ang years old, kung puro sama ng loob ang ating ipapadama sa kapwa. Panawagan sa mga organisasyong Pinoy, sports man yan or kahit anung socio-civic organizations. Igalang natin ang isa t-isa. Tigilan ang pagkakanya-kanya/bangayan at siraan. Magbigayan at magtulungan. Kung mayroong samaan ng loob muling ipakita ang ningning ng bayanihan, unawaan at pagkakapatiran. Gusto ko pong ibukas ang pahinang ito ukol sa inyong mga experiences sa Kuwait. Kung gusto nyong mag-share ng inyong mga experiences bilang lider ng inyong organisasyon, bukas po ang pahinang ito para sa inyo. Eto po ang aking number Tel Most welcome po ang lahat kahit hindi leader!

7 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, Photos by Albert Dimaculangan & Jimmy Carandang Alamia-Bhasin Cup FBC concludes 48th badminton tournament KUWAIT: The Filipino Badminton Committee formally concluded its 48th badminton Tournament dubbed as Alamia-Bhasin Cup. The winners are: Also, FBC held its 1st Free One Day Tournament participated by members from different badminton organizations. During the break, FBC s Vice President for Training & Development Engr. Doy Viray conducted the Basic Badminton Training for beginners. FBC President Regine Panesal is inviting all badminton enthusiast to join its upcoming 49th Badminton Tournament that will start on August 15, 2014 from 8:00 AM until 6PM at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club, Bin Khaldoun hawally. Meanwhile,FBC Chairman Dr. Chie Umandap is inviting all badminton Enthusiast to join its 50th Badminton for a Cause dubbed as Chairman s Golden Cup which also start on September 5. Proceeds of the said tournament will be donated to Zamboanga Sibugay E-Television package under the ABS CBN Adopt a Hometown School Project. The Chairman s Golden Cup is a team event and Champions will receive Gold necklace. For Registration and sponsorship inquiries please call

8 FBC concludes 48th badminton tournament SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014 Page 7 Chot praises Batang Gilas for gutsy debut in World Cup MANILA: Batang Gilas made a gutsy stand before falling short to fellow first-timer Angola, 72-82, Friday night at the start of the FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai, UAE. Before the tournament, Batang Gilas coach Jamike Jarin vowed that the team will show the world what the Filipino heart is made of. Yung maturity at confidence level is up, no fear eh. They are more excited than nervous. They know that the odds are against them but they are coming with a lot of confidence, Jarin told Philstar.com before they flew to Dubai. Gusto naming ipakita yung puso ng bawat Pilipino. And they did. The shorter Filipinos scored the opening basket and were still very much in the game until they faded in the homestretch against the taller and more athletic South African team. Batang Gilas fought back from as many as 14-point deficit to threaten at but UP Fighting Maroon Diego Dario flubbed a three-pointer that could have chopped the lead to just five in the final 55 seconds. The outside shooting, which is one of their weapons in the FIBA Asia Championship, was nowhere to be found as they could only hit five-of-35 from downtown for only 14.3 shooting percentage that did them in.despite the sour outside shooting, they played though with a big heart but the size disadvantage was too much to overcome as three Angolans pumped in double-double efforts. Angola s top player Joao Jungo, a 6-6 athletic forward, had 26 points,11 rebounds and three blocks while 6-1 guard Eric Amandio (17 and 12) and the towering 6-8 forward Valdir Manuel (10 and 13) also did their share as the South African youth team enjoyed a huge rebounding advantage. Batang Gilas, who are in the world championships for the first time after winning the silver medal in the FIBA Asia U17 Championship, did not back down engaging the Angolans to a tooth-and-nail battle three-fourths of the way. The Filipinos made up for their lack of size with their quick and scrappy play forcing Angola to 22 turnovers and to enjoy a 10-2 advantage in the steals department that led to 19-8 fastbreak points disparity. SEABA MVP Jolo Mendoza led Gilas with 16 points and four BELMONT: Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines watches her second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club on Thursday in Belmont, Michigan. AFP By Recah Trinidad DUBAI: Paul Desiderio, the 5-11 shooting guard of Batang Gilas, tries to grab the rebound against Angola s 6-6 forward Joao Jungo (12) and 6-foot guard Edmilson Miranda (8). FIBA.com steals while 5-11 Paul Desiderio stood tallest for the shorthanded Phl team with 10 rebounds and nine points. Jollo Go and Diego Dario added 13 and 12 points, respectively. The final score could have been closer had the Filipinos did not go into fouling spree. Angola had a total of 38 free throws MANILA: Raring to honestly be at his best, WBO junior welterweigt titlist Chris Algieri has reportedly started working out in earnest a full month before formally opening training camp for his world title challenge against Manny Pacquiao in November. Algieri, 30, a licensed dietician working for a doctorate in nutrition, is also making sure he gets the perfect super diet for the biggest, most daring assignment of his pro boxing career. So far, there has been no word on Pacquiao s training plans, except that, as head coach, he would be training his KIA Motors team in the Philippine Basketball Association in the same facility where he would work out for his defense against Algieri in Macau. There were, however, intriguing deficiencies on the part of both fighters that started to surface after Team Algieri initiated a verbal offensive in a bid to sell the WBO welterweight championship, mainly to the American PPV audience. There s the poor punching power on the part of Algieri, who has only eight knockouts in 20 wins. For Pacquiao, there s the defensive defect characterized by inferior head movement, which Algieri obviously plans to exploit, based on earlier pronouncements. Like it or not, Pacquiao and Algieri have no choice but only made 12 while Batang Gilas went 9-of-11 from the stripes. Batang Gilas courageous play drew praises from national men s team coach Chot Reyes, who watched their game online in Vitoria, Spain where they are holding camp also for the FIBA World Cup later this month. The Philippine Star Pacquiao-Algieri: Who gets the cutting edge? Manny Chris but work on these weak points for their scheduled championship to at least be both colorful and thrilling. A failure on the part of either fighter could end in disaster, with the bout slipping into a tasteless mismatch. On the other hand, the championship could indeed rise into a classic-that s if both fighters take time out to gain the cutting edge. Algieri has made it no secret that his main weapon will be his jab which, he claimed, would be the great equalizer. Yeah, Freddie Roach sneered, He has a jab, that s it! Actually, Algieri need not be told that, in order to be aptly combative against Pacquiao, he should add a form of viciousness to his jab, or inject necessary venom to it. Anyway, if it had escaped Algieri, Roach was trying to make it clear that the over-exposed Algieri weapon, which the famous trainer had seen close-up raw, could pose no danger to Pacquiao s health. For this weapon to be effective, they must convert it into solid weapons of assault, not merely foils meant to annoy. For Pacquiao though, the certified Filipino firefighter can t afford to just wade in carelessly, a lesson Ruslan Provodnikov learned the hard way in losing his junior welterweight crown to Algieri. In fact, records bear it out that Pacquiao had been knocked out cold twice in his career-by Arnulfo Torrecampo in 1995 and Juan Manuel Marquez in after digging in with his chin uncovered. PDI