7th Asian Youth Girls’ 16-under Volleyball Championship

The Philippines will host the forthcoming 7th Asian Youth Girls' 16-under Volleyball Championship on October 11 to 18 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

A total of 12 countries have already confirmed their participation in this week-long event under the auspices of the Philippine Volleyball Federation and the FIVB (Federation Internationale De Volleyball).

The 12 countries are last year's defending champion, Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Singapore, Iran and the Philippines.

The top three finishers in the 7th Asian Youth Girls' (16-under) Volleyball Championship will represent Asia in the 2009 World Youth Girls' (18-under) Volleyball Championship in Mexico.

Supported by Shakey's, the RP team is composed mostly of Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League (GVL) standouts like Alyssa Valdez of University of Santo Tomas, Patty Orendein of La Carlota Bacolod and Janine Marciano of Assumption College.

PVF president Pedro Mendoza appointed Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., as chairman of the executive committee, Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan as the honorary chairman and Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan as chairman of VIP reception committee.

Pichay, who is the newest Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chief, is also the president of the BAP-SBP and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

For inquiries, call the Philippine Volleyball Federation secretariat office at Tel. No. (02) 526-8438 for complete details.

PBA Sta Lucia Realty Can Be the Champion

"Why fix something that's not broken?"

This is the basically what Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez is harping on at the moment after keeping his Realtors intact for their defense of the PBA Philippine Cup starting Oct. 4 at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I think, on paper, we are still in the top four," said Fernandez, who sounded woozy over the phone because of jetlag from a long flight from the United States where the Realtors went through a conditioning and team bonding tour.

He said that he did not ask management to look at the free agent market in the off-season because he feels that he still has a complete team that was made better by the US trip.

"All the players are looking forward to defend (the Philippine Cup)," Fernandez said. By hook or by crook, as they say.

"It (repeating as champion) would be hard to do, but if you don't aspire for it, it's going to be impossible to do."

Fernandez puts Talk 'N Text on top of the list of the teams to beat, with San Miguel, after acquiring Mick Pennisi from Red Bull and Jay Washington from the Phone Pals, coming in a close second.

Surprisingly, the young Sta. Lucia coach sees Rain or Shine as a serious threat starting this year after the arrival of Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado from the rookie pool.

Purefoods, which the Realtors defeated for the crown last season, is also one of the teams to beat, having gone bigger with the acquisition of Paolo Bugia and rookie Beau Belga. The Tender Juicy Giants also added some smarts on the backcourt by tabbing Topex Robinson from Red Bull.

Fernandez said his team is about 70 percent in sharpness going into the last two weeks before the season opens and that he would be working to get his Sta. Lucia crew to 80 percent ready before opening day. (PDI)

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton?

Looks like Manny Pacquiao has figured out how his March towards becoming a full-time promoter will run: Oscar De La Hoya first, Ricky Hatton next and then, if he's up to it, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao, arguably the world's best fighter across weight classes , rattled off his choice of opponents in what is seen as a retirement parade, one that will kick off with the Dec. 6 bout against De La Hoya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In an interview with boxingherald.com during lulls in his training at Wild Card Gym n Hollywood, Pacquiao said he might take on British junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton next and then lure Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of retirement.

"That (a fight with Hatton) is a possibility," Pacquiao said. "If I win this fight (against De La Hoya), maybe Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement looking for a big fight."

Hatton, who is preparing for his Nov. 22 fight against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden in New York, told doghouseboxing.com that he is setting his sights on fighting whoever wins between De La Hoya and Pacquiao .

Hatton earlier told the Manchester Evening News that if Pacquiao pulls an upset, he is willing to face the Filipino superstar at light welterweight (140lbs), But if the American legend takes it, he will fight De La Hoya at welterweighter.

After the three matches, Pacquiao , who will turn 30 on Dec. 17, said he will move on to promoting boxing, just like the 35-year-old De la Hoya, who owns Golden Boy Promotions.

"It's my plan that after my boxing career, I want to be a promoter," Pacquiao told boxingherald.com. "I have a promotion coming up on Sept. 26 in San Diego."

Pacquiao's pronouncement practically slammed the door on the completion of a Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy, though the WBC lightweight champ earlier said he is willing to give Juan Manuel Marquez a crack as long as he is the promoter of the fight.

Meanwhile, a ringsidereport.com feature article said Pacquiao's only chance of winning against De La Hoya is scoring a decision and that not even his vaunted power punching "can hurt De La Hoya."

"The 'Pacman' must use his head movement to make De La Hoya miss with the jab, and then he can step inside.  When he gets inside, he cannot settle for one or two punches.  He has got to throw five, six, and seven punch combinations before he backs away," said the article.

"Pacquiao has got to throw a lot of punches when he has the chance to do so .  He has no choice but to outwork De La Hoya in this fight.  It is not likely that he will be able to score a knockout."

The article added that "trying to impress the judges will not be good enough, he (Pacquiao) has to leave them with no choice."