CHEVRON Philippines Inc. has donated $80,000 to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for the national athletes’ campaign in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chevron’s support to Team Philippines was formalized Wednesday in ceremonies attended by Chevron country chairman Randy Johnson and POC officials, led by its president Jose Cojuangco Jr.

The sponsorship, a first for Chevron, will assist Team Philippines’ preparations and provide Filipino athletes with extra fuel as they strive for Olympic glory in athletics, swimming, diving, rowing, boxing, taekwondo and archery.

Thirteen Filipinos have so far qualified for the Beijing Games, which start on August 8. Boxer Harry  Tañamor; swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo and Christel Simms; divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga; taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero; archer Mark Javier; and shooter Eric Ang have made the Olympic grade. Two athletes in track and field will also go to Beijing as compulsory representatives.

In addition, Chevron will be hosting a variety of activities that will allow citizens and Olympic fans to demonstrate their support and contribute to the national Olympic spirit. On top of the fund donation of $80,000, Chevron is also providing P10,000 worth of Caltex Star Cash cards to each athlete and coach bound for Beijing. The card can be used to make cashless purchases of any Caltex product, as well as any item sold at Star Mart outlets nationwide.

“We are delighted to be part of this effort to send the national team to the Olympics this year. Through our countrywide network of Caltex service stations, we connect with people from all walks of life and we know how proud and passionate they are when it comes to sports.  This sponsorship of the POC is a sign of our commitment to our customers,” said Johnson.

The POC has also received $10,000 from the International Olympic Committee, which Cojuangco said will be the initial funding for the Philippine Youth Olympic Games slated in December.

The Philippine Youth Games will be staged in preparation for the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

In a related development, the Philippine rowing team leaves Saturday for Shanghai to shoot for Beijing berths in the Asia Olympic Qualifying Regatta slated from April 25 to 27.

Benjie Ramos, Amateur Rowing Association of the Philippines president, said Jose Rodriguez, Alvin Amposta, Nilo Cordova and Miolle Gabiligno will be vying against the continent’s best in the competition.

Harbour Centre survives San Mig Coffee scare

HARBOUR CENTRE got a big scare before pulling off an 86-71 win over San Mig Coffee to formally clinch the first semifinal seat of the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday night at The Arena in San Juan.

RP-Malaysia in youth opener

THE Philippine young men’s team begins its campaign in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Championship for Junior Men against host Malaysia at the start of the tournament on May 1.

BARANGAY Ginebra tries to get out of the rut, but it won’t be that easy as it is scheduled to battle the vastly improved Coca-Cola Tigers on Friday night in the ongoing Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference.

Niño Canaleta has no intention to defend his title in the 2008 Smart-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Stars slam-dunk contest.

CHEVRON Philippines Inc. has donated $80,000 to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for the national athletes’ campaign in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

WORLD super-bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon insisted on his willingness to defend his crown against world bantamweight ruler Gerry Peñalosa here in the Philippines.

THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom), the big backer of the Triple Crown Championship Series, has already released the final notice regarding the holding of the first leg of the annual series for the best three-year-olds in the land.