Willy Wang led a Philippine team that performed above expectations with two gold medals in the recent seventh Asian Wushu Championship in Macau.

The Filipino wushu artists, who underwent a five-month training financed by San Miguel Corp. through the First Gentleman Foundation, also grabbed two silver and five bronze medals to place fourth in the 23-nation event.

The Philippines actually had as many gold medals as Vietnam, but the Vietnamese collected more silver (four) and bronze (six) medals to rule the tournament.

Wang, the 2007 world champion, clinched the gold medal in the nandao (Southern single-ended sword) to make up for his bronze medal in his favorite event, the nanquan (Southern fist).

The 2007 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) gold medalist scored a 9.65, beating Pham Quoc Khanh of Vietnam (9.64) and He Jing De of Hong Kong (9.63).

Mark Eddiva, a Baguio City native, took home the country’s second gold by beating Macau’s Cai Junlong, 2-1, in the 65-kg combat event.

Four Filipino wushu pugilists reached the final but lost to their opponents.

Mariane Mariano, a 2007 SEAG gold medalist and a 2007 World Wushu Championship bronze winner, bowed to Chia Wang in the 60-kg final.

Jason Domingo lost to He Guangrong via absolute victory in the 48-kg division, but still earned his first medal—a silver—in international competition after appearing in the final against an opponent from Kazakhstan.

Baguio City’s Benjie Rivera, 2007 SEAG silver medalist and 2007 World Championship bronze medal winner, yielded the gold in 56 kg to Zhang Shuaike. En route to the finals, Rivera humbled Salah Albadwi of Yemen and Jalai Saki of Iran.

Completing the sanshou lineup was Mary Jane Estimar, silver medalist in both the 2007 SEAG and World Championship. She could only snatch a bronze this time.

The wushu team will return to China to train for their stint in the 2008 Beijing Olympics from August 21 to 24.

Piston-Celtics collision was course charted even before season’s tip-off

The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons meeting in the Eastern Conference finals seemed inevitable the moment Kevin Garnett heeded the advice of Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups and left Minnesota to join All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston.

Defense watchword for Lakers against defending champions

The Lakers were enjoying their dinner at a South Bay restaurant, each receiving a $9,800 watch as a gift from Kobe Bryant, when it reality hit.

THE Talk ’N Text Phone Pals have the solo leadership in mind as they go up against struggling but still dangerous Purefoods TJ Giants in the main game of the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Louie Alas has succeeded in basketball long enough it’s hard to believe he hasn’t won a championship in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Willy Wang led a Philippine team that performed above expectations with two gold medals in the recent seventh Asian Wushu Championship in Macau.

SWIMMING, the sport that did the country proud in last year’s 24th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), and which has qualified the most number of Filipino athletes to the Beijing Olympic Games in August, is in troubled waters.

Tagaytay City—The first of two Philippine editions of the Mercedes-Benz Tour formally opens on Wednesday with the top 30 Asean golfers and 90 amateurs vying for top honors in the pro-am side event slated at the rolling course of the Tagaytay Midlands Golf and Country Club course.

GOLFERS, whether professional or amateur, do not rely only on skills or expertise alone, but on their caddies’ knowledge to navigate their way around the different conditions of the courses. Golf was really designed for two people, so a golfer-caddie relationship is very critical.

The pressure of winning has taken its toll on school athletes. Many schools today are fighting over talent and are usually moving heaven and earth to get the players to assure them of sporting success.