SEVENTEEN gold medals are up for grabs as competition starts full throttle in the opening day of the 2008 Milo National Open track and field championships Thursday at the Rizal Coliseum track oval.

Events in women’s discus throw, long jump, pole vault, high jump and the 3,000 meters—all finals—kick off the morning events of the three-day tournament that has attracted 600 athletes from here and abroad.

Also at stake before the 9:30 opening ceremonies are the finals of the men’s 110-m hurdles and the 5,000-m as well as the boys’ and girls’ medal events in the 5,000-m, 3,000-m, pole vault and 110-m hurdles.

Senate President Manny Villar Jr. has confirmed his attendance as guest speaker in the ceremonies where Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr., Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, sports patrons Terry Capistrano of the TMS Shipping, Sapian; Roxas City Mayor Arturo Orosco of the Saint Francis of Assisi and officials of sponsoring Milo and Senco Sales Inc. are expected to grace.

The foreign teams will be coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Hong Kong and Korea.

The nationals are one of the last qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics.

Also set to provide thrilling performances are the veterans from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and TMS Shipping, as well as young talents from La Salle, College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern U, University of the East, University of the Philippines and Polytechnic University of the Philippines and athletes from Tangub City, Dagupan City, La Union, Pampanga, Bulacan, University of Baguio and other teams outside of the National Capital Region.

Capistrano, himself a former collegiate sprint champion, formed his own “TMS Army,” whose members include long distance specialist Mercedita Manipol, hurdlers Grace Melgar and Sarah de la Virgo, sprinter Sharon Gesmundo, the 4x4 team of Jimar Aying, Jun Rey Ano, Rodrigo Tanuan and Benigno Marayad, jumpers Esmeraldo Pacheco and Teodoro Nonato and sprinters Arnold Villarue and Albert Salcedo.

Events finals in the afternoon are men’s and boys’ hammer throw and 110mr; women’s and girls’ discus throw, long jump, and 10,000 meter run.

A Euro 2008 Preview: Crowning the king of the Alps

Who are the odds-on favorites to win Euro 2008?

There’s the reigning World Cup champion Italy and the three other semifinalists Germany, Portugal and France. And all four teams find themselves in form and re-loaded for football’s second most prestigious competition.

One win away

SAN ANTONIO—The events of Tuesday night weren’t as indelible as the renowned “0.4” shot, but Derek Fisher was in the thick of another improbable victory against San Antonio.

MORE than three out of four people think Manny Pacquiao will win by knockout over David Diaz.

In a poll conducted on the boxer’s web site mannypacquiao.ph, nearly half of the respondents—46.5 percent, to be exact—said they believe Pacquiao will floor Diaz in the late rounds. Some 30 percent said Pacquiao will do it in the early stages.

SENATORS agreed to craft remedial legislation that would clarify the powers of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) amid complaints against the GAB’s “undue interference” in the functions of duly recognized National Sports Associations (NSAs), such as the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

PHILIPPINE Christian University (PCU) will participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) this coming season after all.

SEVENTEEN gold medals are up for grabs as competition starts full throttle in the opening day of the 2008 Milo National Open track and field championships Thursday at the Rizal Coliseum track oval.

And then there were four.

From a survival cast consisting of the Lakers, the Nuggets, the Jazz, the Rockets, the Spurs, the Suns, the Hornets and the Mavs in the West; and the Celtics, the Hawks, the Cavaliers, the Wizards, the Magic, the Raptors, the Pistons and the Sixers in the East, the semifinal showdown has been limited to four: the Lakers and the Spurs in the West, the Celtics and the Pistons in the East.

BATANGAS CITY—Harbour Center cemented its status as today’s most successful franchise in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).