Philippines, 07 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


No real heartbreak; only deep disappointment


PhilBoxing.com


THE chubby basketball fanatic, too young for a legit heartache, could only blurt out his disappointment.

?Sabog, palpak (scattered, crushed), Captain Coby cried upon rising from his seat with over two minutes left in the Philippines-Korea Asian Games quarterfinal basketball match in Jakarta on Monday, a holiday.

The boy had refused to follow the running scores. He clearly felt betrayed.

A regular in the Alaska summer basketball camp at the Aquinas School San Juan, Coby had hoped for a glowing finish--never a droop-- after the Philippine team sent hopes rising with its brilliant fir s two games in the 18th Asiad.

**

Accounts from the game site said it was a close match, with Korea coming from behind, catching up, and breaking loose midway in the closing quarter.

That was what the running scores would show. But a closer look, a complete game assessment, would tell a different story. It was never a close contest. There has always been great disparity on both ends of the court.

There had actually loomed a close and thrilling finish.

Korea, after a calculating start, fell behind early, yielded the half by two points. There were also thrilling exchanges, the Philippines, giving it all, while drawing points from unlikely sources.

**

Unfortunately, the hardcourt instantly turn turbulent for the Philippines, after Korea started to frolic,repeatedly grabbing offensive rebounds unopposed, while streaking with unreachable three-point baskets.

Looking back, it?s easy to believe coach Hur Jae of Korea had decided to treat the Philippine game like a chess match. He opted for a calculating, start, pacing and patiently reading patterns, before subjecting the opponents to an unerring checkmate.

As a result, the Philippine team finished confused, tired and scattered.

**

Coach Yeng Guiao did not tarry and owned up to the fault. He claimed he had never expected a choking zone defense from the Koreans.

It?s of course doubtful if they could?ve achieved a different result, even if the team scouts had done their job.

After a few minutes of fame, Guiao was back on the plain, a humbled medal hopeful now left praying for a fifth place finish.
No realheartbreak, there. He lost to a greater coach, his team bowing to a vastly superior and superbly motivated outfit.

**

Anyway, one fellow truly disappointed should be NBA man Jordan Clarkson.

Pressed hard on the wings, he missed all his four shots at the start. He was only 10 of 25 from the field, but nevertheless top-scored for the Philippines.

Clarkson, upon arrival in Jakarta last week, said he was in the Asiad to win a medal.

He did not look anything special on Monday.

At least, he has also learned how unevenly basketball affairs are run in the Philippines.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.