Gina Iniong Targets Championship Date with Angela Lee

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Previously, considering the possibility of Gina “Conviction” Iniong squaring off with ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angel “Unstoppable” Lee inside the ONE Championship cage seemed to be a far-fetched dream.

However, tides have overturned after Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization acquired Iniong from the free agent market earlier this year.

Iniong, who has been on the promotion’s radar for several years, inked an exclusive multi-bout contract with ONE Championship, which bolstered its burgeoning roster of world-class female MMA athletes.

The 27-year-old Baguio City native is a member of the renowned Team Lakay and has a professional MMA record of 4-2. Three of her four career victories have come by thrilling finish, which includes two impressive submissions.

Team Lakay’s 5-foot-2 atomweight standout also owns notable victories over the likes of French fighter Nathalie Heidel and Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi.

In her last bout under a regional MMA promotion in January 2016, Iniong astonishingly submitted Spanish combatant Vanessa Rico Fernandez with a heel lock in the first round.

Iniong will make her much-awaited promotional debut at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY in Manila, Philippines on 21 April as she is booked to face with Filipino-English stalwart Natalie Gonzales Hills in a three-round atomweight contest.

Although she is scheduled to compete against a talented combatant like Hills at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, Iniong admitted that one of the aspirations that she has in mind is to contend with Lee for the gold-plated strap

“It has been considered for more than two years as a dream match-up. Now, it’s possible to happen because I am now part of the ONE Championship roster,” she said. “Of course, I want to face Angela Lee for the belt. It’s one of my main goals in this organization.”

Iniong knows that if she plays her cards right against Hills, a date with Lee may well be on the horizon for her.

“This fight might be the door to a world title fight. You will never know if your next fight will be a title fight. I will just give my 100 percent for this bout,” she stated.

But according to Iniong, her focus remains on Hills because if she wants to secure a match with Lee, she must address the task in front of her.

“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. Nathalie Gonzales Hills is my main priority right now. I must win this first before anything else,” she stressed.

Now competing on a bigger international MMA stage like ONE Championship, Iniong seeks to leave a lasting impression in her debut.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me by ONE Championship. With my promotional debut being held in the Philippines, I will be able to show fans who I am as a fighter. Filipino fans are very passionate about MMA. I promise to give them a night to remember,” she ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Game On for Basketballers in Southeast Asia

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Sign up for Under Armour 3x3 Southeast Asia 2017 Tournament, and stand a chance to join the national contingent to compete in the FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup presented by Under Armour

High performance sportswear label, Under Armour announces its partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to empower the next generation of basketballers through the FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup presented by Under Armour.

Organised by Under Armour in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, the tournament is open to all U-18 male and female basketballers. Registration locations are avaialbe online at www.ua3x3.com and can be made at all Under Armour Brand Houses and partner stores from now until 9 April 2017.

3x3 basketball, or streetball is the largest urban team sport of the world. With 12-second shot clock, and 10-minute or first team to 21-point format, the games are usually fast, accessible, and entertaining for the players and audience alike. The format made its global competitive debut at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and the World Championships have been regularly organised by FIBA since then.

Back-to-Back Victory for Team Suzuki Pilipinas as SAC 2017 Season Begins

Wazzup PIlipinas!

It is a back to back victory for Team Suzuki Pilipinas as the Suzuki Asian Challenge (SAC) 2017 season begins at Johor International Circuit in Malaysia. Both Race 1 and 2 saw Team Suzuki Pilipinas riders Mario Borbon Jr. and April King Mascardo grabbing the top place making history once more by having the Philippine national anthem played for the first time at the said racetrack as well as achieving a grand slam win for the country at SAC Round 1.

April King Mascardo, Eane Jay Sobretodo and Mario Borbon Jr. returned at the SAC tracks to show how much they have improved over the years. A Suzuki developmental program, SAC is a one make race competition among nations aiming to hone young riders to be MotoGP racers. The 2017 SAC season sees 16 riders from 9 countries – Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Showing optimism from the very beginning, Team Suzuki Pilipinas already gave promising performances by clinching the pole position at the qualifying race. Mindanao rider April King Mascardo got the pole with the fastest lap time of 1'57.66 breaking last year’s record by less than 2s. Following him on third spot was Luzon rider Eane Jay Sobretodo. Later on Race 1, Visayas rider Mario Borbon, Jr. managed to stay on the lead on the last laps despite the slippery and wet track condition, hence grabbing the 1st top podium win of the season.

During Race 2, Mascardo and Sobretodo were alternately leading on the first laps of the race. However, Sobretodo collided with the other riders during the middle part giving chance to leading Mascardo to isolate himself and continuously led the race. Mascardo’s win gave Team Suzuki PIlipinas their first back-to-back victory at the SAC history!