Hey there sports fans ...

 

August 11, 2023

Jordan Clarkson is now in the Philippines to join the national team's preparations for the Fiba World Cup.  (Marlo Cueto)

Hey there sports fan, One World Cup stint for the country done. Another one looms in the horizon. After all the problems Gilas Pilipinas encountered over the past months—even years—leading to the Fiba World Cup, things are starting to have a little clarity now. Well, at least, Jordan Clarkson's here now. And he's ready to spearhead the country's participation in basketball's global showcase. The Philippines is looking to score a different kind of win in the World Cup. Aftern all, it wouldn't be realistic to think that Gilas Pilipinas can go all the way to the title match. But if the team becomes the highest ranking Asian squad at the end of the tournament, the Philippines qualifies for the Paris Olympics next year. Meanwhile, in a tournament devoid of stars, let's all be thankful Luka Doncic is still raring to play in the World Cup, and he's showing glimpses of what he will put on display when Slovenia opens its bid. And as Doncic and his teammates continue preparing, the United States continues to show why it remains the team to beat in the tournament.

Fans welcome Reina Bonta to . (AFP)

Meanwhile... Still yearning for more Filipinas content? We've got a couple for you, on homecomings and "aww" moments with coach Alen  Stajcic. If you need a football fix, though, the Women's World Cup is still ongoing, which gives us time to throw this trivia question at you:  Of the quarterfinalists in the Women’s World Cup, which country is the only one with a female coach? Also, Ateneo is in Japan now, getting ready to defend its UAAP crown by defending another collegiate title in the Land of the Rising Sun. The team will get to test its new core while battling some of the best school basketball programs from different countries. What we're up to next: Watch out for our subscriber-only side feature on the Women's World Cup, which is being prepared by Mr. Jonas Terrado, our intrepid football journalist who covered history in New Zealand. We will also begin stories on the Asian Games in China, which will serve as Olympic qualifiers for some sports, like boxing. We will also begin PBA updates. All these, while we provide stories and updates on Gilas Pilipinas' preparations for the Fiba World Cup. Number of the Week: 5 Number of goals scored by Japan's Hinata Miyazawa so far in the Women's World Cup, a tournament-best.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We didn’t have long enough, really. But all the superlatives, I’ve used them all up. It was memorable, magical and unforgettable to feel and see that many Filipinos connected and engaged with the team.” —Alen Stajcic, Filipinas coach, on his stint with the national women's football team.

If you answered England to the question above, you are right. And you have a shot at going 7-for-7 on our weekly sports quiz. Go check out the rest of the questions by joining our Viber community, which also features the freshest sports updates.  Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. Have a great and safe weekend! See you next Friday. Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).