The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
THE inspiring performance of the Philippine women’s football team in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand turned out to be the biggest story in local sports for the month of July.
Led by a bunch of Fil-foreign players eager to make the country proud in the football world, the Filipinas did not disappoint.
California-born Sarina Boldenhe shone brightest as the 46th-ranked Filipinas pulled off a shock 1-0 victory over No. 26 and tournament co-host New Zealand.
The breakthrough goal by Bolden came in the 24th minute off a header that Kiwi goalie Victoria Esson was unable to deflect before thousands of fans at the Eden Park in Auckland.
These world-class performances by the Fiipinas were clearly on the minds of the men and women of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) when they selected the list of achievers for the month of July.
Italy-based EJ Obiena, who did 5.82 meters during the Diamond League- Bauhaus Galan in Sweden on July 3 was a close second in the PSA list of achievers
But Obiena was not done yet.
The 27-year-old Obiena would bring his act to Thailand for the Asian championships, a meet he dominated by posting a new continental mark of 5.91 meters.
He would stamp his class anew a week later, placing second in the Monaco leg of the Diamond League in Monte Carlo.
He tallied 5.82 meters again behind only the 5,92 of gold medal winner Christopher Nilsen of the United States, who won the gold with a 5.92.
Interestingly, world champion and record-holder Armand Duplantis finished only fourth overall.
In other parts of the world, Filipino athletes also did well.
The Filipino duo of Johann Chua and James Aranas defeated Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen of Germany, 11-7, to win the World Cup of Pool 9-Ball Championship.
The victory was a record fourth time for the country to rule one of the prestigious events in billiards.
Elsewhere, the Philippines won two golds in the 21st Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships courtesy of Art Barrientos in the boys’ masters and the boys’ team of four composed of Barrientos, Zach
Sales Ramin, Stephen Luke Diwa, and Marc Dylan Custodio in Bangkok, Thailand,
The Filipinos ended up as the overall champion in the boys division.
Team Manila also regained the Pony International World Series crown by completing an eight-game sweep of the 18-Under girls’ tournament at the McAllen Softball Complex in Texas.