VIETNAM – Kickboxing lived up to its name as the Philippines’ potential kick off bid to retain the overall title when eight athletes assured themselves of medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday at the Bac Ninh provincial gymnasium. Zephania Ngaya drew a bye for a guaranteed silver medal in women’s 65 kgs class of full contact. She will face the winner between Huyinh Thi Aikvee of host Vietnam and Jessie Yothawan of Thailand in the final set on Friday. Four more Filipina kickboxers also assured themselves of bronze after similarly drawing byes. But Renalyn Dacquel could advance

HANOI – World billiards champion Carlo Biado and an assembly of potential gold medalists from various sports will arrive on Wednesday here and could join the parade of nations in the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games. Cue masters and perennial SEA Games gold contenders Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit are likewise checking in as well as Filipino billiards icon Efren “Bata’’ Reyes prior to the opening rites on Thursday. Joining them are potential medalists from athletics, bowling, cycling MTB, esports, and jiujitsu led by world-renowned grapplers Margarita “Meggie’’ Ochoa and Annie Ramirez. The Philippine Sports Commission was

MANILA – Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday congratulated former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is leading the May 9 presidential race by a wide margin. “Ngayon naman po mga kababayan, nakikinita na po natin at malapit na rin po yan maging opisyal na meron na pong pinili ang taumbayan. Sa kasalukuyan po, nais kong batiin si dating senador Ferdinand Marcos (Jr.) sa kanyang patuloy na pangunguna (Now my countrymen, we have seen this and this will be official soon, that the people have already made their choice. At present, I wish to congratulate former senator