Category: Sports

Sprite Launches new inspirational video featuring LeBron’s Hometown

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Sprite is launching a new inspirational video that captures LeBron’s return to his hometown of Akron from a whole new perspective. Directed by Jacob Rosenberg of the Bandito Brothers, the video “The First Home Game,” features James’ on-the-court highlight footage as local fans share their anticipation for his first home court appearance of the season. “I Bet My Life,” the new single from Grammy Award-winning rock band Imagine Dragons, serves as the background track.

“We’ve been with LeBron since the beginning and we’re looking forward to the next chapter in his illustrious career,” said Kimberly Paige, Associate Vice President, Sprite Brands, Coca-Cola North America. “LeBron’s decision to come home embodies the Sprite brand’s Obey Your Thirst® mantra, and we’re proud to help tell the story of his return to Northeast Ohio.”

The video was filmed on Sept. 25 during an event at Akron’s Patterson Park to unveil two outdoor basketball courts refurbished by Sprite. The refurbished courts, which provide Akron community members a newly refreshed place to play, feature original designs by legendary street artist Futura. Sprite worked with New York creative agency Translation to create the video.

Beginning today, the 90-second video will be shared across Sprite and LeBron James social media channels, as well as supported through paid digital media. On Thursday, Oct. 30, Sprite’s new 30-second advertisement will make its television debut during TNT’s broadcast of LeBron’s first game of the season. The 90-second video is now available on the Sprite brand’s YouTube channel. Fans can follow the social conversation and join Sprite in highlighting LeBron’s homecoming using the hashtags #firsthomegame and #obeyyourthirst.

In celebration of his homecoming, Sprite created a commemorative 12-ounce can featuring James’ likeness. Available in 6-packs, the limited-edition cans are now at participating convenience and retail stores throughout Ohio while supplies last.

Cebu Leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

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Coach Rio Dela Cruz (center) awards the Cebu Leg 21K victors Noel Tillor (left) and Roselyn Balongcas (right) during the 38th National MILO Marathon in Cebu

First-time winners Noel Tillor and Roselyn Balongcas aced the 21K events at the thirteenth qualifying race of the National MILO Marathon held in Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City, on Sunday. A record-shattering 26,736 runners joined the nation’s biggest and most prestigious race in the Queen City of the South, making it the largest regional race of the season so far. Along with Tillor and Balongcas, 86 runners secured their qualifying slots for the National Finals slated on December 7 in the Mall of Asia grounds, Manila.

Tillor and Balongcas each received a prize of P10,000 in cash, a trophy. Both have booked their slots to the National Finals on December 7, for a chance to compete for the MILO Marathon King and Queen title. As an added level of prestige to the competition, MILO will send this year’s King and Queen to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon, with trips all expenses paid.

About 27,000 Cebuanos begin their race for success in the 38th National MILO Marathon

Despite the rains that showered Cebu in the past days, the runners were blessed with good weather and Tillor definitely used it to his advantage, finishing with a time of 01:13:10. Jerry Adap followed in second place (01:15:21), and Robert Daang in third place (01:17:38).*

A 33-year-old automotive technician from Cebu, Tillor finished 7th in last year’s National MILO Marathon Manila race, and 11th in the National Finals. “This is the first time I finished first place,” shared Tillor. “I trained for almost three months, but not full time because of work. I really did not expect it because the other runners have been training full time. It’s a big achievement. I always enjoy running and feel very satisfied when I run, and I will continue running for as long my body can.”

It was Balongcas’ first time to join the National MILO Marathon and she aced the distaff side with a time of 01:40:55, comfortably finishing nine minutes ahead of second placer Christy Sevilleno (01:49:16) and third placer Sandra Soliano (01:49:54).*

(L-T) First-time champs Noel TIllor and Roselyn Balongcas bested rivals to clinch first place and qualify for the National Finals in the Cebu leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Hailing from Dumaguete, the 33-year-old single mother travelled with her teenage son for four hours by land to Cebu to join the race. Though unemployed, she has her own business of making her own ham and sausages, and finds time to run as a form of exercise and self-fulfilment. “I’m very happy that I won and I’m very proud to represent my hometown of Dumaguete,” expressed Balongcas. “I’m also proud of my son who joined the 3K race. I will use the prize money for his schooling.”

The Cebuano community came together and celebrated their passion for running in a true festive fashion. Cebu City councillors, including Margarita Osmeña, James Cuenco, and Sisinio Andales, also ran the 3K race, along with several candidates of the Ms. Cebu beauty pageant.

Running enthusiast Noel Tillor approaches the finish line in the 38th National MILO Marathon in Cebu

One of Cebu’s most promising triathletes Yuan Chiongbian, who recently won second place in the Ironkids triathlon, also ran with his brother Justin, a national junior triathlete. “We love joining the National MILO Marathon because it helps us with our training for the triathlons and other sports competition that we join. It’s a really well-organized race,” said Chiongbian. “It’s like a big family gathering, lots of people always join and there’s always so much joy in the MILO marathons.”

MILO Sports Marketing Manager Andrew Neri expressed his delight in the success of this year’s Cebu race. “We are overwhelmed with the amount of runners who joined the race that surpassed last year’s record headcount. It proves that each year, the competition is always improving and enticing athletes, young and old alike, to join in the fun and camaraderie,” said Neri. “We would like to thank our local organizer Ricky Ballesteros and his team for all the hard work in the preparations, and for ensuring that our runners will get the experience possible. We would also like to commend the invaluable support from all the Cebuanos. We are truly grateful.”

Dumaguete native Roselyn Balongcas roars a cry of success during the 38th  National MILO Marathon in Cebu

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The remaining qualifying races will be held in Butuan (October 19), Cagayan De Oro (November 9), General Santos (November 16), and Davao (November 23). The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

All smiles: Promising junior triathletes Yuan and Justin Chiongbian at the finish line

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

For more information on MILO Philippines, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph). Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).

Comendador, Sorongon top 38th National MILO Marathon Tagbilaran race

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About 4,000 determined Boholanos break through the starting line at the 38th National MILO Marathon in Tagbilaran City

Up-and-coming runners Emmanuel Comendador and Ruffa Sorongon outpaced their fiercest rivals and clinched the top spots in the 21K events at the twelfth qualifying race of the National MILO Marathon held in Tagbilaran, Bohol on Sunday. About 4,000 runners joined the nation’s biggest and most prestigious race, and 30 runners secured their qualifying slots for the National Finals slated on December 7 in the Mall of Asia grounds, Manila.

Comendador and Sorongon each received a prize of P10,000 in cash, a trophy, as well as a coveted slot to the National Finals on December 7, for a chance to compete for the MILO Marathon King and Queen title. MILO will send this year’s King and Queen to Japan on an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.

Expertly navigating the route and using the good weather to his advantage, Comendador finished first place ahead of his rivals, posting a time of 01:16:00. Elmer Bartolo (01:17:00) and Azlan Pagay (01:17:00) followed in at second and third place, respectively.*

Triathlete Emmanuel Commendador finishes his race with a cry of victory at the Tagbilaran leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

It was only Comendador’s second time to join the 21K event, but the 25-year-old Tagbilaran native, a Marine Engineering student of the Philippine Marine Institute, showed his capabilities and tasted sweet victory. “I wasn’t really ready because of a series of unfortunate events. Last Friday, as I was on my way to school, my motorbike got hit and I was ill with fever,” shared Comendador. “I wasn’t really planning to join the marathon but my coach Jojo Posadas encouraged me to do so. I’m grateful that he pushed me to join and I will ask him to help me prepare for the National Finals.”

In the distaff side, Ruffa Sorsogon dominated the event, finishing ahead of her rivals by an impressive 16 minutes. Sorsogon posted a time of 01:33:48, well ahead of second placer Jennifer Sabella (01:49:08) and third placer Rhodora Oporto (01:50:06).*

The 23-year-old, hailing from South Cotabato, has been running in the MILO marathon for three years, and has qualified in last year’s National Finals. “My older brother, Kuya Sherwin, is the one who trains me. He also qualified in the National Finals before. We trained for six weeks, with 1K runs for six days and continuously adding up distance until we were able to do 150K each week,” said Sorongon. “Kuya Sherwin said I need to train more for long distance running so I can build up my determination and endurance. Vitamins, rest, proper food are going to be vital in my preparations. And of course, continue praying for God’s guidance.”

 (L-R) 21K race Tagbilaran leg winners Emmanuel Comendador and Ruffa Sorongon will compete against fellow elite runners for a chance to be crowned as the MILO Marathon King and Queen at the National Finals of the 38th National MILO Marathon

MILO Sports Marketing Manager Andrew Neri expressed his delight in the scenes that unfolded in the Tagbilaran leg of the National MILO Marathon. “We are very pleased to see the Boholano community come together in the MILO marathon, ready to race with big smiles and full hearts,” said Neri. “Even though Bohol still has a long way to go in their recovery from the 2013 earthquake, the resilience and courage exhibited by the Boholenos is truly admirable. We are happy to see the Boholano spirit on display at the race, and we at MILO salute them with great respect. They are the perfect example that Filipinos can rise up against any adversity that we are faced with.”

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

Ruffa Sorongon takes her winning stride as the 21K race female category winner of the 38th National MILO Marathon in Tagbilaran City

The qualifying race will head to Cebu on October 12 before picking up in Butuan (October 19), Cagayan De Oro (November 9), General Santos (November 16), and Davao (November 23). The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“Instinct Takes Over” as Zinedine Zidane enters the Predator Arena

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To celebrate the recent launch of the adidas Predator Instinct boot, football legend Zinedine Zidane has appeared in a video which shows the exact moment when “Instinct Takes Over” for one of the greatest players of all time.

The design patterns of the Predator Instinct range are inspired by the predatory animals that use their instinct to hunt. The new boot enables players to unlock their predatory potential, and the visual representation of this can be seen on film as Zidane’s face and body morph to expose a side of the player that has never been seen before.

The film was captured recently as Zidane hosted a football tournament in his native France. The tournament, staged in the historical Arles Roman Amphitheatre located in the south of the country, required players to show their true Predator skills and use their anticipation, touch and vision to control the game. On the amphitheatre’s sandy surface, the best teams from around the country competed against each other – with Zizou also joining in with the matches themselves. The tournament marked the first time football has ever been played in the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The latest incarnation of the iconic Predator football boot has been timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of its original release. The Predator, made famous by players including David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, has been re-imagined in a design that celebrates the heritage of the boot alongside the animalistic instincts of the players that wear it. The ‘Predator Instinct’ boot launches the range with a return to the classic red, white and black colourway.

The new technological features of Predator Instinct mean the boot remains all about control. The biggest innovation comes in the form of a revolutionary control frame, which extends around the boot and down onto the forefoot, ensuring ultimate levels of grip, touch and control of the ball – ideal for quick dribbling and change of direction. Precision engineered materials including a new gel pad and hybridtouch material provide optimum control and comfort, while the new TPU outsole ensures greater flexibility of movement.

In its 20th anniversary year and to celebrate the previous 14 generations of Predator, adidas is releasing 14 new versions of the Predator Instinct during 2014. This includes Revenge Instinct, a heritage set of three Predators based on the original designs of the 1994 Predator, the 1998 Accelerator and the 2002 Mania.

Some of the biggest global footballing stars, including Mesut Özil, Oscar and Ángel Di María wear Predator Instinct. The boots are available to purchase now at adidas own-retail outlets as well as specialist stores worldwide. For further information please visit adidas.com/football or go to facebook.com/adidasfootball or @adidasfootball on twitter #PredatorInstinct to join the conversation.

Jaro sisters, Macaladlad shine in 38th National MILO Marathon Lipa Qualifying Race

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 About 8,000 spirited runners charged under the rain during the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Elite runners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro bagged the top purse in the 21K centrepiece events at the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon on Sunday. Each pocketed a prize of P10,000 in cash, a trophy and a coveted slot to the National Finals on December 7, for a chance to be crowned as the MILO Marathon King and Queen. MILO will send this year’s King and Queen to Japan on an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon. Over 8,000 runners joined today’s race.

Not even the rainy skies and slippery wet roads could stop the racers from running to their heart’s content. In the 21K male category, 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines Batangas Criminology student Joseph Macaladlad beat his fiercest rivals, posting a time of 01:17:14, relegating Greg Vincent Osorio (01:19:25) and Jay Laya (01:19:43) to second and third place, respectively.

21K category winners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro outsprinted competitors during the Lipa Leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Macaladlad, originally from Mindoro but residing in Batangas, has been running for six years and has been joining the MILO Marathon for three years now. He makes the most out of his passion for running by joining races to help him with his schooling. “I really love running. I’m grateful that I am able to use my winnings for my college tuition and expenses,” said Macaladlad. “I’m very happy that I won. Even if it was very rainy, which proved to be a big challenge, the cool weather was nice and I had a lot of fun in the race.”

On the distaff side, 22-year-old Brokenshire College of Davao alumna Criselyn Jaro came out on top with a time of 01:29:16, followed by fellow contenders Mirasol Abad (01:33:47) in second place and Cellie Rose Jaro (01:34:36) in third place.

Davao native Criselyn Jaro ran ahead against contenders to be the 21K female race winner of the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

The Jaro sisters are no strangers to the running scene. Running definitely runs in their family, with their names consistently appearing at the top of running results in the different race categories of the MILO Marathon, amongst various races. “My sisters and I are all runners. We grew up into a poor family, and we had to go to school which was about 11 kilometers away from our house. We would run to school to avoid being late, and that was the start of our foray into running,” shared Jaro. “Our family is our inspiration, and our eldest sister Cynthia is our biggest influence. She was the one who first started running competitively, and we all followed in her footsteps. Through running, we are able to help our family enjoy a better life.”

Each year, thousands of families join the National MILO Marathon and conquer the races together. ”We at MILO are delighted to see children, whether kids or adults, run with their parents and their siblings at the MILO Marathon. It is heartwarming to see families become really engaged in running, such as the Jaro sisters,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “The National MILO Marathon is a communal gathering where numerous Filipino families channel their athletic spirits and enjoy family bonding through running together. We encourage more families to join our national family affair that is truly fun for all ages.”

10K top finisher Jomad Angus crosses the finish line in the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The qualifying race will pick up in Iloilo on September 21, then proceed to Bacolod (September 28), Tagbilaran (October 5), Cebu (October 12), Butuan (October 19), Cagayan De Oro (November 9), General Santos (November 16), and Davao (November 23). The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.