Category: Business Mirror

Key law enforcement agencies and individuals were recognized for their exceptional work in fighting illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and protecting biodiversity in the Philippines in Quezon City on July 29.

The second Wildlife Sentinel (WiSe) Awards 2026 recognized the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group for Impact and Leadership; Police Major Arnel C. Anino of the PNP Maritime Group for Innovation; Department of Environment and Natural Resources Caraga Enforcement Division for Integrity; and DENR National Capital Region Enforcement Division for Collaboration.

The awards recognized the different roles of individuals and government institutions that have helped deliver tangible results against wildlife crime in the Philippines that are fought in villages, offices, ports, courtrooms and command centers.

First held in 2024,WiSe Awards were organized by wildlife conservation nonprofit TRAFFIC International.

Quiet, unglamorous act

‘Every arrest made, every case filed, every operation carried out with integrity-these are the quiet, unglamorous acts that help ensure the survival of these precious [wildlife] beings. I am certain we can build a world that gives all creatures, especially our endangered species, a fighting chance,’ said Quezon City Mayor Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte.

‘Behind every arrest, wildlife rescue or seizure, is a quiet hero working behind the scenes. We salute the remarkable dedication and commitment of these countless wildlife defenders,’ said Director Kanitha Krishnasamy of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in a media release on July 29.

The WiSe Awards are part of TRAFFIC’s ‘Taking Charge: Strengthening Criminal Justice Response to Wildlife Crime in the Philippines’ project, which is funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

4th most lucrative business

According to the Philippine Clearing House Mechanism, the official government-led network and online platform that facilitates the sharing of data, policies, and information regarding conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, illegal wildlife trade is estimated at $10 billion to $23 billion a year, making wildlife crime is the fourth most lucrative illegal business after narcotics, human trafficking, and arms.

While the Philippines has been exerting efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, having been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 1992 and other international treaties, the country remains a consumer, source, and transit point for IWT, threatening endemic species populations, economic development, and biodiversity.

IWT in the Philippines

The value of IWT in the Philippines is estimated at P50 billion a year, including the market value of wildlife and its resources, their ecological role and value, the damage to habitats incurred during poaching, and loss in potential ecotourism revenues.

Besides its membership in the CBD, the Philippines is also a member state of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which regulates international trade in close to 35,000 species of plants and animals.

The Philippine government also passed legislations, instituted policies and programs, and created inter-agency groups to combat the trade in illegal wildlife.

IWT plays a devastating role in global biodiversity loss. In the Philippines as well as other biodiversity hotspots, overexploitation-including poaching and illicit trafficking-is considered a major driver of biodiversity loss and one of the single, major drivers of the global extinction crisis, outpacing even climate change for many vulnerable species.

Many of the country’s iconic and revered species, including the Philippine eagle, Philippine tamaraw, Philippine tarsier, and Philippine crocodiles are being pushed to the brink of extinction.

International biodiversity expert Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim said the Philippines, together with the other Asean member states, has long recognized illegal wildlife trade as one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss.

‘Unsustainable and indiscriminate collection of wildlife, at rates far exceeding the ability of natural populations to recover inevitably, leads to population decline and, if left unchecked, may ultimately result in species extinction,’ Lim, the executive director of Miriam College’s Environmental Studies Institute, told the BusinessMirror via Messenger on August 2

A former director of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), and executive director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Lim said the growing demand for exotic pets, wildlife-derived pharmaceutical materials, and other industrial products continues to fuel illegal extraction and poaching.

‘While biodiversity resources may be accessed for legitimate and sustainable purposes, this must always be governed by science-based regulations that ensure such use is nondetrimental to wild populations and that the benefits arising from these resources are shared fairly and equitably,’ she said.

Combating wildlife crimes

Wildlife law enforcement remains one of the most effective means of combating wildlife crime, Lim said.

However, for enforcement to create lasting and meaningful impact, she pointed out that it must be both collaborative and innovative.

‘Success depends not only on the dedication of enforcement officers, but also on the collective efforts of policymakers, scientists, prosecutors, the judiciary, local communities, and the public,’ Lim said.

‘At the same time, enforcement strategies must continuously evolve, as wildlife traffickers increasingly exploit digital technologies, online marketplaces, encrypted communications, and transnational criminal networks to facilitate their illegal activities,’ she added.

Evolution of IWT

Lim, who was among the judges of the second WiSe Awards and a presenter during the awarding, noted that she witnessed the evolution of IWT first hand.

‘During my tenure as director of the [DENR-BMB], I witnessed this evolution firsthand. Wildlife enforcement gradually shifted from traditional confiscation and inspection operations in physical establishments to intelligence-driven investigations targeting online wildlife trade, digital transactions, and reports generated through social media and concerned citizens,’ she said.

The transformation, she explained, demonstrated that effective wildlife enforcement is no longer confined to the field-it also requires digital vigilance, strategic intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination.

‘As former chairperson of the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network, I likewise underscored the importance of strong transboundary cooperation among Asean member states. Recognizing that the Philippines can serve as a source, transit point, and destination for illegally traded wildlife, we strengthened partnerships among enforcement agencies across Southeast Asia to disrupt trafficking routes, dismantle transnational syndicates, and discourage the region from being exploited by international wildlife smugglers,’ she pointed out.

Asean declaration on IWT

During her term as ACB executive director, Lim said the adoption of the Asean Ministerial Declaration on IWT in 2019 further reinforced the region’s collective commitment to addressing wildlife crime.

‘The Declaration enabled the ACB to strengthen its support for cross-border coordination, capacity building, and collaborative efforts to protect wildlife habitats and Asean Heritage Parks from illegal exploitation,’ she said.

Lim said it is encouraging to witness the continuing progress of wildlife law enforcement in the region.

As a judge for the WiSeAwards, she said she ‘was pleased to see enforcement initiatives that increasingly emphasize intelligence-led operations, scientific evidence, technological innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration.

‘These approaches reflect the direction that wildlife conservation must take in order to effectively address complex environmental crimes increasingly,’ she said, adding that the Miriam College-Environmental Studies Institute joins the nation in congratulating the winners of the Awards.

‘Their [awardees] achievements demonstrate that innovation, collaboration, and unwavering commitment are essential ingredients in protecting our country’s rich biodiversity and in combating wildlife crimes that threaten our natural heritage and affect sustainable economic growth,’ she added.

Silent crisis

Environmentalist Gregg Yan said on August 3 that while most of the world’s forests and coral reefs might appear well-protected, many are actually facing a silent crisis.

‘Coined by biologist Kent Redford in the 1990s, the ’empty reef or forest syndrome’ is driven by the multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade or IWT,’ noted Yan, founder and executive director of Best Alternatives, a global movement to promote sustainable and ethical alternatives to a host of illegal and destructive practices.

He said that IWT, being among the top-tier transnational crimes, ‘it trades everything from tiger bones and dried seahorses to pangolin scales and live plants plucked straight out of our rainforests.’

‘Often, criminal syndicates exploit systemic vulnerabilities-weaponizing poverty to lure marginalized communities like Indigenous [communities] into doing the high-risk poaching for them,’ Yan said.

Deterrence, economic empowerment

According to Yan, to effectively weaken IWT, it must be attacked on two fronts: punitive deterrence and economic empowerment.

‘Aggressive law enforcement should make high-profile examples of offenders. Local communities should be presented with best alternatives to poaching-such as sustainable ecotourism, upland farming or mariculture,’ he said.

‘There’s a best alternative for nearly every illegal plant or animal product trade. Illegal trade of rhinoceros horns can be replaced by water buffalo horns. Pangolin scales can be replaced by cowherb seeds. Wild-caught exotic pets like birds or herps [reptiles and amphibians] can be replaced by certified captive-bred animals with strict lineage tracking or domestic alternatives. I could go on and on about this, but rest assured that there are best alternatives to everything around us,’ Yan said.

YANI ALEXII LOPEZ won one of five gold medals to help the Philippine team to a second-place finish in the United World Wrestling (UWW) Asian and Oceania Grappling Championships recently in Danang, Vietnam.

Lopez defeated Malaysia’s Alison Mae Nicolson, 2-1, in the women’s 57 kgs final to highlight a successful campaign that saw the Philippines finish behind Kazakhstan, which had a 17-10-5 gold-silver-bronze haul and ahead of India (two silvers and three bronzes).

Charlie Ratcliff (56 kgs), Travis Ratcliff (62 kgs), Abe Del Rosario (57 kgs) and Denzel Alipio (62 kgs) also won gold medals, while Lucas Aguilar (66 kgs) and Nathaniel Nama (63 kgs) took silvers and Alo Turingan (73 kgs), Lucian Salud (76 kgs) and Joaquin Marte (66 kgs) bagged bronzes.

‘I am thrilled to bring another continental gold medal home,’ said the two-time Asian champion whose gold in the 57 kgs class was three divisions above her 44-kg normal category.

‘Jumping up three divisions was an unexpected challenge and I am blessed to take the top spot on the podium,’ said the Deftac HQ athlete.

Lopez thanked wrestling association president Alvin Aguilar as well as coaches Maybelline Masuda, Michael Sayson Tabamo, Bill Sullivan, Melchor Tumasis and Emily Buyco who steered the team in the tournament.

She beat Malaysian Liyanne Hedger, 1-0, in the semifinal round.

In fact, my wife, our two children, Noona, our pet dog, and I have been regulars since it opened. I go there almost every day after I drop my wife off at work, just to walk Noona. Then, before I pick her up from work-which is just nearby-I usually find myself back at Parqal, walking the dog again.

I have breakfast there, have coffee there, meet fellow dog walkers and other friends there, shop there regularly, buy groceries there and regularly patronize Animal Movers, where Noona occasionally spends the day. More often than not, we end up having dinner there too. It has become part of our family’s routine.

It isn’t difficult to see why Parqal has earned recognition. It was named one of the World’s Most Beautiful Emporiums for 2024 by the Prix Versailles, announced at UNESCO, and was also recognized as the Best Mixed-Use Development at the 12th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards. Those recognitions didn’t happen by accident. They reflect the quality of what Parqal has built.

Precisely because Parqal has set such a high standard, I hope management takes this article in the spirit in which it is intended.

It would be very easy to complain about a place you never visit. This is different. I genuinely enjoy Parqal and want it to succeed. Which is why I think it’s time to fix what has become, in my view, its weakest link.

Please fix the parking.

Not the parking spaces.

The parking operation.

A few days ago, I found myself behind a large pickup truck on the way to the basement exit. It was moving slowly and taking up enough space that nobody could get around it. I assumed the driver had already paid for his parking because, after all, we were already heading for the exit.

He hadn’t.

For those who haven’t parked at Parqal, the system is actually very simple. When you enter, a machine gives you a ticket with a QR code. Before returning to your vehicle, you are supposed to stop at one of the three cashier stations inside the mall, pay the P50 parking fee, and receive another ticket with a validated QR code. That second ticket is what the exit machine scans before the barrier goes up.

The pickup driver skipped that part entirely. When he reached the barrier, it became obvious he hadn’t paid. He even tried to insert money into the exit scanner, which, of course, had no slot for cash because it wasn’t a payment machine. It simply scans the validated QR code issued by the cashier after payment. Realizing his mistake, one of the men with him got out and hurried back toward the mall to pay the parking ticket.

But the pickup stayed exactly where it was, and so did everyone behind him.

What made the situation even more frustrating was that those of us in line had already paid. Once your ticket has been validated, you only have fifteen minutes to leave the parking building. Every minute we spent waiting for someone else’s mistake was eating into our own time.

I rolled down my window and asked him to move his vehicle. I even told him I would back up if I had to, just so the rest of us could get through.

Instead, three men climbed out of the pickup. Apparently, this had become a committee meeting. I honestly didn’t know what there was left to discuss. The pickup hadn’t paid. It couldn’t leave. The rest of us could. Move the pickup. Pay the ticket. Then come back.

The guard eventually intervened, but only after far too much time had already been wasted and an argument had already broken out.

If this had happened only once, I wouldn’t be writing this. Everybody makes mistakes. The problem is that I’ve seen the same kinds of things happen too many times.

My fellow dog walkers and friends, Dr. Myla Joven Ching and her husband Nick, recently had their own experience. They were about to leave when another motorist stopped and double-parked directly in front of them because he still had to pay his parking ticket. Instead of moving aside, he blocked them-as well as everyone behind them-while someone went to the cashier.

When they asked him to move, he became annoyed.

‘Can’t you just wait?’

No.

They shouldn’t have to wait.

Nobody should.

The instructions are already printed on the parking ticket.

Pay first.

Then return to your vehicle.

Then proceed to the exit.

And if the ticket somehow isn’t enough, the same reminder is posted near the elevators, inside the elevators, and in other parts of the mall.

The system isn’t confusing.

The problem isn’t a lack of instructions.

It’s that too many motorists simply choose not to follow them.

I’ve also seen motorists ignore the one-way signs in the basement and drive against traffic as though they were on a public road instead of inside a parking building. Others speed through the basement where families are walking to and from their cars. I’ve watched drivers stop in the middle of the lane to pay at one of the cashier stations, blocking everyone behind them, even though the ticket clearly instructs motorists to settle the parking fee before returning to their vehicles.

And then there are the payment queues. I have nothing against GCash, Maya or any other electronic payment system. I use them myself.

But I’ve stood behind people trying to pay fifty pesos while the app freezes, the scanner won’t read the QR code, the signal disappears or the transaction takes forever to go through.

We’re talking about fifty pesos. If electronic payment is going to be the preferred option, then it has to be quick and reliable. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with paying cash and keeping the line moving.

After months of watching these things happen, I’ve come to believe that this is no longer just about inconsiderate motorists.

It’s about management.

There will always be drivers who ignore instructions. There will always be people who think the rules apply only to everyone else.

Good parking systems anticipate that.

They should never allow one unpaid vehicle to block a line of motorists who have already done everything correctly. They should never allow counterflow to become routine. They should never allow motorists to block traffic while paying because they ignored the instructions on the ticket.

I’ve mentioned some of these incidents to guards and parking attendants over the past several months. They have always been courteous. They know the problems. But they also seem to have very little authority to prevent them.

That’s why I’m writing this.

Not to criticize Parqal.

To help improve it.

May I respectfully offer a few suggestions?

Create a turnaround lane so motorists who reach the exit without paying can get out of the way instead of blocking everyone behind them.

Station an attendant before the exit to intercept unpaid vehicles or, at the very least, remind them to pay their tickets before they reach the barrier.

Strictly enforce the one-way traffic system in the basement and stop counterflow immediately. An accident is waiting to happen.

Review the location of the cashier stations and the traffic flow around them so motorists cannot block everyone else while paying.

Upgrade the QR scanners and payment system so electronic transactions are consistently faster. And when the system slows down, encourage cash payments for small amounts instead of allowing long queues to build.

None of these suggestions are revolutionary. They are operational improvements-the kind that customers notice every single day.

Parqal has already done the hard part. It has created one of the most pleasant places to spend a morning, an afternoon or an evening in Metro Manila. That is why my family keeps coming back.

I simply hope the experience above ground is eventually matched by the experience below it.

Right now, the basement is the only part of Parqal that doesn’t quite live up to the standard the rest of the development has already set.

I hope that changes.

Buds Wenceslao and his team had the vision to transform this part of Manila Bay into a walkable, people-friendly community. They got almost everything right.

Family getaways are always special. From the equally exciting planning stages to arriving at your target destination and then discovering new places together, memories that last a lifetime document the experience altogether.

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CENTRAL banks in emerging Asia are increasingly finding ways to support their currencies without dipping into foreign-exchange reserves, as recurring Middle East tensions and the prospect of higher-for-longer US interest rates keep policymakers on edge.

India has lured nearly $40 billion from its diaspora via high-yield dollar deposits, underpinning a recovery in the rupee from a record low in May. South Korea’s push to accelerate corporate dollar repatriation has helped the won to its biggest monthly gain since 2022. Indonesia drew $1.6 billion in bond inflows in the last two months as it offered incentives to foreign funds, and Taiwan has also been instructing exporters to sell US dollars at times of currency weakness.

The measures broaden the toolkit for policymakers, supplementing traditional tools such as interest-rate hikes and foreign-exchange intervention that formed the first line of defense after the Mideast conflict sent oil prices soaring. The spike exposed emerging Asia’s heavy reliance on energy imports, making the region one of the weakest pockets of the currency market. While oil prices have since eased on signs the US and Iran are nearing a deal, several Asian currencies still rank among this year’s worst performers.

Still, EM Asia central banks aren’t abandoning traditional defenses.

Authorities in the Philippines have raised rates by 50 basis points, and the Bank of Korea last month tightened policy for the first time in three years. MUFG Bank Ltd. is forecasting two more increases by Indonesia and the Philippines, and at least one more hike by the BOK this year.

Europe’s sugar output is set to fall to the lowest in more than a decade as hot weather damages an already smaller beet crop, tightening global supplies under pressure from a powerful El Niño.

Production in the European Union and the UK is set to fall to about 15 million tons, the lowest level since the 2015 season, according to data from SandP Global Energy. A series of heat waves this summer have battered yields for the current season after acreage had already declined for a second straight year as producers curbed output after bumper crops depressed prices.

That adds to mounting concerns about a potential worldwide deficit as the El Niño weather pattern looms over cane production in several key Asian producers including India and Thailand. That fear has seen prices surge in recent weeks. On Friday, white sugar futures in London touched the highest level in a year in intraday trade. Raw sugar in New York is on track to gain more than 7 percent this week.

‘The lower crop will contribute to deficits in the first and second quarter of next year and that’s already being priced in the market,’ said Claudiu Covrig, lead analyst at Covrig Analytics. With exports from Europe missing or at least reduced to a minimum, ‘prices will go further north.’

The European Commission’s MARS crop-monitoring unit last week cut its forecast for EU beet yield to 76 tons per hectare, down 7 percent from a year earlier, citing unfavorable weather.

While that’s near the five-year average, the prolonged heat has eroded any cushion for the crop, potentially pushing the EU to turn into a net importer of the sweetener, StoneX analyst Pedro Antiquera said in a note.

The outlook could deteriorate even more as weather forecasts continue to point to above-normal temperatures and limited rainfall, worsening already depleted soil moisture levels, according to Marina Malzoni, principal analyst for soft commodities at SandP Global Energy.

Covrig Analytics has cut its output forecast for the EU and UK to 14.7 million tons, the lowest since 2022 when high temperatures hurt output and sent prices soaring. The European Commission expects output in the EU alone to slip to 14.1 million tons.

‘With acreage continuing to contract, the sugar beet crop has become increasingly vulnerable to yield shocks,’ said Malzoni. ‘Prices are expected to increase in the near term as the supply-demand balance tightens.’

That could be a silver lining for European processors after two consecutive bumper harvests when the region was awash with sugar and a price slump squeezed their margins.

Sugar prices in the region have risen as much as 9 percent since June, lifting the premium that white sugar futures command over raw sugar, according to Arnaud Lorioz, chief executive officer of Paris-based brokerage Deepcore.

Still, a sustained recovery for processors will require a further reduction in supplies because Europe could still produce a small surplus, Stephan Bttner, chief executive at Austrian sugar producer Agrana, said in an earnings call last month.

Impact on the region’s top producers:

Output in France, Europe’s biggest producer, is set to drop by about 13 percent to the lowest in four years, European Commission data showed. The dry weather has caused ‘significant damage’ to sugar beets and accelerated attacks by weevils, according to the farmers’ group, CGB.

Second-largest beet grower Germany faces an additional threat from the rapid spread of the reed glass-winged leafhopper, a pest linked to a disease that cuts sugar content in beets, according to the local industry association WVZ.

Poland, the European Union’s third-largest sugar producer, is headed for an 18-percent drop in output this year after a smaller planted area and a cold, dry spring curbed beet yields, according to the sugar beet growers’ association KZPBC.

THERE’S that familiar squeak of rubber shoes on wood. The thump of balls on the same hardcourt. And there’s the voices. Of players encouraging one another. Of coaches barking commands.

It’s practice of the Ateneo Blue Eagles who are trying to compress in the space of about 50 days what should have been the entire summer in preparation for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Tournament.

However, the similarities end up to a certain point. It is different. Some of the old familiar faces are gone. Banished if not suspended. There are new coaches as well. RJ Jazul and Kerby Raymundo are now there.

‘Time to start my coaching career,’ quipped RJ who recently called it a day on his 15-year Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career.

Like everyone, it’s about endings and beginnings.

When Louie Alas was brought into the Ateneo fold three years ago, there was no explicit reason but he as well as many others surmised that they were getting him so they could lure his son, Kieffer, to Loyola Heights.

After Letran, the elder Alas told himself that was his last stop as head coach for a college team. Serving as an assistant or a consultant is fine. But not becoming the head coach. In fact, his family was against it. They know the toll it took on him in Letran. So, he was fine joining the Ateneo coach staff as an assistant.

A prayerful and deeply religious man, he asked God for what the reason was. The answer came three years later as a jarring reminder that all things are revealed in His time.

In the aftermath of the Dipaculao tragedy, he too was prepared to walk away.

One of the Ateneo priests said something that struck a chord in him and made him rethink his position, ‘How can you leave the kids at this difficult time?’

‘I was prepared to walk away,’ Coach Louie related. ‘But the team just lost their head coach, two players and others. I cannot abandon these kids.’

At the same time, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) school came calling and offered him the head coach duties in addition to an attractive offer.

The question he asked God three years ago was finally answered. He declined the NCAA school’s offer.

Dipaculao claimed more than the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. It cost the team its multi-titled head coach, team manager and coaching staff. It also cast a huge pall over the school and a deep division among its constituents, supporters, and alumni that remain as a festering wound to this day.

As for the players, during a time when all one had to concern themselves with was school, basketball, and girls, they were all confronted by loss and a deep grief. Not to mention social media hate.

One player said that he often finds his inbox with hate mail and death threats. Come UAAP time, they will have to deal with that and more. ‘I don’t think we can wish it away. We have to learn how to deal with it and just show that we aren’t bad people.’

If past teams were formed from victory and glory, this edition of the Blue Eagles is forged from the crucible of tragedy.

Teams usually bond over a journey, even a championship. This one is the same but there are mountains to climb.

There is a huge target on their backs. Not as a favorite to win a championship, but because many feel they escaped debilitating sanctions.

The fact that no one on the current squad left says something about their resilience. That word, according to Coach Louie, should sum up this team. ‘Add commitment,’ said the coach.

Almost immediately after the tragedy, opposing teams tried to pry away some of the players. One of the most sought after was Kieffer. But he was dead set on Ateneo for some time. When three UAAP coaches came calling to transfer, he sent back a terse message in capital letters: ‘NO.’

Either he played for the blue and white or would try his luck once more in the United States.

While the Blue Eagles are dedicating the upcoming season to their fallen teammates, it will not be only the other schools, they will go up against. There is that intense public scrutiny as well as haters and trolls who insist there was foul play and that they should have sat out the season if not suspended.

But they are right here and right now. There is no running away. Only confronting their demons on and off the court.

‘No one said basketball or even a season is easy,’ summed up the coach. ‘Kaya nga, laban lang. One Big Fight!’

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SAN FELIPE, Chile-As Alas Pilipinas takes a step closer to the Round of 16 in the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship, the coaching staff is taking measures to prepare the squad for bigger battles ahead.

Edwin Leyva and his staff made another calculated gamble, bringing in the second unit as early as the second set and letting them finish it off even after they squandered a huge chunk of the lead built by the starters.

Jello Andrea Mauricio came through with the finishing hit to close the set, and Alas Pilipinas went on to beat Tunisia, 27-25, 25-19, 25-16, for its second straight victory on Sunday at Liceo Particular Mixto San Felipe.

The Philippines-supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and Asics-improved to 2-1, climbing to second behind only China as the tournament takes a breather on Sunday.

Equally important, Leyva said, was getting Megan Hernandez, Taj Teves and Jhenica Sadia time on the floor to get their competitive juices flowing.

‘We’ve got players who, once you pull them out, start thinking clearly and get fired up even more,’ Leyva said. ‘And the second unit, meanwhile, tries to prove they belong on the floor and work harder to extend their minutes. In a way, you’re hitting two targets with one stroke.’

Team manager and assistant coach Karl Chan said seeing a big lead get whittled away was indeed stressful, but the second unit needed to learn how to fight its way out of the hole.

‘We could have simply sent back one or two starting wing spikers, but we didn’t doubt that they can get it done. It just took them a little more time,’ Chan said.

Leyva also said the staff is not surprised the Philippines is now closing in on the next round, with matches against Peru and Venezuela still on schedule.

‘We really knew this team can make waves here. We can win matches. The only challenge is adjusting. It’s cold, we’re in a different crowd, and some of our girls are new to international competition.

‘We’ve also reminded them about the fear of underperforming, the self-doubt that creeps in. That’s part of the growth process.’

Rayco, Olaguir find groove

ALAS Pilipinas is finding its rhythm just as Xyz Rayco and Resty Olaguir are rediscovering their groove.

Key players in the Alas Pilipinas Girls squad that earned the berth in this world meet through the Asian Women’s U16 Championship last year in Jordan, Rayco and OIaguir revived their old connection and pushed the Philippine team to a 2-1 win-loss record.

After an opening loss to defending champion China, world No. 25 Alas Pilipinas has taken down higher-ranked foes in succession, downing No. 8 Mexico before sweeping No. 20 Tunisia at Liceo Particular Mixto San Felipe.

That put Alas Pilipinas in second spot in Pool B, behind only defending champion China, with two playdates left in the preliminaries. The top four advance to the Round of 16.

With Olaguir running the offense, Rayco found the openings that had eluded her in the first two matches.

‘It feels different when she sets ne the ball, it feels like I can really kill it,’ Rayco said. ‘Of course, I’ll work hard to be able to play my best whoever I share the court with.’

The 16-year-old Rayco, top offensive threat in the Asian U16 meet in Jordan, finished with 13 points on 12 attacks and a block, including two of Alas Pilipinas’ final three points to seal the nerve-racking first set.

‘I’m happy because everyone contributed. I’m also happy with my game because I was able to show how I really play. I’m satisfied even though I made mistakes because I was able to bounce back and show who I am as a player,’ Rayco said.

‘The past two days, I didn’t feel like I was playing the right way. I felt like I played poorly. My teammates said it was fine, but I wasn’t satisfied, so today I really wanted to bounce back. I’ll keep this going.’

Olaguir said she didn’t expect to be fielded with Irish Mahinay running the offense, but the Ateneo setter settled in when Alas hit a shaky stretch in the opening set.

‘I’m happy I got in and contributed. I think I’m slowly getting back to the way I really play,’ Olaguir said.

‘There are still a lot of things I need to work on. I hope this continues and that I don’t let my emotions get the better of me.’

Caera Celis continued her stellar play and wound up as Alas Pilipinas top scorer for the third straight match, delivering 15 points on 13 attacks and two blocks.

Sharina Rhyza Lleses came up with 10 points, all from attacks, for the Philippines, which returns to action after the tournament break on Sunday as it battles world No. 6 Peru on Monday and end up pool play against No. 12 Venezuela on Tuesday.

Alexandra Eala has been winning matches in different ways this week. That may be the most encouraging part of her Toronto run.

She beat Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 hours and 39 minutes, despite receiving treatment after rolling her right ankle in the second set. The win extended Eala’s winning streak to seven and sent her into the fourth round, where she will face No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarterfinals.

It is Eala’s first meeting with Bencic, and it is a serious step up in opponent. Bencic is a former Canadian Open champion and one of the smartest players on the women’s tour. She does not need to blast opponents off the court. She takes the ball early, redirects pace, and makes players uncomfortable by giving them less time to set up.

That will be the main issue for Eala.

Eala’s left-handed forehand has been a major weapon in this run. She can pull opponents wide, especially from the ad court, then use the open space to take control of the point. Against Bencic, though, hitting a few big forehands and waiting for a mistake will not be enough. Bencic is good at getting those balls back early and sending them somewhere different.

The match could come down to whether Eala can keep Bencic moving and reacting. If Bencic gets comfortable near the baseline and starts taking returns early, Eala could spend much of the match under pressure on serve. Eala needs a strong first-serve percentage, especially on the ad side, to open the court and give herself the first look at attack.

The ankle is another factor, even if Eala has indicated it is manageable. Bencic’s game is not built around pure power, but it demands quick movement. She changes direction well, hits early and makes players cover the court. Eala cannot afford to be stuck defending from the corners for long stretches.

The best way for Eala to protect herself is to play on her own terms. She should look for the forehand early, use the wide serve, and mix in changes of pace. She cannot fall into a predictable crosscourt pattern because Bencic will read it quickly. Eala has to keep the Swiss player guessing – heavy forehands crosscourt, an occasional drive down the line and selective trips to the net when the opening is there.

Bencic is coming off a three-hour, 24-minute win over Taylor Townsend, so Eala also has a reason to make this physical. The more long rallies and tight service games, the more Bencic will have to draw on after a demanding previous round.

But Eala should not expect the Swiss veteran to fade. Bencic has won big matches for years and knows how to manage pressure when a match gets tight.

Eala’s win over McNally showed the maturity behind this run. After losing the second set, she broke early in the decider and protected the advantage to close out the match. That kind of resilience will matter against Bencic.

Eala can expect strong Filipino support again in Toronto, particularly if the match becomes tight. But her biggest task is to keep the match simple. She does not need to make a statement on every ball. She needs to serve well, use her forehand intelligently and stay patient when Bencic sends back shots that would finish points against most players.

Bencic will try to take away time, test Eala’s serve and force the Filipina to hit one more ball. If Eala can stay patient through those exchanges and stop Bencic from dictating inside the baseline, she has a real chance to add another important win to a breakthrough summer.

Toronto’s draw has already been shaken by major exits, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka falling to Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets and No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula losing 6-3, 6-3 to Diana Shnaider, who snapped an 0-4 record against the American. Iga Swiatek avoided a similar fate after dropping the opening set to Marta Kostyuk before rallying emphatically, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, while Elina Svitolina beat Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4. The results underline the volatility of the Toronto draw and add context to Eala’s night-session meeting with Belinda Bencic: the path remains difficult, but the departures of Sabalenka and Pegula show that seedings have offered little protection this week.

This is not just another match in a winning streak. It is the kind of matchup that shows whether a run has legs.