SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021 11 European BRAVE CF pioneer lauds home promotion for aggressive expansion in continent Carl Booth went down memory lane and reminisced the time when he was scouted by BRAVE CF

‘These guys are professionals. tapped European markets like Booth made his first These guys know what they’re Slovenia and Romania. • doing.’” On June 4th, the organization appearance under the “I was super happy to be part will unlock a new territory in organization’s banner at When I arrived, it was only their second show. of it, and I was 100 percent in the continent by hosting BRAVE BRAVE CF 2: Dynasty from the very beginning,” Booth CF 51: The Future Is Here at the But it was really, really in December 2016 added. Falcon Club Arena in Minsk, good. They have high- Flattered by BRAVE CF’s world- Belarus. level fighters, and the class treatment, Booth knew Many pundits see the afore- TDT | Manama whole promotion was from the onset that the promo- mentioned card as a key step super organized and tion is destined to make it big in for the continued growth of RAVE Combat Federation professional the growing MMA market. the sport in Europe, and Booth has come a long way since “When I arrived, it was only agrees. Bits inception in 2016, and CARL “THE BOMBER” BOOTH their second show. But it was “BRAVE CF changed a lot of Carl “The Bomber” Booth is a really, really good. They have fighters’ lives. In my own expe- witness to the company’s rise Belloso with a barrage of punch- high-level fighters, and the rience, I know a lot of fighters from a starting mixed martial es at BRAVE CF 50 this past April. whole promotion was super or- back home now have an interest arts (MMA) promotion to a global Now heralded as a pioneer on ganized and professional,” he in BRAVE CF and want to be part sports juggernaut. the Bahrain-based outfit’s active shared. of it. The high-level guys who The 31-year-old native of Carl “The Bomber” Booth roster, Booth went down memo- As predicted by Booth, BRAVE are dominating other shows, Nottingham, England made his ry lane and reminisced the time CF bolstered its profile interna- these guys are now showing in- first appearance under the or- and then following it up with in seven more bouts and engag- if he was scouted by BRAVE CF. tionally, extending its reach by terest to be part of BRAVE CF,” ganization’s banner at BRAVE one solid ground strike to com- ing in memorable battles with “It wasn’t new to me fighting staging 48 more live events in 21 he stated. CF 2: Dynasty in December pel the referee to call a halt to his division’s best such as Ab- overseas because I had done it different countries--six of which “Definitely, they are going to 2016, where he took on Russian the contest in the second round. doul Abdouraguimov, Hayder before a few times,” he admit- are European nations such as make a big splash,” he contin- mauler Gadzhimusa “Deadshot” The impressive victory over Hassan, Tahar Hadbi and Jarrah ted. “I wasn’t aware of how big Northern Ireland, England, Swe- ued. “They want to dominate the Gadzhiev. the Russian was some sort of Hussein Al-Silawi. it was. I showed up at its sec- den and Russia. European market. I can’t blame Booth left a lasting impres- a coming-out party for Booth, In his most recent outing, it ond event, and I’ve seen how In line with its strategy of them because the continent has sion in his promotional debut, who went on to establish him- only took the Englishman 72 much investment has gone into building talents from the grass- some of the best fighters in the dropping Gadzhiev to the canvas self as a regular staple inside seconds to get the job done, it and the team that was working roots level, BRAVE CF took ad- world. It’s now an open playing with a right straight to the chin the BRAVE CF cage, competing shutting the lights out on Carlos behind the scenes. I was like, vantage of venturing into un- field.”

Rejuvenated Eala guns Hopes high for Phoenix on Banchero’s arrival for second pro title TDT | Manila hoenix Super LPG could not wait to | Manila TDT Pbe able to work with prized catches We are excited to acquire Chris Chris Banchero and Vic Manuel once full Banchero, who is a superstar ilipino junior tennis sensa- practices finally start in preparation for in his own right. The team has Ftion Alexandra “Alex” Eala the Philippine Basketball Association’s a great opportunity to grow in is setting her sights on a second 46th season. the years to come pro title when she takes part in The Fuel Masters believe they landed a the W25 Platja D’Aro tourna- superstar in Banchero from the Magnolia PHOENIX TEAM MANAGER PAOLO BUGIA ment in Spain next week. Hotshots Pambasang Manok in exchange A scholar of the Rafa Nadal for energetic forward Calvin “The Beast” point guard in crunch time, and defences Academy in Spain, the 15-year- Abueva before landing Manuel from the keyed on him. old star captured her maiden Alaska Aces in a separate deal. “I think with the influx of Banchero, the crown in the pro circuit by reign- The ballclub hopes to improve its semi- defence, the opposing defence, you know, ing supreme in the first leg of Eala is the newest toast of the final finish from last year’s Philippine Cup will divide their focus on a two-guard the W15 Manacor in Spain last Philippine tennis world bubble with Banchero and Manuel joining front, which is Banchero who is of equal January. forces with the likes of Matthew Wright, threat,” said Bugia. “We think that’s very Returning to competition after Justin Chua, Jason Perkins, RJ Jazul and good for us.” more than a month of rest, this rookie Larry Muyang. “That was one of our hurdles at the last would be her eighth pro event It’s a long journey ahead “We are excited to acquire Chris Ban- conference. Every time Matthew would this year and third $25,000 tour- and I will need to keep chero, who is a superstar in his own right. have the ball, he’d be double-teamed, he’d nament since finishing in the on working hard! The team has a great opportunity to grow be trapped on the pick-and-roll,” he added. quarterfinals of the W25 Greno- ALEX EALA in the years to come,” Phoenix team man- Banchero ... a potential superstar for Phoenix “We had able guys, but it’s still a different ble in France last February. ager Paolo Bugia said. “In terms of basketball, I really think persona when you see that Chris Banche- Eala was supposed to compete is in 662nd place in the latest He is confident that in Banchero they that takes off the pressure in the backcourt ro’s open on the other side.” in $15,000 events in Turkey late Women’s Tennis Association have someone who can create a deadly from Matthew Wright. Moving forward, “They’ll have to think twice of leaving April to early May but decided (WTA) rankings. duo with star swingman Wright. they could be a deadly duo from the out- him. We’re very excited to see how that to withdraw due to health con- Eala has vowed to continue “A lot of people are talking about how side and on offense as well,” he added. plays out in our conference.” cerns brought by the pandemic. working on her game to further Calvin left us, how Calvin’s not part of With the veteran guard Banchero in Banchero, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged Her last tournament came in improve her WTA ranking. our team anymore,” he said. “But I think the fold, Wright can slide into his natural 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in April at the $60,000 Bellinzona “It’s a long journey ahead and equally important and equally exciting is position of shooting guard. Bugia noted less than 27 minutes as part of Magnolia’s event in Switzerland where she I will need to keep on work - how Chris Banchero is part of our team that during the All-Filipino Cup in the guard-heavy lineup in the Philippine Cup made heads turn with a third- ing hard!” said Eala who has now.” bubble, Wright often took over as the bubble. round finish. been spending five hours a day Eala is already being herald- training. ed as the Philippines’ brightest The last year and a half have hope in the sport after making been solid for the young tennis her presence felt in various in- player. Lewandowski equals Bundesliga record with 40th goal this season ternational tournaments, includ- In 2019, she helped the coun- AFP | Berlin after Lewandowski equalled ing last year’s Grand Slam events try qualify for the World Junior Mueller’s milestone as his like the Australian Open, French Tennis Finals in the Czech Re- obert Lewandowski Bayern team-mates made a Open and the Miami Open. public, where the Philippines Requalled Gerd Mueller’s guard-of-honour on the side She bagged the Australian wound up in fifth place. 49-year-old scoring record as of the pitch which the smiling Open Junior Girls doubles title She also finished runner-up the Bayern Munich striker net- 32-year-old ran through. with Indonesian partner Priska in the World Super Junior Un- ted his 40th Bundesliga goal Lewandowski can still Nugroho and also barged into der-18 Tennis Championships in of the season at Freiburg on break Mueller’s record as Bay- the French Open Junior Girls Japan in the same year. Saturday. ern, who were last weekend singles semifinal. The Rafa Nadal Academy has Lewandowski, FIFA’s best crowned Bundesliga champi- It was a historic achievement been proud of its scholar, with male player of 2020, has ons for the ninth straight sea- for the country. Eala is the first no less than 20-time Grand Slam equalled Mueller’s record, son, have one match left, at Filipina to reach the semifinals winner Rafael Nadal egging Eala scored over 34 games in home to Augsburg next Satur- in singles of a junior Grand Slam to continue soaring and reaching 1971/72, in just 28 league games day. The Poland striker, who in 35 years, following Felix Bar- for her dreams. this season due to last month’s has scored 47 goals in 39 games rientos, who was a finalist in the Eala is the niece of former knee injury and squad rotation. Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scores the opening goal in all competitions this season, 1985 Wimbledon juniors tour- sports commentator and Phil- Lewandowski converted a As part of his penalty cel - a picture of Gerd Mueller over is set to be crowned the Bunde- nament. ippine Basketball Association penalty after 26 minutes to ebrations, the Poland striker the text “4ever Gerd”. sliga’s top-scorer for the sixth Currently, the promising lass (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala. equal the league’s record. lifted his match shirt to reveal The game was briefly halted time in eight years.