Azkals Game

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals wrap up their three-match friendly in the Gulf when they take on the Qantas Australia U-23 tonight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Buoyed by their 3-1 victory over Qatari first division club Al Ahli in Doha on Monday, the Azkals try to pull off an upset against the Aussies at 11:30 p.m. Manila time (7:30 p.m. Dubai time). A much-better performance was seen from the Filipino booters against Al Ahli with Phil Younghusband nailing two goals while Fil-German Denis Wolf scoring his first since joining the team last month.

That win came after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Uzbekistan U-23 team in Dubai on Saturday. This time, the Azkals are likewise expected to endure a tough battle against the team that is bidding for a spot in the London Olympics. -Jonas Terrado

Marcelo Shines

Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-Marcelo Racing made sure he won't be denied of the distinction as the "Greatest All-Time Karting Champion" in Philippine Motorsports history. Despite revisions in the rules in providing points, Marcelo conquered all the odds to win both the 2011 Petron Karting Super Series and the 2011 Denso KF2-KF3 Cup to remove all doubts as to who is the best racer in the country.

Clinching both titles this season eventually sealed Marcelo's fourth Karter of the Year Award, a feat that enabled him to surpass the great achievements of past champions like Edgen Dy-Liacco and Pepon Marave who won the karting title thrice in their racing careers.

Shakey's Volley

National University and Angelicum College (ANC) downed their respective rivals in contrasting fashions as they zeroed in on the semifinal round in the Shakey's Girls Volleyball League NCR leg at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last weekend.

The NU tossers outlasted the La Salle-Zobel side in a duel of fancied teams, hacking out a 25-16, 16-25, 25-17 victory to close in on the first semis berth in Pool A with their fourth straight victory. Angelicum, on the other hand, outclassed University of the East, 25-10, 25-8, to likewise inch closer to a semis seat with a 3-0 mark in Pool B of the tournament sponsored by Shakey's Pizza and organized by Metro Sports.

Mighty Sports-Hope Christian School, meanwhile, pressed its bid in Pool A as it swept its two matches, beating St. James College-Paranaque, 25-23, 25-10, and Rizal High School, 25-11, 25-14, for a 3-0 slate in the event backed by Toby's, Mikasa and Asics.

U.P. Wins

Ayi Nii Aryee scored two goals as defending champion University of the Philippines nailed the first finals berth with a 2-0 victory over University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP football competition yesterday at the Ateneo Ocampo Field.

The two-goal brilliance of Ghanaian booter came just at the right time as ace striker Jinggoy Valmayor served out his one-game suspension for a second yellow card. With the win, the Maroons hiked their total to 19 points on five wins and four draws.

The win not only earned UP its third finals appearance in four years but gave them a twice-to-beat advantage in the title round. UST, meanwhile, fell to 4-3-2 win-draw-loss record for 15 points. -Jonas Terrado

Golf T.V.

Juvic Pagunsan's four-shot romp in the recent The Country Club Invitational will highlight tonight's A Round of Golf edition on Solar Sports at Global Destiny (Channel 35), Sky Cable Digital (Channel 70) and Cablelink (Channel 31).

Hosts Dominic Uy and Geleen Handog will talk about the high points of the 10th staging of the P4.5 million event which Pagunsan, the reigning Asian Tour No. 1, dominated to annex his third TCC title and validate his claim as the country's No. 1 golfer.

Golf Gigs, on the other hand, will feature the 16th APT Cup at the Orchard where participants came with their Olympic sport outfit.