JOE Knox holed out with a birdie on the ninth that Keanu Jahns bogeyed in a jumbling frontside finish for a key two-shot swing that earned the Englishman a shared view of the top with the Fil-German as the erstwhile leaders faltered and tumbled in a topsy-turvy second round of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic in Lubao, Pampanga yesterday.

Knox, who birdied two of the last three holes to save a first round 71 Tuesday, checked a roller-coaster two-birdie, three-bogey round after 11 holes from No. 10 with three straight birdies from No. 3 but tripped with a second straight bogey on the long 491-yard No. 6 before birdying the par-5 finishing hole, also for the second straight day, to preserve a 70.

Despite a bogey on No. 4, Jahns held on to a one-stroke lead he gained on a scorching four-birdie exploit at the back but misread a seven-foot putt for par at the finish for his own version of a 70, enabling Knox to keep abreast with the former at 141 heading to the last 36 holes of the $100,000 event that could be marked with a wild, wooly finish.

He left after signing his scorecard, which showed the resiliency in the journeyman from United Kingdom, who battled back from a one-over card with three straight birdies from No. 3 then closed out with a birdie to negate his other bogey on the sixth.

Jahns stayed a bit to assess his wobbly finish, saying: “Overall, I played pretty well. The wind was quite strong at the back where I started but I was able to handle my game.”

Jhonnel Ababa, who shared the first day honors with Clyde Mondilla, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Aussie Jack Lane-Weston with 69s, went four-under overall with a second straight birdie on No. 17 as he bogeyed three of the first seven holes at the front and needed to birdie No. 8 from eight feet to scramble for a 73.

“The wind blew hard at the front (his backside),” rued Ababa, who vowed to strike back in the last two days with an attacking game as he steps up his drive for a record third straight championship in the event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High as chief backers.

He slipped to joint third at 142 with a hot-charging Ira Alido, a steady Rupert Zaragosa and a defiant Lane-Weston, who blew a three-birdie binge after four holes at the back with three bogeys in the next four then closed out his frontside with a 37 also for a 73,

Yam Laranas directs Yam Concepcion for the first time in Viva’s horror film, “Nightshift.”

“Nightshift,” also written by Yam, revolves around Jessie, a medical technologist who has eerie experiences while working on a straight shift one stormy evening. She doesn’t believe in the afterlife, but she is suddenly creeped out by the strange sounds that seem to be coming from the cadavers. She cannot shake off the feeling that they seem to be coming back to life. As her fear intensifies, Jessie begins to ponder on the idea of the Final Judgment. And if indeed the day has come that people rise from the dead, she is tormented about meeting her own end.

At the movie’s press con, Laranas revealed there was only one person in his mind as the movie’s lead.

“Ako when I think of a story I already think of who the actor will be, and nobody else was in my mind but Yam,” said the director, “I wrote the story based on a lot of research about death and dying, about medical studies. Then I said who has the characterization, that kind of personality that can carry a horror film by herself? And that intelligence. And Yam is the best.”

Although they had not worked before, Yam said he saw in the actress acting and immediately, he knew she had the intelligence needed to play the role.

“Ganun ako, when I see someone acting, kahit 2 seconds, snippet lang, alam ko na na, uy magaling itong umarte,” he added. “Because the role calls for someone who has to have that degree na kayang madala ang role. I like working with actors who go deeper than just memorizing lines….”

It was a thrill and an honor for Yam to be chosen for the role. On the get go, she was intrigued when she was given the plot.

“I was still taping Halik when I received the message asking if I would do a movie with him. ‘It’s a contained cerebral horror happening in one night, in a morgue’ — I remembered your message. Ang sabi ko, pwede,” the actress revealed.

Yam said she is a fan of Laranas, and got a lot of positive reaction from her friends when they learned she was going to work with him.

“I have always been a fan of Direk Yam Laranas’ work. Of course, he is known for his beautiful cinematography and storytelling. May mga friends nga ako when they learned I was doing a movie with Direk Yam, ‘O my God, the director of “Sigaw!”’ They were all so excited,” she recalled.

This is Yam’s first lead role in a horror movie. She was very convincing as a villain in the drama series “Halik” on ABS-CBN, it’s about time she shows us her acting prowess in the horror genre, especially with the big twist that the movie has in store.

“Night Shift” opens in cinemas tomorrow, January 22.

FRESH from winning a gold medal in the World Women’s Open Archery Championship in Macau earlier this month, Andrea Robles will lead the 16-member national archery team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at the New Clark City Sports Hub in Capas, Tarlac.

Two archers will represent the country in each of the four major events — men’s and women’s indoor events and men’s and women’s outdoor events.

Robles, Olympian Jennifer Chan, Roberto Badiola, Paul Marton dela Cruz, Andrei Johan Olano, Arnold Rojas, Rachelle Ann dela Cruz , and Abigail Tindugan make up the compound team set to compete in indoor events.

The recurve archery team that will compete in outdoor events will be bannered by Jason Emmanuel Feliciano, Carson Francis Hastie, Florente Matan, Youth Oympian Luis Gabriel Moreno, Phoebe Nicole Amistoso, Gabriel Bidaure, Pia Bidaure, and Karil Hongitan.

The archery competitions are slated from Dec. 4 to 9.

Although she was among the lowest ranked archers in the field in Macau, Robles, 21, humbled the competiton that incuded the likes of favorite Sarah Prieels of  Belgium, world No. 1 Alexis Ruiz of the United States, and No. 3 Paige Pearce, also of the US.

COACH Tab Baldwin of defending two-time champion Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas counterpart Aldin Ayo have battled each other in the Big Dance twice, with Ayo, then calling the shots for La Salle, wining in 2016.

The following year, Baldwin got back at Ayo as the Blue Eagles beat the Green Archers in the title duel and ended a five-year title drought.

Baldwin knows Ayo has numerous aces up his sleeves and that explains why he refused to count the Growling Tigers out despite their runaway 91-77 triumph in Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for the 82nd UAAP crown.

“We know we’re in for a really tough game on Wednesday. The one thing we’ve been talking about since we knew UST was our opponent was that teams that Aldin (Ayo) coaches, they don’t ever quit, they don’t ever back down. While the next game is the second half for us, it’s Game 2 for them,” said Baldwin.

“Well, it’s good to get the win obviously. But we tend to not really see that as a win. We see that as the first half of basketball and we just get a long halftime break. We get to prepare for the second half, which will be in your eyes, Game 2. A lot to work on,” he added.

The win, the Eagles’ 14th straight after a 14-0 elimination round sweep, enabled them to move within a victory of a three-peat and their 11th title overall.

Ateneo is also bidding to become only the fourth school and only the seventh team in UAAP history to win the title unbeaten.

The Eagles have not swept a season, not even during their historic five-year reign under coach Norman Black from 2008 to 2012.

Baldwin insisted his charges should not keep their feet off the pedal to close out the series.

“I told our guys before the game that I think this is a must-win game for us. I don’t see Wednesday’s game any different. I think it’s a must-win game for us (Game 2). We need to have the attitude that it is a must-win game,” said Baldwin.

“And you know, we’ll see how easy it is to develop that attitude going into that game. But nothing but praise for both teams. But we need to play better defense to be the team that we want to be.”

In front of an SRO crowd of 19,176 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, forward Thirdy Ravena shone anew for Ateneo with a season-best 32 points to go with five rebounds and three assists while 6-foot-10 Angelo Kouame of Ivory Coast notched a double-double of 18 markers and 12 boards, and five dimes.

SJ Belangel went 4-of-8 from deep and also finished with 12 points for the Eagles, who came off a 16-day break after their 86-64 drubbing of University of the Philippines last Oct. 30.

The Tigers survived three straight knockout matches in the stepladder semifinals, counting their pulsating 68-65 decision over the Fighting Maroons last Nov. 13 to reach the finals.

Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy led UST with a career-high 26 points, while Brent Paraiso and MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo added 14 and 13, respectively.

Hands-on and meticulous, actress Marian Rivera-Dantes takes pride in caring for her loved ones. She loves being a wife to Dingdong Dantes and mom to Zia and Ziggy. She cooks for them, breastfeeds, and personally attends to their needs. She knows her way inside the home and knows how to clean and care for the household.

When it comes to her career, she is as meticulous. She picks her projects carefully and gives her all to her role. When it comes to accepting endorsements, Marian is as particular.

She needs to believe in a product before she says yes. She personally tries it before agreeing to be its brand ambassador.

So when she became the face of Reverie by Beautéderm Home last year, it meant she did not only like the home scents she endorsers — she really uses them. In fact, Beautederm president and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan said Marian was involved in selecting the smell and also finding the right packaging for the scents. The whole Reverie by Beautéderm Home line — Into the Woods (Bamboo Scent), Smells Like Candy (Cherry Scent), Time To Bloom (Fresh Rose Scent), Something Minty (Eucalyptus Scent), and Rest and Relaxation (Lavender Scent) — was crafted in close collaboration with Marian.

And the partnership, which started last year, has been a massive success.

“Marian is a blessing,” said Rhei Tan, who revealed that sales of Reverie by Beautederm Home tripled as soon as the actress got on board.

On its second year, the ties have only gotten stronger. Aside from Reverie by Beautederm Home’s soy candles and room and linen sprays, Beautederm Home has released an essential oil diffuser and fragrance oils.

“I am so happy to represent Beautéderm Home,” said Marian. “Beautéderm Home is like a family to me. I literally feel like I’m at home every time I’m with them and every time I work with their team. Rhea has always made me feel so comfortable and my partnership with her is really something that is very dear to my heart. I am grateful that Beautéderm Home has renewed me for another year and I am humbled for the trust that they are giving me.”

And there is more to come.

“Beautéderm Home and Marian are currently developing new products that will be added to the line due to the success of Reverie,” said Rhea Anicoche-Tan, “We at Beautéderm really felt the ‘Marian fever’ when we launched her last year and we continue to feel that now because of the very good sales of Reverie. We are ecstatic to have her onboard and we can’t wait to work with her again for another fruitful year.”

Beautéderm was founded and established in 2009 by Rhea Anicoche-Tan. The company embodies Rhea’s principle that beauty begins by taking care of one’s self, and by doing so a person will become more healthy and shall exude beauty not only in the outside but in the inside as well.

As one of today’s top leaders in the beauty and wellness industry, Beautéderm prioritizes safety and effectiveness above all with its FDA Notified products, which only uses natural ingredients that are perfectly synergized to deliver the fastest and most effective long-term and sustainable results. A consistent Superbrands awardee, some of the flagship brands of Beautéderm are Beautéderm Skin Set; Beautéderm’s Purifie Facial Wash; and Beautéderm’s Origin Senses perfume line for men as well as a new set of Beauté Balm, Au Revoir Skin Soothing Oil, and Cristaux Gold Elixir Serum. Currently, Beautéderm has close to 100 physical stores throughout the country and one in Singapore, and has almost a thousand resellers and distributors both locally and internationally.