ABU DHABI (AFP) — Tiger Woods got his 2012 season off to a steady start at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Thursday, but he had to settle for second best in his head-to-head with red-hot Rory McIlroy.

Woods had a two-under 70, three more that McIlroy, but one ahead of the third member of the first round's top grouping - world number one Luke Donald. The 36-year-old American was the focus of attention once again as he lit the fuse on a campaign which he hopes will see him return to the forefront and possibly add to his majors haul of 14.

Woods secured his second birdie of the day at the par-three fourth and parred his way in from there for an encouraging two-under 70. McIlroy, the 22-year-old world No. 3, meanwhile, got off to a storming start with birdies at 11, 12 and 13 to take the early lead in the $2.7million tournament which opens the tour's three-week long Desert Swing also taking in Doha and Dubai.

Acosta backs PH Water runs

Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection Neric Acosta has thrown his full support to the Philippine Water Runs (PWR), which holds its third leg this Sunday (Jan. 29) in Marikina. Sec. Acosta, a three-term congressman from Bukidnon, shares in the advocacy of PWR in providing safe and clean drinking water to all Filipinos in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal.

Registration is ongoing at SM Marikina. Events on tap are the 3K, 5K and 10K runs. For details, call 0917-8082914 or 0920-4088977."We commend the organizers, sponsors and participants of this noteworthy sporting event," said Acosta, also the general manager of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and principal author of the Clean Water Act.

P.C.C.L. Awards

PCCL and ABS-CBN will co-host today's “A Toast,” an event to be held at 9501 Restaurant, 14th floor, ELJ Bldg. in Quezon City.

During the affair, due recognition and appreciation will be given to the winners and those who contributed to the success of the 2011 Philippine Collegiate Championship. PCCL Chairman, Reynaldo D. Gamboa, will announce the recipient of the “Model National Collegiate Player of the Year” award, the highest honor that PCCL confers to players. For this year, the candidates are: Bacon Austria (ADMU); Sudan Daniel (SBC); Anthony del Rio (SSC-R); Carvo Lanete (SBC); Kirk Long (ADMU); Dave Marcelo (SBC); Emman Monfort (ADMU); Jonathan Semira (SSC-R); and Jessmor Villahermosa (SBC).

S.B.P. U-16

BAGUIO CITY – University of Santo Tomas dumped St. Bridget College, 80-32, Thursday to advance to the crossover semifinals of the SBP National Under-16 Basketball Championship at the Easter College gym.

International School for Better Beginnings, meanwhile, handed host University of Baguio its fifth straight defeat, 80-75; Sacred Heart turned back Claret School, 100-92; and Holy Child crushed winless St. Agnes Academy of Albay, 96-34, at the Career Development College gym in Benguet.

St. John Institute took the first semifinal seat in Group A with a 5-0 card, completing a sweep of its group after crushing Holy Child School of Davao, 114-88. St. Clare, a Caloocan-based team, swept the women’s class, 4-0, and brought home P20,000 in the tournament backed by Summit Mineral Water, Energen Nutrition Milk and Cereal, Philex Mining, Molten and the MVP Sports Foundation. —Clyde Mariano

Fun Run

Ateneo Special Education Society organizes the No SPEED Limit fun run on Sunday which will start from Katipunan to Eastwood City. The fund-raising event, which will have competitions in 3K, 5K, 10K and 15K, is for the benefit of the Batino Elementary School SPED Center. Participants may register at Rox, Fort Bonifacio (until tomorrow), RUNNR Trinoma and Toby’s Mall of Asia (until today), or visit their websites www.ateneospeed.org/nsl or www.facebook.com/NSL2012. A total of P30,000 cash prizes, goods and freebies await the winners.