Australia to the ASEAN Football Federation...finally!


April 9 (Reuters) - Australia will continue to compete in future editions of the East Asian Cup despite their impending membership of Southeast Asia's ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
 The Socceroos will have their AFF invite affiliation upgraded at the federation's Extraordinary Congress in August but have no plans to compete in its biennial Suzuki Cup against teams more than 100 places below them in the FIFA rankings.
 "Australia was invited to participate in this year's EAFF Cup. If invited again we will continue to accept and participate in this competition," a Football Federation of Australia spokesman said.
 "At this point we would not seek to enter senior national teams into the Suzuki Cup, however, Australia is committed to entering underage and Futsal teams into AFF competitions."
 Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 after moving from the less competitive Oceania Federation where they routinely racked up double-digit victories over largely amateur sides in the Pacific Islands.
 The Socceroos, ranked 39th by world governing body FIFA, were then made invite members of the AFF and have routinely competed in youth competitions in the 11 nation federation.
Last week at an AFF meeting in Malaysia they had their entry 'unanimously supported' by members, the spokesman said.
Australia will make their debut in the EAFF Cup in July after coming through qualifiers against North Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guam undefeated with a largely youthful side in December.
The four team finals also feature Japan, China and hosts South Korea. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore)

ISML 2013: Top 16, Stella Division




1. Ruri Gokou
2013 ISML AMETHYST NECKLACE CHAMPION


2. Kanade Tachibana
DEFENDING ISML CHAMPION
2013 ISML AQUAMARINE NECKLACE CHAMPION


3. Mikoto Misaka


4. Eucliwood Hellscythe


5. Taiga Aisaka


6. Mio Akiyama


7. Azusa Nakano


8. Kirino Kousaka


9. Shana


10. Ayase Aragaki


11. Yuri Nakamura


12. Yuki Nagato


13. Yui-nyan


14. Saber


15. Yui Hirasawa


16. Haruhi Suzumiya

ISML 2013: Top 16, Nova Division




1. Mashiro Shiina


2. Kuroyukihime


3. Rikka Takanashi


4. Asuna Yuuki
2013 ISML RUBY NECKLACE CHAMPION


5. Kobato Hasegawa


6. Sena Kashiwazaki


7. Nanami Aoyama


8. Inori Yururiha


9. Shinka Nibutani


10. Eru Chitanda


11. Yui


12. Nyarlathotep


13. Yozora Mikazuki


14. Ririchiyo Shirakiin


15. Touka Takanashi


16. Kurisu Makise

ISML 2013: BoBA Tiara Odds, June 208, 2013

Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
2013 International Saimoe League Tiara Odds
As of 9:16 p.m. PT, June 28, 2013

Ruri Gokou EVEN
Mashiro Shiina 2-1
Kanade Tachibana 5-2
Kuroyukihime 3-1
Rikka Takanashi 7-2
Mikoto Misaka 4-1
Asuna Yuuki 9-2
Eucliwood Hellscythe 5-1
Kobato Hasegawa 6-1
Taiga Aisaka 7-1
Mio Akiyama 8-1
Sena Kashiwazaki 9-1
Nanami Aoyama 10-1
Inori Yuzuriha 11-1
Shinka Nibutani 12-1
Azusa Nakano 13-1
Kirino Kousaka 14-1
Shana 15-1
Eru Chitanda 16-1
Ayase Aragaki 17-1
Yuri Nakamura 18-1
Yuki Nagato 19-1
Yui-nyan 20-1
Yui 21-1
Saber 22-1
Yui Hirasawa 23-1
Nyarlathorep 24-1
Yozora Mikazuki 25-1
Ririchiyo Shirakiin 26-1
Haruhi Suzumiya 27-1
Touka Takanashi 28-1
Kurisu Makise 30-1
Last Order 32-1
Konjiki no Yami 35-1
Momo Beila Deviluke 36-1
Aria Holmes Kanzaki 40-1
Erio Touwa 42-1
Mikan Yuuki 43-1
Hinagiku Katsura 45-1
Hitagi Senjougahara 46-1
Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 48-1
Suguha Kirigaya 50-1
Rin Natsume 55-1
Shinobu Oshino 60-1
Keiko Ayano 65-1
Rin Tosaka 70-1
Meiko Honma 75-1
Charlotte Dunois 80-1
Shouko Kirishima 85-1
Tomoyo Sakagami 90-1
Karuta Roromiya 95-1
Mato Kuroi 100-1
Nymph 125-1
Victorique de Blois 140-1
Rea Sanka 150-1
Nadeko Sengoku 175-1
Subaru Konoe 190-1
Noumi Kudryavka 200-1
Illyaviel von Einzben 225-1
Yui Kotegawa 250-1
Nagisa Furukawa 300-1
C.C. 400-1
Mei Misaki 500-1
Homura Akemi 750-1
Kyou Fujibayashi 1000-1
Holo 2000-1
Ui Hirasawa 5000-1
Karen Araragi 7500-1
Fuuko Kurasaki 10000-1
Konata Izuki 25000-1
Tsukihi Araragi 50000-1

ISML 2013: Asuna Yuuki takes the Ruby



ISML 2013: Asuna Yuuki takes the Ruby
Yuuki wins necklace, Momo beila Deviluke wins Medallion

By JR Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
June 28, 2013

Despite losing the Necklace Match to Mikoto Misaka 2059-1874, Asuna Yuuki's superior strength of schedule was enough to give her the Ruby Necklace. At a press conference at RECTO Progress HQ in Tokyo, there were hugs, cheers, and plenty of libations around. Asuna elected not to drink, as did her fiancee, Kazuto Kirigaya. They were addressing the public at a special press conference in the morning.

"Finally," Asuna said, "I have arrived. For me, if you're going to win a necklace like this, you need to have put on a strong performance against a former winner, and Mikoto is that type of person. I don't know if I can pull off a similar result if we face each other again, but she deserved to win the Necklace Match itself.

"However, it's the entire campaign that holds more weight and over the course of my run, I strung together solid performances against worthy opponents from my division. So this was a comprehensive campaign and a comprehensive performance. I have a lot of people to thank, including my soon-to-be-husband Kazuto, his sister and my future sister-in-law Suguha, and my good friends Rika [Shinozaki, a.k.a. Lisbeth] and Keiko [Ayano, a.k.a. Silica]. We're all in this together, and we want to salute you, the voters, for your belief in us. Thank you all so very much!"

"I think Asuna deserves this necklace," said Misaka, who earned a calculation of 48.954. Yuuki's calculation was 57.881. "I already won it before, and to win it again would not be in the best interests of this competition. I've won it all before, so I can be introspective from this point forward. I congratulate Asuna on her victory and look forward to more matches against the best from the Nova."

Mio Akiyama, who the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue tabbed as the favorite by way of her SDO heading into the Necklace Match, was a bust. She only earned 1020 votes and never stood much of a chance, earning just a 43.830 Necklace Score Calculation.

"I don't think this is going to be our year; we've flown the flag for this competition for a pretty long time," Akiyama said at a press conference at Japan Women's University. "I think the voters have decided that the new blood should get the ascendancy this time around."

One of those new-blood characters that could contend for the Emerald Necklace is Rikka Takanashi, who earned a Necklace Score Calculation of 39.569 while gaining 1077 votes.

"Only the strongest deserve a necklace, and I don't think it's going to be my time yet," Takanashi said in a interview in Tokyo, surrounded by Yuto Togashi and Shinka Nibutani. "However, I'm keeping the faith and I am confident I will get Mashiro's number in the next period."

Indeed, Mashiro Shiina might actually be the next character to win a necklace. Despite a 37.987 score and just 1106 votes, Shiina placed third in the Necklace Match and has an opportunity to deliver in the Emerald.

"I understand that Eucliwood is going to defend tooth and nail for her necklace but she has to realize that a lot of us think she's old news," Shiina said, throwing the first chip at the defending Emerald holder. "I'm going to finally get it right and win it for Suimei. This is far from over."

Taiga Aisaka's window to a necklace may be dwindling before her eyes. She earned a score of 29.927 after earning just 997 votes. "I don't care winning anything at this point because everything now is just a bonus," Aisaka said at her press conference in Tokyo. "But I will continue to give my competition a stern challenge."

Kuroyukihime rounds out the pack with a score of 29.348 after earning just 718 votes. "I won't sneak up on anyone this time around," Hime said at Umesato Middle School in Tokyo. "I hope to be in the next two necklace matches because I feel that I have the gift."

Momo Beila Deviluke has done something that neither Konjiki no Yami or Mikan Yuuki has done: win a prize in the ISML. Deviluke, a younger sister of Lala Satalin, won the Ruby Medallion after securing 1667 votes. Nyarlathotep earned 1433 votes, Nagisa Furukawa was second with 1312 votes, C.C. had 1250 votes, Meiko Honama had 1125 votes, Karuta Roromiya had 997 votes and Illyasviel von Einzbern was last with 936 votes.

"I consider Yui Hirasawa to be one of my soulmates because I like her music and her personality," Deviluke said in an interview in Osaka. "She gave me some good advice on how to be relevant and successful in this competition, and I have to say, it has paid off. So, thank you Yui-chan, and thank you to my voters for giving me this wonderful medalltion."

A few other exhibitions were taking place. In another of the group exhibitions, Yuno Gasai, a former contestant in the ISML, was first with 2094 votes. Tenri Ayukawa was second with 1746 votes, Kyouko Sakura has 1405 votes, Ayu Tsukimiya won 879 votes, Ayumu Nishizawa earned 801 votes, Anya Alstreim earned 780 votes and Hayate Yagami was last with 716 votes.

Tsumiki Miniwa is one of the more underrated characters in all of moe and is likely to surprise a lot of faces at this year's 2channel AST. She was first in her group exhibition with 1815 votes. Riko Mine was second with 1378 votes, Madoka Kaname was third with 1308 votes, Komari Kamikita was fourth with 1191 votes, Sakura of Tsubasa Chronicle was fifth with 1008 votes, Shinku was sixth with 971 votes and Rena Ryuuguu held up the rear with 758 votes.

Wrapping up Ruby action, Cthugha torced Chiho Sasaki 4252-3401 and Himari Nohara slashed past Noir Vinocacao 4408-2264.

Match Day 1 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Emerald Necklace Period is scheduled for Sunday, July 7, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competition...the International Saimoe League!



TOP 16, Nova Division
1. Mashiro Shiina
2. Kuroyukihime
3. Rikka Takanashi
4. Asuna Yuuki (RUB)
5. Kobato Hasegawa
6. Sena Kashiwazaki
7. Nanami Aoyama
8. Inori Yururiha
9. Shinka Nibutani
10. Eru Chitanda
11. Yui
12. Nyarlathotep
13. Yozora Mikazuki
14. Ririchiyo Shirakiin
15. Touka Takanashi
16. Kurisu Makise

TOP 16, Stella Division
1. Ruri Gokou (AM)
2. Kanade Tachibana (C) (AQ)
3. Mikoto Misaka
4. Eucliwood Hellscythe
5. Taiga Aisaka
6. Mio Akiyama
7. Azusa Nakano
8. Kirino Kousaka
9. Shana
10. Ayase Aragaki
11. Yuri Nakamura
12. Yuki Nagato
13. Yui-nyan
14. Saber
15. Yui Hirasawa
16. Haruhi Suzumiya