By the Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-ranked doubles player Robert Farah says he tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

Farah made the announcement on social media hours after he pulled out of the Australian Open for what he initially said were personal reasons. Farah said the International Tennis Federation had informed him of the finding.

The 32-year-old Colombian said he tested positive for Boldenone, which he claimed was the result of eating meat in his home country.

“I will not be able to play at the Australian Open, an event for which I had been preparing since December,” Farah, who won last year’s men’s doubles titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, wrote in remarks translated from Spanish on Twitter.

“A few hours ago the ITF informed me of the presence of Boldenone in a test that I did on October 17, 2019 in Cali.

“Two weeks before the test mentioned … I did an anti-doping test in Shanghai which had a negative result. And I was also tested at least 15 other times randomly in the international circuit throughout the year with the same negative result. As stated by the Colombian Olympic Committee in 2018, this substance is found frequently in Colombian meat and may affect athletes’ test results.”

The Canadian-born Farah and fellow Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal, his long-time partner, were the ATP’s doubles team of the year in 2019. They had already pulled out of this week’s Adelaide International.

Farah was still listed on Wednesday morning atop the ATP doubles rankings list, tied with Cabal with 8,170 points each.

Cabal was expected to remain in Melbourne and play doubles with another partner.

The Australian Open starts on Monday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Badminton world number one Kento Momota was released from a Malaysian hospital Wednesday and boarded a plane back to Japan, two days after he was treated for injuries in a car crash in which his driver was killed.

The 25-year-old Japanese faces two months out after suffering cuts to his face and multiple bruises when the vehicle carrying him to Kuala Lumpur International Airport crashed in the early hours of Monday.

“Momota has been discharged from hospital. He is heading back to Japan this morning,” Norza Zakaria, president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia told AFP.

Momota, wearing a dark cap and a face mask, left on a Malaysian Airlines flight to Tokyo’s Narita airport at 9:40 am (0140 GMT).

“Momota is on flight MH70. The plane has taken off,” Norza confirmed.

An assistant coach, physiotherapist, and badminton official also suffered minor injuries in the highway crash, seen as a blow to Momota’s preparations for this year’s Tokyo Olympics where he will attempt to win gold on home soil to complete a full set of major titles.

The accident occurred just hours after he began his 2020 season in style on Sunday with victory over Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in Kuala Lumpur. Momota had been in Putrajaya public hospital outside the capital Kuala Lumpur since Monday.

Momota will now aim to return to action at the All England Championships on March 11, the secretary general of Japan’s Badminton Association Kinji Zeniya told AFP on Tuesday.

Momota, who won a record 11 titles last year had “extraordinary enthusiasm towards the Olympics” this year in Tokyo, added Zeniya, but urged the gold medal favourite to take time to recuperate fully.

“I hope he will do his best without pushing and rushing himself too hard and without being impatient,” said Zeniya.

The driver was killed at the scene while Momota received cuts to his face and bruising all over his body, Zeniya said, denying previous reports that he had broken his nose and chin.

Momota, currently the best player on the planet, enjoyed unrivalled success in 2019, with his title haul including the World Championship, Asia Championship and All England Championship — a dramatic turnaround for a player who had been banned for gambling in 2016.

jsm/mba/dh

© Agence France-Presse

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won two of the first three games of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, largely because of how it has made Meralco import Allen Durham work doubly hard for his numbers.

Durham averaged 23.0 points on 38-percent shooting with 16.3 rebounds and 7.7 rebounds entering Game 4 which being played at press time at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as Ginebra has been trying to put different defensive schemes in order to stop the multiple Best Import winner.

Game 1 saw veteran Joe Devance, who had played limited minutes this conference following foot surgery, spending most of the time guarding Durham while Ginebra tried to put Aljon Mariano with a box-and-one defense in Game 2.

“Our defense is getting better, especially against Durham,” LA Tenorio mentioned after Ginebra’s 92-84 victory in Game 3 last Sunday.

In contrast, Justin Brownlee appears to be stabilizing the team as the series progresses.

Brownlee averaged 36.5 points in the first two games before adding the role of a distributor in Game 3 by putting up nine assists. He just had one assist in the first two games.

“(Ginebra) Coach (Tim Cone) had a talk with me and told me I had one assist the past two games, and I’ve been averaging about six or seven, something like that,“ said Brownlee, who for the record normed 7.2 assists entering the Finals.

“It’s something I try not to really focus on,” he later added “I do love getting my teammates open shots and things like that. But I just try to be aggressive and just try to take whatever the defense gives me.”

Keeping Durham limited will play a role in whether the Kings can put a 3-1 stranglehold on the Bolts and go for the clincher in Friday’s fifth game at the Mall of Asia Arena.

But Meralco has been getting scattered contributions from the locals, particularly seldom-used players like Nico Salva, rookie Trevis Jackson and Bryan Faundo.

“Yes, we’re containing Durham but I think we have to contain everyone na kaya ganun kalakas Meralco ngayon — I think kaya sila nandito,” said Tenorio.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

De La Salle Archers started its first training session under new coach Derrick Pumaren Wednesday in their bid to regain lost glory in the UAAP.

In an Instagram post from sports columnist Quinito Henson, Pumaren was seen in a huddle with the rest of the Archers a week after his official appointment.

View this post on Instagram

1st day of practice as DLSU head coach Derick Pumaren meets the Archers today … coach said he wants everyone to be ready to play 45 minutes a game even if its only a 40-minute game … 1 of the things he said was every player must be conscious of representing the school so no sando nor slippers in public! He said he’s big on curfews and discipline … rules will be followed … the goal is to win proudly for the school … it was a Green homecoming for coach Derick who was DLSU’s 1st head coach when the Archers joined the UAAP in 1986 so he’s gone full circle in his checkered coaching career @dlsuosd @dlsusports

A post shared by Joaquin Henson (@therealdeanquinito) on Jan 14, 2020 at 3:22am PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

“Coach said he wants everyone to be ready to play 45 minutes a game even if it’s only a 40-minute game,” Henson said in his post.

“One of the things he said was every play must be conscious representing the school so no sando or slippers in public. He said he’s big on curfews and discipline… Rules will be followed.”

“The goal is to win proudly for the school.”

It was a homecoming of sorts for Pumaren, who steered La Salle to its first UAAP title in 1989 and defending the crown the following year.

He has coached several teams including Pepsi, Sunkist, Sta. Lucia, Purefoods, FedEx and Talk ‘N Text in the PBA. He also mentored University of the East in the UAAP from 2014 to 2017.

In 2018, he took over the Centro Escolar University Scorpions in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League.

Coaches Gian Nazario and Jermaine Byrd will remain as part of the staff as assistant coach and skills coach.

The last time the Archers won the crown was in 2016. They lost the title to Ateneo in 2017, then failed to make it to the Final Four the next two years.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Serena Williams is ominously back to winning ways as she looks to finally complete her long quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The American has been on the cusp of history since 2017, when she won her 23rd Major trophy in Melbourne, but after returning from giving birth has suffered straight-sets defeats in four Slam finals.

The signs are good for the 38-year-old Williams, who broke a three-year title drought at last week’s Auckland Classic — a result that will not have gone unnoticed by her younger rivals.

Australia’s world number one Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Naomi Osaka are among her genuine challengers, but pressure and expectation will also pose problems for Williams as she pursues the 24 Grand Slam titles won by the Australian Margaret Court between 1960 and 1973.

“That was really important for me and I just want to build on it,” Williams, now ranked ninth in the world, said after triumphing in Auckland on Sunday.

The former number one, who celebrated on court with daughter Olympia, donated her US$43,000 winner’s cheque to victims of the Australian bushfires.

Practice and qualifying have been disrupted in Melbourne this week because of toxic air pollution from the deadly fires, but organizers are confident the tournament will proceed as planned.

Williams has now won 73 WTA titles over four decades and although she is scaling back the number of tournaments she plays, there is no indication she plans to retire imminently.

Williams’s latest Grand Slam final heartbreak came at the US Open, where she was stunned by Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu.

Williams — the highest-paid female athlete in the world last year with earnings close to US$30 million, according to Forbes — afterwards played down her bid for Court’s record.

“I’m not necessarily chasing a record,” she said.

“I’m just trying to win Grand Slams.”

At least she will not encounter the 19-year-old Andreescu, who is out of the Australian Open with a knee injury.

Pressure on Barty

Of the challengers to Williams, Barty will also have to deal with great expectations from the Melbourne crowd.

The 23-year-old Australian, who once took time off tennis to play professional cricket, won her maiden Major at Roland Garros last year.

But Barty has had a patchy start to the year after losing her season opener last week, going down in two sets in Brisbane to American qualifier Jennifer Brady.

She dismissed afterwards the hype in Australia surrounding her.

“It doesn’t change the way that I practise, it doesn’t change the way that my team and I prepare, it doesn’t change me as a person,” Barty said.

Japan’s Osaka arrives for her title defence accompanied by her fourth coach in less than a year, Belgian Wim Fissette.

The 22-year-old squandered match point in losing to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals in Brisbane on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Pliskova goes into Melbourne under the radar but the world number two beat American Madison Keys in the final to close the gap on Barty at the top of the rankings.

However, she is yet to win a Grand Slam and her best appearance in a Major was back in 2016, when she lost the US Open final to Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

There will be added interest in Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one who finally broke her long Grand Slam duck in Melbourne two years ago, and who will retire after the tournament at the age of 29.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK — Pistons guard Derrick Rose was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for tossing a pen across the court during the end of Detroit’s loss to New Orleans.

With 37 seconds left in overtime and play stopped on Monday night, Rose sat slumped on a courtside table and flung the pen into the stands. The Pelicans beat the Pistons 117-110.

The punishment was announced by NBA executive Kiki VanDeWeghe.

Rose had 23 points and eight assists, but it was a costly and frustrating night. His bank shot tied the score at 100 in regulation with 30 seconds left, capping Detroit’s rally from 16 points down with 11 minutes remaining.

E’Twaun Moore missed two short jumpers, giving Detroit the ball with 14 seconds to go.

That gave Rose a chance to replicate his winner from Dec. 9 in New Orleans, but he missed at the buzzer.

In overtime, Rose had two turnovers in the last 90 seconds.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

BOSTON  — Alex Cora has already been identified as a ringleader in an illegal system of sign stealing when he was with the Houston Astros.

The Red Sox didn’t wait to see what punishment Major League Baseball might give him for possibly bringing a similar scheme with him to Boston.

Cora was fired by the team he led to the 2018 World Series title on Tuesday night, one day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he was “an active participant” in the Astros’ cheating when he was a bench coach in Houston.

Manfred mentioned Cora by name 11 times in a nine-page report, saying he “originated and executed” the scheme in which Houston used a center field camera to decode catchers’ signals to pitchers, then banged on a trash can to relay the signs to batters so they would know what type of pitch was coming.

The Astros fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, making that announcement an hour after Manfred suspended them for the 2020 season for their roles in the cheating scheme. Cora met Tuesday with Boston management and they issued a release saying they had “mutually agreed to part ways.”

“Given the findings and the commissioner’s ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward,” the team said in a statement attributed to owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, CEO Sam Kennedy and Cora.

The team called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon to address the scandal, which leaves it without a manager less than a month before pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training.

Bench coach Ron Roenicke, who spent five years managing the Milwaukee Brewers, is the most experienced member of the current coaching staff; former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek has also been mentioned as a possible replacement.

In suspending Luhnow and Hinch, Manfred said he was withholding Cora’s punishment until completing a separate investigation of accusations the Red Sox stole signs in 2018. That investigation will continue; Cora and the Red Sox could both face additional penalties.

“We agreed today that parting ways was the best thing for the organization,” Cora said in a statement released by the team. “I do not want to be a distraction to the Red Sox as they move forward.”

New Mets manager and former Astros player Carlos Beltrán also was implicated by Manfred in his report Monday — the only player mentioned. Manfred decided that no players would be disciplined for breaking rules prohibiting the use of electronics to steal catchers’ signs in 2017 after levying penalties against Boston and the New York Yankees.

The Mets declined comment on Beltrán’s status.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series to the Astros and again in 2018 to the Red Sox.

“All clubs have been asked by Major League Baseball not to comment on today’s punishment of the Houston Astros as it’s inappropriate to comment on discipline imposed on another club,” Los Angeles said in a statement Monday night. “The Dodgers have also been asked not to comment on any wrongdoing during the 2017 World Series and will have no further comment at this time.”

A member of Boston’s 2007 championship club, Cora was hired in November 2017 to take over a Red Sox team that won back-to-back AL East titles in 2016-17 but failed to advance in the postseason under John Farrell.

Cora guided the team to a franchise-record 108 regular-season victories in 2018 and its fourth World Series title in 15 years. The Red Sox beat a pair of 100-win teams in the Yankees and Astros in the AL playoffs, then defeated the Dodgers in a five-game World Series to make Cora the first Puerto Rican manager to win a championship and the fifth manager to guide a team to a title in his first season.

He was rewarded by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski with a new contract adding an extra guaranteed season in 2021, a deal that included a club option for 2022.

Dombrowski was fired in September after the Red Sox stumbled toward an 84-78 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015. He was replaced this offseason by former Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom, who will lead the search for a new manager.

“This is a sad day for us,” Henry, Werner and Kennedy said in a statement. “Alex is a special person and a beloved member of the Red Sox. We are grateful for his impact on our franchise. We will miss his passion, his energy and his significant contributions to the communities of New England and Puerto Rico.”

The scandal — but not the severity of the punishment — is reminiscent of the New England Patriots’ sign-stealing scheme in 2007, in which the team videotaped opposing coaches to decipher their signals. The NFL fined the Patriots $250,000 and docked them a first-round draft pick, and also fined coach Bill Belichick $500,000.

Texas Rangers All-Star pitcher Mike Minor eagerly took a jab on Twitter at Cora, who insinuated Minor wasn’t “playing the game the right way” when the left-hander encouraged a teammate to drop a popup against Boston during his final start of 2019 so Minor could pursue his 200th strikeout of the season.

“But but he plays the game the right way…” Minor wrote.

Cora’s departure means 10 of the 30 major league teams will start the 2020 season with a new manager. Boston’s new manager will be its fifth in 10 seasons.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK  — Eric Cressey thinks some injuries can be prevented. After a season in which medical updates overshadowed scouting reports, the New York Yankees hope so.

Cressey was hired by the Yankees in the new role of director of player health and performance, a move made after New York had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list last year. New York set a big league record for sidelined players, topping the 28 on the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers.

“You always want to separate bad processes from bad outcomes,” Cressey said during a conference call Tuesday.

“Players are going to be hit by pitches, but there are definitely things that we can do on the processes side of things to provide a level of individualization in the way that we assess players, in the way that we listen to players and solicit their feedback on what’s worked for them.”

The 38-year-old founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007 and will continue as president of the company, which specializes in kinesiology and biomechanics and maintains facilities in Hudson, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His clients have included Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard and other major leaguers.

Cressey does not think there will be any issues working with players on teams other than the Yankees.

“The number of major league hitting coaches that work with major leaguers from other teams in the offseason is borderline astounding,” he said.

Cressey expects to make five visits of two-to-five days to the Yankees before their March 26 opener. He will attend most homestands and all trips to Boston’s Fenway Park. He’s already been at work attending to what he called “the nitty gritty” of overhauling player assessment.

“There is a lot of behind-the-scenes systems work that we’re creating and already have created to help us extend to the minor leagues and just to communicate with the front office,” Cressey said. “And special challenges, whether that’s relating to trades or looking longer term in terms of finding competitive advantages in the industry.”

Cressey said Yankees director of baseball operations Matt Ferry visited Clemson football, the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets, and also the Mayo Clinic in determining how the team wanted to restructure training.

Cressey said he was connected to the Yankees by bullpen catcher Radley Haddad, a friend for many years.

New Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake was a pitching coordinator for Cressey Sports.

“He was really the front line of bringing video analysis to baseball,” Cressey said. “It was obviously very mainstream when everyone has an iPhone with incredible resolution and can go slow mo. It wasn’t that easy back in 2008, 2009.”

In other moves, Steve Donohue was promoted to the newly created role of director of medical services. The 63-year-old, starting his 42nd year with the team, had been head athletic trainer for eight seasons after working from 1986-2011 as assistant athletic trainer to Gene Monahan.

Tim Lentych, entering his 17th season with the Yankees, was promoted to head athletic trainer. The 41-year-old spent four seasons as assistant athletic trainer.

Michael Schuk, 37, was promoted to director of sports medicine and rehabilitation following six seasons as the team’s physical therapist and assistant athletic trainer.

Donovan Santas was hired as assistant director of player health and performance, and Brett McCabe as major league strength and conditioning coach. The 42-year-old Santas had spent the past 17 seasons with Toronto, the last as head of strength and conditioning. McCabe was strength and conditioning coach for San Diego from 2013-18.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Open officials have delayed the start of play by two hours on the second day of qualifying, hoping that smoke from regional wildfires will clear later Wednesday.

Smoke and hazy conditions at Melbourne Park on Tuesday affected the opening day’s play with organizers criticized for allowing qualifying matches to proceed.

A number of players complained, including Australian Bernard Tomic, who sought medical treatment during his first-round loss when he struggled to breathe. Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic feared she would pass out before retiring from her match when she collapsed to her knees with a coughing spell.

Health authorities expect the air quality to bounce between the “very poor to hazardous range” until at least Wednesday afternoon, with a top temperature of 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) before a late weather change that’s set to bring rain.

Tennis Australia said it will continue to work with its medical team, the Bureau of Meteorology and Environment Protection Authority Victoria scientists when making decisions about whether it’s safe to play.

The Australian Open begins Monday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — Rookie guard Ja Morant had 26 points and eight assists, Dillon Brooks scored 24 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight game by defeating the Houston Rockets 121-110 on Tuesday night.

Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 despite going 6 of 16 from the floor. Morant missed only one of his 11 shots as the Grizzlies extended their longest winning streak since December 2016.

James Harden led the Rockets with 41 points as backcourt mate Russell Westbrook took the night off in the first game of a back-to-back. Eric Gordon finished with 23 points, and Clint Capela had 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Harden has scored at least 40 points in five straight games against the Grizzlies.

The teams were tied at 95 with about eight minutes left when the Grizzlies went on an 11-1 run fueled by 3-pointers from Solomon Hill, Brooks and Morant.

CLIPPERS 128, CAVALIERS 103

LOS ANGELES  — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 43 points in three quarters as Los Angeles routed Cleveland.

According to Sportradar, it was only the second time since 1996 a Clippers player scored at least 40 points in the first three quarters. Lou Williams had 40 against Golden State in a 2018 game.

Leonard played 29 minutes and was 14 of 22 from the floor, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. He was two points from tying his regular-season career high.

Williams added 24 points for the Clippers, who played again without injured star Paul George. They have won five of six and had six scorers in double figures.

Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 25 points and Cedi Osman added 21. Rookie guard Darius Garland, the fifth overall pick in last June’s draft, had 14 points and a career-high 10 assists for his first double-double.

JAZZ 118, NETS 107

NEW YORK — Joe Ingles matched his career high with 27 points, Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Utah ran its winning streak to 10 games by beating Brooklyn.

Donovan Mitchell returned from a one-game absence with an illness to score 25 points — 14 in the fourth quarter — and Bojan Bogdanovic had 18 for the Jazz, who opened a 20-point lead and turned back every attempt by the Nets to make it close.

Kyrie Irving had 32 points and a season-high 11 assists for Brooklyn in his second game back from a shoulder injury.
Utah has won 15 of 16.

BUCKS 128, KNICKS 102

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo needed only 21 minutes on the court to score 37 points and lead Milwaukee past New York.

Antetokounmpo did not play in the fourth quarter after the Bucks built a 32-point lead entering the final period on the way to sweeping the three-game season series with the Knicks.

Khris Middleton added 17 points and Ersan Ilyasova had 14 points and seven rebounds for Milwaukee, which led by as many as 35 and improved its record to an NBA-best 36-6.

Julius Randle had 25 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Knicks (11-30), and rookie R.J. Barrett added 22 points. Bobby Portis had 20 off the bench.

MAVERICKS 124, WARRIORS 97

SAN FRANCISCO — Dwight Powell scored 21 points and was 9 for 9 from the field in Dallas’ victory over Golden State.

Luka Doncic added 20 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks won their fourth straight against the Warriors — three in a row on their home floor.

Jordan Poole came off the bench to score 17 points for Golden State. Fellow reserve Eric Paschall added 16, but the Warriors lost their eighth consecutive game and fourth straight at Chase Center.

Injury-plagued Golden State lost another player when guard Jacob Evans III was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a head injury. He was helped off the court with 4:38 left in the first half after getting hit with an elbow by Powell as they fought for a rebound.

Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis sat out an eighth straight game. He has been feeling ill and is still dealing with soreness in his right knee.

HAWKS 123, SUNS 110

ATLANTA — Trae Young scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and Atlanta pulled away late to beat Phoenix.

It was Young’s 20th game with at least 30 points this season. He got help from backcourt partner Kevin Huerter, who scored 23 points and set career highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists. John Collins added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 39 points before he was ejected for his second technical foul following his dunk with less than two minutes remaining. Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Source: Manila Bulletin