By Jonas Terrado

Japeth Aguilar is making a difference for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel through three games of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, particularly with his play on the defensive end.

The athletic big man is averaging 19.0 points on 49-percent shooting with 6.0 rebounds to emerge as Ginebra’s most consistent local in the best-of-seven championship series.

But it’s his 3.7 blocks that has caught the attention of fans, not only for his game-saving swat on Allen Durham in the series opener but for the seven he had in Sunday’s 92-84 victory at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It was a block party out there,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Having Aguilar deliver on both ends has given the Kings more belief of their chances to reign supreme over the Bolts for a third time in the season-ending conference.

Aguilar’s seven blocks Sunday not only tied his second-best output in a game but also moved him past Alvin Patrimonio, Abe King and Poch Juinio for 12th all-time in blocks.

The 32-year-old, already in his ninth pro season, has 583 career blocks.

“Ever since nag-start ako ng basketball, yun ang naging niche ko,” he said. “I mean shot blocker ako ever since high school at college…ginagawa ko lang yung role ko. Alam ko yun ang isang strength ko. So I try to do it to the best of my abilities.”

Cone acknowledged that shot-blocking is a “fun skill for him [Aguilar],” but he wouldn’t mind such notion if it benefits Ginebra.

“That’s something that keys the team, that keys the fans,” said Cone. “Blocking shots is a big turnaround play. I don’t think there’s anybody in the league that’s a better weakside defender than Japeth. It’s just a matter of him staying low and being alert and seeing it coming and anticipating that shot and going and get that. And he’s learned to do that.

“So full credit to him because he’s worked on that. He’s worked on that part of his game,” he added.

Aguilar could benefit on the potential absence of the injured Raymond Almazan in Game 4 set Wednesday at the Big Dome.

Regardless, it seems Aguilar has all the confidence needed to lord the paint for the rest of the Finals.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, who guided the NFL club to a pair of Super Bowl victories, was named Sunday into the American Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class.

Johnson was told of his upcoming enshrinement Sunday while working as a television commentator the same way former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher learned of the same honor a day earlier.

Cowher and Johnson were the only coaches selected to the special group of inductees being made in tribute to the NFL’s nearly completed 100th season.

The remainder of the 15-person group will be revealed Wednesday while the usual five inductees for 2020 will be announced next month at the Super Bowl.

“The only thing I can think of is all the assistant coaches that worked for me, all the great players that played for me, they’re the reason I’m here,” Johnson said.

“This is so special to me because when you put in the work that we put in, it’s nice to know people appreciate it.”

Johnson spent a decade as a college coach, guiding the University of Miami to an undefeated national championship season in 1987.

In 1989, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hired Johnson to replace legend Tom Landry and become only the second coach in club history.

Dallas went 1-15 in Johnson’s first season but asembled a core of talent that included receiver Michael Irvin, quarterback Troy Aikman and rusher Emmitt Smith — future Hall of Famers who would spark Cowboys’ Super Bowl wins in 1993 and 1994.

The Cowboys went 44-36 in five seasons under Johnson and 7-1 in the playoffs. Johnson departed Dallas in 1994 but took over as coach of the Miami Dolphins in 1996, replacing iconic coach Don Shula and going 36-28 in four seasons before retiring and becoming a TV analyst.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

 

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is in no rush to appoint the chief of mission to the 2021 Hanoi Southeast Asian Games.

Reporting from Geneva, POC president Bambol Tolentino said the naming of the CDM to the 31st SEAG would hinge on the list of sports and events that will be played in Vietnam.

“We have to know first what sports and events will be included,” said Tolentino.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had expressed its belief last week that a CDM be named the soonest so the government funding agency can buckle down to work and sustain the momentum gained from the country’s success in the 30th SEAG.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said it would be a big letdown if the Philippines doesn’t capitalize on its landmark first-place finish.

Vietnam is expected to stage between 36-40 sports, mostly those played in the Olympic Games, when it hosts the biennial sportsfest from Nov. 21-Dec. 2, 2021.

Discussion over the roster of events will be tackled in March when members of the SEAG Federation Council gather in Hanoi this March.

Succeeding meetings will take place within the year and onto the next when the CDMs are already named by all the 11 member countries.

The Philippines took the overall crown with a massive haul of 149 gold medals out of the 530. Vietnam was a distant second with 98 while the region’s undisputed champion Thailand wound up with 92 for third place.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, two of the NFL’s top-rated quarterbacks, moved closer to a potential Super Bowl clash with home playoff victories on Sunday.

Mahomes threw for five touchdowns as the Chiefs overturned a 24-point deficit to defeat the Houston Texans 51-31 in a thrilling postseason duel.

Mahomes finished with 321 passing yards from 23 of 35 attempts at Arrowhead Stadium to send the Chiefs into a home AFC Championship showdown against the Tennessee Titans next weekend for a place in the Super Bowl.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted to,” Mahomes said. “All we were preaching was, ‘Let’s do something special.

“‘Everyone is counting us out, let’s just keep fighting, one play at a time.’”

Rodgers completed 16-of-27 passes for 243 yards and Davante Adams made eight catches for a club playoff record 160 yards as the Packers pulled out a 28-23 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers will travel to California to battle the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday in the NFC Championship.

“I am going to enjoy a nice glass of Scotch tonight,” said Rodgers. “Then get onto the film of San Francisco and get ready for a tough opponent.”

The 49ers walloped the Packers 37-8 at home on November 24.

Next Sunday’s winners will meet in next month’s Super Bowl 54 at Miami.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien said his team had not taken anything for granted after racing to an early 24-0 lead.

“24-0 was a really good lead, no doubt about it,” O’Brien said.

“But I don’t think any lead is safe versus these guys. We needed to score 50 points and we weren’t able to do that.”

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, meanwhile, finished with 388 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort.

Chiefs down big early

The Chiefs were given an almighty scare after a disastrous start.

An error-strewn opening spell saw the Texans score unanswered touchdowns from Kenny Stills, Lonnie Johnson and Darren Fells to move into a 21-point lead.

But with the Chiefs reeling, the Texans gave the hosts respite from the onslaught early in the second quarter with Houston coach Bill O’Brien opting for a field goal on fourth down and 1 from 31 yards.

Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled the kick to put Houston into a 24-0 lead.

But momentum shifted on the ensuing kickoff when Mecole Hardman returned 58 yards to the Houston 42-yard line.

Two plays later, Mahomes hit Damien Williams from 17 yards to make it 24-7 and put the Chiefs on the board.

The Chiefs stopped Houston on a fake punt on the next series and Mahomes took advantage, finding tight end Travis Kelce from five yards for a touchdown.

“We had momentum at that point and it felt like we were going to try and make a play,” O’Brien said. “It just didn’t work.”

DeAndre Carter fumbled away the kickoff, allowing the Chiefs to recover at the Houston six. Mahomes hit Kelce for another touchdown three plays later and then drove the Chiefs 90 yards to set up another touchdown to Kelce for a 28-24 half-time lead.

Williams ran for two touchdowns to give Kansas City a 41-24 lead. Watson rushed for a five-yard touchdown to put the Texans back to within 10 but the Chiefs added another touchdown followed by a field goal to extend their lead at 51-21.

Packers hang on at home

At Green Bay, Aaron Jones ran 21 times for 62 yards, including two one-yard touchdowns and the Packers took a 21-3 half-time lead then held on in the fourth quarter.

Russell Wilson led the fifth-seeded Seahawks against the Packers in both rushing and passing. Wilson was 21 of 31 for 277 yards and a touchdown and added 64 yards on seven carries.

Tyler Lockett made nine receptions for 136 yards and a score.

With their running game in tatters, the Seahawks gambled and lost on bringing back veteran Marshawn Lynch, who hadn’t played in over a year.

Lynch gained just 26 yards on 12 carries Sunday, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. Lynch ran for just 33 yards in two playoff games for Seattle.

The Seahawks nearly rallied, scoring on their first drive of the second half to make it 21-10.

But Adams scored on a 40-yard pass from Rodgers on the Packers’ next possession to push the lead back to 18 points.

“We finished it the right way,” Rodgers said. “We are going to enjoy this one first then get to San Francisco. They are a great football team had a fantastic year.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Roger Federer said he would donate to the Australia bushfires appeal on Monday after tennis players pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to the disaster relief fund.

The Swiss great, who has been criticized by environmental activists including Greta Thunberg over a sponsor’s links to fossil fuel investments, said he would donate at a charity match on Wednesday.

“If anyone can chip in, that’s great because it’s nice to show solidarity and help in a situation, which has become quite incredible in this country,” Federer, 38, said at a publicity event in Melbourne.

“We need to look for prevention in the future, that this doesn’t happen to this extent again because there will always be fires as I understand. This country is much, much too big,” added the world number three.

Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will headline Wednesday’s exhibition at Melbourne Park, which will the Australian Open Grand Slam from January 20.

Tennis players have been quick to respond to the bushfire crisis, which has left at least 27 people dead, burned an area the size of South Korea and prompted a surge in concern over global warming.

Players on the men’s tour have donated US$500,000, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said on Sunday, while Williams handed over her $43,000 winner’s cheque from the Auckland Classic on Sunday.

“I’ll also be making a donation personally myself on Wednesday,” said Federer, a six-time winner of the Australian Open.

“This country has given me everything and more in the past so it’s only but normal for me to help us well.”

Over the weekend, Federer promised to talk to his sponsors after environmentalists criticized his relationship with Credit Suisse, which they say has loaned billions of dollars to the fossil fuels industry.

Federer said he was “grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviors” after the criticism was retweeted by Swedish teenager Thunberg, a prominent eco-warrior.

“I appreciate reminders of my responsibility as a private individual, as an athlete and as an entrepreneur, and I’m committed to using this privileged position to dialogue on important issues with my sponsors,” he said in a statement that was widely quoted by media.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Badminton world number one Kento Momota was injured and his driver was killed in a crash near Kuala Lumpur on Monday just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters.

Police said the Japanese star, 25, suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face when the van carrying him to the city’s airport crashed early in the morning, in a blow to his preparations for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The driver was killed at the scene after the vehicle collided with a slow-moving lorry on a highway. An assistant coach, physiotherapist, and badminton official also suffered minor injuries.

The accident came after the dominant Japanese star began his 2020 season in style Sunday with victory over Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in Kuala Lumpur.

“It’s truly tragic, especially involving a badminton icon like Momota,” Malaysian sports minister Syed Saddiq told reporters, after visiting the injured in hospital south of the capital.

But he added those hurt were “recovering well, (and) all four are also in stable condition”.

The others hurt suffered facial, leg, hand and head injuries, according to the police.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia said in a statement they were “saddened” by the crash.

The accident happened around 4:40 am (2040 GMT Sunday), and 10 firefighters rushed to the scene, senior fire and rescue department official Norazam Khamis told AFP.

The injured “were able to walk out of the van by themselves with some scratches”, he added. Pictures showed the front of the van crushed against a lorry but the back section appeared intact.

Momota enjoyed a stellar 2019, winning a record 11 titles including the World Championships, Asia Championships and All England Open, a turnaround for a player who had been banned for gambling in 2016.

This means he won more tournaments in a season than any other men’s player, including Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and Chinese great Lin Dan.

There is only one major individual title missing from the Japanese player’s trophy haul — Olympic gold.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK  — Kyrie Irving scored 21 points in 20 minutes of an easy return from a two-month absence with an injured right shoulder, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 108-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

Irving shot 10 for 11 from the field after missing 26 games with an impingement. The shoulder looked fine and his handle looked as good as ever while he dribbled his way around a hopeless Atlanta defense.

Energized by his return that still seemed a ways away just a week ago, the Nets led by 39 points and won their second straight after dropping seven in a row.

Cam Reddish scored 20 points for the Hawks. They played without star guard Trae Young because of a left hamstring injury and lost their fourth straight.

JAZZ 127, WIZARDS 116

WASHINGTON— Bojan Bogdanovic scored 31 points, Rudy Gobert added 21 points and 14 rebounds and Utah beat Washington for its ninth straight victory.

Utah overcame a 15-point deficit in the third quarter to win for the 14th time in 15 games. Jordan Clarkson had 17 of his 23 points in the second half. Utah scoring leader Donovan Mitchell sat out because of an illness.

Bradley Beal scored 25 points for Washington after missing five games with right leg soreness.

SPURS 105, RAPTORS 104

TORONTO — DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Rudy Gay had 15 and San Antonio overcame an 18-point deficit to beat Toronto.

San Antonio used a big fourth quarter to win for the third time in four games. Derrick White scored 13 points for the Spurs, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 11. DeRozan also had eight rebounds and four assists against his former team.

Serge Ibaka had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for Toronto. Kyle Lowry had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists.

NUGGETS 114, CLIPPERS 104

DENVER — Nikola Jokic had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Denver withstood a big rally to beat Los Angeles.

Trailing by as many 20 points in the second half, Los Angeles had pulled within six with 1:11 remaining when Patrick Beverley was called for a foul on Jokic. Clippers coach Doc Rivers was incensed over the call and was given two technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points for Los Angeles. Clippers star forward Paul George missed his second straight game because of a strained left hamstring.

SUNS 100, HORNETS 92

PHOENIX — Kelly Oubre Jr had 25 points and 15 rebounds in Phoenix’s victory over Charlotte.

Oubre scored 15 points in the second half on a night when Suns star guard Devin Booker struggled from the floor, shooting 3 of 12. He had 12 points and nine assists.

Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix.

Dwayne Bacon scored 24 points for the Hornets.

GRIZZLIES 122, WARRIORS 102

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jonas Valanciunas had 31 points and a season-high 19 rebounds and Memphis handed Golden State its eighth straight loss.

Valanciunas was 13 of 17 from the field, including a 3-pointer to help the Grizzlies win their fifth straight. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 21 points, and Ja Morant had 11 points and 10 assists.

D’Angelo Russel led the Warriors with 34 points in his return from a right shoulder injury.

KNICKS 124, HEAT 121

NEW YORK — Julius Randle scored 26 points, RJ Barrett chipped in 23 and New York rallied to beat Miami.

Kevin Knox had 17 points off the bench and Reggie Bullock added 16 to help the Knicks snap a five-game losing streak.

Jimmy Butler had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat. They blew a lead down the stretch for the second time

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

PHOENIX — Kelly Oubre Jr had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 100-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.

Oubre scored 15 points in the second half on a night when Suns star guard Devin Booker struggled from the floor, shooting just 3 of 12. He finished with 12 points but added nine assists.

Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which has won five of its last eight games.

Dwayne Bacon scored 24 points for the Hornets, who have lost four straight and 10 of their last 12 games. Devonte Graham added 22 points and eight assists.

Bacon’s layup and free throw with 1:44 left cut the Suns’ lead to 89-87. Ayton put the Suns up 91-87 with a layup, and Oubre picked up a loose ball and dunked with 45 seconds left for a 93-87 lead.

The Hornets couldn’t recover.

Ayton threw down a dunk off a lob from Booker with 3:53 to go in the first quarter for a 14-11 lead, but the Hornets closed the quarter on a 13-4 run for a 24-18 lead.

Bacon scored seven of his team’s first 12 points to give Charlotte a 36-22 lead, its largest of the game. Bacon had 13 points in the first half.

The Suns appeared to lack energy early on, but got going with a 13-1 run in the second quarter to turn that 14-point deficit into a two-point game.

Oubre blocked a shot at one end and put in a layup at the other in a span of six seconds, making it 37-35. Dario Saric’s 3 tied the score at 42, and Ayton dunked with 1:51 left for a 46-45 lead.

Ayton had 12 first-half points. Neither team scored from that point on until halftime.

Oubre’s 3-pointer gave the Suns a 63-56 lead with 4:39 left in the third, but Bacon’s layup with 13 seconds remaining tied it at 71 going into the fourth quarter.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

DENVER— Nikola Jokic had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets withstood a big rally to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-104 on Sunday night.

Trailing by as many 20 points in the second half, Los Angeles had pulled within six with 1:11 remaining when Patrick Beverley was called for a foul on Jokic.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was incensed over the call and was given two technical fouls and tossed from the game. Jamal Murray hit both free throws to give the Nuggets some much-needed breathing room.

Murray finished with 19 points and reserve Michael Porter Jr. provided a spark by scoring 13 as the Nuggets bounced back from a loss to struggling Cleveland the night before at the Pepsi Center. Denver has yet to drop back-to-back home games this season.

Kawhi Leonard scored 30 for Los Angeles. Lou Williams had 26 and Montrezl Harrell added 25.

The Clippers played without star forward Paul George, who missed a second straight game with a strained left hamstring. Los Angeles dropped to 8-6 this season when George doesn’t play.

This game marked the first of three between two of the upper echelon teams in the Western Conference.

Gary Harris showed signs of breaking out of a shooting slump by scoring 15 points. He’s been diligently working on his jumper after shooting 25.6% over his last four games. He was 5 of 9 against the Clippers.

The Nuggets extended their lead to 89-69 with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter on Porter’s floating layup.

Denver had quite a sequence midway through the fourth when Will Barton blocked a shot and Jokic grabbed the rebound. He quickly threw it ahead to Barton, who then dished it off to Monte Morris for a 3-pointer.

Soon after, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run and was looking for more when Harrell was called for an offensive charge when he stepped in front of Jerami Grant, who was guarding Leonard. That didn’t sit well with the Clippers.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis center Jonas Valanciunas likes to remind people that there’s still room for the big man in today’s NBA. But after one of his most productive games of the season, he emphasized the team philosophy.

Valanciunas had 31 points and a season-high 19 rebounds and the Grizzlies dominated the second half, beating Golden State 122-102 on Sunday night to hand the Warriors their eighth straight loss.

“It wasn’t just running the play for me or somebody else,” Valanciunas said. “You just share the ball, play together, find the open man. … The ball was coming to my hands tonight.”

Valanciunas was 13 of 17 from the field, including a 3-pointer to help the Grizzlies win their fifth straight. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 21 points, while Ja Morant had 11 points and 10 assists. Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen also had 11 points each, Allen converting all three of his 3- pointers.

D’Angelo Russell, who missed the previous six games with a right shoulder contusion, led the Warriors with 34 points. Alec Burks and Jordan Poole each had 13.

“It’s the adversity that we have to keep chipping away at,” Russell said about the losing streak. “It’s not easy to win in this league. Just have to look at film and see what we can do to get better.”

The winning streak — the longest of the season for the Grizzlies — was built in the second half, Memphis outscoring the Warriors 62-43 after leading 60-59 at intermission.

Valanciunas had 14 points and 11 rebounds at halftime, and continued his dominance in the third, crashing the boards and cashing in on second-chance points. Then a 3-pointer. By the time he headed to the bench for a break late in the third, the center had 15 points in the quarter, drawing a standing ovation from the Memphis faithful.

That was part of Memphis outscoring Golden State 35-17 in the third for a 95-76 advantage after three.

“We’re all playing, sharing the ball, trying to find the open man,” Valanciunas said. “That gives us the advantage over another team. It’s fun to play that way. Just look for the open man and try to create a play for another guy.”

Source: Manila Bulletin