By Nick Giongco

After 14 long years, the Philippines returned to the summit of Southeast Asian Games supremacy when it garnered 149 gold medals in the 30th staging of the SEAG on home soil.

Banking on the potent support of the government and the public, the host country went on a blistering pace and even with four days of competition remaining in the 12-day event, it already had the overall crown in the bag.

Pulling it off wasn’t actually rocket science.

All the Philippine Olympic Committee did, led by its intrepid president Bambol Tolentino, was focus on sports where the Philippines had genuine chances of winning not just a medal, but a gold at that.

The formula worked wonders for the Philippines since the SEAG Federation Council members—the 11-member SEAG countries—almost always agree to allow the host to pick sports where they excel in.

Partnering with the Philippine Sports Commission, whose chairman Butch Ramirez also took the job of chief of mission of the Philippine team and whose office pumped in hefty funding for the athletes’ training and overseas exposure, and the Phisgoc, which organized the SEAG, there was simply no turning back for the Philippines in gunning for the overall championship.

When the mushroom dissipated, Vietnam, the host of the 2021 edition, could only grab 98 while Thailand, the undisputed champion of the biennial sportsfest, was a distant third with 92.

Arnis, danceport and athletics provided the oomph in the Philippines’ total gold tally with a combined production of 34.

But taking the spotlight still were the marquee sports with basketball staging a coup with the unfancied women’s team winning alongside the all-pro men’s squad.

World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo also delivered by taking two gold and five silver medals while Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz lived up to her lofty billing by capturing the gold in her 55 kg event in weightlifting.

Boxing, the traditional provider, had 12 out of 13 fighters winning medals with seven bagging gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Taekwondo took eight and wushu had seven while skating and obstacle racing chipped in six each.

There were also breakthroughs in other sports with squash finally winning its first-ever gold; swimming ending its 10-year gold drought; and combat sports Muay, kickboxing, judo, jiujitsu, karate, sambo, kurash and wrestling refusing to be outdone.

But there were big letdowns as well with bowling, whose history is stuffed with legends, failing to strike even once.
Table tennis and badminton remained stagnant.

Still, the SEAG, particularly this one which the country hosted, transcended not just feats of strength and endurance, speed and sheer skills.

It also marked the display of man’s often-forgotten trait of caring for humanity that was personified by surfer Roger Casogay, who came to the rescue of an Indonesian rival whose leash broke after being pummeled by heavy waves.

Casogay came to the aid of Arip Nurhidayat during the heats just two days before he gave the Philippines a gold.

Casogay’s humanitarian deed didn’t escape the eyes of President Rodrigo Duterte, who warmly received him at Malacañang.

Even Indonesian president Joko Widodo was so touched by Casogay’s act that he praised him to high heavens upon learning of Nurhidayat’s rescue.

“Winning the competition and upholding sportsmanship is important, but humanity is above all,” Widodo said in a statement.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Christian Standhardinger could end up winning his first Best Player of the Conference award despite finishing third in the Statistical Points race at the end of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.

The all-around big man of the NorthPort Batang Pier compiled 35.1 Statistical Points, trailing only San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo (38.8) and Columbian rookie CJ Perez (37.2).

Fajardo and Perez remained 1-2 in the race but are likely to be bypassed after SMB was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Columbian failed to make the playoffs.

NLEX guard Kiefer Ravena placed fourth at 34.5 SPs but his team missed out on a semis berth after Standhardinger and the No. 8 seed Batang Pier beat the top-ranked Road Warriors twice in a stunning quarterfinal upset.

The league has yet to witness a BPC winner that failed to reach at least the semifinals, thus making things tough for Fajardo, Perez and Ravena.

TNT KaTropa’s Jayson Castro, the other semifinalist who made the top five, registered 31.6 SPs.

No player from finalists Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco made it to the top five with the Kings’ Stanley Pringle placing sixth (30.8) and teammate Japeth Aguilar in eighth (29.9) and Chris Newsome of the Bolts at ninth spot (29.8).

Castro was the last non-finalist to win the BPC, taking home the award in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.

Standhardinger became one of the league’s best big man after being traded by San Miguel to NorthPort in exchange for Mo Tautuaa last Oct. 14.

He averaged 17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 15 games this conference, his numbers affected by his limited appearances with SMB prior to the trade.

Standhardinger played four games for the Beermen and produced just 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes.

But he capitalized on NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio’s promise to give him significant playing time after the deal and averaged 22.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 40 minutes per contest.

Forty percent of the stats will be used to determine the BPC winner while the rest are votes from the media (30%), players (25%) and the PBA Commissioner’s Office (5%).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James became the ninth player in NBA history to reach 9,000 assists and Anthony Davis scored 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-95 on Sunday night.

James — who turns 35 on Monday — reached the milestone with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter when he fired an outlet pass to Davis three-quarters of the way down the court for a dunk. It was one of 13 assists on the night for James as he finished with 13 points.

Davis was 8 of 12 from the field in his 26th game this season with 20 or more points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added a season-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, and Dwight Howard scored 15. All of Howard’s points came in the second quarter.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 19 points but struggled from the field one night after recording his ninth triple-double of the season. The second-year guard shot 5 of 14 and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. Delon Wright came off the bench to score 14.

Doncic got to shake hands with Lakers great Kobe Bryant courtside after the game.

Los Angeles — which won two straight after a four-game losing streak — led most of the way. It was up 35-31 midway through the second quarter before going on a 12-2 run to take control. The Mavericks committed four turnovers during the spurt which led to seven Lakers points, including a pair of dunks by Howard.

The Lakers’ largest lead was 17 midway through the third quarter.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES— LeBron James became the ninth player in NBA history to reach 9,000 assists, Anthony Davis scored 23 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks 108-95 on Sunday night.

James — who turns 35 on Monday — reached the milestone with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter when he fired an outlet pass to Davis three-quarters of the way down the court for a dunk. It was one of 13 assists on the night for James. He finished with 13 points.

Davis was 8 of 12 from the field in his 26th game this season with 20 or more points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added a season-high 19 points and Dwight Howard scored 15 points — all in the second quarter.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 19 points but struggled from the field a night after his ninth triple-double of the season. He shot 5 of 14 and missed all six of his 3-point attempts.

Los Angeles has won two straight after a four-game losing streak.

THUNDER 98, RAPTORS 97

TORONTO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career-high with 32 points, Chris Paul had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Oklahoma City beat Toronto for its sixth win in seven games.

Nerlens Noel added 13 points and Darius Bazley had 11 to help the Thunder win their fifth straight in Toronto. Oklahoma City has won 11 of 15 overall.

Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors. They lost for the third time in four games.

Gilgeous-Alexander made the go-ahead basket on a jump shot with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, then grabbed the rebound on a missed 3-pointer by VanVleet. The third-year guard, who was born in Toronto and raised in nearby Hamilton, has scored 32 points three times in his past five games.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s basket was the sixth straight scoring play to change the lead in a tight final quarter. The lead changed 20 times in the game, and the teams were tied 10 times.

PELICANS 127, ROCKETS 112

NEW ORLEANS — Lonzo Ball highlighted a season-high 27-point performance with a career-high seven 3-pointers and New Orleans beat undermanned Houston for its fourth straight victory.

Brandon Ingram also had 27 points and Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore each added 25, with Moore setting a career high.

Houston played without James Harden (sprained toe), Russell Westbrook (rest) and Clint Capela (bruised heel). Daniel House Jr. scored 22 points for Houston and Eric Gordon, returning for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in mid-November, added 20 points.

NUGGETS 120, KINGS 115

DENVER — Will Barton scored 19 points, including two free throws with eight seconds left, to help Denver hold off Sacramento for its ninth victory in 10 games.

Michael Porter Jr. had a season-high 19 points and six rebounds in his first start. Nikola Jokic added 17 points and eight rebounds.

Nemenja Bjelica scored 27 points for Sacramento, and De’Aaron Fox had 18 points and 13 assists in his return to the lineup. The Kings have lost seven in a row.

GRIZZLIES 117, HORNETS 104

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — Dillon Brooks scored 20 points, rookie Brandon Clarke added 18 and Memphis sent Charlotte to its fifth straight loss.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 16 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis. Malik Monk led Charlotte with 18 points off the bench and provided a fourth-quarter boost that pulled the Hornets within single-digits. Devonte’ Graham had 16 points and 10 assists.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam of Cameroon and Spanish center Marc Gasol, key players in last season’s NBA championship run, will be sidelined indefinitely with injuries, the Canadian club announced.

Siakam suffered a groin strain after awkwardly landing in the fourth quarter of a 112-99 victory at Detroit while Gasol suffered a left hamstring injury in the same contest and will miss at least two weeks.

Also hurt in the fourth quarter against the Pistons was US reserve guard Norman Powell, who is out indefinitely with a left shoulder injury.

The setbacks come with the Raptors, who lost NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers in the off-season, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference at 19-8 after a three-game win streak.

Siakam, 25, has become Toronto’s top scorer with 25.1 points a game and best rebounder with 8.0 per contest. He and Gasol, 34, also each average one blocked shot a game.

Gasol is averaging 6.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists a game while Powell, 26, has produced 14.4 points a game in a largely reserve role.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Japanese star Kei Nishikori pulled out of the inaugural ATP Cup Monday as he continues to struggle with an elbow injury that has kept him out since the US Open.

The former world number four, who has slipped to 13, said he was disappointed not to be representing his country in Perth at the team event starting on January 3.

“Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready to compete at the highest level,” he said in a statement.

Nishikori’s elbow needed surgery in October and it is unclear whether he will be fit for the Australian Open when the first Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on January 20.

Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top-ranked player in Japan’s ATP Cup team.

Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event earlier this week, with Toshihide Matsui taking his place.

Nishikori’s absence is another blow for event after Britain’s Andy Murray pules out over the weekend with a pelvic injury and Roger Federer opted to give it a miss.

The innovative team championship, from January 3-12, offers $15 million in prize money and a maximum of 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points.

It will see 24 nations split into six groups, with eight teams emerging from the round-robin stage to compete in the knockout phase.

Sydney will host the finals, along with group games which will also be held in Brisbane and Perth.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

DENVER — Will Barton scored 19 points, including two free throws with eight seconds left to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the Sacramento Kings 120-115 on Sunday night.

Michael Porter Jr. got his first career start, and the rookie delivered with a season-high 19 points and six rebounds. Nikola Jokic had 17 points and eight rebounds for Denver, which has won nine of 10.

The Nuggets finished their three-game homestand with two wins, coming back after a disappointing loss to New Orleans on Christmas. Jokic had a triple-double in the win over Memphis on Saturday night but was quieter against the Kings. He sat for most of the first half with three fouls and finished with five points.

De’Aaron Fox returned to the Kings lineup with 18 points and 13 assists. Nemenja Bjelica scored 27 but couldn’t prevent Sacramento from losing its seventh in a row.

Denver gave up 42 fourth-quarter points to the Grizzlies and nearly gave away the game against the Kings. The Nuggets led by 14 midway through the final period but Sacramento hit four 3-pointers, two by Bjelica and one by Buddy Hield, who finished with 20 points, to make it a three-point game.

Denver sank six free throws down the stretch and held on.

Jerami Grant scored 18 points and Mason Plumlee, a 54% free throw shooter, was 9 of 10 from the foul line and finished with 15.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — Dillon Brooks scored 20 points, rookie Brandon Clarke added 18 and the Memphis Grizzlies sent Charlotte to its fifth straight loss, beating the Hornets 117-104 on Sunday night.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 16 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis.

Malik Monk led Charlotte with 18 points off the bench and provided a fourth-quarter boost that pulled the Hornets within single-digits. Devonte’ Graham had 16 points and 10 assists, but was 5 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 12 from outside the arc. P.J. Washington also scored 16 points for Charlotte.

Each time Charlotte made a run, the Grizzlies answered, including the final six minutes after the Hornets pulled to 99-91. Brooks scored the next three baskets in the lane, and Memphis led 105-91.

There were times in the third quarter when Charlotte got within five points only to have the Grizzlies push the advantage back to double digits. Memphis held an 86-75 lead heading to the fourth.

Charlotte struggled shooting early, converting on three of its first 16 shots. That helped Memphis build the lead to 20 before settling on a 56-46 Memphis lead at the break.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Lonzo Ball highlighted a season-high 27-point performance with a career-high seven 3-pointers, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the undermanned Houston Rockets 127-112 on Sunday night for their fourth straight victory.

E’Twaun Moore hit five 3s and scored a season-high 25 points for New Orleans, which trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter before suddenly seizing complete control against a Houston squad without its three most productive players: James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela.

Brandon Ingram added 27 points and Jrue Holiday 25 for New Orleans, which will enter the new year having won five of six games as they await the debut of No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson. Derek Favors had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Daniel House Jr. scored 22 and Eric Gordon, returning for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in mid-November, added 20 points. Isaiah Hartenstein, making his first-career start, had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who shot 51.9% (42 of 81), made 15 3s and spent much of the opening three quarters in the lead.

Houston led 95-86 after Gordon’s driving finger roll to open the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans suddenly took over with an 18-1 run fueled by Moore, who drained four 3s and a jumper in the span of 3:04. And when he missed a 3 off the front rim, Holiday came flying down the lane to slam it home with two hands. Ball capped the run with a steal from Austin Rivers that he converted into a transition layup to make it 104-96.

Harden, who’d been listed as questionable with a sprained toe after scoring 44 in a victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, was scratched from the lineup for the first time this season.

The Rockets started fast offensively as Gordon wasted no time finding his stroke. He hit a 3 for the game’s first points and hit another in the final seconds of the first quarter to give the Rockets a 37-36 lead.

Gordon also opened the second quarter with his third 3 and Houston widened its lead to 45-36 on Ben McLemore’s finger roll.

New Orleans regained the lead at 52-51 on Moore’s 3 and the game was close the remainder of the quarter, with Ball’s fifth 3 of the game tying it at 64, seconds before the half ended.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

TORONTO  — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came home to Canada and matched his career high by banking in the winning basket.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, Chris Paul had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Toronto Raptors 98-97 on Sunday night for their sixth win in seven games.

“It feels good but all of it, honestly, wouldn’t have meant anything if we didn’t win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That was the best feeling, knowing that we came out of here with a win.”

Nerlens Noel added 13 points and Darius Bazley had 11 to help the Thunder win their fifth straight in Toronto. Oklahoma City has won 11 of 15 overall.

“With a team like us that’s fighting night in and night out to stay above .500, it’s a great feeling,” Paul said. “They’re the defending champs, they know how to win close games, and we pulled this one out.”

Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors. Toronto lost for the third time in four games.

Patrick McCaw scored 13 points and Terence Davis had 11 for Toronto.

Gilgeous-Alexander made the go-ahead basket on a jump shot with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, then grabbed the rebound on a missed 3-pointer by VanVleet.

“He’s been excited to come back,” Paul said about his third-year teammate. “Everybody here in Canada, know you all got a real one.”

Born in Toronto and raised in nearby Hamilton, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 32 points three times in his past five games.

“This one might be the best one so far,” he said.

Lowry said he was impressed with Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored 20 or more in six straight games.

“He played like he was home tonight,” Lowry said. “Honestly, he’s been playing unbelievable. His confidence, his patience, his pace has been great.”

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he’s seen Gilgeous-Alexander mature as an offensive threat during his recent run.

“He’s finding his areas where he can score,” Donovan said. “He’s figuring out, inside of our offense, when there’s good times to really go attack and be aggressive.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning basket was the sixth straight scoring play to change the lead in a tight final quarter. The lead changed 20 times in the game, including nine times in the fourth, and the teams were tied on 10 occasions.

Source: Manila Bulletin