By Nick Giongco

The Philippine Sports Commission is a government arm that functions almost 24/7.

Its chairman, William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, spends the weekend — when high-ranking officials are given the opportunity to loosen their ties -— as if it is a regular workday in the PSC at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

During one recent Saturday afternoon at the Philsports in Pasig, Ramirez had to welcome group of young athletes so he could personally hear their plight.

“These athletes have problems, many concerns and this is the place where they feel comfortable expressing their feelings,” said Ramirez, who resides in one of the dormitories at the massive Pasig complex.

An appointee of Malacanang, the Davao City-bred Ramirez, 69, says his decision to stay at Philsports has allowed him to remain in touch with the athletes.

“In the mornings, I make it a point to go around and see if everything is in order,” said Ramirez, stressing that living among them enables him to get the pulse of the athletes.

So, on this particular sunny afternoon a few weeks ago, Ramirez had to forego plans of leaving the Philsports and have some down time elsewhere.

Instead of going on vacation-mode even for a day, Ramirez was still on work-mode.

“The heart and soul of Philippine sports is the athletes,” said Ramirez.

It is for this reason that Ramirez refuses to lower his guard.

“My instruction from upstairs is to look after the welfare of the athletes. Focus on the athletes,” he said.

Upstairs refers to the man calling the shots at Malacanang — President Duterte — who named him PSC chairman in 2016.

The position is nothing new to Ramirez as he had once assumed the same role more than a decade ago before being recalled following the 2008 Olympics.

At first, Ramirez was reluctant to return but was eventually convinced when Duterte urged him to assume the role anew.

It was there and then that Ramirez realized he had to live up to his marching orders.

“I have been here before so I knew what had to be done.”

Guided by the past, Ramirez zeroed in on the athletes’ concerns and patiently listened to their grievances, their needs.

Ramirez feels the PSC is fulfilling its mantra and in the run-up to the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the PSC is rallying behind the athletes and working closely with the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) in assuring that the event proceeds smoothly.

To ensure that the athletes get what they deserve, the PSC ventured into the rehabilitation of its facilities not only found at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex but at Philsports and Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City as well.

And for the first time in its close to 30-year history, the PSC   released P1-billion for the training and overseas exposure of the SEAG-bound bets to increase the country’s chances of winning the overall crown.

Still, Ramirez bares the PSC had been put in a bind many times over as its roles in staging the SEAG ran along unparallel lines with that of Phisgoc and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

But before things got out of hand, a tripartite agreement was forged, putting the PSC in a support role to the Phisgoc and its chairman, now House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The POC, led by Tagaytay Rep. Bambol Tolentino, also has a limited role in running the SEAG, but is vital in making the hosting a success alongside that of the PSC.

Interestingly, the hosting of the 30th SEAG started off on the wrong foot.

When Brunei withdrew from hosting, Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco, then the POC president, offered to step in and become the alternate venue.

That time, the Marawi siege was a pressing matter and it took several influential officials to find a solution to the problem with now Sen. Bong Go, then the Special Assistant to the President, and Sen. Migs Zubiri joining hands.

But before the transfer of hosting rights could be formalized, the POC underwent a massive change in leadership when Ricky Vargas of boxing assumed the presidency during a court-ordered elections in 2018.

Vargas stepped down, however, in just over a year owing to the pressure of work.

Tolentino, who heads cycling, then took over when he won another special elections that the International Olympic Committee had ordered in light of Vargas’ resignation.

Ramirez initially declined then POC president Vargas’ offer to name him SEAG Chief of Mission.

But after a crucial meeting at Malacanang, Ramirez had a change of heart. And it was in that position that he he helped muster support for the SEAG hosting when Tolentino took over the POC helm.

“In the spirit of unity and to be of help (I decided to assume the role of SEAG CDM) since I will have an advantage being the chairman of the PSC,” said Ramirez.

“The interest of the country is at stake here, and as the SEAG slogan declares, ‘We win as one.’”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

The battle for spectators goes full blast in the 30th Southeast Asian Games!

Basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena remains the undisputed champion, with an all-PBA national team guaranteed to lure in a capacity crowd every game. But challengers have now emerged, with the wannabes — from volleyball at the Philsports Arena in Pasig to gymnastics, weightlifting, football and tennis at the refurbished Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and, of course, athletics and swimming at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac — eager to dethrone the national pastime as biggest draw.

With the biennial meet unfolding Saturday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, action now flies and furious for the next 12 days in various venues. Expect, however, several sports to hog the spotlight with its popularity among the audience.

Fans, understandably, are expected to come in droves at the MOA in Pasay City when competition fires off in men’s basketball starting Dec. 4.

The Nationals are perennial champions in the sport considered by Filipinos as close to religion and are all but 100 percent sealed to deliver the gold medal regardless of naturalized players in the opposition.

The country has won 17 of 19 basketball gold medals in the meet, reigning supreme since the 1991 Manila edition.

Pro players are representing Gilas Pilipinas, certain to attract PBA fans who would be looking forward to watch their favorite players, among them June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena and Troy Rosario, in one team.

Also interesting for fans to watch will be Gilas’ former coach, Serbian Rajko Toroman, who is calling the shots for the Indonesian team. How well Toroman can motivate his players against a virtual All-Star Philippine team and its multi-Grand Slam coach, Tim Cone, is a question legions will pay hard money to see answered — live.

Volleyball’s magnetism could will be filled to the rafters with volleyball fans when competition unfolds on Dec. 2.

Volleyball’s popularity continues to rise in the country, and the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes and Aby Maraño donning the national colors and competing against the best squads from the region, especially dynastic ruler Thailand, will be a mouth-watering attraction followers will be eager to watch up close.

The Thais, who have been dominating the women’s division over the last nine editions, have world-class players like Pleumjit Thinkaow and Tomkom Nootsara, making the PH-Thai game a must-see for sports fans.

Also getting more crowd support will be gymnastics at the refurbished Rizal Memorial Coliseum where breathtaking Carlos Yulo seeks his first SEA Games gold medal after becoming the first Filipino and male Southeast Asian athlete to rule an event in World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the floor exercise.

And then there’s Rio Olympics silver medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, also going for her first SEAG gold medal at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Swimming, one of the centerpiece sports, will be rocking with the presence of Olympian Joseph Schooling of Singapore at the Aquatic Center in New Clark City, and the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, which opened its lights days before the inaugural ceremony, will come to its riveting conclusion, pulling in hordes of Azkals and football fanatics.

When the world-class Athletics Stadium lifts the curtains for the track and field event, no seat is expected to be left unoccupied at the NCC, with Tokyo Olympics-bound pole vaulter EC Obiena highlighting the event.

Boxing, behind world champion Nesthy Petecio and world silver medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, will brawl its way to a close finish from the Philippine International Convention Center, while the ageless Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes will be pulling off more magic tricks in the billiards competition at the Manila Hotel Tent.

Darkhorses would be Subic where triathlon and open water events will be held; Tagaytay, where cycling and Asian Games gold medal skateboarder Margie Didal will be wowing the crowd, and RMSC tennis courts with Treat Huey and Francis Alcantara returning for national team duty.

So get those venue tickets ready and let the Filipino athletes feel the roaring hometown crowd behind them every step of the way wherever they are doing battle… starting now!

Source: Manila Bulletin

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

John Riel Casimero scored a third-round KO of South African Zolani Tete Saturday night (early Sunday morning in Manila) to capture the WBO bantamweight title in Birmingham, England.

Tete took the first two rounds but Casimero, fighting for the second time on British soil, sent Tete down with a right to the head.

Although he managed to get up, Tete was obviously shaken and Casimero dropped him again before the referee stepped in as the Filipino went in for the kill.

In winning the WBO 118-lb title, Casimero became the fourth Filipino to win three world titles in as many weight classes after Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes.

Casimero thus joined Pacquiao, Jerwin Ancajas and Pedro Taduran as the Philippines reigning world champions.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

CLARKFIELD, Pampanga – Unless they step on a banana peel on the way to the finish, the country’s top bets in triathlon are earning the distinction of producing the host country’s first gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Defending champion Kim Mangrobang and John Rambo Chicano, are poised to rule their respective events during the morning sessions in Subic, Zambales.

Actually, Chicano will be the first to take the plunge in the swim-bike-run event at 6 a.m. Mangrobang will get her turn at 8 a.m. as the Philippines puts its bid to win the overall crown in motion.

The triathlon medals that will be given away on the first day of competitions would be the first few from the 530 up for grabs in the 11-day event featuring 56 sports.

Mangrobang is also being paired with Fil-foreign bet Kim Kilgroe in what will likely end up as a 1-2 finish for the Philippines after pulling off the same feat two years ago in Kuala Lumpur with Maria Claire Adorna.

As for Chicano, he will have fast-rising Cebuano Kim Remolino as partner as they attempt to take the first two spots.

In Malaysia, Chicano settled for silver behind Nikko Huelgas.

Chicano insists that there is only one color that he wants to grab as he relish representing the country once more.

“Syempre andoon pa rin ‘yung mindset na goal natin maka-gold para sa Philippines,” said Chicano. “Doon lang kami nakatingin ngayon.”

“Yung feeling na nire-represent mo ‘yung bansa sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam lalong lalo na kung nananalo ka para sa bayan mo.”

Still, Chicano remains wary of rivals from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

“Andyan pa rin ‘yung Singapore eh, malakas pa rin ‘yung lineup nila ngayon eh. Tinitignan din namin ‘yung Malaysia and Vietnam kasi malakas daw ‘yung swimmer nila so tingnan natin,” he said.

But Chicano swears he is not even thinking about settling for scraps.

“Pero gold pa rin ang target natin,” he said.

While triathlon earns the distinction of flagging off the competition proper of the SEAG, the Philippine campaign will go full blast on other fronts.

Arnis, the national martial art, will be dangling eight gold medals when action gets going at the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City.

After the morning eliminations, the finals will be played in the afternoon and the Philippines and Vietnam are solid picks to figure in the gold medal matches.

Weightlifting, popularized by the silver medal finish of Hidilyn Diaz in the 2016 Rio Olympics, also starts Sunday at the newly-renovated Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila with Mary Flor Diaz, cousin of the Olympic runnerup, competing in the 45 kg women’s class.

The national team is aiming to win five golds with the Diaz’s leading the women’s charge and making up the solid cast are Elien Rose Perez (49kg), Margaret Colonia (59kg), Elreen Ann Ando (64) and Kristel Macrohon (71kg) in the women’s category.

Veteran Nestor Colonia is the men’s top bet. John Fabuar Ceniza (55kg) and Dave Llyod Pacaldo (61kg) make up the squad.

Ten gold medals are at stake in weightlifting but the Philippines will campaign in nine.

Over in Laurel, Batangas, the men and women’s cross-country mountain bike also gets rolling.

The Filipinos are also making their move on opening day in danceport, kurash, lawn bowls, windsurfing, sailing, sepak takraw, shooting and wushu aside from on-going bids in football and water polo.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga & Waylon Galvez

World champion Carlos Yulo starts his quest to win seven gold medals as the men’s artistic gymnastics of the 30th Southeast Asian Games fires off today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The 19-year-old Yulo will take part in the qualification for the men’s individual all-around set 2 p.m. where he is expected to showcase his world-class skills in front of fellow Filipinos inside the newly-refurbished coliseum.

Yulo enters the event riding high on his run as the first-ever Filipino and male gymnast from Southeast Asia to win the Artistics Gymnastics World Championships last month in Stuttgart, Germany.

He spent the four years training extensively in Japan under the watchful eyes of coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

Also set to lead the PH squad is Reyland Capellan, who won the floor exercise gold in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.

Other Filipino bets are Justine Ace De Leon, Jan Gwynn Timbang and John Matthew Vergara.

Vietnam is slated to go full force after collecting five gold medals in the previous edition.

Basketball action starts with the 3×3 competitions at The Arena in San Juan City.

PBA players CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Jason Perkins and Mo Tautuaa see action in the men’s side while the women’s team is composed of Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino and Clare Castro.

The men’s team faces  Indonesia at 11:20 a.m., followed by a 12 noon battle against Myanmar. They clash with Vietnam at 2:40 p.m. and meet Thailand at 3:40 p.m.

The female cagers, meanwhile, battle Myanmar at 9:40 a.m., Malaysia at 11:40 a.m. and Indonesia at 2 p.m.

The top four teams will advance in the crossover semifinals, which will be played during the afternoon session of Day 2, with the gold medal match to held in the evening of the same day.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Tito S. Talao

BOCAUE — In an opening ceremony like no other — awash in ever-changing shades of color and dark, dazzled with pomp and pageantry that fused together cultural heritage, Hollywood production and blistering rap, and held 50,000 people in rapt and suspense which reached its explosive climax when boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, peeling off a white hood to reveal his face and sprinting a few steps, set ablaze a 50-meter cauldron 87 kilometers away — the curtains to the 30th Southeast Asian Games were raised last night by one of the most powerful man in the region standing beside one of the wealthiest man in the world.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who later clapped and swayed to the popular ‘70s Hotdog hit song ‘Manila,’ stood up from his sky lounge seat high up the Philippine Arena, alongside Brunei’s Sultan and Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah, and declared the biennial sports meet open as the capacity crowd roared, thousands of them turning on their cell phone flashlights to create a star-filled phenomenon inside the cavernous venue.

“We’re celebrating the Games of Southeast Asia. Mabuhay tayong lahat!” Duterte said as ‘fireworks’ went off at the catwalk above.

Two high-ranking officials involved in the SEA Games hosting were not as economical with their words.

Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chairman and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano spoke about putting action into the faith of those who believed in the country’s bid to host the meet.

“We gather as children of God seeking to build a better world,” he said.

Cayetano also paid tribute to the Filipino athletes in attendance.

“We look at them and we see strength and wisdom, our own future,” he said. “We see passion, sacrifice, discipline and respect.”

He then delivered the country’s battle cry in its bid to reclaim regional supremacy.

“We build us one, we work as one, we win as one,” he said.

Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, followed with a more emotional and personal message.

Addressing everybody involved in organizing the highly-secret inaugural ceremony, done indoors for the first time, Tolentino said: “You’re now part of history. It was daunting and challenging but you have made our country proud. Now, more than ever, I’m so pround to be a Filipino.”

He added: “This is a defining moment for us Filipinos.”

The spacious, snow-resembling stage served as the traditional track oval which welcomed the amazing show’s highlight — the parade of participating countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia followed by Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar, each delegation following by a pagoda-inspired woodwork under which Filipina beauties walked as spectators applauded.

It was after the Myanmar contingent that the decibel of applause rose to deafening level as the crowd anticipated an alphabetical order of entrance which would place the Philippines next.

Instead, Singapore came out next, then Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and finally the host athletes, with a big Philippine flag held up by Margie Didal, Kiyomi Watanabe, Meggie Ochoa, Eumir Felix Marcial and EJ Obiena leading the way again to the beat of song ‘Manila.’

It was here that Duterte found it irresistible to swing to the rhythm of the music, a giant video monitor catching his moves as the crowd rumbled.

Conspicuously absent from the mammoth Philippine delegation were members of Gilas Pilipinas, who reports said skipped the opening ceremony to practice. Their non-appearance was hardly noticed, judging from the wild reaction.

A heart-tugging moment came when legends of Philippines sports — Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Akiko Thomson-Guevarra, Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eric Buhain, Bong Coo and Alvin Patrimonio walked in bearing the Southeast Asian Games Federation Flag, the sight of the heroes and heroines from a bygone era bringing back fond memories of their unparalleled feats.

And, of course, there were the song numbers, reaching feverish heights when the Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.De.Ap leaped onto the stage and brought the house down, along with the Ryan Cayabyab composition “We Win As One.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

John Riel Casimero of the Philippines battles defending champion Zolani Tete of South Africa for the World Boxing Organization bantamweight title Saturday night (early Sunday morning in the Philippines) in Birmingham, England.

During the official weighin, Casimero came in at 117.25 lbs while Tete, who is making the fourth defense of the WBO 118-lb title crown for the fourth time, tipped in at 116.25.

If victorious, Casimero, who earned the shot owing to his status as interim champion due yo Tete’s inactivity because of a shoulder injury, will join Manny Pacquiao, Jerwin Ancajas and Pedro Taduran as the Philippines’ current world champions.

Last August in Manila, Casimero knocked out Cesar Ramirez of Mexico to formally secure his shot at Tete.

Casimero, who will be making his second appearance on British soil, trained for almost two months in Las Vegas to get ready for Tete.

Source: Manila Bulletin

DETROIT (AP) — Langston Galloway’s shot from near midcourt rimmed out at the buzzer, and the Charlotte Hornets held on for a 110-107 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Charlotte completed a home-and-home sweep of the Pistons this week. Detroit must be wondering what it has to do to beat the Hornets. Charlotte edged the Pistons 109-106 earlier in the month and 102-101 on Wednesday night.

This matchup went down to the wire again. The Hornets rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final quarter and led by three with 8.9 seconds left. Detroit inbounded the ball, and Luke Kennard missed a 3-pointer from near the top of the key. Galloway was able to run down the loose ball, and his last-ditch shot looked on line, but it wouldn’t go in.

P.J. Washington scored 26 points for Charlotte, and Terry Rozier added 23. The Hornets were without center Cody Zeller because of a left hip injury.
Derrick Rose led the Pistons with 23 points.

SPURS 107, CLIPPERS 97

In San Antonio, LaMarcus Aldridge and Derrick White each had 17 points, and San Antonio beat Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles.
The Spurs stopped the Clippers’ seven-game win streak in Leonard’s second appearance in San Antonio as an opponent. Leonard finished with 19 points on 8-for-23 shooting.

San Antonio had lost two straight and 12 of 14, but found its footing against Los Angeles.

Leonard spent his first seven seasons in San Antonio before demanding a trade. He was shipped off to Toronto and won his second NBA Finals MVP last season before joining the Clippers as a free agent.

Leonard’s initial return to San Antonio on Jan. 24 resulted in thunderous boos and a 125-107 loss for the Raptors.

NETS 112, CELTICS 107

In New York, Spencer Dinwiddie had 32 points and 11 assists while Kyrie Irving was again unable to face his former team, and Brooklyn beat Boston to split a home-and-home series.

Irving missed his eighth straight game with a right shoulder injury but was at the arena to get an evaluation and watch from the bench along with Kevin Durant as Dinwiddie kept up his strong play in his place. The Eastern Conference player of the week last week matched his highest assist total of the season and was two shy of his best scoring performance of the season.

Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who bounced back from their 121-110 loss in Boston on Wednesday night to win for the fifth time in six games.

Jayson Tatum had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics.

HEAT 122, WARRIORS 105

In Miami, Goran Dragic scored 20 points, Tyler Herro added 19 and Miami remained perfect at home this season.

Duncan Robinson scored 17 for Miami, which is 8-0 at home for the second time in franchise history — tying the mark set by the 2012-13 Heat. Robinson and Herro were a combined 10 for 13 from 3-point range.

Jimmy Butler scored 16, while Kendrick Nunn and Kelly Olynyk each had 15 for the Heat.

Jordan Poole scored 20 for injury-ravaged Golden State, which was playing the opener of a five-game road trip. Eric Paschall scored 17 and Alec Burks finished with 16 for the Warriors.

The Warriors are one of four teams without back-to-back wins this season, joining Chicago, Detroit and New York.

76ERS 101, KNICKS 95

In New York, Joel Embiid had 27 points and 17 rebounds, James Ennis III scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, and Philadelphia overcame a sluggish start and beat New York.

Tobias Harris scored 19, and Ben Simmons chipped in 16 points, including a game-sealing steal and dunk late in the fourth quarter for the 76ers, who have won two straight and six of seven.

Julius Randle had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Marcus Morris Sr. scored 20 points for the Knicks, who have lost a season-high five straight.

The 76ers were playing without starters Al Horford (rest) and Josh Richardson (right hamstring injury) and it showed in the first half as their offense struggled. Philadelphia shot 13 for 38 from the field, including 2 for 18 behind the 3-point line.

JAZZ 103, GRIZZLIES 94

In Memphis, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, helping Utah pull away from Memphis.

Bogdanovic matched his season-high scoring mark, going 12 of 20 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range as Utah snapped a two-game losing streak. Donovan Mitchell added 20 points, and Rudy Gobert had 13 points, 13 rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Jonas Valanciunas led Memphis with 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Brandon Clarke scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The Grizzlies have lost six straight.

PACERS 105, HAWKS 104, OT

In Indianapolis, Jeremy Lamb scored 20 points, T.J. Warren hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Indiana outlasted Trae Young and Atlanta in overtime.

Young matched his career high with 49 points in the Hawks’ ninth straight loss. He was 16 of 28 from the field, hitting 8 of 15 from 3-point range.

Lamb got the Pacers started in overtime with a 20-foot jumper and he fed Myles Turner for a 3-pointer. Warren made his only 3-pointer of the game with 1:12 remaining to push the Pacers to their fifth consecutive victory.

Turner and Domantas Sabonis each scored 17 points, and Warren and Malcomb Brogdon had 16 apiece.

DeAndre’ Bembry and Alex Len added 15 points each for Atlanta.

THUNDER 109, PELICANS 104

In Oklahoma City, Dennis Schroder scored 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and had seven assists to help Oklahoma City beat New Orleans.

Abdel Nader scored 19 points and Danilo Gallinari had 17 for Oklahoma City (7-11), which had been 1-4 in its previous five games. Steven Adams added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, including the final four points in the last minute.

Brandon Ingram scored 26 points and had eight rebounds to lead New Orleans (6-13), which lost its fourth straight. J.J. Redick added 16 points for the Pelicans but missed two 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds. New Orleans had seven players score in double digits.

MAVERICKS 120, SUNS 113

In Phoenix, Luka Doncic tied a career high with 42 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 26 and Dallas beat Phoenix.

Doncic just missed a triple-double with 11 assists and nine rebounds. Hardaway shot 6 of 9 from 3-point range to help offset a quiet night from Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with two points.

The teams entered the final quarter tied at 89. The Mavericks went on an 8-0 run midway through the fourth to take a 104-97 lead and never trailed again.

Phoenix has lost six of its last seven games. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Suns with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Ricky Rubio added 21 points and nine assists.

LAKERS 125, WIZARDS 103

In Los Angeles, Anthony Davis had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and LeBron James had 23 points and 11 assists before both superstars took the fourth quarter off in Los Angeles’ 10th consecutive victory.

Quinn Cook scored 17 points and JaVale McGee had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the steamrolling Lakers, who have won 17 of 18 to soar to the top of the overall NBA standings. Los Angeles went 14-1 in November, posting the most victories in a month for this 16-time champion franchise since March 2000.

The up-tempo Wizards have been one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams this season, and the Lakers’ dynamic offense was far too much for them.

Bradley Beal had 18 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who have lost three of four. Washington got off to a solid start and had several good stretches against the Lakers, but committed 19 turnovers and lost for the second time in three stops on a four-game West Coast road trip.

TRAIL BLAZERS 107, BULLS 103

In Portland, Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Portland downed Chicago for its second victory over the Bulls this week.

Damian Lillard added 28 points for the Blazers, who have won three straight after four consecutive losses. Hassan Whiteside had eight points, 15 rebounds and a franchise-record 10 blocks for Portland.

Zach LaVine finished with 28 for the slumping Bulls, who have lost seven of their last nine games.

Source: Manila Bulletin

 

Source: Manila Bulletin