By the Associated Press

Nikola Jokic had a season-high 20 rebounds and Jerami Grant added a season-best 20 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 117-104 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Jokic finished one rebound shy of his career best and scored eight points in Denver’s sixth straight win.

As Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant, front, loses control of the ball, Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans, back left, and guards Ish Smith and C.J. Miles pursue the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 117-104. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Will Barton had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Jamal Murray added 16 points and Mason Plumlee scored 15 for the Nuggets, who are 10-1 in November and ended a three-game home losing streak against the Wizards.

Denver held one of the NBA’s prolific offenses to its second-fewest point total of the season. Washington entered the game averaging 119.1 points and had failed to score at least 100 points just once in 15 games. It needed 35 in the fourth to reach 100 this time.

Bradley Beal, the Wizards leading scorer averaging 29.6 points, was held to 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting. He was 2 of 10 from behind the 3-point line.

Jordan McRae had 21 points and Moritz Wagner and Davis Bertans each finished with 14.

The Nuggets grabbed control in the second quarter, opening a 17-point lead after Washington led 27-26 early in the period. Grant had 15 points in the second and 16 in the half as Denver took a 64-47 lead into the break.

The Nuggets pushed the lead to 20 points in the third quarter and after Washington closed within 14 midway through the fourth quarter, Barton converted a rare 4 -point play to make it 107-89.

Those were the only four points of the fourth for Barton, who was the only Denver starter to play in the quarter.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

The national team earned a 6-6 draw on Indonesia after the Filipinos showed resiliency at the start of water polo action in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Tuesday night at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Tarlac.

Philippine men’s water polo team mentor Rey Galang, middle, gives instructions to the players a day before the game against Indonesia in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. (Dale Evangelista)

Paolo Serrano provided the tying goal with a penalty shot in the final moments, which leveled the score at 6-all. As a result, it gave the Filipinos and Indonesians one point each.

“It’s a good start for the national team,” said Dale Evangelista, a former athlete turned coach who is now part of the staff of Reynaldo Galang. “Now, whoever beats Singapore wins the gold.”

Evangelista is referring to the game pitting Indonesia and Singapore first Wednesday, before the Philippines takes on the reigning 27-time water polo gold medalist on Thursday.

The national team fell behind late in the second period when Indonesia, silver medalist in the last SEA Games, took a 4-2 lead. However, the Filipinos trimmed the deficit to 4-3 going to halftime break.

In the third frame, Indonesia grabbed a 5-4 advantage, before the Philippines – hoping for a podium finish for the first time in four SEA Games editions – tied the count again at 5-5.

That set the stage for a thrilling fourth period.

The last time Indonesia had the lead was at 6-5, before Serrano, who was fouled while trying to score near the goal, came through with his endgame heroics for the Philippines.

Veteran goalie Tani Gomez also had big defensive stops, and the biggest of which was when he swatted an attempt by an Indonesian just a few meters from the goal in the final minute of the game.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Wednesday

(Smart Araneta)

7 p.m. — NorthPort vs NLEX

NLEX and NorthPort dispute the last semifinals berth in a do-or-die PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals clash Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

NorthPort’s Sean Anthony drives past NLEX’s Kenneth Ighalo in the quarterfinals in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (PBA Images)

The winner of the 7 p.m. affair gets the right to face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a best-of-five semis which starts after the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Shortage of manpower will be NLEX’s concern after PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial suspended Poy Erram and Paul Varilla for one game after taking part in a scuffle that marred the fourth quarter of NorthPort’s 115-90 win that forced the knockout duel.

Erram and Varilla, who hit NorthPort import Michael Qualls during the fracas that occurred with four minutes to go in the fourth, were also fined a total of P110,000 after being summoned Tuesday afternoon by Marcial at the league office in Libis.

Both players were tossed for Flagrant Foul 2 infractions which will merit an automatic P20,000 fine.

NLEX is hoping to escape becoming the fourth No. 1 team to be eliminated by a No. 8 seed in the quarters.

Barangay Ginebra did the trick first in the 1999 All-Filipino Cup over Mobiline, San Miguel Beer stunned Talk ’N Text in the 2002 Governors’ Cup and Powerade shocked B-Meg in the 2012 Philippine Cup.

The Road Warriors are also hoping that the third time will be a charm after losing the previous two attempts to the Batang Pier this conference.

Qualls is expected to inflict trouble anew after delivering 39 points in the first quarterfinal meeting.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

BINAN, Laguna — The Philippines put itself in a good position to reach the semifinals after holding Myanmar to scoreless draw as women’s football action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games began Tuesday at the Binan Football Stadium here.

Sarina Bolden, left, and Quinley Quezada watch as the ball sails past them during the Philippines’ scoreless draw against Myanmar at the Binan Football Stadium. (Photo from Mia Montayre/Philippine women’s football team)

The Malditas had their opportunities to score at least the marginal goal but the lack of finishing prevented the likes of Claire Elizabeth Lim, Camille Rodriguez and Sarina Bolden from finding the back of the net.

Myanmar also had its own chances of getting the maximum three points but skipper Khin Marlar Tun’s shot from close range went over the bar.

In the end, the two sides were forced to share the spoils, a result that left coach Let Dimzon satisfied after her team was pounded 6-0 by Myanmar two years ago in Kuala Lumpur and 3-0 in the bronze medal match of this year’s AFF Women’s Championship.

From her recollection, Dimzon said it was the first time that the women’s team was able to hold Myanmar to a tie.

“The result that we got from this game is very far from our performance from the past years,” said Dimzon, who cited an earlier camp in Japan as one of the reasons for the improved showing.

The Pinay booters, who overcame issues surrounding accommodation and food issues prior to the start of the competition, take a crack at a semis berth Friday at the same venue against debuting Malaysia.

The Malditas beat the Malaysians 3-0 during the group stage of the AFF tourney, giving them a psychological edge going into Friday’s match.

Earlier action saw Thailand holding defending champion Vietnam to a 1-1 draw in a possible preview of the gold medal match after Taneekarn Dangda struck an equalizer near stoppage time.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Several sports personalities urged the public to continue supporting the Filipino athletes amid the accommodation and venue fiascos hounding the 30th Southeast Asian Games days before the opening ceremony.

Workers rush to finish the football field at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila ahead of the 30th SEA Games. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)

In a statement released by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), Alejandro Baldo Jr., former midfielder of Azkals U-22, Chris Tiu, former captain of Gilas Pilipinas, and Anton Cayanan of the Philippine badminton team, took their concerns on social media regarding past experiences in international competitions.

Baldo recalled that his football squad needed to push a double-decker bus in the middle of the road en route to their hotel in Bangkok during their tuneup game against Thailand in the AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers in 2012.

“Dahil wais tayong mga Pinoy, imbis na magalit at magreklamo, ginawa na lang natin ‘to sa pinakamasayang experience.”

Baldo stressed that the athletes and public should focus on the games rather than the problems, mostly on transportation and food.

“Problema sa pagkain kasi paulit-ulit, problema sa transpo at kung anu-ano pa. Lahat po yan ay napagdaanan ng mga atletang Pinoy ‘pag tayo po ang dumadayo sa ibang bansa.”

It can be recalled that the Thailand Football Association complained about the repeated and limited amount of food.

Let Dimzon, Philippine women’s football team coach, also requested more decent meal for the athletes after being served a combination of rice, egg and kikiam for breakfast. Malaysian coach Joseph Jacob shared the same sentiment.

Chris Tiu, former Rain or Shine point guard and Phisgoc volunteers head, cited the “inevitable” hitches and inconveniences he encountered before.

“Sports is certainly a great platform to inspire the youth, promote good values and unite a nation. Let us not use it to divide us,” Tiu wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Exciting times ahead as we are 6 days away from the official Opening of the 2019 SEA Games! This time I am not participating as an athlete but as a member of the organizing committee. And I am very honoured to take on this challenging yet rewarding role of serving our country. Now I appreciate all the people, the hard work and planning that goes into hosting an event of this magnitude. Inevitably there will be hitches and inconveniences. And I’ve personally experienced many of them as a delegate before. Rest assured, the team will address and continue to find solutions to achieve the goals. As one country, let’s cheer on our athletes and support our organizing team who have been working extra extra hard to make our country proud! Sports is certainly a great platform to inspire the youth, promote good values and unite a nation. Let’s not use it to divide. Good luck to our athletes!! To our volunteer workforce, Thank you so much!! Let’s have fun and make our country proud! We Win as One! Laban Pilipinas! #wewinasone

A post shared by Chris Tiu (@chris_tiu17) on Nov 24, 2019 at 3:54am PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

The Philippine badminton team, together with the billiards squad, also experienced the same problems during the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Cayanan recalled.

Cayanan said the team had to wait hours at the airport and was brought to the wrong hotel. The waiting game wasn’t over after that as they had to stay put several hours more before being escorted to the right lodging.

The Philippine badminton team, hungry and tired, anticipated buffet service upon arrival but Cayanan said the food trays only provided limited ration. The services, eventually, improved the following days.

“Para sakin lang. Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan na magkaron ng pagkukulang minsan. Kaso ang masakit [t]ayo tayo na namang [P]inoy ang talagang nagpapakalat pa.”

Aside from food and transportation, the preparation for the venues also drew flak in social media.

One of the football venues, the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, images showed, remained unfurnished hours before the opener between Malaysia and Myanmar on Monday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

MABALACAT, Pampanga—Carter Lilly will have about five to ten chances to earn a slot to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but securing a spot in the 800 meters here during the 30th Southeast Asian Games would mean a lot to him.

Fil-Am Carter Lilly, competing in the 800 meters, blows into town for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. (Nick Giongco)

“That would be great,” said Lilly on Tuesday during the sendoff ceremonies for the track and field team to the 2019 edition of the biennial sportsfest.

“If I can qualify during the SEA Games, it would allow me prepare early (for Tokyo),” added the 24-year-old Human Physiology graduate from the University of Iowa who arrived in the country early in the morning from his home in Des Moines, Iowa.

Lilly, whose personal best is 1:46 seconds, has to shave off a full second in order to make the Olympic grade.

In the 2017 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam’s Duong Van Thai clocked 1:48.97 to win the gold medal.

Lilly, whose mother Jane is Filipino, feels he has what it takes to run faster than that.

Still, he is not looking past rivals from Thailand and Vietnam, who are raring to rain on his parade.

Lilly will begin his quest on Dec. 9 at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Early this year, Lilly shattered the 17-year-old record of John Lozada by registering 1:47.52. Lozada’s old mark was 1:47.77.

Should Lilly fail to book an Olympic slot here, he will have numerous chances across the State.

And if he qualifies, Lilly will represent the Philippines, no doubt.

So far, the Philippines has two qualifiers for Tokyo: Italy-based pole vaulter EJ Obiena and world gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Games Wednesday (New Clark City Aquatic Center, Tarlac)

10 a.m. – Philippines vs Singapore (Women’s)

5 p.m. – Thailand vs Indonesia (Men’s)

7 p.m. – Malaysia vs Singapore (Men’s)

After earning a bye on the first day of action, the Philippine women’s water polo team opens its gold medal bid against Singapore Wednesday at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Tarlac.

The national team hopes to make good use of a two-month training camp in the United States prior to the biennial meet where the women’s team is returning after missing the previous SEA Games.

“We really had a good training camp in the US, we improved on a lot of things” said national team coach Sherwin dela Paz.

“It helped members of the national team develop their individual skills, and more importantly improve on team chemistry. Now we’re very excited knowing we have a shot at winning the gold medal.”

The game pitting the Philippines and Singapore is set at 10 a.m.

The members of the national team are Fil-Ams Haden Skye Alysabeth and Kieran Scout Noelle Echavarria-Bates of University of Redlands, Cypress College’s Alfonso Fonacier, Nadia Mañosa Paquin of Pomona College, Monica Estelle Madlansacay Chernoff and Santa Clara’s Gabriella Sicat, sister of Vince Sicat of the men’s team.

The holdovers from the 2015 team are Krystal dela Cruz, Carla Beatriz Grabador, Christine Hipol and Jobelyn Ocampo.

Only three teams are participating in the women’s water polo in the SEA Games.

The national team hopes to win against Singapore to set the stage up for the championship game against Thailand, which won the gold medal two years ago in Kuala Lumpur.

The game between the Philippines and Thailand is on Thursday.

“We’re confident that we have a good chance of winning against Singapore. If we win, that sets us up against Thailand for the gold medal,” said Dela Paz.

Thailand dominated Singapore 19-4.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday suspended NLEX’s Poy Erram and Paul Varilla for their do-or-die Governors’ Cup quarterfinal match against NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

NorthPort’s Sean Anthony had to restrain import Michael Qualls after getting involved in a scuffle with NLEX’s Paul Varilla and Poy Erram, first and second from right, during Monday’s PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (PBA Images)

Erram and Varilla were banned for Wednesday’s crucial tiff for their roles in a scuffle with import Michael Qualls with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter of the Batang Pier’s 115-90 victory the other day at the Big Dome.

The league also handed Erram a P50,000 fine while Varilla was asked to pay P40,000, leaving top seed NLEX shorthanded for the game that will give the winner a spot in the semifinals against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

NorthPort is eyeing to become the first No. 8 seed since Powerade back in the 2012 Philippine Cup to beat the top-ranked team in the quarters.

The game on Wednesday will be the last before the league takes a break for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Meanwhile, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger and NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena and Philip Paniamogan were also fined by the league office.

Standhardinger and Paniamogan were given P5,000 each for Flagrant Foul 1 infractions while Ravena was given a P1,000 fine due to a technical foul.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Eighteen of the 24 Filipino gold medalists at the previous Southeast Asian Games will be returning to defend their title in this year’s 30th edition of the biennial meet.

Gilas Pilipinas pool huddles during their practice at Meralco Gym in Ortigas, October 28, 2019. The basketball national team seeks to cement its dynasty in the biennial regional meet.  (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)

Gilas Pilipinas spearheads the cast as it seeks to strengthen its dynasty in men’s basketball where the country has been dominant since the 1991 Manila edition.

The lineup is a mix of returning and new players, but expect the same formidable crew under coach Tim Cone to go full force against regional counterparts.

Among those returning for the Nationals are Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario and Christian Standhardinger. They join forces with fellow pro players like Japeth Aguilar, Marcio Lassiter, June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross, to name a few.

Eric Cray, Mary Joy Tabal and Aries Toledo are also returning to banner the athletics team after delivering golds in men’s 400-meter hurdles, women’s marathon and men’s decathlon in the 2017 edition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Boxing, also a source of gold mine for the PH team, will have reigning champions Eumir Felix Marcial (men’s 75kgs) and John Marvin (men’s 81kgs), as well as billiards in Carlo Biado (men’s 9-ball singles) and Chezka Centeno (women’s 9-ball singles).

Samuel Morrison will also defend his title in the men’s kyorugi -74kgs in taekwondo along with the men’s poomsae team of Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Dustin Jacob Mella and Raphael Enrico Mella.

Carlos Edriel Yulo (Photo courtesy of Janeth Tenorio)

Other returning gold medalists are Kim Mangrobang (women’s triathlon), gymnast Reyland Capellan, Agatha Wong of wushu, the men’s ice hockey team, the men’s fours event in lawn bowls, jukokas Kiyomi Watanabe and Mariya Takahashi, and pencak silat’s Dines Dumaan.

As host country, the PH delegation hopes to surpass its 24 gold, 33 silver and 64 bronze medal haul in 2017 with the presence of 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers EJ Obiena (pole vault) and gymnast Carlos Yulo, Olympian Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, reigning Asian Games champion Margie Didal of skateboarding and world champion boxer Nesthy Petecio, among others.

This edition has 530 events in 56 sports compared to last edition’s 404 events in 38 sports.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Once Chris Paul gets in midrange jumper territory he considers it “my version of a layup.”

“I’ll take that,” he said.

Paul hit a 19-footer with 36 seconds left to put Oklahoma City ahead and Alec Burks missed a contested shot in the paint moments later on the other end, sending the Thunder to their first road win of the season with a 100-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, drives the ball between Golden State Warriors’ Willie Cauley-Stein, left, and Glenn Robinson III (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

“Nice. I didn’t even know this was our first road win,” Paul said. “That’s sickening. That was crazy. … We’ll take it, keep on moving.”

The Warriors led most of the way before the Thunder scored the final 13 points.

“Chaotic. We couldn’t handle their defensive pressure, they turned it up and forced some turnovers,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “… It was frustrating because we had the game right in our grasp and just couldn’t finish it off. More than anything I just feel sick for our guys because they continue to compete and work. They deserve better. But on the other hand we weren’t good enough to close the game out and so we didn’t deserve to win.”

Glenn Robinson III scored 25 points and Ky Bowman added 24 as injury-plagued Golden State competed with just eight healthy players. The Warriors lost their third straight game and 10th in 11, committing five of their 12 turnovers in the final quarter.

“It’s frustrating. Being a young team is not an excuse for that last four minutes of basketball we played,” Robinson said.

Eric Paschall contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds as injured Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson cheered their young teammates from the bench.

Paul’s 3-pointer with 3:01 remaining got the Thunder within 97-90 and Dennis Schroder hit from deep the next time down to make it a four-point game. Schroder scored 22 points off the bench and dished out five assists.

Paul struggled early to find his shooting stroke but finished with 20 points, while Danilo Gallinari had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Thunder moved to 1-6 on the road.

Oklahoma City snapped a three-game skid — those defeats coming by a combined 10 points.

The Thunder also are without a key playmaker, losing guard Hamidou Diallo for four to six weeks with a hyperextension sprain in his right elbow.

The Oklahoma City-Golden State matchup is a far cry from what it had been in recent years with Kevin Durant playing for the Warriors against his old team. Durant departed in the offseason to join the Brooklyn Nets.

Source: Manila Bulletin