By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James hit two free throws with 5.5 seconds to play, and Anthony Davis blocked Harrison Barnes’ driving shot at the buzzer with both hands in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 10th win in 11 games, 99-97 over former coach Luke Walton and the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

James had 29 points and 11 assists, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter of the Western Conference-leading Lakers’ third straight win.

The Lakers led 95-90 with three minutes left after Caldwell-Pope’s third 3-pointer, but Bogdan Bogdanovic scored five straight points to tie it. James hit a layup with 1:50 left, but Bogdanovic eventually replied with a tying layup with 22 seconds to play.

Barnes fouled James on the perimeter, and the shaky free-throw shooter smoothly hit both of his shots. Barnes then tried to drive for a tying shot, but Davis got his fourth block of the night in two-handed style.

In his first game back from a one-game rest of his sore right shoulder, Davis scored 17 points in his second lowest-scoring performance for the Lakers. James did most of the heavy lifting to hold off a spirited effort from the Kings, who lost for only the second time in six games since their 0-5 start.

Buddy Hield had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Bogdanovic added 18 points for the Kings in the L.A. return of Walton, who was fired by the Lakers last April after presiding over three consecutive losing seasons.

Sacramento nearly pulled off the upset despite playing without De’Aaron Fox, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle, and Trevor Ariza, who sat out with a sore groin.

Richaun Holmes scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Sacramento led by 13 in the first half while hitting 10 3-pointers, but the Lakers scored 14 consecutive points in the second quarter to pull even. James posted the highlight of the half with a drive and a high-flying dunk right on top of Nemanja Bjelica, who had regrettably tried to draw a charge.

Alex Caruso scored a season-high 10 points for the Lakers while playing extra minutes in place of injured starter Avery Bradley.

Walton’s pregame introduction was greeted with an indistinguishable mix of boos and cheers of “Luuuuuke” for the coach who took over the Lakers in 2016.

The former Lakers forward’s teams posted three straight improved records, but his performance wasn’t rated highly by former Lakers boss Magic Johnson or by general manager Rob Pelinka, who fired Walton just five days after Magic’s surprise resignation last April.

 

“It’s always a special place when you come into this building,” Walton said. “A lot of great memories in L.A. It was a great opportunity playing here and coaching here.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets got another huge offensive game from James Harden.

But it was the team’s defense against the Indiana Pacers that the Rockets thought was the most impressive part of their win.

Harden scored 44 points and the Rockets used a big fourth quarter run to pull away and get the 111-102 victory on Friday night.

Houston has won a season-high six games in a row and Harden has scored 36 points or more in five straight games to carry the Rockets as they deal with injuries to Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and Danuel House.

Indiana led by 4 on a 3-pointer by Doug McDermott before Houston used a 14-0 spurt to make it 94-88 with about five minutes left. Harden took over in that stretch, scoring the last 12 points and making two 3-pointers. The Pacers couldn’t do anything offensively as Houston built its lead and missed seven shots and had two turnovers.

Harden was asked how big the team’s defense in that stretch was to the win.

“It was huge,” Harden said. “That’s the game right there.”

Indiana got its first point in almost five minutes when Domantas Sabonis made the second of two free throws with less than five minutes to go and Justin Holiday made a layup about a minute later.

But Russell Westbrook hit a 3-pointer seconds after that to push the Rockets’ lead to 10 with three minutes remaining.

Though the defense has improved during this winning streak, Westbrook still sees room for improvement.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “We’re doing a good job of staying locked in for the most part … and it’s showing.”

The Pacers cut it to six points with a 3 by Aaron Holiday with about a minute left, but Tyson Chandler added a tip-in layup to secure the victory.

Sabonis had 18 points and 13 rebounds and McDermott added 18 points off the bench as Indiana had its four-game winning streak was snapped.

Ben McLemore had a season-high 21 points and Westbrook scored 17 with eight rebounds and six assists.

“He hit some timely 3s,” coach Mike D’Antoni said of McLemore. “His defense is always pretty good. He runs the floor. He plays really hard and he can shoot. So yeah — he was good.”

A dunk by Justin Holiday got the Pacers within four points midway through the third quarter before Houston used an 8-2 run to make it 75-65 with about four minutes left in the quarter. McLemore led the way in that stretch with two 3-pointers.

The Pacers got going after that, scoring the next 10 points to tie it with about a minute left in the third. Houston missed five shots and had a turnover to allow Indiana to close the gap.

Austin Rivers ended a scoring drought of more than three minutes by Houston after that, but Indiana scored the next four points to take a 79-77 lead.

Houston entered the fourth quarter up by 1 after P.J. Tucker hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third.

The Pacers, who were already without Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb because of injuries, played most of Friday’s game without Malcolm Brogdon after he left in the first quarter with a sore lower back.

“That’s a big loss when you’re going up against guys like Harden and Westbrook,” coach Nate McMillan said. “Not only do you need him offensively but you need his size defensively.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY— When Danilo Gallinari hit a big 3-pointer in overtime, the crowd roared in support of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was just like old times.

Gallinari scored 28 points to help Oklahoma City beat the Philadelphia 76ers 127-119 on Friday night.

Chris Paul had 27 points for the Thunder, who had dropped three of four. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, and Terrance Ferguson finished with 19.

It was the biggest win of the season for a franchise that lost All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George in offseason trades. The sellout Chesapeake Energy Arena crowd of 18,203 backed the Thunder with loud cheering in the fourth quarter and overtime and made it seem, for a night, like nothing had changed in a venue long known as one of the league’s loudest places.

“It was amazing,” Gallinari said. “These are the moments players live for and these are the moments you want at home. It was great to get them a W.”

Gallinari missed a jumper from the top of the key that would have won it at the end of regulation, but he made up for it with seven points in overtime.

The Thunder relentlessly attacked the bigger 76ers and outscored them 35-15 at the free-throw line. Oklahoma City shot 53.9% from the field for the night.

“I give our guys credit because I think we tried to play to our identity and tried to do it consistently through four quarters,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.

Joel Embiid had 31 points and 12 rebounds and Josh Richardson added 28 points for the 76ers, who have lost five of seven.

“We’re obviously frustrated,” forward Tobias Harris said. “Losing five of seven is not where we want to be. It’s early in the season, and right now, we’re going to progress and get better and find ways to figure out ways to help each other and help our team and go from there.”

Oklahoma City outscored Philadelphia 20-12 in overtime. The Thunder went 5 for 7 from the field and 8 for 8 at the line in the extra period.

“Lots of whistles,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “They called it how they wanted to call it. … Sometimes, the game is called that way, and that’s how it was.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Team Standings W L

Y-NLEX 8 2

Y-Meralco 8 2

X-TNT KaTropa 7 2

X-Ginebra* 6 3

X-San Miguel 6 4

X-Magnolia 5 5

Columbian* 4 6

Alaska 4 6

NorthPort 4 6

Rain or Shine 3 7

Phoenix Pulse* 2 8

Blackwater* 2 8

Y-clinched twice-to-beat advantage

X-clinched quarterfinals berth

Game Saturday

(USEP Gym, Davao City)

5 p.m. — TNT KaTropa vs Magnolia

TNT KaTropa tries to once again secure the twice-to-beat advantage when it battles Magnolia in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym in Davao City.

The KaTropa, toting a 7-2 record, are also seeking to snap a two-game skid and gain the much-needed bonus against the defending champion Hotshots in the Petron Saturday Special match set at 5 p.m.

Star rookie Ray Parks Jr. will try to give TNT a win for the first time since being traded from Blackwater after his debut last week ended with a 96-93 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Parks had 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting with two rebounds and two assists against Ginebra.

Import KJ McDaniels, who is averaging 36.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.6 blocks, is also expected to play a key role in ending TNT’s slide.

Magnolia is determined to regain its bearings after a heartbreaking 86-85 loss to NLEX last Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The Hotshots led by 22 points then saw the Road Warriors orchestrate a stunning comeback that ended on Jericho Cruz’s last-gasp basket.

Paul Lee would have been the hero had Magnolia came out victorious after hitting two go-ahead baskets in the final minute.

Lee had 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting while adding seven rebounds and five assists against NLEX.
Magnolia is assured of a quarterfinals berth with an even 5-5 record but would like to finish the elims on a winning note in order to gain some momentum in the quarterfinals.

It will also give the Hotshots the No. 6 seed and a quarterfinal meeting with the third-ranked team.
e third-ranked team.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Saturday
(Binan Football Stadium, Laguna)
5 p.m. — Ceres vs Kaya

Ceres-Negros hopes to cap off its dominant year in the domestic front with a rare double against defending champion Kaya-Iloilo in the Copa Paulino Alcantara Final at the Binan Football Stadium in Laguna.

The Busmen aim to dethrone Kaya in the match set at 5 p.m. and become the first club to win both the league and cup titles since 2016 when Global won the United Football League and UFL Cup.

But Ceres will head into the Final without the services of Stephan Schrock, Mike Ott, OJ Porteria, Carli de Murga and Sean Kane due to their stint with the Philippine Azkals in the second round of the FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Senegalese striker Robert Lopez Mendy, who leads the tournament with four goals, is expected to lead the Ceres attack against a Kaya side that is out to win the Copa title for the second straight year.

Kaya will be led by Kenshiro Daniels, who has produced three goals in the tournament, while PFL top goalscorer Jordan Mintah hopes to find the back of the net in the most important time.

Ceres made it to the Final by topping Group A before surviving Stallion-Laguna in the semis.

Kaya ended the dream run of Mendiola FC 1991 in the semis after gaining top spot in Group B.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

12 noon – UST vs FEU (women’s)

4 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (men’s)

It will be the Tigers in the Eagles’ shadow when the UAAP Season 82 Finals fire off Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Defending champion Ateneo, which swept the eliminations, and University of Santo Tomas, a survivor of the cutthroat stepladder semifinals, begin the best-of-3 championship series at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles are coming off a 16-day rest after a dominant show in the 14-game eliminations that propelled them straight to the finals. The Tigers, on the other hand, are coming off a clinching 68-65 victory over the University of the Philippines Maroons last Wednesday.

Ateneo did not waste time preparing for its three-peat campaign by holding tuneup matches against reigning NCAA champion San Beda and pro team Talk ‘N Text.

Prior to the break, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said he is confident his players will return to the court with the same intensity they showed in the eliminations.

“I don’t have any doubt that we will fall off our game,” he said. “There’s an argument that those games (in the stepladder semifinals) will keep our opponent sharp and fresh, but we’ll be sharp.

“We’re healthy, we’re strong. We don’t back off to any of our work because it works.”

On paper, the Eagles are fancied in the matchup after sweeping the Tigers in the elims 71-70 and 66-52.
Ateneo could expect a different UST squad though.

Seeded fourth in the semis, the Tigers outplayed Far Eastern University before edging the Maroons twice for their first finals appearance in four years.

Though the finals trip was already an accomplishment for the young team, UST coach Aldin Ayo sees differently.

“Wala pa kaming naa-achieve,” he said. “This is not our main goal. So we have to refocus and prepare for our next game.”

Expect a thrilling matchup between last year’s Rookie of the Year Ange Kouame for Ateneo and this season’s Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo of UST, who will man the pain for their teams.

Two-time MVP Thirdy Ravena will also pace Ateneo along with SJ Belangel, Will Navarro and Matt Nieto.

Leading UST, meanwhile, will be Renzo Subido, Rhenz Abando and Mark Nonoy.

Game 2 will be on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena while Game 3, if necessary, will be on Nov. 23 at the same venue.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The national women’s baseball team ended its first international tournament on a high note Friday afternoon by thrashing China 11-1 to secure a third place finish in the Women’s Baseball Asian Cup at the Panda Stadium in Zhongshan.

Unlike their 6-2 win in the start of the Super Round, the Pinay batters needed just five innings to repeat over their Chinese counterparts to claim a podium finish at the conclusion of the six-day competition.

Coach Egay delos Reyes and his team composed of players from the softball ranks made it this far despite being formed by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association late last year.

The national batters reached the Super Round after posting comeback wins over Hong Kong (12-3) and South Korea (14-7) before dropping its final Group B assignment against Taiwan (15-0).

After defeating China, the Philippines was relegated to the consolation game after being clobbered by defending champion Japan.

Whell Camral emerged as the tournament’s best third baseman while Clariz Palma was named Best Pitcher during the closing ceremonies.

Philippine Amateur Baseball Association President Chito Loyzaga said the federation is clarifying as of posting time if the team has already gained a berth in next year’s Women’s Baseball World Cup for making the Super Round.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel clinched the twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup after pulling away in the fourth quarter to defeat Columbian 113-90 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jeff Chan dropped 10 of his 20 points in the payoff period as Ginebra was able to regain control after Columbian rallied from a double-digit to take the lead twice in the third.

Art dela Cruz scored six of his 16 in the fourth while import Justin Brownlee had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the Kings improve to 7-3.

Ginebra also extended its unbeaten run over Columbian to 15 games since the latter began its pro stint in the 2014-15 season.

Cone was glad to see his team deliver a victory after getting stuck in traffic for almost four hours on Payday Friday. The two-time Grand Slam coach, who lives in Alabang, arrived shortly before tipoff.

Ginebra can finish as high as third if it can end the elims with a win over NorthPort on Sunday coupled with back-to-back losses by TNT KaTropa against Magnolia and San Miguel Beer.

Import Khapri Alston posted 34 points and 22 rebounds but the Dyip ended the eliminations with a 4-7 record.

Columbian is now hoping for NorthPort to drop its match against Ginebra in order to stay in the hunt for at least a playoff for the eighth and final quarterfinals berth.

Alston scored 13 in the third as the Dyip grabbed the lead on two occasions, the last at 78-77.

But Dela Cruz and Chan scored five straight points at the end of the quarter for 82-78 Ginebra before the two and Brownlee led the massive breakaway to seal the victory.

The scores:

GINEBRA 113 — Brownlee 26, Pringle 20, Chan 20, Aguilar 19, Dela Cruz 16, Thompson 4, Caperal 4, Tenorio 2, Mariano 2, Dillinger 0, Sargent 0, Teodoro 0, Aguilar R. 0, Devance 0, Caguioa 0.

COLUMBIAN 90 — Alston 34, Perez 19, McCarthy 12, Tiongson 11, Camson 6, Corpuz 4, Gabriel 2, Agovida 2, Reyes 0, Cahilig 0, Khobuntin 0, Celda 0.

Quarters: 28-18; 58-44; 82-78; 113-90.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Game Tuesday (Mall of Asia Arena)

1 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum (Jrs)

4 p.m. – San Beda vs Letran (Srs)

San Beda kept its bid alive of winning a fourth straight title with a 79-76 win in Game 2 over Letran that forced a do-or-die in the NCAA Season 95 finals series Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Calvin Oftana, adjudged the season’s Most Valuable Player before to the game, atoned himself from a lackluster performance in Game 1 where he scored seven points, this time finishing with 17 points.

Oftana’s layup and eventual three-point play off a foul by Bonbon Batiller gave the Red Lions a 77-76 lead with 19.1 seconds left.

Letran had the opportunity to regain the lead coming off a timeout, but Batiller missed a reverse shot and Evan Nelle got the loose ball.

Fouled by Batiller, James Canlas-Kwekuteye converted a pair of free throws that gave them a 79-76 lead with 4.5 to play. Jerrick Balanza’s pass intended for Allen Mina went outside as time expired.

San Beda’s win leveled the best-of-three title series at 1-1 after Letran took the series opener with a 65-64 triumph last Tuesday. Game 3 will be played on Tuesday at the same venue.

“Letran did a good job. Fran Yu… Wow! We’re just lucky that he got cramps,” said San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez, referring to Letran’s prolific guard Yu, who had 23 points but had to stay on the bench in the final three minutes of the game because of cramps.

“A win is a win. I’m just relieved we got over this game and won this one. They (players) really want to prove something. That’s what characters is, everybody’s all against us (after that loss).”

Canlas-Kwekuteye led the Red Lions with 21 points, while Clint Doliguez added 17 points.

San Beda unloaded a 15-0 start with Canlas-Kwekuteye scoring six points, while Nelle adding five points. Letran finally converted a basket on a three-point play by Jeo Ambohol with 4:09 left in the first period.

The opening period ended with San Beda up 18-7.

Letran trimmed the deficit to three points 18-15 when Bonbon Batiller scattered four points in an 8-0 run during the first two minutes of the second period.

San Beda’s Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua committed his third personal foul with 7:27 left in the second quarter, and Letran tried to capitalize following a pair of free throws by Batiller to trim the lead to 20-17.

Doliquez’s back-to-back three-pointers highlighted a 15-5 run by San Beda, which gave them a 35-22 lead. The Red Lions were up 35-27 at halftime break.

San Beda shot 15-of-34 (44.12%) from the field in the first half, as compared to Letran’s 7-of-29 (24.14%). Also, the Knights had 11 turnovers, which translated to 11 points by the Red Lions.

Scores:

SAN BEDA 79 – Canlas-Kwekuteye 21, Oftana 17, Doliguez 17, Carino 7, Nelle 5, Soberano 5, Cuntapay 3, Tankoua 2, Abuda 2, Bahio 0, Noah 0.

LETRAN 76 – Yu 23, Muyang 17, Batiller 11, Ambohot 9, Balanza 9, Caralipio 7, Olivario 0, Ular 0, Mina 0, Reyson 0, Balagasay 0, Sangalang 0.

Quarters: 18-7; 37-25; 53-56; 79-76.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Matthew Wright scored a turnaround three with 1.2 seconds left in overtime as Phoenix Pulse gave Doug Kramer a victory in his final game by topping Blackwater 120-117 in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Wright hit the high-arching baseline shot off Don Trollano, sending the Fuel Masters in a frenzy to emerge victorious in a non-bearing game pitting teams at the bottom of the standings.

Carl Bryan Cruz’s Hail Mary attempt went nowhere as the Fuel Masters finished the conference with a 3-8 record and a retirement present for Kramer, who the other night announced his retirement through his social media accounts.

“At least we ended our campaign on a winning at para din kay Doug,” said Fuel Masters coach Louie Alas, whose joined the rest of the players and staff in a team photo with the retiring Kramer.

Wright finished with 28 points after rescuing Phoenix from the jaws of defeat in the final minute of regulation.

The Fil-Canadian sniper hit three triples, the last knotting the score at 107-all with 3.1 to go in the fourth.

Kramer had three points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes, capping a 12-year career that began in 2007 as a first round draft pick of Air21.

He played for six other teams and won a PBA title with San Miguel Beer in the 2014-15 Philippine Cup.

Import Alonzo Gee had 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Fuel Masters, who will now ponder on things that led to their playoff absences the past two conferences following a breakthrough semifinal stint in the Philippine Cup.

Blackwater finished with a league-worst 2-9 record after a campaign marred by trades that led to the departures of key players Mike DiGregorio, Allein Maliksi and star rookie Ray Parks Jr.

Marqus Blakely produced 37 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Elite.

Scores:

PHOENIX PULSE 120 — Gee 34, Wright 28, Garcia 17, Mallari 10, Intal 9, Chua 9, Perkins 4, Jazul 3, Kramer 3, Napoles 2, Gamboa 1, Marcelo 0.

BLACKWATER 117 — Blakely 37, Belo 25, Canaleta 12, Sumang 10, Tolomia 9, Cruz 7, Dario 6, Salem 6, Trollano 5, Desiderio 0, Al-Hussaini 0, Javier 0.

Quarters: 22-16; 45-46; 73-81; 109-109 (Reg); 120-117 (OT).

Source: Manila Bulletin