By the Associated Press

NEW YORK — Marcus Morris made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 13.2 seconds remaining to delight a Madison Square Garden crowd that booed Kristaps Porzingis all night, and the New York Knicks beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-103 on Thursday.

Morris also knocked away the Mavericks’ inbounds pass with under a second left, sending the Knicks to just their third victory in 12 games this season.

Porzingis finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in his first game in New York as a visitor.

Luka Doncic had 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his fifth triple-double of the season.

Porzingis was the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft who developed first into a fan favorite and then an All-Star.

But he soured on the Knicks, and the fans have clearly soured on him, jeering him when the Mavs hit the floor for pregame warmups, continued during the national anthem, when Porzingis won the opening tip and whenever else he touched the ball in the early going.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LONDON— Roger Federer showed that memories of this year’s Wimbledon final are well and truly behind him.

In the first rematch between Federer and Novak Djokovic since that epic five-set final, the Swiss star dominated from the start to win 6-4, 6-3 Thursday and reach the semifinals of the ATP Finals.

“I played incredible, and I knew I had to,” Federer said. “I was able to produce, it was definitely magical.”

It was Federer’s first win over the Serb since 2015, having lost their last five meetings — including that Wimbledon final in July when Djokovic saved two match points in the fifth set.

”Obviously it’s always special beating Novak, even more so because of what happened (at Wimbledon),” Federer said. ”But I didn’t feel like I had to get rid of the ghosts or anything like that. I feel like I moved on pretty quickly after that.”

This match had little of the same drama as Djokovic gave up three cheap service breaks and Federer gave him no chance to get back in it.

The whole thing lasted just 1 hour, 13 minutes and ended with Djokovic being broken at love.

”He was the better player in all aspects and absolutely deserved to win,” Djokovic said. ”Just a pretty bad match from my side.”

The result means Djokovic was eliminated with a 1-2 record in the group stage, and ensures that Rafael Nadal will keep hold of the year-end No. 1 ranking. Djokovic had a chance to overtake Nadal and equal Pete Sampras’ record of finishing the year as No. 1 for a sixth time by winning the tournament.

”Of course that was a big motivation also for the end of the season,” Djokovic said. ”But every time you step on the court, you know there is something on the line.”

In a match between two players with a combined 36 Grand Slam titles and 11 ATP Finals championships, Djokovic was also broken at love in his second service game after double-faulting twice and hitting two shots into the net.

Federer faced his only break point at 2-1 in the second set but held and then broke for a 3-2 lead. He finished the match with just five unforced errors, and that included two double-faults.

“There was a lot riding on the match, and I came out and I think I served great, I had great anticipation, a clear game plan,” Federer said. “It worked to perfection tonight, and hopefully not the last time against Novak.”

Djokovic said he experienced some pain in his elbow early in the second set but didn’t think it will stop him from playing in the Davis Cup in Madrid next week.

”The pain was pretty sharp. But I could play the rest of the match, so if I had something really serious, I think I wouldn’t be able to hold the racket,” he said. “So it was probably just an awkward, quick movement that I did. It did not pose any form of issues later on.”

Earlier, Matteo Berrettini made sure he left the tournament with a victory by beating Dominic Thiem 7-6 (3), 6-3.

That match was essentially meaningless as Thiem had already qualified for the semifinals after winning his first two round-robin matches, while Berrettini had no chance of advancing after two losses.

Thiem didn’t play anywhere near as well as in his wins over Federer and Djokovic but came from a break down to force a tiebreaker in the first set. However, Berrettini raced out to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker and converted his third set point with an ace.

In the second set, the Italian broke for a 4-2 lead and served out the match at love, sealing the win with a forehand drop shot.

After hitting 50 winners in his three-set victory over Djokovic on Tuesday, Thiem finished with just 13 in this match.

“Of course I felt a little bit the two first matches, and then also it’s a bit of a tricky situation to know that I’m already through,” the Austrian said. “Of course I was still trying to win that match 100%, but also, in the same time, I knew in my head that I have to take care for Saturday, because obviously it’s the way more important match there.”

On Friday, Rafael plays Stefanos Tsitsipas and defending champion Alexander Zverev faces Daniil Medvedev. Tsitsipas has already secured a spot in the last four, while the other three still have a chance of advancing.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

CLEVELAND — The Miami Heat didn’t let a night of dominant play slip away in the fourth quarter.

Rookie Kendrick Nunn scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Miami, which led the entire game, held off a late Cleveland run and defeated the Cavaliers 108-97 on Thursday night.

Miami, which has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 8-3, was up by 27 points in the third quarter before Cleveland cut the lead to 98-88 with seven minutes to play. The Heat regained control and maintained a double-digit lead down the stretch.

“We found a way to win,” said Heat forward Jimmy Butler, who had a blocked shot, a basket and a steal in the final three minutes. “It doesn’t matter how you do it, win by one, win by 20. It goes in the same column.”

Miami lead 96-74 early in the fourth before Cleveland rallied. Kevin Love hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to spark the Cavaliers’ run. Butler’s basket in the lane, a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson and four points by Adebayo kept Miami in control.

“It was turnovers, run-outs and not getting stops,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Then we gathered ourselves. Usually games do not go all according to plan and they didn’t tonight, particularly in the fourth quarter.”

Rookie Tyler Herro, who missed Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury, had 16 points, while Butler finished with 14.

Love had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, while Collin Sexton added 15 points.
Cleveland was coming off a 2-1 road trip and nearly beat Philadelphia on Tuesday before losing 98-97.

Cavaliers coach John Beilein thinks the Heat are a good example for his rebuilding team to follow.

“They’re doing everything,” he said. “They’re playing defense as good as it is the league. Their offense is good. They’re a high-functioning team. That’s how we want to be day in, day out.”

The Cavaliers’ chances of staying with another of the league’s top teams were hit with an early run. Miami made consecutive 3-pointers to take a 9-0 lead, forcing Beilein to use a timeout less than two minutes into the game.

The Heat continued to roll and had a 32-15 advantage late in the period. Miami was 15 of 25 from the field and didn’t go to the foul line in the quarter.

Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. injured his left hand on a breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter. He went to the locker room and didn’t return, watching the final minutes from the bench. Nance has played with his left thumb wrapped for several games.

“I’ll be all right,” he said. “I’m going to get some treatment so we’ll know more later. I’m not necessarily certain (what happened). I just felt the pain.”

The Heat shot 43 of 79 from the field and made 12 of 30 from 3-point range.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

Carmelo Anthony, the 19th-leading scorer in NBA history, is set for another shot at increasing his point total.

The 35-year-old forward agreed to a non-guaranteed contract with the slumping Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday night.

Anthony has been out of the NBA since playing 10 games for the Houston Rockets early in the 2018-19 season. He last played on Nov. 8, 2018, when he shot 1-for-11 from the floor and scored two points in Houston’s 98-80 loss at Oklahoma City.

The Rockets then kept him inactive until trading him to the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 22 in a deal that involved cash and the swap of two European players. The Bulls waived Anthony on Feb. 1.

A 10-time All-Star, Anthony was the NBA’s scoring champion in 2012-13 when he averaged 28.7 points for the New York Knicks.

Made the third overall pick in the 2003 draft by the Nuggets, Anthony spent 7 1/2 seasons in Denver. He was deal to the Knicks in a February 2011 three-team trade that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After 6 1/2 seasons in New York, Anthony played with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017-18 before his brief stint with the Rockets.

All of his 1,056 career games before last season were starts, but Houston brought him off the bench in eight of his 10 appearances.

Anthony has 25,551 career points, a figure that trails only LeBron James’ 32,806 among active players. His career average of 24.01 points per game also sits 19th in NBA history. Only James (27.13), Kevin Durant (27.02) and James Harden (24.55) have better career scoring averages among active players.

The Trail Blazers (4-8) are coming off a 114-106 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, their sixth defeat in seven games.

Portland is averaging 112.2 points per game, which ranked 12th in the NBA through Wednesday. However, the Blazers’ field-goal percentage, .441, rated just 23rd in the league.

The Blazers’ next game is Saturday at San Antonio, the start of a six-game road trip.

Anthony played one season of college ball, leading Syracuse to the 2003 national title, and he was part of three gold-medal-winning squads with the United States team.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Friday (Mall of Asia Arena Pasay City)

1 p.m. – Lyceum vs San Beda (Jrs)

3 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony

4 p.m. – Letran San Beda vs (Srs)

Four years ago, Knights on a mission went off and slew a pride of ferocious Lions in NCAA Season 91. Now their descendants face a similar enemy – wounded but far more dangerous than its vanquished predecessor.

Letran hopes to capitalize on its opening win in the NCAA Season 95 Finals when the new edition Knights look to deliver the coup de grace against the three-time defending champion San Beda Red Lions in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In renewing their rivalry, Letran drew first blood with a nail-biting 65-64 victory last Tuesday, positioning itself within a win of clinching its 18th NCAA crown in the senior’s division.

Letran coach Bonnie Tan said everything in Game 2 will depend on how well they counter San Beda’s expected adjustments.

“Dapat ready kami sa mga gagawin nila, makapag-adjust kami agad,” said Tan, who got some coaching assistance during the opener from ‘super friends’ Alfrancis Chua, NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio and Columbian Dyip mentor Jhonedel Cardel.

Like in Game 1, expect them to be present again in Thursday’s match alongside PBA governors Rene Pardo of Magnolia, Erick Arejola of NorthPort and Bobby Rosales – a Letranite – of Columbian.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas and telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, a Bedan, meanwhile, will be at the Lions’ line of scrimmage.

The game between the Knights and the Red Lions is set at 4 p.m. right after the league formally hands out the top individual awardees, including the Most Valuable Player plum, to Calvin Oftana of SBU at 3 p.m.

In the schools 2015 title match, Letran also won the opener 94-90, but San Beda tied the series with a 68-61 before the Knights eventually prevailed 85-82 in the winner-take-all.

Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez said he believes they have what it takes to come back again.

“It’s going to be a big test on our character,” said Fernandez. “We know that it’s going to be tough, but I know my players, they are very determined. We just have to keep believing, keep pushing.”

While breaks of the game went to Letran’s side in the final stretch of Game 1, its defense disrupted San Beda’s offensive flow that forced them to take hurried shots resulting to 26-of-86 (30.23%) shooting from the field, including 6-of-40 (30.23) from the three-point area.

Jerrick Balanza said they should have a mindset of going all out to win the championship, and not let San Beda force Game 3, which if necessary, will be played Tuesday at the same venue.

“Sana makuha na namin,” said Balanza, who was a rookie during that title run of Letran in 2015. “That’s why ganun ka-importante na manalo sa Game 1 ng series, isang panalo na lang ang kailangan namin.”

Balanza, now a graduating player alongside four others in Bonbon Batiller, Tom Olivario and Christian Balagasay, said that it’s a matter of executing on both ends – or doing the things that clicked for them in Game 1.

“Siyempre andun yung momentum. Pero importante magawa namin yung pinagagawa sa amin ng mga coaches. Follow the system and stay focused kami,” said Balanza, who didn’t play half of the elimination round and playoffs last season after a brain surgery.

Fran Yu, the hero in Letran’s last two wins, including the game against Lyceum during the stepladder playoffs that propelled the Knights back to the Finals, will again anchor the offense. Frontline help will come from the troika of Larry Muyang, Jeo Ambohot and Ato Ular.

San Beda, for its part, will rely on Oftana, Evan Nelle, Filipino-Canadian James Canlas-Kwekuteye and Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua.

In the junior’s division, San Beda guns for its 24th overall championship versus Lyceum of the Philippines University at 1 p.m. after the Red Cubs won Game 1 94-80 against the Junior Pirates.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Friday
(Zhongshan, China)
1 p.m. — Philippines vs China

The Philippines eyes a repeat win over China and secure a third place finish Friday in the Women’s Baseball Asian Cup at the Panda Stadium in Zhongshan, China.

After being denied of a berth in the title game by defending champion Japan, the Pinay batters look to end their first major tournament since being formed last year in the match set at 1 p.m.

Coach Egay delos Reyes’ squad was relegated to a rematch with China after a 17-2 loss to Japan in their final Super Round match on Thursday.

But his team enters the consolation game holding the psychological edge over the Chinese batters after posting a 6-2 win in the Super Round opener last Wednesday.

Pitcher Nicole Lyn Escalante struck out five and surrendered just two hits to lead the Philippines’ win over the host country.

Two RBIs by Ivy Mhel Capistrano and two hits from Lealyn Guevarra also keyed the Philippines’ triumph.

Meanwhile, unbeaten teams Japan and Taiwan face off the title at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s Women’s World Baseball Cup Final.

Both teams have not lost a single game since the tournament began over the weekend.

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

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

Games Friday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — Phoenix Pulse vs Blackwater

7 p.m. — Columbian vs Ginebra

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel shoots for a twice-to-beat advantage while Columbian hopes to gain inside track at the quarterfinals when they clash in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings and Dyip square off at 7 p.m. as the playoff race continue to intensify with four playdates left in the elimination round of the season-ending conference.

Ginebra is in fourth spot at 6-3 while Columbian is locked in a share of seventh place at 4-6 with NorthPort and Alaska, which won their respective assignments last Wednesday at the Big Dome.

Coach Tim Cone and Ginebra are assured of the quarterfinal bonus with a victory due to its edge over third-running TNT KaTropa (7-2) and fifth-placer San Miguel Beer (6-4).

Ginebra beat San Miguel 129-124 last month and TNT 96-93 exactly a week ago.

Columbian, meanwhile, is out to score a big win in order to enhance its chances of a first quarterfinal appearance since the 2016 Governors’ Cup.

But the Dyip have never beaten the Kings in 14 tries since the franchise made its debut in the 2014-15 season.

Beating Ginebra will allow Columbian to put pressure on NorthPort and Alaska, which are facing fancied opponents in their final elimination round matches.

NorthPort plays Ginebra on Sunday while Alaska battles co-leader NLEX on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Phoenix Pulse and Blackwater meet in a non-bearing match at 4:30 p.m.

Only pride is at stake for both 2-8 teams as the loser will end up with the league’s worst record in the tournament.

Phoenix was officially eliminated from contention after a 105-102 loss to Alaska last two days earlier.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Tuesday
(Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai)
10 p.m. — Syria vs Philippines

The Philippine Azkals scored twice in the second half to beat host Maldives 2-1 Thursday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup second round qualifiers at the National Stadium in Male.

Iain Ramsay broke the ice minutes after the restart before Patrick Strauss doubled the lead as the Azkals produced their second win after four matches in the second round qualifiers.

The Azkals tightened their grip on third spot in Group A after drawing level with China at seven points apiece.

China was playing group leader Syria as of posting time at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

Ramsay produced his first international goal in more than two years in the 52nd minute while Strauss produced second in the qualifiers in the 68th.

Naiz Hassan produced a consolation goal seconds before the final whistle as Maldives dropped four points behind the Philippines and China.

The Azkals fielded almost the same lineup that produce a scoreless draw against China last month in Bacolod City.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge made his 65th international appearance with Alvaro Silva, Carli de Murga, Luke Woodland and Daisuke Sato in front of the Azkals’ top shotstopper.

Ramsay started in place of Martin Steuble, who served a one-game ban for accumulated cards, and joined team captain Stephan Schrock, Strauss, Justin Baas at midfield while Mark Hartmann started in front.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Saturday
(Auckland, New Zealand)
10:10 a.m. — Philippines vs Korea

Gilas Pilipinas was handed a 111-54 beating by host New Zealand on Thursday to begin its campaign in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament Asia-Oceania at the The Trusts Arena in Auckland.

The Pinay dribblers were outscored 36-11 by the Kiwis in the second quarter to fall behind 60-28 at the half, thus absorbing defeat in their first match of the four-day tournament.

Afril Bernardino scored 17 points while Kelli Hayes and Janine Pontejos added 10 points apiece for the national cagebelles of coach Pat Aquino.

Penina Davidson and Tessa Boagni were among the five New Zealand players in double figures with 15 points apiece.

Gilas returns to action on Saturday against South Korea before wrapping up its campaign the following opposite China.

The Philippines is also using the tourney as preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LONDON — Facing match point at 5-1 down in the third set, Rafael Nadal gave himself about a one-in-a-thousand chance of turning things around against Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals.

Those odds turned out to be more than good enough for the top-ranked Spaniard.

Nadal saved that match point with a perfect drop shot and then rallied to beat Medvedev 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (4) Wednesday, keeping alive his chances of advancing from the group stage.

“Today is one of those days that one out of 1,000 you win and it happened today,” Nadal said. ”In that moment (facing match point), what you think is probably in five minutes you are in the locker room, because that’s the more normal thing. In that moment, you play with not much pressure because you are almost lost.”

Nadal looked headed for a second straight loss at the season-ending tournament but won five games in a row to go 6-5 up in the deciding set. In the tiebreaker, Medvedev missed a routine forehand to hand Nadal a match point and then sent a backhand just wide. That shot was initially called in but was overturned by Hawk-Eye after Nadal challenged the decision.

The win gives Nadal a 1-1 record after two round-robin matches, while Medvedev fell to 0-2.

In the late match, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 for his second straight win, a result that guarantees him a place in the semifinals.

The other three players all still have a chance of advancing.

Tsitsipas, who is making his debut at the tournament for the world’s top eight players after a breakthrough season, broke Zverev for a 5-3 lead in the first set and then twice more to go 5-1 up in the second.

With dozens of Greek flags being waved around the O2 Arena, Tsitsipas then served out the match with an ace.

“Once again, it was not just me out there, but a whole bunch of excited people that came to support me,” said Tsitsipas, the first Greek player to qualify for the event. “It was a crew situation.”
Zverev could still advance with a win over Medvedev on Friday, and he also lost his second round-robin match last year on his way to the title.

“Things are still in my hands, and I’m looking forward to it, because I can still decide whether I’m here on Saturday or not,” the German said. “There is nothing I can do about today now. He played a fantastic match, I thought. I played really bad.”

Tsitsipas said he was playing with a pain-killing injection in his foot because of an injury but pledged to treat his match with Nadal as a must-win situation even though he’s already through to the semifinals.

“I’m going to try to give my soul, and I think it’s also a very good challenge for me in order to prepare for more difficult matches in the semifinals and the final potentially, so this match is going to give me a lot,” he said. “It’s going to educate me, and I’m going to try to get and absorb as much as I can from that.”

In a rematch of this year’s U.S. Open final, Nadal came out looking much sharper than in his opening loss to Zverev and broke Medvedev twice in the second set.

But the Russian raced out to a 4-0 lead in the third set and had two more break points in the next game. However, Nadal held and then saved a match point at 30-40 in his next service game with a backhand drop shot at the net.

Medvedev then started making more mistakes while Nadal played like a man with nothing to lose, going for winners all over the court.

“Rafa fought his best, because he could just say ‘OK, it’s over at 5-1 and just give me the point,’ but we all know Rafa is not about this,” Medvedev said. “I just need to close out such matches.”

Nadal’s preparations for the ATP Finals were hampered by an abdominal injury that forced him to pull out of the Paris Masters semifinals this month. But he insisted he feels fine physically, and is gradually finding his best game after an error-filled performance against Zverev.

”I have been playing a better level of tennis than the first day in general terms,” Nadal said. ”Then to win this match is a combination of a lot of things: luck, some mistakes of Daniil, some good moments by myself at the end.”

Nadal’s win also strengthens his grip on the year-end No. 1 ranking, as it means Novak Djokovic has to win the tournament to have any chance of overtaking him. Djokovic first has to beat Roger Federer on Thursday just to advance to the semifinals.

Source: Manila Bulletin