By the Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Brooklyn Nets 119-114 on Tuesday night.

Mike Conley scored 18 points, Emmanuel Mudiay added 15 and Jeff Green had 13 for the Jazz.
Utah went ahead for good after Gobert scored on back-to-back possessions in the final 90 seconds.

Gobert’s second basket, a dunk, gave the Jazz a 116-114 lead with 55.6 seconds remaining.

Irving missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left. Conley and Mitchell hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final seconds to close it out.

The Jazz looked flat taking the court after playing on the road at Golden State the night before. Brooklyn took advantage and built a double-digit lead before halftime.

Jarrett Allen made two free throws and scored on a second-chance dunk to cap a 19-7 run that gave the Nets a 55-43 lead late in the second quarter. Brooklyn led 68-53 when Prince and Irving made back-to-back baskets in the final minute before halftime.

Utah roared to life in the third. The Jazz opened the quarter on a 13-0 run. Conley stole the ball and fed it to Bogdanovic for a layup to cap the run and cut Brooklyn’s lead to 68-66. The Nets went four minutes without making a field goal before Irving broke the drought with back-to-back baskets.

Brooklyn appeared on the verge of pulling away when Jordan sank two free throws to help the Nets go ahead 92-84 heading into the fourth quarter. Green and Mudiay combined for six straight baskets to open the quarter and pushed Utah to a 103-98 lead with 7:52 left.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

CHICAGO — Coby White made a franchise-record seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the Chicago Bulls pulled away from the slumping New York Knicks for a 120-102 victory Tuesday night.

White missed his first five shots from the field and began the final period with just four points. But the rookie guard put on a dazzling show down the stretch, delighting a United Center crowd that included Roy Williams, White’s coach at the University of North Carolina.

White connected from deep on three straight Chicago possessions during a 24-2 run that made it 109-89 with 5:51 remaining. Backed by chants of “Co-by! Co-by!” he made one last 3 to run the Bulls’ lead out to 120-100 before checking out with 1:31 to go.

White finished with 27 points. Zach LaVine had 25 for Chicago, and Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

New York lost for the sixth time in seven games. Marcus Morris scored 22 points for the Knicks, and RJ Barrett finished with 21 points and nine assists.

It was New York’s first game since team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry expressed concern about the Knicks’ level of play following an embarrassing 108-87 home loss against Cleveland on Sunday night.

New York rallied for a 105-98 victory over Chicago in their first meeting of the season on Oct. 28. Bobby Portis led the way with 28 points and 11 rebounds against his former team, but he finished with just seven points in the rematch.

The Bulls put together a 20-2 run overlapping the first two quarters and led 60-54 at the break.

They went 15 for 20 at the line in the first half after attempting 18 foul shots for the game during Saturday night’s 117-94 loss to Houston.

Worth watching

Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen is playing with a sore oblique, but coach Jim Boylen said the third-year power forward insists it’s not limiting his play on offense.

The 22-year-old Markkanen was shooting just 38.5% from the field heading into the matchup with the Knicks.

“He’s trying to play through whatever he has and not use it as an excuse,” Boylen said. “I think that’s big time and I think that’s what we need.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA— The shots weren’t falling for the Philadelphia 76ers, so they clamped down on defense.

Joel Embiid scored 27 points, including the go-ahead dunk with 13.2 seconds remaining, and Philadelphia held Cleveland without a point for the final 3 ½ minutes in a 98-97 win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

Josh Richardson added 17 points and Ben Simmons had 15 for Philadelphia, which won despite missing 30 of 38 3-point attempts. Tobias Harris missed all 11 of his 3-point tries.

“You better guard if you’re not going to make shots,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “We knew if we were going to do anything, we had to play defense — and defense we played.”

Jordan Clarkson and Kevin Love each had 20 points to pace Cleveland. Collin Sexton added 18 points and Tristan Thompson had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers trailed for most of the contest, but took advantage of Philadelphia’s poor shooting in the fourth quarter, going up by as many as five points on three occasions.

“We gave them life and were in a fistfight,” Brown said. “You can just feel it. We had a chance to discourage them and we didn’t. Certainly a hard-fought game and we’re lucky to get away with it.”

Cleveland led 97-92 with 3:34 remaining after Sexton’s driving layup, but the Cavaliers wouldn’t score again. Harris pulled Philadelphia within 97-94 with a follow layup and then hit a 17-footer on the ensuing possession to make it a one-point game with 1:42 left.

Cleveland had chances to build the lead after that, but Love missed a close-range shot before a shot-clock violation on the Cavaliers’ next possession.

“I think our defense was pretty OK,” Embiid said. “We just didn’t make shots.”

The 76ers were having their own trouble scoring with Richardson and Embiid failing to convert on consecutive possessions.

After a timeout with 26.6 seconds left, Brown called a high-percentage play with Harris finding Embiid close to the basket. Embiid slammed it home to give the 76ers their first lead, 98-97, since early in the fourth quarter.

“It was a great play-call by coach and we did the rest,” Embiid said.

Cleveland had a chance to win it, but Love’s 3-point attempt from the top of the key rimmed out.
“Kevin is a great shooter, not a good shooter,” Cleveland coach John Beilein said. “He took his time but just didn’t nail it. It’s one of many looks I’ll take at that time.”

Close calls

Four of Philadelphia’s seven wins have been by eight points or less. Asked if the 76ers were playing with fire by winning such close games, Brown said, “It’s a blow torch. It is violent.”

“I, sadistically, love it,” he added.

Ben’s back

Simmons returned after missing two games due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. He added six assists, five rebounds and two blocks to his point total, but also had four turnovers in 35 minutes. He made 7 of 9 field goals with all but a 6-foot turnaround jumper from close range.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Games Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — NorthPort vs NLEX
7 p.m. — Alaska vs Phoenix Pulse

Alaska and NorthPort resume their quest for the eighth and final quarterfinals berth against separate rivals in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces take on the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters at 7 p.m. while the Batang Pier face a daunting task against the league-best NLEX Road Warriors in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

Both teams are tied for eighth spot at 3-6, with Alaska in good condition despite a 0-5 start and dealing ace guard Chris Banchero to defending champion Magnolia last week.

Vic Manuel scored 23 points during Alaska’s crucial 106-99 victory over NorthPort last Nov. 3 while Jeron Teng is averaging 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists four games since returning from a hamstring injury.

Rookie Abu Tratter has also stepped up for the Aces, posting 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the last two games even as import Franko House has bucked a slow start with averages of 17.8 points and 13.7 rebounds in six games.

Coach Jeffrey Cariaso is hoping that the Aces will capitalize on the woes of the Fuel Masters, who are in also fighting for dear lives with a 2-7 record.

Meanwhile, NorthPort has dropped its last two games, including Sunday’s 103-89 defeat to Meralco at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The odds are stacked against the Batang Pier as they battle a Road Warriors side expected to ride on the momentum of Sunday’s dramatic 86-85 win over Magnolia.

NLEX battled from 26 down to claim victory on a last-gasp basket by Jericho Cruz.

The Road Warriors hold an 8-1 record, the best mark since the franchise joined the pro loop in 2014.

Kevin Alas could make his return for NLEX after being sidelined for the past nine months due to a second ACL injury suffered against Meralco in early-February.

Alas was a late scratch last Sunday as coach Yeng Guiao decided to delay his return.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Game Wednesday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

12 noon – UST vs FEU (women’s)

4 p.m. – UST vs UP (men’s)

Surging University of Santo Tomas stands in the way of University of the Philippines setting ablaze Part 2 of the Battle of Katipunan.

And defending champion and early finalist Ateneo awaits where the fresh challenge to its throne would come from – somewhere in the neighborhood or from distant west in España.

Drums will roll and cries of mayhem will ring out when UST and UP knock each other out Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena for the right to face the Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 82 Finals.

Game is at 4 p.m. with the winner advancing to the best-of-three championship series starting Saturday.

UST guns for a first finals appearance since losing the crown to Far Eastern University in 2015, while UP seeks a second straight finals trip after yielding to Ateneo last season.

Momentum is on the Tigers’ side after they forged a do-or-die last Sunday following an 89-69 thumping of the Maroons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UP coach Bo Perasol has vowed to produce their own fire-and-brimstone in matching UST’s intensity.

“We cannot just be the recipients of their aggressiveness. We need to match them. We have to understand that the reason we lost three games this season against UST is because they outhustled us,” Perasol said.

The Tigers unleashed their offensive prowess, particularly behind the arc by unloading 11 three-pointers against the Maroons’ three. UST also got 51 points from its bench, demonstrating its depth of rotation.

UST coach Aldin Ayo expects his players to stick to their tried-and-tested system.

He also hopes his players have recovered physically and mentally.

“It’s only a short preparation kaya importante yung recovery. Talking about mindset, we know that it’s difficult pero kakayanin namin,” Ayo said.

“Before we played against FEU (in the first stepladder round), parang ang hirap eh. Nakakalula kasi ang daming dadaanan. But for us, if you know how to get there and you are willing to do that, don’t be too worried as long as you do your best. Yan ang sinasabi ko sa kanila.”

Expect another thrilling matchup pitting last season’s Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie and this year’s MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo. Akhuetie had 18 points and 18 rebounds the last time while Chabi Yo finished with 17 points, 15 boards and four steals.

Leading UP will be Juan Gomez De Liaño, Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras, who combined for 41 points, against UST’s own trio of Rhenz Abando, Mark Nonoy and Sherwin Concepcion, who merged for 45 points.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Andrea Robles bolstered her Southeast Asian Games buildup by taking the individual title in women’s compound of the 2019 Macau Indoor Archery Open recently.

Seeded fourth, Robles first stunned top seed Sarah Prieels of Belgium, 146-145, in the semifinals before besting world championship runner-up Paige Pearce of the United States, 141-135, for the gold medal.

“I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling really happy that I [won], especially because it’s my first time at these events,” said the 21-year-old Robles in an interview with worldarchery.org.

“I’m just having fun with it, training my best and enjoying.”

Robles qualified in the Olympic round after finishing fourth with 579 points behind Prieels (589), world No. 1 Alexis Ruiz of the United States (586) and Pearce (584).

She bested hometown bet Xu Lumeng and Australia’s Natalie Duncan before her upset win over Prieels.

Though the tournament was held indoors, the victory boosted Robles’ confidence heading to the SEA Games late this month where the competition will be held outdoors.

“It’s given me an opportunity to see where I need work,” Robles said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The bats of the national women’s baseball team were kept silent by Taiwan in a 15-0 loss in four innings Monday in the Women’s Baseball Asian Cup at the Panda Stadium in Zhongshan, China.

The Pinay batters could only muster three hits as Taiwanese pitchers Wen Ching Hsiei and Yu Ping Hsu dominated on the mound to win the contest that ended abruptly due to a mercy rule.

Lealyn Guevarra, Mery Ann Ramos and Ivy Mhel Capistrano accounted for the three hits produced by the Philippine team coached by Egay delos Reyes.

Still, the Philippines was already assured of a spot in the Super Round even before the match on the account of its comeback wins over Hong Kong and South Korea.

The national batters placed second in Group B with a 2-1 record behind Taiwan which won all three matches by a combined score of 39-2.

The Philippines will face host China and defending champion Japan in the Super Round which starts Wednesday.

Japan won all three games in Group A via shutout while scoring 74 combined runs while China placed second at 2-1.

The top two teams advance to the finals on Friday while the bottom two squads dispute third place.

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)

After two defeats against its archrival this season, Letran has found a way to beat San Beda.

Fran Yu stepped up big time in the final stretch to power the Knights to a 65-64 victory against the heavily favored Red Lions in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series in NCAA Season 95 Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

Yu, a third year point guard who was the hero in Letran’s win against No. 2 seed Lyceum of the Philippines University in the stepladder playoffs last week, made the crucial plays on both ends.

Yu’s assist on Larry Muyang for an easy basket inside the shaded lane gave the Knights a 65-62 lead with 1:27 left in the game. He followed that up with a steal on Calvin Oftana.

San Beda cut the deficit to just one point when Evan Nelle converted a layup to make it 65-64 with 37.5 seconds left.

The biggest play Yu made came when he collared the rebound after Oftana missed a three-point shot.

Fouled by Evan Nelle, he muffed his first foul shot, and intentionally missed the second as time expired.

Letran players celebrated the victory at center court as the Knights snapped their rival’s 18-0 winning streak during the elimination round that propelled the Red Lions to the finals.

Yu finished with 10 points. Graduating players Bonbon Batiller and Jerrick Balanza scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Letran’s win gave the school a 1-0 record in the title showdown, or just a victory away from winning it all after bagging the championship back in 2015 under then mentor Aldin Ayo.

Despite the win, Letran’s first year mentor Bonnie Tan said it’s not over until they complete their mission.

“One game pa lang naman. We are happy for the win, pero hindi pa din tapos ito,” said Tan. “Although we have the momentum, nakuha namin ang Game 1, sana hindi na pakawalan ng players ko.”

“Sila naman ang naglalaro. Kung gusto nila, kunin nila (championship in Game 2). Kami we’re just here (as coaches) to guide. I told the players to play for the school, the alma mater and for their families.”

Letran can end the title series and win its 18th championship with another victory in Game 2 on Friday at the same venue.

San Beda, which came to the series on a 24-day break, got 20 points from Nelle, while Oftana – the league MVP – was held to just 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field.

San Beda’s Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua also struggled offensively with seven points but he collared 13 rebounds as he battled different Letran defenders in Muyang, Chris Balagasay and Jeo Ambohot.

Scores:

LETRAN 65 – Batiller 12, Balanza 10, Yu 10, Ambohot 9, Muyang 7, Reyson 7, Mina 3, Ular 3, Caralipio 2, Sangalang 2, Balagasay 0, Olivario 0.

SAN BEDA 64 – Nelle 20, Canlas 11, Oftana 11, Tankoua 7, Soberano 6, Bahio 4, Doliguez 3, Etrata 2, Abuda 0, Cuntapay 0, Alfaro 0.

Quarters: 17-18; 28-32; 47-44; 65-64.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas coach Jimmy Alapag sees Nick King as a suitable replacement for Renaldo Balkman ahead of the team’s ASEAN Basketball League season opener on Sunday against Mono Vampire in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Alab had to sign the 24-year-old King last week after Balkman was forced to forego a third season with the team to attend to a family matter in Puerto Rico.

King didn’t disappoint in Alab’s tune-up against Gilas Pilipinas at Meralco Gym, dropping a game-high 23 points spiked by three triples in a 93-89 victory. But Alapag said he was more impressed with his versatility on both ends.

“It was one of his strengths in college, his ability to play almost all five positions,” said Alapag of King, who played college at Memphis, Alabama and Middle Tennessee before suiting up for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G-League.

“And he gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of our lineup to put him in different spots with guys like Jason Brickman, Khalif Wyatt, Louie Vigil and Jeremiah Gray. So it would helpful for us moving forward,” he added.

King will join forces with Wyatt and Adrian Forbes as Alab’s three world imports for the upcoming season as the Alapag and the Philippine squad look to rebound from last season’s quarterfinal exit.

Balkman was supposed to be back for another tour of duty and expected to equal his numbers of 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 50 career games with Alab.

“It’s tough,” said Alapag. “You never wanna lose an import, especially less than two weeks before the opener. But you can never foresee those circumstances. He had an issue to take care of and as much as he’s done for San Miguel Alab the last two years, it was tough but I understand.

“But again, Nick’s coming in and his energy has been great. He’s excited to be playing for the Philippines. He’s young and he might be young enough to be my son, almost. But again, happy to have him here and trying to get him blended with the team as fast as possible,” he added.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

The Filipinos’ in-born talent in fist fighting will be its main advantage when the eight-member kickboxing squad vies for the gold in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December.

This was the belief of Karol Maguide, one of six members of the men’s team that will have to contend with five other countries, including powerhouse Thailand and Vietnam during competitions scheduled Dec. 7-10 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

“Magaling tayo sa suntukan (We are very good in fist fighting),” said the 19-year-old Maguide, who also excels in Muay and wushu, during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel.

Maguide was accompanied by three other teammates and Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan and boxing coach Glenn Mondol.

Other hopefuls present during the Q&A include Ruel Catalan, brother of wushu standout Rene, Jomar Balangui and John Claude Saclad.

Chan feels the team is a force to be reckoned with.

“We are very much competitive,” said Chan, noting that the SKP, headed by Sen. Francis Tolentino, has thrown its full support to all the SEAG-bound bets.

Aside from boxing, the SKP also tapped the expertise of two-time taekwondo Olympian Donald Geisler from taekwondo and MMA ace Mark Sangiao to help the team.

To toughen up for the SEAG hostilities, the SEAG aspirants were sent to train in Taiwan and Cambodia.

“As such as we want to be confident, we would want to me modest,” said Chan, assuring that “everyone will be a medalist.”

Source: Manila Bulletin