By WAYLON GALVEZ

With a month left before the regional meet, Singapore has decided not to field a team in both the 5-on-5 and the inaugural 3×3 action in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here.

Singapore’s decision to withdraw in the two events was relayed to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Wednesday by the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee or PHISGOC.

“The PHISGOC Sports Services just gave me the final confirmation that Singapore women’s basketball and women’s 3×3 are out of the SEA Games,” said SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza.

Malaysia is the defending champion in the women’s 5-on-5 followed by Thailand and Indonesia, while 3×3 – an Olympic sport – will be making its first appearance in the SEA Games.

With the withdrawal of Singapore in the women’s basketball events, the number of countries in the 5-on-5 is now down to eight and six in 3×3, which will be played at The Arena in San Juan.

The 5-on-5 events will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The biennial meet is scheduled Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 – the fourth time the country is hosting the Games and first since 2005 when the Philippine team bagged the overall championship.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Beer big man Kelly Nabong was fined P30,000 for his hard foul on Meralco’s Chris Newsome during their PBA Governors’ Cup game last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on Wednesday confirmed the sanction, adding that Nabong will likely be suspended and slapped a heftier fine if he repeats the act that occurred with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter of the Bolts’ 127-99 win.

Nabong was summoned to the league office on Tuesday, though it was deputy commissioner Eric Castro who met with the Beermen bruiser.

The seven-year pro gave a hard-bump to Newsome, who was airborne while trying to feed Bolts import Allen Durham down low. Nabong, in fact, tried to prevent Newsome from a hard fall.

Referees gave Nabong a Flagrant Foul 1 but was ejected after receiving a technical foul for a verbal altercation with Meralco center Raymond Almazan.

Almazan was also given a technical for his exchange with Nabong.

It was the second biggest fine handed to Nabong this season. He was given a P75,000 fine and was banned for the first three games of the Commissioner’s Cup for hitting the accomplice of Paolo Felizarta, the man who entered the court while wearing a Spiderman costume in Game 5 of the Philippine Cup Finals.

The league later reduced to the fine to an undisclosed amount after Nabong participated in the league’s Homecourt program.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Games Sunday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — NorthPort vs Alaska

6:45 p.m. — Ginebra vs Meralco

NLEX erased a double-digit deficit in the first half before going on a third quarter rampage to pummel Rain or Shine 111-91 and gain a share of the lead Wednesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Import Manny Harris led a comeback from 12 points down in the opening period before getting help from JR Quinahan, Kiefer Ravena, Poy Erram and Jericho Cruz to build a double-digit lead that put the Road Warriors in a tie on top with TNT KaTropa at 7-1.

It is the first time that NLEX has reached such point late in the eliminations since entering the league in 2014.

“We never dreamed na makaka-No. 1 kami at this point of the conference,” said Guiao, who wants his team to remain sharp going into the 12-day break that could leave the Road Warriors with a sense of comfort.

“It’s temporary and it’s fragile at alam namin na konting mali mo pwede ka na ulit bumagsak,” he added.

Harris was held to 29 points after dropping 45 and 40 in his first two games since replacing Olu Ashaolu, but was able to produce 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

NLEX trailed 25-12 in the first quarter against a Rain or Shine team parading new import Rich Ross as a replacement for the injured Kwame Alexander.

The Road Warriors were behind 42-32 when Harris led a comeback by scoring 10 during a 19-7 response that gave them a 51-49 lead at the break.

He got help from Quinahan, Ravena, Erram and Cruz in the third as NLEX outscored Rain or Shine 32-16 to build an 83-65 lead going into the fourth.

Quinahan scored eight in that period, Erram and Cruz had six and five while Harris and Ravena combined for seven assists.

Ross posted 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists but was dealing with foul trouble as the Elasto Painters fell to 2-7.

The former US NCAA player at Old Dominion replaced Alexander, who suffered an ankle injury against Blackwater while playing through it against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Saturday.

Rookie Javee Mocon was Rain or Shine’s top local scorer with 17 while Rey Nambatac sat out because of an ankle issue.

Scores:

NLEX 111 – Harris 29, Cruz 13, Erram 12, Ravena 12, Quinahan 10, Soyud 10, Paniamogan 9, Miranda 6, Fonacier 3, Lao 3, Galanza 2, Taulava 2, Ighalo 0, Varilla 0.

Rain or Shine 91 – Ross 20, Mocon 17, Ponferada 13, Rosales 10, Belga 7, Onwubere 6, Norwood 4, Daquioag 4, Borboran 3, Exciminiano 3, Torres 2, Alejandro 2.

Quarterscores: 23-27, 51-49, 83-65, 111-91.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

University of the East and De La Salle posted contrasting wins on Wednesday to end the UAAP season 82 men’s basketball season on a high note at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Red Warriors edged the National University Bulldogs 79-77 while the Archers ripped the Adamson Falcons 89-63.

Graduating Rey Suerte scattered 20 of 28 points in the second half while Alex Diakhite added 17 points and 11 rebounds for UE, which finished the double round eliminations at 4-10.

“There are memories and lessons in losing. Pana-panahon lang naman yan eh. At least, yung mga graduating players, maghihiwalay kami nang nakangiti, hindi ganung kalungkot,” said UE active consultant Lawrence Chongson.

Jamie Malonzo, meanwhile, pumped in 34 points on a 7-of-12 shooting behind the arc while hauling 12 rebounds for La Salle, which finished the season at 7-7.

It was a bittersweet ending for the Archers, who lost their chance of making into the Final Four last week with a 71-68 defeat to University of the Philippines Maroons.

“We didn’t reach our goal, but I’m happy we sent our seniors the right way,” said La Salle consultant Jermaine Byrd.

Still, La Salle came out strong against Adamson, exploding in the three-point area with 14 triples.

Justine Baltazar had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Archers while Andrei Caracut also finished with 14 points and six assists.

Adamson ended the season at 4-10 despite AP Manlapaz and Jerom Lastimosa merging for 25 points.

NU, for its part, finished the season with 2-12 despite Dave Ildefonso and JV Gallego scoring 20 points each.

Scores:

First game

UE 79 – Suerte 28, Diakhite 17, Abanto 6, Cruz 6, Pagsanjan 6, Manalang 5, Mendoza 5, Antiporda 3, Tolentino 3, Apacible 0.

NU 77 – Gallego 20, D. Ildefonso 20, Gaye 10, S. Ildefonso 9, Clemente 5, Oczon 5, Galinato 4, Joson 2, Minerva 2, Rangel 0, Yu 0.

Quarters: 22-21, 37-42, 59-57, 79-77.

Second game

LA SALLE 89 – Malonzo 34, Baltazar 14, Caracut 14, Bartlett 7, Serrano 7, Hill 5, Melecio 3, Laput 3, Lojera 2, Bates 0, Cu 0, Escandor 0, Lim 0, Manuel 0.

ADAMSON 63 – Manlapaz 15, Lastimosa 10, Mojica 9, Douanga 6, Ahanmisi 5, Chauca 4, Fermin 4, Sabandal 3, Zaldivar 3, Camacho 2, Yerro 2, Bernardo 0, Capulong 0, Flowers 0, Magbuhos 0, Orquez 0.

Quarters: 25-12, 50-29, 68-40, 89-63

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

NorthPort guard Robert Bolick will be out for at least six months after undergoing surgery due to a right ACL tear that ended a PBA rookie campaign highlighted by a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup.

His agent Marvin Espiritu said Bolick will begin rehab as soon as he fully recovers from the operation performed by orthopedic surgeon Raul Canlas Wednesday morning.

The former NCAA star out of San Beda suffered the injury last Oct. 23 when the Batang Pier defeated the San Miguel Beermen 127-119 in their PBA Governors’ Cup duel at the Cuneta Astrodome.

“Sabi niya he will undergo rehab as soon as mabigyan na siya ng go-ahead signal, then he will go sa States sa December to visit his family and continue his rehab there,” Espiritu told the Bulletin.

“He’s in high spirits and hindi pa din nawawala confidence niya,” added Espiritu. “He knows he’ll be back stronger.”

Team manager Bonnie Tan confirmed in the wee hours of Wednesday Bolick’s injury which came while going for a layup with 8:06 remaining in the fourth quarter of NorthPort’s match against San Miguel.

The injury also ruled Bolick out of the men’s 3×3 competitions for the Southeast Asian Games which the country will host Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. Bolick was named to the 12-man pool last month.

“Robert Bolick suffered a partial ACL tear in his last game against SMB,” Tan said in a statement. “To address the ACL tear, Bolick opted to go through surgery rather than rehab to ensure full recovery.”

“The Batang Pier Team will play without him for the next six months,” added Tan.

The injury put a disappointing conclusion to a season that saw Bolick live up to his billing as the third overall pick in last year’s PBA Rookie Draft.

Bolick scored 26 points in his first game last January but had a series of inconsistent games in the Philippine Cup to produce 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the eliminations.

Robert Bolick suffered a partial ACL tear in his last game against SMB. To address the ACL tear, Bolick opted to go through surgery rather than rehab to ensure full recovery. The Batang Pier Team will play without him for the next 6 months.

— Bonnie Tan (@bonnie_t_tan) October 29, 2019

He scored 24 points, including a go-ahead three with under a minute to go that eventually gave NorthPort a 100-97 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and a berth in the quarterfinals.

“Sabi ko this is not the NCAA. PBA to. Kailangan makipag palitan ka ng mukha rito,” NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio said of Bolick after that early-April game. “Wag kang matakot, gwapo ka naman eh, kaya ok lang kahit makpagpalitan ka. Kaya sabi ko maging aggressive ka.”

Bolick followed Jarencio’s instructions to the letter in the Commissioner’s Cup, producing 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists as NorthPort finished second in the elims with a franchise-best 9-2 mark.

But the Batang Pier blew a twice-to-beat advantage against the eventual champion Beermen, with Bolick falling short of several chances to win the game in the dying seconds of the do-or-die match.

“I think I really did pretty well sa endgame. I had a bad game, but I kept fighting. Ganun talaga yun. Binigay ko lang talaga lahat,” said Bolick after the eliminations from the midseason conference.

His improved play caught the attention of then-Gilas coach Yeng Guiao, who gave him a spot in Gilas’ World Cup roster.

He averaged 8.6 points during the team’s winless campaign in China, showing little fear against crack teams like Italy and Serbia.

“Dami kong natutunan,” Bolick disclosed during Gilas’ group stage campaign in Foshan. “Hopefully, yung mga natutunan ko sana pa-angat ako ng pa-angat.”

He was left out of consideration for the SEA Games roster due to current Gilas coach Tim Cone’s focus on familiarity and experience, but was included instead to the 12-man pool for the 3×3 event.

Bolick averaged 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in seven games this conference before the injury.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

SHENZHEN, China — World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty was upset by late substitute Kiki Bertens 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the WTA Finals on Tuesday.

Bertens arrived at the elite tournament as an alternate, and has suddenly jumped into title contention with the other seven players in the draw.

She took the place of Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the finals on Tuesday with a right shoulder injury ahead of her second round-robin match.

The second singles of the day went in Belinda Bencic’s favor when she outlasted Petra Kvitova 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

The Bencic win means all four players in the Red Group are still in contention for semifinals action. The standings have Bencic and Barty at 1-1, Kvitova at 0-2, and Bertens at 1-0 going into the last round-robin matches. On Thursday, Barty will play Kvitova, and Bertens will meet Bencic.

With little notice she’d be playing, Bertens earned her first career victory over Barty in five matches played.
Barty, winner of the first set, led by a break twice in the second at 2-1 and 3-2.

“When you give a player of Kiki’s caliber a chance to get back into the match not once but twice, she’s going to make you pay,” Barty said. “That’s probably the most disappointing thing. Twice in the second set I was up a break and wasn’t able to consolidate.”

Bertens came close to beating Barty in the Beijing semifinals this month, losing in a third-set tiebreaker.

The Dutchwoman arrived in Shenzhen straight from losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the Zhuhai, China, final on Sunday.

“In the beginning I was a little bit struggling,” Bertens said. “As the match was continuing, I felt better and better. The movement was getting a bit better. I was starting to feel the court. I could play a little bit more aggressive, come to the net.”

“Yeah, I played pretty well in the end.”

Bertens broke serve on a fourth break point in the opening game of the third set and raced to 4-0.

Last year, she reached the semifinals in her WTA Finals debut.

Despite the loss, Barty officially secured the year-end No. 1 ranking. She’s the first Australian woman to earn that distinction.

Only Karolina Pliskova and Osaka had an opportunity to prevent Barty from finishing the season as the year-end No. 1. They both had to win the title here with a perfect record in the round-robin.

Pliskova lost to Elena Svitolina in her opening round-robin match in the Purple Group on Monday.

Bencic, in her WTA Finals debut, decisively broke Kvitova in the ninth game of the third set.

“You go into a match against Kvitova and you never have anything in your hands,” Bencic said. “I don’t think we played our best but I found my game the last few games.

“I knew if I didn’t win I’m eliminated. but I didn’t think about that.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES— Anthony Davis scored 40 points — including a franchise record 26 made free throws — and had 20 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-91 on Tuesday night.

It’s the fourth 40-20 game of Davis’ career and his first since 2016. The last Lakers player to accomplish it was Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.

Not a bad night for someone whose status was questionable two hours before the game due to a right shoulder injury suffered in Sunday’s win over Charlotte.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said 90 minutes before tipoff that he wasn’t sure of Davis’ status. But the seventh-year forward did some shooting drills and was in the starting lineup.

LeBron James added 23 points for the Lakers, who are off to their first 3-1 start since winning their first eight in 2010.

The Grizzlies (1-3) led 65-59 with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter when the Lakers went on a 27-2 run to close out the quarter.

Davis scored 16 during the rally, with all but two of the points coming at the line.

The final 10 Lakers’ points in the quarter came via Davis free throws.

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 16 points while Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 11 boards.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

National University clobbered University of the East 80-62 on Wednesday for an elimination sweep in UAAP women’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jack Animam erupted with a double-double effort of 13 points and 21 rebounds on top of five assists to anchor the Lady Bulldogs to their 14th straight win and propel them straight to the best-of-three finals.

It was also NU’s 94th consecutive victory dating back six years ago to strengthen its bid for a sixth straight title.

NU’s outright finals appearance put University of Santo Tomas (11-3), Adamson University and Far Eastern University (8-6) in a stepladder semis.

The winner between Adamson and FEU will face UST, with the Tigresses enjoying a twice-to-beat incentive.

Adamson advanced to the semis with an 87-86 squeaker over De La Salle for 9-5.

Mar Prado split her charities with 14.3 seconds left off a foul from Bea Dalisay to steer the Lady Falcons. The Lady Archers failed to set up a play to grab the win in the dying seconds against Adamson’s stifling defense.

The battle, however, is not yet over as far as the Lady Bulldogs are concerned.

“This (winning) streak is nothing without the championship,” said Animam.

“I’m just happy we accomplished another feat, but we’re not finished with our goal yet, which is to win the title,” said NU coach Pat Aquino.

Mayu Goto came off the bench and contributed 11 points, while Jeuel Bartolo and Camille Clarin added nine points apiece.

The Lady Warriors finished the season with 1-13.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MIAMI — Atlanta’s Trae Young didn’t want to see the video of the play where he sprained his right ankle. It hurt enough the first time.

Young left the Hawks’ game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night after enduring a sprain — he said it was the first of his life — in the second quarter. The reigning Eastern Conference player of the week said he’s likely to have an MRI exam in Atlanta on Wednesday, but the initial diagnosis is only a sprain and no other serious issues.

“It was painful,” Young said. “Knock on wood, I haven’t had too many injuries. I’ve been blessed not to have too many injuries throughout my whole entire life, so that was definitely a tough pain.”

Young was hurt on a drive about 2 minutes into the second quarter. He went into the air and landed on the foot of Miami’s Justise Winslow, twisting his ankle awkwardly. Young was eventually helped to his feet, initially unable to put much weight on that leg, and went to the Hawks locker room for further evaluation.

The Hawks quickly diagnosed the sprain and said Young would not return to the game.

“They did X-rays. I don’t think they saw anything,” Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said.

Young entered Tuesday averaging 34 points through Atlanta’s first three games.

Young played in 81 of 82 games as a rookie, only sitting out the team’s next-to-last game at Milwaukee. His 11 minutes on Tuesday were a career low, and the five points tied the second-lowest scoring night of his young career. He had four in a loss to Golden State last season.

“I definitely want to see that guy back out there,” Hawks forward John Collins said. “He’s had a hell of a start to the year. My guy off the court in general, so I just want to see him happy, healthy. You hate to see him go down like that, but you’re just hoping for a speedy recovery and back on the court when he’s ready and go from there.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MIAMI— Jimmy Butler made his first four shots and scored 21 in his Miami debut, rookie Tyler Herro scored 29 and the Heat defeated Atlanta 112-97 on Tuesday night in a game where Hawks star Trae Young left early in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle.

The 19-year-old Herro had a 19-point second quarter for Miami, while fellow reserve Goran Dragic scored 21. Bam Adebayo had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Miami and Kendrick Nunn finished with 17.

Young left with 9:56 remaining in the first half, turning his ankle when he landed on the foot of Miami’s Justise Winslow. The reigning Eastern Conference player of the week — who had 102 points in Atlanta’s first three games — finished with five points in 11 minutes.

John Collins scored 30 for Atlanta, including a career-best five 3-pointers, and Jabari Parker finished with 12 for the Hawks.

Butler missed the first three games of the season while celebrating the birth of his daughter Rylee. He was 5 for 11 from the floor, and went 10 for 15 from the line. As a team, Miami was 33 for 45 from the line — compared with 16 for 24 by Atlanta at the stripe.

Herro set a Heat record for points off the bench by a rookie, topping the mark of 28 set by Michael Beasley on March 4, 2009. And Herro and Dragic became the ninth Heat duo all-time to have 20-point games off the Miami bench on the same night.

Mavericks survive Nuggets

In Denver, Maxi Kleber had 14 points, seven rebounds and a key block late to help the Mavericks beat the Nuggets 109-106

Nine Mavericks players scored in double figures on a night their two top scorers were held in check. Luca Doncic scored 12 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Nikola Jokic had his second triple-double of the season, with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Paul Millsap had 23 points and eight rebounds. Will Barton scored 19 but it wasn’t enough to prevent Denver from losing its first game of the season.

The Mavericks rallied from 11 down in the third quarter on the strength of their support players.

They did most of their damage after Denver took a nine-point lead late in the third quarter. Tim Hardaway Jr., who finished with 14 points, hit three 3-pointers and Dorian Finney-Smith two during a 30-10 run that gave Dallas a 103-94 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets chipped away at the lead and got within 107-106 on Gary Harris’ 3-pointer and appeared to take the lead with 1:05 left when Maxi Kleber was called for goaltending on Murray’s layup.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle challenged the call and it was overturned after review, keeping Dallas ahead 107-106.

Doncic hit a driving layup and Jokic lost the ball out of bounds with 29.2 seconds left. After Doncic missed two free throws Jamal Murray, who had 16 points, missed everything on his 3-point attempt with 3.8 seconds left.

Source: Manila Bulletin