By Nick Giongco

Filipino challenger Edward Heno scored a third-round knockdown but failed to step on the gas in the final rounds and blew his chance of scoring an upset win over World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight champion Elwin Soto of Mexico Friday in Indio, California.

Making the first defense of the WBO 108-ln title, Soto was given an eight-count by referee Jerry Cantu after Heno landed a right hook that had him touching the floor.

Stung by the knockdown, Soto came out smoking in the fourth round but Heno relished his foe’s aggression and while the Filipino puncher wasn’t as effective, it was crystal clear that he was the busier.

Heno, fighting for the world title for the first time, scored on uppercuts at close range in the middle rounds but Soto rebounded strongly in the latter part of the fight en route to earning scores of 115-112 (twice) and 114-113.

The victory raised Soto’s record to 16-1 with 11 KOs while the loss was the first for Heno, who dropped to 14-1 with five KOs.

“If only Edward stepped on the gas in the final two rounds, he could have won it,” said Sean Gibbons, the right-hand man of Manny Pacquiao.

Marty Elorde, who manages Heno, swears his fighter didn’t disappoint.

“Edward didn’t let us down,” said Elorde, admitting, though, that as challenger, Heno should have given out more.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Rising pole vaulter EJ Obiena has decided to spend the remaining days of his training for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Italy, where conditions and facilities should enable him to maintain his top form.

Obiena had earlier wanted to stay behind until the SEAG formally starts but was compelled to pack his bags and resume his training with Vitaly Petrov in Italy.

“There are other disciplines that are important for improvement,” said athletics head Philip Juico, noting that the absence of gymnastics facilities in the country forced the 6’2″ Obiena to leave.

Juico said Obiena was hoping to remain provided that a gymnastics apparatus was going to be installed for him to use.

“Inadequacies,” said Juico, stressing that gymnastics play a vital part in Obiena’s training.

Instead, Obiena will miss this weekend’s SEAG test event at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, and will only return to the country a week before pole vault is played in the first week of December.

Last September, the 23-year-old Obiena hit 5.81 meters to earn a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile, Thailand is sending practically its SEAG-bound track and field squad to the test event.

Unlike the Thais, the Philippines will be participating in minus many of its gold medal hopefuls who are neck-deep in training in the US.

But the sprinting Richardson sisters—Kayla and Kyla—are attending, according to Juico.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya denies accusations of sexual assault contained in a lawsuit filed against him this week.

De La Hoya’s company, Golden Boy Promotions, issued a statement Tuesday describing the action as a “frivolous lawsuit” and calling the allegations “completely false.”

The lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges that the unnamed woman had a consensual sexual relationship with De La Hoya until he assaulted her at his home in Pasadena in November 2017.

The lawsuit goes into graphic detail in its allegations against De La Hoya, claiming the former boxing champion was intoxicated at the time that he overpowered the woman.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify whether she filed a complaint with the police after the alleged attack, which left her requiring medication for “extreme swelling and pain.”

The complainant says she went to a hospital after the alleged attack and eventually sought psychological treatment, during which she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The woman claims she still has daily symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Golden Boy Promotions’ statement suggests De La Hoya is being extorted.

“Oscar is a very successful businessman, running one of the country’s leading sports and entertainment companies — thus a prime target,” the statement reads.

De La Hoya won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and went on to claim world title belts in six weight classes.

He was one of the most successful boxers of his generation upon his retirement in 2009, and he has run Golden Boy Promotions since 2002.

De La Hoya has been married to Millie Corretjer since 2001, and they have two children. The former boxer has acknowledged substance abuse problems several times in his past, admitting alcohol abuse and cocaine use.

The woman’s lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages for alleged sexual assault, sexual battery, gender violence, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MOSCOW — Conor McGregor will return to mixed martial arts in January with a UFC fight in Las Vegas.

The Irish fighter said Thursday he will return “fully focused” on Jan. 18 at the T-Mobile Arena.

“That is my comeback fight. It is 12 weeks this Saturday. I am in prime physical condition. I have agreed the date with the company,” McGregor said, adding that he knows his opponent’s name but won’t reveal it. “If I was to give you people the name, which I would love to do, I know the UFC would flip it because they are a crafty company.”

The 31-year-old McGregor hasn’t fought since losing by submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018. He was banned for six months and fined $50,000 for his part in a post-fight brawl.

McGregor said he is targeting two more fights, including a rematch with Nurmagomedov in Moscow. He also aimed a string of insults at the Russian fighter.

After the Jan. 18 fight, McGregor said he would then like to fight the winner of the Nov. 3 bout between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, followed by either Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson.

“I’m going to go through the entire roster like a chain saw through butter,” he said.

Nurmagomedov’s father and coach, Abdulmanap, said his unbeaten son would have little difficulty defeating McGregor again.

“If he’s ready for it, then we’ll beat him up in Moscow,” Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov told Russia’s state news agency Tass. “It won’t be a rematch, it’ll be another bout with a beating.”

McGregor’s return comes as he faces more legal issues. He is facing an assault charge in Ireland over an incident in which he appeared to punch a man in a bar.

He said he is planning to abstain from alcohol and late nights in the run-up to his next fight.

“I am focused here,” McGregor said. “I am structured now.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he is planning to attend the World Series on Sunday if it goes to a fifth game.

The president confirmed his plans Thursday while presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Roger Penske, a businessman and founder of one of the world’s most successful motorsports teams.

The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros are playing, with the fifth game scheduled for Sunday in Washington. The Nationals lead the series 2-0 and could conceivably win it before Sunday’s game.

Trump played high school baseball at the New York Military Academy and has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch at major league games. Asked if he would do so again this weekend, he joked that he would have to dress up with a lot of heavy armor and would look too heavy. “I don’t like that,” he said.

The president is a New York Yankees fan who would often attend their games and sit in the owners’ suite or near the dugout. He welcomed the Astros to the White House last year after they won the 2017 World Series and said their victory was even more special following the devastation Hurricane Harvey wrought on the Texas city.

Washington Nationals pitcher Aníbal Sánchez said people should “respect that situation” if the president wants to attend the game.

“He’s the president, and if he wants to come, why not?” Sanchez said.

Trump would be the first sitting president to attend a World Series game since George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at New York’s Yankee Stadium before Game 3 in 2001. As the former controlling owner of the Texas Rangers, Bush knew several of the players involved.

Other presidents who attended World Series game were Woodrow Wilson (1915), Calvin Coolidge (1924), Herbert Hoover (1929, 1930, 1931), Franklin Roosevelt (1933, 1936), Dwight Eisenhower (1956), Jimmy Carter (1979) and Ronald Reagan (1983).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The PBA Commissioner’s Office on Friday approved the revised trade between Meralco and Blackwater that will pave the way for eight-year swingman Allein Maliksi to switch teams.

Maliksi and Raymar Jose were dealt to the Bolts with the Elite receiving veteran forward KG Canaleta, guard Mike Tolomia and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2022.

Sources said Meralco had to add another future pick after the league thumbed down the initial trade proposal submitted on Thursday.

The trade came less than a week after Blackwater shipped shooter Mike DiGregorio to TNT KaTropa in exchange for playmaker Brian Heruela.

Maliksi will join his fifth team since being taken in the first round of the 2011 Draft. He is averaging 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in seven games this conference.

Jose has played just three games in the current tournament with numbers of 3.3 points and 2.3 boards.

Canaleta returns for a second tour of duty with Blackwater after a brief stint in 2017 while Tolomia joins his third team since being selected in the 2016 draft while reuniting with former Far Eastern University teammates Mac Belo and Carl Bryan Cruz.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

INZAI CITY, Japan — Heavy rain washed out the second round of the Zozo Championship on Friday in the PGA Tour’s first tournament in Japan.

Tiger Woods was tied with Gary Woodland after both players shot 64 in the opening round on Thursday.

“Due to heavy rain in the area, the second round has been postponed for the day and will resume on Saturday,” the PGA Tour said in a statement, adding that tee times for the second round will run from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. local time on Saturday.

Woods is making his first start in his 23rd season on the PGA Tour, needing one victory to reach 82 wins and tie the career record held by Sam Snead.

Organizers said the golf course had already taken on an inch of rain early Friday and was “unplayable.” More rain is in the forecast with three to five inches expected on Friday.

Cloudy conditions with the possibility of rain are forecast for the weekend and organizers were confident they could still complete four rounds of golf by Sunday.

In the event that rain continues, the rules committee said a Monday finish remains a possibility.

“Yes, if we’re not able to complete play by Sunday, we will go into Monday, we do have rain predicted for Sunday,” said Gary Young, vice president of rules and competition for the PGA Tour.

Tee times had originally been moved up an hour, but the weather was too extreme to play at all.

American Justin Thomas, who was tied for 25th overall after the opening round, posted a tweet about the severity of the storm. He included a radar picture of the storm and a grimacing face.

The Zozo tournament is part of three tournaments that make up the PGA Tour’s Asia Swing, including the CJ Cup in South Korea won last week by Justin Thomas and the HSBC Champions in Shanghai next week.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

CLEVELAND — A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cavaliers and starting forward Cedi Osman have agreed to a four-year, $30.8 million contract extension.

The sides came to terms Thursday night, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not confirmed the deal. An announcement could be made Friday, the person said.

The 24-year-old Osman has continued to improve for the Cavs, who began scouting the Turkish native as a teenager.

The team sees him as part of their young core nucleus along with guards Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and forward Larry Nance Jr.

Osman was in the final year of a three-year, $8.3 million deal he signed in 2017. He was eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. His extension runs through the 2022-23 season.

He averaged 13 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season when Cleveland went 19-63.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

HOUSTON — A group of 30 fans at the Houston Rockets’ season opener against Milwaukee held signs and wore shirts in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on Thursday night.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey angered China with a since-deleted tweet in support of the protesters earlier this month.

Wednesday’s opening-night games were not televised in China in the wake of Morey’s tweet that caused tension between the NBA and Chinese officials.

Many in the group wore black T-shirts with white letters that read: “Fight for Freedom.”

The majority of the group was from Houston’s Vietnamese community, but it also included people from Hong Kong.

Chris Wong, who was born in Hong Kong and moved to Houston 10 years ago, said he joined the group to support freedom of speech.

“The NBA and American corporations are facing the issue of free speech,” he said. “They have to ask themselves how much freedom are they willing to give in exchange for the access to the market in China? That’s why we want to send this message to everyone.”

One man held a sign the read: “Thank you Morey,” with a red heart after Morey’s name. Another sign read: “No censorship in America” and a third declared: “Freedom is not FREE.” Another man held a sign that said: “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” which are the exact words included in Morey’s tweet.

Tram Ho helped organize the group and said the reason for putting it together was simple.

“We wanted to support the pro-Democracy movement in Hong Kong,” she said. “The NBA’s Morey … tweeted a benign tweet to support the (movement and) the Chinese government overreacted and tried to censor us and that’s not right. So that brought me the idea that we would support … the pro-democratic movement.”

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta quickly rebuked his GM after his tweet with a tweet saying that Morey does not speak for the team, but the damage was done.

The Chinese Basketball Association, headed by former Rockets star Yao Ming, suspended its ties to the Rockets over the tweet.

Events in China promoting a Lakers-Nets series were canceled, NBA media partner Tencent said it was evaluating its plans to cover the league and some Chinese corporations have suspended relationships with the NBA.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

PHOENIX— The Phoenix Suns plans for a big turnaround season hit an unexpected snag.

Center Deandre Ayton was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA on Thursday night for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic.

The first overall pick last year out of Arizona, Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a rookie and was hoping to have a jump in production in his second season.

He had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks Wednesday night in the Suns’ season-opening home victory over Sacramento.

Ayton was especially proud of the blocks, telling media after the game that new coach Monty Williams had put a huge emphasis on defense and rim protection. But the good vibes from that victory have quickly evaporated.

“On behalf of the Phoenix Suns organization, Monty Williams and I are disappointed in the actions by Deandre Ayton that led to his testing positive for a banned diuretic and subsequent suspension by the NBA. This does not uphold the standards and principles we have set for the team,” Suns general manager James Jones said in a statement released by the team.

“Deandre has expressed his deepest remorse. While he is suspended we remain committed to his growth and development on and off the court. His actions are not taken lightly, and we are committed to ensuring that Deandre understands the profound impact it has had on the team, organization, and Suns community.”

Ayton was upbeat after Wednesday’s win, giving no indication that he was about to miss nearly a third of the season.

Phoenix had a 19-63 record last season but hoped for a fast rebuild with a roster that was built around Ayton and high-scoring guard Devin Booker.

The team hired Williams as coach, signed free-agent point guard Ricky Rubio and re-signed talented forward Kelly Oubre Jr. The Suns also added rookies Cameron Johnson and Ty Jerome and depth in the frontcourt with veterans Aron Baynes, Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky III.

Now they’ll be without Ayton until mid-December unless the suspension is reduced through the arbitration process.

“I want to apologize to my family, the entire Suns organization, my teammates, partners, our fans and the Phoenix community,” Ayton said in a statement. “This was an unintentional mistake and unfortunately I put something in my body that I was completely unaware of.”

“I do understand the unfortunate impact that this has on so many others, and for that I am deeply sorry. I’m extremely disappointed that I’ve let my team down. I will continue to work with the Players’ Union (NBPA) to go through the arbitration process and am hopeful for a positive resolution.”

Ayton won’t be eligible to return until a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 17. Phoenix plays at Denver on Friday night.

Source: Manila Bulletin