By Waylon Galvez

Although the PBA has ordered a stop to all practice sessions, NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao is not prohibiting his players from doing individual workouts.

In fact, Guiao said the franchise’s FCL gym in Quezon City is open to all players to sweat it out on their own.

“The league has announced the lockdown in team practice and training, and we need to follow. We all understand the situation,” Guiao said Monday when contacted by The Manila Bulletin.

“But we asked the players to do individual workout to keep them in shape in case the PBA decides to resume the games,” added Guaio, whose NLEX will tackle the Columbian Dyip on May 3 – the tentative date of the PBA Philippine Cup resumption.

Guiao said they have set up guidelines and measures if a player decides to use their training facility in Quezon City.

“Part of the guideline is first, they have to inform us through our group chat if they’re using the facility. Then sasamahan sila ng team utilities namin if andun sila sa venue,” said Guiao.

“Before and after ng workout sina-sanitize naman ng mga ballboys natin yung pinag-gamitan, venue mismo, and even the practice uniform na ginamit. Linalagay sa plastic then derecho laba para hindi na nahahawakan.”

The veteran mentor said they also included guidelines to protect their families, from management to coaching staff, players and utility personnel, to keep them safe.

The spread of the coronavirus had forced the PBA to suspend the Philippine Cup after it opened last March 8, with defending five-time champion San Miguel Beer beating Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok 94-78 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A few days after, league commissioner Willie Marcial announced the postponement and then ordered the 12 teams to suspend their practice sessions to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Guiao said they have also made their own guidelines which includes the safety of family members of the Road Warriors.

“We asked them to stay home with their families. If there is no need to go out, we asked them to stay home. It’s getting boring, but these are the things we have to do now,” said Guiao.

“This is total team effort for each and everyone to help the country, all of us, recover from this crisis.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jenny Ortuoste

The Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) announced on Sunday that horse races will commence on April 18 and 19 “subject to the lifting of the NCR (National Capital Region) community quarantine.”

In a post on its official Facebook page, Philracom wrote that races shall be held that weekend at San Lazaro Leisure Park “with the same lineup as was scheduled for March 14 and March 15” with a confirmation of entries on April 16.

Among those races were the Philracom Maiden Stakes race and the 3YO Road to the Triple Crown.

Philracom advised “horse owners, trainers, and jockeys to be ready with their horses participating in any of the races scheduled,” particularly those competing in the two stakes races mentioned.

New racing calendar

The agency also advised the horseracing community that “the NEW racing calendar from April 21, 2020 until July 31, 2020 shall be approved by the Philracom Board and shall be immediately published.”

A racing calendar, usually approved before the start of the year, schedules the races to be held at each racetrack in rotation.

There are at present three operational racetracks: Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite; Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite; and Metro Manila Turf Club’s Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.

Philracom Executive Director Dr. Andrew M. Buencamino told the Manila Bulletin that the one month’s break due to the community quarantine “would put the stakes race schedule out of sync, so what we plan to do is decide where to start day one of rotation” when races commence upon the lifting of the quarantine.

Skeletal force

In view of President Duterte’s instruction to agencies of the executive branch to maintain only a skeletal force in office to deliver necessary public services during the NCR quarantine, Philracom also announced its compliance with the directive.

In a Facebook post on Monday (March 16), the agency wrote in Filipino that while they will reduce the number of personnel on duty, it will continue to receive letters from the public and that transactions remain open for those in the industry who need assistance.

“Humihingi po kami ng pag-unawa sapagkat skeletal force po lamang ang manning, ito po ay bukas 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunes hanggang Biyernes hangga’t possible, salamat po,” they wrote.

(We ask for your understanding because we only have a skeletal force manning the office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday while possible, thank you.)

In view of the start of the NCR community quarantine and its attendant concerns related to transport and checkpoints, Philracom also announced that it closed their office at 2 p.m. on Monday “for the safety of our employees to get home early. Please bear with us and wait for further announcements.”

Philracom is the government agency mandated to supervise and regulate the sport and industry of horse racing. The betting aspect of horse racing is under the jurisdiction of the Games and Amusements Board. Both agencies are under the Office of the President.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Fil-Japanese bonebreaker Kiyomi Watanabe’s inclusion in the Tokyo Olympics is almost a done deal.

Judo chief Dave Carter said the International Judo Federation (IJF) has “decided to cut off our qualifications systems to until the Düsseldorf Grand Slam held third week of February.”

With Watanabe, 23, making the cutoff “that would make Kiyomi qualified just via the Continental Quota,” noted Carter.

The judo chief had earlier hoped for another qualifier if Watanabe made it via “direct qualification,” meaning the Cebu-born athlete earning the berth by way of activity.

“If that happened, we could have gotten another slot (for another athlete),” Carter said.

Watanabe is back in Tokyo recovering from injuries sustained during the Düsseldorf grapplefest.

“She got hurt a little in her match in Dusseldorf. But nothing uncommon in this sport,” added Carter.

Watanabe is a four-tome Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2018 Jakarta Asian Games silver medalist.

Once the IJF validates Carter’s assessment, Watanabe will become the fifth Filipino qualifier to Tokyo after pole vaulter EJ Obiena, world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

Also waiting in the wings is Rio 2016 weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who, like Watanabe, is just one sanctioned tournament from formalizing her inclusion to the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

There is a plan for the April 25 three-title belt bantamweight clash in Las Vegas between Filipino John Riel Casimero and Japanese Naoya Inoue to be held behind closed doors owing to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The two were originally set to face off at Mandalay Bay but the decision of the MGM Properties, which owns Mandalay Bay, to close down indefinitely its facilities across Las Vegas, has raised questions whether it will proceed or not.

Inoue holds the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles while Casimero has the World Boxing Organization jewels.

Apparently, industry sources reveal that the mouthwatering fight could still be saved if it is staged indoors without spectators in a TV studio setup.

Still, it will involve a number of people that will handle the production and telecast as well as ringside personnel from commission executives, officials from the governing bodies from the WBA, IBF and WBO, judges and referee, timekeeper, ring physician and paramedics.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Inc. is promoting Inoue vs Casimero admits there is no official word yet from the Nevada Athletic Commission if it will proceed or not.

Nevada has a scheduled meeting on March 25 to tackle the issue.

“We are day to day. April fights have not been canceled yet,” said Arum.

Meanwhile, Casimero just arrived in Las Vegas after five weeks of training in Miami, Florida, and expressed confidence the event will happen.

“Tuloy ang laban natin at sana huwag na mapahamak ang mga tao at maging safe tayo lahat…gumamit ng alcohol,” said Casimero.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Doubts are growing in Japan about the Tokyo Olympics, with growing opposition to holding them as scheduled and some urging officials not to risk lives by pressing ahead during the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.

Officials like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach have repeatedly insisted preparations should continue to light the Olympic flame on July 24.

But with events from the Premier League to NBA basketball scrapped, and Japanese sport also at a standstill, even US President Donald Trump has suggested putting the Olympics on hold.

Japan has seen relatively few cases, with 814 testing positive and 24 dead. But some people on the streets of Tokyo voiced concern for the fans that would pour in from abroad.

Koki Miura, a 27-year-old employee at an internet company, told AFP: “To be honest, even if Japan overcomes this crisis, we wouldn’t receive visitors from the world. I think we’d better not hold it.”

“We cannot sacrifice people’s lives for it,” added Miura, who said the Games should be postponed — if not canceled outright.

Public opinion in Japan appears to be moving against the Games. A poll for public broadcaster NHK taken March 6-9 suggested 45 percent were opposed to going ahead as planned, with 40 percent in favor.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike has said it is “unthinkable” to cancel the Olympics but the decision rests with the IOC, which is planning emergency talks with international sports federations over the virus on Tuesday, according to an IOC source.

Bach has stressed the IOC will follow World Health Organization recommendations regarding a possible postponement. But he has also acknowledged that the cancellation of qualifying events was already posing “serious problems.”

At the beginning of March, Bach said the IOC would show “flexibility” regarding the qualifications for the Tokyo and encouraged “all athletes to continue to prepare” for the Games.

‘Look at the panic’

Masao Sugawara, a 90-year-old pensioner, told AFP: “Personally, I think it would be safer to postpone the Olympics for a year, just as President Trump said. Look at the panic.”

“Of course it would be disappointing, though,” he admitted.

Manfred Otto, 45, a half-Japanese, half-German lawyer, said he was “worried” about the Games and stressed: “We really need to be careful.”

“If the outbreak does not get controlled by June or July, I think we should postpone it,” said Otto.

The betting odds are increasingly shifting towards the opening ceremony not taking place on July 24. Bookmaker Paddy Power is offering 4-1 against the Games opening on time.

This comes as the virus — which has killed 6,400 people worldwide — shreds the international sporting calendar, with almost no elite sporting action taking place last weekend.

Scrapping the Olympics would be a heartbreaking decision for Tokyo residents who rushed to buy tickets, and authorities whose preparations have won widespread praise — with the majority of venues ready well ahead of schedule.

Hisaya Suzuki, 47, said he had tickets to see baseball, Japan’s most popular sport.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I really wanted to take my son,” he said, but added: “If there will be negative consequences, it may be wiser to pause it (the Games).”

Sugawara said the magnitude of the coronavirus trumped sporting considerations.

“I am 90 years old. Except for wartime, I have never felt so worried.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

A classic case of Asian xenophobia, brought about in likelihood by the widespread COVID-19, appeared to have been in full display in a weightlifting Olympic qualifier in South America.

Despite approval from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz was barred by organizers from competing in the South American-Ibero American and Open Senior’s Championship set March 18 to 23 in Cali, Colombia.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said the IWF has already confirmed that Diaz can participate, but organizers of the event, reports said, had disallowed foreign participants from Europe and Asia.

It is not clear, according to Puentevella, if the decision was based on the worldwide spread of COVID-19 although it looks that way.

Last week, Puentevella – in an interview with The Bulletin – said that he thought Diaz and her team, which included Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao and strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, were headed to Colombia since they had already secured tickets.

“In the meantime, Hidilyn and her group will continue training in Malaysia,” Puentevella said in an email later.

Diaz was supposed to compete in the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan, but the organizers begged off because of the health situation. Uzbekistan was offered hosting rights but even the Uzbeks declined.

Diaz is currently No. 5 in the 55kg women’s category of the IWF world ranking with 3,717.0982 points, behind Chinese lifters in Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wangqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223).

Under the IWF rules, however, only one weightlifter per country will advance to Tokyo this July where only the top eight athletes per category will earn Olympic spots.

One of the requirements of the IWF for an athlete to be considered is a completion of six OQTs.

Puentevella, a former member of the IWF, has proposed to the international federation – which will meet starting Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland — to reconsider its rules for this year due to the many cancellations because of the COVID-19 scare.

“Review the six-event qualifying policy, and reduce it to five events due to the unforeseen circumstances affecting not only weightlifting but all sports. This is not the fault of the athletes. It’s lockdown everywhere,” said Puentevella.

“I’m optimistic that the IWF Board will reconsider our plea and resolve this problem at hand in fairness to all associations worldwide.”

Aside from Diaz, also needing to compete for their sixth OQT are Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon, Rio Olympic veteran Nestor Colonia, Eileen Ando, John Ceniza and Mary Flor Diaz.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

A range of sports stars and other celebrities have taken part in a World Health Organization social media campaign to show proper hand-washing practices in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus launched the #SafeHands campaign on Friday, showing off his own hand-washing prowess, and has challenged a long list of famous people to create their own videos.

Health experts say frequent and thorough hand-washing is one of the most important tools in the fight against COVID-19, which has killed more than 6,000 people worldwide.

In his video, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino urged people to help “kick out the virus.”

“Make sure you spread this message but not the virus,” he said.

Gianni Infantino joins @DrTedros in @WHO #SafeHands Challenge. Practical actions protect & promote the health of all people. We must act now. Be prepared & ready to kick out #COVID19. Gianni challenges @alexmorgan13 @alexscott @didierdrogba @Kaka @NiallOfficial & YOU to join in. pic.twitter.com/6zSnaVVXDD

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) March 14, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker also took part, as did retired Brazil midfielder Kaka, Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, and French-Swiss F1 driver Romain Grosjean.

#COVID19 @DrNataliaBecker and I are happy to answer @DrTedros call to join @WHO 's #SafeHands challenge.
I challenge @mterstegen1 @tsilva3 @filipeluis pic.twitter.com/ClUS0T1ZaF

— Alisson Becker (@Alissonbecker) March 14, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Joanne O’Riordan, an Irish activist and sports journalist suffering from an extremely rare disorder that has left her missing her legs and arms, also took the challenge, showing off that “just because you don’t have hands, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wash them.”

The WHO said it was planning a number of similar campaigns on important topics linked with the outbreak going forward.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

NBA referee Courtney Kirkland has been cleared by doctors to depart Sacramento after coronavirus test results returned negative, ESPN reported Sunday.

Kirkland, who has officiated more than 1,200 games in 20 seasons as a league referee, has been cleared to resume all activity without restrictions, according to the report on the sports network’s website, citing unnamed sources.

The news comes four days after Kirkland had been scheduled to officiate the Sacramento Kings’ home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

But the contest was postponed minutes before tipoff because Kirkland had also worked the Utah-Toronto game on Monday in Salt Lake City.

The move was made in the wake of Utah All-Star center Rudy Gobert of France testing positive for COVID-19 just before a scheduled game Wednesday.

Another Utah player, Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive for coronavirus.

Kirkland, 45, was tested on Thursday and isolated himself until receiving the results.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver put the league season on indefinite hiatus after Gobert tested positive, a move that was followed by every major US sports organization over the next two days.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Reuters

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, whose coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis last Wednesday was the first domino that effectively shut down American sports, regrets not having taken the threat more seriously, he said in a social media post on Sunday.

“I’ve been feeling a little better every single days,” the 27-year-old Frenchman said on the National Basketball Association (NBA) twitter feed.

Gobert was diagnosed with the virus two days after playfully touching reporters’ microphones and recorders at the end of a news conference.

“I wish I would have took this thing more seriously and I hope everyone else will do so,” he said on Sunday.

News of Gobert’s diagnosis minutes before the scheduled tip-off of a game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder led to the surreal scene of a member of the Thunder’s medical staff running onto the court to tell the referees, while the players were warming up.

The officials then consulted both coaches in a huddle for several minutes before sending the players back to the locker room, the game cancelled.

Gobert was not at the stadium.

The NBA that night suspended the entire league, and within 36 hours nearly every major American sport had followed suit, including the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the PGA and LPGA Tours and NCAA college basketball.

A second Utah player, Donovan Mitchell, tested positive for coronavirus last Thursday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

The NBA’s season — on hold due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic — could be suspended for at least three months, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday night.

Per the report, owners and executives are bracing for the possibility of mid-to-late June — a time when, in a normal year, the NBA Finals would typically be over — being the best-case scenario for play to resume.

When the season was suspended on Wednesday night, about a month’s worth of regular-season games remained. The postseason typically runs from mid-April through early-to-mid June.

Wojnarowski reports fears exist that the season might not resume, but the league is considering a variety of creative options for a possible return. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending on Sunday that gatherings of 50 or more people should be avoided for the next eight weeks, one plan could involve a return without fans at games, perhaps even playing games in smaller venues like team practice facilities and a different television experience.

The report adds that teams are exploring the availability of venues through August for the playoffs, and that a financial report is expected to be presented to owners soon. That report would include projections on expected revenue that would be lost if canceling the rest of the season, resuming at some point without fans or holding the playoffs without fans.

Meanwhile, The Athletic reports the league has informed teams that players can begin traveling outside of their home market beginning Monday, with the requirements that they provide their whereabouts, remain at home and practice social distancing.

According to a separate ESPN report, the league extended its ban on team practices indefinitely, though players remain allowed to work out at team facilities on their own.

Earlier Sunday, ESPN reported that the G League, the NBA’s minor-league system, is expected to have the remainder of its season canceled.

The NBA was the first major sports league in America to suspend its season, doing so Wednesday after news emerged of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive test for the virus. All other leagues in the U.S. have quickly followed suit.

Source: Manila Bulletin