By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Francis Casey Alcantara returned to business a few days after seeing action for the Philippine Davis Cup team by competing in the 1^st Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour 2020 in Doha.

Alcantara and Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul of Thailand made their men’s doubles title campaign felt with a 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 win against Bulgaria’s Gabriel Donev and Germany’s Milen Ianakiev in the opening round of this $15,000 tournament.

They next face Bulgarian Alexandar Lazorov and Romanian Dan Alexandru Tomescu, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 10-7 winners over Marat Deviatiarov of Ukraine and George Tsivadze of Georgia.

Alcantara drew inspiration from his Davis Cup stint against Greece, where he and Ruben Gonzales provided the country’s lone victory in the best-of-five tie.

He and Gonzales bested Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis 7-6 (5), 6-4.

“It was by far the toughest tie for us. We’ve never played against a Top 10 player and we all saw that he really played,” said Alcantara in an online interview with the Bulletin, referring to the Greek squad headlined by world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“We’re just happy that we won the doubles and gave the team and fans a little something to celebrate.”

Alcantara wished he and Gonzales could join more international tournaments as partners, but it could be difficult due to the gap in their rankings.

Alcantara is currently at No. 542 in the doubles while Gonzales is at 213.

For now, the 28-year-old Cagayan de Oro native is competing in as many tournaments as he can with best available partners.

Travel permitting, he is slated to compete for three weeks in Vietnam after the Doha tilt.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

San Miguel Beer has the soft-spoken gentle giant in June Mar Fajardo. Then there’s the cheerful Moala Tautuaa, who left motivational words for his fellow big man.

“He’s a good guy. [He has] good energy to be around. We love the guy,” Tautuaa said after San Miguel Beer’s first win in the Philippine Cup, a 94-78 rout of the Magnolia Hotshots Sunday night.

Fajardo, who had surgery on a broken leg, attended the 44th Leo Awards before the opening ceremony on board an electric scooter and received his sixth Most Valuable Player award, with his parents, Bonifacio and Marites, in attendance.

“I’ve been playing for the team for only two months but I already… I really love that guy,” the Fil-Tongan center said.

 

“I just want to [give a] shout out to June Mar: Keep resting, get back stronger so we can win this together.”

In the opener, the 6-foot-8 center proved to be a force to reckon with, posting 20 points and 11 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal.

The Beermen acquired Tautuaa in a trade that sent Fil-German center Christian Standhardinger to the NorthPort Batang Pier during the Governors’ Cup last October.

Tautuaa averaged 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, numbers instrumental to getting him hailed Most Improved Player during the awards.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

LeBron James on Tuesday backtracked from a threat not to play if the NBA decides to force teams to stage games behind closed doors as the league grapples with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers star said he would refuse to play if the league bars fans from venues as part of efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

”We play games without the fans? Nah, that’s impossible,” James said.

”I ain’t playing if I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s who I play for. I play for my teammates, and I play for the fans.

”That’s what it’s all about. So if I show up to an arena and there ain’t no fans in there, I ain’t playing. They can do what they want to do.”

However on Tuesday, James softened his position, saying he would do whatever authorities recommended to curb exposure to the virus.

”When I was asked the question, I had no idea it was actually a conversation going on behind closed doors about the virus,” James said.

”Obviously I would be very disappointed not having the fans because that’s what I play for — I play for my family, I play for my fans,” he added.

”But at the same time you gotta listen to the people that’s keeping a track of what’s going on and if they feel that’s what’s best for the safety of the players, the safety of the franchise, the safety of the league, to mandate that, then we’re going to listen to them.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Postponing or cancelling the Tokyo Olympics is “inconceivable,” Japan’s Olympic minister said Wednesday, as the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak raises fears the event could be scrapped.

“From the viewpoint of athletes who are the main protagonists in the Tokyo Games, as they are making adjustments and preparations for this once-in-four-years event… it is inconceivable to cancel or postpone,” Seiko Hashimoto told a parliament committee.

She conceded that “it is the IOC (International Olympic Committee) who will make a final decision on the Games.”

Hashimoto added: “We think it is important that the government gives correct information so that the IOC makes an appropriate decision.”

The rapid spread of the virus, which has infected more than 560 people and been linked to 12 deaths in Japan, has cast a shadow over preparations for the Games.

Hashimoto’s comments came after the Wall Street Journal quoted a member of the Tokyo’s organizers’ executive board as saying a delay of two years would be the most realistic option if the Games cannot be held this summer.

“We’ll have to start talking about this seriously from April,” Haruyuki Takahashi told the Journal, adding the board has not yet discussed the issue.

Asked about the report, Hashimoto said she was told by the 2020 organizers that they are preparing for the Games as scheduled from July 24 to August 9.

Tokyo 2020 organizers said they had “sought clarification” from Takahashi.

“He stated he had inadvertently given his personal opinion in response to a hypothetical question,” a statement said.

“As IOC President (Thomas) Bach stated the other day, neither the IOC nor the organizing committee are considering postponing or cancelling the Tokyo 2020 Games, and we are proceeding with our preparations for a safe and secure Games opening on 24 July 2020 as planned.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Chinese athletes gunning for glory at the Tokyo Olympics are training behind closed doors, have their temperatures checked three times a day and cannot even share dining tables as part of strict measures against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The outbreak has led to fears this summer’s Games could be postponed but the International Olympic Committee insists that will not be the case and Chinese competitors are plowing on with their build-up.

The Chinese Athletic Association (CAA) is taking no chances, however, severely restricting access in and out of training camps at home and abroad.

The coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December but has since infected and killed thousands of people worldwide.

Gong Lijiao, the reigning two-time world champion in women’s shot put, said that preparing away from friends and family only made her and her team-mates more focused.

“We want to fight bravely at the Olympic Games, win medals and inspire Chinese people with the spirit of sport,” said Gong, who won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver at London 2012, in comments released by the CAA.

As part of measures put in place in late January to ward off the coronavirus, the CAA says training camps, including equipment, living quarters and canteens, are disinfected regularly.

At their Beijing base Gong and others must also pass through a disinfection chamber and there are limits to how many people can gather together.

They are also banned from sharing a table while eating.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Manny Pacquiao added another marquee name to his stellar stable of fighters after signing up hot featherweight prospect Mark Magsayo to a promotional contract, according to MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons.

The actual contract signing took place at Pacquiao’s Makati residence late Tuesday night and the eight-division world champion was delighted to have Magsayo as part of his growing stable of A-listers.

“I am thrilled to sign undefeated world-rated contender Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magsayo. I have watched Mark develop here in the Philippines as a fighter,” said Pacquiao.

Magsayo boasts of a 20-0 record with 14 KOs and is being lined up to appear on a major card on May 16 in California, according to Gibbons.

MP Promotions will join hands with TGB Promotions in showcasing Magsayo to the US audience by way of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, said Gibbons.

Magsayo, who had fought in the US twice, will be trained by Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club.

The 24-year-old Magsayo, who hails from Bohol, was ecstatic.

“I would want to thank Senator Manny Pacquiao from the bottom of my heart and MPP President Sean Gibbons for this opportunity to box under MP Promotions banner,” said Magsayo.

“I want to thank the Senator for helping me and all the Filipino boxers, for changing our lives and helping us . I am more inspired to fight now especially since Senator Manny Pacquiao is my Idol. I look up to him a lot. I started boxing because of him. I will not waste the opportunity and will do my best to fulfill my dreams,” added Magsayo.

Gibbons has grand plans for Magsayo, who now joins world champions John Riel Casimero, Jerwin Ancajas and Pedro Taduran as members of Pacquiao’s roster of top fighters.

“We have been watching Mark for a few years now,” said Gibbons. “But he is home now with MP Promotions and we are thrilled for Mark and his wife Frances that they signed with us. We look forward to making Mark’s dreams of fighting in the US again and becoming a world champion come true.”

Magsayo leaves for the US next week to begin training under Roach.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Terrence Romeo has fitted in nicely with his new role at San Miguel Beer right in his first season with the team that he’ll be amply rewarded with a special citation during the 2019 PBA Press Corps Awards Night on March 16 at the Novotel Manila in Araneta City.

The fancy guard will be the recipient of the Mr. Quality Minutes award from the group of sportswriters regularly covering the PBA beat for providing big help off the bench for the Beermen.

The task is a stark contrast to Romeo’s previous role as starter for teams NorthPort and TnT Katropa.

But the three-time scoring champion embraced the job with open arms and was an instrumental in helping the Beermen win the championships of the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.

Romeo emerged Finals MVP of the mid-season conference.

Meanwhile, CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip leads the All-Rookie team, even as the classic do-or-die encounter between NorthPort and NLEX in the Governors Cup quarterfinals will be honored with the Game of the Season award in the affair presented by CIGNAL TV.

Perez, the 2019 Rookie of the Year, will be joined in the rookie squad by NorthPort’s Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon of Rain or Shine, TnT Katropa’s Bobby Ray Parks, and Abu Tratter of Alaska.

The Columbian Dyip guard is going to be awarded too, with the Scoring Champion title.

The Batang Pier-Road Warriors match on Nov. 27 for a seat in the semifinals on the other hand, is hailed as the best game played in the last PBA season.

The match went into triple overtime with no. 8 NorthPort scoring an upset against top seeded NLEX.

It was one of the highest watched games last year, registering a high 1.5 million online views and was only surpassed by the 3.5 million views garnered by Game 2 of the Governors Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Filipino middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial got rid of pesky Indian rival Ashish Kumar on Wednesday to book a finals stint in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Amman, Jordan.

Marcial, 24, already assured of a berth in the Tokyo Olympics, won 4-1, and will meet Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan in the finals in a battle of world championships silver medalists.

The tournament top seed, Marcial was the 2019 worlds silver medalist in Ekatenriburg, Russia, while Amankul, 22, got his during the 2017 edition in Hamburg, Germany.

Two other Filipinos—men’s flyweight Carlo Paalam and women’s fly Irish Magno—losers in the quarterfinals could still make the Olympic grade if they win in their respective boxoffs.

Four others were denied of outright slots after not getting past either the eliminations and the quarterfinals.

The foursome of feather Ian Clark Bautista, welter James Palicte, women’s feather top seed Nesthy Petecio and lightweight Riza Pasuit, will try to secure slots for the final time when Paris stages the World Qualifying in May.

If Paalam and Magno lose the boxoffs, they are also going to be Paris-bound.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and a local outbreak of the deadly disease are forcing authorities to take unprecedented measures at Thursday’s Olympic Flame lighting ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

After dozens of people tested positive for COVID-19 in the broader western Peloponnese, the Greek Olympic Committee on Monday said the ceremony would be held without spectators.

Only 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee compared to 700 originally will be allowed to attend Thursday’s event in Olympia, where the ancient Games were held.

And a dress rehearsal scheduled for Wednesday will also be closed to the public.

The committee had earlier cancelled all event dinners and galas.

In 1984, the Greek leg of the torch relay was scrapped in a protest by Greek organizers against the commercialization of the Los Angeles Olympics.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has cancelled plans to visit but the state will be represented by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a day before his term ends.

Olympia mayor Yiorgos Georgiopoulos said the move has “disastrous” consequences for local operators, though the government has pledged to help cover financial losses.

“The tourism high point at ancient Olympia is during this period,” the mayor told AFP. “Room cancellations are multiplying and (tourism sector) professionals are desperate,” he said.

The Greek health ministry last week announced a “suspension of all mass gatherings” at theatres, cinemas, museums and sports events in the Peloponnese regions of Achaia and Elis and the island of Zakynthos through Friday.

The measures came after a 66-year-old man was hospitalized with the virus at a hospital in Patras, western Greece.

He remains in critical condition. The patient was part of a group of Holy Land pilgrims who travelled to Israel and Egypt last month.

Almost all developed the virus, as have several of their close contacts.

The flame for Tokyo 2020 is scheduled to be lit with a traditional ceremony and following a torch relay in Greece will be handed to the Tokyo organizers at another ceremony on March 19 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

In a statement, Tokyo 2020 said that it would “reduce the size of its travelling delegation as much as possible”.

The torch relay in Greece will pass through 37 cities and 15 archaeological sites covering 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) and 842 nautical miles (1,559.4 km) and will be carried by 600 runners.

Greek Olympic shooting champion Anna Korakaki will be the first torchbearer, the first time a woman has been chosen to fulfil the role.

Korakaki has called the assignment an “immense honor” and says she hopes to be “the first in a long line of women” to do likewise.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The PBA on Wednesday suspended the ongoing Philippine Cup until further notice as a preventive measure against the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The league made the announcement after Commissioner Willie Marcial and members of the Board of Governors agreed in a special board meeting late Tuesday to call off matches in reaction to increasing cases of the infectious disease.

Also on hold are matches in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup and the upcoming PBA 3×3 competition.

Re 2020 PBA Philippine Cup and 2020 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup games and activities and 2020 PBA 3×3 inaugurals cancellation ⬇️#PBAat45 #PBATayoAngBida pic.twitter.com/b3QuAMULjN

— PBA (@pbaconnect) March 11, 2020

“The Philippine Basketball Association Board of Governors through the Office of the Commissioner, decided with prudence to cancel effective today, March 11, its on-going PBA Philippine Cup and PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup games and activities and PBA 3×3 inaugurals until further notice,” the PBA said in a statement.

“Considering the present situation surrounding COVID-19 and the Presidential declaration of Public Health Emergency, it is our paramount duty and responsibility to ensure the healthy and safety of our fans, players, teams, officials and staff,” the league added.

“The league however will assess the effects of COVID-19 on a day-to-day basis guided by the parameters set by the DOH and WHO and will remain committed to conduct its games and activities in a safe and responsible manner for all its stakeholders,” the PBA said.

The PBA opened its season-opening conference last Sunday with San Miguel Beer prevailing over Magnolia at the Smart Araneta Coliseum while the D-League has held three playdates since it began last March 2.

Source: Manila Bulletin