By Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic saved three match points before defeating Gael Monfils 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-1 to reach the Dubai Championships final on Friday, describing his victory as “an amazing escape.”

It was the 17th win of the season for the world number one and a 17th career win over Frenchman Monfils without a loss.

Djokovic will play on Saturday for a fifth Dubai trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas after the second seed and 2019 finalist beat Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3.

“It’s anybody’s game (the final) really,” Djokovic said. “He’s won what (eight) matches in a row now from last week in France winning the title.

“It’s not easy. He’s physically fit. I hope I can recover and be at my best because I need to start better than I did tonight.”

The Serbian fought off three Monfils match points in the second-set tiebreaker, as the Frenchman committed forehand and backhand errors on his first two winning chances.

An increasingly weary Monfils blew the third with a double-fault.

Djokovic finally squared the semi-final at one set a-piece on his eighth set point before rolling on to victory in the third set after more than two and a half hours.

“It was an amazing escape,” said Djokovic who now has a 20-match win streak stretching from the end of last year.

“Gael was playing as well as he ever has.

“It was difficult to go through him. I have good defense, but what he did today was unbelievable.

“On the match points, I just hoped that he would miss on first serves, which he did. That gave me an opportunity to get into the points.

“I know Gael was injured and he could not play his best, but once he’s healthy, watch out.”

Faultless Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas, who lost the final a year ago to Roger Federer, won his eighth match in a row by seeing off Evans.

The Greek lifted the trophy last Sunday in Marseille.

Tsitsipas could not fault his victory in 83 minutes over the 37th-ranked Evans in a first-time meeting.

“I managed to stay solid throughout the whole match, I didn’t have too much stress, I stayed quite calm and played well,” he said.

“I was dominating a lot from my forehand side, playing with a clear head and not thinking of too much, staying in the moment, trying to process of what potentially he’s going to use on the court.

“It was just a matter of time for me to take the lead and get up in the score.”

Tsitsipas, winner of 16 of his last 17 sets, won his 10th career match at the Aviation Club against two defeats.

British number one Evans was competing in his fourth semi-final at the ATP level.

He saved three match points against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round and two set points in the quarter-finals against Andrey Rublev.

Tsitsipas never faced a breakpoint on Friday while breaking Evans’ serve four times.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Two-time LPGA major champions Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome worry the growing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that forced three Asian events to be canceled will wipe out the Tokyo Olympics and other tournaments.

The LPGA, which has played two US tournaments and two others in Australia this year, canceled a February event in Thailand, another that would have been played this week in Singapore and one planned for next week in China.

A run of 15 consecutive US LPGA tournaments begins with the Founders Cup in Arizona on March 19-22 leading into the Tokyo Olympics women’s event, scheduled for August 5-8.

“I’m worried about the whole season,” Lincicome said, to which Lewis replied, “I know, I am, too. It’s in the US now, too, so traveling anywhere, through any airport, I think you’re thinking about it and you’re aware of it. I took Clorox wipes with me to Australia and wiped everything down on the airplane.”

Lewis, who shared fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics just one stroke behind Chinese bronze medalist Feng Shanshan, and US compatriot Lincicome spoke ahead of the year’s first major, April’s ANA Invitational at Rancho Mirage.

Both players recently became mothers, Lewis giving birth to baby daughter Chesnee in October 2018 and Lincicome greeting daughter Emery last July. So they are extra cautious about the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

“I think it’s not going away anytime soon,” Lewis said. “I hope by the Olympics that it has kind of fizzled itself out and it’s not an issue because you don’t want that for such a big sporting event.”

Lincicome agreed, noting how treasured a berth in the Olympic event would be for anyone but that safety concerns must prevail.

“Now that we have the Olympics, that would be a dream come true to play it, but obviously our health is more important, unfortunately, and we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we got there,” she said.

Picking health over sticky rice

Lewis had planned to play in Thailand while Lincicome was excited about playing in Thailand and Singapore after missing them last year while pregnant until the decision to cancel was made.

“I was planning on going,” Lincicome said. “I don’t love the heat so much over there, but just the cheap foot massages every day and the bubble teas and the mango sticky rice. There’s a lot of things that I love about Thailand and Singapore.

“But I was planning on going until it got worse and then my caddie was like, ‘No, it’s not a good idea.’ I wanted to go until they canceled it, and then I was bummed, but obviously coming back and being stuck in quarantine or giving it to my daughter, there was more negatives than there were positives for foot massages and mango sticky rice.”

Lewis was in Australia pondering what to do when the events were canceled.

“I probably would have picked our health over playing in the golf tournament,” she said. I’m very glad the tour made the calls that they did. I know they were hard, but it was just a chance that we couldn’t take just with all the players traveling and the caddies, the support staff.

“There are a lot of people that were going to be going through airports and the way we travel in those events, too, we’re on buses, and one person gets it, we’re all sick. I really feel like the tour made the right call.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has refused to rule out postponing international football matches in response to the escalating global threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

This weekend’s matches in the leading two divisions in Switzerland, where football’s global governing body FIFA has its headquarters, were postponed on Friday after the government banned all events involving more than a thousand people.

Meanwhile, five Serie A games in Italy will be played behind closed doors, with leagues in Japan and South Korea postponed earlier this week.

“The health of persons is much more important than any football game,” said Infantino as he arrived in Belfast on Friday for this weekend’s annual general meeting of the rule-making International Football Association Board.

“That’s why we have to look at the situation and hope that it (the coronavirus) will decrease rather than increase. At the moment it looks like it is still increasing.

“If games have to be postponed or played without spectators until it is over, then we have to go through that.”

And while hopeful that next month’s international friendlies will go ahead, Infantino added: “I wouldn’t exclude anything at this moment. I hope we will never have to get into this direction. I think it will be difficult in any case to make a global ban because the situation is really different.”

Infantino was skeptical about the prospect of a large number of matches being played behind closed doors.

“Every competition organizer has to decide what is best for him,” he said. “In the short term it can be a solution in order to move on but you cannot imagine a few months of competition with several matches played behind closed doors.”

The new coronavirus has caused fixture delays across sport, with Ireland’s Six Nations rugby union international at home to Italy, scheduled for March 7, postponed and no new date confirmed.

In Asia, the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix in Shanghai, due to take place on April 19, has been postponed because of the virus while athletics’ World Indoor Championships, scheduled to take place in the Chinese city of Nanjing next month, have been held over until 2021.

The outbreak could yet threaten the continent-wide Euro 2020 football championships starting in June and the Tokyo Olympics, due to getting underway in July.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The World Anti-Doping Agency has cancelled its annual symposium and related athlete session in Switzerland over concerns about the coronavirus epidemic.

In a statement issued on Friday, Montreal-based WADA said it took the decision based on the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health’s announcement banning large-scale gatherings of more than 1,000 people in Switzerland until March 15.

The symposium and athlete meeting had been scheduled for March 17-19 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne.

“WADA is disappointed to announce the cancellation of its Annual Symposium, which has become the annual event for anti-doping practitioners,” WADA president Witold Banka said. “It was a difficult decision as the event attracts almost 1,000 participants from around the world every year.

“However, it was necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Agency’s staff and stakeholder community. The Agency commits to ensuring that most of the elements of the Symposium program are delivered via alternative means over the coming weeks and months.”

WADA said it would reach out separately to scheduled attendees and other stakeholders impacted by the cancellation.

“As it relates to the Coronavirus, WADA will continue monitoring the situation based on expert information from the World Health Organization and will put other measures in place as needed related to staff and stakeholder travel connected to the Agency’s mission,” WADA said.

On Friday, the World Health Organization raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to it’s highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and markets slumped.

It has killed more than 2,800 people and infected more than 84,000 worldwide — the majority in China — since it emerged apparently from an animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

The virus has wreaked havoc on the Asian sporting calendar and led to a temporary suspension of testing by the China Anti-Doping Agency, which was scheduled to resume testing in China this week on a phased basis.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

A new deal revealed Friday between Major League Baseball, its players union and the World Baseball Softball Confederation will boost the United States in its bid to reach the Tokyo Olympics.

The agreement, described on the MLB website, would allow players on 40-man rosters for North America’s major league clubs to represent their homelands at the Tokyo Olympics and two last qualifying events for the showdown in Japan.

It’s the best availability of talent for the US squad and many of its rivals without shutting down the MLB season, something team owners and league officials have been steadfastly against.

Top developmental league players and even some veteran major leaguers assigned to the lesser level would be eligible to play for national teams in the eight-team Americas qualifying tournament for Tokyo set for March 22-26 in Arizona, an April qualifier for the last Tokyo berth in Taiwan and the Olympics themselves.

MLB clubs would not be obligated to make players available for any national team, but in many cases would allow the unique opportunity.

Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Israel have already booked Tokyo Olympic berths. Leagues in South Korea and Japan will shut down so top players can compete for Olympic gold.

The US squad, beaten by Mexico for a spot in the field last November, will compete for one spot at the Olympics next month against Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Canada, Colombia and political rival Cuba.

While the winner books an Olympic trip, the second- and third-place Americas teams advance to a qualifier for the last spot April 1-5 at Taiwan that also includes the hosts plus China, Australia and the Netherlands.

Cuba won Olympic baseball gold in 1992, 1996 and 2004 while the US team beat Cuba 4-0 in the 2000 Sydney final. The Cubans settled for silver again in Beijing in 2008, falling to South Korea 3-2 in the championship game. Baseball was not included in the 2012 or 2016 Olympics.

The US team can obtain such talented prospects as Jo Adell of the Los Angeles Angels and Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox, both of whom played for the squad that barely missed out last year.

But US rivals will be aided too. Top-ranked prospect Wander Franco — an 18-year-old shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays — and Atlanta outfielder Cristian Pache could join the Dominican Republic while Canada might have access to right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill and outfielder Josh Naylor from the San Diego Padres organization.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The Los Angeles sheriff’s department said Friday it is investigating allegations that officers shared graphic photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site in the aftermath of the accident.

“The matter is being looked into and we have no further comment at this time,” a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told AFP.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that deputies shared images showing human remains in the days after last month’s accident, which claimed the life of retired NBA icon Bryant and eight other people.

It was not clear how many people saw the photos or whether deputies had taken the images at the scene or received them from someone else, the Times reported.

The TMZ.com entertainment news website, which broke the news of the Bryant accident, reported on Friday that the revelations first surfaced following a complaint.

TMZ, quoting unidentified law enforcement sources, said a trainee sheriff’s deputy at the crash site had taken photos on a smartphone.

He was subsequently overheard by a bartender showing the images to a customer in a bar. The bartender then lodged a complaint, TMZ reported.

Bryant, 41, died alongside teenage daughter Gianna, when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed into a hillside in Calabasas in thick fog on January 26.

An emotional public memorial to the five-time NBA champion was held at the Staples Center on Monday.

READ MORE: ‘He was my everything’: NBA’s Kobe Bryant mourned at emotional Los Angeles tribute; Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Martin Sadongdong

The world was shocked by the tragic death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash last January 26 in Calabasas, California. The crash also killed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others. Though almost everyone grieved, if there are those most devastated by the grim incident, it must have been those who brought the Los Angeles Lakers great into this life: his parents.

Bryant’s parents, Joseph or Joe — a former professional basketball player himself — and Pamela or Pam, attended the memorial service in honor of their son, granddaughter and the seven other crash victims on February 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Per multiple reports, Joe and Pam were seen sitting alongside their two daughters, Sharia and Shaya; in the same row as Kobe’s wife Vanessa and their three daughters, Natalia 17, Bianka 3 and Capri seven months old — a heartwarming sight for many as if it was a manifestation of both families’ willingness to set aside past issues. Known to the public, Bryant had a falling out with his parents dating back to his early marriage with Vanessa in 2001. According to People.com, Joe and Pam did not attend the wedding of their son in April 2001.

However, the old adage “time heals all wounds” proved to be true for them as the relationship between Kobe and his parents reportedly improved when the Lakers star and his wife gave birth to their first child, Natalia, in January 2003.

In 2013, the relationship suffered anew as Kobe’s parents allegedly tried to auction off some of his basketball memorabilia without their son’s permission.

The incident led to a court case before it was eventually sorted out. Kobe and his parents reportedly had a much better relationship until his retirement from professional basketball in 2016.

Moments before his death, Kobe was reportedly still making contacts with his parents to completely mend the ties, as per The Sun.

While Vanessa and Bryant’s close friends took the centerstage and shared stories about the “Black Mamba” and “Mambacita” during the memorial service, Joseph and Pamela chose to stay away from the spotlight — opting to sit quietly while listening testaments about their son.

Silently grieving, even.

This, however, does not mean that they didn’t have their own tale to tell.

Joe and Pamela were “traumatized” and “devastated” by their son and granddaughter’s sudden death, according to multiple reports quoting Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West.

“His personal family is just traumatized and devastated, as any family would be,” West was quoted as saying in an online site called Extra. “My thoughts, my prayers, my hopes are with his family because they’re the ones who need it most.”

In a separate report by The Sun, an unnamed family business associate said that Kobe’s parents “want to be there” for his grieving family.

“Currently, [Kobe’s] parents are grieving deeply, but want to be there to support their grandchildren. In the short term, there is hope that the problems can be set aside for this moment,” the source said.

While only time could tell when Bryant’s own family will fix the strained relationship with his parents, several celebrities took to social media to honor Joe and Pamela.

On Tuesday, American rapper Snoop Dogg posted a photo of Kobe’s parents on Instagram and thanked them for “giving us Kobe.”

“Sending love and prayers to momma and pappa Bean Bryant. Thank you for giving us Kobe. We love y’all and praying for your strength as parents to keep moving on,” he said.

In the comments section, the famed rapper added, “Prayers to the Bryant sisters. You have a brother in me.”

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe’s former teammate and long-time friend, remembered Joe, Pamela, Sharia and Shaya during the memorial service.

“To Vanessa and the kids, Kobe’s parents, sisters, and the families who lost a loved one on that tragic day, we grieve with you,” O’Neal was quoted as saying by online site Pop Culture.

“We are forever changed on January 26th.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

Games Saturday

(FilOil Flying V Centre)

4 p.m. — Opening ceremony

5 p.m. — Petron vs Generika-Ayala

7 p.m. — PLDT vs Sta. Lucia

New-look Petron opens its three-peat campaign while Sta. Lucia parades its retooled lineup when the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix fires off Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

After losing its stars, the Blaze Spikers essay a new chapter as they tackle Generika-Ayala at 5 p.m. while the Lady Realtors face PLDT Home Fibr at 7 p.m. to cap a pair of explosive double-header of this prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Cocolife, Sogo, Eurotel, Sweet and Fit Stevia, UCPB Gen, Team Rebel Sports and Bizooku.

Prior to that, there would be a simple opening ceremony where all eight competing teams will parade with their respective imports and male escorts to usher in the brand-new season of this tourney that also has Gerflor, Senoh, Asics, Mikasa and Mueller Sports as technical partners.

The league will also announce its newest ambassador, who would follow the steps once taken by Gretchen Ho, Cha Cruz, Mika Reyes, Aby Maraño and Rachel Anne Daquis.

Still, all eyes will be on Petron and Sta. Lucia.

After winning back-to-back Grand Prix titles, the Blaze Spikers lost their core of Denden Lazaro, Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Carmela Tunay, Chloe Cortez, Rhea Dimaculangan and Reyes in the off-season. Even their champion coaches in Shaq Delos Santos and Ian Fernandez walked away, kicking off a new era under seasoned mentor Emil Lontoc.

“Looking at the composition of Petron, it lost its main core that dominated the Grand Prix for the past two years,” said Lontoc, a living legend in the coaching circle.

“Many people are counting us out. But I’m optimistic. I know these new set of players will step up the way they did during tuneups and practices.”

With more than half of the team gone, import Katherine Bell made a return together with Remy Palma, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Frances Molina, who will join new recruits like Rebecca Rivera, Ging Balse-Pabayo, Jem Gutierrez, Roselle Baliton and Angela Nunag.

Generika-Ayala head coach Sherwin Meneses said Petron remains a solid force so they have to do everything to pull off a shocker and kick off their campaign on a high note.

“We have a great opportunity this year. For the past seasons, we really wanted to reach the Finals but we fell short. This time, we will work hard to go all the way,” said Meneses, who will bank on new recruits Dimaculangan, Mina Aganon, Eli Soyud and Toni Rose Basas with Elizabeth Vicet Campos of Cuba as reinforcement.

Also tipped to draw massive attention is Sta. Lucia Realty.

The Lady Realtors also underwent a revamp and let go quite a number of solid players in favor for veterans, who vowed to lead them to their first semifinal appearance.

The quintet of Reyes, Djanel Cheng, Bang Pineda, Royce Tubino and Filipino-American Jessica Vestal is now on board to join MJ Philips, Pam Lastimosa, Amy Ahomiro, Alex Bollier and Rubie de Leon with former Canadian national team member Shaina Joseph serving as import.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario started his 2020 campaign right after beating Thai foe Shannon Wiratchai via split decision in the featherweight division of ONE: King of the Jungle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Friday.

Banario (15-10) showed his ground game prowess throughout the match and marked his first comeback win in the featherweight bout.

Wiratchai (9-6) connected early with a left knee on Banario’s temple in the first round, but the 30-year-old Team Lakay stalwart retaliated with a takedown at the 1:10 mark while throwing knee strikes to weaken Wiratchai’s body.

The second round proved instrumental for Banario after dominating Wiratchai on top position from the 3:50 mark until the end of the round while exchanging punches.

In the third round, the Team Lakay veteran went on the defensive before taking down Wiratchai twice.

Meanwhile, in the bantamweight lead card, Filipino-Kiwi Mark Fairtex Abelardo (19-7) yielded to American Troy Worthen (7-0) via unanimous decision.

Worthen displayed impressive striking, highlighted by two leg kicks at Abelardo’s temple early in the third round.

The undefeated American landed a solid elbow strike at the 50-second mark while pinning Abelardo against the Circle walls before the Filipino-Kiwi fighter went aggressive at the waning seconds.

The matches were held in a closed-door venue for safety purposes due to the threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Jeron Teng isn’t backing down and accepts the challenge issued by Alaska governor Dickie Bachmann and head coach Jeffrey Cariaso.

Teng, entering his third year in the PBA, is expected to elevate his game, along with a bunch of rookies coming into the 45th season.

“Tina-try ko lang i-pass on ‘yung mga natutunan ko [mula] sa mga [veterans] at hopefully maipasa ko rin sa mga younger guys,” Teng says during the second staging of PBA Media Day at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila Thursday in Parañaque.

“[I will] be there to guide them also na maka-adjust sila (rookie) sa PBA agad.”

In a previous interview, Bachmann said they expect better things from Teng, adding that they plan to revolve the team around him this season which kicks off March 8.

Cariaso, entering his first full season as head coach, echoed Bachmann’s thoughts, saying Teng is a big part of the Aces’ future.

During the off season, Alaska acquired rookies Barkley Eboña (1st round, 4th pick), Jaycee Marcelino and Rey Publico. The Aces also traded Simon Enciso for Mike Digregorio from TNT KaTropa.

In addition, Alaska landed the rights to San Sebastian product Allyn Bulanadi, who was picked fourth in the special Gilas Pilipinas draft. He will be loaned to the national team in preparation for the 2023 FIBA Asia World Cup before suiting up full time with the Aces.

Teng is confident the rookies will be able to adjust easily with the team and sees no problem since Cariaso’s system, he says, is easy to learn.

“They have something to bring to the table,” Teng said. “We’re just ready to play, at kami na mga older guys, we’ll be there for them to help them adjust to the system.”

The former La Salle standout admitted the team’s chemistry can stand more improvement.

We’re getting there,” Teng says.

Veteran big man Sonny Thoss, meanwhile, described Teng as a “great leader and character guy.”

“Jeron is doing well. He’s buying into the system. He gets really well along with everybody. He also tries to find his way with the new guys,” says Thoss, who has signed a one-conference extension with the Aces.

Teng averaged 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 13 games in the last Philippine Cup, 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 14 games in the Commissioner’s Cup and played only five games in the Governors’ Cup with an average of 15.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

He missed the early part of the season-ending conference due to a right hamstring injury and a hyperextended right knee in mid-November.

Aside from Teng, veterans Vic Manuel, JVee Casio and Thoss, along with Kevin Racal, will play key roles when Alaska begins its campaign against the Columbian Dyip on March 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Source: Manila Bulletin