By Martin Sadongdong

Third ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs executed a perfect inside job to defeat University of San Diego Toreros 94-59 in US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington on Friday (Philippine Standard Time).

Gonzaga forwards Filip Petrusev and Corey Kispert punished San Diego in the paint as they scored 21 and 16. It is worthy to note that the Toreros played without forward Yauhen Massalski, who is out for the remainder of the season due to a broken ankle.

The Bulldogs were too much for the Toreros after recording more rebounds (51-27), points in the paint (54-22), assists (20-7) and steals (4-2).

They also had better three-point percentage at 44.4% (8/18) compared to Toreros’ 33.3% (4/12).

With the win, Gonzaga registered its 38th home win and improved to 28-2 while San Diego dropped to 9-21.

Meanwhile, No. 14 Oregon Ducks found just enough time to gather their bearings in the latter part as they beat Oregon State Beavers 69-54.

The game was too close to call early as the first half ended with Oregon ahead 29-25. However, the Ducks erupted for 40 points in the second half, sparked by a 22-6 run in the first nine minutes.

Oregon avenged a 63-53 loss to its namesake rival last February 9 as it climbed to 22-7 record while Oregon State fell to 15-13.

In other games, the Wisconsin Badgers defeated No. 19 Michigan Wolverines 81-74; California Golden Bears pummeled No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes 76-62; and No. 23 Ohio State Buckeyes buried Nebraska Cornhuskers 75-54.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Eight weeks to go before the fight of his life, John Riel Casimero has gone into beast mode and training like he is facing off with Godzilla instead of Japanese Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue on April 25 in Las Vegas.

Holed out in Miami the last three weeks, Casimero is getting ready to enter the next phase of his training camp under the watchful eyes of noted strength coach Memo Heredia.

On March 15, Casimero will relocate to Las Vegas where he will be pushed to the limit not just by Heredia but his entire training team.

While waiting for his transfer to Sin City, Casimero is getting pointers from a Cuban taskmaster and former national team coach Ting Ariosa as well in the runup to the battle of premier bantamweight titleholders.

Heredia, famous for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez in the fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao, is applying everything to make sure Casimero teaches optimum level.

Like Casimero, Inoue is likewise in the thick of his preparations in Yokohama, Japan.

The undefeated Inoue had actually kickstarted his buildup slightly ahead of his Filipino foe, probably aware the danger that lies ahead.

Casimero, 31, will put his World Boxing Organization crown on the line while Inoue, 26, will dangle his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation straps in a scheduled 12-rounder at Mandalay Bay.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank, which has Inoue under contract, is staging the much-awaited duel of known hard-hitters.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has just hung a big ‘Hands Off!’ sign on Greg Slaughter.

With a contract offer already in place, the ball is now in the ‘big hands’ of the 7-foot-Slaughter if he would sign and play for Barangay Ginebra starting this season.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone confirmed Friday that the team has made an offer to Slaughter, officially keeping the rights on the 7-foot center with the Kings.

“From my understanding, yes,” said Cone in a text message when asked if they had offered Slaughter a contract.

The Manila Bulletin also reached out to Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua, but he has yet to respond as of press time.

The league opens its 45th season on March 8 with the Philippine Cup, although the Kings won’t kick off their title campaign until March 14 – against the Blackwater Elite in Balanga, Bataan.

Ginebra’s move before the end of February averted a situation that would allow Slaughter to sign up with any ballclub as an unrestricted free agent.

“Once the team offers you a maximum allowed contract, the rights stay with the mother club,” said a source, who asked not to be named since he is authorized to talk about the situation.

“If you don’t sign, after one year the player goes back to his team and talk about the deal. So the bottom line is, because now there is an offer from Ginebra, Slaughter has no other option but to talk to the team because that team owns the rights.”

A sign-and-trade scenario could also materialize if Slaughter asks for it, although it will be up to Ginebra to decide, depending on the availability of quality players it could get from a potential trade partner.

“All these are possible, including ‘sign-and-trade’ but a player still needs to talk to his team,” said the source.

The PBA, for its part, can only mediate depending on the situation.

“Titignan natin yung by-Laws ng PBA kung darating tayo dun,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial when asked what would happen if Slaughter refuses to sign the offer. “Pero kahit pa isa o limang taon na ayaw pa rin niya pumirma, ang rights nasa Ginenra pa rin kasi may offer na sila.”

Slaughter helped Ginebra win a championship in the last PBA Governors’ Cup, although he surprised everyone when he announced on his social medial platform his desire to rest for three to four months.

Cone, during the PBA Media Day on Thursday Thursday at Okada Manila, said that he understands Slaughter’s situation and believes an early retirement is not an option for the center, who is reportedly in the States.

“Based on my conversations with him, I don’t think he’s out forever. I don’t think he’s retiring. I think he really needs a mental break,” Cone told sportswriters.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

China’s triple Olympic swimming gold medalist Sun Yang has been found guilty of refusing to give a doping sample and banned for eight years in an eagerly-awaited judgment from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.

The Swiss-based CAS upheld the appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the international swimming federation (FINA) and Sun, one of China’s most recognizable athletes who had already served a doping ban in 2014.

Sun, who was accused of refusing to provide blood and urine samples when drug testers visited his home in China in September 2018, has the right to appeal the ruling at the Swiss federal court.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Kobe Bryant’s uniform worn in the 2000 NBA Finals and his handprints from Hollywood’s famous Chinese Theatre are among the personal memorabilia set to be put up for sale in April.

Julien’s Auctions said Thursday that the items from Bryant, who was killed last month in a helicopter crash at age 41 along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, would be included in a sale of more than 300 sports items on April 30.

Bryant was a five-time NBA champion and 18-time NBA All-Star with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in 2016 and his jersey numbers, 8 and 24, were retired by the Lakers in 2017.

The Lakers number 8 home uniform worn by Bryant in the 2000 NBA Finals, when he captured his first NBA crown by leading the Lakers over the Indiana Pacers, carries an estimated price tag between $10,000 and $20,000. It includes a black armband worn in memory of Lakers legend Wilt Chamberlain.

The 2011 handprints Bryant made at the Chinese Theatre, valued at between $4,000 and $6,000, made him the first athlete to make a cast at the Hollywood movie house in a collection usually reserved for stars of the silver screen.

Bryant’s number 24 home jersey worn in the 2006-07 NBA season, an autographed pair of black and white shoes worn by Bryant and a basketball signed by the 2009-10 NBA champion Lakers, including Bryant, is also available.

“We are honored to include this collection of his items and pay tribute to this giant who was an inspiration not only to basketball fans but to the entire world,” said Darren Julien, president of chief executive of Julien’s Auctions.

Other sports items available include a 1984 Los Angeles Olympics silver medal, a replica FIFA World Cup trophy given to Marco Antonio from the 1970 champions Brazil and FIFA World Cup champion’s gold medals from 1994 and 2002.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has urged Deontay Wilder to take a payment to waive his rights for another rematch with the WBC heavyweight champion.

Fury beat Wilder in Las Vegas at the weekend and Warren wants him to face WBA, IBF and WBO title holder Anthony Joshua in an all-British unification bout.

However, Wilder has a rematch clause and the American has said he will activate it to set up a third bout between the rivals.

Warren hopes Wilder, beaten for the first time in 44 professional fights, can be persuaded to ditch that agreement with the right financial offer.

“It would be expensive — but who knows? The only way you find it is if you try,” Warren told the Daily Telegraph.

Warren also laughed off Wilder’s claims that he only lost to Fury because he was exhausted after wearing a heavy costume in his pre-fight walk into the ring.

“He’s made some stupid statements, I think. I hoped he’d take the defeat as I think he should have done — with grace,” Warren said.

“All that nonsense about the (ring walk) costume (weighing him down) was garbage.”

If Warren can arrange a clash between Fury and Joshua, it has been reported that Saudi Arabia would be a potential venue.

Joshua reclaimed his belts from Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December and Warren admitted money would be a major factor in deciding where to stage the fight.

“You go back to (Muhammad) Ali fighting (George) Foreman in Zaire when a lot of money was put up, you go back to the ‘Thrilla in Manila’, where money was put up. That happens in boxing,” Warren said.

“All I can say at our end is that if we can do it we’ll do it, for obvious reasons. I think Tyson will do a job on him.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for violating the league’s policy on resting players for benching guard D’Angelo Russell at Denver on Sunday.

The 24-year-old guard, who came to the T-Wolves from Golden State in a trade deal for Andrew Wiggins on February 6, was considered a healthy player under the NBA’s player resting policy.

Russell, in his fifth NBA campaign after being selected with the second pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, spent two seasons in LA and two more with Brooklyn before joining Golden State ahead of this season.

The NBA cracked down on teams resting players from certain games, notably road contests or high-profile matchups, with a rule passed ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Last year, the league cracked down on teams trying to use the term “load management” to effectively sit players for rest as needed, negating the move except in unusual situations.

Minnesota lost 128-116 at Denver on Sunday in the middle game of three contests in four days, the T-Wolves also falling 127-117 at home to Boston last Friday and 139-123 at Dallas on Monday.

Russell had 18 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes against Boston, missed the game two days later against the Nuggets then came back the following night to score 29 points in 31 minutes on the floor against the Mavericks.

Russell is averaging 23.7 points, 6.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game this season. he is averaging just over 25 points a game in five games with Minnesota, which won for the first time with him in the lineup 129-126 on Wednesday at Miami.

At 17-40, the Timberwolves have the second-worst record in the Western Conference, ahead of only Golden State.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NBA on Wednesday for a violation of the league and players’ union’s anti-drug program.

The 22-year-old American, the 11th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, will miss Wednesday’s Hornets game against New York and will not be reinstated until he returns to compliance with the rules.

In 55 games this season for Charlotte, his third campaign with the club and in the NBA, Monk has averaged career bests of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists a game.

His loss is a setback for a Hornets squad struggling to reach the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

At 19-38, the Hornets are 11th in the East, six games behind Orlando for the final playoff spot.

The team has not reached the NBA playoffs since a first-round ouster by Miami in 2016 and has not won a playoff series since 2002.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

The five-man PBA trade committee has given its stamp of approval to the three-team deal that shipped superstar center Poy Erram from NLEX to the TNT KaTropa, ending Friday an agonizing waiting game for all involved.

The trade saw several revisions but was only approved after a final piece – according to a source – was added to the mix with the 6-foot-7 Erram at the center of the deal.

The three-team team deal had Erram going to Blackwater first from NLEX in exchange for forward Anthony Semerad and center Rabeh Al Hussaini plus the team’s first round pick this year and a second round pick in 2021.

Erram then gets traded to the KaTropa and the Elite obtain point guard Ed Daquioag, forward Marion Magat and center Yousef Taha plus two future first round picks.

“The last revised proposal was two days ago, a day before the PBA’s Media Day,” said the source, adding the addition of Al-Hussaini was the only revision on the deal they submitted to the PBA Commissioner’s Office last Wednesday.

According to the same source, the trade committee – headed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial – approved the deal last Thursday.

NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao, apparently, was not in favor of the trade since he’ll be losing his top center. However, he recently mentioned that “it’s not at my level” in reference to the trade between managements both under the umbrella of telecommunication mogul Manny V. Pangilinan.

The Manila Bulletin tried to contact Guiao but is not available for comment at presstime.

Erram, who was still with NLEX during the Media Day, rejoins a TNT squad that selected him 15th overall (second round) during the 2013 PBA Rookie Draft. The Elite obtained Erram’s services in 2014 when Blackwater joined the PBA via the Expansion Draft.

As a member of the Elite, Erram blossomed as one of the top defensive players, winning the PBA’s Press Corps’ Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018 and was selected to the Gilas Team several times.

Erram joined NLEX in 2018 as part of a deal with Blackwater.

He recently played for the national team against Indonesia in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

Semerad, for his part, will be playing for his third team after stints with the NorthPort Batang Pier and the Elite, while Al-Hussaini is back to NLEX under coach Yeng Guiao.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic won his 16th match of an undefeated season, hammering Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday for a place in the Dubai Championships semifinals.

The world number one, playing in the UAE for the 11th time, will face third seed Gael Monfils, who beat French compatriot Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-3.

It will be four-time champion Djokovic’s ninth appearance in the Dubai semifinals.

Winning Thursday’s match assured him of keeping hold of the world number one ranking despite competition at this week’s Acapulco event from second-ranked rival Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic will be favorite to make the Dubai final — he has defeated Monfils 16 times in 16 meetings.

“We will work out a strategy,” Monfils said after winning his 12th match in a row in 2020. “But I don’t exactly know what it will be!”

Top seed Djokovic, who has yet to drop a set, needed just 68 minutes to beat Dubai-based Khachanov for the third time in four meetings.

“The wind was even stronger today on the court, changing directions all the time. It was really, really tough to get the rhythm for the serve,” Djokovic said.

“Karen made a lot of unforced errors, which obviously made my life easier especially in the first set to go up 5-1, two breaks.

“From my end it was a solid performance. I moved well in the defense. I was using the variety, the dropshots, always making him guess what is coming next. That was the goal obviously.”

Meanwhile, second seed Stefano Tsitsipas beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to set up a semifinal with Britain’s Dan Evans, who outlasted in-form Russian Andrey Rublev 6-2, 7-6 (11/9).

The two-hour and 23-minute duel allowed Greek Tsitsipas to claim a seventh successive win.

‘I hung in there’

It followed another long struggle as Evans upset sixth seed Rublev to reach the fourth ATP semifinal of his career.

World number 37 Evans said the thought of playing another set after more than two hours was just too much to consider and he worked hard to wrap up victory in straight sets.

“It was tough, I just hung in at the end and got through,” unseeded Evans said.

“But I just didn’t fancy playing another set. I think that’s what got me through.”

Tsitsipas trailed throughout most of the match against the 34th-ranked Struff, only taking the statistical lead late in the third set with a break for 5-4 which set up his victory.

“I was struggling with my return today, I don’t know what was wrong with it,” Tsitsipas said.

“I’m actually pretty proud that I fought so hard, played with attention when I had to. When I got the break in the third set I knew that was my time to close the match. I did it in perfect style.”

Tsitsipas is defending his runners-up points from last year when he lost the final to Roger Federer.

He arrived in Dubai after winning the Marseille trophy at the weekend.

Evans, 29, whose previous semifinal appearances came in Zagreb in 2014, Sydney in 2017 and Delray Beach a year ago, needed nearly two and a quarter hours to advance.

Source: Manila Bulletin