By Agence France-Presse

The world modern pentathlon championships have been moved from the Chinese city of Xiamen to Cancun in Mexico as a consequence of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, officials of the sport’s ruling body (UIPM) said Friday.

Xiamen was compensated by being named hosts of the event in 2022 with Minsk already confirmed for 2021.

“It was very important to offer our athletes a world championships at sea level, corresponding to the conditions they will find during the Olympics in Tokyo,” said UIPM president Klaus Schormann.

Cancun will host the event from May 25 to 31 and will decide the qualifiers for the Olympics later this year.

The outbreak of the so-called COVID-19 illness, which began in December, has killed more than 2,200 people and infected more than 75,500 in China.

Over 1,150 people have been infected and eight have died across 26 other countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

China’s badminton players have been cleared of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and will play three tournaments in Europe during a “critical stage” of Tokyo Olympic qualifying, officials said on Saturday.

The Chinese Badminton Association said “no one is infected” and that the team would compete at next week’s German Open, the All England Open and the Swiss Open.

“Since the outbreak of coronavirus, there has been close attention on whether the Chinese team could train and participate in tournaments,” the CBA said.

“We would like to explain that members of the Chinese badminton team are healthy and that no one is infected or suspected of being infected.”

Most of the team have been training in Britain since last week, and the others are still in Beijing applying for British visas.

Olympic men’s singles champion Chen Long and Shi Yuqi, as well as veteran star Lin Dan, are listed as starters in Germany and at the All England, as well as women’s world number one Chen Yufei.

China has been the dominant force in badminton at recent Olympics, sweeping all five titles at London 2012 and winning the men’s singles and doubles gold medals four years ago in Rio.

COVID-19, which has killed more than 2,200 people in China, has forced a swathe of sports events in the country — including Olympic qualifiers — to be cancelled, moved or postponed.

Last week, the International Olympic Committee said it would send out information packs to assure athletes around the world that it’s safe to come into contact with Chinese competitors.

The Badminton World Federation said “all relevant health, safety and logistical risks” around the Chinese team had been considered.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

American boxer Deontay Wilder will be at a career high weight, but will still be 42 pounds lighter than Tyson Fury for their much-anticipated heavyweight rematch at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Wilder weighed in at 231 pounds (105 kg) and Fury tipped the scales at 273 pounds on Friday as both boxers weighed in much heavier than they did for their first fight 14 months ago. Wilder is 18 pounds heavier and Fury added 15 pounds to his frame.

Organizers cancelled Friday’s face-to-face photo op at the weigh in after the fighters exchanged shoves during the final news conference on Wednesday.

But the pair did jaw at each other from a distance on the podium.

“That’s my belt. That’s mine,” Fury yelled at Wilder, who holds the WBC heavyweight title.

The two will square off in one of the biggest heavyweight fights recent memory Saturday at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena.

Tickets for Saturday’s bout have been changing hands for up to $11,000, while promoters predict the event could generate more than 2 million pay-per-view sales in the United States alone.

At the center of the action are two of heavyweight boxing’s most charismatic and skilful protagonists, the hard-hitting “Bronze Bomber” Wilder and Fury, the eccentric, self-styled “Gypsy King” from northern England.

Both men will be taking unbeaten records into the 12-round contest, with the 34-year-old Wilder looking to add Fury’s name to a tally which reads 42-0 with one drawn and 41 knockouts.

The fight is a classic clash of styles, pitting Wilder’s devastating knockout power against the more elusive, mobile defensive style of Fury.

In their first fight in Los Angeles, Fury recovered from two juddering knockdowns to claim a draw, miraculously climbing off the canvas in the 12th round to hang on for a share of the spoils.

Once the final bell rang, the judges ruled it a controversial split draw: 114-112 for Fury, 115-111 Wilder and 113-113.

Wilder will be making the 11th defense of his title in an attempt to break a tie with Muhammad Ali for consecutive heavyweight defenses.

He demolished Dominic Breazeale in one round last May, and then scored a spectacular one-punch seventh-round knockout of Cuba’s Luis Ortiz in November.

Fury has promised to take a more aggressive approach this time around. But cuts are a worry after he required more than 40 stitches to patch up a horrific gash over his right eye in an unimpressive win over Otto Wallin in his last fight in September.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

Four-time All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins will be waived by the Los Angeles Lakers to open a spot for power forward Markieff Morris, according to an ESPN report citing sources on Friday.

Morris and the Detroit Pistons reached an agreement Friday on a contract buyout.

Cousins, recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee sustained in August 2019, has not played since the 2018-19 season. The Lakers, expecting him to miss the rest of this season as well, were successful after earlier applying for a disabled-player exemption, which is worth $1.75 million, according to ESPN.

Regarding Cousins’ future, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Thursday, “I’m not even sure where he’s at with exactly what he’s doing day-to-day. I just still know he’s a long way away, but they’ve said they’re not ruling out him returning.”

Cousins is not expected to officially leave the Lakers until Sunday night after he clears waivers.

Cousins signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Lakers in July 2019 after playing 30 regular-season games and eight postseason games for the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19. He also sustained a torn Achilles tendon in January 2018.

In nine NBA seasons, Cousins has averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks over 565 games (543 starts).

In 44 games with the Pistons this season, Morris averaged 11.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes. He also connected on 39.7 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Morris’ twin brother Marcus plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.

“That’s my brother man,” Marcus Morris said, via ESPN. “Man, if he goes to L.A., then I’m gonna be in Staples Center all the time. I think maybe to y’all it might be weird that I’m going to all his games, but that’s what’ll probably happen. And we’ll probably get a house together.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Houston star Russell Westbrook, ejected after receiving a second technical foul in the Rockets’ blowout win over the Golden State Warriors Thursday, says he’s being unfairly labeled “the bad guy” in situations in which other players go unpunished.

Westbrook, who had picked up his first technical foul of the game in the first quarter, was handed a second and tossed late in the fourth.

After Westbrook appeared to elbow Golden State’s Damion Lee, game officials were reviewing video of the incident when the Warriors’ Juan Toscano-Anderson plucked the ball out of Westbrook’s hands.

Before long Westbrook was exchanging words with players on the Warriors bench and as cooler heads moved to intervene officials confirmed the second technical that ended Westbrook’s night and took his tally of techs for the season to a league-leading 13.

“I think with the refs, the fans, media, the NBA (is) put in a position now where I’m not really allowed to do much,” Westbrook said.

“Obviously, I’m an emotional guy, but if you watched the clip, obviously, I hit Lee, but it wasn’t on purpose. I’m going to the glass, he got hit, he said something to me, I said something to him.

“I’m standing there. The guy snatched the ball out of my hand. Guys are coming up to me. I didn’t move. But I’m always the one that gets painted to be the bad guy in the whole situation.”

Westbrook said plenty of other players — including jawing Warriors players — were at fault in the incident.

“I just think it’s unfair that after all that, I’m the only one that gets a tech or kicked out,” he said.

“That’s not fair. It’s so many other people involved in it that are doing so many things that weren’t OK, but I’m the one that gets the tech, gets ejected, and then everybody else is cool, and goes back and play.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The January 28 NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers that was postponed in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death has been rescheduled.

The Western Conference rivals will make up the game on April 9. The date means the Lakers will play on three straight nights.

Three other games were rescheduled to make the adjustment, the NBA said. The Chicago Bulls at Clippers game originally set for April 8 will be played on April 6.

The Golden State Warriors at Lakers game scheduled for April 9 will be played on April 7 and the Bulls at Lakers game scheduled for April 7 will be played on April 8.

Bryant, who won five NBA titles in a 20-year career with the Lakers, died tragically in a helicopter crash in the hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also among the nine who perished in the accident.

The Lakers are leading the Western Conference with a 41-12 record, four games ahead of the second-place Denver Nuggets and five games ahead of the Clippers.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

NLEX guard Jericho Cruz wants to make most of the opportunity playing in a high-level international competition as he suits up for Guam in Sunday’s 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers match against New Zealand.

Cruz, who grew up in the United States territory before moving back to the Philippines, is set to make his debut in a FIBA-sanctioned tourney after being named to Guam’s 12-man roster against the Tall Blacks at the Calvo Fieldhouse in Mangilao.

The 29-year-old is allowed to play for Guam despite being a member of the Philippines’ gold medal team in the 2013 Nay Pyi Taw Southeast Asian Games since the biennial meet uses a different eligibility requirement.

“I’m really happy to be honest,” Cruz told the Bulletin on Thursday. “Just to be able to compete at the highest level and getting that experience is an incredible feeling for me. I could use this experience when I get back to my mother team.”

He is thankful that NLEX coach Yeng Guiao and top executive Ronald Dulatre gave Guam the go-signal to tap Cruz, who for the last several years has been targeted by national team coach and Guam Basketball Confederation President EJ Calvo.

Lets get it! Guam proud ✊ pic.twitter.com/pWCifM2PZC

— Jericho Cruz (@jerichoXcruz) February 20, 2020

“Blessed din siguro ako kasi may nakita si coach EJ Calvo sa akin that maybe I could help the team,” he said. “That’s why I’m thankful that he chose me to be part of the team. And that’s all the players’ need, yung trust ng coach sayo.”

Cruz’s other teammates have Philippine ties in fellow Adamson alumnus Will Stinnett, ex-University of the East cager Chris Connor and one-time NLEX import Curtis Washington.

Guam is heavy underdogs against a Kiwi side that opened its Qualifiers campaign by beating perennial rival Australia 108-98 in Brisbane on Thursday.

It was supposed to kick off its Asia Cup bid last Thursday against Hong Kong but was postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“It’s gonna be tough playing against New Zealand but we will do our best,” Cruz said. “Preparation’s been good, medyo nangangapa pa kasi first time ko makasama yung mga players dito pero overall makukuha ko din yan pag dating ng game namin sa Sunday.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Chinese wrestlers gunning for a place at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics are training in quarantine in Serbia after a qualifying event was moved from China to Kyrgyzstan because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Chinese athletes “are going through an extensive quarantine process” in the Serbian capital Belgrade and will then fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the Asian Olympic qualifier on March 27-29, United World Wrestling (UWW) said.

“The athletes were evaluated by medical professionals in China before leaving and by local officials upon arrival in Serbia,” said a statement.

“While in Serbia the Chinese wrestlers will be provided workout equipment, wrestling mats and all other items necessary for a healthy training camp.”

Xian was originally scheduled to host the tournament on the same dates, but a growing number of sports events have been postponed, cancelled or moved out of China because of the disease outbreak, which has killed more than 2,200 people.

“Moving an event this close to the competition date is not ideal, but we must consider the health of the athletes and ensure that everyone who wants to compete at the qualifiers has the opportunity,” said UWW president Nenad Lalovic.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

NLEX held off a late rally by Phoenix Pulse to preserve a 104-97 win Friday afternoon and sweep the four-team PBA preseason tournament at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas.

JR Quinahan’s jumper with 15.8 seconds left gave the Road Warriors the cushion after the Fuel Masters racked up 18 consecutive points to cut a 100-79 deficit down to three with less than a minute to go.

Quinahan posted 15 points, Philip Paniamogan posted 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Raul Soyud added 12 for NLEX in the conclusion of its campaign in the mini-tourney dubbed as the “Phoenix Super Basketball Tournament.”

Coach Yeng Guiao’s team was without Poy Erram and Kiefer Ravena, who left for Jakarta to represent Gilas Pilipinas’ match against Indonesia in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Also missing was guard Jericho Cruz, who will play for Guam in the Asia Cup Qualifiers against New Zealand.

The Road Warriors went unbeaten in the week-long competition which included wins over the San Miguel Beermen (103-97) and the Alaska Aces (104-89).

“We got a good lead but we relaxed in the latter part of the fourth quarter so to me thats a bad sign,” Guiao said. “But we played really well for three and a half quarters, so konti na lang. That’s something I think we can fix in the next few weeks.”

In the other game, Alaska escaped with an 81-79 victory over San Miguel Beer to finish the tourney at 2-1.

The Aces had to withstand at the Beermen’s last-ditch effort to sneak out a win as Alex Cabganot missed a three-pointer in the final seconds.

Robbie Herndon had 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and five steals while Rodney Brondial added 14 points and 17 rebounds for Alaska.

Cabagnot scored 22 points for the Beermen, who lost all three games in the pocket meet while also watching Terrence Romeo suffer an ankle injury before the end of the second quarter.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike hit back on Friday at a candidate to be London mayor who offered to host this year’s Olympics due to the coronavirus epidemic affecting Japan.

Shaun Bailey had tweeted: “London can host the Olympics in 2020. We have the infrastructure and the experience. And due to the coronavirus outbreak, the world might need us to step up.”

“As mayor, I will make sure London is ready to answer the call and host the Olympics again,” he added. London has hosted the Games in 2012, 1948 and 1908.

London can host the #Olympics in 2020.

We have the infrastructure and the experience.
And due to the #coronavirus outbreak, the world might need us to step up.

As Mayor, I will make sure London is ready to answer the call and host the Olympics again.https://t.co/1jJesWS1D6

— Shaun Bailey (@ShaunBaileyUK) February 19, 2020

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

A spokesman for London’s incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan told the CityAM newspaper: “Everyone is working towards what will be a fantastic Tokyo Games.

“In the unlikely event that it be required, London, as it has done throughout history, will do its best to step up to the plate.”

But in rare undiplomatic comments, Koike blasted Bailey’s offer, saying it is “not appropriate to try to make it an issue in a mayoral election”.

“A reason why this issue has attracted global attention is due to the cruise ship,” she said, in reference to the Diamond Princess, a vessel in Japan that has seen more than 600 cases of coronavirus.

“But the cruise ship’s nationality belongs to Britain,” she said referring to the ship’s registration.

“I wish aspects like these would be well understood.”

Organizers have stressed it is far too early to consider changes to the Tokyo Olympics, which start on July 24, because of the coronavirus.

“I think we are not yet reaching that point,” said Koike when asked if there would be any changes to the Games schedule.

The International Olympic Committee has also said there is no need for a contingency plan to postpone, cancel or move Tokyo 2020, despite new cases of the deadly virus emerging daily in Japan.

“I can confirm Tokyo 2020 remains on track,” top IOC official John Coates said last week in Tokyo, while Games CEO Yoshiro Mori has criticized “irresponsible rumors” about the Games.

‘Key period’

Japan has seen nearly 100 cases of coronavirus in addition to those on the cruise ship, and the outbreak has already affected some sports events.

The Tokyo marathon on March 1 has been restricted to elite athletes only, while a Paralympics test event for boccia was scaled down with international athletes asked not to attend.

Top-flight football club Consadole Sapporo is putting ticket sales for its home games on hold, and Koike said indoor events hosted by her organization or involving food would be postponed or cancelled.

“We have designated the period starting from February 22 through March 15 as a key period to prevent the expansion of infection,” she said.

“Major indoor events or events that include provision of food items that the Tokyo metropolitan government was going to host will be either postponed or cancelled,” she added.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said the chances of the coronavirus affecting the Games was minimal.

“We do not expect postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games, as our baseline scenario assumes the spread of the virus will be contained in March,” the analysts said in a research note published on Friday.

Source: Manila Bulletin