The inaugural edition of the Crosstrain Invitational 2020 saw 163 athletes from different countries who showcased the fruits of hard work and intensive training as they faced five sets of workouts that put to test their speed, endurance and strength at the two-day competition held at the Tent City of The Manila Hotel.

Emerging as the top athletes in the Elite Men Division were Rocky Dorjsembe, representing Mongolia, who clinched first place, followed by South Koreans Kyeong Sun and Woo Young Lim who landed second and third place. In fourth was Luc Devaux (Brunei), while in fifth place was Zhu Yusen (Taiwan).

Sheena Mabilangan of Australia bagged first place in the Elite Women Division, while Linda Mortensen from Sweden placed second. Benz Chrystelle Lim of the Philippines got the third spot.

Winners of the Masters RX Men are Grech Go (1st), Danny Chua (2nd), and Merwin Torres (3rd). For the women’s division of the said category, podium finishers include Ivy Caryl Cipriano (1st), Sonia Pascual (2nd), and Lynette Suller (3rd).

Kobe Jo secured the top spot of the RX Men division, with Brandon Christopher Tongol on 2nd place, and Hong Cheng on 3rd place. For the RX Women department, top athletes are Amanda Arguelles (1st), Aliana Lao (2nd), and Cilyn Abella (3rd).

For the Scaled Men category, Waldrich Willis Siy, Dexter Lee, and Delvic Bag-ao bested out other participating athletes to grab the first, second, and third spots respectively. On its counterpart division for women, top three finishers include Rikki Saul (1st), Kalya Adrienne Tiu (2nd), and Hillary Rodriguez (3rd).

Completing the medalists of the Crosstrain Invitational 2020 are Allan Alvarez, Sean Dinno Sandoval, Suam Sanz, Cha Calvelo, Carol Capati, and Christine Dy who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd on the Scale Masters Men and Scaled Masters Women categories respectively.

This year’s Crosstrain Invitational 2020 is made possible by Crosstrain.PH, Manila Bulletin’s dedicated magazine solely for functional fitness, the first of its kind in the country, and one of the very few Crossfit-centered publications in the world. The team is led by Crossfit enthusiast Gerrald Tan, one of the youngest managing editors in the Philippines at 22 years old.

The said event is supported by Manila Bulletin, official media partner, Manila Hotel and Manila Prince Hotel, official venue partner, as well as Pro Touch, Arena, and Klean Athlete as major sponsors. Additional brand partners include Pure Force, Xtreme, Shakey’s, Chooks-to-go, Coca-Cola Philippines, Manila Rubber Corporation, PlayHard, Philippine Red Cross, Vista Mall, Yoli Inc, Cafe France, Coffee Lab, Tanita, El Lobo Cubanos x Sandwiches, Vitaminboost, Lightwater, Red Bull, Out of the box, Careline, Blackwater and Core Athletics.
Read more about functional fitness through http://www.crosstrain.ph and follow Crosstrain.PH on Facebook (https://ift.tt/2NiIgiO) and on Instagram (@crosstrain.ph).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is out indefinitely as he once again experiences troubles with his right shoulder.

Irving missed 26 games with an injury to the same shoulder earlier this season. Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said on Tuesday that Irving is slated to see a shoulder specialist later this week.

Atkinson said it will be a different specialist than the one Irving saw in December. Atkinson expects to have a clearer timetable per Irving’s situation after the appointment.

Earlier this season, Irving expressed that he wanted to avoid shoulder surgery and rehab the injury. He received a cortisone shot nearly two months ago and returned to action on Jan. 12.

But the six-time All-Star has played in just 20 games this season, also missing some time with knee and hamstring injuries.

There is some concern that the shoulder setback could be season-ending. But Atkinson said he did “not want to go there.”

Atkinson there wasn’t a specific incident that led to the latest setback.

“The shoulder is a tough thing,” Atkinson said. “I just think it was an on and off thing where it’s bothering you. Some days you feel good, some days you don’t feel good. But I think it got to the point it was, ‘Hey, let’s see another specialist.’”

Irving, who turns 28 in March, is averaging 27.4 points, 6.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds in his first campaign with the Nets. He signed a four-year, $136 million deal as a free agent in July.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

John Beilein is out as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers after little more than half a season in the position, ESPN reported Tuesday night.

The two sides reportedly had been discussing plans to mutually part ways this week, with The Athletic reporting that Beilein met with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Monday to discuss possible resolutions. ESPN and the Cleveland Plain Dealer added that the sides were working out a financial settlement.

According to ESPN, Beilein is expected to say goodbye to Cavaliers players and staff Wednesday morning, as everyone returns from the All-Star break. Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will be promoted to full-time head coach and will run his first practice Wednesday evening, per ESPN.

Cleveland’s first game after the break is Friday at Washington.

Beilein, 67, joined the Cavaliers last offseason on a five-year deal, with four years and $18 million guaranteed before a team option in the fifth year. His first season has not gone well, though.

Beilein had to apologize to the team in January over his word choice in a film session. He reportedly called his players “thugs” during a meeting at the team hotel in Detroit. Beilein said he had meant to say the team was “no longer playing like a bunch of slugs,” intending to compliment his squad for playing faster in recent games.

The Cavaliers are 14-40, the worst record in the Eastern Conference and ahead of only the Golden State Warriors (12-43) in the NBA.

Before moving to the NBA this season, Beilein racked up 571 wins with four Division I college programs, most recently Michigan. He finished 278-150 with two losses in the NCAA championship game in 12 seasons at Michigan before accepting the job with the Cavs.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

NBA superstar LeBron James joined a growing chorus of Major League Baseball stars ripping the Houston Astros as cheaters Tuesday for a sign-stealing scheme in their 2017 World Series championship season.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout and several members of the Los Angeles Dodgers — who lost the World Series to Houston three years ago — have spoken out about the high-tech cheating scheme exposed in an MLB investigation last month.

“Listen I know I don’t play baseball but I am in Sports and I know if someone cheated me out of winning the title and I found out about it I would be F****** irate!” James tweeted. “I mean like uncontrollable about what I would/could do!”

James also called for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to listen to the criticism coming from stars across the league, many impacted by the cheating scheme.

“Listen here baseball commissioner listen to your players speaking today about how disgusted, mad, hurt, broken, etc etc about this,” James tweeted. “Literally the ball is in your court (or should I say field) and you need to fix this for the sake of Sports!”

James closed with the hashtag: “Just My Thoughts Coming From A Sports Junkie Regardless My Own Sport I Play.”

The findings of an MLB probe have led to the firings of three managers linked to the 2017 Astros, although no players have faced punishment and Manfred said the team would not be stripped of the 2017 crown.

“I feel like every single guy over there needs a beating,” Atlanta’s Nick Markakis said of the Astros.

“Just sick to my stomach to find out,” Judge said Tuesday.

The scandal, involving cameras in the outfield and a monitor near the dugout plus beating on trash cans to signal batters what type of pitch was coming, has been compared to the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” match-fixing scandal or the 1990s steroids era in giving baseball another black eye.

Dodgers star Cody Bellinger said he felt the Astros “stole” the World Series crown from the Dodgers, that Jose Altuve “stole” the American League Most Valuable Player Award from Judge in 2017 and owner Jim Crane’s apology was “weak.”

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner objected to Manfred calling the MLB championship trophy, known as the commissioner’s trophy, just “a piece of metal.”

“I don’t know if the commissioner has ever won anything in his life. Maybe he hasn’t,” Turner said. “But the reason every guy in this room is working all off-season and showing up to camp early and putting in all the time and effort is specifically for that trophy.

“So for him to devalue it the way he did just tells me how out of touch he is with the players in this game. At this point, the only thing devaluing that trophy is that is says ‘commissioner’ on it.”

Yankees star Judge ‘mad, upset’

Judge added he was “pretty mad, pretty upset” that the Yankees’ seven-game American League Championship Series loss to Houston in 2017 could have been impacted by the cheating scandal.

“No matter what anybody says, that impacts the game — going in there, knowing what’s coming,” Judge said. “That’s more people on base, you’re getting more walks, you’re getting more hits. You come to the plate with more opportunities with guys on base, so it definitely impacted the results of that.”

Judge called the MLB punishments “pretty weak for a player-driven scheme” and referred to comments by Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, who was beaten twice by the Astros in the 2017 World Series while with the Dodgers.

“I think Darvish was the one that said if you’re playing in the Olympics, you win a gold medal and you find out you cheated, you don’t get to keep that medal,” Judge said.

“I just don’t think it holds any value with me,” Judge said. “You cheated and you didn’t earn it.

“I had a lot of respect for them, the way they played and what they did. And then to find out that it wasn’t earned, they cheated — that didn’t sit well with me.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Chinese wrestlers will be unable to take part in the Asian Championships in New Delhi this week after being denied visas because of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said

India’s government has suspended e-visas for Chinese nationals due to the deadly virus that has claimed more than 1,800 lives since spreading from its epicenter in the central city of Wuhan.

“They are not coming. Of course, health concerns remain a big reason and the coronavirus outbreak is deadly,” Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told AFP.

A Chinese Federation spokesperson was quoted as saying on the governing body’s United World Wrestling (UWW) website: “The wrestlers are disappointed for sure.”

Japanese world champions Kenichiro Fumita and Risako Kawai are among top wrestlers taking part.

India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju said the denial of visas would not normally be allowed but there were exceptions for an extraordinary health crisis.

“We can’t deny visa to citizens of any country because it is a part of the Olympic charter. We try to keep sports away from politics,” Rijiju told reporters.

“But where there is health concern or any technical issue, there are separate provisions for that.”

The Asian Championships, which provide UWW ranking points that count towards seedings at this year’s Tokyo Olympics, begin Tuesday and run until February 23.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

A mixed martial arts event in Singapore will take place behind closed doors this month due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said Tuesday, the latest sporting fixture affected in the city-state.

Singapore has reported 77 cases of the virus, making it one of the worst-hit countries outside mainland China, where hundreds have died and tens of thousands have been infected.

“ONE: King of The Jungle” on February 28 will be broadcast live on TV and digital platforms but will be closed to the public, said Singapore-based promoter ONE Championship.

“ONE Championship places the health and safety of all athletes, staff, and the thousands of fans in Singapore as the utmost priority,” said a statement from the organizer.

Headliners at the event, taking place in the 12,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium, are Thai fighter Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd of the United States.

From the Chinese Grand Prix to golf and football fixtures, sporting events across Asia are being cancelled or postponed due to the virus.

The Singapore Sevens rugby tournament has been postponed from April to October, and golf’s HSBC Women’s World Championship has been cancelled.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

LeBron James wants to honor Kobe Bryant by making the Los Angeles Lakers an NBA champion again as Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the top for the first time since 1971.

The superstars are on a collision course as the league season resumes Thursday following the NBA All-Star Game break, with the Los Angeles Clippers and defending champion Toronto Raptors hot on the heels of the two conference leaders.

There’s an extra hunger for the Lakers in the wake of Bryant’s shocking death last month in a helicopter crash that killed eight others.

“I promise you I’ll continue your legacy,” James wrote in an Instagram post on the day after Bryant’s death.

James left Cleveland to win his first NBA titles with Miami in 2012 and 2013 then returned to the Cavaliers and fulfilled his vow to make his home-region club a champion in 2016 before departing in 2018 for the Lakers.

Together with powerful center Anthony Davis, James has sparked the Lakers to a 41-12 start and the Western Conference lead by four games over Denver and five over the Clippers.

James is averaging 25.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-high 10.8 assists a game.

Kawhi Leonard, who led Toronto to last season’s NBA crown, has combined with Paul George to lift the Clippers into contention. They have beaten the Lakers twice and play them twice more this season.

Bucks hunting history

Greek star Antetokounmpo has the Bucks hungry to make history as well. They were two games from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974 before dropping four straight to the Raptors last May.

Antetokounmpo won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award but missing out on the trip to the finals spoiled a 60-win campaign.

At a league-best 46-8, the Bucks would need to win their final 28 games to break Golden State’s greatest one-season record mark of 73-9, but a 70-win campaign is well within reach and another chance at the NBA Finals could be in Milwaukee’s grasp as well.

The Bucks won their only crown in 1971 when Lew Alcindor, the eventual all-time NBA scoring leader who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, won the season and NBA Finals MVP awards in only his second season in the league.

Antetokounmpo ranks second in NBA scoring at 30.0 points a game and fifth in rebounding with 13.5 boards per contest.

The Bucks will be at Detroit on Thursday when the NBA season resumes.

Harden ignites Rockets

Plenty of other NBA stars will try and lift their teams into the championship hunt.

NBA scoring leader James Harden, seeking a third consecutive season points crown, is averaging 35.3 for the Houston Rockets, who rank fifth in the West at 34-20 with Oklahoma City and Dallas hot on their heels.

Memphis is fighting to keep the eighth and last West playoff spot with guard Ja Morant boasting solid NBA Rookie of the Year credentials with 17.6 points and 7.1 assists a game.

The New Orleans Pelicans, 5.5 games behind Memphis, figure to make a run at a playoff berth behind newcomer Zion Williamson, who missed 44 games with a knee injury but has made an impressive start to his league career.

The Raptors, sparked by Cameroon star Pascal Siakam, won 15 of 16 starts before the All-Star break and will face the Bucks three more times in the final two months of the season.

Boston, Miami, Philadelphia and Indiana are all fighting for playoff positions while Brooklyn and Orlando cling to the final East playoff positions.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

PBA players actively participating in Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers are shoo-ins for Sunday’s away match against Indonesia, coach Mark Dickel said Tuesday.

Dickel also bared after Gilas’ light practice that he and coaching staff are now deliberating on how to fill up the remaining spots to compliment the eight pros for the game set at the Mahaka Square in Jakarta.

TNT KaTropa’s RR Pogoy and Troy Rosario, Columbian’s CJ Perez, Phoenix Pulse’s Justin Chua, Alaska’s Abu Tratter, Rain or Shine’s Javee Mocon and NLEX’s Poy Erram and Kiefer Ravena, who was named captain for this window.

“I think you could name who the shoo-ins would be,” Dickel told reporters. “I mean, you can bet the players that we had in the PBA are gonna play. So, it’s really talking about who the other guys are that we gonna put in to complement them.”

Ravena, Erram, Pogoy, Rosario and Perez while Chua, Tratter and Mocon were added following the pullout of NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar, Phoenix Pulse’s Matthew Wright and Blackwater’s Mac Belo.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is expected to name the 12-man lineup on Wednesday, with Gilas scheduled to leave for Jakarta two days later.

Sunday’s game will proceed as scheduled after FIBA denied the Indonesian Basketball Association’s (PERBASI) request to postpone its two home matches because of the coronavirus disease outbreak.

Indonesia will play South Korea on Thursday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

What Manny Pacquiao signed with Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) is a “flexible contract”, his lawyers said on Tuesday, stressing that it focuses mainly on marketing, commercial, media, entertainment and endorsement facets of the Filipino sports hero’s relationship with the California-based outfit.

While Pacquiao’s lawyers—Brando Viernesto and Bong Gacal—and business manager Arnold Vegafria touched on boxing, Pacquiao’s bread and butter, they declared that Audie Attar, who controls PSM, can negotiate fights on behalf of the fighting senator.

Jayke Joson, one of the men behind Pacquiao’s decision to hook up with PSM, revealed that they are out to look for the best deal for the 41-year-old eight-division legend.

Pacquiao, 41, is in the twilight of an illustrious career and Joson feels Attaris going to move heaven and earth to make a mouth-watering fight with Conor McGregor a reality.

McGregor, the poster child of mix martial arts, is also a talent under Attar’s PSM and Pacquiao’s inclusion should make it easier for the two sides to reach an agreement in the event they negotiate for a super fight.

Pacquiao, according to Sean Gibbons, who operates MP Promotions, has an existing contract with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

But Vegafria said it doesn’t prevent PSM from representing Pacquiao, who has expressed his desire to return to the ring in June or July when the Senate is on break.

PBC has yet to come up with an offersheet for Pacquiao, who last fought in July against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas. Previous to that, Pacquiao beat Adrien Broner also in Sin City.

Both fights, held before huge crowds at the MGM Grand, were staged by PBC.

Vegafria said Attar is expected to get back to them in a few weeks with something in hand.

Viernesto believes there is no conflict with PBC, and if ever one emerges, PSM’s legal team will be the one to iron things out with its PBC counterparts.

“Whatever is the issue with the other contracts, that’s up to Paradigm to resolve. We will respect the contract with Paradigm and if there other contracts out there it is up to them (PSM) to resolve,” said Viernesto.

Joson said the ultimate goal in being with PSM was to make a deal with McGregor.

“This is going to be Sen. Manny’s retirement fight, his farewell fight and this is the only fight the public wants to see because Floyd Mayweather doesn’t want anything to do with Sen. Manny,” said Joson.

“Imagine Conor McGregor and Sen. Manny facing off. That’s going to be a big, big event. A true spectacle.”

“We only had good intentions when we decided to sign up with PSM,” added Vegafria.

Attar was in Manila two weeks ago during the signing and promised to deliver the goods.

“I am working forward to the challenge and this not just about talk but (providing) the results,” said Attar.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

Source: Manila Bulletin