By Waylon Galvez

With a few adjustments in mind, Rio Olympics veteran Hidilyn Daz hopes to get the right focus, timing and condition for a good showing in the Asian Championship set April 16-25 in Kazakhstan.

The 28-year-old Diaz and her “Team HD” are set to fly Thursday to Malaysia for a two-month training camp at the Bukit Posa Taining Center.

“Very important kasi yung training camp sa akin, mas makaka-focus ako,” said Diaz after her workout with Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao Sunday at the weightlifting gym of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila.

“Sa timing konting adjustment, and sa conditioning ma-sustain ko kasi nakabuhat na ako ng mabigat,” added Diaz, who initially had China as venue for her training camp but was forced to hold it elsewhere after the coronavirus outbreak.

Last month, Diaz bagged the gold medal in the 55kg women’s category of the 2020 Roma World Cup in Italy.

She had a total lift of 212kgs after her combined best lifts of 94kgs in the snatch event and 119kgs in clean and jerk in the World Cup, a qualifying tournament for Tokyo Olympics this year.

On both her final attempts in the two categories, Diaz tried but failed to complete – or ‘no lift’ – at 95kgs in snatch and 122kgs in clean and jerk, indicating she can still improve on these numbers for the Asian Championship.

Aside from Gao, Diaz’s strengthening and conditioning coach Julius Narajo and massage therapist Belen Bañas are joining her in Malaysia.

Diaz said that it’s possible they will go straight to Kazakhstan from Malaysia to get a few days of training and to acclimatize to the cold weather.

“We need to be there five days before the competition, para mas maka-prepare kami sa weather,” she said.

At the moment, Diaz is at No. 5 in the International Weightlifting Federation with 3.632.0672 world ranking points, and her participation in the Asian Championship will formalize her entry to the Tokyo Olympics.

Four years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Diaz bagged the silver medal in the 56kg women’s category.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard became the first NBA player to perform a rap number in All-Star Weekend.

Lillard, who goes by his rapper name DAME D.O.L.L.A., took center stage Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) at the United Center in Chicago together with some famous artists.

“Damian Lillard has many personas,” Chicago native rapper Common introduced. “To his family — he’s just Dame, to us fans, we all know ‘Dame time’ and know what that looks like and to his opponents in the league — well they know him as a serious problem.”

“This guy is nice on the mic and I’m proud to present not only an NBA All-Star, but this is an artist… Show some love to my guy, DAME D.O.L.L.A.,” Common continued.

First player to ever perform on the #NBAAllStar stage & the BEST rapper in the @NBA….Dame D.O.L.L.A.! pic.twitter.com/4ZfTWVcK4a

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 16, 2020

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DAME D.O.L.L.A. paid homage to the late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant by wearing a jacket that read ‘Mamba Forever’ with a Black Mamba drawing at the back while spitting some verses on stage.

Mamba Forever pic.twitter.com/mWfNhKB2Ad

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 16, 2020

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Lillard performed ‘Money Ball’ from his latest album ‘BIG D.O.L.L.A” with rapper Jeremih and followed it up with ‘Run It Up’ from the ‘Confirmed’ album.

With a classic smoke machine entrance, rapper Lil Wayne joined DAME D.O.L.L.A. midway that drew more cheers from the crowd.

“What’s good? Just got on stage with Wayne and Jeremih,” Lillard said in a video posted on the Trail Blazers’ Twitter account after the performance.

“All-Star Saturday — it was a blast. It was a great time. I hope everybody enjoyed the show. I felt great out there man and it was a great time.”

Dame D.O.L.L.A. checks in after taking the #NBAAllStar stage @Dame_Lillard |#RipCity pic.twitter.com/tIV4YQPIs3

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 16, 2020

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While Lillard was first to perform a rap number, Lakers Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal did a dance routine with hip-hop crew ‘Jabbawockeez’ at the All-Star Weekend in 2009 when he was still part of the Phoenix Suns.

Lillard, who was supposed to suit up for the All-Star Game and 3-point contest, sustained a strained right groin after a 111-104 loss to Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night and won’t be able to make it.

Suns guard Devin Booker replaced him for both events. Booker lost to Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield in the final round of the 3-point contest.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach paid Kai Sotto a visit at the Basketball Without Borders Camp during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

A photo posted by NBA Philippines on Facebook showed Wurtzbach and the 7-foot-2 Sotto posing at the Quest Multisport court in Chicago.

In one of Wurtzbach’s Instagram stories, Sotto slammed an alley-oop dunk off the beauty queen’s assist.

Sotto was one of the 64 boys and girls selected for the sixth edition of the camp while the 30-year-old beauty queen was tasked to be correspondent for the All-Star festivities slated February 14 until February 16.

A total of 40 boys and 24 girls joined the camp hosted by the NBA and the world governing basketball body FIBA.

NBA players Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall of Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls’ Lauri Markkanen, Latvian center Davis Bertans of the Washington Wizards and former WNBA players Ashley Battle, Michele Van Gorp and Ebony Hoffman were among the coaches assigned to the camp.

Recently, Sotto drew the interest of US NCAA Division I teams, namely Boston College, DePaul, Georgia University and Georgia Tech University, after an impressive stint for the Atlanta-based basketball organization The Skill Factory.

The former Ateneo Blue Eaglet star is training in the US to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Reigning national juniors champion Jeth Romy Morado downed Jallen Herzchelle Agra to lead a big group of undefeated players after two rounds in the National Capital Region elimination leg of the 75th Philippine National Chess Championships at the MET Live Mall in Pasay City Saturday night.

The 20-year-old Morado, who led Far Eastern University to this season’s UAAP title, thus stayed at the helm alongside 31 others each with six points since a victory counts for three points and a draw for a point.

Morado was facing Wayne Ruiz, a 12-year-old winner of Pattaya Open last year in Thailand who trounced Rainier Santi Gafate, in the third round at press time.

Also in that lead group are  veteran FIDE Master Efren Bagamasbad, who edged Eowyn Jullado, and Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy gold medalist Galdimir Chester Romero, who pushed back Apollo Pablo Zantua.

Also sharing the lead are Christian Mark Daluz, Jerico Santiaguel, Alexis Emil Maribao, Aaron Noblijas, Jayson Danday, Edimar Joshua Friala, Godfrey Villamor, Jhoemar Mendiogarin, Rosauro Caunti, Erickson Marimla, Jan Daryl Batula, Herly Pastrana, Aristotle Monera, Kristianb Glen Abuton, Jose Rynhard Conde, Gal Brien Palasigue, Joeben Jones Balitos, Ezraline Alvarez, Max Dave Tellor, Ezraline Alvarez, Neil Richmond Miranda, Neymark Digno, Joshua Marquez, Michael Andrew de Leon, Fernando Semilla, Hanz Ezekiel Olorosisimo, Jerico Bello and Kirk Anthony Vidad.

This eight-round tournament is part of the selection process for slots to the national pool called by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday the league expects to lose “several hundred million dollars” due to a row with China over a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

The NBA’s Chinese sponsors cut ties in a fierce mainland backlash following Morey’s tweet in October, just before two NBA teams played preseason exhibition matches in China.

State broadcaster CCTV also stopped airing NBA games for the country’s millions of ardent basketball fans and has not resumed.

“The magnitude of the loss will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” Silver told a press conference on the sidelines of the All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

“Probably less than $400 million, maybe even less than that,” he said.

However, “it’s substantial”, he added.

“I don’t want to run from that … But I don’t have any sense that there’s any permanent damage to our business there.”

The commissioner said he expected CCTV to resume broadcasts of NBA games but did not give a timeframe.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas received a major boost to its title bid in the ASEAN Basketball League after bringing back import Justin Brownlee for the rest of the season.

Team owner Charlie Dy on Sunday confirmed the change that will see the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel resident import replacing the struggling Prince Williams.

Dy added that Brownlee is due to arrive Monday morning and could possibly join the team’s afternoon practice session.

Brownlee will make his debut Wednesday night when Alab visits Malaysia to take on the Kuala Lumpur Dragons.

Both parties had been open about a potential reunion, especially after Brownlee led Ginebra to the PBA Governors’ Cup title last month.

And now that it is official, the Jimmy Alapag-coached squad is hoping that Brownlee’s addition will give Alab the short in the arm it needed to overcome a tipsy-turvy campaign in the regional league.

Alab is currently in second place with a 9-5 record, but has posted just five wins in the last nine games.

The 31-year-old Brownlee, who will join 7-foot-5 Sam Deguara and southpaw Nick King as the Alab’s other imports, hopes to replicate the ABL title run made two seasons ago.

He averaged 21.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in 25 games as Alab bucked a 1-4 start to capture the crown with a roster that included fellow import Renaldo Balkman and Local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr.

Brownlee replaces Williams, who averaged just 9.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in six games that saw Alab going 4-2.

Williams, a former NBA G-League player, came in last month following the sudden departure of guard Khalif Wyatt.

Alab has made four import changes since the preseason, including King as a replacement for Balkman and Deguara taking the place of Adrian Forbes.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

CHICAGO — Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. won a Slam Dunk Contest that required overtime with two extra rounds, edging Orlando Magic big man Aaron Gordon in a six-dunk display.

Jones won by a single point on his birthday Saturday night.

“It was great, a great competition,” Jones said.

“It was great. We were out here putting on a show for the fans.”

DJJ talks with @KristenLedlow after winning the #ATTSlamDunk! pic.twitter.com/12JzWqJ23f

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Giannis’ reaction #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/3rRsGbWeZi

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Using 7-foot-5 Celtics center Tacko Fall as a prop just in front of the rim, Gordon bounced off of two feet and over Fall for a two-handed walkoff slam. It was good for only a 47, the first non-perfect mark for Gordon.

AG dunked over TACKO!! #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/aYM3eMRIPk

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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AG left @SHAQ speechless #5G | #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/LxurUVFthl

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Jones ran from the opposite 3-point line and jumped from 13 feet and banged in a lefty dunk for his one-point win.

To start the first dunk off, Jones caught the ball off the side of the backboard and moved the ball from his right hand to his left and under his left leg before throwing it in.

Gordon followed with another 50, his fifth of the night, with his own rendition of the around-the-leg windmill.

Gordon’s fourth dunk of the night was a perfect score and brought the stadium to a fever pitch. He received a 50 for a wicked power dunk grabbing an assist from teammate Markelle Fultz off the side of the backboard.

"Shut it down!"

Aaron Gordon continues to impress #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/kQbBVn6x79

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Jones scored 50, taking the ball from a helper on a bounce off the backboard, under his leg and through.

.@DwyaneWade's reaction to DJJ’s dunk says it all pic.twitter.com/9zcvISI1CC

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Jones cleared two men who were facing the basket, took the ball back while elevating, put it under his left leg and crammed it in with an authoritative left hand.

DJJ’s head was at the RIM 🤯 #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/DMAUoY9h0J

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Gordon, using Chance The Rapper to hold the ball, pulled the ball from his helper’s hands and locked down his third perfect 50 in three tries.

Aaron Gordon leaped over @chancetherapper #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/HFOEIan7XM

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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.@chancetherapper’s reaction to Aaron Gordon’s dunk is priceless pic.twitter.com/ierFs9s1lg

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Gordon nailed a perfect 50 — 10s from all five judges — with the fourth and final dunk of the first round. He matched it with his second slam — plucking the ball from the hands of Chance The Rapper while jumping over him and moving from one sideline toward the other, spinning his body back to the basket in midair to finish the slam.

Now that’s a 50! #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/PV4OtNuIK7

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Jones followed up a miss and a birthday serenade from the United Center crowd to score 46 points for his first dunk. Jones positioned teammate Bam Adebayo inside the elbow and leapt over him for a slam.

DJJ got UP! #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/ZGkMRVhl88

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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His second dunk appeared to defy gravity and brought all of the judges to their feet. Jones scored 50 with a looping 360-degree dunk, passing the ball under his leg before whipping it through with his left hand.

DERRICK JONES JR! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/akRSPUdBTk

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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The Milwaukee Bucks’ Pat Connaughton, not in uniform but outfitted to resemble the Woody Harrelson character in the film “White Men Can’t Jump,” brought Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich on the court.

Connaughton scored 45 for grabbing the ball from Yelich’s shoulder blades while bounding over Yelich and emphatically finishing the dunk. The crowd erupted in boos at the resulting score of 45.

“That’s the MVP of baseball!”

Pat Connaughton brings out @ChristianYelich for his first dunk pic.twitter.com/12DOPAf5dE

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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On his second try, Connaughton positioned Giannis Antetokounmpo at the cargo circle in the lane. Connaughton ran full speed and grabbed the ball from Antetokounmpo, tapped the backboard and crammed home a two-handed flush for a perfect 50.

Giannis’ reaction to Pat’s dunk #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/GaWyq7F3dG

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers went first and received 41 thanks to eights by four judges and a nine from Scottie Pippen. Howard recreated his 2008 Superman dunk with a red cape and blue undershirt with the superhero logo covered by number 24. He took a lob from Jameer Nelson, who was standing out of bounds behind the backboard, for a 49.

Dwight put the cape back on! #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/78kdtBmWTQ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1228874769916817409

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

CHICAGO — Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield won the 3-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Saturday night by making his 54th try of the night.

Hield splashed a “moneyball” for a one-point win over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who won the event in 2018.

BUDDY HIELD WINS IT ON THE LAST SHOT! #MtnDew3pt pic.twitter.com/P79YaVm0JO

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Booker had 20 points in the finals when he reached his final rack — two-point moneyballs in the corner — and canned three of his five tries to get to 26 points.

Book nets a 26 in his final round. Effortless. pic.twitter.com/4bZLybG7wE

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Hield and Booker tied in the first round.

The top three scorers in the eight-man field advanced: Booker, a late sub for Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Hield scored 27 total points, and Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans had 26 in Round 1.

Bertans shot first in the final round and made 4 of 5 moneyball attempts, tallying 22 points.

The rules of the contest were changed this year. Each made 3-pointer was worth one point with a few exceptions.

These reactions to Buddy’s last bucket are priceless #MtnDew3pt pic.twitter.com/88nzo1nhk3

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Two stations and 10 seconds were added to the traditional five-rack setup, with the extra shots worth three points and 6 feet behind the NBA 3-point line on the floor at 29 feet, 9 inches. Contestants also have one rack of five basketballs that count double (two points) — moneyballs — they can set either in the corner, wing or top of the key.

The five players eliminated in the first round of shooting were defending champion Joe Harris (22) of the Brooklyn Nets, hometown rep Zach LaVine (23) of the Bulls, Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (19), Charlotte Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham (18) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (15).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Field Level Media-Reuters

CHICAGO –– Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo defeated Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis in the 2020 All-Star Skills Challenge on Saturday night.

“The sky is the limit for players the way the game is going,” Adebayo said of winning the competition against a fellow big man and over a field of multiple guards.

“I’m so proud of you, boy.” ✊@DwyaneWade congratulates @Bam1of1 on his #TacoBellSkills challenge title. pic.twitter.com/HQV7ZYrXvt

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Adebayo and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam met in the semifinals before Sabonis and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton squared off.

Bam wins the #TacoBellSkills challenge and @DwyaneWade is loving it! pic.twitter.com/HJ95o8W9sT

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

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Players dribble from one 3-point line to the other winding between four vertical NBA logo obstacles, stopping to fire a chest pass through a station with a round opening just large enough to fit a basketball. Once the pass is successful, players dribble back to the end they started from, make a layup and return to the opposite end of the court where the one-on-one contest ends — when one player makes a three from the top of key placards set on the floor and marked SHOOT.

Sabonis made his fourth 3-point try to make the finals. Middleton lost the ball attempting his layup but recovered in time to have a shot at the win.

The first players eliminated were 2018 Skills champ Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets), Patrick Beverley (LA Clippers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and reigning champion Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Saturday that the All-Star Game MVP award will now be called the Kobe Bryant Award as players lined up to pay tribute to the late NBA icon.

“Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA all-star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game,” Silver said. “He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the world.”

Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, were buried in a private funeral service in southern California last week after they were among nine people who perished in a horrific helicopter crash on January 26.

The uniforms for Sunday’s all-star game in Chicago will also honor Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter with LeBron James’ team wearing the No. 2 for the basketball-playing Gigi and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team wearing No. 24 in a tribute to Bryant.

Antetokounmpo was one of several all-stars who also spoke Saturday about their memories and the legacy that Bryant left behind.

“The format is amazing,” Antetokounmpo said. “It makes you want to play hard and compete against one another. Each quarter you have the opportunity to win, and it makes it way more competitive.

“But wearing 24 and LeBron wearing number two, it’s a big honor. I wouldn’t want it any other way representing Kobe and Gigi in tomorrow night’s game.”

Antetokounmpo described the four-time All-Star Game MVP Bryant as the “Michael Jordan of our generation.”

“A guy that mentored me in the last few years of my career, a guy that was always there for me,” Antetokounmpo said. “In the regular season, the playoffs, a guy that told me that whenever I need something, I could just reach out to him, and he was literally always there. If I needed something, he would text me back, call me.

“Growing up, he was my idol. He was one of those guys that gave back to the game so much, gave back to the players. A lot of people when they’re so great, they don’t do that.”

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker said this is an emotional time for the NBA family not only because of the death of Bryant, but also former commissioner David Stern, who passed away on New Year’s Day.

“With the tragic death of Kobe and Gigi and the rest of the families on the plane and David Stern, it’s definitely going to be a very emotional weekend, and we’re going to celebrate those guys and everyone else as best as we can,” said Walker.

“They meant so much to our game. They grew the game so much. We all just have a lot of respect for them.”

A public memorial service for Bryant will be held February 24 at Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles.

Source: Manila Bulletin