By Field Level Media-Reuters

Andre Iguodala is taking his talents to South Beach.

The Miami Heat acquired the veteran forward from the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, less than 24 hours before the NBA trade deadline, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Miami then signed Iguodala to a two-year, $30 million contract extension, per Wojnarowski.

The report indicated that the package Memphis will receive will include forward Justise Winslow.

Iguodala, 36, won three championship rings with the Golden State Warriors, but he was dealt to Memphis during the offseason as part of a cost-cutting move. Iguodala never played a game with the Grizzlies, instead receiving permission to stay away from the team as he requested a trade to a preferred destination.

Iguodala’s prolonged absence irked Grizzlies players, including Dillon Brooks, who recently told reporters, “I can’t wait till we can find a way to trade him so we can play (against) him. Show him what Memphis is all about.”

Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant also recently engaged in a social media tiff with Warriors guard Stephen Curry about Iguodala. Curry posted a picture of Iguodala holding a championship trophy, and Morant responded by posting a picture of former Warriors forward Kevin Durant holding the same trophy. Morant added a “shrug” emoji and a “shush” emoji.

In his career, Iguodala has averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest. He also has appeared in 145 playoff games, during which he has averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 boards and 3.9 assists.

The Heat will be Iguodala’s fifth team. He spent eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, one season with the Denver Nuggets and six seasons with the Warriors before his turbulent stint with Memphis.

Winslow, 23, was in his fifth season with the Heat, averaging 11.3 points, a career-high 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists. In 241 career games, he has averages of 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Miami opens a six-game road trip Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team then heads north to face the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, when Iguodala could make his team debut.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone admitted that June Mar Fajardo’s injury has changed the complexion of the PBA Philippine Cup which starts March 1.

“Needless to say, that opens up the race,” Cone said when asked to react on Fajardo’s fractured right shin that will force the San Miguel Beermen star to miss at least the whole duration of the season-opening conference.

SMB was still considered to have a strong chance of winning an unprecedented sixth consecutive Philippine Cup title until Fajardo got hurt during Monday’s practice at the Acropolis Gym.

Fajardo underwent surgery the following day, his timetable for a return still unsure.

As much as he considers Fajardo’s injury as a big opening Ginebra needs, Cone also couldn’t help but to feel bad for their sister team.

“That’s tragic for our organization,” said Cone. “He’s the face of our flagship team plus the mainstay of our national team. Truly, truly hate to see that.”

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was also quick to console with Fajardo, yet the development doesn’t mean that his team has also improved its chances of claiming the season’s most important tournament.

“Nandiyan man si June Mar o wala, one team lang yan e,” said Victolero, whose Hotshots were beaten by the Beermen in the last two editions of the Philippine Cup Finals. “I mean, there are 10 more teams na kailangan namin ipag-prepare. They are the defending champions and malaking factor kung maglalaro or hijndi maglalaro si June Mar.

“But you know, there’s Ginebra, there’s TNT KaTropa, there’s NLEX, there’s NorthPort, there’s Columbian which is right now are a very strong team because of their rookies and CJ Perez, so wala kang pwedeng ibalewala diyan.

“So we need to prepare hard for each team. But again, big factor yan kung makakalaro man or hindi makakalaro si June Mar,” Victolero added.

Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia, on the other hand, still sees SMB as a favorite, though stressed that other teams have improved.

He even called Ginebra as perhaps the top team of the tournament following Fajardo’s setback.

“I think San Miguel remains the top team. It’s sad about what happened to June Mar, but the other teams got better,” he said.

“Magnolia got better, NorthPort got better, Ginebra probably will be the top seed without June Mar there so halos lahat naman ng teams lumakas.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Thursday

(The Arena, San Juan)

8:30 a.m. – Mapua vs Lyceum (Junior’s)
10 a.m. – Mapua vs Lyceum (Men’s)
12 noon – Mapua vs Lyceum (Women’s)
2 p.m. – EAC vs SSC-R (Women’s)
3:30 p.m. – EAC vs SSC-R (Men’s)
5 p.m. – EAC vs SSC-R (Junior’s)

Lyceum of the Philippines University tries to keep its semifinal bid alive when it clashes with Mapua in NCAA Season 95 volleyball Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.

LPU has a 2-4 card, two games behind San Beda University for the No. 4 spot. For the Lady Pirates to earn at least a playoff for the last Final Four berth, they have to sweep their remaining three matches.

The Lady Pirates and the Lady Cardinals collide at 12 noon.

San Sebastian College-Recoletos, meantime, hopes to follow up its breakthrough victory against Mapua when it takes on winless Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2 p.m.

Joy Onofre, Venice Puzon, Ciamelle Wanta and Alexandra Rafael are the players to watch for LPU, which is coming off a painful 28-26, 25-27, 25-16, 19-25, 14-16 loss to Letran last Friday.

The Lady Cardinals, on the other hand, are in eighth spot with a 1-5 card, tied with the Lady Stags.

Mapua fell to San Sebastian 18-25, 20-25, 20-25 Friday that extended its losing streak to four.

Jewelle Bermillo, who plays libero and one of the Lady Stags’ leaders, hopes that their win against the Lady Cardinals is a start of something good for them and that they carry the momentum against the Lady Generals.

“Sobrang saya namin (with the win). Hindi namin in-underestimate ‘yung kalaban. Ang gusto lang namin ‘yung mga natalo namin last year, dapat po matalo naming sila auli. Last year nakuhanan kami ng set ng Mapua. Dapat ngayon, straight set natin sila,” said Bermillo.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Nazareth School of National University bolstered its title-retention bid on Wednesday with an 80-73 win over Far Eastern University-Diliman to sweep the double-round eliminations in UAAP juniors basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Bullpups controlled the tempo throughout with Terrence Fortea at the frontline en route to their 14th straight victory and an outright spot to the finals.

With NU already into the finals, the battle for the remaining championship berth will be competed by FEU, Ateneo and Adamson in the stepladder semis.

Fortea fired 17 points and four rebounds while Reyland Torres chipped in 16 points, nine boards and three assists.

Three players scored in double figures for FEU with Patrick Sleat, Anfernee Estacio and Mark Padrones combining for 40 points, but they were not enough to halt NU’s fiery drive.

The Baby Tams settled at second with 12-2 with a twice-to-beat advantage in the stepladder semis.

Ateneo and Adamson would battle in the knockout first round with the winner facing FEU next.

In the other game, University of the Philippines Integrated School averted a winless season by edging University of the East 89-81.

The victory ended the Junior Maroons’ 19-game losing skid including 13 this season.

UPIS banked on its torrid outside shooting by nailing 11 triples spearheaded by Jose Gomez De Liano and Ray Torres with four treys each.

Gomez De Liano and Torres finished with 21 and 12 points, Collin Dimaculangan had 16, and Sean Torculas pumped in 14 points and 15 boards.

UE finished with 3-11 in tie with De La Salle Zobel at sixth to seventh places.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Gilas Pilipinas officially begins its preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers Thursday with an afternoon practice session at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo campus.

TNT KaTropa active consultant Mark Dickel, who was named last week as coach on an interim basis, will preside over the 12:30 p.m. practice that will see him roll out the initial plans in  Gilas’ bid to qualify for next year’s continental tournament.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas tasked Dickel to call the shots while it continues to search for a permanent coach that can handle national team duties until the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023.

Dickel will have 11 PBA players and 13 amateurs in his pool for the two games against Thailand and Indonesia.

PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel leads the cast of pro talents that also includes NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena and Poy Erram, TNT KaTropa’s Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Ray Parks Jr., NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger and Columbian’s CJ Perez, Phoenix Pulse’s Matthew Wright, Blackwater’s Mac Belo and Magnolia’s Marc Pingris.

The 13 amateurs on the pool are Isaac Go, brothers Mike and Matt Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi and Rey Suerte, Thirdy Ravena, Jaydee Tungcab, brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Kobe Paras, Dave Ildefonso, Dwight Ramos and Justine Baltazar.
The Philippines is in Group A along with bitter rival South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. The top two teams after the six window qualifiers advance to the Asia Cup.

Gilas opens its campaign on Feb. 20 against Thailand at the Smart Araneta Coliseum before taking on Indonesia three days later in Jakarta.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

Japanese puncher Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue could end up facing a scarier version of himself on April 25 in Las Vegas.
Filipino hitter John Riel Casimero told sportswriters on Wednesday that he—and not the guy with the hair-raising nom de guerre—is the real deal and he will prove it when they square off at the Mandalay Bay.

“I am the hardest hitter among the all the bantamweights,” Casimero said with confidence during a lively sendoff press conference at the Amelie Hotel.

The media Q&A was filled with antics.

A standee of Inoue was placed on the dais and Casimero clowned with it to the delight of the attendees, a far cry from the business-like atmosphere a few days ago in Tokyo when Inoue held his own presser.

While admitting that Inoue, holder of the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts, is a formidable foe, he feels that he is the better fighter.

“Inoue has this shock punch that he throws and I should be very careful but I believe that I hit harder than him,” said Casimero, who will put his World Boxing Organization(WBO) crown on the line in their unification battle.

MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, who represents Casimero, is tickled pink by the matchup.

“You seldom see fights starting two fighters in their prime fighting in a unification (fight),” said Gibbons, who also represents Manny Pacquiao and the country’s two other Filipino world champions Jerwin Ancajas and Pedro Taduran.

Casimero, who turns 30 on Feb. 13, has a 29-4 win-loss cared with 20 Kos and is coming off a brutal win over Zolani Tete of South Africa to win the WBO 118-lb title.

Inoue, who turns 27 two weeks before the Casimero clash, parades a 19-0 slate with 16 KOs.

In his last fight, Inoue beat four-division champion Nonito Donaire on points in a brutal slugfest.

To get ready for Inoue, Casimero will spend three weeks in Miami under the care of renowned strength and conditioning coach Memo Heredia, best known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez.

“He’s the same guy who did work with somebody who did something to you know whom,” said Gibbons, referring to Heredia’s involvement in the fourth fight between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao that ended with Marquez towering over a motionless and face-down Pacquiao on the deck many years ago.

Casimero leaves for the States on Thursday and will relocate from sunny Florida to Las Vegas for the final push in the first week of March.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, who signed Inoue to a contract following the Donaire victory, is putting up the match that has all the trappings of an explosive encounter.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Two-time ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang isn’t giving up on his quest for a third title.

The 35-year-old Team Lakay veteran said miscalculations took a toll on his ‘painful’ and “disappointing” loss to Pieter Buist of the Netherlands in ONE: Fire & Fury at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Friday night.

“Lukewarm [ang timpla],” Folayang said, when asked about the start of his 2020.

“Kagandahan doon nasa split naman. It means hindi malayo o nasa atin lang siguro kung ‘yung puso natin susuko. Pero tingin ko, hindi tayo sumusuko.”

Despite being at par on both ends in the first two rounds, the Dutchman’s 6-foot-2 height and reach advantage proved decisive especially in the last canto.

The last minute change of opponent turned out to be another hurdle for the 5-foot-7 Folayang after committing time to improve his ground game.

In two weeks notice, the 31-year-old Buist (17-4) stepped up for Pakistani grappler Ahmed Mujtaba.

Folayang said no one in Team Lakay has the height and reach of Buist, putting them at a grave disadvantage.

“Magsisinungaling ako ‘pag sinabi kong ‘di painful [‘yung talo,]” Folayang said, who slipped to a 22-9 record.

In the crucial third round, Buist countered the Filipino fighter’s low kick with a head kick stunner.

Buist attempted a guillotine choke but Folayang, pressed against the cage walls, escaped, but only barely.

The Team Lakay veteran looked for the finish in the last minute but Buist recovered and came back on his feet as time expired.

“Doon ko na-realize na talagang matangkad pala siya,” Folayang said. “Syempre alam kong gusto niya kong tapusin pero naka-recover naman agad ‘yung utak natin.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

In the aftermath of the cancellation of its training in China, weightlifting’s national team coach Toni Agustin said they nevertheless have the proper facility here to continue preparation for the Asian Championship this year in Kazakhstan.

Agustin said they were initially eyeing a 60-day training in China, which they did before the 30th Southeast Asian Games here and which resulted in a good showing with gold medal performances by Rio Olympics veteran Hidilyn Diaz and rising star Kristel Macrohon.

However, because of the travel ban brought by the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus, which reportedly started in Wuhan, the national team cancelled training camp schedule there.

“Hindi na muna kasi nga gawa nung crisis doon at may travel ban din naman,” Agustin said Wednesday.

“Wala din naman kami ibang makita na pwedeng training camp kasi kung magte-training kami dito lang din naman sa Asia. Isa pang na-consider namin ang Taiwain, pero malapit pa din sa China.”

The Asian Championship is set April 16 to 25, and it is the sixth and final required Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for the Filipinos aiming to land a spot to the Tokyo Olympics in August.

Agustin said training here for the event is not an issue.

“Maganda na naman yung facility na meron tayo dito sa atin,” said Agustin, referring to the weightlifting gym at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila that the Philippine Sports Commission recently renovated.

“Bukod sa facility, magaganda yung mga gamit na meron tayo, and also yung kinakain ng mga atleta natin, under naman yan ng PSC so meron nutritionist kaya nababantayan yung diet.”

The 28-year-old Diaz recently bagged the gold medal in the 2020 Roma World Cup, giving the Rio Olympics silver medalist the No. 5 spot with 3,632.0672 points in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ranking.

Three other weightlifters are in the running to earn a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, including former Olympian Nestor Colonia, who is at No. 31 in the 67kg men’s, while Elreen Ann Ando (64kg) and Macrohon (71kg) are both at No. 20 in their respective divisions in the women’s side.

John Fabuar Ceniza, who bagged the bronze medal in the 61kg in the World Cup, currently ranks No. 146 in the world, while Jeffrey Garcia is at No. 54 in 73kg. Mary Flor Diaz, who competed in the 49kg in the World Cup, is in the vicinity as Ceniza and Garcia.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Beer’s quest for a dynastic sixth consecutive PBA Philippine Cup crown suffered a major blow with June Mar Fajardo set to miss at least the whole duration of the season opening conference due to an injured shin.

The team confirmed that Fajardo underwent surgery on Tuesday, a day after sustaining a complete fracture on his right tibia during the Beermen’s practice at the Acropolis Gym.

It was the same shin that forced Fajardo to miss the first nine games of the 2018 Governors’ Cup due to a stress fracture.

But the latest injury suggests that the 6-foot-10 star could be sidelined beyond the Philippine Cup since San Miguel gave no exact timetable as to when he’ll return.

“San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo suffered a complete fracture on his right tibia during team practice last Feb. 3,” the team said in a statement. “He was immediately brought to a hospital, where assessment on the extent of his injury and initial treatment were made.”

“He underwent successful surgery last Feb. 4 and will be scheduled to go through post-operation rehabilitation to allow him to recover at the soonest possible time,” the statement added.

A look at medical websites suggests that a complete fracture on the tibia has a recovery period of four to six months while a stress fracture takes six to eight weeks to heal.

SMB also said the injury may forced Fajardo to skip representing Gilas Pilipinas in any international tournaments, though the national team is only slated to play in two windows of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers this year.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas left Fajardo out of the Gilas pool for this month’s window, adding that the reigning five-time Most Valuable Player will be given a well-deserved rest from international duties.

“During this rehabilitation phase, the team regrets that he won’t be able to play for the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Cup. June Mar, for his part, is also saddened that he may not be able to join any upcoming international competitions,” the team said.

“The San Miguel Beermen management is committed to ensuring that June Mar will get the best medical care, and would like to thank fans for the messages of concern and well wishes.”

Fajardo’s absence is expected to change the complexion of the Philippine Cup which starts on March 1 with San Miguel taking on Magnolia in a rematch of last year’s Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

SMB was seen as a top contender to retain supremacy in the Philippine Cup even before Fajardo’s injury despite the potential threat from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, which ruled the recent Governors’ Cup.

Magnolia and TNT KaTropa are also seen as teams that can give SMB a run for their money.

But Fajardo’s injury could serve as a game changer that will give these teams a strong belief that the Beermen’s reign in the PBA’s most important tournament could finally end.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The chief executive officer of the Tokyo Olympics admitted Wednesday that organizers are “extremely worried” about the possible effect of the deadly new coronavirus on this summer’s Games.

Toshiro Muto said he hoped the outbreak in China would be quickly contained to restore confidence in the run-up to the Olympics.

“We are extremely worried in the sense that the spread of the infectious virus could pour cold water on momentum for the Games,” he said before a meeting with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

“I hope that it can be eradicated as quickly as possible. We plan to cooperate with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), the IPC, the government and the city of Tokyo to tackle the disease.”

More than 20 countries have confirmed cases of the pathogen, which has killed nearly 500 people and infected at least 24,000 in mainland China.

Japan has had no reported deaths so far, but at least 10 people on a cruise ship carrying 3,711 passengers and crew quarantined off Yokohama have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Saburo Kawabuchi, the mayor of the Athletes’ Village where an expected 11,000 sportsmen and women will stay, struck a sombre tone.

“I hope from my heart that we can overcome this (virus) and have a smooth Olympics,” said the former Japanese football chief.

“We will do our everything we can to protect the athletes to allow them to produce their best performances.”

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike promised at the weekend to implement “thorough measures” to protect people from the coronavirus in the run-up to the Olympics.

Japan has warned citizens against non-essential travel to China and fast-tracked new rules including limits on entering the country as it tries to contain the spread of the virulent new coronavirus.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed earlier this week that the country would work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure preparations for the Tokyo Olympics would not be disrupted.

He also revealed that Japan was developing rapid test kits for the virus.

“By coordinating our efforts with the WHO and other related agencies, we will take appropriate steps so that preparations to hold the events will steadily continue,” Abe told a parliamentary session.

The Japanese government has chartered three flights to repatriate 565 Japanese nationals from Wuhan, the central Chinese city hardest hit by the virus.

The health scare has led to the cancellation of Olympic qualifying events in China such as boxing and badminton.

The Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 with the Paralympics starting on August 25.

Source: Manila Bulletin