Patrick Mahomes ushered in a new era for the NFL on Sunday after producing a stunning late rally to inspire the Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl glory.

The 24-year-old quarterback crowned his emergence as the league’s brightest young star as the Chiefs fought back from a 20-10 fourth quarter deficit to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20.

It was the sort of performance that will have delighted the watching NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who in the next few years can expect to see star names like Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers either enter or edge closer to retirement.

In Mahomes, the NFL has a ready-made and prodigiously gifted standard-bearer for the next generation.

But while Mahomes is happy to carry the Chiefs on his back when circumstances require, he is less comfortable being portrayed as the new face of the NFL.

“There are several guys that could be the face of the NFL,” Mahomes said after his dazzling display on Sunday, citing the example of Baltimore’s newly minted season MVP Lamar Jackson.

“Lamar was the unanimous MVP last night,” Mahomes said. “And he had one of the best seasons of all-time at the quarterback position.

“There are guys like that it seems every single year, a lot of young quarterbacks and still a lot of veteran guys that are playing at a very high level.

“So I just try to be the best Patrick Mahomes I can be and try to win football games with the guys that I have around me.”

Mahomes may prove to be in a minority of one when it comes to dampening down the hype.

Record season

He had already signalled his precocity in 2018 with a jaw-dropping first full season in the NFL, becoming only the second quarterback in history — after Peyton Manning — to throw for 50 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards in a single season.

En route to Sunday’s Super Bowl win, Mahomes came back from a dislocated kneecap earlier this season to lead his team to the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Along the way he had perfected the art of the comeback, overturning 24-0 and 17-7 deficits in the playoff rounds, before helping the Chiefs pull off their Houdini act in Sunday’s showstopping season finale.

As the gold and red confetti began to be swept away from the Hard Rock Stadium playing surface on Sunday, Mahomes’ colleagues in the Chiefs locker room lined up to eulogise their young quarterback.

“You don’t know what you’re going to get out of Pat man,” said Chiefs linebacker Damien Wilson. “He’s greatness in a bottle.”

Fullback Anthony Sherman said he had never doubted Mahomes even after he threw two uncharacteristically sloppy interceptions in a shaky start to the Super Bowl.

‘Golden child’

“That’s who he is,” Sherman said. “He might throw a pick here or there and it goes down. But we know, if we get the ball back, he’ll make up for it. He’s going to find a way.

“He is so unbelievably calm, collected, and his confidence in himself and the team is — I can’t even describe it. He’s the best quarterback in the NFL, and I’ll go to battle with him any day of the week.”

Tight end Travis Kelce said Mahomes’ sheer force of will had yanked the Chiefs back from the brink of defeat.

“It’s magic Mahomes, it’s Showtime Mahomes. And you know what? I love him. He willed this team back into the game,” Kelce said. Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins meanwhile referred to Mahomes simply as “the golden child.”

As he prepared to leave Miami on Sunday for the Super Bowl MVP’s now traditional trip to Disney World, Mahomes was taking the avalanche of praise in his stride.

“I take it one day at a time and go out there and try to be the best person and best athlete, and the best player I can be,” he said.

“Obviously I’ve had a good start to my career. I’ve been blessed to be in a great organisation with a lot of great players around me that make my job a lot easier.

“But I know it’s going to take a long time of consistency if I want to be where I want to be at the end.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

MIAMI- Patrick Mahomes led a thrilling late comeback as the Kansas City Chiefs ended their 50-year wait for a Super Bowl crown with a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Chiefs quarterback Mahomes shrugged off an error-strewn start to the game to overturn a 20-10 fourth quarter deficit in a nail-biting contest at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

The Super Bowl win was Kansas City’s first NFL Championship since their triumph over the Minnesota Vikings in 1970.

And it owed everything to the nerve of Mahomes, who for the third straight game led the Chiefs back from a double-digit deficit to seal victory.

“We never lost faith. Everybody on this team, no one had their head down and we found a way to win in the end,” Mahomes told a television reporter as cannons blasted confetti into the Florida night sky.

The Chiefs quarterback had looked out of sorts through the first three quarters, throwing two interceptions in the face of fierce pressure from the magnificent San Francisco defense.

But with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Mahomes led his team on two long drives to set up touchdowns for tight end Travis Kelce and running back Damien Williams.

Those scores put the Chiefs into a 24-20 lead and Kansas City made the game safe when Williams danced up the sideline for a 38-yard rushing score with 1min 12sec remaining.

Mahomes finished with 286 passing yards and 26 completions from 42 attempts with two touchdowns. The Chiefs quarterback also rushed for a touchdown early in the first quarter.

But the defeat was desperately hard on the 49ers, who were chasing a record-equalling sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The 49ers had barely put a foot wrong through three quarters, with their defense shackling Mahomes superbly and their offense moving the ball confidently to put them in the driving seat late in the game.

But as the pressure in the fourth quarter mounted, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s sure touch deserted him and the Niners offense dried up.

The fourth quarter collapse was also 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s worst nightmare.

Shanahan had been the offensive co-ordinator for the Atlanta Falcons at the 2017 Super Bowl when they let a 28-3 lead slip in a stunning loss to the New England Patriots.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Tito S. Talao

ROME — Phoenix Fuel governor Raymond Zorrilla is hoping Calvin Abueva’s indefinite suspension will end sooner than later.

“We’re ready to give him a second chance, we believe in that,” said Zorrilla at the close of the PBA board planning and program session in Milan Saturday.

Zorrilla isn’t keeping his fingers crossed, though.

“It will happen when it happens,” he said. “I just hope it happens sooner kasi sole breadwinner siya e. Pamilyadong tao. We’re helping in some small way but not by giving him a salary even if he’s suspended.”

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial threw the book at Abueva after the polarizing Phoenix forward got into an indelicate altercation with Blackwater’s Ray Parks Jr. and his girlfriend during a Commissioner’s Cup game in late May last year and committed a retaliatory flagrant foul on TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones a few days later.

The indefinite suspension remains in place, the PBA said, until Abueva has complied with several conditions imposed as requisites to his reinstatement.

“Marami pang na-set na conditions para niya gawin bago ako mag-recommend sa board,” Marcial said.

Zorrilla said “lots” of Phoenix fans are “clamoring” for Abueva’s return and that he hopes what transpired can be set aside.

“There’s no need [for Abueva] to justify the past, but he has to reform,” Zorrilla said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Tuesday (The Arena, San Juan)

8:30 a.m. – Arellano vs Letran (Junior’s)

10 a.m. – Arellano vs Letran (Men’s)

12 noon – Arellano vs Letran (Women’s)

San Beda University snapped a two-game losing skid by beating Emilio Aguinaldo College 25-15, 25-16, 27-25 to improve its playoff bid in the NCAA Season 95 volleyball Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

Veteran player Cesca Racraquin collected 22 points, three service aces, nine digs and seven receptions to power the Lady Red Spikers, who moved up to solo fourth with a 4-2 card – half a game ahead of the Letran Lady Knights (3-2).

“I’m happy na na-break yung slump, and nakabalik kami uli sa panalo. Hopefully tuloy-tuloy na. Palapit na din tayo sa playoffs so talagang every game is crucial, every win is important,” said Racraquin.

Nieza Viray contributed 13 points, including the match-clinching kill that closed out the extended third frame, while Kim Manzano had two blocks to finish with seven points for the Lady Red Spikers.

Aside from moving up to solo fourth, the Lady Red Spikers also kept within reach of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and defending champion Arellano University, tied for second to third places with similar 5-1 cards.

SBU mentor Mesio Gavino said it’s important for them to go all out in their final three games to avoid complications in their final four bid.

“Kailangang talagang trabahuin yung mga remaining games,” said Gavino, whose team’s

last three games are against Perpetual Help on Friday, Mapua on Feb. 11 and Lyceum of the Philippines University on Feb. 14 also at The Arena.

Cathrine Almazan had 10 points and 12 digs for the Lady Generals, who fell to 0-6.

In the men’s division, Joshua Miña came through with 24 points, 18 receptions and eight digs as EAC joined Perpetual Help on top of the standings with identical 6-0 slates following a 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19 win over San Beda.

In juniors action, Zandro Pasayloon scored all but one of his 23 points from spikes as San Beda handed EAC its first loss of the season while improving its own record to 4-2 with a 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17 victory.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

Lakers teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis had to make sure that Kobe Bryant is watching and guiding them up in the heavens.

James revealed via Instagram his new tattoo on his left thigh to honor the late Lakers legend Friday night, ahead of the team’s first game since Bryant’s death.

The tattoo featured Bryant’s jersey numbers – 24 and 8 on both sides – coiled around a black mamba which was Bryant’s moniker.

Roses completed the art on the upper left and lower right parts with “Mamba 4 Life” written below.

The drama didn’t end there as James accompanied the post with another photo when they were still teammates in the Olympics.

View this post on Instagram

❤️ My brother ♾ #Mamba4Life #RIPKobe #RIPGiGi

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jan 31, 2020 at 4:21pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Lakers’ forward-center Anthony Davis also got inked on his right thigh as seen in an Instagram post by California-based tattoo artist Vanessa Aurellia, the same artist that crafted James’ tattoo.

Davis’ tattoo featured a black mamba wrapped in the “Sheath,” Kobe trademark logo and associated with all of his products.

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Thank you @antdavis23 for letting me do this piece for you! It was an honor, and thanks for making my job easy , the hospitality and with the trust. #RIPKobe #mambamentality #laker Photos by @jngvizuals

A post shared by Vanessa Aurelia (@nessaurelia) on Feb 1, 2020 at 4:49pm PST

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In a 2007 article by Esquire, Kobe revealed that the logo resembles the sheath of a samurai sword.

The sword represents raw talent and the sheath as the package it has kept — ” everything you go through, your calluses and your baggage, what you learn.”

On Friday, an emotional James addressed the Staples Center crowd with his speech and vowed to continue Kobe’s legacy along with his teammates: “I know at some point we will have a memorial for Kobe. But I look at this as a celebration tonight.”

“This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken down body, the getting up, sitting down to everything, the countless hours, the determination to be as great as he could be.”

Kobe, along with daughter Gianna and seven others perished in the tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, Los Angeles last Sunday. (with reports from AFP) ###

Source: Manila Bulletin

MILAN – Owing to its commitment to the Gilas program, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is adopting the same format it had last year when it ushers its 45th season starting on March 1.

The league’s 2020 playing calendar kicks off with the season-opening Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where five-time defending champion San Miguel Beer kicks off its title retention bid against Magnolia in the lone game on opening night.

The All-Filipino Cup will last until June to be promptly followed by the Commissioner’s Cup that features imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The season-ending Governors’ Cup then ushers the final conference of the year showcasing imports 6-foot-5 and below and which is expected to again overlap until January of 2021.

PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas said embracing the same set-up from last season is imperative especially with the league schedule again adjusting to the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers that begins this February.

“We’re trying to move from a calendar year to a flexible year,” said Vargas during the Board’s annual planning session that concluded on Friday.

“We’re going to extend to January 2021 because this (calendar) will accommodate the window of qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup. So we organized it on that basis.”

Format for the Philippine Cup (March 1-June 17) will have the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals, with the top two teams at the end of the eliminations enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage against the eight and seventh seeded teams.

The no. 3 team tangles with no. 6 and no. 4 battles no. 5 in a best-of-three series.

The four teams which survive clash in the best-of-seven semifinals before the two remaining ballclubs figure each other out in the best-of-seven finals.

The same set-up will be used in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup (June 24-October 4), although the semifinals is going to be a best-of-five, and the finals a best-of-seven.

The Governors’ Cup (October 11-January 29) meanwhile, will have eight teams again earning a berth in the quarterfinals, where the top four squads own a twice-to-beat advantage against the four other teams in the lower bracket.

The four teams that remain face each other in the best-of-five semis, before the season concludes with a best-of-seven finals.

The league takes a break from July 10-12 to hold the annual All-Star game in Passi, Iloilo.

The PBA is also looking to play more provincial games this season as well as another out-of-the country outing.

Five games in the provinces have already been set for the Philippine Cup that include Bataan, Cagayan De Oro, Panabo, Dipolog, and Iloilo.

In light of the success of the doubleheader it played in Dubai last year, the league is again eyeing to hold matches outside of the country, with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the USA as among the likely host.

For the third straight season, the PBA won’t be holding games on Christmas Day.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)

8:30 a.m. – San Beda vs EAC (Junior’s)

10 a.m. – San Beda vs EAC (Men’s)

12 noon – San Beda vs EAC (Women’s)

2 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (Women’s)

3:30 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua l (Men’s)

5 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (Junior’s)

San Beda seeks to get back on the winning track as it plays Emilio Aguinaldo College Monday in the NCAA Season 95 volleyball at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Red Spikers and the Lady Generals collide at 12 noon.

Jose Rizal University hopes to make it two in a row as it tangles with Mapua in the day’s other game at 2 p.m.

San Beda, which has lost its last two matches, is currently tied with Letran in fourth place at 3-2.

The Lady Bombers, on the other hand, are at 2-4 one-and-a-half games out of the No. 4 spot.

JRU, which will face undefeated College of Saint Benilde later this week, hopes that the weekend break will refresh them.

“Sana maka-recover kami in time. Hopefully. One game at a time,” said coach Mia Tioseco.

The Lady Bombers scored a 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 win over the Lady Generals last Thursday to end a four-game losing streak.

The Lady Red Spikers lost to defending champion Arellano University and the Lady Blazers last week.

Ranged against a EAC struggling to get the elusive breakthrough, San Beda hopes to catch the needed break and more importantly, boost its sagging morale.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic battled through intense pressure from Dominic Thiem to reassert his dominance at the Australian Open Sunday, claiming a record eighth title and in doing so retaking the world number one ranking.

The indomitable Serb stretched his unbeaten streak this season to 13 by rallying from two sets to one down and beating the courageous fifth-seeded Austrian 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a near four-hour ordeal.

It was his 17th Grand Slam title, moving him within two of Rafael Nadal and three of Roger Federer on the all-time list.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

Mighty Sports-Creative Pacific Philippines made the country proud once again, becoming the first non-Middle Eastern club to win the Dubai International Basketball Championship crown.

In another show of force – not to mention championship class – the PH club came through with a massive third quarter attack to dethrone Al Riyadi of Lebanon, 92-81, in the 31st edition of the prestigious tournament before a wildly-cheering Filipinos fans at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Chants of “Mighty! Mighty!” reached its highest level when former Ateneo King Eagle Thirdy Ravena strung up five points capped by a booming triple that gave the team backed by Oriental Game, Go for Gold, Discovery Primea and Gatorade a 68-51 bubble late in the third frame.

There was no stopping Mighty Sports-Creative from winning its second straight international tournament from then as the Renaldo Balkman, Andray Blatche and Fil-Am Mikey Willians continued to wreak havoc on the Lebanese club’s defense.

The Charles Tiu-mentored team even hiked its lead to 21 early in the payoff period on the way to a seven-game sweep of the championship which many thought would not be possible after struggling to win two of their four games in the group elims.

“It’s great! It’s a great feeling as we made up for a heartbreaking loss in the semis last year. This year it feels nice,” said the boyish-looking young tactician who thanked fans for giving the team the extra boost in battling against taller and beefier rivals.

The title sweep was Mighty Sports’ third since winning Taiwan’s Jones Cup in 2016 and 2019.

“We are overjoyed with the team’s latest achievement, we never thought to win the event much more by a sweep despite the short time of preparation,” said Mighty Sports owner Alexander Wongchuking. “Given another chance, we will continue to compete here or even in Taiwan just to give Filipino migrant workers a different entertainment.”

Balkman led the team for the second straight game with 25 points and 9 boards while Blatche capped his seventh-straight double-double show with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Williams, who is playing for the Gensan Warriors in the MPBL, boosted his stock in the event he joins the PBA by scattering 13 points spiked by three triples while adding three assists in almost 33 minutes of action.

The 6-foot-2 Ravena wound up with only six points, two assists and a rebound in 22 minutes of play but his hustle somehow helped Mighty pull away from a tight first half.

Scores:

Mighty Sports-Creative 92 – Balkman 25, Blatche 21, Williams 13, Moore 11, Kendrick 10, Ravena 6, Malonzo 4, Go 2, Gomez de Liaño 0, Belga 0.

Al Riyadi 81 – Efevberha 26, Jackson 20, Haidar 14, Arakji 10, Bawji 6, Saoud 3, Mneimneh 2, Townes 0, Akl 0, Gyokchyan 0.

Quarters: 24-20, 46-42, 74-57, 92-81.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

National University-Nazareth School crushed University of the Philippines Integrated School 113-76 on Sunday to move a win away from sweeping the double-round eliminations of UAAP boys basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

Five players scored in double figures for the Bullpups with Carl Tamayo finishing a double-double effort of 10 points and 11 rebounds in 11 minutes.

Steve Enriquez and Terrence Fortea spearheaded NU’s offensive onslaught with 17 points each, while Gerry Abadiano and Karl Quiambao chipped in 12 and 10 points.

The Bullpups pulled away from a close opening quarter contest where they only led by 27-26 before picking up pace in the second period for a 51-42 halftime advantage.

The Junior Maroons lost their steam in the second half, managing 34 points compared to the Bullpups’ 62.

Jose Gomez De Liano erupted for 27 points highlighted by six triples, but it was still not enough to lift UPIS from the hole as it absorbed its 13th straight defeat.

Meanwhile, Adamson University bolstered its Final Four bid with a 124-68 demolition of University of the East for 7-6.

John Erolon skippered the Baby Falcons with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Didat Hanapi and Ruzzell Dominguez added 19 and 17 points. Jeremy Guarino and Nicole Quinal contributed 10 points each.

Adamson was ruthless throughout, leading by as many as 56 points. It also dished off 29 assists and made 18 steals while converting UE’s 35 turnovers to 54 points.

UE fell to 3-10 despite Cyrus Austria, Jericho Motecalvo and Eionn Montecastro merging for 42 points.

Source: Manila Bulletin