By TITO S. TALAO

MILAN — Two of the PBA’s elder statesmen —Sonny Thoss of Alaska and Asi Taulava of NLEX — may be having their swan songs in the 45th season Philippine Cup which starts March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Dickie Backmann, governor of the Alaska Aces, said Tuesday on the bus from the Milan Malpensa Airport in Northern Italy that Thoss, their 38-year-old, 6-foot-7 veteran center, has been signed to a final six-month extended contract.

“We will be retiring his jersey after the All-Filipino,” said Bachmann.

Drafted fifth overall by the Aces out of James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia in 2004, Thoss is a three-time champion (2007 Fiesta, 2010 Fiesta and 2013 Commissioner’s Cup), a Finals MVP in 2013 and a 12-time All-Star.

He is also a two-time Mythical First Team member and part of the 2004 All-Rookie Team. Known for his laid-back demeanor and shifty post-up moves, Thoss, whose mother is from Cebu, won the PBA Sportsmanship Award in 2011.

Bachmann said Alaska is awaiting for 6-foot-4 former Letran Knights forward Rey Publico, who the Aces drafted in the second round last year, to wrap up his stint with another league before signing him to a contract

“We’ll be all set after that,” said Bachmann.

Meanwhile, NLEX governor Rod Franco, president and CEO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp, said 6-foot-9 center Asi Taulava, on his 31st season in the PBA, will likewise be offered a contract extension to run the duration of the  Philippine Cup, leaving the league, if both go on and hang their jerseys, without its two longest-serving players when the Commissioner’s Cup starts in May.

“Baka ganoon na rin kami,” Franco said when Backmann inquired about Taulava’s tenure.

A direct hire from Brigham Young University in Hawaii in 1998, Taulava, who is of Fil-Tongan lineage, is a PBA champion, Finals MVP and Season MVP all in 2003 when the Mobiline Phone Pals won the All-Filipino Conference.

He is a 17-time All-Star, twice the event’s MVP (2004, 2006), a four-time Mythical First Team choice, three-time All-Defensive Team member and Comeback Player of the Yeara in 2014.

Taulava is among the PBA’s 40 Greatest Players.

In a separate interview, a source bared that Magnolia guard PJ Simon, 39, the steal of the 2001 Rookie Draft at 43rd overall, is likewise contemplating retirement.

Simon is an eight-time champion and All-Star, twice named Mr. Quality Minutes (2008, 2014) and last year’s Three-Point Shootout champion.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

John Riel Casimero isn’t awed by fellow bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, the Japanese puncher everyone calls ‘The Monster’.

“I am the real monster,” Casimero told the Manila Bulletin on Wednesday.

Casimero (29-4 with 20 KOs) and Inoue (19-0 with 16 KOs) are facing off on April 25 in Las Vegas with the Filipino’s World Boxing Organization crown on the line as well as Inoue’s World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation jewels also at stake.

Not only is Casimero intimidated by Inoue.

The Leyte-born hitter believes South African Zolani Tete, whom he dismantled in just three rounds to snatch the WBO 118-lb diadem last year in England, is superior to Inoue.

“Mas mahirap kalaban si Tete. Mas mataas, 5-9, at mahirap tamaan,” he said.

Against Casimero, Tete proved to be an easy target.

A right to the temple had Tete crumbling and another short right to the cheek just before hitting the floor sent him on his knees badly hurt.

Even though he was able to get up, his legs were rubbery and after suffering another knockdown and getting up, a barrage of heavy blows forced the referee to step in.

Tete’s corner didn’t protest the stoppage.

Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. is promoting the April showdown and to spice up the bantam brawl, a press conference is going to be held soon in Tokyo where the 5-4 Casimero and 5-5 Inoue are going to size each other up.

From Tokyo, Casimero will fly to the US to start training camp proper.

“Hindi naman sa minamaliit ko si Inoue, magaling din naman sya pero marami akong nakita sa laban nya kay (Nonito) Donaire,” said Casimero, who is one of only four Filipino fighter to win at least three world titles in as many weight classes.

Inoue was pushed to the limit by Donaire in their slugfest last year, the first time the Japanese walked the tightrope in his stellar career.

“Pero hindi ako mag-kumpyansa kay Inoue,” he added.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio believes that whoever comes up to be the ‘well-rounded’ fighter will emerge victorious when he faces Alex Silva in the main event of ONE: Fire and Fury at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

Pacio, a striking specialist, said there is no room for panic and complacency if the battle eventually leads to the ground despite knowing that his Brazilian foe might bring out his A-game in jiu-jitsu.

The 24-year-old champion focused on ground drills and how to escape and counter Silva when push comes to shove. To top it all, Pacio will still rely on striking, considering it his bread and butter.

“What’s matters most is mag-uunahan kayo. Sa game ng MMA, unahan lang yan,” Pacio said during the ONE: Fire & Fury open workout at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

“Kung magaling ka sa striking [pero] naunahan ka sa ground, tapos na. Pero kahit magaling ka sa ground kung naunahan ka [naman] sa striking, tapos ka. Kung sino ang well-rounded athlete talaga siya mananalo.”

Pacio said fighting Japanese Yoshitaka Naito in September 2018, describing him as one of the best grapplers in the division, gave him the confidence to go up against another fighter who specializes on ground game.

It can be recalled that Naito also defeated Silva last May 2019. Knowing these, Pacio remained grounded: “Pero ‘wag pa rin tayong magkompyansa.”

The Baguio native champion said Silva “was born to be a warrior” after witnessing how the Brazilian fighter improved in the striking department from previous fights.

That said, Silva won’t just take the battle to the ground.

“My style is grappling but I think to get the victory I need to put all my skills together and we’ll see what happens,” the former strawweight champion said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By TITO S. TALAO

MILAN — What about a special PBA tribute for Kobe Bryant?

Nothing is cast in stone just yet but it could happen.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, when asked about the possibility of coming up with a highlight event for the NBA great who perished with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others in a horrific helicopter accident Monday, said he will raise the matter with the board of governors.

“Babanggitin ko sa kanila,” Marcial said.

Representatives of the 10 PBA teams are set to meet Thursday and Friday for their annual planning and program session, and paying honor to the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who Marcial called a “dear friend of the PBA” in a released statement, could be something worth looking into.

In the statement, the PBA said:

“Kobe Bryant who leaves behind fond memories of seven unforgettable visits to our country. Kobe was an exceptional basketball player but beyond his athletic skills, he was known for his caring heart and love of family.

“His life was an inspiration and a lesson to everyone that with hard work, dedication and self-sacrifice, nothing is impossible. At 41, Kobe is gone too soon but his legacy will last forever. The PBA mourns the passage of a man who has touched the lives of millions.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family along with the families of those whose lives were lost in that fatal helicopter crash.

“Rest in peace, Kobe.”

The PBA kicks off its 45th season on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the start of the Philippine Cup and the unveiling of the Leo Awards winners before the inaugural game.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

The Philippine Badminton Association-Smash Pilipinas unveils its program this year by hosting the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2020 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum next month.

The tournament will be held on Feb. 11 to 16 where 12 teams each from the men’s and women’s divisions are participating.

The event serves as a qualifier to the Thomas and Uber Cup 2020 scheduled on May 16 to 24 in Aarhus, Denmark where four slots are at stake in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The PH men’s team is bracketed in Group A along with top seed Indonesia and No. 5 India, while the PH women’s squad plays Southeast Asian rivals Thailand and Indonesia in Group Y following draw results held Wednesday at the Century Park Hotel.

Comprising the men’s division are China, Thailand and Hong Kong in Group B; Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Singapore in Group C; and second seed Japan, Korea and Kazakhstan in Group D.

Seeing action in the women’s category are top seed Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong in Group W; Korea, India and Kazakhstan in Group X; and second seed China, Chinese Taipei and Singapore in Group Z.

“We are trying to elevate the international standard of our players through hosting this tournament,” said PBA-Smash Pilipinas President Albee Benitez, adding that the exposure also hopes to upgrade the skills of our players by going up against the best athletes in the region.

The teams will undergo a round robin in the preliminaries with the Top 2 squads from each group advancing to the knockout quarterfinals. Three singles and two doubles matches are on line for each matchup.

Men’s coach Ronald Magnaye and women’s mentor Ian Mendez are optimistic, adding the event serves as a good exposure for the players.

The Philippines failed to get a medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games against world class rivals.

Competing for the PH men’s team are Philip Escueta, Peter Magnaye, Alvin Morada, Solomon Padiz Jr., Paul John Pantig, Ros Leonard Pedrosa, Arthur Salvado, and Lanz Zafra.

The PH women’s team is composed of Aira Albo, Sarah Joy Barredo, Mikaela De Guzman, Joella De Vera, Alyssa Leonardo, Chanelle Lunod, Maria Bianca Ysabel Carlos, and The Marie Pomar.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Philippines’ top junior netter Alex Eala crashed out of the Australian Open Junior Championships girls singles on Wednesday after bowing to a Hong Kong rival in Melbourne.

Eala yielded to Hong Yi Cody Wong 6-1, 6-3 in the third round to dash her hopes of clinching her first Grand Slam singles title in only her second appearance.

The 14-year-old Eala struggled for most parts of the match, committing six double faults and stumbling into 32 unforced errors.

Still, it was a big improvement from a second-round finish at last year’s US Open on her debut appearance.

Eala, however, is keeping her Grand Slam hopes alive in the doubles event after she and Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho battle French pair Aubane Droguet and Selena Janicijevic in the quarterfinals at press time.

Seeded fourth, Eala and Nugroho barged into the Final 8 on Tuesday with a 6-2, 4-6, 11-9 triumph over Netherland’s Julie Belgraver and Slovenia’s Pia Lovric.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Tito S. Talao

DUBAI — News of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant hours before a Philippine Basketball Association contingent flew to Milan before midnight Monday for its annual program and planning session has seeped into key points of discussion calendared for board deliberation weeks ago.

Reports of Bryant’s demise, along that of his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, from a helicopter crash at a hillside near Los Angeles in hazy weather conditions have drawn feelings of horror, utter disbelief and numbed acceptance worldwide.

The PBA board of governors, set to lay the groundwork for preparations leading up to the 45th season celebration, the league’s involvement in the formation of the Gilas nationals teams, both in the 3×3 and 5×5 events, proposed rule modifications and the PBA’s  digital transformation, among others, collectively expressed shock at the horrific end of the retired NBA superstar whose fame transcended basketball and its reach.

Robert Non, former chairman and now governor of the San Miguel Beermen, initially read about it via Facebook message from a US-based nephew.

“Kako, ‘totoo ba ‘to?’” Non said. “Baka kasi fake news lang e.”

When more detailed accounts came in confirming the earlier message, Non was left aghast.

“Mahirap paniwalaan kasi icon siya e. Saka napakabata pa niya. Tapos kasama pa yung anak niya.”

“Shock talaga ako nang mabalitaan ko,” said Barangay Ginebra San Migue governor Alfrancis Chua. “Sobrang tragic yung nangyari.”

Erick Arejola, the NorthPort board representative, agonized even more at the thought of Bryant’s daughter.

“Siempre ama ako. Ang epekto sa’kin e yung sa anak nong pabagsak na yung helicopter; yung helplessness ng ama na ma-save daughter niya nong time na yon,” Arejola said. “Yun ang masakit lalo para sa’kin.”

Dickie Bachmann, governor of the Alaska Aces, said the circumstances of Bryant’s death was what made it all the more incomprehensible.

“How he passed is why it affected everyone so much,” Bachmann said. “Even in practice, when I got there Monday, the mood of everybody was down. Lahat kasi don is either Kobe or [Michael] Jordan or LeBron [James].”

In fact, Bachmann even had to deal with an unusual request that morning from Abu Tratter, their first round pick in 2018.

“We have a rule kasi in pratice that players have to wear shoes that are either red, white or black,” Bachmann said. “Tratter came to me and asked if he could wear [purple-and-gold-colored] Kobe Bryant shoes that day as a sort of tribute to his idol, which I, of course, allowed.”

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, who led the PBA delegation in its annual sojourn, had earlier issued this statement:

“The PBA has lost a dear friend in Kobe Bryant who leaves behind fond memories of seven unforgettable visits to our country. Kobe was an exceptional basketball player but beyond his athletic skills, he was known for his caring heart and love of family.

His life was an inspiration and a lesson to everyone that with hard work, dedication and self-sacrifice, nothing is impossible. At 41, Kobe is gone too soon but his legacy will last forever. The PBA mourns the passage of a man who has touched the lives of millions.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family along with the families of those whose lives were lost in that fatal helicopter crash.

Rest in peace, Kobe.”

A PBA Evening of Tribute for Kobe Bryant perhaps, Commissioner?

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Reuters

(Reuters) – The tall hillside where Los Angeles Lakers basketball great Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others perished in a helicopter crash was cleared on Tuesday of all wreckage and human remains as the on-scene phase of the investigation drew to a close.

A National Transportation Safety Board team carted a truckload of debris wrapped in large, white tarp bags to a secure location, while authorities said they had positively identified remains of four victims, including Bryant and the pilot.

Disclosing new details of Sunday’s tragedy, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy also said the pilot of Bryant’s luxury passenger helicopter had tried to climb out of a cloud layer before the chopper banked sharply and plunged 2,000 feet (610 m) per minute into the hillside.

“This is a pretty steep descent at high speed,” Homendy told a briefing in Calabasas, a town adjacent to the crash scene about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. “The time from descent to impact was probably about a minute.”

Crash investigators have offered no explanation for what might have led the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B to bank abruptly to one side and then plummet to the ground. But Homendy said the estimated rate of descent “wouldn’t be a normal landing speed.”

Homendy has suggested that clouds, fog and limited visibility in the area were a key focus of the investigation, having appealed to the public on Monday to come forward with any photographs and videos that might document weather conditions around the crash site at the time.

She said many images had since been provided to the agency and would be analyzed in due course.

Bryant, 41, who retired from the National Basketball Association in 2016, was on his way to a youth sports academy with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. Her team that he coached was due to compete that day in a girls’ basketball tournament, when the crash occurred.

NTSB officials gave a private telephone briefing to the families of the dead on Tuesday afternoon, but Homendy declined to say anything about what was discussed and who took part in the call.

Speaking at the same news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said coroner’s investigators had finished recovering the remains of all nine victims, and that positive identification had so far been made on four of them.

Besides Bryant and the pilot, Ara Zobayan, a commercial aviator and certified flight instructor with more than 8,200 hours of flight experience, medical examiners confirmed the identities of John Altobelli, an Orange Coast College baseball coach.

A fourth positive ID was made for Sarah Chester, who died in the crash with her 13-year-old daughter, Payton, another basketball player involved in the tournament.

Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and their 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, a teammate of Gianna Bryant, also were among the dead, along with an assistant coach, Christina Mauser.

The death of Bryant, an 18-time NBA all-star and one of the most admired athletes around the globe, sent shockwaves through the sports and entertainment worlds.

The NTSB is expected to present a preliminary report in about 10 days on the facts of the air crash and make its final report with findings, recommendations and a probable cause in 12 to 18 months, Homendy said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Reuters
(Reuters) – Nearly 2 million people have signed an online petition to use Kobe Bryant’s image as the new logo for the National Basketball Association following the death of the Los Angeles Lakers great on Sunday.

Bryant, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players, and his 13-year-old daughter were among nine people who died on Sunday when the helicopter they were in crashed into a hillside outside the town of Calabasas, California.

Change.org said the petition, which has been signed by celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber and Usher, is the fastest-growing on its website and the first petition of 2020 to top 1 million signatures anywhere in the globe.

“With the untimely and unexpected passing of the great Kobe Bryant please sign this petition in an attempt to immortalize him forever as the new NBA Logo,” reads the petition, which was created by 16-year-old Bryant fan Nick Moghtader of Vancouver.

The current NBA logo, which was introduced in 1969, features the silhouette of Lakers great and Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West dribbling a ball with his left hand.

The NBA did not immediately respond when asked to comment on the petition, which had 1.9 million signatures as of 12:05 p.m. ET (1705 GMT) on Tuesday.

Bryant, who retired from professional basketball in 2016, played all 20 of his NBA seasons with the Lakers and won five NBA championships.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Reuters
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Orlando Magic swingman Terrence Ross changed numbers on Tuesday to honor the late Kobe Bryant.

Both players are changing their number from No. 8, one of the numbers Bryant wore with the Los Angeles Lakers. Dinwiddie switched to No. 26, while Ross chose No. 31.

Dinwiddie, who terms Bryant as his childhood hero, said on Twitter he chose 26 because his son, Elijah, was born on the 20th while Dinwiddie was born 6th. The sum of the numbers make 26.

Ross is switching back to 31, the number he wore prior to this season before changing to No. 8. The Magic said Ross will begin wearing No. 31 again on Saturday.

The NBA typically doesn’t allow numeral changes during the season but is making exceptions in the wake of Bryant’s death. The league policy says changes will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

The NBA allowed Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young to wear Bryant’s No. 8 for the opening tip of Sunday’s game against the Washington Wizards. That game started just hours after the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others. Young then switched to his usual No. 11 for the rest of the game.

Bryant wore No. 8 from 1997-2006, and then wore No. 24 for the remainder of his 20 NBA seasons.

Source: Manila Bulletin