NEW YORK, USA - Video replays will be used to oversee more NBA referee calls in the upcoming season under an expanded plan announced Friday, October 21 by the league.

The new areas where decisions will be made by referees in the NBA Replay Center will include foul calls coinciding with shot clock violations, end of quarter fouls and fouls when a player has a clear path to the basket.

The 2016-17 NBA campaign starts Tuesday with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers playing host to the New York Knicks, Utah at Portland and San Antonio at Golden State.

The replay center will determine all video review situations except for flagrant fouls and player altercations, which remain in the hands of on-court referees, who will continue to instigate all replay reviews.

Last season marked the second campaign for the replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey. It ruled on 72 percent of all replays with an average review time of 31.9 seconds, down from 42 seconds in the 2014-15 debut year of the system.

The current standard for overturning a call made by on-court officials remains "clear and convincing evidence.”

The NBA Board of Governors approved the expanded replay plan as well as extending the coaching box and player substitution box areas just off the court near the benches. – Rappler.com

In an attempt to be the bigger, more blockbuster WWE brand, Monday Night RAW trotted out two monumental developments: Sasha Banks and Charlotte are ending their storied rivalry (for now) inside Hell in a Cell in the main event of, uh, Hell in a Cell; and Goldberg.

Goldberg is still scheduled for Survivor Series next month, but he’s still worth discussing. Here you have a man—a 49-year-old man, might I remind all of you—that people still want to see wrestle. He’ll be wrestling Brock Lesnar, of all people, a man who plows through everyone else because he feels like it. A man who completely destroys people in his path, even more so in his matches now.

Let’s get this straight: because of nostalgia, a lot of you want to see a 49-year-old Goldberg be destroyed by a still-dominant Brock Lesnar.

I understand that this thing has to happen because you’re promoting the new WWE 2K17 video game, which heavily features Lesnar and Goldberg. It’s a totally acceptable marketing ploy, and one I would have made had I been in the same position.

But in reality, it’s another lame-duck matchup in the making, and one we should have all learned to expect after the travesty that was Brock Lesnar vs Randy Orton at this year’s SummerSlam. If you’re expecting a Bill Goldberg who’s still a force of nature like he was more than a decade ago, one that could easily keep up with Lesnar like he did at WrestleMania XX, you’re sadly too naïve for this business. There’s a difference between being a mark and naivete.

I hate to be the killjoy here, because Goldberg is rightfully a force of nostalgia, but the inevitable main event placing of their matchup requires a lot of criticism. It would’ve been okay if Lesnar/Goldberg would be a midcard sideshow at Survivor Series, but you and I both know that that’s just not gonna happen with how big they are. Once again, two legends are going to take a space that should be reserved for a couple of young lions who need it. It’s a legend’s slot, too, but if John Cena, AJ Styles, and Dean Ambrose could start a PPV, then why can’t Brock Lesnar and Goldberg work the middle of a show (theoretically)?

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Feel free to get hyped for Goldberg vs Lesnar, but if it turns out to be the middle-aged trainwreck that most sensible people are predicting it would be, just remember who told you so. 

Hell hath no fury like two women fighting

So… here we have the other big news going into Hell in a Cell.

First, they announced that Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte for the Women’s Championship for the last time was gonna be inside Hell in a Cell. That’s cool. These things have been a long time coming—in fact, I wanted them to start with a Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Or any hardcore-ish match involving women.

But then they took it a step further, having Mick Foley announce that this particular match is closing the PPV. So it ended up being ground breaking for women’s wrestling for two important reasons. That’s nice and all, but I really can’t help but feel that this is all a cheap gimmick, for the glory of being progressive, and not exactly for the actual benefits of being progressive.

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Of course, it’s easy to argue that the feud between the two women has escalated enough to get to this point. That it’s been built up enough to actually warrant a Hell in a Cell match involving women for the first time in history. That might be true, but given the propensity of the WWE to overhype their legitimate biggest moments, it all feels like a cheap ploy to hijack true progression for ratings and buzz. That’s what I’ve never liked about the company, especially the version of the WWE that’s a little too self-aware of its place in the meta, all too eager to talk about the brand and not the story. It’s too willing to use what happens in the ring to toot its own horn, instead of just being a story about people hating each other and fighting.

I’m not saying there isn’t a place for people like Banks and Charlotte to wrestle inside Hell in a Cell, or for them to be the main spectacle closing the show. I just wish there was a better way for the promoters to go about this, to really sell the match through ferocity and passion and not because it breaks new ground. I mean that’s okay, but let’s not overdo it.

Pressure is mounting now on the two women to deliver, but if they’re as great as they say they are, they’ll find a way to pull it off. And they’re both Women’s champions. If they want this spot, they better know how to earn it.

Do you listen to podcasts? Would you want to listen to a local podcast about pro wrestling? If the answers to those questions – especially that last one – are yes, then you should check out the cleverly-named Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, featuring Mellow 94.7 DJ and PWR General Manager Stan Sy, wrestling writer and Wrestling God Romeo Moran, and all-around multimedia person and former voice of PWR Raf Camus! This week, Rappler’s very own Michael Bueza reviews the recently-concluded PWR Renaissance! – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - Whether fleeing civil war in Sudan with his family or moving to the United States on a scholarship as a 14-year-old, Luol Deng is no stranger to new beginnings.

The 31-year-old British forward's nomadic existence has now taken him to Hollywood, where he is expected to be a key figure as the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to rebuild after the worst season in their history.

Deng joined the Lakers on a 4-year $72 million deal in July, lured by the possibility of working with new coach Luke Walton at the start of a long-term project to revive the iconic franchise. (READ: NBA: Walton aims to get Lakers back on song)

Deng's arrival provides a young Lakers squad with a pillar of maturity, bringing grit and a wealth of experience gleaned from previous stints with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

"It's a new chapter for me. This is my 13th year now. I'm looking forward to being a part of it and leading the young guys," Deng told AFP at a Lakers media session.

"I'm only 31, so I still have a lot of playing in me. I'm looking forward to being a leader on and off the court through my work ethic."

If Deng's past is anything to go by, the Lakers have made a shrewd investment. Time and again, Deng has faced down all challenges successfully.

A tumultuous early life saw him move to Egypt with his mother and 8 brothers and sisters as Sudan's civil war raged.

His father, a government minister, was later arrested and imprisoned after a military coup before fleeing to Britain in 1993 and claiming political asylum.

Reunited with his family in London, Deng quickly embraced his new surroundings. He became an avid Arsenal fan, idolizing striker Ian Wright, before his rapidly developing frame persuaded him to concentrate on basketball.

Rebuilding project

While playing for his local club - the Brixton Topcats - he was spotted by an American talent scout, who swiftly offered him a scholarship to the prestigious Blair Academy private school in New Jersey.

Deng arrived as a wide-eyed 14-year-old, alone and homesick, but determined not to waste the opportunity of a lifetime. 

By the time of his senior year, he was regarded the second most valuable high school prospect in the United States after LeBron James.

After one season at Duke University - playing for legendary "Coach K" Mike Krzyzewski - Deng entered the NBA draft in 2004, and was chosen as the seventh pick overall by the Phoenix Suns before being immediately traded to Chicago.

Twice named to the NBA All-Star team in 2012 and 2013, Deng has yet to land an NBA Finals ring, with the closest he has come being a defeat in the Eastern Conference finals with Chicago in 2011.

With the Lakers crashing to their worst-ever 17-65 season last year, Deng is unlikely to be challenging for championship honors with his new employers any time soon. Nevertheless, he remains enthused by the challenge of a daunting rebuilding project.

"At this point in my career, even though I've been in the league 13 years, I've still got a lot of basketball to play. There's a lot I could do," Deng said.

"From my perspective, whatever happened here last season, that's the past. 

"For the group now, this is a new beginning and we've got a lot to prove. 

"We've got young guys who've got a lot to learn but also who are willing to work hard and improve. We've got a system that is really exciting."

Deng is wise enough to avoid setting concrete season targets for an inexperienced team still in transition.

"Success for everybody's going to be something different," he said. 

"The important thing for us is to focus on the fundamentals - build the right atmosphere, play hard every game, play unselfishly, play for each other. That's what I'm here to try and do." – Rappler.com

NEW YORK, USA - NBA team owners and the players union have made "tremendous progress" toward a new collective bargaining agreement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Friday, October 21 with rich new television deals helping talks.

Former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan being involved as owner of the Charlotte Hornets has helped build trust between owners and players, either of whom could opt out of their current deal December 15 and potentially set up the first league shutdown since 2011 come next July.

"We've made tremendous progress," Silver said. "We're not done-done as bargainers in terms of ultimately having a completed collective bargaining agreement. But we're on our way toward getting an extension done of this collective bargaining agreement... We're not quite there yet. But I continue to be optimistic."

The salary cap jumped beyond $90 million thanks to huge revenue boosts from new TV contracts compared to less than $60 million when the NBA ended an 8-month stoppage in 2011 and played a 2011-12 season shortened by 16 games per club.

"The fact there's more money to distribute among our players and teams has created an atmosphere that makes it more conducive to continue," Silver said. "There's a sense across the table that we have a system that we both fought hard for in the last round of collective bargaining that for the most part is working pretty well."

It's the first deal that will be signed by Silver as commissioner and new National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.

Players have appeared at talks, including union president Chris Pual and stars like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, and the league has shared all financial information with the union as they look to extend a deal where revenue is split 49 and 51 percent between owners and players.

"There hasn't been agreement on everything. I think there has been a healthy back and forth, but I think it has begun from a basis of trust," Silver said.

Jordan being on the negotiating committee has helped pave the way to success as it was when he sparked the Bulls to six titles in the 1990s.

"It doesn't mean that if Michael says it, it necessarily means that (players) accept that as the position they should take," Silver said. "But that has really added a special element, to have a superstar player like that owning a team and being part of these discussions.

Silver does not object to moves like former MVP and scoring champion Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, but Silver worries more about balancing the hopes of 30 clubs instead of the title quest for one.

"I have a different perspective than an individual team that's trying to do everything it can to win championships," Silver said. "My perspective is to build competitive balance among 30 teams."

Silver hopes players will not kneel for the US national anthem as some in the NFL are doing to protest police brutality.

"What we've seen in multiple pre-season games so far is our players standing," Silver said. "It would be my hope that they would continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do."

Silver said the league will continue to consider seeding playoff teams regardless of conference but a short term change is unlikely. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – After an abysmal start to the game, the FEU Tamaraws dominated the last 3 quarters against the UP Fighting Maroons to come away with a 63-60 victory, and extend their winning streak to 7 games on Saturday, October 22, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Down 28-8 after 10 minutes of play, FEU amped up the pressure on the defensive end and was dominant on the glass to get back in the contest. The Maroons had a shot at forcing overtime late, but a miss by Jett Manuel sealed his team’s defeat.

Raymar Jose led the winning side with 20 points and 12 rebounds. FEU out-rebounded UP on the glass, 52-39, and scored 19 second chance points.

UP was led by the 16 point, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists of Manuel, while Paul Desiderio pitched in 13 points. The loss was the second straight the Maroons, who fell to 3-8 in Season 79. The Tamaraws, on the other hand, improved to 8-2.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine sepak takraw team took home 3 medals from the 31st King's Cup World Sepak Takraw Championships held from October 17 to 23 in Thailand. 

The Philippines copped gold in the men's doubles category after overcoming world champion Thailand in the semifinal and then upsetting 2015 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Myanmar in the final. 

The Filipinos, who are set to return home on Monday, October 24, also won silver in the men's hoop division and a bronze medal in women's hoop play. 

The members of the Philippine team are Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste, Ronsited Gabayeron, Emmanuel Escote, Reznan Pabriga, John Jeffery Morcillos, John Bobier, Mark Joseph Gonzales, JC Lee, Alvin Pangan, Joeart Jumawan, Rhemwil Catana, Desiree Autor, Gelyn Evora, Josefina Maat, Mary Ann Lopez, Rizzalyn Amolacion and Kristel Carloman. 

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The King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championship is an annual team competition considered as the most prestigious tournament in the sport. — Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The FEU Tamaraws assured on Saturday, October 22 that Nash Racela will finish his duties as the head coach of the varsity team in UAAP Season 79 and will support whatever decision he makes regarding a career on the professional basketball level after.

Speaking to the media following FEU’s win over UP - its seventh consecutive victory - FEU sports director Mark Molina said Racela will still remain in his current position calling the shots for the Tamaraws until the season ends.

“Wala naman (There was no) doubt. We know Nash will not leave the team in the middle of the season,” Molina said. 

“Of course, ang (the) focus namin tapusin muna natin itong (is to finish this) Season 79,” he later added.

Neither Molina nor Racela confirmed the development that the latter will take over head coaching duties for TNT KaTropa in the PBA, citing that the team itself has yet to make an official announcement.

It was reported this week by multiple media outlets that Racela, who led FEU to a UAAP title last year, will take over for Jong Uichico as TNT head coach.

“I don’t think there’s an official announcement already from Talk ’N Text. Siguro (I guess) let’s respect the Talk ’N Text organization,” Molina stated.

The sports director, however, said that it would be a “blessing” if confirmation of Racela taking over the popular PBA franchise arrives soon.

“It was always clear when Nash joined FEU that if an opportunity like this comes up, we will gladly accept his decision and support him 100%,” said Molina, who also added that, assuming it’s okay with Racela and the KaTropa, FEU still hopes to have the head coach playing a role for the team.

“If Nash gets the Talk ’N Text position, we will do everything in our power to still keep Nash Racela in the FEU organization in whatever capacity.”

No replacements yet

Molina also noted that the program is not yet thinking of potential replacements, hoping instead to focus on the current season where the defending champions are in second place with an 8-2 record.

“I think it’s unfair to the current team, it’s unfair to the coaching staff, if we are planning for next year already, based on the coaching staff,” said Molina.

Part of Racela’s FEU coaching crew are former PBA coach Eric Gonzales and Gilas coach Josh Reyes, the son of current national team head coach Chot Reyes.

“We have several members of our coaching staff who are to me very ready and qualified to be head coaches in the UAAP. So I don’t want to start any conversation right now. We will do it after the season,” said Molina. – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON, USA - What happens when you combine the heart of a team that won an NBA record 73 games last season with superstar forward Kevin Durant? You just might call it a Super-team.

That's the status the Golden State Warriors have created for themselves after the off-season signing of former Oklahoma City star Durant, a 4-time NBA scoring champion, to a two-year deal worth $54.3 million.

"It's new and fresh. I'm looking forward to it," Durant said of joining the Warriors. "I'm super excited."

After the Warriors lost last year's NBA Finals to Cleveland in seven games, they toughened their lineup by adding the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player to a roster featuring 2015 and 2016 MVP Stephen Curry and 3-point sharpshooter Klay Thompson in the backcourt plus standouts Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala up front.

"The stakes will be a lot higher this year than they were last year just because of adding Kevin," Warriors guard Shaun Livingston said.

The Warriors set an NBA record by going 73-9 in the regular season and grabbed a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 championship series only to be foiled when LeBron James sparked the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

"I don't want to walk in the door thinking about Game 7," Curry said. "But you should remember how you felt walking off the floor. You should remember all you did all summer to get yourself in a better position individually and collectively."

NBA general managers said in a poll they expect Golden State to face the Cavaliers in the finals for a third consecutuive season next June, what would be the decider in a heavyweight trilogy.

"There's no more pressure on us than there was last year," Curry said of bouncing back from the upset to defending a crown.

The Warriors dumped a fistful of reserves and traded Australian center Andrew Bogut to Dallas to make salary room for Durant, who reached the Western Conference final 4 times in 6 years but has yet to win a title.

"We just try to get better," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. "You never expect to get this much better."

'Can't do any better than adding KD'

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has 4 All-Star starters and was watched Durant score 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game in the pre-season with Curry averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals.

"You can't do any better than adding KD to the current crew," Kerr said. "To play with them and play our style, I think that was attractive to him. It does feel like it should be a perfect fit. It's going to be a lot of fun once we get rolling."

Thompson, Durant's teammate on the US Olympic gold medal team in Rio, is hitting 19.5 points a game and he and Durant are each shooting about 55 percent from the floor.

"It still shocks me that he's on our team. It's unbelievable," Thompson said. "For a guy who has had so much success in his career and is so young, he doesn't walk around like he's better than anyone else."

Green was suspended for game five of the finals after taking a swipe at LeBron James as the Cleveland star stepped over him late in game four. While he was back for the last two contests, his absence helped the Cavaliers avoid an early ouster and planted seeds for the fightback. Green apologized to teammates but there is concern about keeping his fiery nature under proper control.

"If you try to temper him too much, are you taking away his edge?" Kerr said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Adamson Soaring Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the UE Red Warriors, 79-71, thanks to a big-time performance by center Papi Sarr on Saturday, October 22, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

In what was the second instalment of Season 79’s Pumaren Bowl, it was Adamson which this time came up with the big shots late to secure the victory. The Falcons now improve their record to 5-5, while the Red Warriors dropped even further from the Final Four picture at 2-8.

Sarr finished with 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added 15 rebounds - 6 on the offensive end. Jerrick Ahanmisi also had another stellar game with 17 points, 4 triples, 3 boards, and 3 assists. As a team, Adamson shot 42% from the floor.

Alvin Pasaol led UE with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Paul Varilla also played well with 13 points and 6 boards.

After a 3-ball by Philip Manalang cut Adamson’s lead to 70-66, two straight baskets by Sarr in the paint put his team on top by 8 for breathing room.

Varilla then nailed a 3-pointer of his own, but Sarr was able to eventually seal the win by getting fouled and nailing two charities. 

The win put the Falcons in fourth place in the standings.

Scores

Adamson (79): Sarr 25, Ahanmisi 17, Manalang 9, Manganti 8, Mustre 7, Camacho 4, Espeleta 4, Paranada 3, Bernardo 2, Chua 0, Ng 0, Ochea 0, Pasturan 0

UE (71): Pasaol 16, Varilla 13, Abanto 10, Penuela 8, Armenion 4, Bartolome 4, Manalang 4, Olayon 4, Palma 4, De Leon 2, Gagate 2

Quarter scores: 24-20, 40-40, 69-58, 79-71 – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Adamson big man Papi Sarr has performed impressively for the Adamson Soaring Falcons in UAAP Season 79. A reliable go-to option in the paint, the second-year standout has played a major role in helping the team get to a 5-5 record through 10 games, well within reach of the Final Four in the first year of the Franz Pumaren era.

Sarr is also in the UAAP MVP conversation, finishing second to Ben Mbala in the statistical points race following the first round. However, he isn’t focused on catching his DLSU Green Archer counterpart for the remainder of the elimination round.

“This time I’m not looking for anything. I just want to work hard and help my team,” Sarr said after finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds in the Falcons’ victory over the UE Red Warriors on Saturday, October 23.

“Last year I was a rookie, I did a lot of things, but now I don’t want to think about myself. I just think about my team. I don’t to make it personal, like a challenge. Whatever happened, happened.”

Sarr, the team’s Cameroonian import, says he’s more focused currently on helping the team compared to last season. With a veteran head coach in place, Adamson has an opportunity to make the Final Four for the first time since 2011.

“I was a rookie [last season]. I waited for two years residency. Last year for me was a bit of a challenge because I wanted to show people who I was,” said Sarr, whose UAAP career started slow but improved in the second round of the 2015 season.

“I just want to play my game and make my team proud and be in the Final Four. Why not [even] think about the Finals?” he added.

Sarr has many roles in Pumaren’s system. Aside from being a scoring option, the big man is also the most important rebounder and rim protector of the Falcons.

“ I just have to go with the flow and follow what Coach Franz wants me to do for the team so I can help them,” said Sarr, who also made his top priority clear.

“As long as we keep winning, I’m going to enjoy.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines — Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer was named Coach of the Yearh while Rain or Shine owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que were recognized as the "Danny Floro" Executives of the Year in the 2016 PBA Press Corps Awards Night on Saturday, October 22 at the Gloria Maris Restaurant in Cubao.

It's Austria's second straight Coach of the Year plum and it comes on the year the late great coach Baby Dalupan, for which the award is named, passed away. Dalupan was also honored during the event, which was attended by his wife and kids.

Austria steered San Miguel to the Philippine Cup championship in historic fashion, coming back from a 0-3 deficit for the first time.

Yu and Que were named Executives of the Year for the way they composed a Rain or Shine team with few superstars, which became the model of consistency with 12 straight playoffs appearances and 9 consecutive semifinals that ended only in the Governors' Cup.

Terrence Romeo of Globalport also became the back-to-back Scoring Champion while Chris Ross of San Miguel Beer was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year.

Paul Lee, who was just recently traded from Rain or Shine to Star, was the "Bogs Adornado" Comeback Player of the Year after he battled through an injury-riddled Philippine Cup to help the Elasto Painters to the Commissioner's Cup championship and become Finals MVP.

Jayson Castro was the recepient of the Order of Merit, given to the player who earned the most number of Player of the Week citations throughout the season, while Rain or Shine's Jericho Cruz was Mr. Quality Minutes.

Meanwhile, the All-Rookie Team is comprised of Troy Rosario from TNT, Art Dela Cruz from Blackwater, Scottie Thompson of Ginebra, Maverick Ahanmisi of Rain or Shine, and Rookie of the Year Chris Newsome from Meralco.

Lastly, the All-Interview Team was revived after more than 10 years and it includes 5 players and one coach.

This year's recepients are coach Yeng Guiao, LA Tenorio, Lee, Jimmy Alapag, Arwind Santos, and Asi Taulava.

The Finals MVPs of the past season — Ross, Lee, and Tenorio — were also honored. — Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Ricky Vargas of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will run for the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in next month’s elections, according to multiple media reports.

Vargas, who became president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) in 2008, is slated to challenge current POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. The elections take place on November 25.

“I accept to lead the call for change as asked of me by sports leaders,” Vargas said in a statement, per Philstar.

“I know it’s not an easy task to go up against the entrenched powers that be but the clamor is too intense for me to ignore,” he said.

Vargas has yet to reply to an inquiry e-mail from Rappler as of posting time.

Cojuangco, 82, is running for a fourth straight term as POC president and reportedly has the support of the majority.

The POC has 43 voting members, which includes 40 NSAs (national sports associations). To win the post, a candidate must get 22 votes. 

Mariano Araneta (football) and Abraham Tolentino (cycling) both showed interest in the POC top post as well, but withdrew from their ambitions to make way for Vargas’ bid.

The vice president of the POC, Jose Romasanta, said in a statement that he welcomes the new development.

“That’s why we are having elections. It’s the pillar of Olympism and it shows that we are preserving democracy in the POC,” Romasanta said. – Rappler.com

CHICAGO, USA – The Chicago Cubs are returning to the World Series for the first time in 71 years, a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers giving them a chance to end the longest title drought in North American sports.

The hard-luck Cubs haven't won the world Series since 1908, and last played in Major League Baseball's championship showcase in 1945.

But with the victory before 42,386 ecstatic fans at Wrigley Field, the Cubs wrapped up the National League Championship Series 4 games to two and will face the Cleveland Indians in the 112th World Series starting on Tuesday, October 25 (Wednesday morning, Manila time) in Cleveland.

The Indians haven't won a World Series title since 1948.

"I thought we played one of our best games we played all year tonight, under these circumstances," manager Joe Maddon said. "The defense, the pitching, the hitting. That was a complete game of baseball."

The Cubs pounced quickly on Dodgers pitching ace Clayton Kershaw, scoring two runs in the first inning to stake Chicago starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks to an early lead.

After giving up a first-pitch single, Hendricks dominated, facing the minimum number of Dodgers hitters through 7 1/3 shut-out innings.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo both homered off Kershaw as the Dodgers were denied their first trip to the World Series since 1988.

A Cubs team that won a major league-leading 103 regular-season games chased Kershaw after 5 innings. Kershaw, who pitched 7 scoreless innings in a game-two win over the Cubs at Wrigley a week earlier, gave up 5 runs, 4 of them earned, on 7 hits.

"The Cubs' hitters, they had a great game plan tonight," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "There was traffic all night for Clayton. And he gave it everything he had, but when he did make a mistake, they made him pay."

When the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig grounded into a double play to end the game, Wrigley Field erupted as Cubs players stormed the mound to celebrate.

"This is unbelievable right now," Hendricks said. "Today, that might have been the best game I pitched all year. I had my fastball command, changeup, curveball, I had everything going."

Chicago second baseman Javier Baez delivered more heads-up defensive play, tagging Andrew Toles out to spark a double play in the first inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kris Bryant singled to right field to score Dexter Fowler for the first run, and the Cubs capitalized on Toles's error in left field to score a second run on Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly.

It was the first time this season that Kershaw allowed two runs in the first inning and was a sign of things to come.

Addison Russell led off the bottom of the second with a double and scored on Fowler's two-out single. Contreras homered off Kershaw in the fourth and Rizzo in the fifth.

'Just getting started'

It was sweet relief for long-suffering Cubs fans, whose team were one win from the World series in 1984 before San Diego rallied to win 3 straight games and advance to the Fall Classic.

In 2003, the Cubs led the NLCS 3-2 and were up 3-0 in the eighth inning of the sixth game when a fan, Steve Bartman, tried to grab a foul ball in the front row of the stands and disrupted a potential leaping catch by Cubs outfielder Moises Alou. The Florida Marlins rallied to win that game and the next, denying the Cubs again.

Some say the heartache can be traced back to that 1945 World Series, when legend has it Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, cursed the club when asked to take his pet goat from the ballpark.

"The history means a lot," Hendricks said. "It puts it in perspective for us. We enjoy it more, because we know what it means to the fans of this city.

"At the end of the day," he added, "it's about baseball, it's about winning games, and it comes down to making pitches."

While the Indians still await, the Cubs achievement was already being celebrated throughout Chicago and beyond.

"Incredible. Absolutely incredible," an enthusiastic Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. 

"The Chicago Cubs are National League champions. Across Chicago and around the world, generations of Cubs fans, from the very young to the very, very old, are celebrating tonight."

But Cubs slugger Bryant said he and his teammates are focused only on the immediate future.

"We're too young. We don't care about it," Bryant said of the Cubs' decades of agony. "This is a new team. We're enjoying it -- and our work is just getting started." – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON, USA - Australia's Ben Simmons, last June's NBA Draft top pick now sidelined by a fractured right foot, is part of a global initiative aimed at reviving the NBA's woeful Philadelphia 76ers.

Alongside fellow NBA newcomers Joel Embiid of Cameroon and Dario Saric of Croatia, Simmons will be called upon to help advance the fortunes of a club that went an NBA-worst 10-72 last season, barely beating the all-time worst full-season record of 9-73 set by Philadelphia's 1972-73 squad.

Just 4 seasons after winning just 9 games, the 76ers made a run to the 1977 NBA Finals. A decade after the NBA's worst-ever season, they were league champions. It's that magic the Sixers seek to repeat as new young talent matures.

In the 33 seasons since the 1983 crown, the 76ers reached the finals only in 2001, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Over the past 13 seasons, they have won only one playoff series. They haven't reached the playoffs since the labor-dispute shortened 2012 campaign. They haven't had a winning 82-game season since 2004-05.

So it's no wonder that Simmons, who broke his right small toe September 30 in the 76ers' last training camp scrimmage, had a update posted on Instagram that sounds like the same sort of message the team needs.

"Turning a negative into a positive is never easy," Simmons wrote. "Thanks to everyone for the support and love. Looking forward to coming back stronger and better."

Sixers coach Brett Brown said that Simmons is in a walking boot and conducts his rehabilitation work in the team's training complex, emphasizing learning about the NBA, improving his health and working on his shooting.

"There's a portion that is education, where we will sit and show him different things on tape and educate him in the league. It's classroom stuff," Brown said.

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"And then there's stuff where he will sit in a chair and get his elbow under the ball until he can actually stand, where we have a chance to help grow his shot."

In an NBA general managers poll, 70 percent said that in 5 years, Simmons will be regarded as the top player from this year's NBA rookie class.

Embiid, Saric adjust to NBA

The 76ers have barely said hello to Embiid, the 22-year-old, 7-foot center they selected third in the 2014 draft, but he has scored 10.3 points and grabbed 5.5 rebounds a game in pre-season play.

"As far as game shape wise, I'm not 100 percent," Embiid said. "I still get tired. In practice, we've got to work on that."

Embiid says he is quickly adjusting to the NBA's speed and physical style.

"When I look out on the floor, I don't see him take plays off," Brown said. "He's really trying to push himself. I feel like he is on path to arrive on opening night in a really good place."

Saric, 22, was taken 12th by Orlando in the 2014 NBA Draft but played in Turkey the past two seasons before signing with the 76ers in July. He is averaging 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in NBA pre-season games.

Saric seeks consistency after shooting 9-of-13 in two pre-season games, then going 2-for-19 until making his last three in a row.

"I rush the last couple games," Saric said. "Maybe because I'm still young, I tried to maybe show the people I can shoot, I can play maybe because I'm a little so excited to show everything. Maybe I need to slow down, step-by-step, and if I do that, I think everything will be fine." – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA - Patrick Beverley, the Houston Rockets' backcourt starter alongside top scorer James Harden, will miss at least 20 games to start the NBA season with a left knee injury.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said Beverley will miss the first 6 weeks of the upcoming campaign, which begins for Houston on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Eric Gordon, Tyler Ennis, P.J. Hairston and K.J. McDaniels figure to share time at point guard in place of 28-year-old Beverley, who averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds a game last season.

Beverley's lone pre-season game for the Rockets came October 2 against the Shanghai Sharks when he had 5 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a 131-94 victory.

The Rockets finished eighth in the Western Conference last season at 41-41 and lost to the eventual conference champion Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.

Houston lost center Dwight Howard in the off-season, the veteran signing with his hometown Atlanta Hawks. – Rappler.com

MONTREAL, Canada - Wayne Gretzky, the all-time National Hockey League scoring leader, returned to the ice in an Edmonton Oilers jersey Saturday, October 22 at age 55 for an outdoor alumni game against Winnipeg.

The Canadian legend was among a host of retired standouts who took the ice for the Oilers and Winnipeg Jets in an exhibition game ahead of Sunday's NHL Heritage Classic between the current editions of the Jets and Oilers at the home stadium of the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Jets won 6-5 as Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne, the 46-year-old Finnish Flash who ended his career in 2014, scored on a penalty shot against Edmonton's Curtis Joseph with 3 seconds remaining. Selanne had two goals and 3 assists.

"What a great experience," Gretzky said. "We had a wonderful day, just enjoyed playing the game."

Gretzky, who retired in 1999 with records of 894 goals and 1,963 assists, led the Oilers to 4 Stanley Cups before being traded to Los Angeles in 1988. He later played for the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers.

But he lamented not playing better, complaining, "I stink. I'm really bad," and shaking his head as he watched former teammate Mark Messier score twice.

"I was, like, 'Oh my God, (Messier) can still play. Nobody's thinking that about Wayne Gretzky,'" he said.

"I don't play hockey any more. I love when I do go out there. But I'm 56 in two months and that might have been my last game. It's hard now. It's just tough to tie up your laces."

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There are a LOT of stars on this Oilers alumni squad. Gretzky denied by Ranford. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeritageClassic?src=hash">#HeritageClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/HTLxeul6pz">pic.twitter.com/HTLxeul6pz</a></p>&mdash; 680 CJOB Sports (@CJOBSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/CJOBSports/status/789523661556297728">October 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Gretzky had said such things before but suited up for the Oilers alumni in 2003 at Edmonton ahead of the first Heritage Classic outdoor game, helping the retired Edmonton stars defeat a similar Montreal squad 2-0 on the eve of the NHL's first outdoor contest.

"I didn't have any expectations and I didn't tell anybody that I was going to go out there and be the Wayne Gretzky of the '80s," Gretzky said of his Winnipeg effort.

"There's only one NHL and when I retired from there, that was it. I don't have the same excitement to go play pick-up hockey with the buddies." – Rappler.com

MADRID, Spain - Banned 5-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will face French Open winner Garbine Muguruza on a half clay-half grass court exhibition in Madrid on December 2.

Sharapova is not free to compete on the WTA Tour until at least April 2017 despite having a doping ban for banned medication meldonium cut from 24 to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this month.

The Russian made her return to the court for the first time since receiving the ban for testing positive at the Australian Open in January in a light-hearted exhibition featuring Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in Las Vegas last week. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Title favorites De La Salle University continue to roll in the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball tournament, blasting the hapless University of Santo Tomas, 99-56, in the league's first 40-point victory since 2011 on Sunday, October 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers stayed undefeated with 11 straight victories and officially clinched a twice-to-beat advantage should there be a Final Four series this year.

With La Salle poised for a sweep, they are expected to automatically reach the Finals while 3 other teams will compete in step-ladder format.

This became UST's worst loss since Imperium handled statistics in 2003, surpassing the previous 38-point drubbing also against La Salle in the first round this season.

Big man Ben Mbala dropped 21 points on 5-of-7 field goals and 11-of-15 free throws. He also pulled down 15 rebounds and recorded 5 blocks.

Jeron Teng contributed 16 points plus 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Justine Baltazar had 10 markers and 12 boards. Every Archer fielded in had at least two points.

Louie Vigil carried the Growling Tigers with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Henri Subido added 9 markers as UST, last season's finalist, slid to a 3-8 record.

After a close opening quarter, the Green Archers pulled away in the second for a 45-23 halftime lead. They kept pounding the Growling Tigers in the second half, leading by as much as 93-47 with over two minutes remaining.

That 46-point lead was also the biggest lead for this season so far. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Well-traveled Filipino boxer Ricky Sismundo scored an upset victory on the road, winning a unanimous decision over Ghislain Maduma at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada on Saturday, October 22 (Sunday Manila time).

Sismundo (31-9-3, 13 knockouts) of Ubay, Bohol, Philippines knocked Maduma (18-3, 11 KOs) to the canvas with a chopping right hand in round 9 before winning a unanimous decision by the scores of 95-93 on two score cards, and 97-91 on the third in their 10-round junior welterweight contest. Maduma, a native of the Democratic Republic Of The Congo now based in Canada, was known to some Filipino boxing fans for sparring Manny Pacquiao before his third fight with Timothy Bradley Jr earlier this year.

The win was a boost to the 29-year-old Filipino's career as Sismundo gained a rare win in his opponent's backyard. Sismundo had previously fought former featherweight world champion Billy Dib and title challenger Terdsak Kokietgym in losing efforts, and would have drawn with top Mexican prospect Jose Felix Jr if not for a point deduction in their fight in California this past January.

Sismundo hinted at his potential in May when he held Dierry Jean, who was coming off a loss to pound-for-pound candidate Terence Crawford, to an 8-round draw in Montreal.

A lack of domestic challengers in the 140-pound division has made it difficult for Sismundo to fight in the Philippines, and his last 9 fights have taken place in the United States, Canada and Japan.

In the main event, former IBF middleweight titleholder David Lemieux scored his second straight victory since a loss to Gennady Golovkin with a 10-round decision over Cristian Fabian Rios. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – What was rather an uneventful and lopsided contest between the DLSU Green Archers and UST Growling Tigers on Sunday, October 23, turned entertaining when La Salle coach Aldin Ayo inserted a line-up of Ben Mbala, Mark Dyke, Abu Tratter, Jason Perkins, and Julian Sargent in the fourth period.

The 5-man unit consisted of one import in the Cameroonian Mbala, 3 Filipino-Americans in Perkins, Sargent, and Tratter, and a Filipino in Dyke. The move by Ayo seemed like a response to one of the main criticisms of the Green Archers in Season 79, where the team has been accused of fielding multiple imports in games.

Under UAAP rules, a team is allowed to have only one foreign student-athlete, which La Salle has followed but some fans on social media have been oblivious to.

“I feel like they’re just uninformed,” Mbala said about the criticism after recording 21 points and 15 rebounds. “Before you come out there and start tweeting, you have to make sure you have the right information.

{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/51uZYL8RJ1">pic.twitter.com/51uZYL8RJ1</a></p>&mdash; Go Archers (@GoArchers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoArchers/status/785116062291333120">October 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {/source}

Mbala also pointed out that his teammates have learned to tune out the noise. 

“We all know I’m the only import of La Salle. The rest of them are Filipinos. We don’t even bother to talk to those type of people. We just let them do whatever they want because we know it’s not true. It doesn’t really matter.”

{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last for today. Goodnight <br><br>Stay salty my friends <a href="https://t.co/uZrBR5oM5S">pic.twitter.com/uZrBR5oM5S</a></p>&mdash; Go Archers (@GoArchers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoArchers/status/785129898973077506">October 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {/source}

The 5-man combo played under 3 minutes until Perkins fouled out of the contest and was replaced by rookie Ricci Rivero. Mbala, who admitted the unit doesn’t have a nickname yet, described playing with the 4 guys as “fun.”

“I feel like it was fun, because most of the time we’re used to playing with only one black guy in the team but looking at all my teammates, 5 of us were black. It was fun, even the way we played.

“It was just easier. It was very easy for us.”

Mbala, who leads the UAAP MVP race, admitted that he was also taken back when Ayo decided to pull out that move for the first time this season.

“I was actually surprised when coach called the 5 of us at the same time. I was like, ‘Is this serious, is that for real?’

“Still we had to go out there and still we had to run the plays cause coach was serious about that.”

La Salle improved to an undefeated 11-0 after the win, still in possession of first place in the standings. The Green Archers’ 43-point winning margin over the Growling Tigers was the largest of a UAAP game since 2003.

“It’s about learning how to enjoy your hard work. When you think about how hard you’ve been working, then it becomes easier during the game,” said Mbala. – Rappler.com