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Unheralded PBA hopeful Christian Geronimo turns dream to reality, gets picked by Kia

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DREAM COME TRUE. Christian Geronimo, who had not played in any major basketball leagues, had his dream come true when he was picked by Kia Picanto in the 5th round. Photo by Delfin Dioquino/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – If Christian Geronimo went on with his plan of missing the 2017 PBA Draft Sunday, October 29, he would not have witnessed his name being called as the 49th overall pick.

Geronimo, probably the least known among all rookie aspirants, having not played in any major basketball league in the country, admitted he was so overwhelmed with the coverage of the draft ever since he participated in the Draft Combine that he thought of staying home.

Fortunately, Geronimo’s presence at the Robinsons Place Manila, the usual venue of the league’s annual passage of rites, paid off as he was nabbed by the Kia Picanto as the first pick in the 5th round.

"Dapat nga after noong day 2 ng Combine, sobrang na-overwhelm po ako na parang ayokong pumunta sa draft, parang naisip ko ang daming tao, ang daming camera," said Geronimo.

(After the second day of the Draft Combine, I felt really overwhelmed to the point of having thoughts of not going to the draft. I was expecting many people who will be watching and cameras which will focus on us.)

Geronimo had a reason for not getting used to the attention. After all, unlike his fellow PBA hopefuls who have played in the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, PCBL, NAASCU and the D-League, the PBA Draft is by far the closest thing he had to getting media coverage.

The 29 year-old attended 4 schools since 2004 in hopes of playing collegiate basketball but to no avail.

He was part of the Team B in Letran before moving to Adamson University and the University of Perpetual. He then transferred to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines but was not included in the lineup that participated in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association even though he was part of their Team A.

Despite his lack of experience, Geronimo tried his luck in this year’s draft.

At the end of the 4th round, it was only him and Jhon Sumido whose names were not called. Geronimo was expecting the worst, and he told his girlfriend who went with him not to cry if ever he is not selected by any of the 12 PBA teams.

"Sabi ko kung ano man ang mangyari tatanggapin ko. Kung hindi ako ma-draft, okay lang,” said Geronimo. “Blessing na rin na nakarating ako dito, ‘yun ‘yung iniisip ko."

(I told myself that I will accept whatever happens. If I don’t get drafted, it’s still okay. It has been a blessing reaching this point.)

And then PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa announced, “The Kia Picanto selects Christian Geronimo.”

Geronimo’s girlfriend eventually cried, but it was tears of joy this time.

Hindi pa rin nag-sisink in sa akin. Parang di ko alam kung nangyari ba talaga.”

(The thought still has not sunk in. I don’t know if this really happened.)

As a 5th rounder, the Pasay City-native will have to fight tooth and nail to earn a contract. But with the door already opened for him, he is not backing out from the chance of setting foot in the PBA hardcourt. 

Ibibigay ko talaga lahat ng makakaya ko para sa team na ito kasi pinagkatiwalaan nila ako. Sisipagan ko.”

(I will give my all for this team because they trusted me. I will really work hard.) – Rappler.com


Top pick Standhardinger thrilled to play alongside four-time MVP Fajardo

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#FAJARDINGER. San Miguel will have to wait until March or April for Christian Standhardinger to finish his commitment with the ASEAN Basketball League's Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions before he steps onto a PBA court. Photo by PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen's twin towers of June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger will be a tall task for any team in the PBA to deal with, and the top pick of the 2017 PBA Draft is already raving about it.

Standhardinger, who was nabbed by the Beermen as this year’s No. 1 overall pick via a trade from Kia Picanto, was all smiles with the thought of joining San Miguel, a team that came just one championship short of winning a grand slam this past season.

"I’m officially part of the PBA and I’m very, very excited about that. I just kind of have to fight and I hope I can make this very strong team a little bit better and that’s my goal," said Standhardinger.

With their new acquisition, the Beermen will have one of the tallest frontcourt duos in the league, and a talented one at that. 

Standhardinger is estimated to be 6-foot-8 tall while Fajardo, the reigning four-time PBA Most Valuable Player, stands at 6-foot-11.

"I’m very excited. June Mar’s a great talent, he can do so many things. I’m very excited how they match up against us, I really want to see that. I’m very excited of playing high-low with June Mar and it’s an honor. It’s a great thing that I can play with the four-time reigning MVP. That’s what I got.

"I’m looking forward to see what happens when they double him (June Mar) like they used to."

But San Miguel will have to wait an estimated 6 months before having their prized pick on board. Standhardinger is expected to play in the ASEAN Basketball League until March or April next year as part of the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions.

Despite Standhardinger’s absence, the Beermen are still touted to be the team to beat in the All-Filipino Cup, especially since 4 of their players in Fajardo, Chris Ross, Alex Cagbagnot and Arwind Santos were recently named to the league’s Mythical Five.

"I’m already looking forward to play in the PBA and hopefully win championships, that’s my main goal. My main goal now is to win the championship in the ABL and then win a championship with San Miguel." – Rappler.com

Federer downs del Potro for eighth Basel crown

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SECOND PLACE. Roger Federer fought back from a set down to win the 95th ATP title of his career, taking him clear above Ivan Lendl into second on the all-time list behind Jimmy Connors' mark of 109. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

BASEL, Switzerland - Home favorite Roger Federer claimed his eighth Swiss Indoors title on Sunday with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 final defeat of Juan Martin del Potro.

The 36-year-old fought back from a set down to win the 95th ATP title of his career, taking him clear above Ivan Lendl into second on the all-time list behind Jimmy Connors' mark of 109.

It was Federer's first success against the Argentine in a Basel final, after the South American beat him in both 2012 and 2013.

Federer's victory boosts his hopes of taking the world number one spot from Rafael Nadal, with the regular season ending next week at the Paris Masters, followed by the year-ending ATP Finals in London.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion has now won a Tour-leading seven titles this season after beating Nadal in the Shanghai Masters final a fortnight ago.

"Congratulations to Juan Martin," Federer said. "You've had a great run since the US Open (when he beat Federer in the quarter-finals) and before.

"I wish that I was able to play every week like you have, it's going to be difficult for me in the future to do that."

Del Potro will be playing for a fourth successive week in Paris after coming back earlier in the season from wrist problems, as he looks to snatch a late place for the eight-man event in London.

The 29-year-old reached the Shanghai semi-finals and won in Stockholm earlier this month before his run in Basel.

Federer lost only two sets during the week as he improved his head-to-head record to 17-6 over del Potro, with a third win in four matches against the former US Open champion in 2017.

"It's unbelievable how well Roger is playing," said del Potro. "I hope to be in such shape when I'm his age. But I doubt I will be."

Federer now stands 49-4 overall this season. He will make a late decision whether to play the Paris Masters next week, depending on his fitness.

The pair traded breaks in the opening two games, with an epic first set finally finding its way to a tie-break. 

Federer took a 3-0 lead but had no answer as del Potro won 6 straight points.

The top seed saved two set points but went down on the third.

The world number two battled hard in the second set, breaking in the final game to level the match as del Potro returned long.

Federer broke for 3-1 in the decider and 5 games later put a forehand winner into the corner to bring up 3 match points.

Del Potro saved the first but returned long as Federer wrapped up victory after two and a half hours of play.

"Roger was there playing high-level tennis for two and a half hours," said del Potro. "He was better in key moments and he won.

"He returned well and broke me playing good tennis. I have little things to improve and I can learn from this match.

"Physically I was 100 percent today, I was close to winning, my body did not affect me in the final. I was running for all three sets and I fought until the last point." – Rappler.com

[OPINION] Seeing the SMB-Kia trade through the eyes of a football fan

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IN ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE. The trade that allowed San Miguel to pick Christian Standhardinger seems unfair, but those kinds of deals are familiar in the established pecking order of European football. File photo by FIBA

MANILA, Philippines – By now you have probably heard about how the San Miguel Beermen have traded several journeyman players to fellow PBA club Kia Picanto for the first pick in the draft. They have now used that pick to snare the prettiest debutante in the draft ball, Fil-German big man Christian Stanhardinger.

For many fans, the air around this deal is redolent of marine life. The curious explanations of Kia GM Joe Lipa going for an unconventional approach fail to convince. Why would Kia throw away a chance to be a contender for almost nothing, and in the process strengthen an opponent?

One can understand the fan's anger. The PBA is supposed to be a professional league that is competitive, fair, and meritocratic. A salary-capped competition where any club, with smart front-office moves can aspire to win titles. For some, this trade casts aspersions on all that.

But maybe San Miguel, Kia, and even the PBA are not the problem. Perhaps it's us, the Pinoy sports fans, who need to see this in a new light. Then somehow, it will all make sense. The answers might lie elsewhere, specifically the football structure in Europe.

In a typical European football league system there is no salary cap. Teams can pay whatever they like for players. That's why you have wealthy clubs like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, who win their domestic leagues so often. They have the financial muscle to buy the best players.

There is a hierarchy of clubs in most domestic European leagues that does not usually change much.

For example, in England's Premier League, moneyed teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are usually found near the top of the standings on any given week. Below them are the second tier clubs with less dough, like Everton, West Ham, and Southampton.

Below them are clubs like Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, teams with history but with even smaller war chests. These clubs are sometimes referred to as “elevator teams” because they shuttle up and down from the top tier Premier League to the second-tier Championship. (In Europe there is a promotion-relegation system between the many league levels. Typically the bottom 3 of a tier go down and are replaced by the top tier of the league below after every season.)

There is a set food chain, and players traverse it in both directions as their careers wax and wane.

Usually what happens is a big club spies a talent in a club below them in the pecking order and makes a swoop. They buy that player's contract and give the lesser club what is known as a “transfer fee.”

Transfer fees in the big leagues are often well into the millions of dollars. The world record is the 222 million euros that French side Paris Saint Germain coughed up to Barcelona for the services of Brazilian ace Neymar earlier this year. Most transfer fees are more modest, and some, especially in the lower leagues, are almost tokens. Read about the player who was bought for a freezer full of ice cream here

The buying team is happy because they have a new toy in their lineup. The selling team is delighted too because they have a lot to buy new players in the echelons below. The player is likely all smiles as well because he will be making a bigger wage. Everyone is happy.

Fans accept this set-up. It's been very familiar to them for generations.

But that means teams of modest means can never win the league. Isn't that unfair? (Leicester City's triumph in the 2015-2016 EPL season is a major outlier.) Yes it is, unfair, but that's life. Besides, apart from league round-robin league competitions, there are also knockout “cup” tournaments where middling teams can, and often do, get lucky and win silverware.

It is a system where money cannot guarantee titles, but titles are almost impossible without money. As long as you don't have one dominant team that is richer than everyone else, (the case in Scotland, where affluent Glasgow Celtic have won the last 6 league titles), you still have a closely-fought, unpredictable, entertaining league.

Now contrast all of this with the NBA in North America. This league is an egalitarian utopia in comparison. There is a salary cap. You can spend above it but luxury taxes will rein you in.

In the NBA any club with shrewd management, good coaching, great scouting, and a bit of luck can have a shot at lifting the Larry O'Brien championship trophy.

Sure, the Golden State Warriors are now a superteam but this is only a recent development. Before that, the league was set up to make teams generally evenly matched over time.

The PBA aspires to be like the NBA, with its salary cap and rookie draft. It wants a truly level playing field. Problem is, the landscape is vastly different here than it is in the states.

The NBA has 30 teams, all with billionaire owners with presumably similar net worths. That simply isn't the case here.

Two corporate entities, the MVP group, (Meralco, NLEX, TNT), and the San Miguel Corporation, (Ginebra, Star/Purefoods, San Miguel Beermen), make up half of the 12-team field in the PBA. Their clubs were, unsurprisingly, the top 6 teams after the Governor's Cup elimination round.

The other clubs represent independent companies, all likely smaller in clout than the big two. There is an imbalance in both the wealth of the clubs and likely the influence they wield in the running of the league.

(Disclosure: I am the media officer of FC Meralco Manila, the football team of Meralco.)

This weird trade between SMB and Kia can thus make sense. To me it feels like one of the transfer agreements that you see in European football. It feels like a transaction of some sort. It may feel wrong, but maybe it shouldn't.

The PBA seems to want to shoehorn the NBA model into a milieu where it can't quite work. The Philippine pro basketball landscape has more in common with Europe than it does with America. There are big clubs and smaller clubs. There are well-defined rungs on the ladder. Kia just so happens to be looking up at SMB in this hierarchy.

Fans might want to shake their fists in anger at this trade. But they do so at something that's hard to fight. Something called “reality.”

Should the PBA somehow tweak their structure and competition to reflect the current state of Philippine sports business? Maybe. But that's up to the teams.

Should this trade lead us to abandon the PBA? Absolutely not. I caught Game 7 between Ginebra and Meralco the other day and it was a terrific spectacle. Meralco fought back valiantly against a great Ginebra team in front of 54,000 fans, but came up short. The PBA was, is, and will continue to be a fantastic sports league. A source of great entertainment and a superb proving ground for the Gilas Pilipinas program.

So support the PBA. Support the teams. And accept this trade, and perhaps others to come, as part and parcel of the imperfect, quirky, but still wonderful world of Philippine sports. – Rappler.com

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.

 

Coach Tai's exit from Ateneo: Due to more than personal reasons

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END OF AN ERA. Coach Tai will be leaving Ateneo after 4 years of steering them to two championships and 4 finals appearances. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – After spending 4 years as the head coach of the Ateneo Women's Volleyball and leading them to two championships, Coach Anursorn "Tai" Bundit was dismissed from his coaching position. 

An unidentified source confirmed with Rappler on Saturday, October 28, that Bundit was leaving the university due to personal reasons and that Assistant Coach Sherwin Meneses will serve as the interim head coach. 

Aside from the Thai coach's desire to spend more time with his family and two young twins, his reasons also included the friction that has been developing between him and the Ateneo Lady Eagles. 

Irreconcilable differences

Despite being able to lead the blue and white to two championships and 4 finals appearances from Season 76 to 79, friction and irreconcilable differences between the Lady Eagles and Bundit have made the relationship turn sour. 

In a phone interview with Rappler late Sunday, October 29, the unidentified source said that complaints about training being "too hard" and the lack of communication from Bundit made it difficult for the Lady Eagles to cope with his Thai style of training. 

During their campaign in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Collegiate Conference, the Lady Eagles suffered numerous injuries while undergoing Coach Tai's training program this year. 

This included Jho Maraguinot's left foot sprain, Ana Gopico's hamstring injury, and Kim Gequillana's left knee injury, where she was seen hauled off on a stretcher during a PVL match against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. 

The Lady Eagles blamed these injuries on Bundit's conditioning program. 

"To them, Kim (Gequillana)'s injury was the last straw," said the source. 

The Lady Eagles demanded that the conditioning program be handled by the training unit of the Moro Lorenze Sports Complex (Moro) – like most Ateneo sports teams – instead of Coach Tai.

A compromise was reached: the conditioning program was handed to Moro but the volleyball training proper would still be under Bundit, as they would still need to respect the progam of the head coach. 

However, the differences in expectations continued to rock the boat as Coach Tai was dissatisfied with the performance of the Lady Eagles during training. 

"Yung mali naman ni Coach Tai is 'pag hindi nagagawa ng mga girls yung training niya, sasabihin niya: 'I thought Moro good, why can’t you do?'" explained the source. (The wrong thing about Coach Tai is that if the girls can't do what he asks, he would say: I thought Moro good, why can't you do?)

Thoroughly thought of

Contrary to reports saying that Coach Tai's dismissal was sudden, the Ateneo women's volleyball management discussed Bundit's situation with the Lady Eagles in a series of meetings to arrive at the decision of letting him go. 

An overhaul of the volleyball program will be made in accordance with the situation. 

A meeting on Monday, October 30, is part of school protocol for an exit interview with University President, Fr Jett Villarin. 

In addition to Michelle Morente's transfer to De La Salle University (DLSU) and setter Jia Morado's graduation from the university, the Ateneo Lady Eagles will now be missing the services of their happy dancing coach, who brought the "happy-happy" and "heart-strong" mentality to the team. – Rappler.com

 

 

 

Ginebra lifer Jayjay Helterbrand calls it quits after 17 years

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FOR LIFE. Helterbrand was a member of Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel for all his life. File photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – One of Ginebra’s most decorated players is walking away from the PBA for good.

Jayjay Helterbrand has finally decided to retire following a fruitful 17-year career in the PBA, highlighted by a Most Valuable Player award and 6 PBA championships.

In an interview with CNN Sports Desk host Andrei Felix, “Helter Skelter” said that Ginebra’s Governors’ Cup title they won last Friday, October 27, “would be his last as a player.”

{source} 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EXCLUSIVE: Barangay Ginebra fan favorite Jayjay Helterbrand announces retirement from PBA <a href="https://t.co/5bZmr1Judb">https://t.co/5bZmr1Judb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GinKingsOnSportsDesk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GinKingsOnSportsDesk</a> <a href="https://t.co/YtlEHAqR9j">pic.twitter.com/YtlEHAqR9j</a></p>&mdash; CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) <a href="https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/924840330528047104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Helterbrand added that he will still be around the game and is hoping to land an assistant coaching job “later on down the line.”

He was supposed to retire at the end of the 2015-2016 season but with Ginebra ending an 8-year title drought with the Governors’ Cup title last year, he decided to play another season.

The 41-year-old was a direct hire by Ginebra in 2000 and spent all of his playing career in the PBA with the franchise.

He is also a 7-time PBA All-Star, a 2-time All-Star Game MVP and a 2-time member of the Mythical First team. – Rappler.com

Astros edge Dodgers in home run thriller, seize 3-2 World Series lead

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ON THE VERGE. The Houston Astros can win their first World Series in franchise history in Game 6. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP

HOUSTON, USA - Alex Bregman singled home Derek Fisher with the winning run in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros reached the brink of their first World Series title Sunday, October 29 (Monday Manila time) by outlasting the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-12 in a tension-packed thriller.

The Astros seized a 3-2 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final and can claim the crown by winning Game 6 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers, seeking a seventh championship and their first since 1988, must win to force a winner-take-all seventh game on Wednesday.

In an epic game that mirrored the momentum swings a drama-filled series has produced, the outcome was decided after five hours and 17 minutes by standouts for each club.

Astros catcher Brian McCann started the decisive rally by taking first base when struck in the right arm by a pitch from Dodgers closing pitcher Kenley Jansen, who then walked George Springer to put the winning run on second base.

The Astros inserted pinch-runner Fisher and Bregman followed with a single to left field that sent Fisher racing across the plate ahead of a desperate throw that was too late to prevent the deciding run and an emotional celebration by the Astros and their fans.

It was the second-highest score for a losing team in World Series history, the only similar slugfest in the event's 113 editions being Toronto's 15-14 game-four win at Philadelphia in 1993.

The Astros led 12-9 in the ninth and were one strike from victory before the Dodgers equalized.

Yasiel Puig smashed a two-run homer into the left-field stands off Houston relief pitcher Chris Devenski with one out to pull the Dodgers within 12-11.

It was the 22nd homer of this World Series, breaking the total homers mark of 21 set in 2002, and the game's seventh combined homer for both teams, matching a Series record from 1989.

Austin Barnes followed with a double and took third on Joc Pederson's ground out to shortstop. Dodgers leadoff batter Chris Taylor was down to his last strike before ripping a single up the middle to score Barnes and level the game.

Houston's Yuli Gurriel smacked a two-out, two-run double in the Astros' half of the ninth to put a winning run in scoring position but Josh Reddick flew out to force extra innings.

Springer makes up for miss

Cody Bellinger tripled in Enrique Hernandez in the seventh after Astros centerfielder George Springer missed a diving catch attempt to give the Dodgers an 8-7 edge.

Springer made up for the mistake with a solo homer off Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow to equalize at 8-8 in the seventh.

Houston's Bregman then singled and scored on Jose Altuve's double, and Carlos Correa followed with a two-run homer that gave the Astros an 11-8 lead.

The Dodgers answered in the eighth, Pederson blasting a double off the left-field wall and scoring on Corey Seager's double. But Brian McCann smacked a solo homer to boost the Astros' edge to 12-9, setting up the ninth-inning drama.

The Dodgers seized a 7-4 advantage in the fifth inning after Astros relief pitcher Collin McHugh walked Seager and Justin Turner then surrendered a three-run homer to Bellinger, who was batting only 2-for-17 with 10 strikeouts in the World Series.

But the Astros equalized in the bottom of the fifth on Altuve's three-run homer over the left-field wall.

Dodgers squander big lead

Dodgers star left-hander Clayton Kershaw, 3-0 in the playoffs, allowed four runs in the fourth inning as the Astros pulled level, the first time this year Los Angeles squandered a four-run edge.

Gurriel, whose controversial racist gesture in Game 3 aimed at Dodgers' Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish did not result in a World Series ban, smashed a three-run homer after a run-scoring Correa double.

Gurriel was suspended for the first 5 games of the 2018 campaign for his Game 3 actions.

Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, game one's losing pitcher, surrendered four runs off five hits and an error over 3 2/3 innings in the shortest playoff outing by a Houston starter.

The Dodgers jumped ahead 4-0 as Logan Forsythe hit a two-run single, Hernandez scored from third on an errant throw by Gurriel and Forsythe scored on a Barnes single. – Rappler.com

TNT denounces Narvasa's 'uncalled for' statement on Standhardinger situation

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TNT EXPLODES. TNT called out Narvasa, saying the commissioner only mentioned their team “to take the spotlight off him.” File photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines - During the high of rookie aspirants getting their names called in the 2017 PBA Draft, the TNT KaTropa released a statement blasting Commissioner Chito Narvasa. 

In a press conference Friday, October 27, an hour before Game 7 of the Governors’ Cup finals, Narvasa explained why he approved the controversial Kia-SMB trade involving the Picanto’s top pick and the Beermen’s benchwarmers and future 2019 first round pick. 

Narvasa said that other teams also sought to obtain Kia’s top pick and in the process mentioned TNT official Magnum Membrere submitting the papers on behalf of eventual No. 1 overall pick Christian Standhardinger. 

The KaTropa did not take Narvasa’s statement in stride, saying Membrere passed Standhardinger’s papers as a representative of Gilas Pilipinas. 

“It was a sincere gesture to assist Standhardinger with basic admin filing process because he flew back to Germany after the SEA games," the statement said via a report by ABS-CBN Sports

In the press conference, Narvasa said he got to talk to Standhardinger on the phone regarding the draft and the Filipino-German sent his requirements through email. Narvasa said Membrere also passed Standhardinger’s requirements. 

TNT called out Narvasa, saying the commissioner only divulged the information “to take the spotlight off him.” 

"TNT management resents the statement of Commissioner Narvasa. Uncalled for. Just proves he is biased.” 

In a statement to Rappler, Narvasa responds: “I respect TNT’s management to voice out their opinion. I did not mean any offense or disrespect when I explained to the press about what actually took place.” – Rappler.com


Order of Performances: UAAP Season 80 Cheer Dance competition

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5-PEAT. National University is aiming for their 5th straight title in the UAAP Cheer Dance competition. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 80 Cheerdance Competition (CDC) will be held on Saturday, December 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The order of performances are as follows:

Dance groups, National University (NU) Pep Squad, De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo squad, Adamson Pep Squad, Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad, University of the East Pep Squad, University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troup and Ateneo's Blue Babble Battalion will continue to carry their schools colors in the competition. 

This year will see the NU Pep Squad aim for their 5th straight championship and the return of the UP Pep Squad to the UAAP Cheer Dance competition after last year's protest

FEU Cheering Squad took the second place honors, while Adamson Pep Squad landed 3rd on the podium in the 2016 UAAP Cheer Dance competition. – Rappler.com

Volleyball coach Tai Bundit stays – Ateneo president

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STILL WITH THE TEAM. Coach Tai Bundit wil still continue to be with Ateneo. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Following talks about coach Anusorn "Tai" Bundit's status, Ateneo de Manila University president Fr Jose Ramon T. Villarin, in a Facebook note, said the Thai coach will remain with the Ateneo women's volleyball team. 

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"I would like to inform everyone that Coach Tai is still with the team. In fact, I just had a meeting with Coach Tai and our athletics people this morning," wrote Villarin. 

This was the decision reached after a meeting – originally set as an exit interview – among Coach Tai, Fr Villarin, and the Ateneo's University Athletics Office members on Monday morning, October 30. 

Fr Villarin will schedule a talk with members of the Ateneo Lady Eagles to try to resolve internal issues. – Rappler.com

Nadal prepares to quietly seal number one status

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WORLD NUMBER ONE. Rafael Nadal would fortify his world number one title by winning his opening match. File photo by Oscar del Pozo/AFP

PARIS, France – Rafael Nadal said on Monday, October 30 that he is ready to consolidate his year-end number one ATP ranking by winning his opening match at the Paris Masters.

But the 31-year-old Spaniard – who is also trying to balance the delicate political situation in his native country with his status as an international sportsman – refused to hype up his potential coronation.

"I need to win a match. I'm here to try my best – as in every tournament," he said before starting as top seed in the event which is missing Roger Federer due to fatigue. 

"Hopefully if this (number one) happens, it will be something important for me."

"But the season is not over and it's not the moment to think much about that."

"I'll just try to think about trying to have the right preparation for the tournament and then try to be ready for the first match."

Nadal, who reclaimed the top ranking in August for the first time in 3 years, is due to start at Bercy against South Korea's Hyeon Chung, who opened on Monday, October 30 with a 6-0, 6-2 first-round defeat of German Mischa Zverev.

Federer is skipping Paris after winning back-to-back titles in Shanghai and Basel and is resting to be prepared for the ATP Finals starting in less than a fortnight in London.

Nadal, who withdrew from Basel with a knee problem, does not fault his main rival for looking after personal interests.

"Everyone makes the calendar which he thinks will be the best for him," Nadal said. "For him, everything was working well that way. He had a little bit better chance, of course, if he came here. But you never know."

"You would think that he would have more points if he had played on clay. But you never know (that) if he played on clay if he would win Wimbledon or he would be able to play as well as he did."

"He took his decisions and he did it well. Probably after winning Shanghai and winning Basel he believes that will be better for his body and for his preparation for London to not be here, to rest."

Catalonia crisis 'sensitive'

Ten-time Roland Garros champion Nadal said that he is hoping to do well in "the most important city for my career".

Questioned about the political situation in his native Spain between Madrid and Catalonia, Mallorcan islander Nadal, also a Catalan speaker, was notably circumspect.

"In my situation it's very difficult to answer these kind of things because things are, let's say, sensitive in my country."

"Anything that I can say will not go the right way. The real thing for me (is that) it's a sad situation and at the same time a difficult situation; it's difficult (for me) to talk 100 percent freely."

"I want the things to get better. I don't want the fracture between people in Catalonia. I feel close to Catalonia. I love the people in Catalonia, and most of the Spanish people feel the same. "

"Love from the rest of the Spanish country, it feels love for Catalonia and that's it. And that's the reason that's why we are sad about that situation." – Rappler.com

Gurriel ready for Los Angeles heat after racism furor

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HEATING UP IN LA. Things will surely heat up for Yuli Gurriel after his racist gesture during game 4 of the World Series. Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/AFP

LOS ANGELES, USA – Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch said Yuli Gurriel is bracing for a hostile reception from Los Angeles Dodgers fans on Tuesday, October 31, following the furor over his racist gesture against Yu Darvish.

Gurriel escaped being kicked out of the World Series on Saturday, October 28, after making a racist gesture about Japanese pitcher Yu during his team's victory in game 3 in Houston.

The 33-year-old Cuban slugger went on to play a pivotal role in Sunday's epic game 5 win, belting a 3-run homer off Clayton Kershaw to level the score at 4-4 in the 4th inning.

The Astros clinched a thrilling 13-12 victory and now stand just one win away from sealing their first-ever World Series crown.

However, a fiery welcome is almost certain to greet Gurriel when he steps up to the plate at Dodger Stadium in the potentially decisive game 6.

"Yuli has got a good heart," said Astros skipper Hinch. "He made a mistake. He'll pay for it. The reaction in LA, I'm sure, will be on the aggressive side."

Hinch said he did not plan to address the issue with Gurriel, who was given a 5-game ban which will only begin at the start of the 2018 season.

"I don't think I need to talk to him about it, I think everyone is aware it's going to be a rough setting for him," Hinch said. 

"I don't think you can convince 55,000 fans to turn the page as fast as maybe the two teams have." 

Darvish, who called for conciliation after Gurriel's gesture, is in line to start for the Dodgers on Wednesday, November 1, if the series goes to a 7th game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts meanwhile said his battered and bruised side were focusing only on game 6 as they attempt to buck history by becoming only the 21st team to overturn a 3-2 deficit to take the title.

"It's going to be boisterous and energetic at Dodger Stadium, and I think our focus is just going to be to win one game," said Roberts.

"To get ourselves to think about winning two in a row, I think we'd be getting ahead of ourselves," he added. "We're at an elimination stage right now, and we'll do everything we can to win one game."

Dodgers players meanwhile took a defiant tone as Houston erupted in celebration following their most recent emotionally draining victory.

"They're celebrating now, 3-2, but guess what? They've still got to beat us one more time," said closer Kenley Jansen.

"The fact that we're going home, we've got to continue to grind. This is it, can't hang our heads."

"We're going home. I don't care who we're going to face, we've got to stay positive. Can't let a bad day affect us. They did what they're supposed to do, they took care of their home field – we took one, and now we've got to protect it and try to win game 6 and get back into it."

Cuban star Yasiel Puig was emphatic that the Dodgers would bounce back with the series-levelling win. 

"This is not going to be finished on Tuesday (October 31). There's going to be a game 7," said Puig. – Rappler.com

A superstar all his life, Jeron Teng ready to 'start from zero' with Alaska Aces

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STARTING FROM SCRATCH. Jeron Teng will be out there to prove himself with the Alaska Aces. Photo by PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines – For probably the first time in his life, Jeron Teng might not be the superstar in his team but that does not bother him at all.

Ever since Teng rose to national consciousness following a 104-point outburst for the Xavier Stallions in high school, the second-generation baller has been undoubtedly the best player in all of the teams he played for.

During his 5-year stint with the De La Salle University, Teng was no question the face of the Green Archers from his rookie to graduating seasons as he delivered two UAAP titles back home to Taft while becoming part of the Mythical Five 4 times.

In the PBA D-League, the 6-foot-2 stalwart quickly turned heads, posting averages of 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for the AMA Online Education in the Aspirants’ Cup and 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists with Flying V in the Foundation Cup.

Teng has a ton of accolades that will speak of his excellence in the hardcourt but he said he is not afraid to start from scratch in the PBA after the Alaska Aces selected him as the 5th overall pick at the PBA Draft on Sunday, October 29.

"I have to start from zero. Siyempre mag-start ako sa pinakababa and I have to work for my minutes. If I have to, then I'll do it. I'll work hard even more. Gusto ko talaga i-prove sa sarili ko dito sa PBA and that's what I'll do. I'll put more work into it," said the 23-year-old.

(I have to start from zero. As a rookie, I will have to start from the bottom and I have to work for my minutes. If I have to, then I’ll do it. I’ll work hard even more. I want to prove myself here in the PBA and that is what I’ll do. I’ll put more work into it.)

Teng, the son of Alvin Teng who played 14 years in the league, was expected to go at either No. 3 or No. 4 in the draft but he said what matters is accomplishing his childhood dream and having the chance of following his father’s footsteps.

“It didn't matter to me kung anong pick ako and happy lang ako na natawag ‘yung name ko and happy ako na napunta ako sa team na maganda ‘yung reputation ng Alaska. Lahat nagsasabi sa akin na in Alaska, they treat all the players as family. I'm very happy na maging part ako ng family ng Alaska.”

(It didn’t matter to me whatever number I was picked. I’m just happy that my name was called and I'm happy I landed a team that has a good reputation. Everyone is telling me that in Alaska, they treat all the players as family and I’m very happy to be part of that family.)

The all-around scorer would be a welcome addition to the Alex Compton-mentored squad after the Aces finished their Governors’ Cup campaign last season as the second-worst team in points scored. – Rappler.com

 

Hong Kong to become first Asian host of Gay Games

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MILESTONE. Hong Kong will be the first Asian city to host the Gay Games. Photo by Aaron Tam/AFP

HONG KONG, China – Hong Kong will become the first Asian city to host the Gay Games in 2022 with rights campaigners celebrating the winning bid for a city often criticized for lagging on LGBT rights.

Hong Kong beat Mexico's Guadalajara and Washington DC to host the 11th edition of the event, with the jubilant bid team saying it would attract 15,000 participants and bring HK$1 billion into the local economy. 

Organized by the LGBT community, the Gay Games features a range of sports and is open to all participants, "without regard to sexual orientation, and there are no qualifying standards", the Hong Kong bid team said in a statement. 

Competitors come from many countries, including those where homosexuality remains illegal, it added. 

The Gay Games was founded by former Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell and first held in San Francisco in 1982. The next edition will be held in Paris in August next year, featuring 36 sports, from mountain biking to fencing and athletics. 

Hong Kong's Pink Alliance, which promotes equal rights for the LGBT community, said the games would "help to bring a wider understanding and acceptance of our community," not only in the southern Chinese city but throughout the region. 

When the constitutional court in neighboring Taiwan ruled in favor of allowing gay marriage in May, campaigners in socially conservative Hong Kong highlighted the city's lack of progress on equality issues. 

Hong Kong does not recognize gay marriage and only decriminalized homosexuality in 1991.

But a landmark court decision in September that granted a British lesbian in Hong Kong – known as "QT" – the right to live and work in the city as a dependant of her long-term partner was hailed as a decision that could reduce more hurdles for same-sex couples.

QT had previously been denied a dependant visa by immigration authorities, forcing her instead to stay in Hong Kong on a visitor visa, which did not allow her to work.

Hong Kong's Gay Games bid chair Dennis Philipse said there was a "spirit and passion for increased inclusion and diversity" in Hong Kong.

However, the campaign for LGBT rights continues to elicit fury from anti-gay campaigners. 

Last year, banking giant HSBC placed a pair of rainbow-painted lions in front of its landmark building in the heart of the city to promote support of gay rights, a move slammed as "disgusting" by opponents who rallied in protest. – Rappler.com

Kiefer Ravena doesn't expect to play big minutes with NLEX immediately

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NEW GUY. Kiefer Ravena joins an NLEX squad that has a loaded backcourt already, but says he'll find his role on the team. Photo by PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines - Despite being just a rookie in the PBA, Kiefer Ravena will be looked at to provide leadership for the NLEX Road Warriors. 

Ravena, who was selected by the Road Warriors as the second overall pick in the 2017 PBA Draft, knows there are a lot of guards in the Yeng Guiao-mentored squad to share his minutes with and said he just wants to provide the stability in closing out games.

“’Yung pagdating sa close games, nakita naman natin dati, they will always be neck and neck with other teams. Pero pag dating sa dulo, medyo bumibitaw lang. So hopefully, sana makatlong ako sa ganoong aspeto,” said the first son of former PBA player Bong Ravena. 

(When it came to close games, they will always battle neck and neck with other teams but will falter down the stretch. Hopefully, I can help in that aspect.)

NLEX will be facing a logjam in the backcourt with guards Kevin Alas, Alex Mallari, Emman Monfort, Juami Tiongson, Cyrus Baguio, Carlo Lastimosa, Jonas Villanueva and Larry Fonacier in the fold but Ravena said he is not looking to get lots of minutes off the bat. 

Adjustment lang, hahanap tayo ng role na pwede natin makuha para makapaglaro. ‘Yun naman ang importante, hindi tayo pwedeng sumingit sa mga ganyan basta basta. Ang kailangan natin is to focus and improve and see whatever role is going to be tasked for me by coach Yeng.”

(It will be an adjustment. I will find a role to play. That is what is important, I can’t just come in and play big minutes. What I need to do is to focus and improve and see whatever role coach Yeng is going to give me.)

Even as a projected top pick, Ravena, who just turned 24 on October 27, admitted that getting his name called was a relief and it was the perfect birthday present.

“Everything else, I have no regrets and I cherish every moment and I’m going to enjoy this moment that I’m part ng liga ng bayan.”

In the Governors’ Cup last season, the Road Warriors were tied with Rain or Shine as the third-most potent team offensively and a guy like Ravena, who averaged a team-high 20.6 points with Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup recently, is expected to add more firepower. – Rappler.com


[OPINION] Making sense of our futsal team's struggles

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YOUNG BLOODS. Kids in the Ambassadors Cup futsal competition play in UA&P's futsal court. Photo by Bob Guerrero/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Pinoy football social media is abuzz with fans' hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing over men's national futsal team getting manhandled in the ASEAN Football Federation's yearly futsal championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

If you are not familiar with the sport, futsal is 5-a-side soccer played on a smooth surface, usually indoors, on a 20 m x 40 m playing field. At least that is the prescribed size for international play. Futsal all over the world, especially in the Philippines, is played on smaller courts. There are two 20-minute halves and no offsides.

In their first 3 games over the past few days, the Philippines was mangled 21-1 by Indonesia, eviscerated 24-0 by Vietnam, then taken to the woodshed by Myanmar to the tune of 25-0.

The scores got progressively worse, probably because our opponents were gunning for a better goal difference to help improve their chances of qualifying for the semis.

The boys rounded out their campaign with what appeared to be their easiest assignment, a game against Brunei Darussalam on Monday, October 30. But alas, they lost that match too, 5-0.

What's going on here? Let's try to answer the questions as best we can.

Why were these players selected?

This is a young team, and many are from the futsal varsity squad of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). The national team's head coach, Chris Dominguez, has been active in UA&P futsal for a long time.

The school in the heart of the Ortigas Center has been a hotbed for the 5-a-side game for many, many years. I remember playing in a futsal tournament there in 2006. My most vivid memory was blocking a strong shot from former national team player Jimmy Dona with my foot, and it hurting like hell. There are a few schools that have really kept the futsal flame alive, and UA&P is one of them.

UA&P also has what is likely the only international regulation-sized futsal court in greater Manila, if not the whole country, in the top floor of their Parking and Sports Building. A regulation futsal court is much bigger than a basketball court.

Now if we were to truly gather the absolute best 12 futsal players from all over the country, our team would be composed of football players, not pure futsal players. Guys like OJ Porteria, Misagh Bahadoran, and Jason De Jong have good futsal experience even though they play 11-a-side.

The problem is, these guys have day jobs working for PFL clubs, specifically Ceres Negros, Global Cebu, and Davao Aguilas. It's unlikely their clubs would release them for something like this, with teams jockeying for position leading to the PFL playoffs. PFL is also a fully professional league, unlike the old UFL. That makes it even harder to get players from it to play in a futsal NT. It's likely the players' contracts would not allow it.

In the past, Green Archers United Globe, a football team not in the PFL now, has both won previous futsal events using football players, and has generously lent some of their guys to the national futsal team, like Tating Pasilan, Robert Cañedo, Pat Bocobo, and Kim Versales. We still got blown out a lot, but not by 3 touchdowns like this year. As recently as 2014 the Philippines still managed a 4-4 draw against Laos.

For whatever reason there were no Green Archers in this squad, and I am okay with this. We have to somehow transition to using futsal players for our futsal national team, instead of moonlighting football players. Futsal is very different from football. The surface, ball, tactics, rules, and technique differ in significant ways. So there is one thing that can be said about this selection: these guys are futsal specialists.

True, you have players like Meralco's Ric Padilla and Julian Miranda, who also play football, but these players all have a futsal background too. Padilla, a keeper, is on his second tour of duty with the team. He was also the only PFL player there. Padilla is the third keeper of FC Meralco Manila.

On Monday, October 30, I spoke with former DLSU and Pasargad keeper Josh Cruz. He is from Cebu and told me that many of these kids, like the Haosen brothers, Ryan and Shawn, are from a real futsal team in Cebu.

Former national team coach Red Avelino said that Enzo Hermosa, one of only two players on the side with international futsal team experience, (Padilla is the other), is a whiz at the sport.

Many of the players on this team were culled from teams in the MNCAA, or Men's National Collegiate Athletic Association. This is where UA&P and Enderun College, another school with a good futsal program, play. The University of Makati also competes in MNCAA futsal.

UA&P are the reigning champs of MNCAA futsal, so it's fair that many of our national team players come from there. (Hermosa, by the way, is from UA&P.)

Is there another futsal league in the Philippines that plays at a similar or higher level? There could be some in some provincial city somewhere but I have not heard of it. There was a Philippines Futsal League but judging from its Facebook page, it had its last competition last year. So in effect, the MNCAA is the top tier of men's futsal in the Philippines. Selecting players from the best school teams in the top tier of futsal for the futsal national team is thus similar to getting players from the best PFL teams to be in the Azkals.

Could the selectors have cast their net wider outside the MNCAA to find other players? Probably, if they had the time. It's my understanding that the team was assembled in a very short amount of time.

Why were they not given enough time to prepare?

I don't know.

So if these are our best futsal players, why did they lose so badly?

Because the opponents are professional futsal players from professional clubs. They play futsal, every day and likely haven't played football in years.

Indonesia has a league with 16 professional futsal clubs as well as U16, U19, U21, U23, and women's competitions. This is their website.

The sport is just so developed in Indonesia. I went to Indonesia twice this year and saw numerous futsal venues. Vietnam and Myanmar probably have a similar story, judging by how they mauled us.

Our de facto top tier, the MNCAA, pales in comparison to this kind of set-up. As futsal has grown all over ASEAN, the gap between us and our neighbors has only widened.

What can we do to help?

First, don't blame the players nor the coaching staff. These fine folks answered the call of the flag knowing full well that they could get hammered. I have also heard that many of the players had difficulty making training because of schoolwork and exams.

It was the honor of representing the country that compelled the players and coaches to embark on this ill-fated campaign. They deserve our understanding and support.

Second, we can play the game, appreciate it, and understand it better. Futsal is a fantastic developmental tool for football. It needs less space and expensive equipment to play. You don't even need spikes to play. Any flat-soled pair of athletic shoes will do. Players get more touches than in an 11-a-side match, which is also important in building skills.

Any basketball court in the country can become a futsal court with an investment of P20,000-P25,000 for a pair of steel goals. Give any experienced ironworker, detailed plans and he should be able to make goal frames.

Third, we can encourage the creation of more leagues. A simple, sustainable, televised senior league would be a huge boost to the game. Kids might watch it on TV and be inspired to do the same on their basketball courts. There are already some youth futsal leagues like the very successful Liga GK, which saw many youth teams from underprivileged communities participate.

It would be great if UAAP and/or NCAA made futsal an official sport. I think futsal makes an ideal first-semester sport for the UAAP, since football is played in the second semester. Many UAAP schools have Team Bs. Why not make some of the team B players play futsal instead?

These big losses are difficult to swallow. And there really is so much beyond the control of us fans. But perhaps this is the sort of wake up call that the sport needs to take off. Let's hope that happens. – Rappler.com

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.

 

Dodgers down Astros to keep World Series bid alive

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GAME 7. The Dodgers even the series to keep their 7th championship hopes alive. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images/AFP.

LOS ANGELES, USA – The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 3-1 victory over Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros on Tuesday, October 31 to force a game 7 showdown for the 2017 World Series.

The Dodgers, seeking a 7th title and their first since 1988, knotted Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship series at 3 games apiece, pushing the Astros to the brink in their bid for a first title since their inception in 1962.

George Springer's solo home run off Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill in the 3rd inning staked the Astros to a 1-0 lead.

It was Springer's 4th homer of the series and the 14th for the Astros – tying the World Series record set by the San Francisco Giants in 2002.

With Verlander rolling through 5 one-hit innings it looked for a time as if that might be enough.

But the Dodgers finally broke through against the Astros ace with two runs in the 6th.

Austin Barnes led off the bottom of the frame with a single.

Chase Utley, part of a double substitution by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, reached first when he was hit by a Verlander pitch that hit the dirt and rolled up Utley's leg.

That brought Chris Taylor to the plate with no outs and two on. Taylor belted a double down the first base line and Barnes scored from second to tie the game with two runners in scoring position and still no outs.

Corey Seager's high fly looked like it might be headed for the left-field seats. 

It was caught at the track but gave Utley plenty of time to reach home plate and give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Verlander limited the damage, retiring Justin Turner and striking out Cody Bellinger to end the inning.

The Astros threatened in the top of the 7th against Dodgers relief pitcher Tony Watson.

Josh Reddick led off with a single, and pinch-hitter Evan Gattis grounded into a fielder's choice, reaching first as Reddick was out at second.

George Springer singled before Alex Bregman's fly out to center sent pinch runner Derek Fisher to third. Jose Altuve then grounded out as the Astros left runners on for the third straight inning.

Pederson homers

The Dodgers extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh on Joc Pederson's one-out homer off relief pitcher Joe Musgrove.

Closing pitcher Kenley Jansen came on in the top of the 8th and retired the Carlos Correa, Yuli Gurriel and Brian McCann on 7 pitches – Gurriel continuing to draw deafening boos from Dodgers fans angered by his racist gesture toward Los Angeles' Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish in game 3.

Jansen set down Marwin Gonzalez, Reddick and pinch hitter Carlos Beltran in order in the 9th to end it.

The Astros will have to regroup before game 7, when Darvish again takes the mound for Los Angeles.

Swept in their only prior World Series appearance in 2005, they came into game 6 bullish about their chances with Verlander on hill.

Verlander, a former Cy Young award-winner who arrived in a trade from the Detroit Tigers on August 31, had been 4-0 in four prior post-season starts for the Astros.

He ran into trouble in the second inning, needing 23 pitches to work around a one-out single by Yasiel Puig.

He then retired 11 straight batters before giving up the single to Barnes in the 6th. – Rappler.com

Double time for NU Bulldogs to stay in final 4 contention

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ONE MAN DOWN. J-jay Alejandro struggles to keep his team up during the Adamson game with Matt Salem down with dengue. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The alarm is ringing for the National University (NU) Bulldogs. They desperately need to climb the ranks of the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball standings after their second round loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, October 29. 

The Bulldogs are at the bottom 3rd spot of the table with a 4-7 record. It will require doubled effort from the team to keep their final 4 hopes alive, as the Bulldogs are also coping with unforeseen events that have disadvantaged them. 

Matt Salem diagnosed with dengue

The Bulldogs were missing the services of their team captain Matt Salem, who was confined in the hospital on Friday, October 27, due to dengue.

"We missed our captain Matt Salem because he suffered from dengue," said head coach Jamike Jarin. "We missed him, his leadership, his rebounding, and his scoring,"

"He's getting better, but he'll be in the hospital for 7 to 9 days," added Jarin. 

Salem was vital in NU's demolition of the winless University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, as he recorded a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while making 2 assists and 4 steals. 

Aside from topscoring for his team with rookie center Issa Gaye, the Bulldogs captain played his best game of the season and attained his season-high. But he was unable to ride on the momentum due to his illness.

Sunday's game saw Adamson drain 11 from downtown and go up by 22 points at the end of the first half, as the Bulldogs experienced a difficult time matching up to the heat of Soaring Falcons.

"Of course we needed players to step up [for him], so we had a hard time with that, so we dunked ourselves in that hole and we need to address that," said Jarin. 

Getting out of the hole

Despite having dug themselves into a hole in the first half of Sunday's game, the Bulldogs rallied back in the 4th quarter with a 22-4 run and executed more defensive stops to cut the deficit, but the gap was just too big to overcome. 

Coach Jarin was proud of this effort coming from his boys that is allowing him to remain positive for the rest of the NU's games. 

"It was just too big of a lead to surpass, but I give credit to the boys. I'm proud of the boys that they just didn't give up," said Jarin.

"The thing we need to focus on is how we got into that hole in the first place, so we need to address that and fix that soon." 

As Jarin emphasizes on "soon," the Bulldogs will be facing the defending champions De La Salle University Green Archers on Saturday, November 4. 

"We're just going to continue pushing and hopefully we'll get a break and barge into the whole playoff  or in the final 4," said Jarin. – Rappler.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSG, Bayern reach Champions League last 16 as Man United edges closer

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SWEET 16. Layvin Kurzawa scored an unlikely hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain powered into the last 16 of the Champions League. Photo by Franck Fife/AFP

PARIS, France - Layvin Kurzawa scored an unlikely hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain powered into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, October 31 (Wednesday Manila time) with a 5-0 rout of Anderlecht, while Bayern Munich joined them in the knockout stage.

Marco Verratti curled in a terrific opening goal - his first in Europe since September 2014 - on the half-hour at the Parc des Princes, with Brazilian superstar Neymar firing in a second before the break.

The world's most expensive player was involved in PSG's third goal as well, as his free-kick was tipped onto the post with France international Kurzawa forcing in the rebound.

The left-back then headed in another from a Dani Alves cross and completed an improbable treble with an angled drive as PSG increased their goals haul to 17 - with none conceded - in 4 Group B matches.

"The hat-trick is thanks to my teammates. I am delighted and the goals will give me confidence," Kurzawa told beIN Sports.

The French giants top their section with a maximum 12 points, with Bundesliga leaders Bayern progressing alongside them following a 2-1 victory away to Celtic.

Kingsley Coman pounced on hesitant Celtic defending to latch onto a long clearance upfield from goalkeeper Sven Ulreich and round Craig Gordon to slot into an empty net on 22 minutes.

Callum McGregor slotted in a second-half equalizer, but Javi Martinez's brave towering header - which left the Spaniard bloodied - clinched qualification for the Germans in Glasgow.

"I knew that today would be a very difficult, intensive game. We've had a busy schedule recently," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

"It's important that we have qualified, but it's going to be difficult to finish top of the group because of our head-to-head record."

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United were made to wait to seal their passage into the next round despite a 2-0 win over Benfica.

Benfica's Mile Svilar, who became the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history a fortnight ago, suffered more misfortune at Old Trafford as his own goal handed United a 45th-minute lead.

The 18-year-old, at fault for the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon, atoned for that error by saving an Anthony Martial penalty, but Svilar was helpless when Nemanja Matic's low drive cannoned off the post before hitting him on the arm and squirming over the line.

Daley Blind wrapped up victory from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after a foul on Marcus Rashford.

"We must get that point from the two remaining matches," United manager Mourinho told BT Sport. "I am more than happy." 

Chelsea thumped, Atletico toil

CSKA Moscow reignited their campaign with a 2-1 victory at Basel in the other Group B fixture.

Luca Zuffi's brilliant lob put Basel in front, but CSKA levelled through Alan Dzagoev in the second half before Pontus Wernbloom steered in the winner to leave the Russians level on six points with their Swiss hosts.

Lionel Messi and Barcelona were frustrated in a goalless stalemate with Olympiakos in Greece, while Juventus salvaged a 1-1 draw at Sporting Lisbon after Gonzalo Higuain levelled late on following Bruno Cesar's opener.

Barcelona remain top of Group D with 10 points, 3 ahead of last year's runners-up Juve, with Sporting on 4.

Chelsea squandered a chance to secure a berth in the knockout stages as Stephan El Shaarawy inspired Roma to a 3-0 success over the Premier League champions in Italy.

El Shaarawy drilled Roma ahead after just 40 seconds at the Stadio Olimpico as he ran onto an Edin Dzeko knockdown to slam home from the edge of the area.

The Italy striker netted a second on 36 minutes with Diego Perotti rifling in a third from 25 yards as Roma replaced Chelsea at the top of Group C with two matches remaining.

Roma are on eight points, one above Chelsea, but Atletico Madrid - finalists twice in the past 4 seasons - are heading for elimination following a 1-1 draw at home to Qarabag.

Journeyman Spaniard Michel headed the Azerbaijani champions in front from a corner, and while Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey hammered in an equalizer, Diego Simeone's side must now beat both Chelsea and Roma and hope other results work in their favor. – Rappler.com

Elusive title within Louie Vigil's arm's reach after being drafted by San Miguel

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ROOKIE. Louie Vigil says he's ready to help San Miguel's starters catch a breather and reinforce their second shift. File photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines - After losing two championship battles in college, PBA rookie Louie Vigil can win as many titles as he wants with the San Miguel Beermen.

Vigil, who was picked 17th overall by the Beermen in the 2017 PBA Draft last Sunday, October 19, admitted he was told by his agent that he will be selected as either a late first or early second rounder but would not trade anything now that he is part of a team that won two conference titles last season.

“For me, late ako napick pero blessing in disguise, buti this team chose me,” said the former UST Tigers stalwart.

(For me, I was picked late but this is a blessing in disguise. Fortunately, this team chose me.)

Kung papapiliin ako ngayon, mas pipiliin ko ‘yung posisyon ko ngayon.”

(If I would choose between being picked early or being picked by the Beermen, I would choose my position now.)

During his career in the UAAP, Vigil and the Tigers suffered finals losses to Ateneo de Manila University in 2012 and Far Eastern University in 2015. In 2014, the 26-year-old, who was not included in the roster due to academic deficiencies, had to watch the Tigers absorb another finals defeat to the De La Salle University.

But with the Beermen, who were a championship short of the grand slam last season, that elusive title is now within Vigil’s reach.

“’Di pa tayo nakakatikim ng championship sa UAAP, that elusive title will always be my dream and ngayong Philippine Cup, if ever na maging part man ako ng team, maging part man ako ng rotation, I will do my best to help my team, I’ll do whatever it takes para makasama ako sa champion.”

(I never won a championship in the UAAP and that elusive title will always be my dream. In the upcoming Philippine Cup, if ever I will be a part of the team, if ever I get to be part of the rotation, I will do my best to help my team and I’ll do whatever it takes to be a champion.)

With Ronald Tubid, who served as Marcio Lassiter’s backup at the shooting guard position, being part of the Kia-SMB trade involving the Picanto’s top pick, Vigil’s chances of getting playing time has been made easier.

But knowing coach Leo Austria’s tendency to give the bulk of minutes to his starting 5, the former NCAA juniors’ MVP has to work his way up the rotation.

“I think I can help them to win more games and rest their starters well. ‘Yun ang pagtatrabahuhan ko ngayon, maging maganda ‘yung second unit ni coach Leo para mahaba ‘yung pahinga ng mga starters.”

(I think I can help them to win more games and rest their starters well. That is what I will work on, to make coach Leo’s second unit productive in order to give the starters rest.) – Rappler.com

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