Indiana Pacers guard Joe Young (3) catches the ball between his knees as he goes for a loose ball with Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The Washington Wizards defeated the Pacers 111-102. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS — Suddenly, the Washington Wizards look unbeatable.Their early season shooting woes are gone, they’re sharing the ball more and they’re playing like a contender. And they’ve done it all with All-Star guard John Wall on the mend.ADVERTISEMENT They did it again Monday as Bradley Beal, their other All-Star, scored 21 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 to lead the Wizards past the Indiana Pacers, 111-102 for a season-best fifth straight win.“John is such a key and valuable piece to our team. He draws so much attention at what he brings to both ends of the floor, that’s kind of irreplaceable,” Beal said. “It’s definitely a huge hit to us having him out, but we’ve been having some success. We’ve figured it out a little bit.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkActually, they’re thriving.Since Wall went down with an injured left knee, Washington hasn’t lost. The latest victory gave the Wizards their fourth in a row over the Pacers, something that hadn’t happened since a nine-game winning streak in the series ended in 1983-84. JRU nears Final Four, goes on 15-0 run in 4th set to beat Lyceum Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina With All-Star guard Victor Oladipo out with an illness and point guard Darren Collison out with a bad left knee, the Pacers were out of sync and out of contention for most of the game.The Wizards took advantage.Indiana missed its first six shots, which allowed Washington to jump out to a 17-8 lead. The Wizards took complete control with a 13-0 run that made it 55-39 with 3:13 to go in the first half.The Pacers never got closer than seven again.Bojan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 29 points for the Pacers as he tried to spur a fourth-quarter rally. Joe Young added 17 as Indiana’s six-game home winning streak ended.“Vic is our go-to-guy. We knew it was going to be tough without both,” Bogdanovic said. “They play heavy minutes. We got two less players in the rotation. I think (Washington) didn’t win this game. We lost this game with too many turnovers and (giving up) too many easy points.”TIP-INSWizards: Markieff Morris had 11 points and 10 rebounds while Otto Porter Jr. scored 13 points. … Ian Mahinmi finished with 12 points and seven rebounds against his former team. … Washington shot 55.6 percent from the field. … The Wizards have won four of the last six played in Indianapolis. … Washington has had at least 25 assists in six consecutive games. … Beal was 1 of 4 on 3-pointers, giving him 2,002 attempts in his career.Pacers: Domantas Sabonis finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. … Young made a career-best five 3s. … Lance Stephenson had 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six turnovers. Joseph had seven points and four assists. … Indiana was 12 of 29 on 3s but shot 46.2 percent overall, ending its four-game run of topping 50 percent. … The Pacers also were 16 of 25 from the free-throw line.INJURY REPORTBefore the game, the Pacers announced Collison would miss two to three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.Pacers coach Nate McMillan said Collison was injured during Saturday night’s win over Philadelphia. He’s hoping Collison, who was averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 assists, can return shortly after the All-Star break. MOST READ OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson McMillan plugged Cory Joseph and Stephenson but may change it up until Collison returns.“I like Cory and Lance coming off the bench, so once Vic is back we’ll look at each game we’re playing and make a decision,” McMillan said.UP NEXTWizards: Finish a three-game road trip Tuesday at Philadelphia.Pacers: Will try to earn a split in the season series Wednesday at New Orleans.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next The difference appears to be more balance.On Monday, eight players scored in double figures and three had at least seven rebounds. Thomas Satoransky and Tim Frazier each finished with six assists and Beal was the only Washington player with more than two turnovers.The Wizards outscored Indiana 30-11 in transition and had a 43-35 rebounding edge, too.“I thought everybody chipped in and played well,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said.But the Pacers weren’t themselves.ADVERTISEMENT Almazan vows to comeback stronger after finals heartbreak Nonito Donaire vs Naoya Inoue is BWAA 2019 Fight of the Year Newsome sets focus on helping Bolts open new PBA season on right track Nueva Ecija warehouse making fake cigarettes raided, 29 Chinese workers nabbed View comments Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Michael Porter Jr. stays patient as playing time increases Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 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Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Jayson Castro and June Mar Fajardo bannered the attendees, together with Gabe Norwood, Kevin Alas, Roger Pogoy, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Kiefer Ravena.Calvin Abueva also attended the session though, Reyes had already ruled him out of making the roster for the February window.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkJapeth Aguilar was also present, but watched the session from the sidelines.Big man Abu Tratter, a member of Reyes’ “23-for-23” cadet list, lent a hand in the practices. Manalang nets 40 as new recruits help AMA post 1st victory Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew MOST READ OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.netAndray Blatche reunited with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates on Monday afternoon as he rejoined the team at the start of its daily trainings at West Greenhills Gym.Blatche was the latest addition in the session as coach Chot Reyes had 12 locals present for practice.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Michael Porter Jr. stays patient as playing time increases Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award The Philippines is preparing for the second window of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers, where it faces powerhouse Australia on February 22 at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne before flying back home to take on Japan on February 25 at Mall of Asia Arena.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina Newsome sets focus on helping Bolts open new PBA season on right track OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson LATEST STORIES Almazan vows to comeback stronger after finals heartbreak Nonito Donaire vs Naoya Inoue is BWAA 2019 Fight of the Year read more
The 39-year-old Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 knockouts) would rather tangle with either, but would likely fight anybody Arum lines up for him.The listed opponent the fighting senator would face is Mike Alvarado (38-4 26 KOs), a former junior welterweight challenger who at 37 is also not a spring chicken any longer but has won four bouts in a row over lesser opponents.Sportswriter Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times reported that “there should be deserved scoffing at the light assignment for Pacquiao” in the person of Alvarado.Pugmire said “the better choice would’ve been newly belted champion Lucas Matthysse” who is handled by Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions that Arum hasn’t contacted.The 35-year old Matthysse won by technical knockout over Tewa Kiram last month to claim the vacant WBA world welterweight title.ADVERTISEMENT Sea turtle trapped in net freed in Legazpi City Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Nueva Ecija warehouse making fake cigarettes raided, 29 Chinese workers nabbed Phivolcs records 2 ‘discrete weak ash explosions’ at Taal Volcano MOST READ UK plans Brexit celebrations but warns businesses may suffer Pacquiao’s next bout has been under wraps or in limbo for sometime.Although Arum broke his silence recently and saidPacman’s ring return could be finalized a week from February 5, nothing has been heard from him since.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkThe impressario has expected that Pacquiao, idled from the ring since losing his WBO welterweight belt to Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane on July 2, would fight again soon. And it would be in New York for the first time, at the Madison Square Garden no less in a pay-per-view card on April 14.The ESPN PPV promotion is being planned by Arum to be his first with the giant sports network. The twin bill is also supposed to pit two fighters on Pacquiao’s wish list for a comeback bout—his tormentor Horn and unbeaten former four-belt junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford. Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Manny Pacquiao PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.netSACRAMENTO—Manny Pacquiao trusts Bob Arum to keep the trains running.But the promoter appears to be sleeping at the switch.ADVERTISEMENT Van Der Valk bucks penalty, takes lead It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson GALLERY: Barangay Ginebra back as PBA Governors’ Cup kings Phivolcs records 2 ‘discrete weak ash explosions’ at Taal Volcano The Argentinian knockout artist (39-4 KOs) called out Pacquiao before a partisan crowd at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood after his victory over Kiram of Thailand who was fighting in America for the first time.That said, the bout with Alvarado instead of Matthysse “through a matchmaker’s eyes … could allow Pacquiao to score his first knockout victory since 2009,” Pugmire wrote.According to Pugmire, the match up with Alvarado “could produce more enthusiasm for a possible showdown later this year against the favored Crawford, who is ranked No. 1 in The Times’ pound-for-pound ratings.”From “La La Land” to Cleveland. Filipino American point guard Jordan Clarkson, traded by Los Angeles to Cleveland on Thursday led a quartet of new Cavaliers in helping defeat the Boston Celtics in impressive fashion, 121-99, on Sunday.Clarkson led Cleveland’s second unit with 17 points—7-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-4 treys. He added three boards, an assist and a pair of steals as the Cavs spoiled Paul Pierce’s jersey retirement at Boston’s TD Garden.The Celtics could have fielded Pierce in uniform as the Cavs splurged in the last three quarters to embarrass Kyrie Irving and the Celts on national TV.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments read more
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) passes the ball in front of Memphis Grizzlies guard Kobi Simmons (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)OKLAHOMA CITY — For most point guards, grabbing 16 rebounds to achieve a milestone would seem a daunting task.For Russell Westbrook, it seemed a foregone conclusion.ADVERTISEMENT Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ MOST READ Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Truck driver killed in Davao del Sur road accident Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina P16.5-M worth of aid provided for Taal Volcano eruption victims — NDRRMC Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award View comments Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next George, Westbrook lead Thunder past Grizzlies LATEST STORIES Jo Koy draws ire for cutting through Cebu City traffic with ‘wang-wang’ Scientists seek rare species survivors amid Australia flames Green group flags ‘overkill’ use of plastic banderitas in Manila Sto. Niño feast “His numbers help them win,” Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re not meaningless numbers. You get numbers on a bad team or in a blowout game or whatever it is, but he shows the consistency every single night, going out and performing at a high level. There’s very few guys, maybe a handful of guys that play with that level of intensity, with a burning fire, to be the best player on the floor every single night. He’s one of those guys.”Westbrook had season lows of two field goals made and nine shot attempts against the Grizzlies as he focused on other aspects of the game.“Russ is going to play the game,” said Paul George, who scored 40 points Wednesday night. “He’s one of the best to do it at that position. He was looking to get guys going early and saw how the game was unfolding. He stayed with it.”Longtime teammate Nick Collison said Westbrook continues to amaze him.“I’ve seen him lock in, and I want to really appreciate how good of a player he is and the production he’s had these last two years,” Collison said. “It’s not just that. I’m not too much into the statistics. They’re amazing, but seeing him put the organization on his back and lead the organization through a tough time and the way that he’s able to show up every night and produce and compete and lead the team has been really fun to watch.”ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. The Thunder star entered Wednesday’s regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies needing 16 rebounds to become the first player to average a triple-double in multiple seasons. He had four rebounds at the end of the first quarter, then snagged seven in the second in just under nine minutes. He had five rebounds in the first 2:42 of the third quarter to reach his goal, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.He finished with just six points, but he had a career-high 20 rebounds and 19 assists in a 137-123 win. He finished the season with averages of 25.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crown“I’m very, very thankful and blessed, man, to go out and compete,” Westbrook said. “Like I’ve said many, many times, I don’t take this game for granted. I don’t take going out on the floor and competing for granted. When God has got something planned, ain’t nobody who can stop it.”After averaging a triple-double and setting a single-season NBA record with 42 triple-doubles last season, he added 25 more this season, and the Thunder won 20 of those games. He ranks fourth in NBA history with 104 career triple-doubles, three behind Jason Kidd. read more
‘High crimes and misdemeanors’: Trump impeachment trial begins In this July 3, 2018, image taken from video provided by the Thai Navy Seal, Thai boys are with Navy SEALs inside the cave, Mae Sai, northern Thailand. With heavy rains forecast to worsen flooding in a cave in northern Thailand where 12 boys and their soccer coach are waiting to be extracted by rescuers, authorities say they might be forced to have them swim out through a narrow, underwater passage. The 13 are described as healthy and being looked after by medics inside the cave.(Thai Navy Seal via AP)Football stars urged the Thai team trapped in a cave to “stay strong” as messages of support and concern poured in for the 12 boys and their coach.Players from Brazil legend Ronaldo to England’s John Stones said they were closely following attempts to rescue the team, whose ordeal coincides with the World Cup in Russia.ADVERTISEMENT Trump assembles a made-for-TV impeachment defense team MOST READ View comments Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. “Stay strong and know we are with you,” Klopp said in a video message sent to CNN.“We are following all the news and hoping every second that you see daylight again. We are all very optimistic that it will happen, hopefully in minutes, hours or the next few days.”Stones said he had been discussing the cave rescue with his England teammates ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.“I’ve been speaking about it with a few of the boys,” the defender said, according to British media. “It’s so sad to see where they are and we hope they get out safe and sound.”World body FIFA told CNN it was in close contact with the Football Association of Thailand, while Croatia’s football authority said it was “awed” by the team’s calm under pressure.ADVERTISEMENT Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Report: Disney dropping the ‘Fox’ from movie studio names Max Holloway’s health scare underlines MMA’s inherent risks Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding Putin’s, Xi’s ruler-for-life moves pose challenges to West LATEST STORIES Palace OKs total deployment ban on Kuwait OFWs Many fans on social media said the boys deserved the World Cup trophy for their bravery after spending two weeks trapped in darkness underground.“It is terrible news and the world of football hopes that someone can find a way to take these kids out of there,” said Ronaldo at a FIFA media event, according to CNN.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone still willing to coach Gilas but admits decision won’t be ‘simple yes or no’The Wild Boars team, aged 11-16, became trapped by rising floodwaters after setting off to explore the cave with their 25-year-old coach after training on June 23.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told the team, “You’ll never walk alone”, quoting the motto of the English side which has a large following in Thailand. “We are awed by the bravery and strength that these young boys and their coach have shown amidst such frightening circumstances,” the Croatian Football Federation said on its website.“These are situations that are bigger than sports, but their sporting competitiveness will help them cope with the current challenge.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ read more
In front of noisy crowds at the badminton, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting upset Kidambi Srikanth 23-21, 20-22, 21-10 as Indonesia beat India 3-1 to set up a men’s team semi-final against Japan.Indonesia’s women will also face Japan in the badminton semi-finals after their 3-1 victory over South Korea. The winner will play China or Thailand in the final.Indonesia also had a double success in the mountain biking competition when Tiara Andini Prastika won the women’s downhill and Khoiful Mukhib grabbed the men’s gold medal.China’s Yang Haoran and Zhao Ruozhu were crowned the men’s and women’s 10m air rifle champions, both with Games record scores, and their team-mate Zhang Xinqiu jumped for joy when she edged South Korea’s Kang Gee-eun to win the women’s trap.“I felt like all my hard work had finally paid off,” she said with a beaming smile. “I was so excited and emotional.”North Korea won their first two gold medals of the Games when former Olympic champion Om Yun Chol lifted a total of 287kg in the men’s 56kg category and Ri Song Gum won the women’s 48kg.And Vinesh Phogat became India’s first women’s wrestling champion at the Asian Games to extend a family legacy in the sport which was immortalised in a celebrated Bollywood film.Phogat outclassed Japan’s Yuki Irie 6-2 to win the 50kg final in Jakarta and was then hoisted on the shoulders of team staff draped in the Indian flag.The 23-year-old is a cousin of former Commonwealth champions Geeta and Babita Kumari Phogat, whose rise from obscurity to wrestling fame was captured in 2016’s ‘Dangal’, an international hit.Lin Chaopan won the men’s all-around gymnastics title as China reached 15 gold medals late by the end of day two, ahead of Japan on eight and South Korea’s five. Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, the Games’ governing body, said the incident would serve as a warning to other athletes.“At the end of the day, representing your country isn’t only about winning medals,” he said.Bollywood epicElsewhere on day two, Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min scored the only goal as South Korea beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0 to reach the last 16 in the men’s football.Son, who needs Asiad gold to be granted an exemption from his 21-month compulsory military service, volleyed the winner in the 63rd minute to set up a knock-out match with Iran.ADVERTISEMENT Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ Peza offers relief to ecozone firms Gold medallist Japan’s Rikako Ikee celebrates during the victory ceremony of the women’s 100m freestyle swimming event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 20, 2018. AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADTeenager Rikako Ikee spearheaded a golden night for Japan’s swimmers on Monday after the expulsion of four basketball players for using prostitutes rocked the Japanese team at the Asian Games.Ikee, 18, won the women’s 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly, Kanako Watanabe took women’s 200m breaststroke gold and Japan’s men beat Sun Yang’s China in the 4x200m freestyle relay.ADVERTISEMENT Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Gov’t in no rush to rescue animals in Taal Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? ‘High crimes and misdemeanors’: Trump impeachment trial begins Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Palace OKs total deployment ban on Kuwait OFWs Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next MOST READ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES DepEd’s Taal challenge: 30K students displaced Sun, China’s fearsome triple Olympic champion, won the Games’ inaugural 800m freestyle title but Japan still outshone their fierce Asian swimming rivals by four gold medals to three.It provided a positive end to the day for Japan, who will host the next Olympics in 2020, after the four basketball players were caught paying for sex in a Jakarta red light district.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSTim Cone still willing to coach Gilas but admits decision won’t be ‘simple yes or no’Yuya Nagayoshi, Takuya Hashimoto, Takuma Sato and Keita Imamura were spotted in the area wearing team jerseys and “paid for the services of prostitutes”, chef de mission Yasuhiro Yamashita said, according to Kyodo news agency.“I just feel a sense of shame,” Japan’s chef de mission Yasuhiro Yamashita told reporters. “We deeply apologise and intend to give the athletes thorough guidance from now on.” Chinese hotshots reign supreme at Asian Games View comments read more
Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra In addition to Cousins, the Warriors rested guard Shaun Livingston and forward Andre Iguodala. Kerr said before the game that Cousins and Livingston got the night off because of the back-to-back games, and Iguodala was additionally a “little banged up.”The Warriors started Kevon Looney in Cousins’ place.Durant led all scorers with 16 points in the first quarter, and Golden State led 33-31. Durant played just five minutes of the second quarter as the Warriors turned to their bench and finished the half with 20 points.The first half was close — Portland held a slim 64-61 lead at the break — and it stayed close in the third quarter. Looney’s basket tied it at 75 with just under nine minutes to go in the period.The game first got testy midway through the quarter when Durant pushed Nurkic after the two appeared to exchange words, but the officials quickly diffused the situation.Curry made back-to-back 3-pointers and the Warriors took a 93-88 lead, but Lillard answered with a 3.The Blazers had eight players in double figures for the second time this season. Jusuf Nurkic had 11 points and 11 rebounds.It was the last game before the All-Star break for both teams.“(I’m) really pleased with where we are at the All-Star break,” Kerr said. “Everybody’s gonna have a chance to get away a little bit, then come back for the stretch run.”Earlier in the day, the Blazers signed center Enes Kanter. The New York Knicks, who decided to focus on younger players, were unable to deal Kanter before the trade deadline and waived him instead. “It’s really important when you can collect yourself and come home against the best team in the league right now, and just get it done,” Lillard said. “I thought that said a lot about our team, our growth.”Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each had 32 points for the Warriors, who rested DeMarcus Cousins following a victory at home over Utah the night before. Despite the loss, which ended an 11-game winning streak on the road, Golden State still goes into the break with the best record in the Western Conference.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsAfter a tight three quarters, Layman’s long jumper gave Portland a 104-101 lead in the final period before Zach Collins blocked Damion Lee’s layup on the other end.Collins and Klay Thompson exchanged words, and the frustration spilled over to players from both sides. The two players were given offsetting technical fouls. Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil View comments Referee Ron Garretson, left, tries to break up a talk between Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, center, and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. The Blazers won 129-107. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)PORTLAND, Oregon— With a drama-filled victory over the Warriors that included the ejection of Golden State coach Steve Kerr, the Portland Trail Blazers got a confidence boost heading into the All-Star break.Damian Lillard scored 29 points and the Blazers snapped Golden State’s five-game winning streak with a 129-107 win Wednesday night. Jake Layman added 17 points off the bench for the Blazers, who rebounded after a two-game skid.ADVERTISEMENT Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES Philippine Army to acquire MANPADS, self-propelled howitzers MOST READ Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles08:07Athletes treated to a spectacle as SEA Games 2019 officially ends02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Kanter will join the team for the Feb. 21 game against Brooklyn following the All-Star break. Kanter will back up Nurkic.TIP-INSWarriors: Kerr said before the game the team would rely on its bench with three key players missing. Among those expected to see extended minutes was Jordan Bell, who went to Oregon. “He deserves some action. I’m excited to play him. He’s got his Oregon shoes on tonight, representing the Ducks.” Bell had six points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes.Blazers: In addition to Kanter, Portland strengthened its bench prior to the trade deadline with the addition of Rodney Hood. Portland’s second unit will now consist of Seth Curry, Layman, Hood, Kanter and Evan Turner.“The addition of Enes fortifies our front court for this critical late season push,” said Neil Olshey, Blazers president of basketball operations. “He’s an impact player with playoff experience that will be an excellent fit with our style of play.”UP NEXTThe Warriors host the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 21.The Blazers visit the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 21. Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Nikola Jokic tips in winner, Isaiah Thomas shines in debut as Nuggets frustrate Kings Portland led 110-103 before Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul on Collins with 3:54 left. Kerr reacted angrily, throwing his clipboard to court and yelling at the officials before he was ejected.Lillard made the three technical shots and Collins made his free throws to give Portland a 115-103 lead. Layman added a 3-pointer to all but seal the win. The Warriors finished with just 12 points in the final quarter.Green praised Kerr for standing up for him: “That was amazing, he was great. I enjoyed that.”Kerr said he was shocked when officials looked at the replay and determined it was a flagrant.“We’ll obviously get an explanation from the league, but I just thought it was a good, hard foul,” Kerr said. “I guess I was wrong.”ADVERTISEMENT Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? read more
Vice President Joseph N. Boakai wants Liberians to be patient concerning the benefits that would eventually flow when the discovery of oil in commercial quantities becomes a reality.Speaking at the close of a roundtable discussion on the Draft Petroleum Law over the weekend, Vice President Boakai encouraged Liberians to manage their expectations about the oil and gas sector, regardless of expert opinions that after the exploration process, “It would take about five to seven years before commercial oil drilling begins.”“Sometimes you hear people say that after all these exercises we will not get a drop of oil until after five to seven years. That shouldn’t raise any concern since many people, who lived long before us are not going to benefit from the oil. They have been there all of this time, but did not get a chance. Now we have to wait for seven years before benefiting; so why should it matter? We will still wait,” he said.“What is important here is that we are all getting to do it for the first time; and these dialogues and discussions are helpful to the process,” Vice President Boakai said.He praised the presence of foreign experts, who have come to assist Liberia in drafting a better law to govern the sector.In remarks, House Speaker J. Alex Tyler showed excitement over developments related to the sector.He noted that the second of the three phases of events surrounding draft laws had been successful; a national conference to include as many people as possible will shortly get underway way; then the draft legislation in the chambers of the House will follow, for discussion.“We have to understand that this country belongs to all Liberians; whether it is the Legislature, the Executive or the Judiciary involved in a process, we have to give it the support it deserves. The product of that will be to the benefit of the whole country. It is about time that we became focused as Liberians, in order to set the pace for our forward march.”He encouraged the setting up of a legal framework for the oil sector. “It is not a choice—it is a must that the Legislature moves in such a direction.The closing brings to an end, a week-long discussion that paved the way for a planned mass gathering in Monrovia. That gathering will entertain the views of student groups, the business community, religious and political leaders, among others.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more
Star International Company, which filed a US$1.2 million bond to release seven employees of First International Bank (FIB) has gotten itself into trouble with Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice.The insurance company in early 2014 wrote the Court that it was withdrawing its US$1.2 million bond filed as a surety for co-defendants Angie Brooks, Kebbeh Kulah Clark, Jerimen Telibeli, Beyan Dagzi, Arricanus Freeman, Robert Cummings and Richard Gboyah.They have been charged with the commission of the crimes money laundering, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, facilitation and forgery by the government. They were accused of allegedly stealing US$4 million from the bank.At Thursday, May 15, hearing, Judge Yussif D. Kaba declared that “Star International Company remains obligated under its bond until and unless they can have all of the defendants presented to the court as provided under the law.”Judge Kaba said, however, that surety has the right to ask the court to withdraw its bond file to release an accused from prison, but that “The bond’s surety remains obligated until the order to file a new bond is complied with.”According to Judge Kaba, since the surety to the existing bond declared its inability to continue to provide coverage for the defendants as contracted with the court, the clerk of the court is hereby mandated to cite Star International Company to appear before this court on Tuesday, May 20, at the hour of 2 p.m. along with the living body of all of the defendants for whom they filed the bond.He further instructed, “Their failure will lead the Court without any other alternative but to hold them in contempt of Court.”The case started when the defendants through Star International Company filed a criminal appearance bond in the tune of US$1.2 million to secure their day-to-day appearance before the court for allegedly stealing US$4 million from the bank.Unfortunately, the Company without a new bond wrote the Court that it was withdrawing its bond.However, the prosecution argued that since the Company was no more serving as security for the defendants, the court should re-arrest the defendants before they escaped from the country.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more
The Ebola Virus Outbreak in Liberia, as it stands now, may no longer be a hindrance as many are now bracing the storm to carry on their normal affairs.In the diplomatic domain, two influential European countries have sent ambassadors to represent them in Liberia.The new Ambassadors representing the Kingdoms of Netherlands and Denmark respectively, on Monday presented their Letters of Credence to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at separate ceremonies at her Foreign Ministry office.The two Ambassadors are resident in Accra, Ghana.The new Danish Ambassador, Ms. Margit Thomsen, on behalf of His Majesty, the King of Denmark, conveyed fraternal greetings and best wishes of the King and the people of Denmark, noting that relations between Liberia and Denmark have throughout the years been characterized by good and fruitful cooperation.Demark and Liberia, she said, have cooperated closely, especially in connection with improving women’s conditions, economic empowerment of women, raising awarenes and strengthening the campaign against gender-based violence, and supporting women food producers.“Liberia made impressive progress in reinstating peace and restoring the country after the cessation of conflict in 2003 – construction of infrastructure, restoring water and electricity, while building of the educational and health sectors were underway,” Ambassador Thomsen noted.She said that all of a sudden Liberia’s development path suffered a setback due to the eruption of the Ebola virus. She assured President Sirleaf that Denmark was committed to helping the Government and international partners to contain the further spread of the virus.“Denmark wishes to continue to support Liberia also in the years ahead when Liberia will be back on the good path towards further development,” said Ambassador Thomsen.Ambassador Hans Docker, for his part, expressed Netherland’s desire to stand firmly with Liberia during this time of the Ebola crisis. He informed President Sirleaf that a vessel with anti-Ebola supplies is headed to the region in two weeks.Ambassador Docker disclosed that he has also been appointed as the “Dutch Special Ebola Envoy” to the affected countries; and that his government will do all that is necessary to help eradicate the virus from the region.The Kingdom of Netherlands is currently mobilizing to send healthcare workers, a mobile laboratory as well as build an Ebola treatment unit where it is most needed in the region.In separate remarks, President Sirleaf updated the two new Ambassadors on the Ebola situation in the country and expressed satisfaction over the current level of intervention of the international community, including support from the two countries. The people of Liberia, with the help of many international partners, are now effectively containing the further spread of the virus.“In July and August, the situation was extremely terrible as the disease was very strange to us and support and interventions were at their lowest. Many of our citizens died, while the government instituted several measures, including a State of Emergency to tackle the spread of the virus,” President Sirleaf recounted. “Today, we can see results and are well on the road to defeating the virus with the help and support of everyone.”The Ebola virus disease has had a grave impact on the country’s economy and its development drive, she added.President Sirleaf informed the two new diplomats that a post-Ebola recovery plan is being developed to mitigate the economic challenges that may arise. She pointed out that when such time comes, private sector partnerships will be highly encouraged and anticipated to aid the recovery process.As a way of turning the Ebola devastation into opportunities, President Sirleaf noted that all will now be done to finally eradicate the virus as well as integrate the overall regular healthcare programs so as to ensure that the healthcare system comes out strong with solid infectious control measures and programs in all health facilities.The Liberian leader particularly thanked the Danish Government for its support to the country’s Gender and Women’s Empowerment Program through the Ministry of Gender and Development.Diplomacy Amidst EbolaThough countries affected by the Ebola virus were ostracized during the heat of the crisis with many nations banning airlines and vessels emanating from the affected region from entering their countries, the coming of the two diplomats signals that things have began to improve with several institutional and global leaders bracing the Ebola storm and paying solidarity visits.The decision of the two European countries to use this time to tighten diplomatic ties with Liberia tells the rest of the world that they can still do business with Liberia in spite of the crisis.In the heat of the crisis there was no information of any diplomat leaving the country or closing of embassies as was being done by top entrepreneurs, concessions and other top foreign residents. The country was also shunned by many of its neighbors.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more