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Cotabato airport rehab to cost P2.6 billion

THE MOTHBALLED airport in M’lang, Cotabato will need at least P2.6 billion to rehabilitate and put into operation, according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MiNDA), citing an assessment from the Department of Transportation.

In a statement last week, MinDA chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol, who was Cotabato governor when construction of the Central Mindanao Airport Development Project was started in 2004, said the facility will provide a logistical boost to the agriculture sector in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, which covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, and General Santos City.

“The airport, which has capability for commercial flights, is primarily intended to support transport of agricultural products from the region,” Mr. Piñol said.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who visited earthquake-affected areas in the province last week, issued a directive to work on bringing the airport back into operation.

The runway and terminal building were completed in 2010, but then governor Emmylou T. Mendoza shelved it, citing problems with the acquisition of the 62-hectare site for the airport, the lack of a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment, among other issues.

In a Jan. 3 post on her social media page, Ms. Mendoza, currently the vice-governor, said efforts were exerted during her governorship to fix the problems, but “the anomalies and irregularities affecting the acquisition of lands had brought the project to a standstill. This warranted the involvement of the different national government agencies with legal authority on the issues affecting the project.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

DENR sets January ECC hearing for Cebu quarry

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to conduct a public hearing for the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application of Cebu-based mining firm Citadel Mining Corp. (CMC) for its mine site in Danao City.

“Scheduled for public hearing this January… It will discuss impact and mitigating measures of the mining activities,” DENR Environmental Management Bureau (DENR- EMB) Director William P. Cuñado said in a phone interview.

In a notice, the EMB said a public hearing on the environmental impact statement (EIS) of the proposed Danao Pozzolan Mining Project of CMC is set on Jan. 17. The EIS of the project is currently being reviewed by the bureau.

“Pagkatapos doon sa public hearing, kung mai-submit na yung mga output nila, then mag-schedule ulit (After the public hearing, if the company submits the requirements, we will then schedule) a technical hearing,” Mr. Cuñado said.

The timeline will “depend on the project proponent’s compliance… we cannot dictate the compliance of the company,” he said.

The project is located at barangays Cabungahan, Manlayag, Sta. Rosa and Guinacot in Danao City. The site comprises 102.1 hectares out of the 336.3782 hectares covered by the mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA), which was awarded to the company on April 10, 2000.

The mining method for the proposed projects is surface mining through quarrying, with a mine life of 10 years. Pozzolan, a major raw material used in the production of cement, can be mined in the area, which will be supplied to clients like Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc.

“CMC has not considered any alternative project site. For the mining method, given the nature of the deposit, the result of the initial feasibility conducted, drilling/geologic results and environmental considerations, the most suitable method of extraction is by open-cut quarry method,” the company said in its EIS.

The first year of implementation is the pre-construction stage which will involve technical design and finalization of quarry plans and construction of facilities, soil investigation, and securing of needed permits. In the second year, it has scheduled construction and site preparation, which will include site clearing, development of roads and drainage lines, and preparation of the loading pad and benches, among others.

Extraction of the mineral will also start by the second year, with activities to run for 10 years. At the end of the mine life, the company will rehabilitate the remaining mined-out areas and settling ponds, decommission of quarry ancillary facilities, implement social programs, and donate buildings to interested local government units. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Bidders invited for fish port rehab consulting services

THE Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is inviting bidders to offer consulting services for the rehabilitation of the Lucena City fishport, as well as the construction of fish ports in Davao and Iloilo.

In three separate notices, PFDA said it is soliciting expressions of interest and eligibility documents for potential consultants for the rehabilitation and improvement of the Lucena Fish Port Complex (LFPC).

The invitations also cover consulting on the upgrade of the Davao Fish Port Complex (DFPC) and Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC).

The approved budgets for LFPC, DFPC, and IFPC are P26.994 million, P11.6 million, and P31.216 million, respectively.

The contract duration for DFPC is 26 months, while those for LFPC and IFPC is 38 months.

“Bids received in excess of the (approved budget) will be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals,” it said in the notices.

According to PFDA’s website, LFPC was built on a 7.8-hectare reclaimed area at Barangay Dalahican, Lucena City in 1982, at a total cost of P283.976 million, which was funded by a loan from the Overseas Economic Cooperation fund of Japan. Its operations officially started in 1992.

Also funded by a loan from Japan, DFPC was constructed in 1993 in Barangay Daliao in Toril, Davao City, and was completed in 1995, at a total cost of P359.192 million.

IFPC is located in a 21-hectare reclaimed area in Barangay Tanza, Iloilo City.

“Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens or sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least 60% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines,” PFDA said.

The deadline for submission of eligibility documents for the Lucena project is Jan. 13. For the Davao and Iloilo projects, the deadlines are Jan. 15 and Jan. 17, respectively.

The BAC Secretariat will receive applications at PFDA in Diliman, Quezon City. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

What rising Middle East tensions mean for oil market — analyst view

THE United States launched an air strike against a leading Iranian military commander on Friday, heightening fears of a conflict escalation in the Middle East that could hurt crude supplies in the region.

Iran promised vengeance after a US air strike in Baghdad killed, Tehran’s most prominent military commander and the architect of its growing influence in the Middle East.

Here is what analysts expect in terms of market response:

Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy, Saxo Bank

• “Today’s US strike at the heart of the Iranian leadership signals a significant escalation. However, the price spike seen today has as opposed to the Aramco attack not been driven by a supply disruption.”

• “A price rise due to supply being disrupted as opposed to a demand driven spike carries the risk of sending prices sharply lower once the situation stabilizes.”

UBS

• “While neither the US nor Iran wish for an escalation in tensions, no one knows if, when, and how Iran will respond. Considering these risks, markets have added a risk premium on fears tensions could escalate.”

• “We assign a higher probability of renewed attacks on oil tankers, ships or/and energy infrastructure in the region than we do on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Republic also relies on the strait for its crude exports.”

Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates

• “The Middle East tensions are escalating at a time when oil supplies were already tightening in response to OPEC production cuts and rising expectations for oil demand improvement off of an expected Phase 1 trade deal.”

• “Iranian developments are apt to spur a strong bout of inventory accumulation throughout crude or (oil) product distribution chains.”

• “Increasing excess productive capacity in Saudi Arabia could act as a buffer if global oil supplies are disrupted appreciably.”

Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical risk analyst, S&P Global Platts

• “The chances of a broader conflict remain below 50%, although risks are entering new territory.”

• “Iranian retaliation could take the form of a quick response by proxies against US allies and assets, but a larger response is likely to be more carefully calculated and indirect in an effort to avoid outright conflict.”

Andy Lipow, president of consultants Lipow Oil Associates

• “The oil market is trying to assess the probability that this leads to a supply disruption. Iran, which has already seen their exports cut to minimal volumes, they have little to lose in the way of crude oil exports.”

Carlo Alberto De Casa, chief analyst, ActivTrades

• “Oil’s reaction to the US attack on Iran is not a big surprise.”

• “The outlook for oil is very bullish with this latest geopolitical tension putting the supply side at risk.”

Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA

• “Oil prices are skyrocketing as fears escalate that the Middle East region is about to see intensifying conflict in the region that could eventually end up in war.”

• “Killing of a top Iranian commander is likely just the beginning of market moving responses.”

Benjamin Lu, analyst at Phillip Futures

• “Heightened militaristic actions will generate a risk premium for oil prices as traders deliberate escalating tensions in the Middle East.”

• “Oil prices look poised to trade higher as markets look towards tighter supply levels and looming geopolitical concerns.” — Reuters

Making a difference, one ripple at a time

As a new decade begins, we reflect upon the year that just passed and look forward to what may be in store for us in 2020 and beyond.

In his article before Christmas — and his last as SGV’s Country Managing Partner — J. Carlitos G. Cruz described how an organization can sustain its purpose for the long term to ensure that its people and culture remain steadfast. In line with SGV’s efforts to sustain our collective purpose to nurture leaders and enable businesses for a better Philippines, we have successfully launched the new EY Ripples program.

EY Ripples was introduced by EY Global in late 2019 as a global corporate social responsibility program aimed to drive long-term value for EY clients, people, and the community at large. This multi-year journey is committed to create a greater social impact on the lives of others with the use of the skills, knowledge and experience of EY employees. As one of the early adopters along with the EY member firms in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, SGV focused on making a difference in two ways: supporting the next generation workforce and engaging impact entrepreneurs.

NURTURING FUTURE LEADERS
EY Ripples encourages programs on mentoring and coaching the next generation, the young future leaders between the ages of 10 and 18 who will become tomorrow’s aspiring workforce. SGV volunteers interacted with students as young as 5th graders from public and private schools in Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Makati and Quezon City. The students learned about the basics of entrepreneurship and finance through workshop sessions. This was done in collaboration with Junior Achievement Philippines (JAPI), a non-profit organization created to help young people succeed professionally and personally.

SGV volunteers all underwent teaching workshops to provide them with basic classroom skills. Their mandate was to help inspire the students with knowledge about the basics of entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The SGV mentors shared the importance of earning, spending, and saving money. They encouraged young students to explore and enhance their career aspirations. Through the use of critical thinking, students were coached to develop a positive attitude in exploring businesses or careers.

One SGV volunteer recounted how it was a great experience for her to witness the children’s eyes spark with interest during the talk on the value of money. It made her realize how something so simple might just be one of the ways for us to help Filipino families improve their lives.

Besides the schools identified by JAPI, there were other occasions that allowed SGV volunteers to work with young students. These were mainly students sponsored by non-profit organizations. They were introduced to the basics of financial literacy through Supporting the Next Generation workshop modules developed by EY and localized to suit Filipino elementary school children. SGV Christmas outreach programs doubled as learning opportunities with volunteers who taught them the value of money, distinguishing between needs and wants while reiterating the importance of earning and saving. The modules included talks, games and fun activities.

BUILDING A BETTER WORKING WORLD
EY Ripples also focuses on helping impact entrepreneurs through business clinics to help scale small, growing businesses through seminars and group mentorship. These entrepreneurs differ from other business owners through the positive social change that they generate, as well as the potential to expand that change as they scale. They may occasionally be referred to as social entrepreneurs.

SGV held the first EY Ripples business clinic in the Asia-Pacific region, co-organized with Endeavor Philippines, a non-profit organization that aims to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem within the country. SGV has had a sound relationship with Endeavor Philippines ever since it was established in the country. Working together on the EY Ripples program was a natural next step for both organizations.

Endeavor Philippines helped us identify start-up or small business entrepreneurs from the FinTech, production and services, and business process outsourcing industries. These entrepreneurs were looking for practical training and guidance on how to navigate Philippine business requirements and regulations.

SGV partners and senior managers became mentors, sharing practical knowledge and skills in tax and financial planning. Sessions on financing, investment options and methods, as well as Philippine taxation, were conducted with the goal of helping the entrepreneurs accelerate their growth and become more responsible players in the economy.

A DECADE OF RENEWED PURPOSE
The new decade presents limitless opportunities not only for business but more importantly, for ways to make a difference in the lives of others. We are looking ahead at how we can create more ripples in the next 10 years. More than 1 million people from across EY member firms and their communities will be globally mobilized through EY Ripples.

In other parts of the world, EY is laying the foundation to achieve its bold ambition through relationships with impact investors and non-government organizations such as Junior Achievement Worldwide and Acumen. In 2020, some 6,000 EY professionals in the Middle East and North Africa are committed to dedicate at least one work day a year to collectively help advance sustainable inclusive growth in their respective regions.

Collaborative initiatives have also been forged with the World Bank, which joined EY in committing to positively affect the lives of 10 million people by 2022. There is also a linkage with TRANSFORM, an initiative founded by Unilever and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) that offers to scale EY support for impact entrepreneurs and help 100 million low-income people in Asia and Africa gain access to vital goods and services by 2025.

It is an ambitious program with a collective goal of making a positive impact on the lives of 1 billion people by 2030. We believe it is possible even if it takes us one ripple at a time.

In this transformative age of digital — with new knowledge, skills and tools available at our disposal and with people dedicated to our purpose — we are committed to assume a leadership role in communities using the best of our abilities to nurture future leaders and enable impact entrepreneurs to build a better Philippines that, in turn, would create ripples to help build a better working world.

I wish to take this opportunity to wish our readers a New Year and a new decade full of promise and possibilities.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinion expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Wilson P. Tan is the Country Managing Partner of SGV & Co.

Bolts, Kings to let game speak come the finals

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FIGHTING in a Philippine Basketball Association finals for the third time in the last four years, the Meralco Bolts and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings are not putting much on talk and instead are bent on letting their game speak for themselves when their best-of-seven championship series rolls off tomorrow.

In the finals of the season-ending PBA tournament Governors’ Cup for a third time, the Bolts and Kings have expressed their determination to see their respective causes through and put the finishing touches on what has been a solid run for them in the conference.

Lost in their first two finals encounters with the Kings — 2016 and 2017 — the Bolts are not letting the thought consume them and are now concentrating at the task at hand.

“We are out to win just like they are. We want to win the championship. We have had a good conference. We tell the players that if you want to win the championship you have to play good basketball. Offensively and defensively we have to be prepared,” said Meralco coach Norman Black at the press conference for the finals at the weekend at a restaurant in Quezon City.

“I can’t worry about the past because it’s over and done with but I can worry about the future and concentrate on the task at hand and win the championship,” he added.

The Bolts were the second-seeded team entering the playoffs with a record of 8-3. They eliminated the Alaska Aces in the quarterfinals, seeing no need to use their twice-to-beat advantage. In the semifinals, Meralco was challenged by the TNT KaTropa but eventually outlasted the latter in five games.

Over at the Kings’ camp, the team is also all on playing the best basketball they can so as to return to the top of the Governors’ Cup after missing out on a third straight title in the tournament last season.

“It is just all about playing great basketball. That as coaches is what we are trying to preach. Meralco is the best defensive team this conference and best rebounding team. Those are some of the things we are trying to figure out,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

The Kings’ coach also underscored that apart from the Bolts having an amped-up roster from those they encountered previously in the finals, they are going up against a highly motivated squad with their chops sharpened on the road to the finals.

“They went through Talk N Text and that really toughened them. They are hungry after losing our first two encounters in the finals and we’ll just have to do our best [against that],” Mr. Cone added.

The Kings was the number four team at the end of the elimination round before ousting the Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals. They started on the wrong foot in their best-of-five semifinals with the Northport Batang Pier but finished strong as the series progressed, closing things in four games.

Game One of the PBA Governors Cup finals is set for 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Titans oust Patriots in wild-card game

DERRICK HENRY rushed for a franchise playoff-record 182 yards and scored a touchdown to lead the Tennessee Titans to a 20-13 victory over the New England Patriots in an American Football Conference (AFC) wild-card game on Saturday night at Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Henry carried 34 times and also had a key reception on his 26th birthday, as the sixth-seeded Titans stunned the third-seeded Patriots in what could turn out to be Tom Brady’s final game with New England. Henry broke the club mark set by Eddie George, who had 162 in the divisional round after the 1999 season versus the Indianapolis Colts.

Earlier in the day, the Houston Texans came back to beat the visiting Buffalo Bills in overtime, 22-19, in the other AFC wild-card game.

“We were just locked in,” Henry said afterward on the CBS broadcast. “We wanted it. I think that was our mindset, coming in here and doing what we need to do in all three phases and stay locked in no matter what happens in the game.”

Logan Ryan tacked on a nine-yard interception return for a score with nine seconds left for the Titans, as head coach Mike Vrabel, a former New England player, got the better of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Tennessee will visit the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday in the divisional round.

The 42-year-old Brady, who is scheduled to be a free agent, completed 20 of 37 passes for 209 yards and the interception. Julian Edelman rushed for a score for New England’s only touchdown.

Brady told reporters afterward it’s “unlikely” he will retire, but he declined to speculate on the future.

Tennessee executed a key goal-line stand late in the second quarter and held New England scoreless in the second half. Rashaan Evans had three tackles for loss among his 10 stops for the Titans.

“They made some key plays in critical situations, in the red area on third down that probably were the difference in the game,” Belichick told reporters afterward.

Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill finished 8-of-15 passing for 72 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

New England trailed 14-13 when Brady took over at his own one-yard line with 15 seconds left after a 58-yard punt by the Titans’ Brett Kern was downed just shy of the goal line. Brady’s last pass was deflected by Tramaine Brock and grabbed by Ryan, who returned it for the score.

Henry had 128 total yards (106 rushing, 22 receiving) in the first half as the Titans held a 14-13 lead.

Henry rushed for 49 yards on seven carries on Tennessee’s first possession to set up Tannehill’s 12-yard scoring pass to Anthony Firkser, giving the Titans a 7-3 advantage with 5:39 left in the first quarter.

New England answered on the opening play of the second quarter as Edelman came in motion from the left, took a handoff from Brady and cruised to the right for a five-yard scoring run.

The Patriots reached the one-yard line later in the quarter and seemed destined to take a 10-point lead. But Sony Michel was stopped for a one-yard loss, Rex Burkhead gained 1 and Michel was stuffed for a loss of 2. New England settled for Nick Folk’s 21-yard field goal and a 13-7 lead with 2:16 until the half.

Henry then accounted for every yard in a seven-play, 75-yard drive as the Titans moved back ahead. Henry, who rushed for 53 yards on the excursion, took a screen pass 22 yards to the 1 and scored on the next play with 35 seconds left.

TEXANS WIN
Meanwhile in Houston, Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a walkoff field goal after being set up by Deshaun Watson’s memorable play, capping the Texans’ comeback in a 22-19 OT victory over the visiting Bills in the other AFC wild-card game.

On the third possession of overtime, Watson avoided two Bills for what would have been an eighth sack before completing a 34-yard pass to Taiwan Jones down to the Buffalo 10-yard line. Fairbairn followed with his 28-yard game-winner at the 3:20 mark.

Watson finished 20 of 25 for 247 yards and added a team-high 55 yards rushing.

Buffalo forced overtime when Allen led a desperate march that followed a fourth-down stop of Watson. After the Bills moved 41 yards in 11 plays, Stephen Hauschka’s fourth field goal, a 47-yarder, tied it with five seconds left.

Down 16-0, Watson produced a 20-yard touchdown run with 1:33 left in the third and a five-yard scoring pass to Carlos Hyde with 4:37 remaining in regulation to engineer the comeback.

“You can’t let a team like that hang around,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said afterward.

“We had opportunities to go up 20 or so or whatever there, and we didn’t come up with touchdowns. That let them hang around a little bit, and they made some plays in the second half.” — Reuters

Bushfire smoke could affect Australian Open

SYDNEY — Tennis world number two Novak Djokovic said he is concerned that smoke might cause some problems at the Australian Open later this month as bushfires continued to blaze across large sections of the southeast on Sunday.

Hundreds of fires in New South Wales and Victoria have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land over the last few months.

Smoke from the blazes has also resulted in hazardous conditions in Sydney, where the final rounds of the inaugural ATP Cup will take place next weekend, and Melbourne, where the year’s first tennis Grand Slam gets under way on Jan. 20.

Seven-time Australian Open champion Djokovic, who is playing in the ATP Cup, said he hoped the crisis would “dissipate” soon but that an action plan would be needed to avoid any impact on the health of players if it did not.

“If it continues same way and if the quality of air is affected in Melbourne or Sydney, I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to create some rules about it,” he told a Brisbane news conference in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“It’s tough for them because … there’s a lot of different things involved. But health concern is a health concern for me and for anybody.”

The smoke has so far caused the most disruption to the sporting calendar in Canberra, where a Twenty20 cricket match was abandoned on Dec. 21 when conditions became too hazardous to continue.

An ATP Challenger/ITF Futures tennis tournament scheduled for next week in the capital was moved to Bendigo, while on Sunday the city’s ACT Brumbies rugby team announced they would be moving their pre-season training camp to Newcastle.

The twice Super Rugby champions made the decision after their training ground at the University of Canberra was closed indefinitely “due to hazardous air quality.”

“The small changes we have had to make are nothing in comparison to the distressing position so many people in our region are sadly experiencing at the moment,” coach Dan McKellar said in a statement.

“Player welfare is always a priority and temporarily moving to Newcastle will allow us to continue to prepare for our round one match on Jan. 31.”

The New Year’s cricket test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, one of the biggest fixtures on the Australian sporting calendar, moved into its third day without disruption, although there was a distinct smell of smoke in the air on Sunday.

Australian sportsmen and women have joined actors, popstars and Britain’s royal family in pledging financial support for those affected by the bushfires. — Reuters

Grizzlies dominate Clippers

JAE CROWDER scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the visiting Memphis Grizzlies coasted past the Los Angeles Clippers, 140-114, on Saturday.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and four blocks, while Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks added 22 points apiece. Jonas Valanciunas had 12 rebounds and nine points, all in the second half.

It was the most points the Clippers have given up to an opponent this season. Los Angeles played without star forward Paul George.

Montrezl Harrell had 28 points on 11-for-16 shooting and nine rebounds for the Clippers. Lou Williams and Kawhi Leonard had 24 points apiece. Leonard, though, misfired on 16 of 24 attempts from the floor.

George left Thursday’s 126-112 win over the Detroit Pistons with left hamstring tightness. He is listed as day-to-day. Derrick Walton Jr. replaced him in the starting lineup in his first NBA start but managed just three points in 23 minutes.

The Grizzlies used their 3-point shooting to snap a three-game losing streak to the Clippers. They connected on 18 of 39 three-pointers (46.2%), compared with 7 of 30 (23.3%) by the Clippers.

Overall, Memphis hit 51% of its shots, compared with 44.6% for LA.

A 7-0 run to open the third allowed Memphis to push the lead to 72-57 after a basket by Morant. The Grizzlies continued to pour it on, outscoring the Clippers 39-23 in the third for a 104-80 advantage heading into the final quarter. Crowder had 14 points in the third.

Los Angeles got no closer than 16 the rest of the way.

The Grizzlies started strong, leading by as much as 18 in the first quarter. They produced more points in the first than any Clippers opponent this season by taking a 40-27 edge.

Memphis led 65-57 at the break.

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley missed his third straight game with a sprained wrist.

WINS FOR JAZZ, HAWKS
In Orlando, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points as the visiting Utah Jazz used a 22-8 run over the first half of the fourth quarter to beat the Magic, 109-96.

Mitchell’s effort, which included 14-for-21 shooting from the floor and six assists, paced the Utah offense. He made the first of four straight Jazz three-pointers in a stretch to open the final quarter, with Georges Niang knocking down each of the next three and Joe Ingles adding a fifth after a Niang miss. That expanded a one-point Jazz lead to 11.

Niang and Ingles were among the five Jazz scoring in double figures. Ingles finished with 11 points, and Niang scored 15 points off the bench.

Terrence Ross scored 24 for Orlando to lead the Magic in scoring for the second consecutive night on their back-to-back,

In Atlanta, Trae Young had 41 points, the fifth time he’s scored 40 or more this season, and the Hawks hung on to beat the visiting Indiana Pacers, 116-111.

Young scored 30 in the first half, and his basket with 1:22 left gave the Hawks a 113-109 lead it never relinquished. Young made 3 of 4 free throws, sandwiched around a steal, in the final 4.5 seconds to seal the win.

Atlanta has won two of its last three games and broke a seven-game losing streak against the Pacers. Indiana has lost four of its last five games.

Indiana was led by Domantas Sabonis with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Holiday added 18 points. — Reuters

ONE Championship continues push to build on growing community with new partnerships

EVER GROWING as an organization since being established in 2011, ONE Championship stays committed to its thrust of further expansion in the new decade, unveiling newly inked regional partnerships.

In an announcement made late last week, Asia’s largest sports media property ushered in the 2020s with a number of tie-ups with enterprises, in line with its commitment to build on its rapidly growing community and standing as well as showcase what martial arts is truly all about on a global scale.

The new partnerships include those with JBL, TUMI, Redbull, Lazada, DBS Bank, Foodpanda, Hugo Boss, Harvey Norman, Secretlab, California Fitness, Kredivo, Reckitt Benckiser, and Unilever, among others.

With these brands, ONE Championship and ONE Esports seek to collaborate on various martial arts and esports initiatives.

These partnerships are set to tap on multiple platforms, creating a unique and exciting synergy between the business, martial arts, and esports communities, ONE said.

“We at ONE Championship are excited to build strategic partnerships with leading global brands. Our organization is about unleashing the greatness of humanity upon the world, through our martial arts and esports platforms,” said ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong in a statement as he highlighted anew their vision for the organization.

“Each of our partners shares with us a harmonious culture of excellence and innovation, and each plays a specific role in realizing our vision at ONE Championship. We aim to ignite the world with hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration, and share the amazing stories of our athletes with millions of people across the globe,” he added.

ESPORTS PUSH
Apart from delivering world-class combat sports action, ONE’s push towards esports took further root in 2019 with highly successful events, including the first DOTA 2 invitational in December, which was topped by Vici Gaming.

Carlos Alimurung, CEO of ONE Esports, said they see esports to continue complementing the ONE brand moving forward with teams, players and other stakeholders rallying behind it as well as with the entry of new partners which believe in what they want to achieve.

ONE Championship said in 2020 a lot is in store for the organization, lining up a packed minimum schedule of over 50 live events spanning the group’s entire martial arts and esports range.

The year begins for ONE with “A New Tomorrow” on Jan. 10 in Bangkok, Thailand, which will be headlined by the rematch between reigning ONE flyweight muay thai world champion and hometown bet Rodtang Jitmuangnon and former champ Jonathan Haggerty of the United Kingdom.

In the Philippines, ONE returns on Jan. 31 with reigning ONE world strawweight champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of Team Lakay going up against former champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Brazil at “ONE: Fire & Fury” at the Mall of Asia Arena.

For ONE Esports, lined up are the ONE Esports DOTA 2 Jakarta Invitational in April and the ONE Esports Singapore Major in June. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Wizards’ Isaiah Thomas fined

THE NATIONAL Basketball Association has fined Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas $25,000 for making inappropriate physical contact with a game official, the league announced Saturday.

The punishment, announced by NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe, was handed down after an incident in the Wizards’ 122-103 home loss against Portland on Friday night.

Thomas was hit with a technical foul and was ejected with 10:32 left in the first quarter, becoming the first player tossed from a game within the first two minutes since Utah’s Greg Ostertag in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 8, 2002.

During the fight for a loose ball, Thomas and Portland’s Carmelo Anthony became entangled. Thomas knocked referee Marat Kogut into the crowd when he tried pulling away from Anthony. — Reuters

At their level best

When the Lakers host the Pistons today, they won’t simply be going for a fifth straight victory. They’ll likewise be angling to keep intact a perfect run against opponents with losing records. Since the season began, they’ve faced 18 such rivals, and they’ve emerged triumphant every single time. Not that they’ve done so with ease; against the Suns and the Pelicans last week, for instance, they needed to keep perennial All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the court deep into the fourth quarter to preserve an outcome they appeared to be well in position to secure as early as in the first.

Not that the Lakers are complaining. A win is a win, and they’re certainly having fun en route to staying on top of the loaded Western Conference. Their outings are replete with spectacle on both ends of the court. That they have the talent to provide highlight reels isn’t in question. What remains a mystery two-fifths into their 2019–20 campaign is their capacity to compete at their level best from opening tip to final buzzer. So far, they lack the consistency to make even their most optimistic fans supremely confident of their chances to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Creditably, the Lakers are taking care of business and winning the games they should. It’s a virtue that cannot be undervalued as they seek to be greater than the sum of their parts. They’re far from complete, though; if their seemingly comfortable leads are eroded, it’s because they have a shaky bench. Ball movement stagnates whenever James sits, while coverage becomes spotty during Davis’ time on the bench. Which is why load management — purple and gold style — hasn’t succeeded at all. The notion that the two can spearhead the early erection of significant advantages and then rely on the rest to protect it late has been exactly that: a notion and nothing more.

So, yes, the Lakers are playing with fire. The good news is that James and Davis have proven too potent a pairing, allowing them to emerge unscathed time and again. The bad news is that they’ve become crutches. They can’t win the championship by themselves, and the earlier everybody else understands it and acts accordingly, the better.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing the Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

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