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TRAIN spurred economic activity, increased poverty — PIDS

THE TAX REFORM for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law may have spurred economic activity with gains in employment and domestic output, but a state-run think tank that reviewed the law said that poverty increased overall, and especially among farmers and fisherfolk.
A discussion paper by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) assessed the impact of the first package of the comprehensive tax reform package in 2018, showing “slightly positive” results in economic output, particularly in the agriculture and service sectors, as well as a rise in employment. However, it noted that poverty incidence increased “slightly,” due to higher commodity prices paid by the poor.
PIDS’ estimates were based on TRAIN provisions that lowered personal income taxes, estate, and donors taxes, reduced value-added tax exemptions, raised excise taxes on fuel, coal, tobacco, automobiles, minerals, new taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, and cosmetic procedures. It also took into account social mitigating measures, such as the P300 per month unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program for affected the affected poor.
PIDS said that coal and mineral production fell 5.2%, while that of petroleum fell 1.2% year-on-year. It also found a 14.2% decline in the production of chemicals, rubber, and plastics, a 25.9% decline in beverage and tobacco output, and a 43.5% decline in the engine and turbine manufacturing sector, except aircraft, vehicle and cycle engines.
However, it noted that agricultural output overall rose by around 5.4%. Food manufacturing grew 3.2%
PIDS said that TRAIN pushed up prices of agricultural commodities, with prices of palay, or unmilled rice, increasing 3.2% year-on-year, while those of corn rose 3.4%, sugar 3.7%, livestock 3.8%, and fish 3.8%.
Prices of beverages also rose 68.9%, petroleum 10.5%, and transportation 16.8%.
The paper also found a net gain of 396,702 employed individuals.
“Under the TRAIN + UCT scenario, the gains are the highest due to the fact that there is increased productive activity which increases returns to all the factors. The greatest gain is for unskilled labor,” PIDS said.
The study also found that household poverty incidence increased by 0.26 percentage points, while poverty among individuals rose 0.65 percentage points. Poverty among fisherfolk rose 1.35 percentage points, and among farmers 0.06 percentage points. It found that poverty incidence for transport workers fell 8.16 percentage points.
“The provision of the cash transfers (assuming 100% coverage for those targeted by the subsidies in the first to fifth lowest income deciles) offsets the increase in poverty incidence across sectors, especially for transport workers; most transportation workers are near poverty so that the income support program results in a significant improvement in their welfare,” PIDS said.
It also said that “while the subsidy is relatively sufficient to meet the increased household expenditure (due to the higher excise taxes) for many of the households, especially in the poorest first to fifth income deciles, there are still households that will be worst off as the composition of expenditures are different from household to household and there are families that would be adversely affected by the reform. In fact, the study noted that assuming that the UCT subsidy would have the same efficiency as the targeting in the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, poverty incidence will be slightly worse off.” — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Donnie Nietes ends year 2018 with a bang

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
FILIPINO BOXING world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes ended 2018 on very a high note by winning another division title that thrust him to an elite group of fighters in history.
Getting the better of Japanese star fighter Kazuto Ioka in their New Year’s Eve fight for the World Boxing Organization Super Flyweight World Championship by split decision at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macau, China, Negros Occidental native Nietes joined a select group of fighters who have won world titles in at least four divisions, which include compatriots Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.
But it did not come easy for the 36-year-old Nietes who had to dig deep to outlast a gallant stand by Mr. Ioka, who was also looking for a fourth division world title with a win.
For 12 competitive rounds the two champion fighters slugged it out and had their moments of brilliance.
In the end though, the score cards would go Mr. Nietes’s way, 118-110, 112-116, 116-112, to add the World Boxing Organization’s 115-pound title to his minimumweight, light flyweight and flyweight belts.
The win padded the professional record of Mr. Nietes to 42-1-5 and extended a winning streak that has lasted for more than a decade now.
STILL IMPRESSIVE
While Mr. Nietes’s latest title conquest was not as dominant as those of the others in the Filipino champion’s illustrious career, still for one local combat sports analyst the win was impressive considering how the fight went and that a fourth division title was but fitting for a fighter with the packs the kind of caliber of Mr. Nietes.
“It’s acceptable to have that kind of verdict because it was a competitive fight, which I would describe as a tactical, toe-to-toe battle. Donnie Nietes controlled the fight early on, scoring big with his right uppercut-right hook combo every time he found an opening. Although Ioka came up with some power shots of his own, he had trouble defending himself from Nietes’ well-timed overhand rights,” said Nissi Icasiano when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts post-fight.
“Ioka made it interesting in the fifth round, forcing Nietes to come forward. The Japanese’s tactic paid off as Nietes began falling short with his counters while Ioka took advantage of his speed edge and landed to the body. [But] Knowing that it’s a now-or-never situation, Nietes worked hard to get his rhythm and range back in the championship rounds… A split decision doesn’t leave a bad taste, but the only thing that I find ridiculous is the 118-110 score on the scorecard,” the analyst added.
SAVOR FIRST
Making his mark in the 115-pound division, Mr. Icasiano sees Mr. Nietes being busy with much talent to tackle.
The analyst, however, said the Filipino champion must savor his latest achievement and bask in the fruits of his hard work in training and in the ring first.
“The 115-pound division is a shark tank. There is no shortage of talent. But before we think of what’s next for Donnie Nietes, let him celebrate and savor the moment. [Year] 2018 has been an amazing year for Nietes. He deserves every bit of it,” Mr. Icasiano said.
“It’s fitting for an outstanding pugilist like Donnie Nietes to end the year as a four-division world champion and a seat in the pound-for-pound rankings,” he added.
Apart from Messrs. Pacquiao and Donaire, Mr. Nietes joined the likes of boxing legends Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales, Tommy Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard as four-division world champions.

Spurs beat Celtics at home

DERRICK WHITE and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 21 points in the third quarter Monday night as the hosts San Antonio Spurs, after being held to 46 points in the first half, exploded for 46 in the third period to rally past the Boston Celtics, 120-111.
Aldridge totaled 32 points to go with nine rebounds. The Spurs, who trailed by as many as 12 points as they struggled offensively in the first half, recorded their seventh consecutive home victory over the Celtics.
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points on 10-for-15 shooting off the bench for the Celtics, who haven’t won at San Antonio since March 2011.
The Spurs trailed 52-46 at halftime before Patty Mills sank a pair of three-pointers and teammates White, Davis Bertans and Marco Belinelli hit one apiece during the 46-point explosion that produced a 92-82 lead.
WARRIORS 132, SUNS 109
Seven different players contributed points to a 24-7 Golden State run that ended the first half, and the Warriors broke from a second-quarter tie to pound host Phoenix.
Stephen Curry poured in 34 points and Kevin Durant added 25 as the Warriors beat the Suns for the 17th consecutive time, including eight in Phoenix.
Deandre Ayton recorded a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double for Phoenix, which lost its third straight to open a seven-game homestand.
THUNDER 122, MAVERICKS 102
Paul George scored 14 of his 22 points in a game-opening, 25-10 burst that propelled host Oklahoma City to a revenge-achieving shellacking of Dallas.
Russell Westbrook recorded his league-leading 10th triple-double with a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 11 assists as the Thunder avenged a 105-103 defeat 24 hours earlier at Dallas.
On Monday, the Thunder put up 32 points in the first and third quarters en route to as much as a 22-point lead in the easy win. Harrison Barnes went for a team-high 25 points for the Mavericks, who lost their ninth in a row on the road.
ROCKETS 113, GRIZZLIES 101
James Harden recorded a triple-double by posting 43 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, and Houston completed an unbeaten month at home with a win over Memphis. The Rockets posted their 10th victory in 11 games overall and capped a 9-0 mark at Toyota Center in December.
Harden recorded his fourth consecutive 40-plus-point game and set an NBA record with his eighth successive 35-plus-point, five-plus-assist effort, though he did commit nine turnovers.
Kyle Anderson paced the Grizzlies with 20 points despite going 0-for-6 from the free-throw line. Mike Conley tallied 19 points, and JaMychal Green added 17 off the bench. Marc Gasol recorded a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
PACERS 116, HAWKS 108
Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis combined for 62 points to help Indiana to its fifth straight win, beating Atlanta in Indianapolis. The Pacers improved to a season-best 13 games over .500.
Indiana has won 12 of its last 14 games dating to Dec. 4. It is the only team in the NBA to avoid a three-game losing streak this season. Oladipo led the way with 22 points on 9-for-19 shooting and had seven assists and four steals. Turner and Sabonis each totaled 20 points and eight rebounds.
Atlanta’s John Collins had 22 points and 16 rebounds, the 11th time in 12 games that he has posted a double-double. Rookie Kevin Huerter scored a career-high 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three-point range.
PELICANS 123, TIMBERWOLVES 114
Julius Randle had 33 points and 11 rebounds as host New Orleans overcame the absence of Anthony Davis to defeat the Timberwolves. Minnesota fell despite getting 28 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and five blocks from Karl-Anthony Towns.
Davis was a last-minute scratch because of illness, but Randle and the Pelicans’ three-point shooting made up for the loss of the All-Star forward. — Reuters

TNT KaTropa look to do well with new-look roster

DECIDED to go for a new-look roster after having a “pedestrian” season at the Philippine Basketball Association last year, the TNT KaTropa aim to do better when a new edition of the premier local professional basketball league unfurls later this month with help from the players they had acquired.
Got role players Brian Heruela, David Semerad, and Mike Miranda in separate deals following the PBA rookie draft last month in exchange for disgruntled player Terrence Romeo and a couple of future rookie picks, the KaTropa are now busy incorporating the new players to get the most out of them as they play alongside the team holdovers.
For TNT coach Bong Ravena, the players they got from the deals they participated in should help their cause in the upcoming PBA season.
“The players we got are the type of players that we need. Heruela will be our backup point guard for Jayson (Castro) while Dave (Semerad) will be our energy guy. Miranda can post up, can play defense and can help our team be taller,” said Mr. Ravena, who took over the TNT team from erstwhile coach Nash Racela midway into last season’s Governors’ Cup and is assisted by consultant Mark Dickel.
TNT got hold of Messrs. Heruela and Semerad and a 2021 first-round pick from the San Miguel Beermen in exchange for Mr. Romeo.
Mr. Miranda, meanwhile, was part of the three-team deal among TNT, Blackwater Elite and NLEX Road Warriors that saw JP Erram going to the Road Warriors from the Elite, Mr. Miranda and a 2021 second-round pick (from Blackwater) to the KaTropa and first-round picks Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter to Blackwater from NLEX.
With new players on board, Mr. Ravena said the first order of business for them is establishing a system that would harness all the abilities of the players they have to get the desired results.
“We have so many new players and as much as possible we want to involve everybody. Everyone must do their part and not leave bulk of the work to one or two players. We want to instill that when they are on court they have to do their job both offensively and defensively,” Mr. Ravena said.
To help them in their push, the team has set a training camp for this week to see where it stands and work on its game collectively.
“We will go to Tagaytay [for a training camp]. We will try to work on things and see where we can improve,” the TNT coach said.
“The focus of the training camp is for the team to develop chemistry and play as one which will be key as we set for the new season,” Mr. Ravena added.
Last year, TNT compiled a losing record of 17-19 in the three conferences, failing to go past the quarterfinals in the Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup while outright eliminated at the end of the elimination round of the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
The new season of the PBA begins on Jan. 13. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Go For Gold athletes gear up for 2019 SEA Games

FILIPINO athletes under the Go For Gold program are gearing up for peak performance in time for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Nikko Huelgas, the reigning two-time men’s triathlon SEA Games champion, is leaving no stone unturned after getting a feedback that his challengers will come out stronger in the 11-nation meet scheduled here in the Philippines on Nov. 30-Dec. 11, 2019.
Asian Games champion Margielyn Didal has decided to push herself to the limit as the Cebuana skateboarding idol competes in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Brazil a week from now while Go For Gold cyclists, led by Jonel Carcueva and Rex Krog, are ready for more punishing races ahead.
“Our athletes have produced good results this year and with continued support, I believe they can perform better in the SEA Games,” said Go For Gold backer Jeremy Go.
Also expected to deliver next year are the dragonboat team of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation, which gained worldwide success after winning five gold medals in the world championships in the United States four months ago.
The national sepak takraw squad are focused on improving its craft following a one-gold, three-bronze medal haul in the recent world championships held in Thailand while Filipino wrestlers will gain more foreign exposure as needed to keep up with the best grapplers in the region.
“There are still many things our program needs to improve on, including the selection of tournaments where our athletes are bound to compete,” said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.
According to Mr. Go, Team Go For Gold will also take care of the training and foreign exposure of junior cyclists in the national team in partnership with PhilCycling to produce a Filipino Olympian in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
That’s apart from the Go For Gold continental team that was recently launched featuring Filipino riders who will get the chance to race against the most battle-ready road cyclists on the planet.
“Different types of sports have a wide variety of needs. The Go For Gold program is trying to fulfill those needs to make the athletes perform at their best,” said Ms. Hualda.
Aside from helping national athletes in cycling, dragonboat and sepak takraw, Go For Gold has been lending its support for the success of the men’s triathlon squad, the skateboarding team and elite Filipino wrestlers.
“I wouldn’t have won two gold medals [in the SEA Games] if not for the support of Go For Gold. They supported me throughout my journey in the past two SEA Games,” said Mr. Huelgas.

Serena wins on return but US loses Hopman Cup opener

SERENA WILLIAMS made a winning return to competitive action at the Hopman Cup on Monday but could not prevent the United States from losing, 2-1, to Greece in their opening round-robin match.
Williams, playing her first competitive match since losing the US Open final to Naomi Osaka, powered past Maria Sakkari 7-6(3) 6-2 to level the Group B contest at 1-1 after Stefanos Tsitsipas had beaten American Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3.
The 37-year-old, who had both ankles strapped and required medical attention in her singles match, then combined with Tiafoe but could not overcome Sakkari and Tsitsipas who won the mixed doubles rubber 4-1 1-4 4-2 to seal the tie.
“It’s great to be back out in match day, and it’s great to be back out here,” said Williams, who will be chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this month.
Williams made several unforced errors early on but overpowered her opponent with 13 aces and 29 winners, claiming two breaks en route to a comfortable win.
“It was my first match back, she played unbelievable. Maria is super young and such a good player. I was making a lot of errors. I was like, ‘It’s OK, it’s your first match and you’ll get better.’ I just kept trying to think that.”
Defeat left six-time winner US at the bottom of the group ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with holder Switzerland, which thumped Britain on Sunday.
Roger Federer and Williams, holders of a combined 43 singles Grand Slam titles, will face each other for the first time on Tuesday when they feature in the mixed doubles match alongside partners Belinda Bencic and Tiafoe.
Local media have described the clash as the most anticipated match involving men and women since 1973’s “Battle of the Sexes” which saw 39-time major winner Billie Jean King beat former men’s world number one Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match.
“It’s exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it,” Federer said on Sunday.
“I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we’re both fierce competitors and we always want to win.” — Reuters

Usual suspects are in the frame at expanded Asian Cup

SYDNEY — The 17th Asian Cup finals will be the biggest in the 62-year history of the tournament but even with 24 teams battling it out, it is hard to look much beyond regional powers Iran, Japan and South Korea as potential champions.
Australia will be hoping to join that trio and Saudi Arabia as multiple winners of the continental crown as they defend the title they won on home soil four years ago.
The Socceroos triumph came at the end of a highly successful staging of a tournament played out in front of bumper crowds that has left the United Arab Emirates much to live up to.
The Emiratis, playing hosts for a second time after 1996 when they reached the final, showed with their recent staging of FIFA’s Club World Cup, though, that there is a passion for the game that can be awoken by local success.
Al Ain’s run to the final against Real Madrid brought passionate crowds to the stadiums of Abu Dhabi and provided a welcome pre-tournament boost to a national team that has hardly set the world alight under Italian Alberto Zaccheroni.
It is fair to say, though, that Real also brought more world-class footballers to the Emirates than the Asian Cup will with only South Korea skipper Son Heung-min likely to register with many casual football fans outside the Asia-Pacific.
That does not mean there will not be plenty of skilful football on display as the cream of the world’s most populous continent contest the equivalent of the European Championship and Copa America.
The world’s most populous countries will both be represented but neither China nor India are expected to be around at the business end of the tournament.
The Indians would probably not have qualified without the expansion from 16 teams, while China appears to have stagnated under the guidance of Italian World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.
Under an agreement with his club Tottenham Hotspur, Son will only join the fray for the third and last Group C match against Lippi’s side as well as the knockout stage.
The Taeguk Warriors should have more than enough quality to seal one of the top two spots in the group without him, though, given the other two teams in it are debutants in the shape of Kyrgyzstan and Sven Goran Eriksson’s Philippines.
South Korea, who won the first two Asian Cups and finished runners-up to Australia in 2015, look like the form team in Asia going into the tournament, having gone unbeaten in six matches under Portuguese coach Paulo Bento since their World Cup exit.
Japan, which made the last 16 in Russia before going out to a thrilling Portugal comeback, also look to have a reasonably straightforward passage having been drawn with Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.
Hajime Moriyasu has had the Samurai Blue playing an attractive attacking style since he took over after the World Cup and even without Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki they have enough quality to challenge for a fifth title.
The importance of midfielder Aaron Mooy to Australia’s challenge was illustrated when coach Graham Arnold included him in the squad even though Huddersfield Town had ruled him out of tournament because of a serious knee injury.
For all the class on the ball that Mooy can provide when fit, though, Australia’s title defense is most likely to rest on its ability to find the net now that the totemic Tim Cahill has finally hung up his personalised boots.
DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT
A continent as vast as Asia can rarely have put on any sporting event without the backdrop of some political turmoil — astonishing as it may now seem, Israel won the title in 1964 — and the 2019 Asian Cup will be no exception.
Saudi Arabia, who won the last of their three titles the last time the UAE hosted, severed diplomatic ties with Group E rivals Qatar in June, 2017 over Doha’s alleged support of terrorism. Qatar denies the accusations.
The UAE also joined the diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar last year but the 2022 World Cup host will be looking to ignore the distractions and hoping its side can offer some hope of success, or at least no disgrace, in four years’ time.
There are also representatives of the more troubled countries and territories of the west of the continent with Syria, Palestine, Iraq and Yemen all looking to bring cheer to people who have endured much hardship in recent years.
Iraq did just that with its fairytale run to the title in 2007 and the Lions of Mesopotamia have been drawn to play neighbor Iran in Group D.
Iran has had its traditional uncertain run-up to the tournament but is always a force to be reckoned with in Asia and an end to its 43-year wait for a fourth title cannot be discounted.
Carlos Queiroz’s side went out of the last Asian Cup on penalties to Iraq in a thrilling quarterfinal played out in a magnificent atmosphere in Canberra.
If its Jan. 16 group match in Dubai comes anywhere close to matching that, and the tournament can produce a few more clashes with similar drama and passion, the fans that do turn up in the Emirates will be in for a rare treat. — Reuters

Standout moments (2)

(The Year 2018 is about to end and in hindsight, as a sportswriter, there were a lot of standout moments in Philippine sports to remember.)
The Year 2018 was also a standout year for female national athletes who made their presence felt in various international competitions.
This was clearly highlighted in the 18th Asian Games in the middle of the year in Indonesia where Pinay athletes accounted for 13 of the total 21 medals won by the Philippines, including the four gold medals.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz led the impressive showing of the Filipino female athletes in the Games, winning gold in the women’s 53 kg weightlifting event.
She was then followed to a top podium finish by the women’s golf team and Filipino-Japanese golfer Yuka Saso who ran away with the top individual and team honors.
Providing another gold hardware was skateboarder Margielyn Didal who topped her event with much flare.
Judo’s Kiyomi Watanabe gave the country silver in the women’s 63 kg event.
Bronze medals, meanwhile, were provided by the women’s poomsae team, wushu’s Agatha Wong and Divine Wally, taekwondo’s Pauline Lopez, jiu-jitsu’s Meggie Ochoa, golf’s Bianca Pagdanganan, pencak silat’s Cherry May Regalado and karate’s Junna Tsukii.
Also having it good in 2018 was the Philippine women’s national football team, or the Malditas, which played well in the initial round of the Olympic Asian qualifiers to book a spot in the next round to be played later this year.
Combat sports made its presence felt in 2018 with our boxers and mixed martial arts fighters having it solid.
Filipino boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was world champion anew by bagging the WBA world welterweight title with a spirited showing against erstwhile champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in July to win by technical knockout in the seventh round.
He is set to defend the same title against American Adrien Broner in Jan. 20 in the United States.
Jerwin Ancajas was a busy man last year, fighting three times, and remains as the IBF junior bantamweight champion.
In 2018, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire seized the WBA super world bantamweight title while “Vicious” Vic Saludar became the WBO world minimumweight champion.
Just this Monday, New Year’s Eve, the longest-reigning Filipino world boxing champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes added a fourth division title by bagging the WBO world super flyweight title with a split decision win over Japanese Kazuto Ioka.
In MMA, Team Lakay stalwarts dominated with four champions in ONE Championship and one in Brave CF.
Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio won the ONE world flyweight title in June before teammate Joshua “The Passion” Pacio grabbed the strawweight crown in September.
Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, for his part, downed the unsinkable Bibiano Fernandes to win the bantamweight world championship.
Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, meanwhile, reclaimed the lightweight gold in November with Stephen “The Sniper” Loman retaining his Brave CF bantamweight title.
Filipino-American Brandon Vera, too, kept Filipino MMA rolling by keeping his ONE world heavyweight title.
As far as this writer, 2018 also saw me with some memorable interviews with star players in the Philippine Basketball Association and collegiate leagues.
I was able to talk to sports officials and stakeholders, both local and international, which helped a lot in me better appreciating the goings-on in the sports ecosystem.
International sporting stars I also had the privilege of talking to.
The nomination I got for Martial Arts Journalist of the Year from the 2018 Global Martial Arts Awards in Singapore was a cherry on top of what was a truly memorable year.
Thanks, 2018, and looking forward to another fruitful year of covering and writing in 2019. Cheers!
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Solid guidance

Yesterday’s match between the Spurs and Celtics highlighted plenty of similarities between the protagonists. Both encountered adversity early in the season, and both appeared to have overcome it heading into the new year. Both faced roster and rotation changes that required systemic adjustments, albeit not to the point of loss of identity. Both bucked modern-era trends prompted by advanced metrics in allowing for seemingly unhealthy doses of midrange shots. And both, most importantly, leaned on outstanding mentorship to stay competitive regardless of circumstance.
As things turned out, the Spurs won the first of two meetings with the Celtics. Leaning on a 46-point third quarter in which they turned a six-point deficit into a double-digit lead, they underscored their continued relevance in the National Basketball Association despite the loss of former Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard, longtime starter Danny Green, and dynasty figures Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. For a while there, they looked ready to prove true preseason prognoses that had them missing the playoffs for the first time in 21 years. Not so, and, evidently, not under head coach Gregg Popovich.
Indeed, solid guidance from the sidelines is what appears to have righted the Spurs after a roller-coaster beginning to their 2018-19 campaign. Popovich is, if nothing else, an astute assessor of talent, with his capacity to maximize the resources at his disposal resulting in his constructed whole invariably being greater than the sum of its parts. It’s certainly why he has managed to get top dogs DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge to coexist in harmony even though they best operate in the same space that sabermetrics just so happens to have declared No Man’s Land.
How far the Spurs will thrive in the current tumult of the National Basketball Association remains to be seen. To be sure, there’s ample reason to harbor extreme optimism; they just notched their 11th victory in 13 outings to get to within four games of first place in the crowded West. Admittedly, it won’t stop number crunchers from arguing that a regression to the mean is due. Then again, Popovich isn’t a perennial Coach of the Year candidate for nothing. Yesterday, for instance, his sets produced 14 makes out of 26 attempts from three-point range, never mind his profound dislike for the shot. Simply put, he knows how to win, and he figures to keep doing so despite the so-called odds.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.

How soon is now?Consumer Electronics Show an automotive event, too

By Kap Maceda Aguila
THE doors to the 2019 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) open on Jan. 8 across 11 venues in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual event owned and staged by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is fancied as the “world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies… [serving] as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies… [a] global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.”
The spectacle has steadily grown through the years. When it started in 1967 (then in New York City), the CES attracted 17,500 visitors and featured over 100 exhibitors. Last year, it welcomed more than 182,000 attendees, 4,400 exhibitors, and 1,000 speakers.
To the uninitiated, the CES may not appear to be a venue to showcase automobiles, but it is actually an important stage; contemporary and near-future vehicles have also benefited from advancements in technology. We look at some car brands set to flex their muscles at CES 2019.

CES 1
Audi promises “next-generation drive-in movie theater” for its cabins.

AUDI
The German automaker known for innovation promises to “turn the inside of the car into an amusement park” at CES 2019 through a “completely new on-the-road entertainment format and a special movie theater experience inside a luxury sedan.” Audi envisions this as the in-car entertainment of the future — one serving up a digital entertainment experience. This comes, avers the brand, in concert with piloted driving — enabling occupants to enjoy the “free time” in the car of the future.
And the company is proffering an even greater experience through the Audi Immersive In-Car Entertainment. This feature (which functions only if the car is stationary) is fancied as a “next-generation drive-in movie theater” affording occupants the chance to enjoy Hollywood blockbusters or content provided by streaming services.

BMW
It’s the iNEXT for the Munich-headquartered automaker, which uses the term to represent its future of “driving pleasure and the potential of digital connectivity.” Visitors can take a virtual drive in the BMW Vision iNEXT, attended to by the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
On display are “innovative capabilities in the fields of design, automated driving, connectivity, electrification and services (or D+ACES), which are all defined as key areas of future activity in its corporate strategy “Number One > NEXT.” Expect a concept cockpit to be displayed in an immersive mixed-reality installation to give a sense of how it will be to drive “autonomously, emission-free, and fully connected in the BMW Vision iNEXT.”
This future drive starts with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant suggesting the day’s agenda and subsequently lining up the activities for the trip. Through virtual reality goggles and a “spatial concept,” visitors will be able to initially “drive” BMW Vision iNEXT themselves, then get a sense of how the system takes over the function. “In autonomous Ease mode, the driver interacts with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which makes suggestions and controls various digital services for the driver — from videoconferencing, to shopping, to smart home functions.”
Referred to as a “Favorite Space,” the brand claims to answer the question: “What will cars look like when they no longer have to be driven by a person, but still can be?”
More immediate use for the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will be on display, too — specifically in the new X5 and to other models, from March 2019 onwards. The company highlights the ability to use “natural language for interaction with the vehicle and to access functions.”
Outdoor exhibits are also going to be staged. BMW Motorrad will showcase a self-riding BMW R 1200 GS. Though still a test bike, it is a tantalizing glimpse into the near future where motorcycle systems can help provide better assistance with difficult maneuvers. The wraps on the first-ever X7 SUV will be taken off, and visitors can get the privilege of being driven through an off-road course.

HONDA
For this year’s CES staging, it seems Honda is ready to publicly declare the acceleration of its journey toward autonomous vehicles — at least in more practical applications. Honda will unveil its Autonomous Work Vehicle and PATH (for Predicting Action of The Human) Bot at the show. The former is, as its moniker suggests, a workhorse. Debuting at CES 2018 under the name 3E-D18, this year’s 350-kilogram iteration is the result of collaboration with Honda partners to “beta-test and evaluate use cases in a broad array of work environments, including a large-scale solar operations in North Carolina, a wildland firefighting division in Colorado, and an agricultural and environmental sciences college in California.”
The bigger deal about this robot is that it lends itself as a highly flexible, “autonomous mobility platform” that can be conscripted to duty in various settings by “selecting appropriate attachments.”
Honda says on its promotional video for the PATH that the company “envisions a future where people and robots co-exist.” That status quo needs to be precluded by what the automaker calls “3Es;” empower, experience and empathy. Robots, it continues, must “stay out of the way, blend in with people, and be accepted by people.”
To this end, the Honda PATH is “built to smoothly move around public spaces without making people uneasy.” Indeed, the PATH seems to be a perfect everyday frontliner — akin to a Star Wars droid used to making its way among a universe of citizens. Path-planning technology allows the PATH to get out of your way and map out a way through a sea of pedestrians. “The robot learns how people move and avoid each other in true situations,” shares Honda, and its engineers are currently testing the navigation and balance control tech in public spaces.

MERCEDES-BENZ
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe marks its global debut at CES 2019. Now boasting an evolved MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, the vehicle is touted as “the most emotional vehicle of its class” and an intelligent one. Meanwhile, the MBUX Interior Assistant “identifies operation requests on the basis of movements… [and features] augmented reality for navigation and the ability to understand indirect voice commands as well as Energizing Coach featuring individual fitness recommendations.”
On the automation front, Daimler Trucks’ Vision Urbanetic makes its US premiere. This is a new mobility concept for demand-based, efficient and sustainable mobility — one pillared on “an autonomously driving, electrically driven chassis suitable for bodies intended to transport passengers or cargo.”
Logistics firms and local public transport companies are the main target for the “fully network-compatible” Vision Urbanetic which allows for the digital sending of transport requests across urban environments. A show car is meant to highlight how an effective UI/UX design can maintain the smooth functioning of mobility sans a driver.

Porsche brings back 911 T in the new 718 T Boxster, Cayman


HALF a century on and Porsche channels the purposeful vibe of its 911 T from 1968 in the newly released 718 T versions of the Boxster and Cayman.
Porsche’s current pair of two-seat sport models fuses together a turbocharged, 296hp, 380Nm, 2.0-liter flat-four engine with a host of performance items like 20-inch wheels, a chassis lower by 20 millimeters, a six-speed manual gearbox with a short-shift lever (Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK is an option), the car maker’s Sport Chrono package, torque-vectoring, and a mechanical locking rear differential.
Along with these enhancements, Porsche pares down the Boxster’s and the Cayman’s cabins by deleting some furniture; fabric door pulls replace bulky handles, and the sport seats only get two-way power adjustments. Also gone is the Porsche Communication Management module, with a storage compartment taking its place. This infotainment system can still be ordered should a customer wants to, but take note; Porsche explained it took the system out to negate the added weight brought about by its installation of a gasoline particulate filter for the engine.
Marking out the exterior of the 718 T Boxster and Cayman are (besides the 20-inch gray wheels and lowered ride height) gray mirror shells; centrally mounted sport exhaust with black, twin tailpipes; and “718 Boxster T” or “718 Cayman T” logos. Paintjobs offered are Indian Red, Racing Yellow, Carrera White, Deep Black, and GT Silver. Lava Orange and Miami Blue are offered as special options.
Porsche said the 718 T Boxster and Cayman, which weigh 1,350 kilograms (when equipped with the manual transmission), has a power-to-weight ratio of 4.5 kg/hp, allowing it to accelerate from rest to 100kph in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 275kph. The cars’ standard Sport Chrono package offers Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual driving modes, selectable through a switch on the steering wheel. Porsche explained Sport and Sport Plus modes make the cars quicker to respond to throttle inputs, while Sport Plus mode also alters the settings of the Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts (PADM), which keep the cars flat during high-speed cornering. The PADM system, added the car maker, minimizes vibrations in the engine and gearbox area, as well as reduces the movements that could affect driving dynamics.
So, while the “T” in the 911 T, as well as in other Porsches since, stood for “Touring,” the tag in the 718 T translates to a more dynamic, purer form of driving performance.

2019 top auto trends, according to GM

GENERAL Motors (GM) International said it collaborated with Richard Watson, founder of the NowAndNext Website and author of Digital vs. Human, in a study meant to determine trends in the automotive industry in 2019. The projections, specific to Asia Pacific, will not all be evident in the region this year, GM said. But it added “one can expect to see them emerge very soon.”
“In 2019, Asia Pacific will still be the growth region, manifested in its overall sense of optimism about the future compared to the general sense of disillusionment in the rest of the world,” the GM study said regarding overall market conditions that influence vehicle sales.
Here are the predictions:
Self-driving cars will continue rapid development
Expect to see further development of autonomous transportation, including cars, trains, buses, trucks and, eventually, planes.
Decline of driving licenses held by younger people, especially in cities
Citing research by Schroders, GM said the proportion of young people who have a driving license or own a vehicle has fallen in recent years. The rise of car sharing services, such as Grab and Lyft, is a contributing factor.
Impacts of aging populace on car design and use
While the median age of people in Southeast Asia is under 30, other countries around the world have a much older populace — the median age in Japan is nearly 50, according to GM. Increasingly, the vehicle of choice for this older generation is turning out to be midsize crossovers, which allow for easy entry and exit. The introduction of autonomous driving systems and ride-hailing services will further aid older customers.
Polarizations between large/small, expensive/cheap, and green/non-green cars
While automakers continue to invest in EVs, they are also responding to popular demand for pickup trucks and SUVs — vehicle segments which GM said would be transformed by advances in electrification and alternative fuels in the coming years.
Trend toward smaller, lighter vehicles (and growth in advanced nano materials)
Stringent government regulations needed to meet fuel emission standards and advancements in technologies and materials have made “light-weighting” a major focus of global car makers. Examples of weight-reduction technologies given by GM include the use of carbon-fiber body panels and carbon-nano composite underbody components.
Growth of connected cars and integrated city transport solutions
Connected cars, enabled by vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, will likely play an essential role in improving traffic safety and efficiency when widely deployed. GM said it demonstrated its V2I capability on public roads in Shanghai in 2017, and that it had participated late last year in the first multi-industry demonstration of C-V2X, or cellular connected car communications.
3D printing of car components and perhaps whole cars (extending to 4D materials)
GM said automakers have been using 3D printers to fabricate prototypes for vehicle development, and that the practice will grow in scale within five years as the technology improves. The company speculated that the use of shape-shifting transformable 4D-printed materials would follow next.
Death of the manual gearbox
Advances in the fuel efficiency and performance of automatic transmissions have all but eliminated demand for stick-shift cars. GM said the use of paddle shifters is also just a “passing fad.” In a 2017 report, GM said that 62% of drivers used their paddle shifters less than two times per year.

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