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Federer, Anderson advance to fourth round in Miami

MIAMI — Roger Federer overcame a sluggish start to defeat Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-3 and Kevin Anderson’s booming serve proved too much for Joao Sousa as they advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open on Monday.
Serb Krajinovic broke Federer to jump to an early 2-1 lead and it looked like an upset could be in the works against the 20-times Grand Slam champion.
But fourth seed Federer broke back in the next game and seized the momentum when he blasted a cross-court forehand winner to break Krajinovic again and take the first set.
The Swiss coasted after that, thanks to an overpowering serve that Krajinovic struggled to read.
Federer, 37, said he had already put his loss to Dominic Thiem in the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells last week behind him.
“Nowadays I am able to flush it out quickly. I was the worst at it when I was a teenager… right after it was all over I would cry and be so sad and disappointed,” he said.
“I wasn’t an angry person really, it just broke my heart.
“Nowadays I feel like ‘look, I gave it all I had.’ Thiem came up with the goods, I maybe didn’t. That’s it, it’s over.”
Next up for Federer is Russian Daniil Medvedev after the 13th seed defeated American qualifier Reilly Opelka 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 7-6(0) in a match that included 41 total aces.
Another big server, Anderson had 13 aces of his own with just one double-fault to seal a 6-4 7-6(6) victory over Portuguese Sousa earlier in the day.
The towering South African sixth seed, showing no ill-effects from the arm injury that hampered him earlier this year, will be a heavy favorite when he faces unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 7-5.
Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov dispatched 21-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev 6-3 7-6(5) in the pair’s first career meeting as the sun set on a warm Florida evening.
Next up for Shapovalov is a mouth-watering clash with another fellow young gun, 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Greek world number 10 was never broken on his way to a 6-4 6-4 win over Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer in the night session.
American Frances Tiafoe battled back to defeat Spain’s David Ferrer 5-7 6-3 6-3 to earn his spot in the fourth round, where he will face another defensive specialist, Belgian David Goffin. — Reuters

Not bad getting Trae

Heading into the 2018-19 Season of the National Basketball Association, one of the more talked-about player exchanges was that between the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks involving rookies Luka Doncic and Trae Young.
In a draft night exchange, the Mavericks, who had the number five pick, moved to trade for Doncic, who was selected third by the Hawks.
In return they offered Young, the fifth pick, and a first-round pick in 2019, which Atlanta eventually accepted.
The move by the Hawks was met by reservations by some who felt they did wrong as they were letting go of a gem of a talent in Doncic of Slovenia, a seasoned player despite his young age who honed his impressive skill set in the European league, for a guy like Young, while had promise still needed to prove himself after playing just one year of collegiate ball at the University of Oklahoma.
Doncic did not waste much time introducing himself to the entire NBA-dom, creating instant impact in Dallas to will his way as the next face of the franchise, taking over from Mavs and NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki.
He has been a steady 20-plus scorer to go along with seven-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, enough to earn him All-Star considerations. Doncic has been great that even early in the season the Rookie of the Year award was already being given to him by many.
Heck, Doncic has been good that the Dallas management had decided to rethink its tack for the future, trading away supposed cornerstones in Dennis Smith Jr. and Harrison Barnes for players it felt could complement the talent and play alongside the Slovenian sensation.
On the other hand, Young had it “slow.” While his numbers of 16.9 points, 7.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds before the All-Star break were not bad at all, still there were people viewing his acquisition by the Hawks as a “mistake” in relation to the bigger noise that Doncic was creating out West.
Of late, however, Young, 20, has been playing ball superbly, repaying the trust that Atlanta has shown him when it got him in the trade.
Post-All Star Game, the Hawks guard has raised his numbers across the board, averaging 25.3 points since along with 8.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Apart from the improved stats, he has been a true floor leader for the Hawks and clutch down the stretch, making big plays after big plays, the latest of which was his game-winning floater with a tenth of second left last Monday to bury the Philadelphia 76ers, 129-127.
His massive step-up as the regular season winds up has pushed him to make a stronger claim for rookie of the year.
Whether he would win ROY, this space is not really sure, as Doncic is still steady and admittedly has built much real estate on it.
But Young has proven he could deliver more than what many thought he is capable of and if you are a Hawks fan you have to be excited and happy for that.
Doncic could well have an All-Star career the rest of the way but if Young sustains this level of play and even improves on it, he, too, could have his share of All-Star appearances. Add to that another solid player from the first-round pick it got in the trade and I am sure Atlanta would not regret the deal it made with Dallas on draft night.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Lakers coach

Jason Kidd didn’t even bother hiding his sentiments. Touted as a leading candidate to take the reins in California, his alma mater, he found his name attached to the Lakers in the midst of speculation regarding incumbent head coach Luke Walton’s supposedly imminent firing. And he was delighted. Asked about the possibility on ESPN’s The Jump, he pointed to the Lakers as the best franchise “not just in the [National Basketball Association], but the world,” and to resident All-Star LeBron James as “the best player in the world … You are always going to say yes.”
True, Kidd did note that Walton was doing a yeoman’s job steering the Lakers through a rash of injuries and upheaval. And, true, he said he would be weighing his options. “Cal is a great institution. We’ll see what happens.” That said, he proved only too willing to talk about replacing the three-year mentor, never mind that there was no vacancy to speak of yet. “If you ever have the opportunity to wear the purple and gold, you can’t turn that down — as a coach, as a player, because they’re all about championships.”
For all the talk about Kidd’s choices, it bears considering that the 10-time All-Star has had a contentious past in the hot seat. He waged a battle for control with erstwhile assistant Lawrence Frank in his inaugural season at the helm. Then, after steering the Nets to the second round of the playoffs, he moved to the Bucks in a manner that required the latter to give up two second-round picks. He made the postseason in two of the next three years, but could not quite maximize his roster’s potential despite the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even his subsequent ouster was clouded in controversy.
From the outside looking in, Kidd’s preferences were both good and bad for the Bucks. His plodding predilections and trap-always system seemed iffy at best given the way offenses have placed a premium on pace and space. On the flipside, he was known as a player’s coach, and he commanded loyalty from his charges — traits that may well serve him in good stead navigating the Lakers’ future with James by his side. Of course, it’s on the assumption that Walton’s as good as gone.
In any case, Kidd has already laid the groundwork for a transition. “It’s nice to be wanted. And it just tells me I’m doing the right thing.” And he has seen fit to hedge as well. James, he argued, “wants to win now, but I think, again, it takes time.” Clearly, his return to the coaching ranks is a matter of when and not if, and where and not how. If he does wind up with the Lakers, he will at least have the drama part down pat.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Marcos asks PET to order review of results in 3 ARMM provinces

FERDINAND “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., who lost the vice-presidential race in 2016, asked the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to direct the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to submit its findings on the technical examination of some precincts in three provinces in the Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). In his urgent motion for resolution, Mr. Marcos, through his legal counsel George Erwin M. Garcia, cited the June 5 findings of the Comelec-Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) on election returns and election day computerized voter’s list (EDVLC) that 508 precincts in the provinces of Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan were “marked with different forms of election fraud such as massive substituted voting.” Mr. Marcos filed an election protest on June 29, 2016. Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo’s chief legal counsel and senatorial bet Romulo B. Macalintal, reacting to the new filing, said: “(H)uwag niyong paniwalaan iyan. Iyan ay espekulasyon lang ni Mr. Marcos at gusto lang niyang buhayin iyong kanyang protesta na sa ngayon ay malapit na sa kamatayan (Do not believe in that. That is mere speculation of Mr. Marcos and he just wants to revive his case, which is close to its end).” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

NDFP calls for release of peace consultant Fernandez

THE NATIONAL Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) called for the immediate release of one of its peace consultants, Frank Fernandez, who was recently arrested. “We demand that Frank Fernandez and his companions be released immediately as a matter of principle, justice and humanity,” said NDFP Peace Negotiating Panel Chairperson Fidel V. Agcaoili in a statement late Monday. Mr. Fernandez, a former priest who joined the communist movement in the 1980s, was arrested along with his wife and a staff for the rebel group in an operation last Sunday for charges of murder. Mr. Agcaoili said, “For humanitarian considerations alone, he should not have been arrested and allowed to receive unhampered medical treatment.” He added that the arrest is considered a violation of “international humanitarian law and the minimum prison standards recognized by civilized nations” as well as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. has said that the JASIG is no longer in effect following the cancellation of the peace talks. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

SC e-library finally going online by June

THE SUPREME Court will open its electronic library (SC e-Library) to the public by June, 15 years after it was launched. In a press statement, the SC said the e-Library project is intended “to enhance transparency and provide better access for lawyers, law professors, law students, and legal researchers to decisions, resolutions, issuances, and rules of the court.” SC Public Information Office Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka said the court is aiming to have the actual opening coincide with the launch of the SC’s improved Web site on or before the High Court’s 118th Anniversary on June 11. The SC e-Library, launched in 2004 and spearheaded by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, is a database of jurisprudence, including SC decisions and resolutions from 1901 to the present, past and present laws, SC issuances such as present and past Rules of Court as well as resolutions on administrative matters. References include bench-books, books catalogues of court libraries, and an index to Philippine periodicals. There will also be a ‘Memorabilia Room’ of past and retired SC justices. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Red tide warning up in 1 Mindanao, 2 Visayas areas

SHELLFISH COLLECTED from San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol are positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Monday.
In an advisory, BFAR said that all shellfish and Acetes species (alamang) collected from these bodies of water are “not safe for human consumption.”
“Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internals such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR said.
Areas in Luzon free from the toxic red tide are: coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; coastal waters of Pampanga; Masinoc Bay in Zambales; coastal waters of Milagros, Mandaon and Placer in Masbate; Juag Lagoon; Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Honda and Puerto Princesa Bays, Puerto Princesa City and coastal waters of Inner Malampaya Sound; Taytay in Palawan.
For Visayas, the following areas are free from red tide: coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Caries in Iloilo; coastal waters of Pilar, Panay, President Roxas and Roxas City in Capiz; Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan); Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; coastal waters of E.B. Magalona; Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigaran and Victorias City in Negros Occidental; Tambobo and Siit Bays, Siaton and Bais Bay, Bais City in Negros Oriental; coastal waters of Daram Island, Maqueda, Villareal, Irong-Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Cancabato, Carigara and San Pedro Bays in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran province.
In Mindanao, the red tide-free areas are: Damanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; Taguines Lagoon; Benoni; Mahinog in Camiguin Island; Balite and Pujada Bays; Mati in Davao Oriental; and Hinatuan and Bislig Bays in Surigao del Sur. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

‘No window hours’ now applies to all national roads, Mabuhay lanes

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) have agreed to standardize the “no window hours” policy for the number coding scheme on all national roads and Mabuhay Lanes.
Under the scheme, vehicles banned on a certain day of the week depending on the last digit of the license plate or conduction sticker cannot traverse major thoroughfares and Mabuhay lane routes between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The MMDA also said that members of the MMC, composed of mayors in the capital, have agreed to amend their respective number coding schemes and traffic code to align it with the policy.
“We requested standard na tayo, wala nang may (that it be standardized, that there will be no more) ‘window’… of course except (for those that do not implement the) coding like Marikina, Taguig, and Navotas,” said MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr. in an interview with reporters on Tuesday.
He cited that among the national roads covered are EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, and Marcos Highway.
EDSA BUS TERMINALS
The MMDA and MMC also approved the resolution prohibiting the issuance of business permits for public utility bus terminals along EDSA.
Mr. Garcia said they had a meeting last Monday with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin B. Delgra III and Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary Alberto H. Suansing, where they agreed that all bus terminals along the major thoroughfare would be out by June.
Mr. Garcia said the plan is to have all provincial buses originating from northern Luzon to stop at the Valenzuela City terminal, while those from the south in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
He said the terminals have an area of about 5 hectares each, which would be enough to accommodate all provincial buses.
“I just learned today na yung (that the) 96 terminals sa (in the) whole Metro Manila, ang sukat niya ay (is only) 1.6 hectares,” he said.
The closure of provincial bus terminals along EDSA is intended to help ease traffic flow
Mr. Garcia said a dry run of the new arrangement will be conducted after the Holy Week in April to prepare commuters and operators. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Dealing with El Niño

33,000 rice farmers in Iloilo affected by dry spell

ABOUT 30% of the 110,000 rice farmers in Iloilo province have been affected by the prevailing El Niño phenomenon, and the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) is already anticipating that it would not be able meet the one million metric ton (MT) target production this year. “With the present condition, Iloilo’s one million metric tons target harvest for rice may not be achieved. We are expecting that our rice production for this year will really be affected,” said Provincial Rice Report Officer Nancy C. Superal. The 33,000 affected farmers are those who planted during the second cropping season late last year. In 2018, Iloilo was the top rice producer in Western Visayas and the country’s fourth with an output of 939,332 MT, according to the Department of Agriculture–Region 6 (DA-6). Ms. Superal advised farmers to adopt technology and appropriate inputs once the next cropping season starts to recoup the losses caused by El Niño.
OTHER PROVINCES
In other parts of Western Visayas, about 547.52 hectares of rice areas have been affected in the municipalities of Patnongon and Culasi, with an estimated loss of over P10.4 million, based on DA-6 data. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) also recently reported P6.11 million worth of damaged rice crops in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. Last Friday, the RDRRMC discussed the response plans of various agencies, such as cloud seeding, distribution of standby farm inputs and relief goods, among others. Based on the climate outlook of weather bureau PAGASA, 13 provinces in the Visayas will experience drought by the end of April. These are: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern, and Western Samar. Three others — Bohol, Cebu, and Southern Leyte — will experience dry spell. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Dry spell’s initial damage to Cebu agri sector estimated at P100M

THE FREEMAN

CEBU PROVINCE is now under a state of calamity due to the effects of a weak El Niño. The provincial board passed Monday afternoon a resolution making the declaration, which paves the way for the release of emergency funds to assist farmers, fisherfolk, and other affected communities. Board Member Thadeo Jovito Z. Ouano, author of the resolution, said the declaration is backed by the visible damage and losses that the El Niño has caused on crops, livestock, fishery products, and water supply. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) also conducted an initial survey and assessment of the dry spell’s impact. PDRRMO head Baltazar S. Tribunalo Jr. said the initial damage estimate is P100 million. Mr. Tribunalo added that with the weak El Niño expected to persist until May or June, the number could increase, noting that the damage value recorded during the 2015-2016 El Niño episode in Cebu reached P215 million. Emily Lagrimas, PDRRMO Research and Planning Division head, said at least 27 local government units have declared damage and losses out of the 51 towns and component cities in the province. Mr. Tribunalo said the short-term assistance program include provision of water and cash-for-work for the affected farmers and fishermen. — The Freeman

Waiting for water

MAYOR CLIMACO FB PAGE

Residents in various parts of Zamboanga City, where a state of calamity has already been declared, line up to get supply from water tankers deployed by the local government amid the dry spell. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, meanwhile, has been ordered to draw up plans for the immediate construction of five small water impounding dams or weirs, with three in Pasonanca and two at the Saaz River in Patalon. Cloud seeding operations — with funding from the local government, Prime Water Infrastructure Corp. based inside the Zamboanga economic zone, and the Zamboanga City Water District — is also being scheduled to mitigate the impact of the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

3 Region 12 police officers relieved over investment scam

DEPARTMENT OF Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to relieve high-ranking police officers of the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12), based in General Santos City, for their alleged involvement in an investment scam that reportedly collected almost P2 billion. Among those ordered relieved are Senior Supt. Manuel M. Lukban, Jr., Senior Supt. Raul S. Supiter, and Supt. Henry P. Biñas. Based on the initial report of PRO-12, the Police Paluwagan Movement, an investment scheme promising high returns, has attracted not just cops, but others including prosecutors, judges, entrepreneurs, and civilians. The scheme allegedly offers a 60% interest rate every 15 days to investors. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

As military pursues Abu Sayyaf group, displaced Sulu residents get help from local gov’t

THE SULU Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRROM) brought relief goods to displaced residents of the province on Monday as the military continues with its pursuit operations of the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf group. The PDRRMO, assisted by the municipal government of Kalinggalan Caluang, police and military forces, said it distributed goods to families from Simisa Island, where troops killed three Abu Sayyaf members on Sunday. In a report on Monday, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said soldiers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 clashed with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members under sub leader Najir Arik in Simisa Island Sunday morning. No casualty was reported on the government side. Pursuit and clearing operations are ongoing. “The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf,” said Lt. General Arnel B. Dela Vega, WestMinCom commander. Government forces have been pursuing members of the bandit group, with operations further intensified since the Jan. 27, 2019 bombing of a Catholic church in Jolo, the capital of Sulu. The Abu Sayyaf have pledged allegiance to the extremist Islamic State.

Nation at a Glance — (03/27/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.
Nation at a Glance — (03/27/19)

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