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Dashboard (07/04/18)

New VW models get free maintenance service


THE newly launched Volkswagen Santana MPI MT Trendline, Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline and Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline are now offered with free preventive maintenance service on their first year of ownership (or the first 10,000 kilometers). But Volkswagen Philippines said the service is free only if reservations for buying any of the models are placed on specific dates during Volkswagen displays that are being held, or will be held, at shopping malls.
To qualify, reservations must be made at SM Mall of Asia today; at SM City Cebu not later than July 9; and at SM North EDSA not later than July 11.
The Santana is powered by a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine that’s mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It is priced from P686,000.
The Lavida has a turbocharged, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine bolted to a seven-speed DSG transmission, leather seats, automatic engine start/stop, push-button ignition and a sunroof, among other features. Prices start at P1.171 million.
The Tiguan is equipped with a similar engine, but in this case matched with a six-speed DSG. Its features include Vienna leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, an eight-speaker audio system, and a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. It sells from P1.648 million.
Volkswagen Philippines noted the periodic maintenance service schedule for these models is only once a year (or every 10,000 kilometers).

Porsche PHL celebrates brand’s 70th year


PORSCHE Philippines said it recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of Porsche by displaying the brand’s classic sports cars and current models at a mall in Makati City.
The display showcased Porsche’s “rich heritage and long history of pioneering spirit, passion and sportiness,” according to the brand’s domestic distributor. A trivia contest focused on various Porsche information was also held for visitors.
Porsche Philippines has showrooms in Alabang, Bonifacio Global City, Greenhills and SM Seaside City Cebu.

Working from home has never had more appeal than now

One of the more popular bills to emerge from Congress in recent memory is the one that proposes to allow Filipinos to telecommute or work from home. With motor vehicle traffic not only in Metro Manila but also in other major cities in the country worsening by the day, not having to leave one’s house just to earn one’s keep is sounding more and more appealing with each passing week.
But is telecommuting a legitimate need as well as a realistic solution? Or is it merely the ultimate dream of most workers — to stay home in tattered shirts and with disheveled hair while they beat deadlines and meet quotas?
I used to believe it was the latter. That some people are just too damn lazy to haul their butt to a proper office. I mean, Pinoy employees had been blaming “traffic” for their tardiness long before “Carmageddon” got coined. We’re too spoiled, apparently.
And then I got to chat the other day with a former colleague, who informed me she had just left a good-paying job with a telecommunications company because the daily task of traveling from her house in Laguna to her workplace in Makati (and back) had taken its soul-sapping toll both on her and her young family. To think she had only been with the firm for about a year.
This former colleague, I assure you, has no problem sticking to one organization for a longtime. She had previously worked in the same company for some five years, all while driving her car from Alabang to Mandaluyong on a daily basis. For her recent employment with the telco, she chose to leave her car at home and just take the bus to and from Makati. Sadly, getting relieved of driving duties didn’t make her trips more tolerable — if anything, it only gave her more time to wonder why she was allowing herself to waste a good chunk of her life in traffic, away from her child.
So she quit — significant pay be damned.
Hers wasn’t wishful thinking anymore. She did something about her traffic-related predicament. The mental and emotional torture was as real for her as a full-on gout attack for me after a night of steak and whiskey.
Thankfully, she’s talented enough to score gigs even from the comfort of her bedroom. Not many individuals are as fortunate. How many others out there are feeling the same, suffering in silence and soldiering on because they have no other choice but to do so?
A BusinessWorld infographic recently showed that an average of 247,527 private cars, 20,022 taxicabs, 12,283 buses, 8,830 trucks, 7,229 utility vehicles and 69,438 motorcycles are using EDSA every day. Every single day — on a clogged highway that measures just 24 kilometers from end to end. Think about that.
I have a nagging suspicion that the ongoing sales slump that our local automotive industry is experiencing is not really the result of inflation or rising fuel prices or higher excise taxes. Maybe it’s just the long-overdue manifestation of a congestion-weary population. Maybe people just want to try going carless for once. Or maybe they simply don’t need a personal vehicle anymore.
Because maybe, just like my former colleague, they’ve already turned their backs on a sorry life of sitting idly in traffic.

DICT says down gov't website not hacked

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said a “hardware failure” is causing the difficulty to access government websites.
“The Government Web Hosting Service (GWHS) is experiencing hardware failure on one of its storage systems that is affecting its overall function. As a result, several government websites are currently down and inaccessible,” DICT said in a statement on Tuesday.
It noted that it is “already working on the issue.”
DICT also allayed worries that the government sites were hacked, and the agency is already conducting a hardware maintenance to address the problem.
On Tuesday, several government websites were reported to fail loading. Instead of landing the home page, a message saying “Websites sometimes break. Please wait while we put it back together” is flashed on the screen.

Belgium rallies to defeat Japan in World Cup epic

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Belgium produced one of the great World Cup comebacks on Monday to beat Japan 3-2 and set up an attractive-looking quarterfinal clash against Neymar’s Brazil.
Substitute Nacer Chadli was Belgium’s hero on a humid night in Rostov-on-Don, scoring in the fourth minute of injury time to seal the dramatic victory.
Japan had stunned Roberto Martinez’s third-ranked side by racing into a two-goal lead in the second half through Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui.
With Belgium looking to be heading home, Jan Vertonghen — the defender whose error had led to Japan’s opener — made amends with a goal to put Belgium back in the game before Marouane Fellaini’s powerful header brought them to 2-2.
It was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who started the slick move that decided the match, rolling the ball out to Kevin De Bruyne, who raced upfield before feeding Thomas Meunier.
The defender’s cross was intelligently dummied by Romelu Lukaku, allowing West Bromwich Albion’s Chadli to slot past Japan ‘keeper Eiji Kawashima.
The Japan players slumped to the turf and coach Akira Nishino said they were too stunned to talk about the match immediately afterwards.
Belgium coach Martinez expressed his pride in the players.
“In the World Cup you want to be perfect but it’s about getting through, it’s about winning,” Martinez said.
“It was a test of character and you see the reaction of our subs coming on to win the game. It tells you everything about this group of players.”
BRAZIL ON THE MARCH
Brazil stayed on course for a sixth title as Neymar scored and created a goal for substitute Roberto Firmino to snuff out Mexico’s challenge.
Neymar was criticized for his early performances in Russia as he eased his way back to fitness after a broken foot bone, but he carved open a tough Mexican defense without quite reaching his dazzling best.
After a goalless first half in the heat of Samara, the world’s most expensive player tapped in from the impressive Willian’s cross for his second goal of the tournament on 51 minutes.
As Brazil pressed their advantage, Neymar set up Firmino for another close-range finish that sealed the 2-0 victory.
In between, he writhed in agony on the turf after a Mexican opponent appeared to stand on his ankle, but the referee ruled there had been no foul and Neymar was soon on his feet and sprinting.
Neymar hit back at his critics afterwards.
“I don’t care much for criticism, or praise, because this can influence your attitude,” he said.
“In the last two matches I didn’t talk to the press because I don’t want to, I just have to play, help my teammates, help my team.”
“I’m here to win. I can always improve. Today I feel much better and I’m very happy for this win.”
Mexico threatened at times but their World Cup challenge ended at the first knockout stage for the seventh consecutive tournament.
RUSSIAN PARTY
Russian fans celebrated long into the night after they stunned 2010 winners Spain on penalties in an electric atmosphere at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
Veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero for the hosts, saving two spot-kicks.
The win sparked an outpouring of joy on the streets of the capital, with disbelieving locals cheering, waving flags, blowing horns and yelling “Russ-i-a!”
Russia, ranked a lowly 70th in the world, will play Croatia in the last eight after similar drama in Nizhny Novgorod, where Luka Modric saw his spot-kick saved late in extra time before his team held their nerve to defeat Denmark in the penalty shoot-out.
Spain had been considered among the favorites but their preparations were wrecked when coach Julen Lopetegui was sensationally sacked on the eve of the tournament.
“The KO in the last 16 is another dark chapter in our history,” said Spanish sports daily Marca, adding that it was “incredible naivety” to think Lopetegui’s abrupt sacking would not affect the team.
Spain join 2014 winners Germany, Argentina and European champions Portugal in exiting the competition, leaving just four former World Cup winners in the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have dominated the game for the past decade, have gone home, their hopes of ever winning the World Cup probably over. — AFP

Explanations, regret in aftermath of World Cup qualifiers melee

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
BOCAUE — Basketball took a black eye on Monday night when a game between the Philippines and Australia in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan took an ugly turn after a fight broke out in the third quarter which eventually led to the match abruptly ending.
With 4:01 left in the third period, and the Boomers ahead by a mile, 79-48, Gilas Pilipinas player Roger Pogoy and Australian Chris Goulding got involved in a heated battle for position in the paint, culminating in the former shoving down the latter to the floor and being called for an offensive foul for it.
Spark further flied immediately after when Daniel Kickert knocked down Mr. Pogoy with a solid elbow, prompting a bench-clearing involving the two teams.
A long lull ensued as game officials tried to figure out everything that had happened and the penalties to be meted.
When the decision was handed down, four Australians were ejected — Messrs. Goulding and Kickert, National Basketball Association player Thon Maker and Nathan Sobey — while Gilas saw nine players thrown out, namely, Mr. Pogoy, Andray Blatche, Terrence Romeo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Jayson William, Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright.
The decision left the Philippines with only three players — June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer — who had no choice but to play against a full complement of Australians on the court.
The game continued until it was finally stopped at the 1:57 mark of the period and the score at 89-53 when it was only Mr. Amer who was left on the court for the Philippines after Messrs. Fajardo and Norwood intentionally fouled out.
AN EVENT COMING
In the aftermath of the melee, those involved offered explanations and regret for the unfortunate turn of events between the top two teams in Group B of the Qualifiers, who incidentally were already qualified for the next round of the tournament.
For Mr. Wright, one of the Gilas players ejected following the fight, the fracas was a direct result of the physical nature and emotionally charged atmosphere that the game took even before the actual match started.
“This happened before the game got started. Everyone knows we are a gracious host but if you push us to a limit, there is so much we can do. I’m just happy that everyone stood up for each other and we had each other’s backs,” said Mr. Wright, referring to an incident during the warm-ups where some of the Gilas players got into a heated commotion with Mr. Kickert.
“It was a chippy game. The main thing that happened is that he (Kickert) hit Pogoy after the foul was called and it was unnecessary. That’s what caused the entire thing. It is unfortunate that we lost today but if ever it happened again we would probably do the same thing. It’s a brotherhood. It is more than basketball,” he added.
“It’s an unfortunate incident, but you have to look back at the practice the day before the game when they (Australia) disrespected our court when they started pulling out the decals of our paying sponsors,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Robbie Puno, for his part, said, talking about Australia’s closed-door practice on Sunday where the team took liberty in peeling off FIBA-approved decals on the floor over “safety concerns” for its players that did not sit well in particular with the local organizing committee, the SBP and the management of the Philippine Arena.
“This is a bad situation. I think we can only hope to get some good out of it… So let that be a lesson to everybody,” the SBP official added.
READY TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCE
Escalated the way it did, both Gilas Pilipinas and the Boomers are expecting to be penalized for their part in the melee.
“We didn’t want that to happen… I don’t know. It is up to FIBA in the end and we have to face those consequences. It is what it is but — one thing you have to know about this team is we are not going to back down,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said.
“It is what it is. We are going through the second round. All I know is this team remains solid. We have each other’s backs and we back each other. I understand the disappointment. I understand that they are embarrassed but again, you don’t know what happened. You have to be in the team circle to really understand what went down,” he added.
Meanwhile, Basketball Australia also issued a statement on the incident.
“Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident in tonight’s match between the Boomers and the Philippines in Manila. We are extremely disappointed with what happened and our role in it. This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball. We apologize to our fans and will await the penalties to be handed down,” chief executive Anthony Moore said.
FIBA said it has opened disciplinary proceedings and would come up with a decision “in the coming days.”
Malacañang, for its part, also viewed the melee as “unfortunate.”
“We found the whole incident unfortunate. It should never have happened, that’s why it’s called sports. I think we would have to say it was a truly regretful incident,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque when asked at the Palace press briefing yesterday on the brawl involving the Philippines and Australia in the Qualifiers.
“I think they have apologized. I’ve seen some apologies in the news earlier. The team coach has apologized, some members have apologized. I don’t know if all of them have, but in any case I’m sure FIBA will mete out the sanctions. I hope our players as true sportsmen will honor whatever the decision of FIBA will be, graciously,” he added.

Federer and Serena breeze through Wimbledon furnace


LONDON — Eight-time champion Roger Federer and seven-time winner Serena Williams shrugged off 30-degree heat to breeze into the Wimbledon second round Monday.
Federer, the defending champion and seeking a 21st major, marked the start of his 20th successive Wimbledon with a new look and a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
Williams, like Federer, 36 years old but chasing a 24th Slam title, enjoyed a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 victory over Holland’s Arantxa Rus.
It was the American’s first match at the All England Club since lifting the 2016 title.
She missed the 2017 edition as she prepared for the birth of her first child.
Top seed Federer marched out on Centre Court dressed for the first time in gear designed by Japanese giant Uniqlo in a deal reported to be worth $300 million after a two-decade association with Nike.
But everything else was familiar for the Swiss star who cruised past world number 57 Lajovic in just 79 minutes.
It was the second successive year that Federer had knocked out the Serb at Wimbledon.
“I’m very happy, I felt good from the start too which was nice and that was not the case last year against him. I remember I struggled early on a lot,” said Federer.
After just 20 minutes to complete the first set, Federer went on to fire 35 winners past Lajovic, breaking serve five times, setting up a second round encounter against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia.
Out on Court One, Serena, seeded 25 this year despite a ranking of 181, had too much power for Rus, the world 107.
Williams, looking to move within one title of Martina Navratilova’s Open era record of nine Wimbledon titles, fired 23 winners past Rus.
Victory was sealed on a fifth match point and next faces Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova.
“I don’t know if I’m relieved, more motivated, but I am happy to get through that,” said Williams, whose return to Slam tennis after pregnancy at Roland Garros last month ended in a fourth round injury withdrawal.
US Open champion and fourth seed Sloane Stephens became the tournament’s first big name casualty when she slumped to a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Croatia’s world 55 Donna Vekic.
For Stephens, fresh from making the French Open final last month, it was her second successive first round loss at the tournament.
The 2014 semifinalist was stunned by three-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Wawrinka, whose ranking has slumped to 225 after knee surgery, had lost his last four matches against Dimitrov.
But at the same tournament where he played what proved to be his last match of 2017, the 33-year-old was rejuvenated.
Also making a first round exit was Ukraine fifth seed Elina Svitolina, beaten 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-1 by Germany’s Tatjana Maria, the Mallorca grasscourt champion last week.
Third seed and 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic enjoyed a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
Second seed Caroline Wozniacki, who has never got to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, built on her Eastbourne title at the weekend with a 59-minute, 6-0, 6-3 win over Varvara Lepchenko.
Venus Williams, a five-time champion and runner-up last year, made the next round with a 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-1 win against Johanna Larsson of Sweden.
Serena’s fellow tennis-playing mother, Victoria Azarenka, a former world number one and two-time semi-finalist, defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
Ivo Karlovic, 39 and the oldest man in the draw, made the second round by seeing off Mikhail Youzhny, just three years younger, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
But Karlovic’s Croatian compatriot Borna Coric, who defeated Federer for the Halle title last week, was a first round loser against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 6-2.
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 runner-up, then supplied the late night drama, saving six match points to beat Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. — AFP

Aussie team ‘feared for safety’ after Manila basketball brawl

A “bruised and battered” Australian team feared for its safety and sought government help to escape the court after a mass brawl with the Philippine side at an international match in Manila, officials said Tuesday.
Basketball’s governing body FIBA has launched a probe following the chaos at Monday’s World Cup qualifying match where players exchanged flying kicks and punches.
A total of 13 players were ejected after the melee, with television footage showing a fan punching one of the Australian players and another fan throwing a chair at a visiting player.
“We had our players and team management and our coaches in fear of their physical safety,” Basketball Australia Chief Executive Anthony Moore told a news conference.
“Are we going to be able to get out of here unscathed?”
Moore said the Aussies “accept our responsibility for our role in last night’s incident” and were waiting for the sport’s governing body’s findings and sanctions.
“What we don’t accept is the action whereby fans and officials actually get involved in the fray,” he said.
The fracas kicked off after a Philippine player appeared to catch an opponent with an elbow in the game at the Philippine Arena outside Manila.
Moore said the visitors kept their players and coaches courtside after the game and sought help from the Australian embassy to get the team safely out to their bus and their hotel.
“Physically our players are fine, they’re, you know, bruised and battered,” Moore said.
“Our athletes and coaches actually stayed on the court for a considerable amount of time, (it was) the safest place for our players and our coaches,” he said, adding the team are flying out of Manila later Tuesday.
After the incident FIBA tweeted it was opening disciplinary proceedings against both teams, adding “The decision(s) will be communicated in the coming days.”
Officials for the Philippine basketball federation did not immediately return telephone calls and e-mail by AFP seeking comment.
Thon Maker, one of two NBA players on the Australian side, tweeted Tuesday he was “deeply disappointed in the actions displayed” and was taking responsibility for his own actions.
“My hope is that this experience provides a springboard for discussion regarding the security surrounding these games,” said the South Sudan-born Milwaukee Bucks center, who was ejected from the match.
The Filipino players were later roundly roasted in social media after several members were photographed taking a group selfie apparently after the fight.
“Class,” NBA veteran Andrew Bogut, who has played previously for the Australian national team, wrote while re-tweeting a news account of the Filipino selfie. — AFP

PBA Commissioner’s Cup resumes with double-header at MOA Arena

THE MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS look to book a win against the NLEX Road Warriors today at the Mall of Asia Arena that could well push it to the next round and stave off early elimination in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. — ALVIN S. GO

AFTER a more than a week break to give way to what was an eventful third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup resumes today with a double-header at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, two teams looking to fortify their spots in the next round, battle also-rans Blackwater Elite and NLEX Road Warriors.
Defending champion San Miguel (5-4) takes on Blackwater (1-9) in the curtain-raiser at 4:30 p.m. while Magnolia (4-5) engages NLEX (2-8) in the main game at 7 p.m.
The Beermen have had it rough in the ongoing tournament but are currently on a two-game roll to significantly help their cause and move up the standings.
San Miguel’s latest victory came on June 23 against NLEX, 125-114, in an out-of-town game that saw its starters in a dominating performance.
June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Renaldo Balkman, Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross all scored in double digits with Mr. Fajardo leading the way with 30 points.
Such proved to be too much to handle for the Road Warriors as the game wore on as the latter saw the Beermen pull away with the win that secured for them a quarterfinal spot.
San Miguel hopes to continue its ascent against tailending Blackwater, which has lost two straight games that has only compounded their misery in the midseason PBA tournament.
STAVE OFF ELIMINATION
Magnolia, meanwhile, looks to book a win that could well push it to the next round and stave off early elimination.
Sitting precariously at eighth spot with two games left in their schedule in the elimination round, the Hotshots, which lost in their last game to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 104-84, on June 17, try to make the most of their remaining games to create more elbow room as they shoot for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Looking to spoil the Hotshots in their thrust is NLEX, which will be playing its final game of the tournament and is out to exit on a winning note and end a four-game losing streak in the process. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NCAA Season 94 fires off on July 7

TOP local collegiate action officially starts this weekend with Season 94 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) getting under way on Saturday, July 7.
Hosted this year by the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA, and with a theme of “Unparalleled Heights in Sports Development,” proceedings kick off with defending champions San Beda Red Lions going up against host school Perpetual Help at 2 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Coming back with its championship core intact, led by Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon and Donald Tankoua of Cameroon, San Beda has been installed as the consensus favorites anew for the about-to-start season.
But while they have been labeled as the team to beat, Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez stressed that their work is cut out for them, seeing how the rest of the league has improved and is now more balanced.
One of the teams that fortified its roster for Season 94 is Perpetual Help, the team San Beda will face on opening day.
The Altas are now coached by NCAA champion bench tactician Frankie Lim, who incidentally led the Lions to a string of champions in the 2000s.
Also playing on opening day are the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates and the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags at 4 p.m.
Other teams in the NCAA are the Arellano University Chiefs, Letran Knights, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, College of Saint Benilde Blazers, Mapua Cardinals and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Melee at the Arena

It was a chippy game no doubt but little did I expect that it would escalate the way it did.
I am talking, of course, of the melee that happened on Monday night between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers in their key match in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
As we all know by now, a bench-clearing marred said game in the third period, leading to players from both teams — four for Australia and nine for the Philippines — being ejected from the contest that eventually led to the match prematurely ending at the 1:57 mark of the third period after Gilas was left with only one player on the court — Baser Amer — following the intentional fouling out of the two other players — June Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood — who were not kicked out of the court following the fracas.
The abrupt ending gave the Australians by default the 89-53 victory that allowed them to seize solo Group B leadership heading into the next round of the tournament.
A series of events seemingly led to the unfortunate outcome.
There was the “peeling” incident involving the Australian team a day before where in a closed-door practice it took liberty in peeling off FIBA-approved decals on the floor over “safety concerns” for its players.
The move did not sit well in particular with the local organizing committee, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the management of the Philippine Arena, describing the act as “uncalled for” and could have been handled more appropriately.
Then there was the incident between some Gilas players and Australian player Daniel Kickert in the warm-ups where the latter reportedly hit the Filipinos during the layup line that caused a commotion.
During the game itself, there was a lot of physical play and trash-talking which further brewed animosity between the two teams, culminating in Roger Pogoy being decked by Kickert with an elbow that practically ignited the whole melee at the 4:01 mark of the third period.
As I sat down in the media room of the Philippine Arena moments after the incident, I could not help but feel disappointed with what happened, simply because I believe it was something that could have been avoided had those concerned exercise better judgment as far as the action they would take.
Gilas, while I understand the pride that runs through it and the brotherhood it has, should have known better than running after the Australians like crazy after the Pogoy incident, especially those who left the bench which only furthered the flame.
The team could have taken a stand against it without necessarily resorting to what was akin to a mass brawl.
The Australians, too, had their fault.
Kickert played well in said game but he had no business roughing up their Filipino hosts no end.
His antics during warm-ups and the blow he threw at Pogoy were uncalled for. They might have been a form of psych war from his and the team’s part but just the same these only opened the game to violence as what eventually happened.
The Boomers could have eased up as well since the game was pretty much under wraps as early as midway of the third canto.
Talking trash, while part of the game, could have been done without at that point of the match for the 31-point advantage, 79-48, Australia had was already more than enough statement.
But yet the verbal back-and-forth continued and it just did not help.
Then there were the officials, both local and FIBA as well as the referees, who could have handled the situation better.
They should have recognized the physical and emotionally charged atmosphere that the game took much earlier and could have extinguished it by talking to both teams to temper the heat.
Security, particularly concerning separation of the “fighting” teams, also left much to be desired, leaving the free-for-all to cascade.
What happened at the Philippine Arena on Monday was truly a black eye for the sport of basketball. It was very lamentable and I just hope nothing of such kind happens in the tournament moving forward.
Let the penalties be meted to those who deserve them and may the basketball community learn from this.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@www.bworldonline.com

Time to be happy

Heading into the offseason, critics had a field day lambasting LeBron James for his desire to see where he could best land in free agency. Even a seemingly proper move as assessing his options — which everybody else in his position has sought to do — was viewed through lenses that fit the “He’s chasing rings” narrative. He’s supposedly getting in touch with other marquee names and convincing them to form a superteam with him. Forget about the absence of corroboration and confirmation; rumors were being spread as verified news. And forget about the fact that, even if true, he would simply have been exercising his right as a free agent.
Well, guess what? James chose the Lakers. Was he really desperate for hardware, as naysayers insist, he should have opted in and forced a trade to the Rockets, or even opted out and moved to the Sixers. Instead, he’s prepping to wear the purple and gold, the one jersey that will most guarantee intense scrutiny. Win, and he’ll just be accomplished enough to emerge from the shadows cast by the franchise’s greats. Lose, and he’ll be a bust.
As currently constructed, the Lakers are little better than the Cavaliers James left in his wake. They’re younger, yes, and boast of more potential. The flipside is that they’re in the West, where competition is much stiffer and they’re pegged to last until the second round. And they’ll ultimately be up against the powerhouse Warriors, overwhelming favorites following the return of newly minted Finals Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant and the arrival of four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.
Clearly, James is no longer running after ghosts he cannot catch. He knows his legacy is secure. He has gone to nine Finals in 15 years, the last eight consecutively. His squads were favored in a mere two of those nine appearances, and only once (against the Mavericks in 2011) did he fail to meet expectations. He gave Cleveland its first championship in any sport over the last half century, and against the 2016 Warriors, identified by advanced analytics as the best-constructed team of all time by far; to top it off, he did so in dramatic fashion, leading a comeback never before seen in he annals of pro hoops.
James is now after more important matters outside the court. Sure, he’ll still aim to succeed; there are, after all, no limits to excellence. Nonetheless, he is setting up his pursuits in the here and now for the there and then. It’s why he agreed to a four-year contract with the Lakers. No more one-and-one or two-and-one deals that marked his second stint with the Cavaliers. He’s keen on playing the long game, and it’s no coincidence that when he becomes a free agent anew, he will have the opportunity to play alongside his son.
The critics will never be silenced. James has long been aware of the fact that he cuts a polarizing figure, and it doesn’t help that he occasionally places himself in avoidable situations that feed the beast. There was once a time when he fretted over all the negative feedback. That time is long past. He already realizes his place in history, and figures it’s about time for him to be, well, simply happy.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Stocks inch up ahead of inflation report

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
Shares firmed up on Tuesday amid thin trading, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the release of June inflation data.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 0.55% or 39.38 points to 7,267.34, marking the third consecutive uptick for the market. The broader all shares index also rose 0.27% or 11.68 points to 4,409.83.
“Philippine markets continued to remain positive in July albeit the weaker trading volumes as US indices also kicked off the beginning of the third quarter on a positive note,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.
Four sectoral indices moved to positive territory, led by holding firms which jumped 0.92% or 65.43 points to 7,181.17. Industrial followed with an increase of 0.59% or 61.56 points to 10,447.47, while financials climbed 0.34% or 6.09 points to 1,787.61. Property added 0.31% or 11.10 points to 3,563.
On the other hand, services lost 0.54% or 7.57 points to 1,391.44, while mining and oil gave up 0.38% or 36.60 points to 9,711.80.
The market saw some 539.76 million issues switch hands, valued at P4.78 billion, flat from the previous session’s turnover of P4.8 billion.
Decliners outpaced advancers, 97 to 88, while 50 names remained unchanged. Net foreign outflows slimmed to P424.86 million, slightly lower than Monday’s net sales of P457.75 million.
The most heavily traded stocks for the day included Universal Robina Corp., which rallied 2.3% to P124.80 each, Ayala Land, Inc. with flat shares at P38 each, and SM Investments Corp that jumped 1.67% to 915 each.

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