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Henry Sy, Jr. forays into cement business

By Krista A. M. Montealegre,
National Correspondent

COMPETITION in the cement industry is heating up with the entry of a start-up backed by the son of the country’s richest man Henry T. Sy, Sr., promising a revolutionary manufacturing process that will produce the world’s “strongest and greenest” cement.

Chaired by Mr. Henry “Big Boy” T. Sy, Jr., Big Boss Cement, Inc. (BBCI) is building a facility in Porac, Pampanga with an output of 1.5 million bags of cement per month, BBCI President Engr. Gilbert S. Cruz said in a briefing in Makati City on Thursday. It will start commercial operations in March.

BBCI is the latest player in the industry, which has recently attracted Eagle Cement, Inc. of San Miguel Corp. Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang. DMCI Holdings, Inc. of the Consunji family is another company exploring an entry in the cement business.

BBCI believes there is room for another player in the industry dominated by foreign players, with cement demand seen growing to 25 million metric tons (MT) this year and 40 million MT in the next five years, as the government embarks on the “golden age of infrastructure.”

BBCI hopes to account for 3% of the market, as existing players can only accommodate 20-22 million MT of current demand, Mr. Cruz said.

He downplayed concerns of a glut in the market, saying that importation has created an “artificial oversupply.”

“There is still huge demand for cement. We should be able to help the country — being a Filipino company — to fill in this demand and instead of relying on imports, we should do it ourselves,” Mr. Cruz said.

As a new player, BBCI has put a premium on research and development to produce environment-friendly products. It is doing away with a nearly a 200-year-old system of mining raw materials such as limestone, clay, shale and sand, and heating them inside a kiln at around 1,500 degrees Celsius.

It has a patent-pending manufacturing process that makes use of readily available raw materials, such as lahar or volcanic debris. It does not require excessive heat to produce its products, thus, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than half.

“This is peculiar and much cheaper to build than the old technology manufacturing process of setting up a kiln. That costs up to P3-5 billion. This one is 50% of the cost,” said Mr. Cruz, who has 30 years of experience in the industry and counts Malaysia’s Petronas Towers and Taiwan’s High Speed Railway Project among his concreting experience.

BBCI plans to expand the facility’s capacity by five times more and will be ready in the next 18 months, Mr. Cruz added, noting that its first three facilities will be located in Luzon.

At the moment, BBCI has a testing facility in Mandaluyong capable of producing 5,000 bags per month.

BBCI is the latest business venture of the younger Sy, which has invested in the cement startup in his personal capacity, Mr. Cruz said.

According to a copy of BBCI’s General Information Sheet filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015, Mr. Sy owns 95% of BBCI, while businessman Anthony L. Almeda is the other key shareholder with a 4.88% stake.

Apart from being the chairman of real estate giant SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Mr. Sy is also president of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), operator of the country’s power transmission monopoly, and a backer of AI Pros, a technology firm based in Silicon Valley that help business process outsourcing firms ride out the impact of automation.

Asked if BBCI will be used in future projects of the SM Prime, Mr. Cruz said: “It will be a board decision.”

Palace hands off row over comfort women statue

MALACAÑANG ON Thursday distanced itself from the controversy over a representation of Pacific War-era comfort women now standing on Roxas Boulevard.

The statue has prompted at least one Japanese official’s regrets, as also reported by Japanese media, and prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) last month to express its concern to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and to the city government of Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada.

At Thursday’s press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said when sought for comment that the matter “should be addressed to the NHCP. It’s not something that the President will act on himself.”

“You know, the statue is not erected by Malacañang. What are we supposed to do?” Mr. Roque also said.

“We didn’t erect the statue, so it’s not a presidential project, so to speak.”

When pressed further, Mr. Roque said, “The President did not erect that statue. It’s up to the people who erected the statue to do anything they want with it.”

Mr. Roque also said he was unaware about the DFA’s writing Mr. Estrada. “I do not know about that letter, and if there is such a letter, to confirm it, please ask Mayor Estrada,” he said.

For her part, Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene D. Brosas said the commission does not need to explain the statue, adding it is only “right to instill in today’s generation the dark time that we went through under Japanese colonial forces.”

“Loans and financial assistance from Japan (do) not give them the right to direct or persuade us not to commemorate the horrors Filipino women faced during the Japanese occupation in the country,” Ms. Brosas also said.

Japan is a leading partner of the Philippines in terms of foreign assistance.

Recently, the two countries signed a new maintenance deal on the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3).

BoJ tightening to begin sooner than expected

JAPAN’S ECONOMY will exceed growth forecasts this year, prompting the central bank to tighten monetary policy by mid-year, said Allen Sinai, president of Decision Economics Inc.

Sinai said he expects Japan’s economy to grow 2% in 2018, and even faster in 2019, perhaps as much as 2.5%. “What has snuck up on everybody is the world business cycle is really clicking,” he said in an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday, where he was meeting with policy makers.

The market’s reaction on Tuesday to the Bank of Japan’s reduced buying of long-dated bonds illustrates growing jitters over when the BoJ will turn toward policy normalization. Economists cautioned against reading too much into the BoJ’s bond buying, but with Japan’s economy in its longest expansion since the mid-1990s, expectations are rising that the BoJ will join its global peers and begin normalizing policy as soon as this year.

‘UPSIDE SURPRISE’
“The markets and I are sensing, because of the fundamentals of the Japanese economy, an upside surprise potentially on growth and on inflation, and therefore a surprise out of the BoJ,” Sinai said.

Inflation remains well below the BoJ’s 2% target, but the central bank’s preferred gauge rose steadily throughout last year, hitting 0.9% in November. Sinai said he expects inflation to reach 2% before the BoJ’s projected time frame of “around” the fiscal year beginning in April 2019.

Sinai said his firm is forecasting that the BoJ will “become less accommodative” in the next three to six months, allowing interest rates to rise while setting an upper limit, he said.

BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said last month that the central bank won’t raise rates just because the economy is doing well because its ultimate target is inflation.

Sinai stands on the bullish side of prognosticators. Of 41 economists who expect the BoJ’s next move to be tightening, 19 forecast it to come this year, including five who see it happening in April, according to a Bloomberg survey last month.

A year ago, Sinai was roughly on target when he predicted Japan’s economy would grow 1.5% to 1.75% in 2017, about double the International Monetary Fund’s forecast at the time. He was wide of the mark on the yen, though, forecasting it would weaken to as much as 135 against the dollar by the end of the year.

‘KNOWN QUANTITY’
Sinai said it would “absolutely” be good if Kuroda remained governor after his current term ends in April, given that he is a “known quantity” who has proven capable of doing the job. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be taking a risk if he chose someone else, Sinai said.

Even with his bullish outlook, Sinai sees challenges ahead for Japanese policy makers. In particular, uprooting the deflationary mindset of Japanese consumers will remain a struggle, he said.

“The history of that says that once it’s there it takes a long, long time to change,” he said. — Bloomberg

Shakey’s to open 20 new stores this year

SHAKEY’S PIZZA Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) disclosed on Thursday plans to open 20 stores in 2018, banking on the positive sentiment of consumers and urbanization of areas outside Metro Manila.

The listed full-service restaurant said in a statement on Thursday this expansion program will brings its total store network in the country to 228 by the end of 2018.

“We will continue to take advantage of the positive consumer sentiment in the Philippines and hope to open even more stores, including those outside the typical first tier cities,” SPAVI President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente L. Gregorio was quoted as saying in a statement.

SPAVI managed to open 24 stores last year, exceeding its initial target of 20 for 2017. The company entered Iligan, Puerto Princesa, Antique, Gapan, and Palo, Leyte, among others, in line with growing urbanization in these areas.

“It has been a banner year for Shakey’s — our maiden year as a public listed company — as this is the fastest we’ve grown in terms of store network. We have a strong belief in our brand and our strategy, and are keeping pace with the accelerating growth of our economy,” Mr. Gregorio said.

Aside from opening more stores, SPAVI has also committed to launch redesigned interiors for its newer branches, as well as introducing new products.

Overseas, SPAVI also holds the perpetual rights for the Shakey’s brand in the Middle East, Asia ex-Japan and Malaysia, China, Australia, and Oceania. In 2017, the company signed a deal to put up at least 10 stores in Kuwait, as well as 10 stores in the United Arab Emirates in the next five years.

By 2022, the company is aiming to have a network of 500 stores in the Philippines and abroad.

SPAVI grew its attributable profit by 18% in the first nine months of 2017 to P503 million, from the P423 million it generated in the same period a year ago. This comes on the back of a 17% increase in revenues to P4.99 billion. The company also noted same-store sales grew by 6% during the period, allowing it to post a 15% jump in systemwide sales.

SPAVI shares lost 12 centavos or 0.87% to finish Thursday’s trading session at the Philippine Stock Exchange at P13.68 apiece. — Arra B. Francia

Dennis Uy’s Phoenix completes FamilyMart acquisition

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

PHOENIX PETROLEUM Philippines, Inc. has finalized its purchase of FamilyMart convenience stores in the country, allowing Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy’s company to take over the retail chain previously owned by the Ayalas and Tantocos.

The listed oil company told the stock exchange on Thursday it has concluded the acquisition of 100% of shares in Philippine FamilyMart CVS, Inc. (PFM).

“A new exclusive area franchise agreement of the Family Mart branch of convenience store in the Philippines was granted to Philippine FamilyMart CVS under management of the company,” Phoenix Petroleum said.

PFM was formed by SIAL CVS Retailers, Inc., a 50-50 partnership between Ayala Land, Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary ALI Capital Corp. and SSI Group, Inc., as well as Japanese firms FamilyMart Co. Ltd. and Itochu Corp.

SIAL CVS held 60% of PFM, while FamilyMart Co. Ltd. and Itochu owned 37.6% and 2.4%, respectively.

Phoenix Petroleum had entered into a memorandum of agreement with the group last Oct. 30.

The Philippine Competition Commission on Jan. 3 cleared the acquisition to ensure the transaction will not result to a substantial lessening of competition.

“This is positive for the company. This will follow the business model of different gas stations of having a store beside its gas station. With the increasing number of Phoenix Petroleum in the country, this will be added revenue on their part and their income as well,” Diversified Securities, Inc. equity trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a phone interview yesterday.

With 68 FamilyMart branches in Luzon, Phoenix Petroleum said the convenience stores will be able to complete its fuel retail business, now with 518 gas stations nationwide.

Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Officer Henry Albert R. Fadullon, meanwhile, said last year the focus would be to put up FamilyMart stores in central business districts to capture the needs of employees of business process outsourcing firms.

The executive also noted they would like FamilyMart to provide more food options, considering its ready-to-eat meals are part of its appeal in its origin country Japan.

Phoenix Petroleum saw a 14% decline in its attributable profit during the first three quarters of 2017 to P712 million, despite a 47% jump in revenues to P32.6 billion during the same period.

Shares in Phoenix Petroleum were down by 46 centavos or 3.59% to close at P12.34 apiece at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday. ALI shares, meanwhile, lost P1.30 or 2.85% to P44.35 each, as SSI stocks ended flat at P3.10 each.

Carpio begs off from impeachment hearings

SUPREME COURT (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio declined the invitation of the House committee on justice that he testifies in its impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno.

In a text message sent to the media, Mr. Carpio said: “I have written the committee declining to testify because I have no personal knowledge of the matters the committee mentioned in its reply to me.”

In his letter addressed to Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo V. Umali, chairman of the House committee on justice, Mr. Carpio listed the allegations of which he said he has no personal knowledge.

Among these allegations, as claimed by lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon against the Chief Justice, is the supposed falsified temporary restraining order in the case of Senior Citizens Party List vs COMELEC (Commission on Elections).

As for the alleged delay in the transfer of the Maute cases out of Mindanao, Mr. Carpio said: “I wish to state that I was on Wellness Leave on 19 June 2017, the day the Maute cases were raffled. I was out of the country from 19 June 2017 to 3 July 2017.”

Mr. Carpio also said he has no personal knowledge on the claims that Ms. Sereno “lied and made it appear that several justices requested that they do away with the voting for the recommendees to the Supreme Court.”

“I wish to state that for years now, my position has been that the Court do away with the voting since the Judicial and Bar Council is an independent constitutional body and in any event it has not been following the recommendations of the Court for several years in the past,” Mr. Carpio wrote.

Mr. Carpio added that he is not aware of the matters regarding the alleged hiring of IT consultants with “excessive compensation without public bidding.”

He explained that he only “came to know of such hiring only after the consultancy contract was questioned, long after it had been implemented and renewed,” adding that as of Jan. 10, “this matter is still under deliberation by the En Banc.”

Mr. Carpio also stated that he “will not be able to comment or testify” on “all other allegations involving administrative matters and internal rules and procedures of the Supreme Court” unless the committee specifies which.

The committee is set to continue its impeachment proceedings on Jan. 15 when Congress resumes session. This will be the committee’s ninth hearing. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

HSBC said to hire from Goldman, JPMorgan for Asia

HSBC HOLDINGS Plc made a slew of hires from rivals including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as the bank revamps its equities business in the Asia-Pacific region and expands a nascent majority-owned securities venture in China, people familiar with the matter said.

Among the recent additions are Michael Parry, who joined from Goldman Sachs as a director focused on Asian equity sales, the people said, asking not to be identified. Other hires include Liu Kang, who was at Goldman Sachs’s Chinese partner Beijing Gao Hua Securities Co., and Jimmy He, who joined HSBC’s equity sales team from China International Capital Corp. last month, the people said. Both Liu and He will focus on the mainland, they added.

HSBC has been rebuilding its global equities operation since appointing Hong Kong-based Hossein Zaimi to run the business early last year. A key part of the push is the China joint venture, based in Guangdong’s financial free-trade zone of Qianhai, which was approved by Chinese authorities in June. HSBC owns a majority of that JV, giving it a potential edge over other global banks — albeit one that could prove short-lived as China prepares to relax ownership rules.

Boosting HSBC’s China business has been one of the top priorities of outgoing Chief Executive Officer Stuart Gulliver, who said last month that the bank’s business in the Pearl River Delta region should generate an additional $1 billion of pretax profit over the coming five years. The China JV, HSBC Qianhai Securities Ltd., could have about 300 staff within three or four years, from about 100 now, the bank has said.

The Asian hiring drive explains why HSBC ended 2017 with a net increase in global equities staffing even with about 40 people departing during Zaimi’s revamp, one of the people said. The global equities team has about 600 employees, the person said.

Other recent Asian hires include Michele Kwok, formerly with JPMorgan Chase & Co., who joined HSBC’s Hong Kong and China equity sales team, and Mark Ong, most recently with CLSA Ltd., who is expected to join the London-based bank later this year.

HSBC was able to leapfrog other global banks in getting approval to hold a majority stake in its China securities venture because of a trade agreement between Hong Kong and the mainland that allows Hong Kong-funded institutions to set up such partnerships. That gave HSBC a head start over other banks, who are now rushing to take advantage of Beijing’s November pledge to further open its financial markets for all foreign institutions.

Recent departures in Asia include Roland Wee, who was head of equities for Singapore; Evangeline Cheong, formerly in regional equity sales; and Alan Chen, who was a hedge fund sales director, the people said. London-based head of Asian equities sales June Ang and one of her deputies Sanjay Kanal also left, as did Ian Burns, who ran pan-European equity sales, people familiar with the matter said last week. — Bloomberg

Malacañang: ‘No problem’ with villages submitting drug lists

MALACAÑANG SEES “no problem” with the plan by newly appointed Interior Undersecretary Martin B. Diño to have barangay (village) officials come up with their lists of drug personalities in their respective areas.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong for as long as it will entail conduct of an investigation, to verify information,” said Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. in a press briefing on Thursday, Jan. 11.

“I see no problem, because all he wants is (a list of) names to investigate. What’s wrong with that? Because people should know, by way of general reputation, who are those (personalities) involved in drugs,” Mr. Roque explained.

The spokesman also said if probable cause is found, there are “two possible cases that could be filed: administrative for removal or criminal.”

“So depending on the amount of evidence uncovered, either administrative case for removal of the local government official could be filed resulting in severance from duty of that public officer, or if there is more than enough evidence…a criminal case should be filed,” Mr. Roque said.

Mr. Roque said the communities know who those drug personalities are. “But it is not enough for anything. You have to investigate on the basis of these leads,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Philippines exhumes bodies of two children in dengue vaccine probe

A PHILIPPINE government agency on Thursday exhumed the bodies of two children whose parents suspect they died of dengue after receiving a new vaccine against the disease, although its maker said it was not known to have caused any deaths in the country.

More than 800,000 Filipino children aged nine or more received Dengvaxia last year in a government immunization drive against the mosquito-borne tropical disease that kills about 20,000 people a year.

The Department of Health (DoH) stopped using Dengvaxia last month after its maker, Sanofi Pasteur, said the vaccine itself may in some cases increase the risk of severe dengue in recipients not previously infected.

One of the two exhumed bodies showed signs of excessive bleeding, said officials of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), which provides free legal assistance to the poor.

PAO forensic expert Erwin Erfe said bleeding was observed on the scalp of the second body.

“Bleeding is a prominent symptom of dengue,” Mr. Erfe told Reuters by telephone.

PAO is also investigating the deaths of five other children who received Dengvaxia and initial findings reveal a pattern in how they died, PAO chief Persida Acosta said.

“There was bleeding in the vital organs, the lungs, heart, liver, kidney, brain,” Ms. Acosta told Reuters. “These are all compatible with hemorrhagic shock.”

She said the PAO had received numerous requests to exhume bodies after the government launched its investigation.

The DoH said it would look at the findings. The DoH has also submitted cases involving the deaths of 14 children who received Dengvaxia to a review panel of doctors from a state university and a state-owned hospital.

While Dengvaxia is the first-ever approved vaccine for dengue, scientists had recognized it was imperfect and did not protect equally against the four different types of the virus in clinical tests.

A new analysis from six years of clinical data showed Dengvaxia provided persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had prior infection.

But those not previously infected could suffer more severe symptoms in the long term, following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection, Sanofi has said.

“Up to this date, there has been no death established to have been causally linked to the dengue vaccine, not even among the 40,000 people involved in clinical trials conducted across 15 countries,” Sanofi said in a statement. — Reuters

Kings try to maintain Philippine Cup lead

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, currently holding a share of the lead in the standings of the PBA Philippine Cup at 2-0, try to stay on top of the heap when they take on the Blackwater Elite in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) action today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Winners of their first two games in the PBA’s season-opening tournament, the Kings hope to stretch their winning roll by adding the Elite (1-1) in their list of conquered in their encounter set for 7 p.m.

Barangay Ginebra defeated the Magnolia Hotshots, 89-78, in their Christmas Day “Manila Clasico” and then defeated the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 104-97, in their PBA return last Sunday.

The Kings had it rough against the Batang Pier and turned to a late-push in the game to avert dropping to their first loss of the season.

Japeth Aguilar led Barangay Ginebra with 21 points while big man Greg Slaughter added 18 points and nine rebounds, with guard LA Tenorio tallying 17 points and seven assists.

Also coming up with solid plays in the Kings’ win were Aljon Mariano and Jervy Cruz, who came off the bench to produce 11 and 10 points, respectively. Mr. Cruz had 11 boards as well.

“We kind of just stole the game. That’s what teams coming from a championship do. They sleepwalk through the first three quarters, just turn on and try to win down the stretch,” said winning coach Tim Cone as he assessed the performance of his team, which won the title in the last PBA conference.

“I’m disturbed. I think we can do away with that. This is something we have to get better at. We have to fire right away,” the multi-titled bench tactician added.

Standing in the way of the Kings and a third straight win are the Elite, who are fresh from a bounce-back victory in their last assignment.

Blackwater defeated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 92-87, on Dec. 29 with Mac Belo and Mike DiGregorio showing the way.

Sophomore Belo, who spent the latter part of his rookie year on the sidelines because of injury, exploded for 25 points on top of seven rebounds and two blocks.

He was greatly complemented by Mr. DiGregorio, who had 23 points, four assists and two steals.

Three other players scored eight points or more for the Elite as they gallantly slugged it out with the Elasto Painters and rebounded from their tournament debut loss to the Meralco Bolts previously.

“Our defense held tonight. Hopefully this win before the New Year will boost our campaign moving forward,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said following their victory.

Meanwhile, playing in the opener at 4:30 p.m. are Rain or Shine (1-1) and GlobalPort (0-2).

Gov’t readying case vs CPP-NPA

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) expects a “full-blown trial” on its petition to declare the New People’s Army (NPA) and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as terrorists. DoJ Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II said: “That’s why medyo hindi mamadali, hindi puwedeng madaliin (we cannot rush, it can’t be rushed). They (the prosecution) have to gather all the instances where terroristic activities could be attributed to the NPAs.” Mr. Aguirre said the petition could be filed “in the coming week” as there were still “last minute consultations with the Office of the Executive Secretary as well as with the other intelligence services of the government,” as per Prosecutor Peter Ong, who prepares the appeal. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

Boston rookie Tatum: winning and having fun

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

SELECTED third overall in this year’s National Basketball Association (NBA) rookie draft, Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum has lived up to the billing and has made a strong case for himself as a possible rookie of the year awardee.

Midway into his first season in The Association, Mr. Tatum, chosen after Markelle Fultz of Philadelphia 76ers and Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers, has been averaging 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 31 minutes on the floor. He is one of the more efficient players from beyond the arc, norming a 46.2% shooting clip from three-point land.

Thrust to a bigger role after All-Star forward Gordon Hayward went down with a season-ending knee injury on opening night, the 19-year-old Tatum, who played collegiate basketball at Duke University, has shown steadiness in his play despite his young age and has been one of the reasons why the Celtics are doing well in the ongoing NBA season with an Eastern Conference-leading record of 33-10.

“I think my rookie year has been going pretty well. Obviously, we’re winning. That’s what really matters, and I’m having fun doing it,” said Mr. Tatum in a recent global media conference, the transcript of which was shared to local media.

“[I just have to] continue to get better each and every day and just soak up as much information and just learn as much as I can each and every day to try to get better, help the team out,” he went on, highlighting that as much as he is having a solid rookie campaign to date the work continues for him.

That he has become an efficient shooter in the NBA especially from beyond the arc comes as a surprise to him, Mr. Tatum said, but shared that he has been working on it and is satisfied with the results.

“No, I didn’t [expect to be an efficient three-point shooter]. I’ve been working on it a lot, but I didn’t think I would shoot it this well,” he said.

He went on to share that playing a lot more games in the pros than that in college is one of the things he is learning to get used to.

With his fine play in the green and white, Mr. Tatum has been short-listed as one of the top candidates for the rookie of the year award at this point, along with the likes of Donovan Mitchell of Utah, Ben Simmons of Philadelphia, Lauri Markkanen of Chicago and Dennis Smith, Jr. of Dallas.

It is something that Mr. Tatum is very excited about and said he is working hard at accomplishing.

“Yeah, that’s (rookie of the year) always been one of my goals, to win that award. But I think just focusing on team goals first, and if we keep winning, the rest will take care of itself,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr. Tatum said they hope to build on the strong start they have had to the season and just keep up the go-getting and stepping-up mind-set that has done a lot for the team.

“Obviously, when Gordon got hurt, people got more playing time and got more opportunities, and guys just had to step up. From that being the first game of the season, we had to catch on quick [and took from there],” Mr. Tatum said.

Mr. Tatum and the Celtics play the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow in London. It will be shown live over NBA Premium at 4 a.m.

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