Russell Westbrook was, of course, being disingenuous when he noted over the weekend that “I don’t play for All-Star bids. I play to win championships.” He was asked about his reaction to his failure to crack the West starting unit, and he replied the only way he could. What else was he expected to point out in the face of voting results, which placed him first in the eyes of members of the media and his peers but only third from the point of view of fans? How else was he going to react after continuing to put up astounding numbers not seen in 55 years?
In truth, Westbrook didn’t have to say anything. He was most definitely hurt by the snub; he would have been under normal circumstances, but even more so in light of his triple-double norm halfway through the season. Absent his exertions, the Thunder would have proven conventional wisdom true and performed as an also-ran following one-time league Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant’s departure. And yet he was still left out of the conference’s All-Star First Five. Heck, what else did he need to do in order to earn the nod of hoops followers? However, to admit it out loud would be tantamount to adding injury to insult.
Make no mistake. Westbrook will be at the All-Star Game. As sure as night follows day, he will be chosen by head coaches as a reserve. And while there’s nothing he can do about voting results, he remains in charge of his own showing. “I play to become a better player… I just continue doing what I’m doing and play the game the right way, and everything else will work out.” He’s right to concentrate on factors over which he has control. It’s not his fault the Thunder have a small market and offer little pull outside of the Sooner State; in comparison, the Warriors and Rockets command a significant following beyond the United States and, most importantly, in vote-rich China, thereby boosting the tallies of Stephen Curry and James Harden.
Which, in a nutshell, means Westbrook figures to be even better in the second half of his 2016-2017 campaign. He has played with a chip on his shoulder since being chosen fourth overall in the 2008 draft, and he will most definitely use the slight as motivation. Bottom line, he’s an All-Star, and he aims to show all and sundry that he’s first among equals.
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.
THE PHILIPPINES’ growth story should cushion local equities amid persisting uncertainty over the economic policy direction in the United States, as the new leadership there ushers in a protectionist regime that may negatively impact emerging markets.
“The release of the GDP (gross domestic product) data this week will provide a glimpse of the strong fundamentals of the Philippine economy despite the headwinds from these global uncertainties,” Aniceto K. Pangan, trader at Diversified Securities, Inc., said in a mobile phone message.
The Philippine Statistics Authority will release fourth-quarter and annual GDP growth figures on Thursday. After advancing 7% in the preceding quarters, the economy should have expanded 6.9% in the three months to December to hit the upper end of the government’s 6-7% target.
The data should highlight the strong fundamentals of the Philippine economy and subsequently keep investors from pulling out the equities market, Mr. Pangan said.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index declined 5.86 points or 0.08% to 7,232.66 last week, as investors turned cautious ahead of US President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration and amid renewed concerns over Britain’s looming divorce with the European Union.
Investors were hoping for clarity on the “America First” agenda of Mr. Trump, who has threatened US companies against outsourcing jobs and tightening immigration controls, among others.
In his inauguration speech last Friday, Mr. Trump reiterated a protectionist strategy in advancing the US economy forward, saying: “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.”
Aside from protectionist policies, the market should watch out for aggressive moves to ramp up fiscal initiatives, which would bolster expectations of the Federal Reserve hiking rates further, 2TradeAsia.com noted in a report.
“With no major local headlines in place yet, the mart might begin to factor in the country’s GDP report on Thursday to manage expectations for this year’s performance, and realign their portfolios,” it said.
2TradeAsia.com also cited the submission of the Philippine Development Plan, which should shed more light on the growth strategy of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration in the coming years. “Consequently, Trump and Duterte’s policies seem to mirror similar sentiment when it comes to economic priorities, which could definitely level their playing field to adopt fair and market-based trading conditions,” it added.
2TradeAsia.com pegged the local stock barometer’s immediate support at the 7,150 mark and resistance at the 7,300 level, noting: “For now, it’s better to wait on cues until the dust clears out.”
SINGAPORE — Veteran Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng won the Singapore Open by a single stroke on Sunday after shooting a final round of four-under-par 67 to finish at nine-under 275.
The 51-year-old Prayad finished a shot clear of four players who tied for second at eight-under, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, Jbe Kruger of South Africa and the defending champion, South Korea’s Song Young-Han.
The tournament favorite, Australia’s Adam Scott, led by a stroke after the third round but blew his chances of a fourth title at the Sentosa Golf Club when he hit two balls into the water. — AFP
LOS ANGELES — Marcus Morris delivered a game-winning putback as time expired on the clock to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 113-112 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JANUARY 21: Marcus Morris #13 of the Detroit Pistons tips in the game winning buzzer beater while playing the Washington Wizards at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 21, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Detroit won the game 113-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==
Detroit squandered a 16-point lead in the final quarter before the clutch basket by Morris who finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pistons launched three desperation shots during a mad scramble in the closing seconds leading up to the final buzzer in front of a crowd of 18,200 at The Palace arena.
He leaned over his twin brother, Markieff Morris a Wizards forward, while scoring the basket.
Reggie Jackson had 19 points and eight assists and Tobias Harris supplied 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Pistons, who have won three straight.
Joe Leuer came off the bench to score 10 points after missing the previous five games with a knee injury.
Pistons center Andre Drummond was held to three points because of foul trouble.
John Wall had 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Washington. Markieff Morris contributed 19 points and nine rebounds, Bradley Beal had 17 points and Jason Smith scored a season-high 16 for the Wizards.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Nicolas Batum converted a four-point play and hit another three-pointer in a span of 31 seconds down the stretch as the Charlotte Hornets toppled the Brooklyn Nets, 112-105.
Batum nailed a three-pointer, was fouled and converted the free throw to give the Hornets the lead for good at 101-98 with 3:21 left.
Then he hit another three-pointer on the Hornets’ next possession to extend the lead to 104-98 with 2:50 remaining. The Hornets stretched the lead to nine from there and never let the Nets get closer than five again.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford has often lamented his team’s fourth quarter difficulties, but he was pleased with how his team found a way to make plays down the stretch. — AFP
Marcus Morris, #13 of the Detroit Pistons, tips in the game winning buzzer beater while playing the Washington Wizards at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Jan. 21 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. — AFP
VIVO, a premium smartphone brand, tapped international basketball superstar Stephen Curry as the brand ambassador and official endorser of all Vivo phones, including its breakthrough flagship product Vivo V5 Plus, considered the perfect selfie phone because it is equipped with the world’s first 20 megapixel dual front cameras.
“With Vivo being a premium brand, it’s only fitting that we choose the best ambassador for it,” Vivo brand director, Annie Lim, said of their chosen brand ambassador.
The NBA superstar, two-time MVP and Golden State Warriors’ point guard had earlier expressed his excitement in the Vivo grand launch last November, when he was first revealed as the official ambassador for all upcoming Vivo phone models. “I’m really thankful for being part of the Vivo family and I’m looking forward to more activities with Vivo,” Curry said. The Perfect Selfie phone comes with 20-megapixel primary and 8-megapixel secondary front cameras and advanced selfie features, such as the ‘bokeh’ effect, face beauty mode 6.0, and selfie soft light.
Designed with a 5.5-inch large display, ultra-slim bezel technology, and 5th generation Corning Gorilla glass with enhanced scratch resistance, Vivo V5 Plus is the perfect blend of style, convenience, and function.
For speed and efficient performance, the Perfect Selfie phone is run by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, paired with Vivo’s Funtouch OS based on Android 6.0, with a 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, to boot.
Sound-wise, the V5 Plus uses the Vivo’s premium Hi-Fi system, the AK4376.
Finally, the newest Vivo model has an updated fingerprint technology for quick launching, and a fast-charging feature, according to International Data Corp. (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
Whenever the name Robert Jaworski is being brought up as a topic, people have the tendency to back track, especially when an issue is about The Big J.
Jaworski is one of the PBA’s all-time best. He even became larger than the league itself when his name is mentioned in the same breath with Barangay Ginebra, the most popular team in the pro league for the past three decades.
His charisma is like no other. His all-out attitude has become a shining example for players, particularly those average guys who were not blessed with much talent but were determined to get better because hard work is a good foundation to success
As a player and a coach, Jaworski has the skill set.
When he was still at the peak of his career as a player of the Toyota Tamaraws, he was the league’s best rebounding guard.
In fact, for two seasons, Jaworski was the PBA’s leading rebounder from 1977 to his MVP season in 1978.
Jaworski had a total rebounds of 453 in 1977 and 561 in 1978, topping all the best big men of his era, including his teammate Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben and Philip Cezar of Crispa and Manny Paner of Royal Tru-Orange.
In fact, in 1978, he would lead both the defensive and offensive rebounding, at a time when players of unlimited height were seeing action in the PBA.
Jaworski would play in the league for 22 years and grabbed a total of 5,367 boards, ranked no. 7 in the all-time list.
Fast forward 2016-2017 season, here comes Scottie Thompson, a sophomore guard who is ironically playing for Jaworski’s former team, Ginebra.
Like Jaworski before, Thompson has the nose for the ball, beating the league’s bonafide big men off the boards.
He now ranks as no. 3 overall in rebounds with close to 11 boards per game. He’s been averaging double-double for the Gin Kings.
Make mine, Thompson could become a better rebounder than Jaworski and this early, the former NCAA MVP from Perpetual Help is showing glimpses of his capability to produce triple-double performances just like the other great rebounding guards in the NBA like Magic Johnson of the LA Lakers and lately Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Watching Thompson at play, you can feel his presence everywhere. But it was his rebounding prowess which caught the fancy of many and he grabs a rebound as if he has a magnet to get the ball.
If he continues to stay healthy, I won’t be surprised if Thompson would surpass Jaworski as the best rebounding pure guard in the PBA.
People get slighted or feel hurt whenever an icon’s record or achievement would be surpassed by another player, but I think the Big J would be more proud, especially if another Ginebra player is topping what he did best.
For the time being, I think Thompson is the best rebounding guard in the PBA, probably better than Jaworski.
Rey Joble has been a sportswriter for 17 years, and has been covering the PBA games for more than a decade. He is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association, the oldest journalism group in the country.
MISSING some key riders from its dominant team last year, Navy is still out to do well when the 2017 edition of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas rolls out early next month.
With riders Ronald Oranza, El Joshua Cariño and John Mark Camingao set to miss this year’s staging of what is considered the biggest cycling race in the country today, the Navy team is still upbeat that it can perform at a high level in the competition which it ruled last year by topping all the three legs.
“They can’t race because they’re under basic seaman course, they’re required to do it,” said team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante of the missing team members.
Just the same, Mr. Reynante, 36, vowed they will give their all notwithstanding the top challenge to be presented by competing teams, namely, Go for Gold, Neopolitan, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Mindanao, South Luzon, Kinetix Lab-Army, Bike Extreme, Zambales, Salic and One Tarlac.
The main Ronda Pilipinas race starts on Feb. 4 with two stages in Ilocos Sur and will pass by Angeles (Feb. 8), Subic (Feb. 9), Lucena, Quezon (Feb. 12), Pili, Camarines Norte (Feb. 14 and 16), Daet (Feb. 17), Paseo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Feb. 19), Tagaytay and Batangas (Feb. 20), Calamba and Antipolo (Feb. 21) before wrapping up with a pair of stages in Iloilo City (March 3 and 4).
A top purse worth P1 million is up for grabs in the race courtesy of presentor LBC and in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Victory Liner, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
LOS ANGELES — Canada’s Adam Hadwin became only the eighth golfer to shoot 59 over 18 holes at a US PGA Tour event, sinking 13 birdies in a bogey-free third round Saturday at the CareerBuilder Challenge.
LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 21: Adam Hadwin of Canada reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in Partnership with The Clinton Foundation at La Quinta Country Club on January 21, 2017 in La Quinta, California. Jeff Gross/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==
The 29-year old from suburban Vancouver was one stroke off the tour record 58 fired last year by American Jim Furyk at the Travelers Championship.
It was the second US PGA Tour 59 in as many weeks, following American Justin Thomas firing 59 on the way to victory in the opening round at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Asked to describe the round, Hadwin said, “Perfect, I guess. I got away with a few shots on the back. For whatever reason, I was making every putt I had.
“I haven’t felt anything like it.”
Hadwin became only the second player from outside the United States to shoot a 59 in a US PGA event, after Australian Stuart Appleby at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, and the PGA’s first 59-er who has never won a PGA title.
“I was nervous,” Hadwin said. “It’s exciting to get the nerves back and have a chance to be in contention again.”
Hadwin birdied the second through seventh holes at par-72 LaQuinta Country Club, one of three courses used at the event, then made another at the ninth hole.
He began a run of five more birdies at the 11th hole and after a par at 16 sank a five-foot birdie putt at 17 to match the one-round birdie record set by Chip Beck in 1991.
“Once the putt rolled in on 17, that helped,” Hadwin said. “I knew all I had to do (for 59) was par the last.”
On 18, Hadwin put his approach into the greenside rough beyond the hole, then chipped the ball three feet past the cup and rolled in his tense final putt to join a historic group.
“I was nervous. I knew what was at stake,” Hadwin said. “The last thing you want to do is miss a 3-footer when you’re shooting for 59.”
Hadwin managed only the fourth US PGA 59 on a par-72 course, the first since David Duval in 1999 at the nearby Palmer course, which was then among the layouts in the tournament’s rotation.
The only other US PGA 59s on a par-72 course were by Beck in the third round in 1991 at Las Vegas and Al Geiberger, who made the first-ever 59 in the second round at Memphis in 1977.
Hadwin, who shared 49th when the day began, leaped into the lead at 17-under par 199 for 54 holes. He opened with a 71 and fired a 69 Friday.
Hadwin’s prior US PGA low round was a 63 in the final round of the 2014 Shriners Hospitals Classic in Las Vegas.
Crediting playing partner Colt Knost with keeping tensions light, Hadwin said having amateurs alongside as the tournament does also eased the pressure.
“Colt is great, very laid back,” Hadwin said. “And this atmosphere lends itself to low scores, playing with the amateurs, you forget about what you’re doing a little bit.
“It was a lot of fun.” — AFP
Adam Hadwin of Canada reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California. — AFPLOS ANGELES — Canada’s Adam Hadwin became only the eighth golfer to shoot 59 over 18 holes at a US PGA Tour event, sinking 13 birdies in a bogey-free third round Saturday at the CareerBuilder Challenge.
The 29-year old from suburban Vancouver was one stroke off the tour record 58 fired last year by American Jim Furyk at the Travelers Championship.
It was the second US PGA Tour 59 in as many weeks, following American Justin Thomas firing 59 on the way to victory in the opening round at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Asked to describe the round, Hadwin said, “Perfect, I guess. I got away with a few shots on the back. For whatever reason, I was making every putt I had.
“I haven’t felt anything like it.”
Hadwin became only the second player from outside the United States to shoot a 59 in a US PGA event, after Australian Stuart Appleby at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, and the PGA’s first 59-er who has never won a PGA title.
“I was nervous,” Hadwin said. “It’s exciting to get the nerves back and have a chance to be in contention again.”
Hadwin birdied the second through seventh holes at par-72 LaQuinta Country Club, one of three courses used at the event, then made another at the ninth hole.
He began a run of five more birdies at the 11th hole and after a par at 16 sank a five-foot birdie putt at 17 to match the one-round birdie record set by Chip Beck in 1991.
“Once the putt rolled in on 17, that helped,” Hadwin said. “I knew all I had to do (for 59) was par the last.”
On 18, Hadwin put his approach into the greenside rough beyond the hole, then chipped the ball three feet past the cup and rolled in his tense final putt to join a historic group.
“I was nervous. I knew what was at stake,” Hadwin said. “The last thing you want to do is miss a 3-footer when you’re shooting for 59.”
Hadwin managed only the fourth US PGA 59 on a par-72 course, the first since David Duval in 1999 at the nearby Palmer course, which was then among the layouts in the tournament’s rotation.
The only other US PGA 59s on a par-72 course were by Beck in the third round in 1991 at Las Vegas and Al Geiberger, who made the first-ever 59 in the second round at Memphis in 1977.
Hadwin, who shared 49th when the day began, leaped into the lead at 17-under par 199 for 54 holes. He opened with a 71 and fired a 69 Friday.
Hadwin’s prior US PGA low round was a 63 in the final round of the 2014 Shriners Hospitals Classic in Las Vegas.
Crediting playing partner Colt Knost with keeping tensions light, Hadwin said having amateurs alongside as the tournament does also eased the pressure.
“Colt is great, very laid back,” Hadwin said. “And this atmosphere lends itself to low scores, playing with the amateurs, you forget about what you’re doing a little bit.
“It was a lot of fun.” — AFP
Adam Hadwin of Canada reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California. — AFP
THE Alaska Aces padded their push for a top eight spot in the elimination round of the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday with a 107-91 victory over the Mahindra Floodbuster in a key match at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Needing to win to keep in step with the pack racing to avoid being lumped in the bottom four teams that will be eliminated at the end of the classification phase, the Aces delivered accordingly, banking on their depth and experience when pushed to the wall by the resilient Floodbuster.
Alaska started quick but was eventually caught by Mahindra as the opening canto progressed with the score knotted at 27-all at the end of the first period.
The Aces would go on a blitz in the second period, outscoring the Floodbuster, 26-15, to create some distance by halftime, 53-42.
Mahindra though was undeterred, bucking another slow start in the quarter to claw its way back and narrow its deficit to two points, 74-72, by end-third period.
With their opponents breathing on their necks, the Aces recoiled to go on a 15-7 run in the first six minutes of the payoff period to build further cushion.
Mahindra tried to rally back anew behind Alex Mallari and Russell Escoto but was kept at bay by Alaska.
Vic Manuel paced the Aces with 20 points and three rebounds while Calvin Abueva had 18 markers and 10 boards.
Mahindra, for its part, was led by Mr. Mallari with 23 points and eight assists. Mr. Escoto had 16 and Joseph Eriobu with 15 points.
The victory pushed Alaska to 5-4, joint second with five other teams, as of press time, while effectively eliminating Mahindra (2-8) in the race in the season-opening tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
“The veterans really bailed out us tonight. Mahindra was terrific but lucky enough we have players who took up the challenge and delivered,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton after the game.
Next for the Aces is a meeting with the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters on Friday, Jan. 27, while the Floodbuster finish their Philippine Cup campaign against the NLEX Road Warriors on the same day.
GILAS POOL MEMBERS
Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen and Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort Batang Pier led the additions to the Gilas Pilipinas pool of players.
In an announcement made yesterday by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the PBA, Gilas veterans Fajardo and Romeo were two of the add-ons from each of the competing PBA teams to the national team pool as agreed upon by the SBP and the local pro league.
The two were joined by Mr. Abueva from Alaska, Japeth Aguilar from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, Jayson Castro from TNT Ka Tropa, Paul Lee from Star Hotshots, Bradwyn Guinto from NLEX, Norbert Torres from Phoenix, LA Revilla from Mahindra, Raymond Almazan from Rain or Shine Elastopainters, Jonathan Grey From Meralco Bolts and Arthur Dela Cruz from Blackwater Elite.
Said players in turn join forces with Gilas cadet members now seeing action in the PBA, namely, Mac Belo (Blackwater), Matthew Wright (Phoenix), Jio Jalalon (Star), Kevin Ferrer (Barangay Ginebra), Von Pessumal (GlobalPort), Ed Daquioag (Meralco), Mike Tolomia (Rain or Shine), Carl Bryan Cruz (Alaska), Russell Escoto (Mahindra), Roger Pogoy (TNT), Arnold Van Opstal (San Miguel) and Fonzo Gotladera (NLEX).
First test for the new Gilas Pilipinas comes in April at the SEABA Championship.
The Alaska Aces beat the Mahindra Floodbuster, 107-91, to pad their quarterfinal push. — Alvin S. Go
MELBOURNE — Ageless Venus Williams is daring to dream of a possible glamour Australian Open final against sister Serena, but admits they both have their work cut to get there.
Venus Williams of the US hits a return against Germany’s Mona Barthel during their women’s singles fourth round match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE
The American great progressed to an amazing 37th career Grand Slam quarter-final Sunday, needing all her big-match experience against determined German qualifier Mona Barthel 6-3, 7-5.
It sets her up against Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the last four and with Serena in the other side of the draw, the earliest they can meet will be the final.
Asked if she had thought about playing a ninth Grand Slam final against her sister, she replied: “That could hopefully happen. We both still have to work very hard to get there.
“Today I played a qualifier, and she hardly ever missed. So it doesn’t matter who you come up against, they are coming and they want to win, too.
“They have nothing to lose. I’m going to be focused on winning one round at a time and focus on doing what it takes to be there.”
The sisters played each other for the first time in Melbourne in 1998, with Venus coming out on top of the second-round match on her way to the quarterfinals.
So far, they have met in eight Grand Slam deciders, with Venus winning just once, at Wimbledon in 2008.
Serena, gunning for a record-breaking 23rd major crown, faces Barbora Strycova for a place in the quarters on Monday.
‘NOT THE END GOAL’
Venus’s victory over Barthel thrust her into the last eight for a ninth time at a tournament she is yet to win during a career that has earned her seven Grand Slam trophies, though none since that Wimbledon 2008 title.
Next up is Pavlyuchenkova, who upset her fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-3.
Despite an elbow injury derailing her build-up to the opening Grand Slam of the year, Venus, who is yet to drop a set, said she was feeling fine.
And the 13th seed warned there was still plenty left in the tank.
“I think the first time I played this tournament I reached the quarter-finals, so I have done this,” she said.
“This is where you want to be, because you set yourself up to move forward, but this is not the end-all for me. This is not the end goal.”
Williams and Barthel had met two times before, with the American winning both. But despite her lowly 118 ranking, Barthel was never going to be a pushover.
She has three career singles titles to her name and is on the comeback trail after suffering chronic fatigue illness last year, which forced her out for four months.
Seeded 13, Williams used her wealth of experience to pounce early and storm to a 3-0 lead. She gave a service game away before reasserting her dominance with another break back.
Undeterred, Barthel kept coming back, winning a titanic seventh game that included six deuces to keep her hopes alive.
Williams, with the bright sun appearing to cause her problems, hit more unforced errors in the set but a superior number of winners made the difference as she finally nailed it in 42 minutes.
It was a much closer affair in the second set until a patient Williams, the oldest player in the women’s draw, broke in game 11 and served out the win. — AFP
Venus Williams of the US hits a return against Germany’s Mona Barthel during their women’s singles fourth round match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 22. — AFP
THE National Basketball Association’s (NBA) global youth participation program, Jr. NBA, kicked off its 10th year in the country at the weekend with proponents eyeing to build on the gains of the last decade and further grow what has been an “effective and successful movement.”
Built around the core mission of helping develop participants’ fundamental basketball skills, build character and encourage an active and healthy lifestyle, the Jr. NBA program in the Philippines, geared as well to grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents locally, has achieved a lot since its maiden holding in 2007.
Since opening its doors for the program, the Jr. NBA has seen 57,000 players and more than 3,000 coaches participate; 94 Jr. NBA All-Stars selected; 64 municipalities and cities play host to the program; 10 NBA and WNBA personalities, including Tina Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Nerlens Noel, Muggsy Bogues and Ruth Riley, join the conduct of the program; and a number of players move on to play in various leagues, including Aljon Mariano and Raphael Banal who are now in the Philippine Basketball Association, and Kobe Paras, now a freshman at US NCAA Division 1 team Creighton University.
Also, the Facebook page of the Jr. NBA Philippines has steadily grown its followers, now numbering more than 133,000.
“It has been a great ride for the Jr. NBA Philippines. To see the number of kids who have benefitted from the program it makes us super happy in the NBA to contribute to their development,” said Carlo Singson, Managing Director of NBA Philippines, in an interview with a group of sportswriters on the sidelines of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 tip-off last Saturday at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City.
“For our 10th year, we know there is room to be better so we are going to visit more cities and municipalities to reach more kids. We have raised the number of Jr. NBA All-Stars to 16, eight boys and eight girls. And we also have lined up a court refurbishment initiative under the NBA Cares platform,” he added.
RIGHT PARTNERS
Now on their 10th year, the NBA Philippines official further said that the program would not be rendered a success if not for the help of the right local partners, highlighting that for the Jr. NBA to sustain its gains it is important for them to continuously engage likeminded organizations.
“It is extremely important to have the right partners. Jr. NBA is not just an event but a movement. We are trying to help kids live an active and healthy lifestyle and learn positive values. It’s important for us to partner with the right organizations that have the same vision as ours. There is only so much we can do and to amplify things we need our media partners, marketing partners, basketball partners to spread the word about the Jr. NBA program,” Mr. Singson said.
And one of the steady partners of the program in its run is Alaska Milk Corp., the presenting partner of the Jr. NBA Philippines.
“Alaska has been a great partner for us not only for its reach but also with its basketball expertise through its coaches in our camps,” Mr. Singson said.
For Alaska Milk President and CEO Wilfred Uytengsu, Jr., whose group has been partner with Jr. NBA for seven years now, the program has been beneficial for them as well as an organization.
“I believe it’s a great collaboration between two fantastic organizations, who are committed to the youth in particular. We are no strangers to basketball being part of the PBA for a long time now but this also allows us to use the Aces as an icon and aspirational part of basketball, giving back to the youth, to the community. And the NBA gives us that expertise,” said Mr. Uytengsu in a separate interview.
“It also highlights Alaska’s emphasis on gender equality, encouraging more girls to play basketball and providing them opportunities through the Jr. WNBA,” the Alaska executive said.
A decade of Jr. NBA in the Philippines, Mr. Singson said they are more than ever determined to further its growth and build on its legacy as an effective program.
“The legacy of the Jr. NBA is all over us with various alumni making their mark in various basketball leagues as well as in other fields. But I think one of the great legacies of the Jr. NBA Philippines is being a model for the expansion of the program to other Southeast Asian countries. Apart from the Philippines, we are now in five other Southeast Asian countries and it’s a testament to how it has succeeded here,” Mr. Singson said.
The skills clinics of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017, open to boys and girls aged 10 to 14 for free, will be held nationwide from January to April with stops in Bacolod, Batangas, Cagayan De Oro, Cavite, Cebu, Metro Manila and Subic. The National Training Camp where the top participants will be invited and trained by NBA and WNBA personalities will be held in Manila in May. After which the top 16 players comprising the Jr. NBA All-Stars will be selected and gifted with an overseas NBA experience with fellow All-Stars from other Southeast Asian countries. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Proponents and alumni of the Jr. NBA Philippines program which is now on its 10th year. — Jr. NBA Asia Facebook account
Participants do some drills during the tip-off of the 10th Jr. NBA Philippines at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City last Saturday. — Jr. NBA Asia Facebook account
The usual practice on invitations to request invitees for confirmation of attendance is intended to firm up the guest list and establish catering needs and reservations at hotels as well as champagne consumption. Still, confirmed attendees to a meeting can simply not show up or send a text message at the last minute with a vague excuse, “sorry, something came up” to declare their non-attendance.
Can the organizer of an event cancel just as abruptly?
Unless a meeting is prescribed by the company’s by-laws like a board or annual stockholders meeting, it seems easy enough to cancel or postpone, if all the attendees are notified in time by text or e-mail. And reasons for canceling do not even need to be catastrophic like a typhoon or fire, maybe the sudden migraine attack of the CEO. Even pedestrian reasons will suffice — the boss needed to go to Bora.
Scrapping a meeting is occasioned by the convener’s not answering his phone when an hour has already elapsed from the start time. Secretaries who untangle meetings do not need to give any particular reason for the boss’s absence and are seldom required to even think up of a credible excuse. They just say the boss is unavailable and the meeting will be rescheduled — you can take home the garlic rice and tomatoes.
When a meeting is called by the top summoning those lower in the food chain, the appointment cannot be canceled by those in the latter category. The higher up though can abruptly find such meeting unnecessary — I’ll just send you an e-mail on the subject. I don’t think we need to meet, after all. You can go ahead and get your eye cataract fixed as scheduled. See me when you can see me.
Frequently canceling meetings at the last minute is a bad habit. The routine occurrence of abrupt changes of schedules becomes a trait that then attaches to someone perceived as volatile. If meetings with this particular person seldom materialize, schedules with him are no longer calendared.
Some meetings are not canceled, but even moved earlier. (I really miss you.) These entail mutually satisfying expectations between two consenting adults, with no minutes taken on what transpired. The dates and times don’t even appear on the phone calendar.
Recently, there has been a new protocol on meetings that require its own rules of etiquette. What does an invitee do if the meeting is not cancelled but her participation in it merely scrapped — oh so sorry, but you are no longer invited. Please don’t show up and embarrass the receptionist.
Canceled invitations are different from cancelled appearances. The former is on the demand side of the equation — one’s presence is no longer welcome. The latter is a voluntary decision to snub an occasion due to some recent pique.
This new normal of a canceled invitation requires a proper reaction for the dis-invited. The media (old and new) are sure to try to cajole a reaction from the dropped guest. Here are some possible reactions.
Be honest. Of course, I’m disappointed. I had a good power point presentation ready for the meeting to which I had been asked not to go. As for this second non-invitation to the social event of the year, it’s too bad. I had a nice blue gown which I now have to put back in its box in the closet with new mothballs. I hope there will be other receptions I can wear this gown to. Of course, it’s the prerogative of the host to have a last-minute alteration of the guest list, and remove one plate from the head table.
Mention the faux pas as an administrative glitch. The one in charge of invitations should have be a bit more careful next time to vet the list. It will save on mail and printing to screen the invitees before they are alerted. Anyway, I’m sending back the invitation for recycling.
Anticipate the trolls. I was waiting for the cancellation of the invitation as I was sure there must have been a mistake. I didn’t want to send my regrets since such a notice was sure to be misinterpreted. Anyway, I hadn’t dressed up yet.
Hospitality now has new rules on invitations. Anyway, there are surely many other events where invitations are not necessary… or even expected.
