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Spain vows continued support for peace programs in Bangsamoro region 

OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY

SPAIN has vowed to provide continuing support to peace programs in the Bangsamoro, an autonomous region in southern Philippines that is transitioning from a history of conflicts, according to Philippine press secretary’s office.   

“But it’s true that you know, Philippines is the only Asian country in… from our side, listed as a priority country in the masterplan for Spanish cooperation,” Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón said during a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium.  

“The Spanish cooperation in Muslim Mindanao… especially this region, (the) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, (is) where we try to provide institutional support and strengthen the dialogue,” he said.  

The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation is among the funding agencies for the P1.5-Billion Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme, which is intended to strengthen the region’s democratic governance capacities during the transition period.  

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was set up in 2019 following a peace agreement between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.  

Mr. Marcos, for his part, recalled his time at the Senate, where he said he was among the legislators who worked to create an autonomous political entity to end the conflict.  

“I was a senator, and we were forming the new autonomous region, and of the places I went to seek advice was your experience in Catalonia, and… we learned very much,” he said.   

The leaders also agreed to strengthen other aspects of the Philippines-Spain bilateral relations. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Comelec disqualifies Cagayan governor for violating spending ban

CAGAYAN Governor Manuel N. Mamba, Sr. delivers a speech during an event at the provincial capitol in Dec. 2021. — CAGAYAN PIO

THE COMMISSION ON Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba, Sr. from the May elections for disbursing funds for transport vehicles, cash assistance and scholarships during the spending ban period. 

“It’s all over the records of this case that respondent (Mr. Mamba) disbursed public funds during the prohibited period for the village programs,” according to the 18-page decision dated Dec. 14 penned by Election Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo.  

The election body noted that the governor, who was running in May for a third term in office, did not deny the disbursements for the provincial government, but maintained they were not “massive vote buying activities.”  

Mr. Mamba did not immediately reply to a Facebook Messenger chat seeking comment.  

Under a Comelec resolution dated Dec. 16, 2021, government officials were barred from releasing or spending public funds from March 25 to May 8.   

Public officials must apply for exemptions from Comelec to proceed with a project during this period.  

The petition was filed by Zarah De Guzman Lara, who lost to Mr. Mamba in this year’s gubernatorial race. She argued that the governor committed vote-buying during the period in the guise of cash aid distribution.  

Mr. Mamba argued that he did not commit an election offense since the programs being implemented were ongoing non-infrastructure projects during his second term.  

Comelec ruled that he was not liable for vote-buying, but maintained that he violated the 45-day spending ban.  

The governor can still appeal the case before the Comelec en banc within five calendar days or bring his case to the Supreme Court, Comelec Spokesperson John Rex C. Laudiangco told reporters in a Viber message. — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Russia says no Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine

Army soldier figurines are displayed in front of the Ukrainian and Russian flag colors background in this illustration taken, Feb. 13, 2022. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

KYIV — Russia ruled out a “Christmas ceasefire” after nearly 10 months of war in Ukraine and rejected a call by Kyiv to start withdrawing troops by Christmas as a step to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.

Russia and Ukraine are not currently engaged in talks to end the fighting, which is raging in the east and south with little movement on either side.

Violence returned to Kyiv on Wednesday, with the first major drone attack on Ukraine’s capital in weeks. Two administrative buildings were hit, but air defenses largely repelled the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 13 drones had been shot down.

In one Kyiv district, where snow lay on the ground, residents said they heard the loud whirring engine of an Iranian Shahed drone followed by a powerful explosion at a building next to their homes.

“I want this all to be over … For (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, that bastard, to die,” said Yana, 39, who had been getting ready for work when the attack took place.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions more displaced and cities reduced to rubble since Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, saying it needed to protect Russian speakers from Ukrainian far-right nationalists. Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of choice.

“There is no calm on the front line,” Zelensky said in a regular evening video address, describing Russia’s destruction of towns in the east with artillery “so that only bare ruins and craters” remain.

Asked on Wednesday whether Moscow had seen proposals for a “Christmas ceasefire,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “No, no such offers have been received from anybody. This topic is not on the agenda.”

Zelensky said this week that Russia should start withdrawing by Christmas as a step to end the conflict, but Moscow rejected the proposal, saying Ukraine must accept the loss of territory to Russia before any progress can be made.

“Just given what we’re seeing in the air and on the ground in Ukraine, it’s difficult to conclude that this war will be over by year’s end,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said in response to a question about the prospects for a negotiated peace.

Russia, which calls the war a “special military operation,” has fired barrages of missiles on energy infrastructure since October, disrupting power supplies and leaving Ukrainians without heating in freezing winter conditions.

In a move which would significantly bolster Ukraine’s air defense, US officials told Reuters this week that a decision on providing the Patriot missile system to the Ukrainian military could be announced as soon as Thursday.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the United States is also planning to send equipment that converts unguided aerial munitions into smart bombs, allowing a high degree of accurate targeting.

The Kremlin said US Patriot systems would be legitimate targets and warned that Washington was getting “deeper and deeper into the conflict in the post-Soviet republic”.

CHILDREN TAKEN TO RUSSIA
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliament’s commissioner for human rights, said 12,000 Ukrainian children had been taken to Russia since the invasion began in February, including 8,600 taken by force.

He said Ukrainian investigators had uncovered a cell where Russian troops detained and mistreated children in Kherson, a southern city abandoned by pro-Moscow forces last month.

Lubinets did not provide evidence of his assertions and Reuters could not immediately confirm his account. Russia denies targeting civilians and rejects allegations of war crimes. 

Despite the lack of peace talks, hundreds of detainees have been freed in swaps in recent weeks. The releases — along with progress on talks to resume Russian exports of an ingredient in fertiliser and the extension of a grains deal — have shown the two sides maintain at least limited contact on several levels.

The latest exchange of dozens of detainees included a US citizen, Kyiv and Washington said on Wednesday.

The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, identified the American as Suedi Murekezi, who he said had been “helping our people” before ending up in Russian custody. The Washington Post said Mr. Murekezi was a US Air Force veteran born in Uganda.

“We certainly welcome that news,” Kirby told reporters, but did not name the freed American, citing privacy concerns.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday an all-for-all prisoner of war swap deal was an option in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The ICRC emphasised it was up to the two countries to reach an agreement on the issue.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said a major swap could build confidence and that such exchanges had in the past constituted “the first step to a broader agreement”.

Neither the Red Cross or the two sides have made public precise numbers for each country’s war detainees but there are believed to be thousands of such prisoners.

Ukraine has pushed for more captives to be returned as part of talks with Russian representatives seeking the reopening of an ammonia gas pipeline through Ukraine, Reuters has reported. The pipeline is widely seen as important to lowering world prices for fertilizer made with the gas. — Reuters

Tokyo makes solar panels mandatory for new homes to be built after 2025

MICHAEL WILSON-UNSPLASH

TOKYO — All new houses in Tokyo built by large-scale homebuilders after April 2025 must install solar power panels to cut household carbon emissions, according to a new regulation passed by the Japanese capital’s local assembly on Thursday.

The mandate, the first of its kind for a Japanese municipality, requires about 50 major builders to equip homes of up to 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet) with renewable energy power sources, mainly solar panels.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike noted last week that just 4% of buildings where solar panels could be installed in the city have them now. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 2000 levels.

Japan, the world’s fifth-largest carbon emitter, has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 but faces difficulty as it has relied heavily on coal-burning thermal power after most of its nuclear reactors were in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

“In addition to the existing global climate crisis, we face an energy crisis with a prolonged Russia-Ukraine war,” Risako Narikiyo, a member of Ms. Koike’s regional party Tomin First no Kai, said at the assembly on Thursday. “There is no time to waste.” — Reuters

US Senate passes bill to ban TikTok on gov’t devices

WASHINGTON — The US Senate late on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill to bar federal employees from using Chinese-owned short video-sharing app TikTok on government-owned devices.

The bill must still be approved by the US House of Representatives before going to President Joseph R. Biden for approval. The House of Representatives would need to pass the Senate bill before the current congressional session ends, which is expected next week.

The vote is the latest action on the part of US lawmakers to crackdown on Chinese companies amid national security fears that Beijing could use them to spy on Americans.

The Senate action comes after North Dakota and Iowa this week joined a growing number of US states in banning TikTok, owned by ByteDance, from state-owned devices amid concerns that data could be passed on to the Chinese government.

During the last Congress, the Senate in August 2020 unanimously approved legislation to bar TikTok from government devices. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Senator Josh Hawley, reintroduced in legislation in 2021.

Many federal agencies including the Defense, Homeland Security and State departments already ban TikTok from government-owned devices. “TikTok is a major security risk to the United States, and it has no place on government devices,” Mr. Hawley said previously.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued directives prohibiting executive branch agencies from downloading the app on any government-issued equipment. Around a dozen US states have taken similar actions, including Alabama and Utah this week.

TikTok has said the concerns are largely fueled by misinformation and are happy to meet with policymakers to discuss the company’s practices.

“We’re disappointed that so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States,” the company said Wednesday.

Other states taking similar actions include Texas, Maryland and South Dakota.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio on Tuesday unveiled bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok altogether in the United States, ratcheting up pressure on ByteDance due to US fears the app could be used to spy on Americans and censure content. Mr. Rubio also is a sponsor of Mr. Hawley’s TikTok government device ban bill.

The legislation would block all transactions from any social media company in or under the influence of China and Russia, Mr. Rubio’s office said.

At a hearing last month, FBI Director Chris Wray said TikTok’s US operations raise national security concerns.

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump attempted to block new users from downloading TikTok and ban other transactions that would have effectively blocked the apps’ use in the United States but lost a series of court battles over the measure.

The US government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a powerful national security body, in 2020 ordered ByteDance to divest TikTok because of the fears that US user data could be passed to the Chinese government, though ByteDance has not done so.

CFIUS and TikTok have been in talks for months to reach a national security agreement to protect the data of TikTok’s more than 100 million users but it does not appear any deal will be reached before the end of the year. — Reuters

Vietnam makes big push to expand South China Sea outposts, says US think tank

US NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS/FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON — Vietnam has conducted a major expansion of dredging and landfill work at several of its South China Sea outposts in the second half of this year, signaling an intent to significantly fortify its claims in the disputed waterway, a US think tank reported on Wednesday.

Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the work in the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by China and others, had created roughly 420 acres (170 hectares) of new land and brought the total area Vietnam had reclaimed in the past decade to 540 acres (220 hectares).

Basing its findings on commercial satellite imagery, CSIS’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said the effort included expanded landfill work at four features and new dredging at five others.

“The scale of the landfill work, while still falling far short of the more than 3,200 acres of land created by China from 2013 to 2016, is significantly larger than previous efforts from Vietnam and represents a major move toward reinforcing its position in the Spratlys,” the report said.

Vietnam’s Washington embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

AMTI said Vietnam’s midsized outposts at Namyit Island, Pearson Reef and Sand Cay were undergoing major expansions, with a dredged port capable of hosting larger vessels already taking shape at Namyit and Pearson.

Namyit Island, at 117 acres (47 hectares) and Pearson Reef, at 119 acres (48 hectares), were both now larger than Spratly Island at 97 acres (39 hectares), which had been Vietnam’s largest outpost. Tennent Reef, which previously only hosted two small pillbox structures, now had 64 acres (26 hectares) of artificial land, the report said.

AMTI said Vietnam used clamshell dredgers to scoop up sections of shallow reef and deposit the sediment for landfill, a less destructive process than the cutter-suction dredging China had used to build its artificial islands.

“But Vietnam’s dredging and landfill activities in 2022 are substantial and signal an intent to significantly fortify its occupied features in the Spratlys,” the report said.

“(W)hat infrastructure the expanded outposts will host remains to be seen. Whether and to what degree China and other claimants react will bear watching,” it said.

China claims most of the South China Sea and has established military outposts on artificial islands it has built there. Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines all have overlapping claims in the sea, which is crisscrossed by vital shipping lanes and contains gas fields and rich fishing grounds. — Reuters

Steely France ends Morocco run to set up Argentina showdown

France battles Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final

AL KHOR, Qatar — France will play Argentina in the World Cup final after beating Morocco 2-0 in an enthralling semifinal on Wednesday to stay on course to retain the title and end the fairytale run of the north Africans in Qatar.

Theo Hernandez scored in the fifth minute in a perfect start for the holders, who would have been looking for an early strike to silence the rowdy Moroccan support at the Al Bayt Stadium and dent the confidence of their team.

But it still proved a close-fought match as Morocco overcame injury blows and showed no deference to France’s reputation, taking the game to them in a gallant effort that added to the glowing reputation they have earned at the tournament.

France settled the outcome with a second goal 11 minutes from time as substitute Randal Kolo Muani, with a first touch after coming on, tucked in a shot at the back post.

They are now into a fourth World Cup final and can become the first country to successfully defend their title since Brazil 60 years ago.

“There’s emotion, there’s pride, there’s going to be a final step, we’ve been together with the players for a month, it’s never easy, there’s happiness so far,” said a smiling coach Didier Deschamps.

For the first goal, Mr. Hernandez had to lift his left foot high to connect with a bouncing ball from a tight angle to finish off a sweeping move started by Antoine Griezmann’s run down the right and a cutback pass that Kylian Mbappé initially fluffed.

Mr. Mbappé was the creator of the second as he attempted first to dribble through the Morocco defense and then shoot, his effort blocked but falling for Kolo Muani to net.

Olivier Giroud struck the post and missed from point-blank range in the first half at the end of a barnstorming run through the middle from Aurelien Tchouameni.

The midfielder threaded a superb ball to find Mr. Mbappé, whose miscued shot was poorly cleared, allowing Mr. Giroud a first-time shot which went wide from close-in.

But Morocco were never overawed and created opportunities of their own as Azzedine Ounahi forced two good saves out of French captain Hugo Lloris with speculative efforts, and curling set-pieces put the French defense under pressure.

The north Africans were hit hard by injuries to their key centre backs with the gamble of naming Nayef Aguerd in the starting line up failing to work as he hurt his hamstring in the warm-up and skipper Romain Saiss was forced off after 20 minutes.

BICYCLE KICK
Replacement center back Jawad El Yamiq was, however, closest to an equalizer with a spectacular bicycle kick on the stroke of halftime, from a poorly cleared corner by the French, with Mr. Lloris getting a vital touch as it hit the base of the upright.

“We gave the maximum, that’s the most important,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui.

“We had some injuries, we lost Aguerd in the warm-up, Saiss, Mazraoui at halftime. We paid for the slightest mistake. We didn’t get into the game well, we had too much technical waste in the first half, and the second goal kills us, but that doesn’t take away everything we did before.”

France’s victory set up the tantalizing prospect of a decisive clash between Argentina maestro Lionel Messi, at the end of his international career, and France’s Mr. Mbappé, emerging as the next superstar of the world game.

“Playing two World Cup finals in a row is an incredible moment. We did a good job, it was hard, but we are in the final. We will work hard to win this final,” Mr. Hernandez said.

Morocco’s exit was tempered by their achievement of becoming the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semifinal, a feat widely celebrated. They can expect to be hailed as heroes when they return home after Saturday’s third-place playoff against Croatia. — Reuters

IM Quizon beats GM Sivuk in Manny Pacquiao chessfest

IM Daniel Quizon (right) and GM Vitaly Sivuk (left) — MCPL FACEBOOK PAGE

FOR FILIPINO International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon to be worthy of gaining Grandmaster status, he needs to beat most of the GMs he plays.

The Southeast Asian Games bronze medal winner did just that yesterday after slaying third seed GM Vitaly Sivuk to enhance his title and GM aspirations in the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos City.

The 18-year-old Dasmariñas, Cavite bet wielded the King’s Indian like a magic wand in bedazzling the 30-year-old Mr. Sivuk, born in war-thorn Ukraine but is representing Sweden, that earned him a place in a chase pack at No. 3 with four points after five rounds.

“I won in the middle game,” said the reigning Asian Juniors blitz prince.

Mr. Quizon will try to catch a bigger fish in top seed GMs Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia in their sixth-round showdown at press time.

If he ends up doing a David to Mr. Gabuzyan’s Goliath, Mr. Quizon will bolster his chances of earning the second of three norms required to become a full-pledged GM and the champion’s loot worth a cool P1.14 million, the country’s biggest in decades courtesy of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

Mr. Gabuzyan was tied with second pick Dutch GM Lucas Van Foreest at No. 1 with 4.5 points apiece after the two ended up with a fighting draw.

Grouped with Mr. Quizon No. 4 seed GM Pier Luigi Basso of Italy, IM John Daniel Bryant of the United States and Filipino IMs Kim Steven Yap and Ricky de Guzman.

Mr. Basso clobbered IM Cris Ramayrat; Mr. Bryant waylaid Sherwin Tiu; Mr. Yap shocked GM Darwin Laylo; and Mr. De Guzman edged fancied GM John Paul Gomez.

At No. 9 with 3.5 points each were Russian-born FIDE-represented Konstantin Sek, IM Richilieu Salcedo, IM Michael Concio, Jr., FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza, IM Eric Labog, Jr., Sheider Nebato and GM Joey Antonio. — Joey Villar

Tokyo Olympic medalists Paalam, Petecio to grace ‘23 Batang Pinoy opening

ALL TOKYO OLYMPIC BOXERS and medalists Carlo Paalam (left), Eumir Marcial (center) and Nesthy Petacio (right). — PSC

ILOCOS SUR — No less than  Tokyo Olympics boxing silver winners Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will usher in the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Batang Pinoy National Championships unfurling tomorrow at the Quirino Stadium here.

Joining Petecio and Paalam in the inaugurals were Olympian judoka Kiyomi Watanabe and Southeast Asian Games swimming gold medalists Chloe Isleta and Mary Allin Aldeguer.

“The Batang Pinoy program has already produced numerous champions in various sports since it started in 1999. I am sure that the stories of our be-medalled athletes will inspire our young athletes who will be competing in Ilocos Sur, to reach the height they have achieved,” said PSC Chair Noli Eala, who will also grace the opener.

Joining them are host Ilocos Sur Gov. Jerry Singson and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino.

Mr. Eala said the event, which will be participated in by around 6,000 in and out-of-school youth athletes from 140 local government units, is being done to heed the call of President Bong Bong Marcos to boost the country’s grassroots development program.

A total of nine sports will be played face-to-face like archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cycling, table tennis, swimming, weightlifting, and obstacle course racing as demo sport.

Eight others — arnis, dancesport, judo, karate, muay, pencak silat, taekwondo, and wushu — will be virtually held online and will be streamed via the PSC Facebook and YouTube platforms.

This year’s edition will also be held in partnership with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the Department of Interior and Local Government Unit (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepED), co-presented by Milo Philippines, Pocari Sweat Otsuka Solar Philippines, Universal Robina Corp., Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Globe Telecom, and Beautéderm. — Joey Villar

Doctors shine at PHL Hobie 16 National Championship at TLYC

TALISAY MAYOR Nestor Natanauan (left) and top winners Lindo Pahayahay (second from left) and Michael Ngu (third from left).

TWO doctors proved their mettle outside the medical field as they dominated the 2022 Philippine Hobie 16 National Championships, the country’s longest-running hobie sailing tournament.

Ophthalmologist Michael Ngu of the Manila Doctors Hospital topped the five-race competition at the Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) in Talisay, Batangas, which resumed after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic.

With crew Lindo Pahayahay, they edged other contestants for the top spot in the National Championship which determines the country’s top Hobie 16 sailor for the year.

Coming in at second place is Sunpower Philippines general manager Glenn Everett, crewed by his wife Jana.

Rounding up the winning circle at third place is Makati Medical Center ophthalmologist and former Philippine Eye Doctors Association President Dennis Cruz, along with his local crew, Jason Mendoza.

Now on its 24th year, the tourney started in 1995 at its TLYC homebase, and was rotated around Subic Bay, Laiya Beach in San Juan, Cebu, Anvaya Cove in Bataan, and Punta Fuego Yacht Club and Tali Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas. The home of the Philippine Hobie Fleet and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club, TLYC was dubbed by Lonely Planet magazine as the country’s sailing capital because of its winds ideal for sailing for most time of the year. In an adjunct tournament held, TLYC commodore Peter Capotosto and Jazmine Lucero topped the Governor’s Cup, a single new format race which sailed around Taal Volcano.

Named in honor of the provincial chief executive of Batangas, the Cup is an annual yearend multi-race tourney which showcases the sports tourism potential of the scenic volcano and its vicinity. Governor Hermilando Mandanas, a tourism champion in the Calabarzon Region, personally awarded the top winners.

The sailing events were sponsored by San Miguel Beer, Club Balai Isabel, Barako Coffee, and Active Boating and Watersports as media partner, and supported by the Municipality of Talisay and the Province of Batangas.

UP forward Zavier Lucero injures left knee in Game 2

REIGNING champion University of the Philippines (UP) is praying for the best results with regards to Zavier Lucero’s left knee injury as the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball finals heads to a winner-take-all Game 3 next Monday.

The versatile forward already underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test yesterday morning, UP Fighting Maroons program director Bo Perasol told The STAR.

“We’re still waiting for the advice of our medical team,” said Mr. Perasol as UP absorbed a double whammy in a 65-55 loss against Ateneo in Game 2.

Mr. Lucero, in a non-contact incident, went down hard on his own early in the 8:31 mark of the fourth quarter with UP staring a 44-59 deficit.

The Filipino-American standout grimaced in pain holding on to his left knee and had to be carried out of the court.

As mentioned by UP courtside reporter Carla Elizaga on the TV broadcast, Mr. Lucero said he heard a “crack” after his scary fall that silenced the usually wild Diliman crowd.

The 6-foot-6 Mr. Lucero finished with six points, 11 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 28 minutes of action.

He served as the hero in Game 1 with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two assists as well as the two crucial blocks on Chris Koon and Ange Kouame that willed UP to a 72-66 win in Game 1.

UP, at press time, awaits Mr. Lucero’s official diagnosis as it braces for an all-out war in Game 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Monday in a tough title defense. — John Bryan Ulanday

Miami Heat hit team-record 24 treys in tight win over OKC Thunder

TYLER Herro tied a career high with 35 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 110-108 win over the host Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder on Wednesday.

Mr. Herro had a career-high nine 3-pointers as the Heat set a franchise record with 24 3-pointers. But it was inside the arc where Mr. Herro came through for the decisive bucket. Mr. Herro drained a pullup jumper with 5.7 seconds remaining to break a tie, and Miami held on after a timeout.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a jumper in the closing seconds. Josh Giddey grabbed the rebound, but his shot hit off the bottom of the backboard to end the game, though Mr. Giddey argued for a foul call as Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon surrounded him.

Miami has won the first two games of a four-game road trip while the Thunder have lost four consecutive games.

The Heat led by as many as 21 in the first half, but the Thunder battled back to take a seven-point lead with four minutes remaining in the game. Miami finished with a 15-6 run, though, to escape with the win.

Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 27 points.

Mr. Herro took over to start the second quarter, hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the first 2:18 and scoring the first 11 points of the quarter. By late in the second, the Heat’s lead was stretched to 21.

Miami hit nine 3-pointers in the second quarter and had 16 at the half — both a franchise record for 3-pointers in a half for the Heat and the most the Thunder had ever allowed in a half. Mr. Herro scored 14 of his points in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City closed the first half on a 12-3 run over the final 3:13 to cut the deficit to 12 at the break. — Reuters

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