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Diversification seen as key to hitting PHL food security goals

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DoST) said diversification will be key to efforts to ensure food security, bringing into balance cash crops with staples needed by the population.

“There has been more (focus on) cash crops… that has reduced the focus of diversifying food and livelihood opportunities. There is a need for us to diversify food that is available in terms of production and distribution,” according to Science Research Specialist II Charina A. Javier of the DoST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute said at the BusinessWorld Insights Forum Wednesday, “Ensuring Resiliency of our Food Systems.”

She cited a 2020 study published by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) which noted an oversupply of protein sources in the Philippines.

According to its estimates, meat imports and domestic production in 2019 were equivalent to 1.75 times the volume required for the Philippines’ own nutrition model, which is known as Pinggang Pinoy (the Filipino plate).

Meanwhile, the available fruit and vegetable volume was well below the quantities required to hit model levels.

“(ACIAR) saw that… vegetables and fruits are not enough (to meet the volume requirements) considering both local production and imports,” Ms. Javier said.

The ACIAR study found that the rice requirement was “adequately” covered during the period.

World Agroforestry Policy Specialist and Researcher Ayn G. Torres said diversification will allow farmers to increase their resilience against external shocks.

“It also contributes to improved nutrition, especially in the uplands,” she said.

Ms. Torres said farming programs must revolve around how to sustainably use the land to ensure farmers will have durable livelihoods.

“We also should not forget that there are around 18 million people in the uplands who are also getting their livelihoods from farming in deforested areas so we have to think about agriculture (in terms of) total land productivity,” she said.

Romeo S. Recide, the country’s representative to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), raised the issue of reducing food waste.

“If people reduce their wastage or eliminated their waste — of rice in particular — we will need to import 400,000 metric tons less,” he said, referring to the results of a survey conducted by the IRRI.

He said a typical Filipino household spends 40% of its budget on food, with about a quarter going to rice.

“Filipinos consume around 118 kilograms of rice per person per year — that’s more than two sacks per year. Rice, along with other cereals like corn and wheat, are daily staples for the vast majority of the global population, and therefore, are an integral part of the nutrition, cultures and economies of many low and middle-income countries,” he said.

Mr. Recide, who also serves as the IRRI’s secretary to the Board, said enhancing the productivity, resilience and sustainability of crops, particularly rice, is the key to achieving food security. — Angelica Y. Yang

Climate Change Commission appoints implementation-focused advisers

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE CLIMATE Change Commission on Wednesday replaced its national panel of technical experts with 16 new members as it transitioned towards project implementation.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, the chairman-designate of the commission, said in a briefing that the new panel was chosen as the commission moves away from initial research.

“We are now in the business of implementing concrete projects and programs to build the resilience of our communities, reverse the degradation, and protect our vital food sources,” he said.

“These are experts who are familiar with working on the ground, with businesses and local governments. Trained in science, they also excel in building partnerships and linkages. These are Filipino experts who will engage local communities in climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

The panel consists of 10 women and six men. Four of them come from Mindanao, while six each are from Luzon and the Visayas.

Representing environmental engineering, public health fisheries, sociology, and disaster risk management fields, the panel provides technical advice to the commission.

Panel member Maria Angela Zafra, who works on inclusive business models and sustainable tourism, said industries are sources of carbon emissions, noting that financing is moving towards projects that integrate business concerns to business operations.

“Of the major banks, if you look at their sustainable finance frameworks, their portfolio is also geared towards promoting renewable energy as well as energy efficiency projects,” she said. 

“One of the things we should develop is also the demand for it, because the banks will supply sustainable finance and then we develop the industry as the source of the demand. Once both sides are ready, that’s the time we can transition into a greener industry as well.”

Mr. Dominguez said the experts will advise government on how to balance the need to protect the environment and support economic growth.

“The Philippine government is already looking at a possibility of reducing the reliance in Mindanao on coal-fired energy as we increase the capacity of the Agus river system. So, we’re working with the (Asian Development Bank) and private sector to put up a fund in which we’ll invest in and buy out the coal-fired plants and start mothballing them and repurposing them,” he said.

Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Sherina A. Alvarez said in August that the government is working with the ADB on a Coal Replacement Fund that will support the acquisition and shut down of coal-fired power plants in Mindanao while the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plant generating capacity is upgraded. — Jenina P. Ibañez

At least 10 more ports up for bid until 2022

PHILSTAR

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said it is putting up for auction at least 10 more port terminal projects until 2022.

“This year, until the end of the term of the present administration in 2022, the PPA is looking at bidding out at least 10 more terminals to guarantee that ports continue to provide services at par with global best practices for years to come,” the agency said in a recent statement posted on its Facebook page.

“Since the PPA started bidding out 15-year port terminal management contracts under the PTMRF (Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework) pursuant to PPA Administrative Orders 03-2016 and 12-2018, PPA has been able to bid out 11 terminals. Out of these, 9 contracts have been awarded for the ports of Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Calapan, Legazpi, Tabaco, Iligan, Ozamiz, Zamboanga and Tacloban,” the agency added.

The agency has received unsolicited proposals from three companies — Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), and Kudos Trucking Corp. — for port developments in Iloilo, Davao, and General Santos.

The proposals were being evaluated by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said on Sept. 13.

But such companies had “concerns about the (length of the process and the approaching) election ban, so we are discussing other options,” he said.

One alternative, Mr. Santiago said, is for the PPA to bid out some of its terminals.

Chelsea was awarded original proponent status in 2019 for its unsolicited offer to modernize Davao City’s Sasa Port.

In 2018, ICTSI submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop the Iloilo Port Complex and the Port of Dumangas.

Davao-based Kudos Trucking Corp. also submitted in 2018 its unsolicited offer for the General Santos Port. — Arjay L. Balinbin

La Union gov’t suspends illegal quarry

PHILSTAR

THE La Union government recently shut down illegal quarrying activities along the Aringay River in Tubao.

According to a Sept. 23 letter from the La Union Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), the government ordered quarrying permit holder Edelberto C. Garcia to “cease and desist his extraction activities” and explain his actions in writing.

He was found to have been extracting sand outside the area covered by his permit.

According to a statement shown to reporters Wednesday, the province said quarrying outside the permit area violates national laws as well as a provincial ordinance.

The letter was signed by Annalyn Rosario-Valdez, the officer-in-charge of the La Union ENRO.

ENRO Environmental Management Specialist II Rommilyn V. Torio told BusinessWorld Wednesday that Mr. Garcia has since sent his explanation and paid the fine. — Angelica Y. Yang

Work-from-home rules for the IT-BPM sector

At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) issued PEZA Memorandum Circular 2020-011 (PEZA MC 2020-011), extending assistance to ecozone enterprises. The circular allowed registered business enterprises (RBEs) belonging to the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector to adopt pre-emptive measures to forestall or contain the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a general rule, IT-BPM RBEs must exclusively operate within the PEZA IT building/center. Moreover, before they can farm out assets or equipment, prior approval from PEZA is required in the form of a Letter of Authority (LoA). However, PEZA MC 2020-011 dispensed with these requirements by allowing IT-BPM RBES to adopt full work-from-home (WFH) arrangements and to transfer IT equipment and assets outside the IT building/center without a need for a Letter of Authority before implementation, subject to notice requirements, submission of the certified list of employees under WFH and IT assets/equipment, and posting of a surety bond. This means they can conduct their business and transfer IT equipment/assets outside the IT building/center.

Initially, these measures could only be availed of until July 31, 2020. However, to further assist the RBEs while the pandemic dragged on, the extension of these rules became necessary. Hence, the WFH arrangement was extended until Sept. 12, 2021 under MC 2020-049. However, beginning Sept. 1, 2021, the requirements for the movement of assets outside the PEZA building/center reverted to the old pre-pandemic rules, subject to prior compliance with PEZA standard requirements such as prior farm-out permit and submission of accountable forms.

Before the lapse of the Sept. 12, 2021 extension period, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) was passed, which placed the incentives promoting agencies such as PEZA under the supervision of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), as part of the latter’s expanded authority.

Thus, on Sept. 9, 2021, the FIRB issued Memorandum Circular 19-2021 (FIRB MC 19-2021) in exercise of its powers to issue temporary measures to support the recovery of RBEs in exceptional circumstances such as the current pandemic. Under the FIRB MC, RBEs in the IT-BPM sector can continue with the WFH arrangement until March 31, 2022, subject to the following conditions:

First, the percentage of employees working from home should not exceed 90% of the total workforce until Dec. 31, 2021, to be reduced to 75% beginning Jan. 1, 2022. If the State of Calamity is extended, the maximum percentage will be maintained at 90% until March 31, 2022.

It is worth noting that the 90% limit under the FIRB MC 19-2021 applies to the total workforce, in contrast to the previous MCs issued by PEZA, where the 90% threshold was applied to the total revenue derived from the registered project/activity for purposes of computing the incentives.

Under the old PEZA rule, IT-BPM RBEs are allowed a full WFH capacity. If the WFH workforce falls within the 90% threshold, they are fully entitled to incentives. Above this cutoff point, as in the case of a 100% WFH arrangement, the excess is be subject to regular taxes. However, under the new FIRB MC, failure to meet the 90% workforce threshold may result in the revocation of the incentives, and thus, may subject the entire income to regular taxes.

Second, a bond should be posted for all IT equipment/assets moved outside the IT building/center. The required bond is still 150% of the amount of taxes and duties (for imported equipment/asset) and Value-Added Tax (for locally purchased ones). The ratio of the laptop or other equipment to be transferred outside the IT building/center vis-a-vis the employees working from home should be 1:1.

Third, the export requirement, which is currently at least 70% of the total output under CREATE, must continue to be satisfied despite adopting the WFH scheme. Moreover, the number of employees should not be reduced regardless of whether the majority are WFH. 

Fourth, the IT-BPM RBEs must submit reports on the number of employees under WFH and a list of equipment/assets brought out of the IT building/center following the prescribed deadlines.

As noted above, failure to comply with the conditions may result in the suspension, withdrawal, or cancellation of tax incentives of the Ecozone IT Enterprises. To monitor compliance, PEZA is directed to report to the FIRB any violation committed by an IT-BPM RBE within five days from its discovery, including the action taken by PEZA.

PEZA has written an appeal to the FIRB for reconsideration of some of the provisions of FIRB MC 19-2021, particularly the shift in the basis for the 90% threshold from total revenue to total workforce.

Under the total revenue formula implemented by PEZA, IT-BPM RBEs were allowed to operate on a full WFH scheme, in contrast to the current total workforce formula where they must maintain at least 10% of the workforce onsite. According to PEZA, 10% can translate into a significant number of people physically reporting for work, especially for enterprises with a significant headcount. This directive could also entail additional fit-out costs to re-configure the work areas in compliance with the minimum health and social distancing protocols. Ultimately, IT-BPM RBEs face a dilemma on whether to prioritize compliance with the 10% onsite workforce of FIRB MC 19-2021 or the safety of their employees against contracting the virus. Pending the resolution of the appeal submitted by PEZA on Sept. 23, 2021, the set of rules under FIRB MC 19-2021 are to remain in force.

As we continue to navigate precarious times brought about by the pandemic, regulators and investors both play vital and invaluable roles in our economic recovery.  In such wise, we hope the issues surrounding the WFH rules are eventually addressed in a mutually acceptable and beneficial manner for all stakeholders.

The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co.  The content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.

 

Aimee Rose Dg. Dela Cruz is a director with the Tax Services Group of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of the PwC network.

+63 (2) 8845-2728

aimee.rose.d.dela.cruz@pwc.com

Meralco lives to fight another day

THE Meralco Bolts lived to fight another after taking Game Five of their best-of-seven Philippine Cup semifinal series over the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, 102-98, on Wednesday to narrow their deficit, 2-3. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Meralco Bolts lived to fight another day after taking Game Five of their best-of-seven Philippine Cup semifinal series over the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, 102-98, on Wednesday to narrow their deficit, 2-3.

With their backs against the wall, the Bolts dug deep against a determined push by the Hotshots to close out things to bag the win at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, and keep their title hopes alive.

The contest got off to a competitive start, with the teams having their moments to make runs.

Magnolia though would have the upper hand at the break, holding a slim two-point cushion, 47-45.  

In the third quarter, Meralco came out with added fire, led by John Pinto and Chris Newsome, crowding Magnolia and eventually took the lead, 65-63, with 2:19 to go in the frame.

But the Hotshots regained their footing after, outscoring the Bolts, 8-4, thereafter to take a 71-69 advantage heading into the fourth canto.

With the contest still anybody’s ball game, the team jostled to take early control in the opening of the payoff quarter.

The Meralco cause was dealt a blow by the seven-minute mark when Mr. Newsome was called for his sixth and final foul, rendering him unavailable the rest of the way.

The Bolts, though, continued to fight it out, racing to a 93-90 lead with 3:28 left to play.

Magnolia tried to rally back but still found itself trailing, 99-96, with 40 seconds remaining.

It got a chance to level the count after Calvin Abueva got a steal at the 34-second mark but failed to capitalize on it.

Split free throws by Raymond Almazan with 10 seconds to go, extended the Bolts’ lead to four points, 100-96.

The Hotshots sued for time after. In the ensuing play, Magnolia went to Mr. Abueva, who connected on a deuce off an alley-oop play with eight ticks left to cut their deficit, 100-98.

Mr. Almazan was fouled anew after, but he made sure to make all of his freebies to create further distance from which the Hotshots could not recover from.

Allein Maliksi led the Bolts in the gutsy victory, finishing with 29 points, followed by Messrs. Pinto and Newsome with 24 and 23 points, respectively.

For Magnolia, it was Mark Barroca who showed the way with 25 points. Mr. Abueva had 19. Game Six of the series is set for Friday, Oct. 15.

END OF AN ERA
Meanwhile, a changing of the guards took place at the Alaska Aces camp after they traded veteran point guard JVee Casio to the Blackwater Bossing.

In a deal that got the approval of the league on Tuesday, the Aces sent the 10-year pro Casio to the Bossing along with sophomore Barkley Ebona in exchange for guard Mike Tolomia and Blackwater’s 2022 second-round draft pick.

It was an end of era for Alaska as Mr. Casio, 35, was the last member of the team’s 2013 Commissioner’s Cup champion squad.

With the Bossing, Mr. Casio is expected to provide leadership and experience to a “rebuilding” team under returning coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Blackwater, too, is getting a workhorse in Mr. Ebona, a first-round pick in the 2019 rookie draft.

Mr. Tolomia, 28, meanwhile, brings explosiveness and youth to the Alaska backcourt.

R&A, USGA announce optional golf driver length rule to tame sport’s big hitters

ORGANIZERS running professional or elite amateur golf competitions will have the option of reducing the maximum length of golf clubs to reduce hitting distances, the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and United States Golf Association (USGA) said on Tuesday.

The rule will allow competitions to limit the maximum length of a golf club, excluding putters, to 46 inches from the current limit of 48 inches and will come into effect on Jan. 1.

The proposal was announced in February and was part of the latest updates to the Distance Insights Report published last year that said increased hitting distances changed the challenge of the game and risked making courses obsolete.

“We have taken time to consult fully with the golf industry, including players, the main professional tours and equipment manufacturers, and have considered their feedback carefully,” said Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive.

“We believe this is the right thing for the game at this time and it will provide tournament organizers with the flexibility to choose for themselves within the framework of the rules.

“We are working hard to maintain an open, collaborative and considered dialogue with these key stakeholders as we continue to evolve the Equipment Standards Rules to ensure they reflect the modern game.”

The proposal was met with mixed reactions earlier this year, with former world number one Rory McIlroy criticizing golf’s lawmakers and describing the campaign as a “huge waste of time and money.”

However, Bryson DeChambeau, known for his powerful drives that averaged nearly 330 yards last year with a 48-inch driver, said he was not worried about any changes to the rules. — Reuters

PFL hopeful 2021 season kickoff pushes through later this month

THE PFL is targeting to have the new season start on Oct. 27, provided certain conditions are met. — PFL

IF things go as planned, the 2021 season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) could kick off before the month of October ends.

As per its posting on its official website, the PFL is targeting to have the new season start on Oct. 27, provided certain conditions are met.

“PFF is committed to having the PFL 2021 season this year when conditions permit,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) General-Secretary Edwin Gastanes. “We understand how also important the league is for the clubs, sponsors, and football fans.”

Recognizing that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still a concern, the PFL will be holding a centralized competition at the PFF National Training Center under a “semi-bubble,” where participants’ movements will be limited to hotel/home to tournament venue and back.

The league is currently awaiting word from the Carmona local government unit for the go-ahead, hoping that the quarantine status in the area is lowered to the less strict General Community Quarantine (GCQ) so action can proceed.

“We wait for updates on Carmona. We will proceed if it is under GCQ since the clubs have to be in the bubble [before the targeted start],” said Coco Torre, PFL commissioner, in a text message to BusinessWorld.

“We are already mobilizing our local organizing committee for the possible kickoff already,” he added.

Carmona is under the stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until Oct. 15.

As it awaits further development, the league is encouraging competing clubs, which could be as high as seven, Mr. Torre said, to ensure players are match fit come the targeted kickoff date.

Clubs, too, must provide the league with their proposed accommodation venues for the bubble setup, with provisions for health and safety protocols to be imposed while inside the bubble.

One of the clubs set to compete is Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, which is excited to showcase its wares in the PFL.

“So far, so good. The players are peaking and we’re almost at 90 percent,” Dynamic Herb head coach Oliver Colina was quoted as saying by SunStar Cebu.

Mr. Torre said the arrival of Cebu FC is a “very big development.”

“Cebu FC has very big plans from the senior league all the way to the grassroots and they have exemplary programs and the right kind of infrastructure. We are very much looking forward to their participation in the PFL,” he said.

The PFL last played in November 2020 with United City Football Club (UCFC) emerging as champion.

It was angling to start the 2021 season much earlier this year, but it was forced to defer the kickoff because of the unpredictable situation of the pandemic.

The league is looking to complete the new season before the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 happening from Dec. 1, 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022.

“The PFL season 2021 kickoff remains a primary objective,” assured Mr. Torre. “The staging of the season will help preserve the livelihood of the players, staff, officials and determine the League Standings based on sporting merit.” — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Gilas women’s squad has SEAG title retention in sight

GILAS Pilipinas Women’s Basketball is looking forward to successfully defending its title in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in May in Vietnam. — FIBA

NEXT year will be a busy one for Gilas Pilipinas Women’s Basketball, but one event it is keenly eyeing is the 31st Southeast Asian  Games (SEAG) in May in Vietnam.

The defending SEA Games champion in women’s 5-on-5, Gilas Women underscored the need to successfully defend its title to sustain the gains it has made and preserve its standing in the sport in the region.

“We worked hard for that (winning the title) and it is important we successfully defend it,” said veteran guard Janine Pontejos during their session at the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.

The championship in 2019 was the first time the Philippines won the gold medal in biennial sporting meet for the event.

In winning the title, Gilas Women swept all of its three matches at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to end up with six tournament points and the gold medal.

Ms. Pontejos was a key cog in the SEA Games team, along with fellow veterans Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Clare Castro.

The quartet also composed the team which won the gold in the 3×3 event.

Being a SEA Games champion is something national team young gun Camille Clarin hopes to experience as well.

“Definitely, I would love to be a part of that gold medal (team). We have a great program going for us,” said the National University standout, who recently made her debut with Gilas Women at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women’s Asia Cup in Jordan.

Gilas coach Patrick Aquino, who was with Mses. Pontejos and Clarin at the PSA Forum, said they will soon start preparing for their campaign for next year.

He said they have had initial talks with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) about their plans and he was happy to report that the response was good.

The coach also said that hopefully, they could work on the schedules of the players so that more will be available for key competitions.

Among the players they are hoping to have are Ms. Animam, who is currently playing in the Serbian league; US-born Filipina cager Mai-Loni Henson, a former University of Washington Huskies standout; and Ella Fajardo, a rookie playmaker from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Gilas is also hoping to see action in the Asian Games in China next year.

The 31st SEA Games was supposed to take place this December, but was moved to the latter part of May next year because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation in the region. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PSC successfully holds grassroots sports program in Sarangani

THE Philippine Sports Commission successfully held its diverse grassroots sports program in the province of Sarangani, organizing and pre-recording an activity on Indigenous Peoples Games. — PSC

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) successfully held its diverse grassroots sports program in the province of Sarangani, organizing and pre-recording an activity on Indigenous Peoples Games.

Led by PSC commissioner and project head Charles Raymond A. Maxey, the group, for three days, conducted the program with the end view of promoting traditional sports and games of Sarangani and better appreciated by more people.

The program was conducted in strict coordination with Provincial Tribal Chieftain Fulung Edmund D. Pangilan, and Municipal IP Mandatory Representative Makabatog Monard C. Galgo at the Lamlifew Village Museum and Blaan School of Living Traditions in Malungon, Sarangani.

Health and safety protocols crafted by both the national and local governments were followed throughout the conduct of the activity, with all participants, PSC staff as well as local officials and tribe members undergoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing and tested negative before the said activity. Face masks were worn and physical distancing was observed in between video and photo shoots.

The event was part of the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP) celebration, with support from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and Pocari Sweat.

Traditional games by Blaan Indigenous Peoples like sfaltu (long jump), skuya kura (horseracing), sumpit (blowgun), and pana (bow and arrow) were showcased just as Blaan elders performed kmisong (fire making) using coconut husk or dried wood coir and split bamboo.

“The awareness of Filipinos of traditional sports and games and of Indigenous Peoples (IP) is important for the PSC and we are happy to have successfully held this activity. Diversity and equality is something we try to give attention to in our programs,” said Mr. Maxey in Filipino of the PSC’s grassroots programs.

Also part of the event was the turnover of sports equipment like basketballs, volleyballs and soccer balls to Malungon Mayor Ma. Theresa Constantino to further boost their grassroots sports program in the province.

The PSC also distributed 400 sets of IP provisions such as bags made of abacca fiber, bamboo notebooks, ballpens, personalized PSC notepads, and face towels. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Rogers rallies to beat Fernandez and advance at Indian Wells

SHELBY Rogers rallied to claim a steely (2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4)) victory over Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez on Tuesday to move into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Never before past the second round in five previous visits to Indian Wells, Rogers, who turns 29 on Wednesday, gave herself an early birthday present reaching the last eight where she will take on Latvian 24th seed Jelena Ostapenko. “That was an incredible match,” said Rogers. “She (Fernandez) has had such an incredible season and she’s such a sweet girl, I’ve gotten to know her a little bit.

“It was really about who was dictating the points today, who could get control of the points first.

“When she gets a good look at a ball it’s very tough, her forehand was incredible today.”

After falling to 18-year-old US Open winner Emma Raducanu in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows, Rogers was determined not to be shown the Indian Wells exit by another teenager Fernandez, who had her own magical run in New York getting to her first grand slam final.

After a win over ninth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round, Fernandez hinted at another fairytale run in the Southern California desert, but it proved a mirage.

The 19-year-old Canadian had been poised for a romp breaking Rogers to go up 4-1 and then again to close out the opening set.

But Fernandez was unable to carry that momentum into the second as Rogers took charge breaking the 23rd seed three-times on way to a 5-0 lead and leveling the contest.

The third set began with the two players trading breaks, but afterwards Fernandez and Rogers would not falter sending the contest to a tie-break won 7-4 by the American. — Reuters

Brooklyn Nets say Kyrie Irving cannot play or practice until eligible

BROOKLYN Nets’ Kyrie Irving will not be allowed to play or practice with the team until he is “eligible to be a full participant,” the National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise said on Tuesday amid the continuing fallout over the guard’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination status.

Irving, who refused to reveal his vaccination status, was forced to sit out the Nets’ first pre-season home game last week against the Milwaukee Bucks as he was listed as “ineligible” by the team.

A New York City mandate requires proof of at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter large indoor spaces such as gyms.

“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” Nets’ general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.

“Kyrie has made a personal choice and we respect his individual right to choose.

“Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”

The Nets begin their regular season on the road with games against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers before their first home game at against the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 24. — Reuters

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