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Public transport system on brink of ‘collapse’ due to high fuel prices

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE SUPPLY of public transport is deteriorating as operators see their margins eroded by high fuel prices, an advocacy group said, making it a matter of urgency for the government to prepare measures that will encourage “active transport,” including the construction of bicycle lanes and walking corridors.

In a statement, the Move As One transport coalition said that with the “rising transport demand outpacing collapsing supply,” policymakers and the incoming economic team must decisively expand the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs), while heavily investing in infrastructure that would encourage more people to walk or cycle.

“The transport sector is in a deadly spiral: Oil prices are skyrocketing. Drivers are losing their jobs as they cannot afford to ply their routes,” the group said. “Public transport supply is collapsing. More commuters are experiencing long lines, waiting times, and crowded commutes in enclosed spaces, and are at-risk for COVID-19.”

Transport was the second biggest driver of overall inflation in May, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The 14.6% inflation in transport costs recorded in May outstripped the overall inflation rate of 5.4%.

“Economic managers should prioritize walking, cycling, and road-based public transport,” the group said. “This is the most important policy shift economic managers should take. It is the founding principle of the fight against transport inflation and the fastest, most effective, and the only sustainable way to do so.”

The coalition said walking, cycling, and road-based public transport are the “predominant ways people travel to get to work.”

Citing a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in 2020, the group said 44% of workers walked to work, compared to only 3% who use private cars and 24% who use motorcycles. 

The group said 14% of workers used tricycles, 8% jeepneys, 3% buses, 0.2% trains and 0.1% airplanes.  Only 0.4% used ride sharing platforms, it added.

Move As One said that from 2010 to 2021, the National Government budgeted 1% or P40 billion to improve walking, cycling, and road-based public transport, compared to P2.8 trillion for road construction, widening, and maintenance, benefitting mainly private motor vehicles.

“If the national budget is the real measure of the government’s priorities, then the National Government has given only 1% of its attention to the majority of Filipinos who depend on and demand better public transport,” it said. 

“Safe pathways, accessible walkways, protected bike lanes, and bus rapid transits are much easier, cheaper, and faster to build than these big ticket infrastructure projects, and will have a much greater and more immediate impact on commuters’ lives and transport prices,” it added.

The investment gap for such modes of transport was estimated at P150 billion over the next budget cycle, it said. “This is a much smaller, but more effective use of our taxpayer money than the P2.8-trillion road construction budget in the past decade, and the P2-trillion transport infrastructure pipeline in the next decade.”

Move As One also urged economic managers to encourage local governments to apply for the P10.6-billion support fund that would allow them to install more protected bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, open spaces, and public parks. 

Under a program which expires on June 30, villages, municipalities, cities, and provinces can get up to P5 million, P10 million, P20 million, and P30 million, respectively.

Move As One also asked the Department of Transportation to immediately implement and spend the P2-billion active transport budget for protected bike lanes, wider and safer pedestrian walkways, and at-grade crosswalks for persons with disabilities. “As of today, this budget has not been used.”

The number of trips not served by public transport was estimated at around 2.8 million a day in Metro Manila before the pandemic, the coalition said. 

The number of bus and jeepney trips declined 14% between 2012 and 2019 on Metro Manila’s major roads as private car and motorcycle trips surged 46%, worsening road congestion, Move As One said, citing government data. 

“Despite the steady growth in our urban populations, there has been hardly any increase in the supply of public transportation in Philippine cities over the past decade,” it said. “The oil crisis has only worsened this shortage of public utility vehicles — and the suffering of countless commuters competing for scarce public utility vehicles.”

Move As One also urged the government to implement an enhanced service contracting program and accelerate the release of payments to workers who have been contracted by the government. 

The government must increase the capacity of PUVs, in part by allowing them to use special lanes and setting aside hours for their operations, it added.

“The government can implement these PUV-only lanes today because the Department of Transportation has a special provision under the 2022 budget which requires 50% of road space to be allocated for walking, cycling, and public transport.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

IPEF expected to boost supply chain, green energy industries

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the US-backed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is expected to boost trade and investment, particularly in the supply chain and green energy industries.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said during an informal ministerial meeting on the Trade Pillar of the IPEF in Paris on June 11 that the framework will be a “vehicle to spur investment from the private sector.”

“We see the IPEF as a framework providing incentives to our stakeholders, tied up with the reforms that we are already undertaking domestically, through having a mechanism to link the Trade Pillar with pillars on supply chain resiliency and green energy transition,” Mr. Rodolfo said.

Mr. Rodolfo said he is hoping that other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states will be invited to the IPEF.

“To realize the vision of shared interests in post-pandemic economic recovery and supply chain resiliency, the Philippines, along with other framework partners, underscored the need to secure partners’ commitment in guaranteeing the free flow of critical goods such as food, fuel, and medicine,” the DTI said.

Launched on May 23, the IPEF seeks to boost the economic engagement of the US in the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to initiate objectives related to trade facilitation, standards for digital economy and technology, supply chain resiliency, decarbonization and clean energy, infrastructure, worker standards, and other areas of shared interest.  

IPEF members are the US, Philippines, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

At the Paris session, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said future IPEF negotiations will center on pillars such as trade, supply chains, clean energy, decarbonization, infrastructure; and tax and anti-corruption measures.  

“In 2021, the Philippines’ total trade with current framework partners amounted to $106.89 billion, which is 53.71% of its total trade with the world. Among the framework partners, top trading partners of the Philippines are Japan, the US, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand,” the DTI said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

New fish feed to address rising input costs — DA

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT is developing a sustainable and low-cost feed for milkfish and tilapia to address rising aquaculture production costs.

The new feed uses by-products from corn and poultry abattoirs and copra meal to replace fish meal.

“The ongoing crises, COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict, have had a ripple effect on the whole seafood value chain. It’s not just food and fuel, it also affects feed for livestock and aquaculture since the majority of our feedstuff is sourced from outside the country,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement.

“What we need are sustainable technologies and interventions that can provide our fishing communities locally available ingredients providing (the added) benefit of cost savings and reduced imports,” he added.

The project is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center’s (SEAFDEC) Aquaculture Division.

The feed formula was developed by the Aquaculture Division’s Head of Technology Verification and Extension, Roger Edward P. Mamauag.

During the field tests, SEAFDEC reported that the milkfish and tilapia given the alternative feed were comparable with fish given commercial feed in terms of growth performance and other biological parameters. 

“One of the major problems that we wanted to address through this project is to lower the cost of feed, which comprises 50 to 70% of the production cost. By making the feed cost-effective and sustainable it will increase profits and encourage more fish farmers to venture in aquaculture,” NFRDI Director Lilian C. Garcia said.

The new feed costs P27 per kilogram (kg) for milkfish and P24 per kg for tilapia. Commercial feed typically costs P33-35 per kg for milkfish and P32-34 per kg for tilapia.

The DA said the expensive component of commercial fish feed is fish meal. It is also resource intensive as obtaining it requires harvesting fish from the ocean just to have raw material.

“While plant-based protein sources like soybean meal and wheat gluten can provide lower-cost alternatives, the ongoing Ukraine crisis has made prices of imported feedstuff volatile and therefore unsustainable,” the department said.

Mr. Dar said that the project will help address the ecological impact of supplying the aquaculture industry.

“With this verified technology, we can now transfer this to the private sector particularly, feed milling processors… making the technology more accessible to fish growers and farmers,” he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Lanao power co-op to settle P12.9-billion arrears with PSALM

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Lasureco) has committed to settle its outstanding balance of P12.9 billion with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

In a statement on Tuesday, the NEA confirmed that Lasureco met with PSALM on June 8 along with other local government officials to discuss its payments in arrears.

NEA said Lasureco will submit a letter of commitment to PSALM that will outline its payment plans.

NEA Administrator Emmanuel P. Juaneza said that he will ask the NEA Board of Administrators about possible financial assistance that may be extended to Lasureco.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr. also asked PSALM to defer Lasureco’s power supply disconnection.

“Governor Adiong also committed to discussing with the municipal mayors of the province how they can help Lasureco pay its obligation to PSALM and asked PSALM for three months to carry this out,” the NEA said.

“Lanao del Sur shall call for another meeting with PSALM, Lasureco, NEA, and Department of Energy, among others, to come up with a resolution for the matter arising from the recently concluded meeting on the concerns of Lasureco and other stakeholders,” it added.

The NEA said in a separate statement on Tuesday that Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Magelco) has committed to restructure its arrears with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

The NEA confirmed that Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto T. Mangudadatu will improve Magelco’s services as a prerequisite to the restructuring, adding that the financial program needs to be further developed.

Magelco had over P3.8 billion worth of unsettled payables at the end of April. The cooperative has settled only P45.5 million of the P147.2-million power bill for the December 2021 to April 2022 period.

As of June 10, the NEA said that the NGCP has officially deferred the disconnection after receiving the proposal submitted by Magelco. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Clean energy companies tout community-centric business models

WEGEN-ENERGY.COM

CLEAN ENERGY companies said their business models depend on community engagement, the importance of which they cited in making the transition to green sources of power more inclusive.

Charlie Ayco, president of WeGen Laudato Si’, Inc., cited community participation in his presentation on the company’s business model, “The Power of Sharing,” delivered during the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2022 on Tuesday.

“You can replicate the model… as long as you engage the local electric cooperative or the distribution utility because they own the distribution system, and then the participation of the community is very, very important because they are the ones maintaining and collecting the payments,” he said.

Knowledge of the technology, operations and maintenance are also crucial components, he added.

The model was applied to a community on Pamilacan island in Bohol, taking the form of a donation. Mr. Ayco said power used to be available only for eight hours a day, during night time.

“It is a 39-kilowatt power (kwp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system, and we included a 154-kilowatt hour battery storage,” he said.

“The solar PV system provided the daytime electricity needs of the island while the diesel generator powered the island during the night. As a result, the island got 24/7 electricity starting 2017,” he added.

“For our company, the Pamilacan power energy system is a perfect case of (making) sustainable energy available anytime and anywhere.”

John Mark Napao, president of Solar Hope, Inc., said his company’s strategy starts with community engagement or mapping, followed by capacity building or training, and then installation of solar home systems.

Solar Hope has been working since 2017 with communities in Malitam, Batangas; Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; and Antipolo, Tanay, Rodriguez, and Morong, Rizal.

He said Solar Hope is soliciting pledges for 829 homes, and has secured pledges for 446.

The group hopes to light 1,275 homes to “help families cope with the pandemic, distance learning, and enjoy the benefits of having access to energy.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Daily virus cases may hit 500 by end-June — OCTA

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

DAILY coronavirus infections in the Philippine capital and nearby cities could hit as many as 500 by the end of the month, according to a local research group.

Coronavirus cases in Metro Manila have surpassed the 10% weekly increase seen recently, Fredegusto P. David, a fellow from the OCTA Research Group, told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.

The positivity rate in Metro Manila has climbed to 2.7%, while the virus reproduction number has increased to 1.59, he added.

“We’re seeing a continuous rise in cases and it’s faster in Metro Manila,” Mr. David said. “We had 188 cases yesterday… Our projection is by the end of June, we could reach 400 to 500.”

He added that as of June 13, the capital region had the most infections at 188.

The Philippines last year veered away from wide-scale coronavirus restrictions and started enforcing localized lockdowns.

Metro Manila, an economic powerhouse that is home to more than 13 million people, is under the first and most relaxed level in a five-tier alert system, which is being updated every 15 days.

The government could place the capital region under a stricter lockdown if coronavirus infections continue to go up, health authorities said on Monday.

Stricter quarantine restrictions would only be enforced if a potential surge leads to increased hospital admissions, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said.

“Let’s hold off the return to on-site work,” Mr. David said. “Companies should reconsider this so we can cut the capacity in offices.”

He also urged the government to enforce health protocols to protect students who will start physically attending school this school year. People should continue wearing face masks and observe minimum health standards, he added.

He said the weekly average cases in the region rose by more than half to 131 from 86.

“At this time, we are still at low risk in Metro Manila, but by next week, we are projecting that we would be at moderate risk,” Mr. David said. “For now, our current situation does not call for escalating the alert level status.”

“We cannot afford another COVID-19 surge right now,” Senator-elect Jose P. Ejercito, Jr. said in a statement. “Another COVID surge or worse, wide-scale lockdown would certainly hamper our economic recovery. “

The Philippines posted 308 cases on June 12, the highest in nearly two months. The country reported 365 new infections on April 20.

Authorities traced the recent increase in coronavirus infections to new Omicron subvariants, namely BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5.

The BA.5 drove infections in South Africa in May, according to the World Health Organization.

The Health department has noted that while BA.5 is highly infectious, it does not cause severe and critical disease. It said the rising infections have not exhausted the country’s health system.

As health experts worry that the country might again face an infection surge, pro-market policymakers have begun lobbying for the rejection of any additional virus restrictions.

“Lockdowns at this late stage of the pandemic, especially now that people have learned to live with it, would be counterproductive both health-wise and economy-wise,” Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda, who heads the ways and means committee at the House of Representatives, said in a statement.

“An alert level will have very marginal, if any, COVID-mitigating effects,” he said. “But it will cost working families, especially in the informal and self-employed sectors, gravely.”

Some health experts have been calling on the government to reconsider state efforts to allow more schools to hold physical classes this year.

The Philippines’ trade chief Ramon M. Lopez has doubted the possibility that Metro Manila would be placed under a stricter alert level.

“We have already learned by now that mild COVID-19 cases and low intensive care unit utilization rates should not lead to escalating the alert level. We need to sustain economic recovery.”

The Philippines posted 1,682 coronavirus infections on June 6 to 12, 30% higher than a week earlier, according to a Health department bulletin released on Monday. Five more people died.

Of the total, only 8 or less than 1% were critical, it said.

The agency said 345 or 16.6% of 2,078 intensive care unit (ICU) beds had been used as of June 12, while 3,188 or 20.3% of 15,706 non-ICU beds were occupied.

It added that 498 severe and critical coronavirus patients or 11.3% of total admissions were staying in hospitals.

The Health department told reporters in a Viber message 69.8 million people or 78% of the target population had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of June 13, while 14.56 million people have received booster shots.

It said minimum health standards including the use of fake masks and state vaccination efforts “have helped keep our COVID-19 case counts low despite the detection of new subvariants.”

Also on Tuesday the presidential palace said the national requirement for people to wear face masks even outside prevails over local government rules, including the one issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia.

“The Chief Executive’s directive is clear: Continue wearing face masks,” presidential spokesman Martin M. Andanar said in a statement.

The Department of Interior and Local Government had ordered the police to enforce the protocol, he added. Ms. Garcia earlier issued an order making face masks optional outdoors. —  Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Norman P. Aquino

Marcos told to pick CHR members with proven track record

PHILIPPINE STAR/ JOHN UNSON

PHILIPPINE President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should ensure a transparent, inclusive process in choosing  the members of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

“President-elect Marcos should appoint commissioners with proven track records of defending human rights,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

“Given the grave human rights situation in the Philippines, these new commissioners should be independent and strongly committed to fearlessly and impartially upholding the commission’s mandate and duties,” he added.

Mr. Marcos Jr. who will be inaugurated as the new Philippine president on June 30, is expected to announce his appointments in the coming days.

The 1987 Constitution empowers the Commission on Human Rights to investigate human rights violations.

“Marcos ran on a campaign marked by disinformation about his family’s role in human rights abuses during the dictatorship of his father, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.,” the human rights watchdog said.

“The appointment of the commissioners will be an important first test for his administration’s commitment to human rights.”

The term of the five-member CHR ends in May. The Constitution prevents outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte from appointing people to executive positions within two months before the May 9 presidential election.

Commissioners are appointed to seven-year terms and cannot be reappointed.

Marcos should convene an independent search committee that will come up with a short list of candidates for commissioners, Human Rights Watch said.

“This committee should identify individuals with strong human rights backgrounds and credentials,” it said. “Convening such a search committee will help ensure transparency in the process.”

Mr. Marcos Jr. would inherit the “dire human rights situation under Mr. Duterte, whose brutal war on drugs resulted in the extrajudicial killings of thousands of people since 2016, Human Rights Watch said.

Drug war killings have continued after the May 9 elections, although the number of cases has dropped considerably, it said. The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into these killings as possible crimes against humanity.

“Marcos is in a strong position to set the Commission on Human Rights in a positive direction for the next seven years by selecting independent, credible rights advocates as commissioners,” Mr. Robertson said.

“By building up rather than tearing down the commission, Marcos would help dispel people’s fears about human rights under his administration,” he added.

Meanwhile, CHR said it would investigate the arrest and detention of 90 farmers, journalists and activists during a land protest in Tarlac City.

In a statement, CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia said their regional office in Central Luzon has been gathering information on the detention after farmers filed a complaint last week. — Norman P. Aquino and JVDO

De Lima trial for drug trafficking to continue, says DoJ

SENATE PRIB

THE JUSTICE department will continue prosecuting a lady senator who is one of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s most outspoken critics for drug trafficking even after at least four witnesses retracted their allegations against her.

“The panel of prosecutors in the De Lima cases has advised the Justice secretary that, after a thorough review of the evidence already presented as well as evidence still to be presented, there is good reason to continue the active prosecution of the senator,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters in a Viber message on Tuesday, referring to Senator Leila M. de Lima.

“As far as the retractions of certain persons are concerned, the prosecution takes the position that until these persons are actually presented in court for examination to ascertain their truthfulness, their alleged recantations have no probative value whatsoever,” he added.

Mr. Guevarra said he had briefed incoming Justice Secretary Crispin C. Remulla on the cases and he would be guided by the prosecutors handling the legal proceedings.

At least four witnesses have taken back their allegations against Ms. De Lima, claiming to have been coerced by government agents into falsely accusing the senator. 

Mr. Remulla earlier said he was open to reviewing the case of the senator, who has been in jail since February 2017, even as he noted that courts frown upon retractions.

At a Muntinlupa court hearing on Monday, Ms. De Lima sought a medical leave from her trial from June 19-25 because she has to undergo a major medical procedure, her lawyers told reporters on Viber.

Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento told reporters in a Viber message on Monday they would not object to the request.

The lawmaker earlier asked the Justice department to “dig deeper” in their review of her drug cases and reassess the evidence.

Political and human rights experts have said Ms. De Lima’s detention showed how the Philippine justice system could be easily abused. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Andrew Wiggins steps up as Warriors beat Celtics to take 3-2 Finals lead

GOLDEN State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) goes to the basket while defended by Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the second half in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. — REUTERS

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are one win away from their fourth National Basketball Association (NBA) title in eight years after Monday’s 104-94 victory over the Boston Celtics gave them a 3-2 lead in the championship series.

Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Warriors survived a third quarter push from the Celtics to emerge with the win, with the best-of-seven series heading back to Boston for Game Six on Thursday.

Wiggins and Klay Thompson did most of the damage for the home team, combining for 47 points, while Boston committed 18 turnovers and missed 10 free throws at the Chase Center.

Poor shooting saw the Celtics trail by 12 at the half, but they opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run, taking their first lead of the night at 58-55 via Al Horford’s three-pointer.

The momentum then swung back to the Warriors via Jordan Poole’s bank shot from near half-court at the third quarter buzzer, and they put the game out of reach with an emphatic Wiggins dunk late in the fourth.

Wiggins, the first overall pick in the 2014 draft who has only flourished since joining Golden State in 2020, also played outstanding defense on Boston’s Jayson Tatum, who finished with 27 points.

“Throughout the playoffs, he’s rebounded well,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Wiggins.

“I think it’s just a sense of what’s needed. He’s got veteran guys who are helping him to understand what we need from him, and he’s just using his athleticism in a lot of different ways.”

Stephen Curry had put the Warriors on his back with a 43-point performance in Game Four but struggled from distance on Monday, going 0-9 from three-point range and scoring just 16 points.

But his dazzling drives and playmaking ability was still on display as he finished with eight assists while putting pressure on the defense.

“I think Steph was probably due for a game like this,” Kerr said.

“He’s been shooting the ball so well that, at some point, he was going to have a tough night. But we’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of depth that can make up for that, and the guys did a good job of that tonight.” — Reuters

Stephen Curry becomes clear favorite to win Finals MVP

STEPHEN Curry has emerged as the front-runner to win NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) on both DraftKings and FanDuel following his 43-point performance against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Friday night.

Both sites have him listed at -150 to win the award, with Jayson Tatum trailing behind at +170 on DraftKings and +180 on FanDuel. Curry sat at +205 on DraftKings following Golden State’s Game 3 loss, but quickly became the favorite after shooting 14 of 26 from the field while hitting seven 3-pointers to swing home-court advantage back in the Warriors’ favor.

Curry is also the favorite on BetMGM, sitting at -145 after opening at +1400. According to the site, he holds 34.5% of the handle and has been taken on 17.8% of the tickets.

The 6-foot-2 guard has put together a magnificent showing through the first four games of the series, averaging 34.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 49% from long range.

Per DraftKings, Curry is the only Golden State player among the top five favorites to win Finals MVP. Tatum, Jaylen Brown (+600), Marcus Smart (+5000) and Al Horford (+8000) round out the field. Andrew Wiggins currently has the sixth-best odds at +150000, with Klay Thompson tied for seventh with Robert Williams and Derrick White at +20000. — Reuters

Australia edges Peru on penalties to claim World Cup spot

DOHA — Australia’s dancing substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne saved the last penalty to clinch a place at this year’s World Cup in Qatar as they edged Peru 5-4 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw after extra time in an inter-continental playoff on Monday.

Redmayne danced across the goal line before diving to the right to stop a penalty from Alex Valera and hand Australia a deserved victory at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

Redmayne had been brought on three minutes from the end of the game for the shootout and became an instant hero with his antics on the line as he looked to distract the rival kickers.

He danced up and down, wiggling his hips and throwing his arms about in a throwback to the clowning antics of Liverpool’s Bruce Grobbelaar when they won the European Cup in 1984.

It was enough for Luis Advincila to fire his effort against the post and then Valera to have his effort saved as Australia qualified for a fifth successive World Cup and a sixth in total.

They will play in World Cup Group D with holders France, Denmark and Tunisia. The finals run from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.

“I am just so proud of the players,” said Australia coach Graham Arnold. “Really, no one knows what these boys have been through to get here. It was so hard, the whole campaign. The way they stuck at it, the way they committed themselves, brilliant.”

Australia’s Martin Boyle had missed their first penalty but they converted the next five to silence the thousands of Peru fans who had traveled for the game and provided noisy support but saw their team conjure up few opportunities.

Instead, a workmanlike Australia dominated the early exchanges, with winger Boyle twice cutting through the Peruvian defense to provide teasing crosses.

LIMITED EFFORTS
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with limited efforts on goal until the 80th minute when Australia suddenly had three good opportunities to win the match.

Ajdin Hrustic’s tame free kick was easily saved by Peru captain Pedro Gallese and five minutes later Aziz Behich broke through two tackles and suddenly found himself in front of goal but narrowly missed as he tried to curl his shot into the net.

Then a run down the left by Australia substitute Awer Mabil saw him slip the ball into the path of Hrustic but he did not get enough power on his shot and Gallese saved again.

Nine minutes into extra time Australia’s Mathew Ryan was finally tested by a stinging shot from Edison Flores that the goalkeeper saved.

Flores then headed against the post as the South Americans found an extra gear in the closing stages but they were still unable to settle the result after two hours of play, setting the stage for Redmayne to emerge as a hero.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said: “We had the expectation to make it, we were close but unfortunately, it was not the case.

“We are flooded with pain. We gave our utmost. They emptied their tanks and we feel deceived we are out of the World Cup. We wanted to avoid the penalty shootout.”

The single game playoff between the fifth-placed finishers in Asian and South American qualifying determined the 31st place at this year’s World Cup.

On Tuesday, the last place at the finals will be decided when Costa Rica and New Zealand clash in their inter-continental playoff, also at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. — Reuters

Game Five

Heading into yesterday’s pivotal Game Five of the National Basketball Association Finals, the narrative stayed the same: The Celtics remained overwhelming favorites despite the emphatic victory the Warriors carved on the road in the previous match. Given the way the series had unfolded, it seemed that yet another sterling performance from two-time Most Valuable Player awardee Stephen Curry was in the offing, especially with a capacity crowd at Chase Center expected to cheer on his every move. Evidently, pundits didn’t believe those around him could provide the requisite support to overcome the more even roster of their opponents.

As things turned out, conventional wisdom could not have been more mistaken. Curry didn’t play well at all; he turned in an extremely disappointing 16 points on 22 shots, with all nine taken from beyond the arc failing to puncture the hoop. Even as he proved decidedly mortal yesterday, however, his supposedly wanting teammates did not just show up. They thrived, and more — make that much, much more. Significant contributions were made by much-maligned Andrew Wiggins, comebacking Klay Thompson, proud Draymond Green, and every other Warrior who saw action with double-figure minutes. And the result was as much a statement as a testament to the value of a heady mix of experience and confidence.

Make no mistake. The Celtics tried to steal a triumph in hostile territory, and, for a while there, it looked as if they had more than enough grit to overcome their woeful shooting. They fell behind early, but managed to pull ahead in the middle of the set-to. Unfortunately, they proved too careless with the ball to maintain momentum. They had long stretches of aimless offense, and, by the time crunchtime came, they were too far behind to mount any semblance of competition.

It’s not over yet, of course. Game Six will be at TD Garden, and the Celtics figure to lean on the same type of support from the home crowd that the Warriors just did. There’s just one problem, though; they have played worse in familiar ground. It’s not unreasonable to expect them to exceed themselves with their backs against the wall. Then again, it’s fair to wonder if they can live up to billing given their seeming inability to be greater than the sum of their parts. If there’s any consolation, they will have two more days to figure things out. Else, a long vacation filled with What Ifs awaits.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

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