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LausGroup to continue partnership with Hyundai

PHOTO FROM HYUNDAI MOTORS PHILIPPINES

THE LAUS Hyundai Group of the LausGroup of Companies (LGC) said it will continue to partner with Hyundai for its passenger cars, as the business is now overseen by Hyundai Motors Philippines (HMPH).

The Pampanga-based conglomerate, together with HMPH, reaffirmed a commitment to further improve customer satisfaction and service across the Laus Hyundai Group dealerships located in Baliuag, Bulacan, Dagupan City, La Union, and Ilocos Norte. The Laus Hyundai Group has been in operation since 2005.

Said LGC Chief Executive Officer Lisset Laus-Velasco, “The LausGroup is very excited for this longstanding partnership with Hyundai as we continue to share the passion for cars and customer care that both of our brands have been known for.”

Joined LGC Executive Director Diorella Laus, “We are very excited to showcase the newest vehicles in Hyundai’s lineup and make them more accessible to our customers in our Laus Hyundai Group dealerships in North and Central Luzon. We look forward to working with Hyundai to continue what we have started to bring satisfaction to our loyal customers.

The Laus Hyundai Group is also a distributor of Hyundai commercial vehicles (trucks and buses).

Style (07/11/22)

“Sintas,” last year’s winning entry by Raccquel Eliserio. — PHOTO BY LISA LORENZO

Piña weaving tilt highlights HABI fair

THE COUNTRY’S premier piña weaving contest is back and will be one of the highlighted activities during HABI Philippine Textile Council’s Likhang Habi Market Fair, slated for Oct. 14-16. The annual competition seeks to encourage piña weavers to keep to their traditional craft, continue creativity in weaving, and innovate their piña weaving techniques. The 5th Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition will give out three major cash prizes: P50,000 for the first-place winner; P30,000 for second; and P20,000 for third. Interested parties may call HABI: The Philippine Textile Council at 0921-849-6974 or send an e-mail to support@habiphilippinetextilecouncil.com for more information.

COS x Lea Colombo collaboration

CAPE Town-born photographer and artist Lea Colombo collaborates with COS this July. The COS × Lea Colombo is a mood-boosting limited-edition collection. The collection showcases three exclusive prints on warm-weather staples for men and women, including T-shirts, shirts, dresses, and accessories. The Capsule Collection is available at COS SM Aura Premier for a limited time only.

Montblac uses softer leather

LUXURY leather goods brand Montblanc introduces the new Meisterstück Selection Soft Collection, which features assorted accessories made with a new softer leather. The collection includes hybrid bags, messenger and sling bags, pouches, and wallets. All the leather pieces are designed for maximum style and day-to-day functionality. Montblanc is available at Rustans Makati, Rustans Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, Greenbelt 5, City of Dreams and Resorts World Manila.

adidas Pride Pack and community festivities

CELEBRATING Pride Month, adidas Philippines launched its new Originals collection and local initiatives focused on recognizing the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. Its latest Pride Collection was done in collaboration with Australian queer artist and designer, Kris Andrew Small. Celebrating Pride 2022, the collection is inspired by 1970s and ’80s pop art and graphic design. On June 29, the brand, along with the adidas Runners Manila and its sub-group Limitless, which focuses on creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community, held the adidas Pride Run in Bonifacio Global City. The brand also hosted the “I’m Possible and Proud” socials night, a culminating event held at the Modeka Art Gallery in Makati. The event held a panel discussion joined by prominent members of the community. The Pride collection in partnership with Kris Andrew Small is available online via adidas.com.ph and the adidas app, and in select adidas stores.

Uniqlo holding jeans live station

JAPANESE global apparel retailer Uniqlo is launching its newest lineup of high-quality, innovative, and sustainable jeans. The jeans are made following the BlueCycle process, which eliminates the need for large amounts of water and manual labor used to get that faded, worn-in look in jeans. Uniqlo will hold its next Live Station — entitled “Uniqlo Jeans for Everyone” — where viewers can shop for jeans in real-time on UNIQLO.com or the Uniqlo App in July. Viewers would be able to engage with guest personalities, and the Uniqlo team, as the session shows various ways to style the jeans lineup.

Filipina launches at Fashion Week San Diego

FILIPINA artist and 2020 Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) Top Designer Bea Cruz has launched her latest collection at Fashion Week San Diego in California. Labeled “Bright Young Things,” a nod to the 1920s phrase that means young ones, the 20-piece series encapsulates one of the most glamorous decades in the history of fashion. Ms. Cruz is a 23-year-old designer from Victorias City, Negros Occidental, who honed her creative talent under the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts.  She first turned heads by clinching the Art & Beauty Behind Fashion Team award at the 14th International Virtual Art Renewal Center (ARC), the realism art competition hosted by auction house Sotheby’s New York. She was the youngest representative at the event and the sole Filipino. Ms. Cruz’s international debut at the 2020 FWSD likewise bagged the Top Designer title for Vivirá, a 10-piece autumn series which brought a new dimension to the classic Filipino baro’t saya, panuelo, and barong.

Rustan’s Frequent Shopper Program exclusives

THIS season, existing members of Rustan’s Frequent Shopper Program (FSP) can earn five times the FSP points on all regular priced items (excluding sale tag items) across Rustan’s branches from July 15 to 17. Meanwhile, new customers can also download the FSP app and register as a new member within the promo month. As an exclusive perk, they will receive a free FSP card and 20,000 FSP points. Rustan’s will continue giving special discounts until July 31. Kid’s fashion brand OshKosh and Carters are now offering 10% off on all regular-priced items. Shoppers may also avail themselves of a free Havaianas kit with every purchase of two regular-priced pairs at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang and Gateway Mall. Until July 31, shoppers will get discounts of 10% to 20% at Calvin Klein Underwear, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Anne Klein, and Salvatore Ferragamo. Other freebies include umbrellas and a packable tote from DKNY. For women, Vendome will be offering 10% off on all regular-priced items available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, and Cebu. There are also mid-month promos (from July 15-31) at Roberto Coin, Damiani, Marco Bicego, and Mikimoto. Customers will receive a cosmetic pouch with samples, including Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair, for every purchase of P100,000 worth of regular items from these select Silver Vault brands. Montblanc offers complimentary red pouch gift wrapping for every purchase of P15,000 worth of regular items. Its complimentary Cleaning Service, known as the “Care Session,” is now extended to all FSP Members from July 16-31. Take home skincare freebies such as beauty kits, mini samples, and totes from brands like Sisley, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Perricone MD, Murad, Neal’s Yard, L’Occitane, Nars, Laura Mercier, Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Narciso Rodriguez, and Estee Lauder. Sign up for the MAC community and get a free touchup for two (including a free sample). Bobbi Brown, on the other hand, will treat the customer and a friend to a complimentary makeover as well as give a sample of their cleansing oil. These are just some of the offers this month for FSP members. Rustan’s FSP App is on the Apple Store and Play Store.

Food prices fall in June; cereal output seen slightly higher

REUTERS

ROME — World food prices fell for a third consecutive month in June, but remained close to record high levels set in March, the United Nations’ food agency said on Friday.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 154.2 points last month versus a revised 157.9 for May. The May figure was previously put at 157.4.

Despite the monthly decline, the June index was still 23.1% higher than a year earlier, pushed up by the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, concerns over adverse weather, strong global demand and high production and transport costs.

“The factors that drove global prices high in the first place are still at play,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen.

In separate cereal supply and demand estimates, the FAO raised its forecast for global cereal production in 2022 to 2.792 billion tons from a previously given 2.784 billion tons. This is still 0.6% short of the world output in 2021.

FAO’s cereal index dropped 4.1% from May, but was still up 27.6% year on year. FAO said June’s decline was driven by the seasonal availability from new harvests in the northern hemisphere, improved crop conditions in some major producing countries, and higher production prospects in Russia.

The vegetable oil price index fell 7.6% month on month, pushed down by seasonally rising output of major producing nations and the prospects of increased supplies from Indonesia.

The sugar index fell 2.6% from May, with slowing global economic growth weighing on demand. The meat index rose 1.7% in June, setting a new record high, while the dairy index jumped 4.1% month on month.

World milk powder prices increased on strong import demand and persistent global supply tightness.

FAO said its increased forecast for cereal output was largely driven by a 6.4-million-ton upward revision made to the coarse grain production estimate. The forecast for world cereal utilization in 2022/23 was also raised, up 9.2 million tons to 2.797 billion tons.

However, this still represented a 0.1% dip on 2021/22 levels, mostly reflecting expectations of lower feed use.

FAO estimated that world cereal stocks at the close of seasons in 2023 would total 854 million tons, up 7.6 million tons from last month’s forecast, but nonetheless a year-on-year decline of 0.6%. — Reuters

Lady Stags face winner between JRU, Lyceum

NUMBER three seed San Sebastian College Lady Stags — SYNERGY/GMA NETWORK, INC.

SAN Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC-R) overpowered a hapless Letran, 25-15, 25-22, 27-25, on Sunday to claim the No. 3 seed in the stepladder semifinals of the 97th NCAA volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena.

The power-hitting duo of super rookie Katherine Santos and Reyann Cañete led the way with 15 hits each, some of which came in the third set when the Lady Stags had to overcome the Lady Knights’ last-ditch stand.

“We just showed faith in each other that we can do it,” said Ms. Cañete, whose team finished the elimination round with a 6-3 record.

SSC-R will tackle the winner between José Rizal University (JRU) and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), currently tied at No. 5 with 4-4 marks, the final elimination round play date on Tuesday.

Idle Mapua is currently at solo No. 4 at the moment with a 5-4 slate but will be edged out for the last semis seat by either JRU or LPU due to higher quotient due the league implementing FIVB rules.

College of St. Benilde swept its way straight to the best-of-three finals with a pristine 9-0 record while Arellano University clinched No. 2 with a 7-2 card.

Letran put up a spirited fight late in the third set when it staved two match points.

But Mses. Santos, Cañete and a crucial hit by Bianca Ordona denied the Lady Knights’ bid to steal and set.

Earlier, the league rescheduled the non-bearing duel between University of Perpetual Help (2-6) and San Beda (2-6) on Tuesday. — Joey Villar

Stocks to move sideways ahead of US CPI report

PHILIPPINE STOCKS may move sideways this week as investors await the release of latest US inflation data, which may provide hints on the Federal Reserve’s next move, as well as local economic reports.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 9.50 points or 0.15% to close at 6,361.82 on Friday, while the broader all shares index rose by 5.37 points or 0.15% to 3,410.76.

Week on week, the PSEi jumped by 196.47 points or 3.19% from its close of 6,165.35 on July 1.

Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said the market sustained its positive momentum last week.

“The sustainability of this rally is questionable, however, amid the lingering economic headwinds that may dampen sentiment. This includes the peso’s further weakening, and the supply problems of certain agricultural goods, both of which pose upside risks to inflation,” Mr. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the PSEi rose as part of a “relief rally” following hawkish signals from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chief.

BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla last week said the central bank is prepared to raise its policy rate by 50 basis points in their Aug. 18 meeting to keep inflation in check after the peso on Thursday breached the P56 level against the dollar to move closer to its record low.

Headline inflation reached 6.1% in June, the fastest in nearly four years. This brought inflation in the first half to an average of 4.4%, above the central bank’s 2–4% target but still lower than its 5% forecast for this year.

“The PSE also gained recently as US stock markets similarly gained to a near one-month high, as global market sentiment supported by China’s planned $220-billion economic stimulus mostly through infrastructure spending, as well as recent signals from Fed officials about a possible soft landing or preventing an economic contraction,” Mr. Ricafort added.

For this week, he said the market will monitor the release of US consumer price index (CPI) data and the Fed’s Beige Book on July 13, as this could give some hints on the US central bank’s future policy path.

“The situation in the financial markets would remain similar for as long as the Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on, in terms of relatively elevated global commodity prices and inflation,” Mr. Ricafort said.

He put the PSEi’s support for the week at the 6,000-6,100 range and resistance between 6,500 and 6,600.

Meanwhile, Philstocks Financial’s Mr. Tantiangco said aside from US inflation data, investors will also take cues from upcoming reports on Philippine foreign trade, foreign direct investments, and overseas Filipino remittances.

He placed the PSEi’s immediate support from 6,100 to 6,150 and resistance at 6,350 to 6,400. — J.I.DP. Tabile

Monde Nissin ends flat after Lucky Me! noodle brand recall

INVESTORS sold off Monde Nissin Corp. shares last week following the recall of some of its instant noodle product lines in some countries due to traces of antimicrobial pesticide ethylene oxide.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed a total of 59.06 million Monde Nissin shares worth P794.20 million were traded from July 4 to 8, making the stock 11th most actively traded in the local bourse last week.

Shares in the food manufacturer finished at P13.04 apiece on Friday, unchanged from their July 1 close. Monde Nissin has lost 16.9% since the P15.70 finish on the first trading day of the year.

Analysts pointed out that the ban of Lucky Me! products in some countries dragged the share price of Monde Nissin and could affect its financial performance.

“We expect that this news will negatively affect investors’ sentiment toward the stock. First, the revenues from the countries imposing a ban will decline especially if they will not lift it soon. Second, since consumers were already aware of the situation, the demand for Lucky Me! noodles may drop as long as the ban remains,” Philstocks Financial Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said in an e-mail.

“On the upside, the negative sentiment may somehow be tempered once the Philippine food regulators assured the public that it is still safe to consume the said products,” she added.

“We think that this incident may cause anxiety among investors regarding the impact of this incident to the company’s sales and brand reputation. Hence, the sell-off we have seen in the past couple of days,” Philippine National Bank (PNB) Senior Equity Research Analyst Jonathan J. Latuja said in an e-mail.

The company made a statement after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland released last week a food alert regarding the recall of Lucky Me! Instant Pancit Canton Noodles Original Flavor with a best-before date of July 20 showing “unauthorized pesticide” ethylene oxide.

On Thursday, Monde Nissin said it was aware of the information being shared about some of its products in an ongoing recall in the European Union and Taiwan caused by the presence of the chemical, commonly used to treat spices and seeds to control microbial growth.

“Rest assured that all Lucky Me! products are Philippine FDA (Food and Drug Administration) registered and comply with local food safety standards and even the US FDA standards for ethylene oxide,” the company said.

Monde Nissin, a global food and beverages company based in the Philippines, has a portfolio of market-leading brands across fast-growing categories, including Lucky Me! noodles, SkyFlakes crackers, Fita crackers, Monde Nissin baked goods and Quorn meat alternative products. Its manufacturing plants in the country are located in Laguna, Cebu, and Davao.

Monde Nissin’s attributable net income went up by 4.4% to P2.33 billion in the first quarter from P2.23 billion a year ago.

Its consolidated revenues increased by 5.3% year on year to P18.45 billion due to the strong performance of the Asia-Pacific branded food and beverage (APAC BFB) domestic business.

“Once the demand for Lucky Me! noodles declines, this may significantly affect the financial performance of Monde Nissin particularly since its noodles segment contributes over 50% to its revenues,” Ms. Alviar said.

“We haven’t accounted for this yet in our forecasts and its potential impact on revenues, but as long as it will not affect the Philippine business (which accounts for more than 70% of Monde Nissin’s consolidated revenues), we think that topline impact could be minimal,” Mr. Latuja said.

PNB expects for 2022 that revenues for the APAC BFB segment of Monde Nissin to grow by 7% year on year. “We are more keen on the impact of inflation to the company’s margins and profitability,” added Mr. Latuja.

“Stock price movement will depend on any developments that will unfold regarding the product recall and how the Philippine regulator will respond to the issues raised by the overseas regulators. On the other hand, this can provide buying opportunities if the stock price continues to fall,” Mr. Latuja said.

“For next week, we are expecting a sideways movement but if it falls near the support level of P12.75, bargain hunting may start especially after its two-day decline by almost 10%. We pegged the psychological resistance at P14.00 then the next one is at P14.40-P14.50,” Ms. Alviar said. — L.O. Pilar

How PSEi member stocks performed — July 8, 2022

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday, July 8, 2022.

How minimum wages compare across regions in June

This infographic compares the current daily minimum wages set by the country’s Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board and the inflation-adjusted minimum wages as of June based on latest data by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). While the current minimum wages are determined at the regional level to account for factors such as companies’ capacity to pay and costs of living, real wages are obtained after factoring in the general price increases (i.e. inflation rates). Inflation-adjusted wages were 9.8-15.8% lower in June than their respective current salaries.

How minimum wages compare across regions in June

Russian reject Rybakina plays it cool to win Wimbledon title

ELENA RYBAKINA with The Venus Rosewater Dish after defeating Ons Jabeur in The Final of the Ladies’ Singles on day 13 of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. — REUTERS
ELENA RYBAKINA with The Venus Rosewater Dish after defeating Ons Jabeur in The Final of the Ladies’ Singles on day 13 of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. — REUTERS

LONDON — Elena Rybakina was considered surplus to requirements by the Russian tennis federation in 2018, but after she won Wimbledon representing Kazakhstan on Saturday, they might be regretting allowing her to slip through the net.

The big-serving 23-year-old, who was born in Moscow and reportedly still lives there, could never have known when making the switch to Kazakhstan on financial grounds that Russian and Belarussian players would be banned from Wimbledon in 2022.

But the change of flag meant she was free to compete and she cashed in spectacularly to claim the women’s title with an ice-cool comeback win against favorite Ons Jabeur — becoming the first player representing Kazakhstan to win a Grand slam title.

There was an almost apologetic air about Rybakina after becoming the youngest women’s champion since 2011 — a smile barely discernible as she walked to the net after converting her first match point for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.

She was more expressive later as she held the trophy aloft, making a point to thank the support of long-standing Kazakhstan Tennis Federation president Bulat Utemuratov, the billionaire who cheered her victory on Centre Court.

While cynics will suggest that her victory will give Russia some bragging rights, the poise with which she carried herself throughout the fortnight despite some probing questions about her origins was admirable.

Rybakina was wholesome in her praise of Tunisian trailblazer Jabeur, who she described as an inspiration, and thanked the Duchess of Cambridge after receiving the trophy from the British royal.

“She said that I played really well. I was in shock so maybe half I didn’t hear. I’m very sorry. But for sure she was super nice. It was amazing to get the trophy from her,” Rybakina said.

The tears did eventually flow though as the enormity of what she had achieved began to sink in. Asked in her news conference when she would see her parents, who were not present on Saturday, Rybakina teared up.

“You wanted to see emotion,” she said. “I kept it too long. Probably, they’re going to be super proud.”

Inevitably, questions about her Russian heritage returned on Saturday in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February, which Moscow calls a “special operation,” but Rybakina stuck to the line she has taken throughout.

“From my side, I can only say that I’m representing Kazakhstan. I didn’t choose where I was born,” she said. “People believed in me. Kazakhstan supported me so much.”

Rybakina, who struck 144 winners on the way to the final and 29 more on Saturday, said her “big weapon” the serve had helped her recover after a nervous first set.

“It didn’t work out for the whole first set. I was just thinking that I need these big serves right now because if not, it’s going to be very tough,” she said. — Reuters

Netherlands, Sweden share spoils in Euros group opener

SHEFFIELD, England — Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord canceled out Jonna Andersson’s opener for Sweden as the defending champions salvaged a 1-1 draw in their heavyweight Group C clash at the women’s European Championship on Saturday.

Both teams started cautiously and a dull first half at Bramall Lane sprung to life when Sweden took a deserved lead in the 36th minute through Andersson who smashed home from close range following some excellent wing play from Kosovare Asllani.

Lina Hurtig almost got a second with a diving header minutes later before Danielle van de Donk blazed over for the Dutch, capping a miserable half in which they took off goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal and defender Aniek Nouwen due to injury.

Netherlands manager Mark Parsons told reporters that both players had been taken to hospital, but he was not sure of the extent of the injuries.

“We remained calm. How often do you lose your captain and central defender in the first half?” he said.

“We are concerned about their situation, but their replacements (keeper Daphne van Domselaar and Marisa Olislagers) did very well. I’m proud of how we fought back. In the end, it’s a shame we didn’t win.”

Netherlands, watched by their men’s team’s head coach Louis van Gaal, flew out of the traps after the break and hit back through Roord in the 52nd minute after she was brilliantly set up by Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema.

Miedema grew into the game as the half wore on, driving at the Swedish defense with real menace, and nearly played in Roord for the winner but the Wolfsburg player was denied by a superbly timed tackle from Magdalena Eriksson.

“We kept it compact, and from there on, we started playing football,” said Miedema.

“Sweden is a great team. We were kind of surprised that they came out with five at the back, but we picked that up well in the end. I think they will go very far, and I hope we can do the same.”

Portugal and Switzerland, the other teams in the group, played out a 2-2 draw earlier on Saturday. — Reuters

Boston Red Sox rally in 10th to defeat NY Yankees

BOSTON Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo (99) drives in the game-winning runs during the 10th inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. — REUTERS

ALEX Verdugo drove in a run to forge a tie in the eighth inning and ripped a two-run single in the 10th to rally the host Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the New York (NY) Yankees on Saturday.

Staked to a 5-3 lead, Wandy Peralta (2-2) allowed a single by former Yankees farmhand Rob Refsnyder to put runners on the corners. Jeter Downs recorded his first career hit with an RBI single to halve the deficit, and Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson bobbled a grounder that spoiled a chance at a game-ending double play.

Verdugo made the Yankees pay with a hard-hit liner to right field, allowing Refsnyder and Downs to score to end Boston’s four-game skid.

White Sox 8, Tigers 0: Johnny Cueto allowed five hits over a season-high eight innings and Gavin Sheets clubbed a first-inning, three-run homer as Chicago cooled off visiting Detroit.

Cueto (3-4) continued his strong 2022, lowering his ERA to 2.91 while completing at least six innings for the ninth time in 11 starts. The 36-year-old right-hander cruised on Saturday, yielding just one extra-base hit without a walk and striking out five on 101 pitches to help the White Sox end Detroit’s season-high six-game winning streak.

Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson also had two hits apiece, while combining for three RBIs, as the White Sox won for just the second time in six games.

Phillies 1, Cardinals 0: Kyle Gibson, Jose Alvarado and Corey Knebel combined on a two-hitter as visiting Philadelphia defeated St. Louis for its second straight shutout.

Alex Bohm decided the game with his ninth-inning sacrifice fly off Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos (2-3). After hitting two solo homers on Friday night in the Phillies’ 2-0 win, Bohm has driven in the only three runs in the first two games of this four-game set.

The Phillies won their third in a row and fifth in their past six games, including four shutout wins in a six-game span for the first time since August 1969. Adding to Sunday’s 4-0 blanking, they have held the Cardinals scoreless for 27 straight innings — the first time the Phillies’ staff has done so against St. Louis since a 36-inning streak in 1944. — Reuters

Dealing Durant, Irving

The National Basketball Association Summer League has been a critical staple for longtime hoops habitués, and not simply because of the games. The significance of the flurry of activity inside the lines has traditionally been muted at best, but, every once in a while, diamonds in the rough do crop up; just ask Division II baller Max Strus, who parlayed stellar efforts in Las Vegas into a starter’s spot with the Heat. That said, it’s the wheeling and dealing off the court that has appeared to make lasting impacts on the future of franchises casting longing glances at the hardware.

Take last Friday’s festivities at the Thomas & Mack Center, which featured, among other contests, the Suns taking on the Lakers and prominent figures in attendance. There was embattled Russell Westbrook behind the bench of the purple and gold, taking in the action and taking up would-be teammates — ultimately, to no avail. There was top dog LeBron James on the other end of the arena, munching on snacks from a Ziploc bag he brought in; apparently, even billionaires are loath to spend $40 on overpriced popcorn. And in between was a parade of known personalities exchanging pleasantries with the latter.

Interestingly, James wound up engaging Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham in a discussion during a break in the set-to. Fans can only guess the subject of their powwow. Later on, the front-office head could be seen beside Nets counterpart Sean Marks, who also happened to be with Raptors president Masai Ujiri; the picture painted a thousand words, and no prompting was needed for social media to kick up a storm. Perhaps deals for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were being explored.

Insofar as awkward scenes go, none was more telling than the fact that James never connected with Westbrook in the one and a half hours he was there. He was able to press flesh with the likes of agent Rich Paul, current teammates Talen Horton-Tucker, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Thomas Bryant, and former teammates James Jones and Jerry Stackhouse, but evidently did not see the need to greet the one player he recruited heavily this time last year. Now, he’s angling to get Irving vice the former Most Valuable Player awardee, and to the point where he’s said to refuse a contract extension if the planned trade falls through.

At this point, conventional wisdom pegs the Irving-to-Lakers scenario to be a matter of when, not if. For La-La Land diehards, the hope is that Summer League rumblings will pave the way for it to be done sooner rather than later. Judging from the looks of things, though, they may want to stay patient. The Nets are seeking a king’s ransom for Durant, and it’s a deal that looks to go first. Until then, waiting — and, yes, no small measure of praying — is what’s in store.

 

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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