Marcos: Philippines won’t rejoin International Criminal Court

August 1, 2022 | 8:10 pm

BBM-Duterte — PRESIDENT BONGBONG MARCOS TWITTER PAGE

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES won’t rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said on Monday, in a move that political analysts said is meant to protect his predecessor from prosecution for the government’s deadly drug war.

“The Philippines has no intention of rejoining the ICC,” Mr. Marcos told a virtual news briefing. “There is already an ongoing investigation here in the country,” he added in Filipino.

The president said he had ordered government lawyers to carefully study the possible legal proceedings involving the ICC, which might resume its probe of alleged crimes against humanity by ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte in connection with the drug war that killed thousands.

Mr. Duterte had told police officers to shoot drug suspects if their lives were at risk. When he was president, he often defended the campaign by saying it had saved Filipino families from the drug menace and prevented the country from turning into a “narco-politics state.”

“This ICC is a very different kind of court, which is why we are carefully studying first the procedure so that our actions won’t be misinterpreted,” Mr. Marcos said.

Mr. Marcos is probably trying to shield Mr. Duterte given his alliance with his family, Arjan P. Aguirre, a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“This is just an alibi,” he said. “The main reason for not rejoining the ICC is still connected to his alliance with the Dutertes. Marcos values more the stability of his rule and he will not do anything to destroy his relationship with Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.“

Mr. Marcos ran with the presidential daughter in the May 9 election, which both won by a landslide.

Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said Mr. Marcos should not block any investigations of the drug war that started even before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.

“It is still their mandate to investigate, which is why they shouldn’t be blocked from their work,” she said in a statement in Filipino. “If there is nothing to hide, no one should be afraid of this investigation.“

The Hague-based international court on July 14 gave the Philippines until Sept. 8 to comment on the ICC Office of the Prosecutor’s request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by Mr. Duterte and his officials. It also allowed victims to make written submissions through their lawyers.

Mr. Duterte canceled Philippine membership in the tribunal in 2018.

Mr. Marcos last week met with his legal officials including his Justice secretary and solicitor general to discuss the government’s next move on the ICC probe.

Last month, ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmed Khan asked the ICC’s pre-trial chamber to reopen the probe months after it was halted upon the Philippine government’s request.

The Department of Justice had only brought five of the 52 cases involving about 150 police officers to court since it started its own investigation in 2021.

In a 53-page request to the ICC pre-trial chamber, Mr. Khan said the Philippines had failed to show it investigated crimes related to the campaign.

He said the chamber should issue an order on an “expedited basis.” It should “receive any further observations it considers appropriate from victims and the government of the Philippines,” he added.

Former national police chief Ronald M. dela Rosa, the main enforcer of the drug war and now a senator, said the probe is an insult to the Philippine Justice system. He said he would not cooperate with the investigation.

Data from the Philippine government released in June 2021 showed that at least 6,117 suspected drug dealers had been killed in police operations as of April 2021. Human rights groups estimate that as many as 30,000 suspects died.

Several human rights groups have urged Mr. Marcos to rejoin the ICC and to work closely with the tribunal in its probe of Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Marcos names his military and national police chiefs

August 1, 2022 | 8:09 pm

Bartolome-Bacarro — PHOTO shows Armed Forces Chief Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro on the right.— BOB BACARRO FACEBOOK PAGE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed a military commander assigned on Luzon island to head the Armed Forces, the presidential palace said on Monday.

Medal of Valor awardee Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro, who heads the Southern Luzon Command, will serve as Armed Forces chief of staff for three years starting Aug. 8, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

He will replace Andres C. Centino, an appointee of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Mr. Marcos also named Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr. as national police chief, Ms. Angeles said in a separate statement.

She added that Mr. Centino, a classmate of Mr. Bacarro in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988, will be appointed to a new post “befitting a former chief of staff.”

Mr. Bacarro was assigned to an infantry division in Isabela province in northern Philippines after finishing his military education, exposing him to counterinsurgency operations in the province from 1988 to 1995.

It was during his Isabela assignment that he earned his Medal of Valor, the highest award for soldiers in combat, Ms. Angeles said.

The award was given to him on Dec. 21, 1991 for his “conspicuous acts of courage, gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,” she said, citing a 10-hour encounter between the military and more than a hundred New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in an Isabela town on Feb. 26, 1991.

Mr. Bacarro was designated army spokesman in November 2004. He later became a spokesman for the Armed Forces.

In 2014, he was designated chief of the Army’s 4^th Infantry Division. He also served as the chief of staff for operations, commander of the 502^nd Brigade, commandant of the PMA and an Armed Forces internal auditor.

It was under his watch that a young PMA cadet died from hazing, which forced him to resign as PMA commandant.

Mr. Azurin, the new PNP chief, graduated from the PMA in 1989.

He is the commander of the Northern Luzon Police Area composed of the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Azurin is a well-rounded police officer, having served the Philippine National Police in various capacities, both in police operations and administrative work,” Ms. Angeles said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos appointed lawyer and long-time National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Assistant Director Medardo G. de Lemos as the bureau director.

“Director de Lemos rose from the ranks and his appointment as NBI Director is a strong indication of President Marcos’ commitment in strengthening the system of ‘meritocracy’ in the promotion, placement and hiring of government personnel,” Ms. Angeles said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Marcos says monkeypox not as scary as coronavirus

August 1, 2022 | 8:08 pm

Marcos-BBM-1 — President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. answers questions from the media after his first Cabinet meeting at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace, July 5. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday downplayed the effects of monkeypox, saying it is not as scary as the coronavirus.

“We don’t have any more cases of monkeypox,” he told a news briefing in Manila, based on a transcript sent by the presidential palace. “Monkeypox is not as scary as COVID. It’s like smallpox and there are medicines for it,” he added in Filipino.

The Philippines detected its first case of the monkeypox, which is now considered a public health emergency of international concern, last month. The patient has recovered.

Smallpox, an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus, “was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity and caused millions of deaths before it was eradicated,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said on its website.

“It is believed to have existed for at least 3000 years,” it said. “The last known natural case was in Somalia in 1977.” The WHO declared smallpox was eradicated in 1980. 

The country’s first case of Monkeypox was a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from overseas on July 19.

The virus, which was first discovered in 1958, causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions, according to WHO. It spreads via contact.

Mr. Marcos said the government would strictly monitor the country’s monkeypox situation. “Right now, we are strictly monitoring monkeypox. We got used to COVID-19.”

Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said not all Filipinos need to get vaccinated against monkeypox, adding that high-risk people would be prioritized.

The global supply of vaccines that offer protection against the virus is limited, she pointed out.

“Monkeypox is not like COVID-19 that we need to vaccinate all Filipinos to prevent further transmission,” she told CNN Philippines.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos said the country’s coronavirus situation is much better than a year earlier. “Many people have been vaccinated already. The subject of the booster rollout actually came about because we were talking about the face-to-face classes this coming semester.”

The Philippines posted 24,100 coronavirus infections in the past week, with a daily average of 3,443 cases, according to health authorities.

The daily average for July 25 to 31 was 24% higher than a week earlier, the Health department said in a bulletin. Of the new cases, 76 were severe and critical.

It said 44 more deaths were verified in the past week, one of which occurred in June and 3 in January. There were no deaths from July 18 to 31.

The agency said 601 of 2,583 intensive care unit (ICU) beds had been used as of July 31, while 6,505 of 22,051 non-ICU beds were occupied. There were 744 severe and critical admissions, it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Magnitude 5.2 quake rocks Abra 

August 1, 2022 | 8:07 pm

earthquake-northern-phil — BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION FACEBOOK PAGE

A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake rocked Abra province in northern Philippines on Monday morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), less than a week after a magnitude 7 temblor killed almost a dozen people there.

The quake struck at 2:48 a.m. 10 kilometers (km) southeast of San Ramon town and had a depth of 10 km, the USGS said on its website.

The quake was also felt in Ilocos and Baguio City in the country’s north, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin posted on its website.

Phivolcs said separately in a Facebook post it had recorded 2,010 aftershocks since the July 27 quake.

Last week’s earthquake affected more than 380,000 people from more than 100,000 families the local disaster agency said in an 8 a.m. report.

The earthquake damaged almost 25,000 houses, while infrastructure damaged had reached more than P700 million, it said.

Meanwhile, irrigation damage had risen to P243.33 million, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The agency said 27 irrigation systems were damaged, affecting more than 3,000 hectares of agricultural land. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson 

Men’s chess team beats Cyprus; women’s squad suffers setback

August 1, 2022 | 7:12 pm

Ph-team_Chess-Olympiad_FIDE — PHILIPPINE men’s and women’s chess teams

GRANDMASTERS (GM) Banjo Barcenilla, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo saved the day for the Philippines as it smashed Cyprus, 3-1, on Monday night to keep its bid for 44^th World Chess Olympiad glory alive in Chennai, India.

Messrs. Barcenilla, Gomez and Laylo essayed impressive wins over Alexandros Isaakidis, Ioannis Damianou and Michalis Florentiades on boards two to four, respectively, that made up for GM Mark Paragua’s stinging defeat to FIDE Master Konstantinos Michaelides on top board.

It was a win that catapulted the Filipinos, who are being sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, back into contention as they zoomed to a 63-way logjam at 26^th place with four match points to show.

The Eugene Torre-coached squad, seeded 52^nd, could barge into the top 20 if it could overcome 89^th seed Monaco in the fourth round at press time.

The national team is resting Mr. Paragua in favor of International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamina after his sorry defeat that started when he made an errant rook move in the middle game that blew away his chances to win or at least draw.

WOMEN’S TEAM
It was more heartbreaking for the women’s team, which appeared to have headed to a shock 2-2 draw to 18^th seed Serbia only to see WFM Shania Mae Mendoza blew a drawn position and lost to WIM Adela Velikic on board three.

The rest — WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Kylen Joy Mordido — all drew their games on boards one, two and four with WGMs Teodora Injac and Jovana Eric and WIM Marina Gacin, respectively.

Ms. Mordido, the youngest member of the team at 19 years old and is being tipped to become the country’s WGM, had her chances for a victory but she missed a pawn capture late that could have earned her a pawn edge and a lasting advantage.

Ms. Mendoza’s loss wasted Ms. Fronda’s valiant effort when she clawed her way back from a pawn down and a cramped position to steal a draw from her higher-ranked WGM opponent.

The Philippines, tied for 22^nd spot along with 52 others with four points, was battling Angola in the fourth round with WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego replacing Ms. Mendoza in the roster. — Joey Villar

Philippines nabs 3 golds in ASEAN Para Games

August 1, 2022 | 7:12 pm

SURAKARTA — Swimming delivered the country’s first pair of gold medals in the 11^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games Monday as Ernie Gawilan and Roland Sabido splashed their way to the top of their respective events at the Jatadiri Sports Complex pool in the neighboring city of Semarang.

Comely thrower Cendy Asusano added the third gold in early morning action in ruling the women’s javelin throw F54 at the Manahan Stadium for a promising start for the PHL para-athletes, a majority of them competing for the first time since the 2017 edition of the meet held in Malaysia.

A triple gold medalist in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games, Mr. Gawilan kicked off the Philippine campaign in ruling the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 in a time of four minutes and 54.87 seconds in the outing sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Then Mr. Sabido and Arnel Aba led a 1-2 finish in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S9 in clocking 5:09.40 and 5:14.13, respectively, much to the delight of the small Filipino crowd at the pool led by Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo.

Mr. Gawilan, 31, who won a pair of golds and silvers in the regional meet for para athletes held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur five years ago.

The Davao City pride was aiming for another mint as he was scheduled to compete in the 4×100 meter freestyle relays 34 points in the afternoon with Messrs. Sabido, Aba and Edwin Villanueva, who copped a bronze medal in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S8.

Also contributing a bronze medal each for athletics were Joel Balatucan, Daniel Enderes, Jr., Armand Dino and Jesebel Tordecilla in the men’s shot put F55, men’s 5,00-meter T20 race, men’s 100-meter T47 race, and women’s discus throw F55, respectively.

Overnight, table tennis also made its modest medal contribution with two bronze medals in the men’s team Class 4 through Billy Cartera, Racleo Martinez and Darwin Salvacion and men’s class 8 doubles courtesy of Jobert Lumanta and Jayson Ocampo.

Counting the silver in men’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball last Sunday, the Filipinos now boast an early overall medal tally of three gold, two silver and seven bronze medals.

More medals were expected to come in the afternoon in swimming, track and field and powerlifting, where two-time Asian Para Games silver medalist Achelle Guion is vying in the women’s 46-kilogram division.

Among those likewise expected to figure prominently for gold are wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who will see action in the men’s 100-meter dash T52, and Jeannete Aceveda in the women’s discus throw F11-13 plus Angel Otom in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5.

The country’s standard-bearers aim to surpass the haul of 20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals, good for fifth overall, of the country in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

Meralco Bolts brace for collision course with SMB

August 1, 2022 | 7:12 pm

newsome3_bolts_pba — CHRIS Newsome leads Meralco Bolts against Barangay Ginebra Kings. — PBA MEDIA

AFTER getting the monkey off its back against playoff nemesis Barangay Ginebra, fired-up Meralco trains its sights on another franchise first in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

“Meralco’s never been to the finals in the All-Filipino so we can use that as motivation,” skipper Chris Newsome said ahead of the Bolts’ best-of-seven semifinal showdown with top seed San Miguel Beer (SMB). “We recognize that we still have more history that we can make.”

The Bolts are on a high after scoring their breakthrough series win in seven post-elims duels with the Gin Kings via a 2-1 quarterfinal verdict. Led by Newsome’s triple-double outing and Raymond Almazan’s go-ahead triple, Meralco finally got its turn to send Ginebra packing with a thrilling 106-104 clincher on Sunday.

“We go over the hump against Ginebra, but it’s just one step. There’s another goal that we haven’t reached yet, which is getting to the finals,” said Mr. Newsome.

This next mission versus SMB starts tomorrow in a Final Four double-header that also features defending champion TnT and its vanquished rival last year, Magnolia, in an equally explosive matchup.

Mr. Newsome and company brace for a major fight against the powerhouse San Miguel crew led by six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Mo Tautuaa and Chris Ross.

“It’s going to be tough, especially with their lineup. But we’re looking forward to this series,” said the do-it-all Fil-Am.

“Like I’ve said, if you wanna get to the top, you have to beat the best. San Miguel is one of the best, if not the best, in the All-Filipino. So, we have to go through them if we wanna go to the finals,” he added.

Meralco is drawing added confidence from having beaten San Miguel the last two times they squared off in the playoffs. The Bolts defeated the twice-to-beat Beermen two times in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble quarterfinals then cashed on their win-once incentive when they met again in the 2021 Governors’ Cup Last-8. — Olmin Leyba

Army faces PLDT in PVL Invitational semifinals opener

August 1, 2022 | 7:11 pm

JUN4079 — PLDT Power Hitters beat short-handed Cignal HD Spikers. — PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

ARMY BLACK Mamba and PLDT seek to become the last two teams to make the semifinals to possibly the first ones to clinch a finals spot as the two open semis hostilities on Tuesday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Power Hitters caught a big break and capitalized on it by surviving the short-handed Cignal HD Spikers, their sister team, with a 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22 win on Saturday.

The Lady Troopers lost their last game, to the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-20, 25-22, 25-16, but took the last slot following the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ painful defeat to the Petro Gazz Angels, 28-26, 25-21, 25-16, on Saturday.

They joined Creamline, Cignal and foreign teams Kobe Shinwa of Japan and King Whales of Taipei in the single-round robin semis where the top two set up a one-game title showdown.

Army and PLDT will take the first crack at that as the two face off at 4 p.m. with the winner seizing the early lead.

Army is expected to rely on its veteran squad composed of MVP candidate Jovelyn Gonzaga, Mary Jean Pabayo, Nene Bautista, Joanne Bunag and Honey Royse Tubino and newly recruited setter Ivy Perez.

PLDT, for its part, should draw strength from the inspire plays of Mika Reyes and Fiona Ceballos, who fired 14 and 13 points, in their team’s semis-clinching win over Cignal.

Both Army and PLDT are expected to make the most of their first semis appearance in the league since rejoining the pro-outfit last year. — Joey Villar

England clinches Women’s Euro with 2-1 extra time win over Germany

August 1, 2022 | 7:11 pm

LONDON — An extra time strike from forward Chloe Kelly gave England a 2-1 win over Germany in the Women’s European Championship final on Sunday to claim their first ever major title in front of a record crowd on home soil.

Substitute Kelly reacted quickest to a loose ball from a corner in the second period of extra time to give her side the win and avenge their defeat by Germany in the 2009 Euro final in Helsinki.

England coach Sarina Wiegman became the first manager to win the Euros — men’s or women’s — with two different nations having led her native Netherlands to the title in 2017. She was appointed England boss in September last year and the side has not lost since.

On an unforgettable day for England, the hosts opened the scoring in the 62^nd minute through forward Ella Toone in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley Stadium, the 87,192 attendance a record for a UEFA tournament, men’s or women’s.

Substitute Lina Magull brought Germany back into the game to send it to extra time but Kelly popped up at the right time to clinch it for England and send the home fans wild.

Germany suffered a blow in the warm-up as striker Alexandra Popp, who had scored six goals in five games in her debut Euros, suffered a muscle injury and had to pull out of the lineup and was replaced by Lea Schuller.

PHYSICAL ENCOUNTER
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side missed Popp’s presence in the box, but it was a heavily physical encounter that produced a goalless first half.

Toone opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark with a beautiful chipped finish, moments after coming out as a substitute.

However, that was canceled out by Magull who fired in an equalizer from close range 17 minutes later after the hosts had been pushed back by their opponents.

The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes to take it into extra time where the atmosphere died down a little as the thought of Germany winning a record-extending ninth Euros crown at the home of English football began to permeate.

That was until the 110^th minute when Kelly, who had moments before urged the crowd to raise their voices and cheer the side on, reacted quickest to stab in the winner and inflict Germany’s first defeat in a major final.

“It doesn’t seem real. I’m buzzing my head off. Honestly, the best moment of my career, best moment of my life. I’m so proud to be a part of this group,” Toone said.

England’s Beth Mead won the Player of the Tournament award for her six goals and five assists, helping her side score a record 22 times during the tournament. — Reuters

Carlos Rodon fans 10; Giants shut out Cubs

August 1, 2022 | 7:10 pm

CARLOS Rodon struck out 10 over seven innings and the bottom five hitters in the San Francisco order provided all the offense as the Giants made it three out of four against the visiting Chicago Cubs with a 4-0 victory on Sunday night.

Jason Vosler and Austin Wynns drove in two runs apiece while Dixon Machado, acquired earlier in the day from the Cubs, got on base twice via a single and a hit batsman and scored once for the Giants, who finished the month of July just 11-17 despite their 3-1 series win over Chicago.

With trade rumors swirling and rival scouts following every pitch, Rodon (9-6) dominated the Cubs, allowing just a pair of singles over his seven innings. He didn’t walk anyone en route to his sixth double-digit strikeout effort of the season.

Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki had the Cubs’ only hits against Rodon. Chicago never got a runner past first base against the left-hander.

John Brebbia allowed third and fourth Cubs hits to Patrick Wisdom and P.J. Higgins before wrapping up a scoreless eighth, and Camilo Doval worked a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to complete the Giants’ fifth shutout of the season.

San Francisco did all its scoring in the fourth inning when, with two outs, LaMonte Wade Jr. walked, Mike Yastrzemski singled and Machado was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

Vosler then connected on his two-run single to left-center, after which Wynns, batting ninth, blasted a two-RBI double to center, accounting for the four runs.

Cubs starter Adrian Sampson (0-2) was pulled at inning’s end, charged with all four runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Machado’s hit came in the sixth inning. He was starting at shortstop in place of Thairo Estrada, who entered concussion protocol after getting hit by a pitch Saturday. Estrada in turn had been subbing for Brandon Crawford, who is out with a knee injury.

Machado had been playing for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. He hadn’t appeared in a major league game since playing for the Detroit Tigers in 2018.

Vosler finished with two hits and Tommy La Stella collected a single and a double for the Giants, who had opened the second half with seven straight losses before the Cubs came to town.

The Cubs finished July with an 11-14 record, their four consecutive losing month. — Reuters

Neymar at the double as PSG romps to easy Super Cup win

August 1, 2022 | 7:10 pm

TEL AVIV — Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Neymar scored twice with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos contributing the other two goals as they romped to a 4-0 victory over Nantes in the French Super Cup at the Bloomfield Stadium on Sunday.

It was the ninth time in 10 years that the Parisians had won the traditional season-opening clash between the Ligue 1 champions and the French Cup winners, which has been regularly played outside of the country over the last decade.

PSG’s array of world-class talent did not disappoint the Israeli crowd with Messi opening the scoring in the 22^nd minute, after a through ball from Neymar that allowed him to round the goalkeeper and net from a tight angle.

Neymar added a second from a curling free kick on the stroke of half time before Sergio Ramos, who spent most of last season out injured after his move from Real Madrid, added the third with an audacious backheel from close range in the 57^th minute.

The final goal came in the 82^nd minute after Neymar was fouled by Nantes defender Jean Claude Castelletto, who was sent off, and the Brazilian converted the subsequent spotkick. — Reuters

Legendary Celtics center Bill Russell dies at 88

August 1, 2022 | 7:10 pm

HALL of Fame center Bill Russell passed away peacefully on Sunday at the age of 88, according to his official Twitter account.

A five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) MVP and 12-time All-Star, Russell was an 11-time NBA champion as a player with the Boston Celtics. He also was the first Black head coach in North American professional sports history and helped the club win two more titles.

A member of the NBA’s 25^th, 50^th and 75^th anniversary teams, Russell was as well known for his commitment to social justice.

“Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all of team sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “The countless accolades that he earned for his storied career with the Boston Celtics — including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards — only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and broader society.

“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps. Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.”

Russell averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds over 13 seasons (1956-69) with the Celtics. He was first inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975, then again as a coach in 2021.

His No. 6 jersey is retired by the Celtics.

“But for all the winning, Bill’s understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life,” read a statement from his Twitter account. “From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippi’s first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evers’ assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010, Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change.

“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting thing, for our beloved #6.”

Russell won two NCAA championships at the University of San Francisco and led the team to 55 straight wins. He also led the United States to a gold medal in men’s basketball in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. — Reuters