Daily virus tally could fall to 500 by mid-November

October 31, 2021 | 6:36 pm

vaccination — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

DAILY coronavirus infections in Manila, the capital and nearby cities would probably fall to 500 by mid-November, according to researchers from the country’s premier university.

“By Nov. 15, the National Capital Region could be at 500 cases per day, which is around the level last December,” Fredegusto P. David, a fellow from the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines, said in a Facebook Messenger chat on Sunday.

Metro Manila is now under Alert Level 3, which allows 50% capacity for outdoor services and 30% capacity for indoor activities.

Mr. David said Metro Manila would probably be placed under Alert Level 2 before the holiday season. “We support a move to Alert Level 2. COVID-19 indicators are already low.”

“We will see if cases continue to decline,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said when asked if the lockdown in the capital region would be eased by December. “We use case trends such as the two-week growth rate and average daily attack rate, and healthcare utilization rate,” she said in a Viber message.

Mr. David said Metro Manila had a coronavirus infection rate of 5%, while its healthcare use rate was below 50%.

The virus reproduction rate in the region was below 0.9, lower than the critical cut-off of 1.4, Mr. David said. The average daily attack rate or the number of infected people for 100,000 people was below seven, he added.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 3,410 coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 2.8 million.

The death toll rose to 43,172 after 128 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 5,825 to 2.7 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 45,233 active cases, 73.6% of which were mild, 4.9% did not show symptoms, 6.8% were severe, 11.83% were moderate and 2.9% were critical.

DoH said 30 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 25 of which were reclassified as recoveries, while 91 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Four laboratories failed to submit data on Oct. 29.

The agency said 46% of intensive care units in the Philippines were occupied, while the rate in Metro Manila was 39%.

OCTA earlier said Metro Manila posted only 953 infections per day from Oct. 20 to 26.

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” A. Conception III has been urging the government to place the region under Alert Level 2 to boost business recovery.

Under Alert Level 2, businesses may operate indoors at 50% capacity. They will get an additional 10% capacity if they have a so-called safety seal from the government. For outdoor operations, they may operate at 70% capacity.

“The public should continue to follow public health guidelines and avoid large gatherings for now,” Mr. David said. “Local government units should continue their good efforts in implementing granular lockdowns.”

Health authorities should enforce the alert level guidelines strictly, he added.

The presidential palace on Friday said Metro Manila would remain under Alert Level 3 until Nov. 14.

Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. also said an inter-agency task force had approved a plan to increase passenger capacity in road- and rail-based public transportation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from 70% to full capacity starting Nov. 4.

The government started enforcing granular lockdowns with five alert levels in the capital region after the country struggled to contain a fresh spike in infections triggered by a highly contagious Delta variant.

The Department of Transportation on Friday said it would gradually increase the passenger capacity of public transportation in Metro Manila starting this week.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said this, along with the P1-billion cash aid from the government, would help public utility vehicle drivers.

The agency cited greater demand for public transport after businesses were allowed to operate at increased capacity and as more Filipinos get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

It said it would issue guidelines on the gradual increase in passenger capacity while enforcing health and safety protocols to help contain the coronavirus.

Presidential bet vows to ease regulation of private corporations

October 31, 2021 | 6:35 pm

A PRESIDENTIAL aspirant has pledged to ease private sector regulation if he wins the elections next  year, saying the government should treat companies as partners rather than opponents.

“Overregulation, when it goes beyond our competition policy, has no place in modern and civilized society especially at a time when we need to encourage foreign investments and attract more capital inflow in the Philippines,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson told an online forum at the weekend.

“It is time for the government to really treat the business sector as partners in progress instead of competitors,” he added.

Mr. Lacson said he would push the recovery of small and medium enterprises, which account for more than 99% of registered businesses in the country and provide more than 60% of total jobs, through fiscal stimulus packages.

“We need to implement eviction and foreclosure moratoriums and employee-retention tax credits to motivate businesses to reopen,” he added.

Mr. Lacson said he seeks to put 100% of the country’s irrigable lands to use, unlike now when fewer than two-thirds of the Philippines’ irrigable lands have been used.

“A major part of my agenda for the agriculture sector is the completion of our long-time lags in providing effective and sustainable irrigation systems to 100% of our irrigable lands in the country,” he said.

He promised to free farmers and fisherfolk from the “grip and control of middlemen and traders” who now dictate market prices.

“This approach can provide alternatives to lower our reliance on importation of agriculture products. It is high time that we veer away from the import-dependent mentality,” the lawmaker said.

Mr. Lacson also pushed digitizing the country to improve governmental and business processes, adding that this would “minimize, if not totally eliminate corruption in government.”

Meanwhile, Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo said she would focus on rural development if she becomes the next Philippine president.

“Our infrastructure should spur rural development because development right now is so concentrated in Metro Manila,” she told reporters in Filipino in Sorsogon City on Friday, based on a transcript e-mailed by her office.

She vowed to invest more in farm-to-market roads, cold storage facilities, solar dryers, fish cages and other infrastructure projects.

She also pledged to continue President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, while ensuring that projects would directly benefit ordinary Filipinos.

Ms. Robredo, who has criticized the President for belittling the country’s traffic woes, said she would also solve the country’s mass transportation problem.

Fitch Solutions earlier said Mr. Duterte’s key policies such as his infrastructure program would likely be continued by his predecessor.

Analysts earlier said foreign investors are likely to stay cautious during the Philippine election season to gauge policies that will be prioritized by the next government.

FDI inflows sank to a five-year low of $6.542 billion last year, when the world was forced to deal with the pandemic. Inflows have improved in recent months from their levels a year earlier.

July inflows climbed by 52% to $1.263 billion from a year earlier. This brought the seven-month level to $5.562 billion, 43.1% higher than a year ago.

Some analysts said investors would be keen on policies that would boost the capacity of the country’s health system and its ability to deal with future health crises.

Other key considerations will be policies on restructuring the economic and business environments during the so-called new normal.

Foreign investors would also watch the stance of presidential candidates on human rights issues because political instability could hurt economic growth, political analysts said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Health professionals weigh in on what it will take to end lockdowns

October 31, 2021 | 6:31 pm

MOTORISTS and pedestrians get checked at a border going into Metro Manila in this March 29, 2021 file photo, when rigorous mobility restrictions were in effect. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

THE PHILIPPINES should ensure risk mitigation, adhere strictly to health protocols, improve air quality, and enhance contact tracing to successfully end pandemic-related restrictions without worries of another surge, said health professionals, after political leaders called for an end to lockdowns in 2022.

“We need to reopen properly in order to avert another lockdown,” said Aileen R. Espina, co-convenor and steering committee member of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19’s (HPAAC), via call on Saturday.

“If we put all of these solutions in place, the probability of a surge, like the ones experienced in the past, is low.”

The Philippines had one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world, which has taken a toll on the economy and growth prospects. The government has eased restrictions this fourth quarter, starting in the capital Metro Manila.

By strictly adhering to the policies and protocols well defined by professionals, the risk can be properly mitigated, Ms. Espina said, noting the “3Cs” that refer to enclosed spaces, crowded spaces, and close contact.

“Our situation is different from those (first-world) countries, so it’s not easy to say that we’ll just open,” said Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) President Jose Rene de Grano via call on Friday.

“Our people are sometimes so hard-headed, they don’t want to follow directions and health protocols,” he said, noting as well the issue of anti-vaxxers.

Mr. de Grano said based on current norms, lockdowns should continue until the country has attained herd immunity.

As of Oct. 26, the Philippines has administered more than 56.2 million doses of COVID-19, according to the national task force against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

Almost 26 million individuals have been fully vaccinated, comprising 34% of the country’s 70% target by yearend.

Mr. de Grano added, however, that lockdowns may no longer be necessary if the number of coronavirus cases continue to go down and is maintained, alongside a continuing vaccination rollout and adherence to minimum health protocols.

Ms. Espina also recommended the use of carbon dioxide monitors to enhance air quality and air circulation, which authorities can tap for monitoring crowded areas and take necessary action on.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, who is running for the top seat in the 2022 May elections, earlier said that if elected, he will end lockdowns that have “crippled the economy but failed to stop or even slow down the spread of COVID-19.”

In a forum Saturday, Mr. Lacson said the country can no longer afford another day of “on-off, off-on” lockdowns.

He cited the National Economic and Development Authority’s assessment that the present and future costs of COVID-19 and quarantines are estimated at P41.4 trillion. In 2020 alone, he added, the country lost P4.3 trillion.

In Metro Manila, the country’s capital and economic center, P20.5 billion was lost per day under the strictest quarantine classification, he said.

MENTAL HEALTH
Nonetheless, both doctors warned the public not to be complacent just because the number of cases have recently dropped.

“If we look at the global trend, it is rising once again, that is how pandemics and endemics behave; they will have downtimes then it will rise again,” said Ms. Espina.

“We have to be very careful, until such time that it is completely zero, that’s the only time that we can relax fully,” said Mr. de Grano in a mix of English and Filipino.

The challenge, Ms. Espina said, is nipping the problem in the bud before it spreads. “The goal, if there is a new variant, is to make sure that it doesn’t spread too much, and the way to do that is through contact tracing.”

Ms. Espina also said people should adapt a “hybrid lifestyle” to limit the “time of interaction with other people outside of your bubble.”

Vaccination, Mr. de Grano stressed, is key to achieving a balance between the people’s need to “go out” for mental wellness and keeping safe from the virus.

At least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from one kind of mental, neurological, or substance use disorder, the Health department earlier said, citing a study by the World Health Organization.

“HPAAC is more than willing to sit down with any political group, with any presidentiable, to help them craft their health agenda in the new normal,” she added. “We are offering our services for that.”

DENR says rehabilitation of closed dumpsites now in the hands of local governments

October 31, 2021 | 6:31 pm

DUMAGUETE City, capital of Negros Oriental province, closed its 35-year-old dumpsite earlier this year while a facility for recyclable materials was opened in July. A sanitary landfill is also planned for construction in the area where the material recovery plant is. The city government has allocated about P100 million over the last three years for the waste management plan, including the closure and rehabilitation of the dumpsite, and the purchase of land and setting up the recovery and recycling facility. — DUMAGUETECITY.GOV.PH

LOCAL governments now face the responsibility of rehabilitating the dumpsites closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in compliance with the country’s solid waste management law.

“After our successful feat to close dumpsites all over the country, I would like to reiterate to our concerned LGUs (local government units) to ensure that all systems and engineering measures are carried out in their rehabilitation plan to prevent negative impacts and risks to the environment,” DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a news release on Sunday.

The DENR officially closed all 335 operating open dumpsites in the country in May.

Mr. Cimatu acknowledged the cooperation and support of local governments in the long-overdue program.

However, he stressed that the work of LGUs is not over as they have to implement their respective safe closure and rehabilitation plans.

“Closing the dumpsite is just the first step… (LGUs) have to proactively implement rehabilitation because it is a requirement for closure,” Mr. Cimatu said.

Under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, open dumps for solid waste should have been converted into “controlled dumps” within three years of the law’s effectivity. The controlled dumps should have been closed within the succeeding two years.

The waste management law mandates the country, with LGUs at the forefront, to “adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program.”

A DENR administrative order issued in Sept. 2006 sets the guidelines for dumpsite closure and rehabilitation.

Under the guidelines, LGUs or contracted private operators can undertake the rehabilitation based on the local government’s approved solid waste management program. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Bacolod City appeals for lower alert level to allow more business activities

October 31, 2021 | 6:30 pm

BacolodCity-hall-BACOLOD-CITY-PIO — BACOLOD CITY PIO

THE BACOLOD City government has asked the national government to downgrade its coronavirus alert category to the more relaxed level 3 from the level 4 imposed from Nov. 1 to 14, citing a decrease in cases and manageable utilization rate of medical and isolation facilities.

Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, in a letter to the Health secretary dated Oct. 29, said the city’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case growth rate in the last two weeks dropped by 39% while the average daily attack rate decreased to 13.24 from 21.62.

“There is a significant indication of a continuous reduction of additional cases in the city. Given the foregoing, it is reasonable to loosen restrictions in order for our residents to resume earning activities,” the mayor said.

He also pointed out that city residents account for only half of the hospital utilization rate of 69%, with the rest of the patients coming from neighboring towns. Bacolod, although a politically independent city, serves as the capital of Negros Occidental province.

As of Oct. 30, the city with a population of over 583,000 had 1,730 active COVID-19 cases out of the 23,032 recorded since the start of the pandemic, based on data from the Department of Health’s Western Visayas office.

There were 577 deaths and 20,722 recoveries.

“By ramping up our vaccination program, we also expect cases to even decrease significantly in the proceeding weeks,” Mr. Leonardia said.

He cited that 42.28% of the local population were fully vaccinated as of Oct. 28, while 12% have received a first dose. Bacolod City was also among the areas outside the capital that started pediatric vaccination for those aged 12 to 17 on Oct. 29. — MSJ

Return of the Tropa

October 31, 2021 | 6:20 pm

TnTchamps-(2) — THE TnT Tropang Giga are PBA champions once again after six years. Rookie Mikey Williams (lower left photo) was named Philippine Cup finals most valuable player. — PBA IMAGES

TnT back on PBA summit after six years

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE TnT Tropang Giga are back on the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) summit after six years following their successful conquest of this year’s All-Filipino championship.

Defeated the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, 4-1, in their best-of-seven Philippine Cup finals series, capped by a 94-79 win in Game Five on Friday, TnT is a champion for the first time since 2015.

It was a culmination of a long process of transition for a winning franchise that saw it go through a number of personnel changes in search of a team that would click and get it back to the top.

The journey was anything, but easy, including having no finals appearance in 11 of the previous 14 PBA tournaments. And in the three they did make it to the “Big Dance,” it was on the losing end, the most recent in 2020 in the Philippine Cup against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.

Leading the Tropang Giga to the Promised Land anew was comebacking PBA coach Chot Reyes, who returned to the sidelines this season after nearly a decade away to take on other pursuits, including being coach of the national team.

Anchored on the push of consistently bettering themselves, Reyes-led TnT overcame every obstacle that was thrown its way throughout the tournament.

“I have to give it to these guys… They put in all the effort. They stayed together through adversity. It’s been a long journey and I’m proud of these guys,” said Mr. Reyes during the trophy presentation at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The latest title is the sixth All-Filipino crown for Mr. Reyes, tying him with the great Baby Dalupan, and ninth overall in the PBA, good for joint fourth place with Jong Uichico.

Playing a key role in TnT’s title run was rookie Mikey Williams.

In the lead-up to the Philippine Cup, there were concerns of his availability as he was among those late to join their teams in the preparation.

But when he got on board, everything practically went well.

Mr. Williams, the fourth overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, flourished in a starting role, helping the team to the best record of 10-1 in the elimination round before continuing to ascend in the playoffs.

In the finals, he had it memorable with averages of 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assist en route to being named finals most valuable player. He was the first rookie to achieve such a feat after Brandon Cablay in 2003 for Alaska.

“The whole team definitely made my job a lot easier. They just gave me confidence and continued to push me. Thanks to the 15 (players) and the coaches,” said Mr. Williams upon receiving the award.

Also stepping up and doing their share were young veterans Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and JP Erram, who did it on both ends of the court and were rewarded with their first-ever PBA title.

Mr. Rosario, in particular, was all heart after playing hurt in the last two games of the series following his freak on-court accident in Game Three where he injured his back and left pinkie.

While he was ruled out for the rest of the series, he forged ahead and played, providing valuable on-court contributions as well as inspiration to his team.

Mr. Pogoy had his ups and down throughout, but continued to be confident and go-getting while Mr. Erram did everything asked of him be that as a starter or off the bench.

While they took a step back for their younger teammates, old hands Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes did not fail to make an impact in their title run.

Mr. Castro was a true mentor to the young guards of the team while still doing Jayson Castro things despite limited minutes. Mr. Williams showed he still has a lot in him notwithstanding retiring last season. Mr. Reyes was his do-it-all self.

“It was worth it. This is really special for me. I hope we can another championship,” said Mr. Castro, now a seven-time PBA champion.

On their way to winning the title, the Tropang Giga defeated erstwhile defending champion Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals and the San Miguel Beermen in the semifinals.

Incidentally, Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel and Magnolia were the champions in 13 of the last 14 conferences prior to this year.

The 2021 PBA Philippine Cup is the sixth All-Filipino championship of the Tropang Giga in franchise history and eighth overall in the PBA.

Atlanta Braves rally past Houston Astros to take a commanding 3-2 series lead

October 31, 2021 | 6:20 pm

DANSBY Swanson and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday in Game 4 of the World Series to move one victory away from the title.

Swanson’s one-out home run to right field tied the game 2-all before Soler followed four pitches later with a pinch-hit homer to left as the Braves rallied against Astros right-hander Cristian Javier (0-1).

The Braves, who are 7-0 at home in the postseason, can wrap up their first championship since 1995 with a victory in Game 5 at Atlanta on Sunday.

Jose Altuve hit a home run for the Astros, while Zach Greinke pitched four shutout innings for the Astros, who are in danger of falling in the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

The Astros looked like they would break the game open early when they loaded the bases in the first inning against Braves opener Dylan Lee on an Altuve single and walks to Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez.

After recording just one out, Lee was replaced by right-hander Kyle Wright, who retired Correa on a ground out with Altuve scoring for a 1-0 Astros lead.

Wright escaped further trouble in the first and was charged with his only run of the game when Altuve crushed a home run to center field in the fourth inning for a 2-0 Houston lead. It was Altuve’s second home run of the World Series and fifth of this postseason.

It was also the 23^rd postseason homer of Altuve’s career, breaking a tie with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams and moving him alone into second place all-time. Manny Ramirez had 29 career postseason home runs.

The Braves began to storm back in the sixth inning. An Eddie Rosario double and walk to Freddie Freeman chased Astros left-hander Brooks Raley, with right-hander Phil Maton giving up a two-out RBI single to Austin Riley as Atlanta pulled within 2-1.

Javier struck out Adam Duvall to start the bottom of the seventh before Swanson hit his first home run of the postseason. Soler, who had just two at-bats in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers while on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) list, followed with his second homer of the series as Atlanta went up 3-2.

Braves left-hander Tyler Matzek (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the victory. Right-hander Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth and left-hander Will Smith pitched the ninth for his second save of the World Series and the sixth of the postseason. — Reuters

Jonas Sultan beats Puerto Rican boxer in 10-round showdown

October 31, 2021 | 6:19 pm

FILIPINO bantamweight boxer Jonas Sultan emerged victorious over Puerto Rican Carlos Caraballo in their 10-round showdown at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday (Manila time).

Zamboanga del Norte native Mr. Sultan, 29, proved to be a tough nut to crack for erstwhile undefeated Mr. Caraballo, sending the latter to the canvas four times en route to the unanimous decision victory that netted for him the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental bantamweight title. All three judges scored the fight, 94-93, in his favor.

Mr. Sultan knocked down Mr. Carballo in the second and third rounds, but the Puerto Rican would bounce back each time.

But the MP Promotions fighter was unrelenting in his push in the succeeding rounds, landing a right hand in the sixth that sent his opponent down for the third time.

The two boxers brought it against each other in the next two rounds before Mr. Sultan knocked down Mr. Caraballo in the ninth round with a left hook.

Mr. Caraballo survived the onslaught and was able to send the match to the judges’ scoreboard which unfortunately for him all went for Mr. Sultan in the end.

The win was Mr. Sultan’s third straight victory and second for this year. He previously defeated American Sharone Carter by knockout in August. Mr. Sultan now sports an 18-5 (11 KOs) record.

Mr. Caraballo, meanwhile, dropped to a 14-1 record. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

All-access UFC fare available on Tap Go

October 31, 2021 | 6:19 pm

FILIPINO mixed martial arts (MMA) fans out to satisfy their Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fix can do so by way of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform Tap Go.

In an official announcement on Oct. 28, officials of TAP Digital Media Ventures Corp. (TAP DMV) shared that they are now offering UFC All-Access to Tap Go subscribers where they can have access to more live UFC fights, shows, and events.

Also available is an exclusive access to the world’s largest MMA library that includes legendary fights, shows, and interviews.

It is a step-up for the Philippine-based sports and entertainment media company which is angling to provide all the best that the UFC can offer to Filipino MMA fans.

“It has always been the plan of TAP DMV to make sure that when we put out a content or an event, we go big and not just offer piecemeal offerings. We want to go all the way to make sure the viewing experience of our subscribers will be filled,” said Chiqui Reyes, business development officer of TAP DMV, in a media conference.

“We try to listen to our subscribers and viewers. We did our research and by providing them with a variety of live events and videos on demand we can give what they need for their sports entertainment needs especially during this time of the pandemic when our movements are still limited,” he added.

Available on UFC All-Access are the promotion’s live events, including Sunday’s UFC Light Heavyweight title match from Abu Dhabi between Glover Teixeira against Jan Błachowicz where the former emerged as winner.

Non-live programs such as UFC Classics, UFC Submissions, UFC The Walk, UFC Greatest Fights, UFC Ultimate Knockouts and many more can be accessed on demand.

To subscribe, log on to www.tapgo.tv or download the Tap Go app on IOS and Android. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Jazz suffer first loss of season

October 31, 2021 | 6:19 pm

DEMAR DeRozan led all scorers with 32 points, including a late game-clinching dunk, to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 107-99 home victory against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The Jazz rallied to make it a game after falling behind by 17 points, but just didn’t have enough to overcome the Bulls in the final minute en route to their first loss of the season. The 4-0 start had been Utah’s best since the 2006-07 season. — Reuters

Ronaldo hails ‘unbelievable’ Man Utd performance against Spurs

October 31, 2021 | 6:19 pm

MANCHESTER United’s 3-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday was the perfect antidote after being left disappointed and under some pressure after a heavy defeat by Liverpool last week, forward Cristiano Ronaldo said.

United came into the contest in north London on the back of a 5-0 hammering by their bitter rivals Liverpool that heaped the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but goals from Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford sealed a comfortable win.

“We knew before the game that we had a tough week after a result that we didn’t expect,” Ronaldo told Sky Sports. The team was a little bit under pressure, a little bit sad, but we knew we could give a good answer.

“We played good, started well. Of course my job is to help the team with my experience, my goals, my assists and I did that and I feel so pleased. In terms of the team, it was an unbelievable performance.”

Ronaldo, who scored a superb volley before setting up Cavani in the second half, said he was delighted the team could snap a poor run of four games without victory.

“The criticisms are always there,” Ronaldo said. “It doesn’t bother me because I have played 18 years of football, so I know that one day people will say ‘we’re perfect’ and another day they will say ‘we’re crap.’

“I know that and we have to deal with that, but it’s always better when the people praise you and they are happy with you. Sometimes life is like that, sometimes we have to pass through bad moments and we have to change, and we changed today.”

United rose to fifth in the standings with 17 points from 10 matches. They visit Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday. — Reuters

Taylor Pendrith stays hot, opens 3-shot lead at Bermuda

October 31, 2021 | 6:18 pm

CANADA’S Taylor Pendrith moved closer to his first career Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour victory, opening a three-shot lead on Saturday after three rounds of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Southampton, Bermuda.

Pendrith moved to 17-under 196 following his 6-under-par 65 on the Port Royal Golf Course as he built the largest 54-hole lead in tournament history. His solid round came one day after he delivered a course-record 10-under 61.

“For whatever reason, it is hard to follow up a low one with another low one, but I’ve been hitting it really nicely and just had to stay patient today,” Pendrith said. “I hit some really nice shots early and didn’t make a birdie until I think 8.

With two birdies over the final three holes, Pendrith moved three shots ahead of New Zealand’s Danny Lee (65) and four ahead of Austraila’s Lucas Herbert (65). A non-American has won each of the last three PGA Tour events.

Patrick Rodgers (69) and Vincent Whaley (68) are in a tie for fourth place heading into Sunday’s final round.

Just like in Thursday’s opening round, windy and rainy conditions are forecast for Sunday’s final 18 holes. Pendrith had a 1-under 70 on Thursday.

“It’s nice to have a couple-shot lead, but anything can happen,” Pendrith said. “It’s going to be crazy out there, so just try to make some pars I think will be good tomorrow and hit some solid shots and try not to fall over.”

Lee was at 6 under during Saturday’s round through 11 holes, but stumbled with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14 before a birdie at No. 15 and another at the par-5 17^th hole. He closed with a par at 18.

“Everything went very smoothly today,” said Lee, whose only other victory on the PGA Tour came six years ago. “There’s no really big mis-hits other than 13 and 14 off the tee, but other than that, everything was really good… I could have done a little better with the second shot on 18, but it’s just golf, so I’ll just go to the driving range and work on it a little bit, I guess.”

Herbert, in just his 19^th career start on the PGA Tour delivered his second consecutive 65, closing with four birdies on the back nine, the last at 17. His best career finish is a tie for 18^th at the 2021 Memorial Tournament. He does have two victories in Europe.

“I mean, it’s definitely a big thing to have won before and know what it takes to win,” Herbert said. “I’ve kind of done it from both scenarios, I’ve been a few shots back going into the final round and I’ve led going into the final round. Yeah, I feel I’ve got some experience there.”

Starting Sunday’s final round six shots off the lead at 11 under will be Justin Lower (67) and Peter Malnati (67), who are tied for sixth. Another shot back tied for eighth are Curtis Thompson and Patrick Flavin.

Patrick Reed, the highest ranked player in the field at No. 24 in the world, shot a 68 on Saturday and is at 8 under, in a five-way tie for 17^th place. — Reuters