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Poe says PSA amendments safeguard national security

By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

THE SENATE is likely to open more sectors to foreign ownership when it continues to debate proposed changes to the Public Service Act (PSA) next month, but will weigh national security concerns and restrict investment by foreign state-owned companies, a key senator said.

“Senators are reviewing crucial sectors, (whether) those sectors should be liberalized considering the national security risk,” Senator Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares, primary author and sponsor of the bill, told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

Senate Bill No. 2094, certified as urgent by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, if passed, will modify the legal definition of public services, which are currently included in the “public utilities” industry. The amendments hope in part to address a finding by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that the Philippine economy is one of the most restrictive to foreign investment in public services.

The restrictions on state-owned foreign investors are apparently aimed at China, where many of the companies are government-controlled.

Business groups asked the Senate last month not to maintain the foreign equity restrictions in the transportation and telecommunications sectors, following the foreign business chambers, who in a joint statement noted that tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment did not come to the Philippines but instead went to neighboring countries.

Allowing foreign competition would improve the quality and pricing of internet connectivity, the foreign chambers added.

According to the 2020 Digital Quality of Life survey, the Philippines was 66th out of 85 countries. The study attributed the poor showing to expensive, low-quality internet and the need to upgrade infrastructure.

The National Economic and Development Authority reported that about 64% of barangays do not have telecommunication services, 88% have no free WiFi zones, and 70% have no fiber optic cable.

Under the measure, a change in the list of infrastructure deemed critical will ensure industries are liberalized and receive fresh capital, according to Ms. Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, in an earlier plenary session.

The list of critical infrastructure where 100% foreign ownership will be allowed includes telecommunications; air carriers; domestic shipping; railways and subways; and tollways and expressways.

During a previous amendment session, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto noted the possibility of Chinese businesses owning a telecommunication company 100%. “I am not against Chinese companies doing business in the Philippines, I am just worried, since we do have a problem in the South China Sea.”

Mr. Recto said if critical infrastructure is compromised in any way, it would have a “debilitative impact on national security.”

Safeguards will be in place such as vetting by the national security council, restrictions on investment by foreign state-owned companies, and the Congressional grant of a franchise, among others, Ms. Poe said.

“It is a compromise that they are opening up those industries; however, they have to go through stringent measures to be approved,” she added.

China — which claims about 85% of the South China Sea — has refused to recognize an international ruling invalidating its claim, and has sought to build bases on islands in the strategic waterway.

Richard J. Heydarian, professorial chair on geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, has said that the main issue surrounding China’s claim, based the so-called “nine-dash line” as delineated in the maps Beijing has issued, is a lack of clarity regarding the exact coordinates of its claim. “The ambiguity of China’s claims is suspicious, which (may indicate) opportunism and a potentially flexible definition.”

“China can have a maximalist definition, meaning all islands and natural resources within the nine-dash line are part of (its) territory,” Mr. Heydarian added. “But it can also have a minimalist definition, (in which it claims) the land features, their surrounding waters, and their fishery resources or oil and gas resources in that area.”

Transport dep’t says Mindanao rail groundwork proceeding

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

GROUNDWORK for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 1 will continue despite budgeting issues, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.

“While the budget for MRP was not included by DBM (Department of Budget and Management) in the NEP (National Expenditure Program), and that we are still working on the amendment of our budget, the DoTr has allocation for ROW (right-of-way) acquisition for all its projects including MRP,” Transportation Assistant Secretary for Project Implementation-Mindanao Cluster Eymard D. Eje told BusinessWorld by phone message on Oct. 1.

“The ground activities of the PMO (Project Management Office) will continue to achieve our target,” he added.

The department is aiming to start construction work in April 2022. It hopes to start partial operations (Tagum-Carmen section) in October 2022, followed by full operations (Tagum-Davao-Digos) in October 2023.

“The impasse will not substantially affect the ground activities; but if the (House of Representatives) grants and includes the MRP in the NEP, activities will be much easier,” Mr. Eje said.

The House approved the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022 on Sept. 30. The chamber has formed a “small committee” to collate proposed amendments until Oct. 5 for inclusion in the final version of the budget bill.

“We are now addressing the issue through the House of Representatives so that there will be a budget for MRP. Hopefully, the House can help us amend the budget proposal,” Mr. Eje said.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan told the Senate Committee on Finance during a budget hearing last week that the DBM did not approve the DoTr’s proposed budget for the implementation of the Mindanao rail project in 2022.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said the project will need P2 billion next year.

“DoTr awarded the Project Management Consultant (PMC) Contract for the Mindanao Railway Project in August, which will require advance payment and progress payments in 2022. This is why DoTr is requesting that the budget be reinstated for Mindanao rail,” she said in a phone message, referring to the P3.08-billion project management consultancy contract awarded to a consortium composed of China Railway Design Corp. and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co., Ltd.

DBM Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda said when asked to comment that the project is “slow moving” and is still in the ROW acquisition phase.

“How will they construct on private property? Also, if DoTr thinks this project is a priority, it could have reallocated an amount for this project,” she said in a phone message to BusinessWorld last week.

The department has yet to receive the shortlist of Chinese bidders for the design-and-build contract of the project.

Demands that the project’s Toril Car Park be moved and concerns over the valuation of the affected properties are among the issues the Mindanao rail project is dealing with.

Clipton J. Solamo, the project manager, has said that the DoTr denied the request to move the MRP Toril Car Park because it would substantially affect the viability of the Toril station.

“Notices of taking” have been issued to 69.90% of affected properties in Tagum, 10.78% in Carmen, 96.69% in Panabo, 90.67% in Davao City, 85.26% in Santa Cruz, and 86.84% in Digos, he said in a recent phone message.

Bangsamoro ecozone agency bill filed in region’s parliament

MINDA.GOV.PH

A BILL that will establish a Bangsamoro ecozone agency, similar to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, has been filed at the autonomous region’s parliament.

Bill No. 129 or the Bangsamoro Economic Zone Act of 2021, filed by Member of Parliament Amir S. Mawallil, will create the Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) that will be tasked to help promote investment in the region.

“The proposed bill specifies that the economic zones that will be established shall be developed into decentralized, self-reliant, and sustainable agro-industrial and commercial investment centers, which shall be operated and treated as a separate customs territory,” Mr. Mawallil said in a statement sent to BusinessWorld.

“It will also facilitate the marketing and export of goods and services produced by several industries,” he added, citing as examples the opportunities in the growing Halal and Islamic finance sectors.

Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority, said four of the eight priority agro-economic zones being pushed for development are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

These are in Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Maguindanao, and Picong in Lanao del Sur, with specific commodities assigned to each area. Three others are within the Zamboanga Peninsula Region and one in Agusan del Sur in the Caraga Region.

Existing agro-industrial zones in Mindanao include the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental and the Bukidnon Agro-Resources Export Zone, both in Northern Mindanao; one in Roxas, Zamboanga del Sur; the Anflo Industrial Estate in Panabo City in Davao Region; and at least five in the Sarangani-South Cotabato-General Santos City area.

Mr. Montenegro, speaking at a forum on Friday hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said ecozones address issues such as ease of doing business for private investors as well as the “fragmentation of commodities.”

He also emphasized that the development of these agro-ecozones must be complemented “by improving logistics systems and services connecting rural areas with industrial centers, and bringing the products up in the value chain to distribution and marketing in huge domestic and EAGA (East ASEAN Growth Area) Halal markets.”

Bangsamoro Deputy Chief Minister Benjamin T. Loong, speaking in the same forum, said discussions are ongoing with government and private sector leaders in the EAGA parts of Indonesia and Malaysia for transport connectivity, including fast craft and roll on-roll off services to and from Tawi-Tawi.

“Our approach is… we want to make the province of Tawi-Tawi a model (for EAGA links). So actually (shipping deals are) just breaking the ice; this will also include (cooperation) on power,” Mr. Loon said.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law, which set up the BARMM, gives the regional government the authority to “establish economic zones, industrial estates, and free ports in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, including the establishment of a Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority.”

Mr. Mawallil said the passage of the BEZA Act “will capitalize on the rich natural resources that BARMM has, in addition to several comparative advantages that can be utilized to improve the current state of the region, its government, and its people.” — Marifi S. Jara

Gov’t support for EVs seen crucial in attracting investment

A BILL establishing government support for the electric vehicle (EV) industry will send a signal to consumers and potential investors that such technology is here to stay and may lead to the Philippines becoming an export base for EV products, an industry association said.

Edmund A. Araga, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, said in an e-mail that the approval of the measure in the House of Representatives “would leave a mark that the government is fully supporting the industry and its consumers… in promoting the use of e-vehicles.”

Legislators approved House Bill 10213 or the proposed Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act on third and final reading Sept. 28.

The bill would require government agencies and businesses that maintain and operate 20 or more motor vehicles to have 10% of their fleets consist of EVs.

It also establishes tax incentives for EV manufacturers, entities maintaining charging stations, and research and development centers.

Electric vehicles, charging stations, and materials for their assembly will also be exempt from customs duties and value-added tax for five years from the effectivity of the proposed law.

The measure also requires establishments with 20 or more designated parking slots to dedicate 5% of their space for the use of EVs and to provide charging points.

Mr. Araga said that the tax incentives could encourage manufacturers of EV parts to establish operations and ramp up production in the country. 

“Investors might consider the Philippine market as their new ground in capitalizing on the expertise of skilled Filipinos which are capable to export products to our other countries,” he said.

Mr. Araga also said that government regulation would help “cost-conscious” Filipinos to come around to the benefits and savings of using EVs.

“(Local adoption) would be possible as long as government sectors are supportive and implement necessary regulations,” he said.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Supervising Research Specialist Maureen D. Rosellon said in July that shortcomings in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and manufacturing technology have left the Philippines behind in the regional competition for trade and investment.

The Senate approved its counterpart measure on May 31 and has formed a bicameral committee to harmonize the two chambers’ bills. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Crop insurance agency ordered to report financial condition by Oct. 7

PHOTOGRAPH BY RANDOLPH CANDANO

FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III ordered the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to report on its financial condition and assess its contingent liabilities to the corporation’s newly-reorganized board on Oct. 7.

In a statement Sunday, Mr. Dominguez, the PCIC’s chairman, said he ordered the reports to help determine how the company will be managed under its reorganized board, as well as assess proposals for it to purchase reinsurance.

Mr. Dominguez is also expecting the PCIC to present its plans for expanding coverage to more crops, and exploring parametric insurance, which pays out based on the intensity of a trigger event.

The PCIC board conducted its first meeting late last month, and named coverage expansion its main priority, along with addressing the firm’s “unsustainable” finances.

Mr. Dominguez has said that the company relies heavily on subsidies and is due to receive P4.5 billion next year.

In a May 7 report, the Insurance Commission (IC) recommended that the PCIC review its overall risk management program by tapping reinsurance as a means of risk transfer.

The IC flagged the insurer’s vulnerability in the event of a major calamity.

“If the PCIC will continue this practice, the government is expected to infuse more capital for it to survive should there be large-scale losses which will affect most of its insured,” the regulator said in its report, which was made available to the public on Friday.

A separate study conducted by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) indicated that the PCIC has racked up operating costs in the last five years of P536.44 million.

Expenses for personnel services and maintenance and other operating expenses reported an average growth of 8% and 24%, respectively.

“For every peso income it generated (before subsidy), it is already spending an average of P0.71 (excluding direct costs and financial and non-cash expenses). Further, as compared to GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) and SSS (Social Security System) operating cost over its total expenses of 5%, PCIC is high at 15%,” the BTr said.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 148 on Sept. 14, which transferred oversight of the PCIC to the Department of Finance. — Beatrice M. Laforga

BoC investigating possible misdeclaration of palm oil imports

REUTERS

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has begun looking into palm oil imports in response to concerns expressed by the coconut industry of rampant misdeclaration to avoid taxes.

“The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), through the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), flagged several issues that might need an audit of palm (oil) importers. We have a vibrant coconut industry and one of the things I think they feel might be affecting them is the importation of palm oil either as a finished product or as a feed-grade material,” Vincent Philip C. Maronilla, the Customs assistant commissioner who heads the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG), told BusinessWorld by phone Friday.

He said the PCAG started issuing audit notification letters (ANLs) to 13 companies last month signifying its intent to investigate one year’s worth of financial reports to detect potential tax leakages from the industry. He also endorsed more ANLs to the Customs Commissioner for consideration.

“We will extend that to three years if we find issue,” he added.

The PCAG will be looking at instances of deliberate misclassification of palm oil products from food grade to feed grade to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT).

He gave no estimate of the taxes potentially foregone by the government “but it would be substantial if we’re able to prove that there’s an excess of imports as against the permits issued by the DA (Department of Agriculture) or there has been misclassification of products from a food-grade quality to feed-grade quality, because that would mean value-added taxes were not paid because feed-grade palm oils are exempt from VAT,” Mr. Maronilla said.

A PCAG investigation last year found that the government lost P1.4 billion in potential revenue due to the undervaluation of rice imports.

Mr. Maronilla said Customs is also considering other agriculture products like meat for post-clearance audits, after an Executive Order (EO) issued in May reduced tariffs and allowed more imports to come in at favorable rates. He said the audit may start in mid-2022 once the one-year validity of the EO expires.

“Importers of MDM (mechanically deboned meat) mostly paid voluntarily. We did not see a lot of issues when it came to value and classifications… Given the EO, we’ll wait for the period to end before we do a one-year audit. We want to give it a chance to be implemented fully without… a post-clearance audit conducted (in the middle of implementation,)” he said.

The BoC is the second-biggest revenue generating agency, next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“We’re on track with our collections… I hope that we’ll be able to sustain that momentum and not just meet the collection target for 2021 again. We met it in 2020, but (hope to) collect a little bit more to help the government with its finances,” he said.

The BoC collected P59.9 billion in September, surpassing its P56.9-billion target by 5.3%.

This brought its nine-month total to P472.204 billion, or 76.6% of its target for 2021. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Closing books in the new normal

As the world continues to adjust to the changes wrought by COVID-19, previously small annoyances in closing the books of a company can turn into significant hurdles. While it was sometimes already challenging to close books pre-pandemic, the difficulty of the task is now compounded by new stressors such as strained technology resources, a distributed workforce, and even personal concerns regarding health and finances.

This article will discuss some strategies on how CFOs, controllers and their teams can communicate effectively and drive clear priorities during a virtual close. Based on the EY article How to manage your close process virtually, these considerations aim to help companies close books effectively as well as position them for post-pandemic recovery. This will apply whether company operations are manual or are more advanced.

ESTABLISHING A STRONGER TEAM DYNAMIC
Even in the best of times, effective collaboration can be a hurdle in itself. A large, multinational organization may have to deal with thousands of users across multiple geographies who need to be aligned in terms of processes and deliverables. While there may be one or two people who specialize in certain tasks, teams of people should ideally be equipped with vital knowledge to pick up on each other’s work in the event someone is unavailable.

Given today’s circumstances, however, establishing new and dynamic technology-empowered team norms becomes even more critical. Teams are encouraged to conduct more meetings and utilize video software for key agendas to establish a more personal connection. The team also needs to look for new methods and solutions that promote closer remote collaboration since e-mails are often quite a limited tool — in fact, there is a constant risk of e-mails being overlooked or for a user to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of e-mails we now receive on a daily basis. In addition, teams should consider reviewing controls that require two-person coordination before the close. Determine whether remote working demands have changed these controls, and ensure they are properly documented to support eventual audits.

It will also be vital to communicate with management early regarding how reporting and reviews will be handled. Management reporting recipients need to be briefed before making any changes. As an example, it should be determined how trial balance and preliminary P&L reviews will be conducted remotely to properly manage expectations. A plan has to be in place for report distribution as well as reviews related to the close.

UTILIZING EFFECTIVE TEAM SOFTWARE
Instead of relying mostly on meetings to understand statuses and involvement in the process, a team can use dashboards and standard reports with read-only access for stakeholders and auditors for visibility. Teaming software allow simultaneous collaboration on the same task or reconciliation, the flexibility of which is especially useful in the current working environment. Features that enable users to attach documentation and access work that has been accomplished in previous periods will allow new or even temporary workers to gain the necessary information from one place, establishing better continuity even if one or two key team members are unable to work.

Effective teaming software solutions can also facilitate communications and establish one source of truth. By having one place where all files are consolidated and can be securely transferred, employees will not need to search in multiple sources and save time. An efficient software solution will allow teams to create business rules that can help operationalize high-risk priority accounts with frequency information and due dates. Another function that should be prioritized is the ability to set review levels and frequencies based on criteria defined by the business. Some accounts may have less volatility than others and will not need to be reviewed monthly, while others may be zero-balance accounts that can be certified automatically.

An efficient task management solution can handle the documentation, support and sign off of any activity, while the best task management software can set up recurring tasks for certification or tracking.

UNDERSTANDING RISKS AND SETTING PRIORITIES
After establishing clearer ways to team up in the new normal, the next point of focus is identifying the most high-risk items and addressing them. With strained resources and issues in technology, such as maintenance and cybersecurity, arising given our current circumstances, understanding and prioritizing risks accordingly will help keep the focus of the team from fraying or latching onto low-impact concerns. Teams must learn what they can from external and internal auditors as well as how their controls can identify the high-risk items that need to be prioritized.

It is recommended to scrutinize how overall activities relate to broader milestones in the close — for example, they can center on closing sub-ledgers and the general ledger. All the dependencies such as entity-level processes that are dependent on local steps will need to be considered. Risks such as reconciliations, journal entries and tasks like controls must have their risks assessed.

Teams can also reduce activities by evaluating and enforcing materiality thresholds, with the addition of appointing a point person to monitor the close checklist to serve as a secondary control in ensuring the team does not miss any steps. After reviewing the virtual close plan with auditors and soliciting their input, any extra steps can be determined to further support the audit process.

OPTIMIZING TODAY WORK BETTER TOMORROW
Though the immediate goal is to close the books, these considerations can pave the way for companies and teams to become more optimized. By learning how to address and manage risks and pain points under the unprecedented challenges to be found in our current environment, teams can develop the necessary agility, resiliency and flexibility to meet future disruptions and better position themselves to grow and thrive in a business world beyond the pandemic.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Aaron C. Escartin is a Tax Partner of SGV & Co.

Magnolia Hotshots defeat Meralco Bolts in Game One

THE Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok defeated the Meralco Bolts, 88-79, in Game One of their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series on Sunday. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok defeated the Meralco Bolts, 88-79, in Game One of their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series on Sunday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Magnolia used a late surge in the final quarter as a springboard to create distance from Meralco and bag the win to go one up in their Final Four matchup in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) tournament.

Big man Ian Sangalang led the way for the Hotshots in the win, finishing with 18 points.

It was a grind-it-out contest for Magnolia and Meralco throughout, with both teams making runs and counter-runs and having it rough and chippy in some moments.

The count stood at 69-all with 7:42 left to play when Magnolia made its move.

Messrs. Sangalang and Calvin Abueva led the Hotshots in going on a 19-5 blast in the next six minutes to build a commanding 14-point lead, 88-74, and they never looked back from there.

Best player of the game Mr. Sangalang also had eight rebounds and five blocks in the victory, with Pau Lee adding 17 points.

Mr. Abueva, foul-plagued for much of the game, had 13 points and seven rebounds while Jio Jalalon and Marc Barroca had 12 and 11 points, respectively.

For Meralco, it was Bong Quinto who top-scored with 14 points, followed by Mac Belo and Anjo Caram with 11 points apiece.

“This is already the semifinals and we expect it to be a grinding series and it’s not going to be easy. Meralco is in the semis for a reason and they are deserving of it. Our mindset is to work hard to be able to win and we did that in this game,” said Mr. Sangalang in the post-game press conference.

Game Two of the series is this week with the official date and time to be announced by the league later.

Vietnam expected to announce fate of 31st SEA Games — POC

THE fate of the postponed 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, will be known this week.

This was shared by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in a press release at the weekend, saying it expects the Vietnam organizing committee to make an official announcement any day now just as it surmised that the biennial regional sporting event could take place in the latter part of May next year.

“We are expecting… Vietnam will make the official announcement next week,” said POC President Abraham N. Tolentino. “I believe it will be in the latter part of May 2022.”

Hanoi was scheduled to host the biennial regional sporting meet in December this year, but moved to defer it to 2022 because of the still-unsteady situation with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In the POC release, it was also announced that the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) that Thailand was supposed to host next year has been moved to 2023 over COVID-related concerns as well.

The Philippines is the defending champion in the SEA Games after topping the medal tally with a 387 total haul, 149 of which were gold medals in 2019 in proceedings held in different parts of Luzon. It was the second time that it finished overall champion after 2005 which the country also hosted.

Prior to Vietnam’s decision to postpone the 31st SEA Games, the Philippines already started laying the groundwork for its campaign.

It initially targeted to send 560 athletes, competing in 38 of 40 events.

Some of the national teams also started training in different “bubble” setups.

The POC, along with other sports agencies and organizations like the Philippine Sports Commission, said training will continue for the national athletes for different international competitions, including the SEA Games in Hanoi whenever it may be. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Ravena brothers and Kobe Paras have solid Japan B.League debuts

BROTHERS Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena (in photo), along with former UP stalwart Kobe Paras, had solid debuts in the 2021-22 season of the Japan B.League at the weekend. — B.LEAGUE

BROTHERS Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena and former University of the Philippines stalwart Kobe Paras had solid debuts in the 2021-2022 season of the Japan B.League at the weekend.

Three of eight Filipinos seeing action in the Japanese league this season, the trio produced quality performances in their maiden outings to get their respective campaigns to a good start.

The Ravenas collided on Saturday with Kiefer and his Shiga Lakestars coming from behind to defeat Thirdy and the visiting San-en NeoPhoenix, 93-83, in their opener.

Kiefer, who got a release from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and his mother team NLEX Road Warriors to play in the B.League for one season, did not start for Shiga, but made his presence felt throughout the contest.

The older Ravena was a stabilizing factor for the Lakestars, who at one point in the third period trailed NeoPhoenix by 22 points, 37-59.

Kiefer, who is his team’s Asian import, finished with all-around numbers of 11 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and three steals with zero turnovers.

His play complemented well the performance of Shiga’s international imports Ovie Soko, Sean O’mara, and Novar Gadson, who each scored 18, 17 and 16 points, respectively, as well as local Teppei Kashiwagura, who had 14, as they went on to complete the come-from-behind victory in front of their hometown fans.

Thirdy, for his part, had his struggles in his first game back, especially in shooting the ball, going 4-of-14 for the game, but was still a factor in other facets of the game.

Playing his second season in the B.League after coming on board last year, the younger of the Ravena brothers also had 11 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals.

He was tasked to defend the best players of the opposing team, including Kiefer, and made a good account of himself especially in the early goings where they built a huge lead.

Kiefer and Thirdy were set to play one another anew on Sunday in the second game of back-to-back matches.

“Adjustments here have been a little easy. It is a cool and fun place to be at. They have been polite and respectful wherever you go. I’m excited with my new team and new adventure with the Shiga Lakestars. It’s a young team and hopefully, we can be successful this season,” said Kiefer of playing in Japan this season.

PARAS DEBUT
Meanwhile, Mr. Paras introduced himself in the Japan league in explosive fashion, pumping in 25 points in Niigata Albirex BB’s 81-85 loss to Kyoto Hannaryz also on Saturday.

The son of PBA legend Benjie, Mr. Paras scored 20 of his total points in the opening half, showing his offensive skills in varying ways to help his team to a 51-40 advantage at the half.

Unfortunately, they could not sustain it and saw Kyoto overtake them in the second half en route to the victory.

Mr. Paras also had four assists and two steals. He was to play again on Sunday in a rematch with Kyoto.

Other Filipinos seeing action in the Japan B.League both in Division 1 and 2 are Ray Parks, Jr., Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Dwight Ramos and Kemark Cariño.

Games of the Filipino players in the B.League are aired in the Philippines by sports media distribution company Tap Digital Media Ventures (TapDMV) through its over-the-top (OTT) platform TAP GO and cable channel Tap Sports. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Chelsea tops after return to winning ways; Man Utd held

LONDON — Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Southampton to move top of the Premier League, but Manchester United stuttered again at home on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by high-flying Everton.

After consecutive defeats for only the second time since Thomas Tuchel took charge, Chelsea needed a response and they got it as Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell struck late on after Southampton had been reduced to 10 men.

Tuchel’s side move to 16 points from seven games, two more than Liverpool who host Manchester City in Sunday’s big clash.

Manchester United and Everton are also locked on 14 points after the early kickoff at Old Trafford ended honours even.

Brighton and Hove Albion also have 14 points after a 0-0 home draw with Arsenal played in torrential rain.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of a last-gasp winner against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday, starting on the bench, United took a deserved lead when Anthony Martial was played in by Bruno Fernandes to score in style just before the half time interval.

United were pegged back though when Andros Townsend finished off a sweeping move — the winger celebrating with a trademark Ronaldo pose in front of Everton’s traveling fans.

Rafa Benitez’s side thought they had snatched a late victory when Yerry Mina slotted in, but after a VAR review he was adjudged to have been offside.

It was a let-off for United, but they were still left frustrated at dropping more home points after last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa, especially with a tough-looking run of league fixtures ahead.

“We had 75% possession. We got hit on one break that cost us and we lacked that cutting edge to get the important second goal,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær said.

“We just couldn’t get that second goal you need in games like this as Everton can score a goal from nowhere.”

‘RIGHT MOMENTS’
Ronaldo came off the bench, but this time the Portuguese could not summon a dramatic ending.

“It’s about picking the right moments (to give Ronaldo a rest),” Solskjær said when asked about the decision to put him on the bench and start with Edinson Cavani.

After Chelsea failed to score in their last two games, it was unsung academy product Trevoh Chalobah who put them in front after nine minutes.

Romelu Lukaku and Werner both had goals ruled out and when, on the hour, Ben Chilwell tripped Tino Livramento in the area to earn Southampton a penalty that James Ward-Prowse converted, it looked as though the visitors would earn a point.

But Ward-Prowse was red-carded for a poor tackle on Jorginho and Chelsea took advantage to claim the win.

“It was absolutely a deserved victory. We played a good match of football, an entertaining match of football because Southampton played strong,” Tuchel said.

“There are a lot of things for him to improve, but we are happy and relieved we scored in the late minutes.”

Leeds United kickstarted their campaign with a first league win — Diego Llorente’s early goal proving enough to beat Watford 1-0 at Elland Road.

Promoted Norwich City earned their first point of the season and ended a run of 16 consecutive Premier League defeats as they ground out a 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Burnley.

Newcastle United’s troubles also continued as the Magpies went down 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers for whom South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan struck twice from assists by Raul Jimenez to help Wolves move clear of the relegation zone.

Norwich remains bottom with one point with Newcastle and Burnley, who are also winless, on three. — Reuters

Jin Young Ko, Inbee Park grab lead at ShopRite LPGA Classic

SOUTH Koreans Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park, the second and third-ranked players in the world, forged a tie atop the leaderboard on Saturday after two rounds of the ShopRite Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Classic in Galloway, NJ.

Each golfer exceeded their Friday round with matching 6-under 65s to soar to 11 under, two strokes ahead of Patty Tavatanakit. Ko recorded five birdies on the first eight holes and six for the day.

“Well, yeah, I would say like I was into the — like my game was like perfectly on the front nine, but I was thinking, okay, I want to get more birdies on back nine,” Ko said.

She expects to maintain her aggressiveness on the final day.

“This course is a little shorter so we can get a lot of birdies,” she said. “So, yeah. I will do aggressive play tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Park had a bogey on 8, but rallied with seven birdies overall — including 18 — to earn a share of the lead going into the final round on Sunday.

Other golfers to match Ko and Park with a second-round 65 included second-year pro Tavatanakit, who sits in third, and Australia’s Su Oh, tied for sixth.

Oh recorded eight birdies on the day.

“I played quite solid I guess,” Oh said. “Eight birdies and two bogeys. I putted quite well compared to yesterday. Like the greens, the first six holes I just couldn’t get the bounces on the greens. It’s so firm out there.

“But you don’t — sometimes you just don’t have anywhere to land so you just have to like make an up and down. But this morning a little bit softer, a little bit cooler, which is kind of nice. And the greens are fresh, and so took advantage of that.”

Two golfers are tied for fourth at 8-under. Brittany Lincicome shot a 67 with an eagle on No. 9. And Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen also notched an eagle, on No. 3, to give her a second straight solid round fresh off her opening round 66.

Oh is tied with three other players in sixth: France’s Perrine Delacour, So Yeon Ryu of South Korea and England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

Ryu and Shadoff had led the field after the opening round, and each shot a 1-under 70 on Saturday. Delacour carded a 3-under 68 with a birdie on 18.

The tournament is a 54-hole event with no cut. Play concludes on Sunday. — Reuters

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