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PHL and China discuss possible joint gas project

BW FILE PHOTO

By Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

THE Philippines and China discussed the possibility of joint gas development during recent bilateral talks, signaling a potential revival of energy cooperation as Manila confronts tighter fuel supplies.

Initial exchanges on oil and gas exploration took place during the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultation and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said late on Saturday. The discussions were held alongside talks aimed at improving coordination between the two countries’ coast guards.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last week said he is open to restarting talks on joint energy exploration with China as the Philippines grapples with a fuel squeeze linked to the war in the Middle East.

China has also signaled willingness to resume negotiations. Shortly after Mr. Marcos’ remarks, Beijing said it is open to renewing discussions on joint energy development in the South China Sea.

Energy cooperation between the two countries has stalled in recent years. In 2023, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a tripartite agreement among the Philippines, China and Vietnam to conduct marine seismic surveys in the disputed area, complicating efforts at joint resource exploration.

The latest talks were led by Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo M. Herrera‑Lim and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. The delegations discussed political and security issues as well as potential cooperation in trade, agriculture and the energy sector, the DFA said.

The Philippines also raised recent incidents in contested waters that have affected Filipino personnel and fishermen, while reiterating its position on sovereignty based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling that voided China’s expansive claims.

“Both sides continued to make progress on practical measures that are consistent with Philippine law and policy to increase confidence in the maritime domain,” the DFA said.

Beyond energy, the two countries discussed steps to deepen people‑to‑people ties through expanded tourism access, including visa facilitation and the opening of additional direct flight routes.

In January, the Philippines began allowing Chinese nationals to enter visa‑free for up to 14 days for tourism and business purposes, provided entry is through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or Mactan‑Cebu International Airport.

Any move toward joint energy development would likely face legal and political scrutiny at home, given constitutional limits on foreign participation in resource extraction and heightened tensions in the South China Sea.

CHINESE ADVANTAGE
The Philippines could benefit from China’s technical capacity in offshore drilling if the two sides proceed with a joint oil and gas exploration in disputed areas of the South China Sea, provided Manila secures a formal agreement that safeguards its sovereignty, political analysts said.

While joint exploration could unlock much-needed energy resources for the Philippines, analysts cautioned that China would likely retain an advantage in any partnership due to its economic and technological clout.

“The Philippines does not have the capability to explore and make good use of available natural resources,” Edmund S. Tayao, president of Political Economic Elemental Researchers and Strategists, said in a Facebook Messenger call. “It will really require a partnership with a more capable country like China.”

Mr. Tayao noted that even if the potential exploration sites are within areas claimed by the Philippines, Manila would remain the lesser partner in such a venture. He stressed that the structure of any agreement would be crucial, particularly in defining resource-sharing terms and explicitly protecting Philippine sovereign rights.

“If the agreement includes control, sovereignty or ownership of the area, then we are clearly at a disadvantage,” he said, adding that negotiations should focus strictly on joint development.

Beyond economic considerations, a joint oil and gas project could also help ease diplomatic tensions and support broader confidence-building measures in the region. Amr Solon S. Sison, a Far Eastern University political science instructor, said cooperation on energy development could advance long-stalled talks on a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

“The Philippines does not have an established infrastructure to fully harness the energy sources from deep sea drilling besides natural gas,” Mr. Sison said in a Messenger chat, noting that the country has only one oil refinery and limited capacity for offshore drilling beyond natural gas extraction.

Mr. Tayao said Mr. Marcos’ openness about joint exploration is consistent with the administration’s foreign policy stance of being “a friend to all and an enemy to no one.”

Mr. Sison, however, views the potential revival of talks as a pragmatic response to rising global energy prices amid the war in the Middle East.

Impeachment threatens VP Sara’s 2028 presidential bid

VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio — OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

IMPEACHMENT proceedings against Philippine Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio risk undercutting her position as a leading contender for the 2028 presidential election, with corruption allegations threatening to erode the political capital she has built since sweeping into office in 2022, political analysts said.

The move to unseat Ms. Duterte intensifies a high-stakes political standoff between her and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., once allies who ran together on a unity ticket but have since fallen out and emerged as rivals.

“The stakes are existential,” Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati, said via Facebook Messenger. “For the Duterte camp, an acquittal strengthens their claim to enduring popular legitimacy.”

On the other hand, he said, a case that gains traction among voters would severely narrow her path back to executive power.

The House of Representatives’ Justice Committee last week began hearing multiple impeachment complaints filed against the Vice-President. The body is expected to conduct a series of televised hearings to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to advance the charges to a full vote in the chamber.

At least 106 lawmakers must vote in favor for the articles of impeachment to be sent to the Senate, which would then sit as an impeachment court. A Senate conviction would remove Ms. Duterte from office and permanently bar her from holding any public post.

The complaints accuse Ms. Duterte of misusing hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice-President and the Department of Education, which she headed.

Other allegations include amassing wealth disproportionate to her declared income, seeking to destabilize the government and plotting to assassinate Mr. Marcos, his wife and a former House speaker. Ms. Duterte has denied all accusations.

Taken together, the petitions charge her with graft, bribery, constitutional violations and betrayal of public trust — all impeachable offenses under the 1987 Constitution.

“If the House Justice Committee’s plan to scrutinize the evidence in public pushes through, Filipinos, including her supporters, may increasingly believe the allegations were true,” said Dennis C. Coronacion, chairman of the University of Santo Tomas’ Political Science Department. “That would not be good for her in terms of optics and could potentially damage her reputation as a political leader.”

Mr. Coronacion described the impeachment drive as a “political demolition job” aimed at blocking Ms. Duterte’s widely anticipated 2028 presidential bid. Pre-election surveys have consistently placed the Vice-President among the strongest potential candidates in the race. Mr. Marcos, constitutionally limited to a single six-year term, has yet to anoint a presidential bet.

While impeachment in the Philippines often hinges on arithmetic in Congress, analysts say public perception forged through televised proceedings could prove decisive.

“Impeachment is often framed as a numbers game, but the actual impact is shaped in the arena of public deliberation,” Arjan P. Aguirre, an assistant professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Messenger chat.

If administration allies manage to control the narrative, he said, sustained allegations of wrongdoing could gradually weaken Ms. Duterte’s credibility and build momentum for conviction.

The process could also backfire. Aggressive questioning or procedural disruption by lawmakers allied with the Vice-President could reinforce her image as a political target of the Marcos camp, potentially galvanizing her base, Mr. Aguirre said.

Mr. Tapia noted that the strength of the financial evidence would be critical. “If supported by clear records and a coherent evidentiary chain, it reframes the issue from political contestation to questions of propriety and accountability,” he said. “That has real electoral consequences.”

San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria J. Zamora said the complaints were bolstered by more evidence than earlier efforts. Ms. Duterte survived an impeachment attempt last year after the Supreme Court nullified the proceedings due to procedural flaws.

“There are more pieces of evidence now because additional attachments were included,” Ms. Zamora said. She added that the Justice committee is nearing the 60-day constitutional limit and expects to conclude deliberations by the end of May.

338 Filipinos to return to PHL

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. personally welcomed 343 Filipinos repatriated from the Middle East at Villamor Air Base on Monday. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said that 338 repatriated Filipinos from the Middle East are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Sunday.

In a statement, the agency said the returning Filipinos were flown home on the government’s sixth chartered flight from the conflict-hit region.

The latest batch of repatriated Filipinos included 203 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 125 of their family members. The remaining 10 were Filipinos who have been stranded since the war began.

The agency earlier reported that the fifth chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates arrived in the Philippines last Friday, 7 p.m. The flight included 222 OFWs and their 78 dependents, as well as 49 stranded Filipinos.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said last week that the agency is targeting to repatriate about 1,200 more Filipinos from the Middle East.

A total of 2,910 Filipinos from the Middle East have returned to the Philippines, according to data from the DMW. — Adrian H. Halili

Sea code completion may be delayed

ORIGINAL PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE COASTGUARD FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

A CODE of conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea is unlikely be completed this year, analysts said, as Manila prepares for a “bare-bones” Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit focused on the fallout from the Iran war.

Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, said that the completion of the code this year may remain “far-fetched.”

“With Manila’s early announcement of its vulnerability to energy security amid the Iran war and its planned bilateral reset with China, most likely the elusive CoC will be set aside in the agenda,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Cabalza said that the upcoming summits of the ASEAN must focus on the Middle East energy crisis, cybersecurity in the region, and peace and justice in the Cambodia-Thailand conflict.

He noted that the bloc must also reach a regional consensus to halt gray zone activities in the disputed sea.

The ASEAN and China agreed to craft a binding code of conduct in 2002, however, progress toward a binding framework has been repeatedly delayed by legal, political and strategic differences. Manila said earlier that it plans to complete the binding code by the end of the year.

Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said that ASEAN leaders came to a consensus to proceed with the meetings rather than delay them, with the summit mainly focused on urgent concerns of the regional bloc.

The President said that scheduled leadership meetings will now prioritize coordination on urgent issues such as energy, food security, and migrant workers amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said the Philippines, as this year’s chair, should emphasize independence on the Middle East conflict.

The US and Israel on Feb. 28 launched a coordinated strike at Iran aimed at crippling its nuclear weapons program. One month since, the war has further intensified placing a strain on global oil supply and prices with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that carries about 20 million barrels of oil per day.

“For the Philippines it is in fact an opportunity to argue for greater ASEAN interdependence and middle power independence,” he said in a Messenger chat.

However, Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said that the downsized summit may not delay completion of the CoC, but allow the bloc to pivot negotiations between Beijing and the ASEAN.

“Given how we are jointly devising strategies on how we can navigate these pressing times effectively — and the fact that China is among our key partners through ASEAN+3 — then this may lead to attitudinal dynamics which in a way or another may also positively affect how the continuous negotiations may unfold,” he said in a Messenger chat.

Mr. Cortez added that energy security and the welfare of migrant workers are still aligned with the Philippines’ chairship priorities.

“Regional security may also be understood from the lens of energy security, and on the other hand, migrant workers’ welfare is also mirrored in how we now try to explore ways on how we can ensure the safety of our migrant communities,” he said.

The South China Sea remains one of the region’s most volatile flashpoints. China has expanded its presence despite a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal that voided its sweeping claims over the waters, putting it at odds with claimants such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Taiwan. — Adrian H. Halili

Marcos: Reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice

PRIESTS and parishioners joined a Palm Sunday procession to the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, Rizal as Catholics mark the beginning of Holy Week. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. called on Filipinos to reflect on sacrifice, service and courage during Holy Week, urging unity and faith amid challenges while emphasizing nation-building through “selfless service.”

In a statement on Sunday, the President said the solemn season is a time for “pause, rest and reflection,” as he emphasized the values of humility, perseverance and faith.

He pointed to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ as reminders that true greatness lies not in power, privilege and comfort, but in sacrifice, service and courage to bear the burdens of others.

Mr. Marcos encouraged Filipinos to renew their commitment to helping one another, highlighting the importance of compassion and solidarity in strengthening communities.

He added that the observance of Holy Week should reinforce efforts to build a nation “guided by faith, united in purpose, and inspired by selfless service.”

The Philippines, a predominantly Catholic nation, observes Holy Week annually to commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, with millions of Filipinos taking part in religious rites, pilgrimages and community traditions.

Activities typically peak from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, including processions. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

EV perks don’t need to mirror CARS program, DoJ says 

REUTERS

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) said that the government’s electric vehicle (EV) incentive strategy does not need to replicate an earlier automotive program in full, giving policymakers flexibility in crafting support measures for the sector.

In a legal opinion dated March 5, addressed to Board of Investments (BoI) managing head Ceferino S. Rodolfo, the Justice department said the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) only requires that the incentive framework be “similar” to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program.

“The EV incentive strategy to be adopted under the EVIDA does not need to mirror the CARS Program in its entirety. Section 24 of the EVIDA only requires that the EV incentive strategy be similar, not identical to the CARS program,” Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said.

The clarification was sought by the BoI, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, as it prepares an Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy under Republic Act No. 11697. Officials had raised whether the EV incentives must strictly follow the structure of the CARS Program, which used a Tax Payment Certificate (TPC) system.

The DoJ said the law’s wording is clear and should be interpreted based on its plain meaning, noting that “similar” does not equate to “identical.”

It added that the EV strategy must instead be tailored to meet EVIDA’s specific goals, including narrowing the cost gap between EVs and conventional vehicles, attracting investments in manufacturing and components, and setting production targets. On incentives, Mr. Vida said the government is not limited to using TPCs.

“The EV incentive strategy… may use any legal incentive mechanism,” it said, including but not limited to tax credit certificates. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

1.4 GW of RE, energy storage projects to come online next month — DoE

Solar panels are seen in Batangas in this file photo. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

THE Philippines is expecting around 22 renewable energy (RE) and energy storage projects to come online next month that could feed 1,471 megawatts (MW) of additional capacity to the grid, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).

In a statement on Sunday, the DoE said these projects are already in advanced stages of construction or are undergoing final testing and commissioning.

Twelve solar projects represent approximately 1,284 MW, complemented by six hydroelectric plants with 48.23 MW, two biomass facilities with 38 MW, a wind project with 13.56 MW, and a 20-MW integrated renewable energy storage system.

These projects form part of the 200 power plants that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. directed the DoE last year to fast-track by 2028.

“At a time when the country must act with urgency and discipline to protect the integrity of the power system, the timely delivery of committed capacity is imperative,” said Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin.

Building on this development, the DoE said that the recent observance of Earth Hour generated a total load reduction of 145.43 MW, bolstering push for sustained energy conservation amid the global market disruptions.

Luzon saw the largest drop with 75.25 MW, followed by the Visayas with 66.6 MW and Mindanao with 3.58 MW.

The total reduction is enough to power one million households with an average monthly consumption of 100 kilowatt hours.

“Simple actions, such as turning off unused lights, using energy-efficient appliances, and managing our energy consumption wisely can collectively strengthen our country’s energy resilience and help secure a more sustainable future,” Ms. Garin said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

IPOPHL seeks comments on draft trademark guidelines

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it is seeking comment on the draft guidelines for the submission and examination of declarations of actual use in trademark applications and registrations.

The IPOPHL is accepting comments on the draft guidelines until April 17.

According to a draft copy, the Declaration of Actual Use (DAU) must be filed at specific intervals throughout the life of a trademark application or registration to confirm that the mark remains in genuine continuous commercial use in the Philippines.

A third-year DAU must be filed within three years from the filing date of the application, while a fifth-year DAU must be filed within one year from the fifth anniversary of the registration to verify continued use of the mark.

The renewal DAU must be filed within one year from the renewal date. It may also be filed within the six-month period before the expiration of the registration, provided that a request for renewal has been filed, it said.

“A DAU submitted after the expiration of the applicable period, without a duly filed and fully paid request for extension (for the Third Year DAU only), shall be refused outright and shall result in the refusal of the application or in the removal of the registration,” IPOPHL said.

Each DAU must be submitted under oath, and the form must contain information such as the full name and address of the applicant or registrant; a declaration that the mark is in actual use in the Philippines; and a list of the goods and/or services for which the mark is being used.

The application form must also indicate the names and complete addresses of the establishments or outlets where the goods are sold or the services are rendered, or the verifiable website or e-commerce address for goods sold online.

A Declaration of Non-Use (DNU) may be filed when the registrant or applicant is prevented from using the mark in commerce by circumstances arising independently of their will, IPOPHL said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Bill to ‘renationalize’ Petron pushed

PETRON

A GROUP of minority lawmakers on Sunday urged congressional leaders to fast-track the approval of a bill that would place a major fuel company under government control amid rising pump prices that threaten to stoke inflation and dampen economic growth.

The House of Representatives should immediately pass House Bill No. 8127 to “renationalize” Petron Corp., the country’s only oil refiner that was privatized in 1994 when the government was pushing to deregulate the domestic oil market.

“It is time to reclaim control over vital industries and ensure that oil, energy, and livelihoods are served — not the profits of a few,” Party-list Reps. Antonio L. Tinio, Sarah Jane D. Elago and Renee Louise M. Co said in a joint statement in Filipino.

A Petron Corp. representative did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment. Its president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang last week said he was willing to sell the fuel company back to the government.

Efforts to rein in surging fuel prices have prompted lawmakers to push for sweeping reforms, including proposals to suspend fuel taxes and a review of a 1998 law that deregulated the oil industry.

Petron Corp.’s refinery in Bataan province west of the capital processes around 180,000 barrels per day and feeds roughly a third of the country’s fuel demand. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DLSU books first Final 4 berth

DLSU LADY SPIKERS VS UP FIGHTING MAROONS — UAAP/JOAQUI FLORES

In sweeping UP in Round 2 of UAAP women’s volleyball

Games on Sunday (April 5)
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)
9 a.m. – UST vs. UE (men)
11 a.m. – UST vs. UE (women)
3 p.m. – NU vs. ADU (men)
5 p.m. – NU vs ADU (women)

UNBEATEN De La Salle University (DLSU) can now head into a week-long break with one goal off of its checklist.

The mighty DLSU Lady Spikers clobbered the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-15, 25-18, 25-20, and clinched the first Final Four ticket with still a slew of games left in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

La Salle needed only 84 minutes to achieve the feat, soaring to a 10-0 slate for now an inside track to a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four while staying on course to a two-round sweep for a possibility of clinching an automatic ticket in the best-of-three finals.

The power duo of Shevana Laput and Angel Canino connived once again with 16 and 15 points, respectively, as the Lady Spikers marched on to their 16th straight postseason appearance since 2009.

Middle Blocker Amie Provido backstopped them with 10 points on four swats while Shane Reterta and Lilay del Castillo contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

But La Salle is far from satisfied entering a UAAP pause in observance of the Holy Week, even with a steady drive so far to its redemption tour after a bridesmaid finish to back-to-back champion National University.

The Lady Spikers found no problem taking care of that business by pouncing on the UP Fighting Maroons with a 10-point margin in the first set. Not even UP’s stronger resistance mattered in the next two as La Salle’s experience was just too much to handle, running away from a 20-19 cushion on a fiery 5-1 closeout led by Ms. Canino.

La Salle also swept UP, 25-12, 25-15, 25-19, in the first round where it only lost a total of four sets. The Lady Spikers have dropped two sets so far this round, one each against Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas entering the last four games.

No player finished in double figures for UP, which surrendered five of its last six matches to lose steam in the Final Four race at 4-6.

Niña Ytang and Gelai Gajero were the lone bright spots with nine points each for the Fighting Maroons now in a scramble to catch up with Santo Tomas (5-4) and Adamson (6-4) for the last semifinal ticket.

La Salle tries to move closer to a 14-0 wipeout and an outright final berth against the formidable Far Eastern University (6-3) while UP spikes for a must-win match against the also-ran Ateneo de Manila University (1-9) on Wednesday (April 8) at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In the men’s division, Olayemi Raheem and Yoyong Mendoza scored 17 points each as La Salle tied Ateneo at No. 4 anew with similar 5-5 slates after a tough win against UP (3-7), 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 26-24. — John Bryan Ulanday

Defending champ Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff in Miami Open final, completes ‘Sunshine Double’

ARYNA SABALENKA — FACEBOOK.COM/WTA

DEFENDING CHAMPION Aryna Sabalenka beat hometown favorite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to join an exclusive club by completing the coveted “Sunshine Double.”

World number one Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73% of her first-serve points and faced just two break points en route to victory in a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff.

Sabalenka is only the fifth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat known as the “Sunshine Double” given the tournaments’ respective locations in California and Florida.

“I want to start with (Coco). You’re a fighter and you also push me so hard to be a better player and I like our rivalry,” Sabalenka, who improved to 7-6 all-time versus Gauff, said during the trophy ceremony.

Sabalenka raced out to a 2-0 lead but Gauff, from nearby Delray Beach and appearing in her first Miami final, got on the board with a love hold and then repelled three break points in her next service game to get within 3-2.

But Sabalenka did not lose focus and eventually went up a double break on the world number four before closing out a dominant opening on her serve.

There was very little to separate the two players in the middle set which remained on serve until Gauff broke Sabalenka for the only time in the match to force a third set.

Sabalenka broke Gauff to open the decider, held at love in two consecutive service games to go 5-3 up and then sealed the victory with her fourth break of the match when Gauff sent a backhand wide.

Sabalenka is the first player to win back-to-back Miami titles since Ashleigh Barty in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID-19.

The Belarusian joins Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996) as the only women to complete the “Sunshine Double.”

Sabalenka also improved to 23-1 on the year, her only loss coming in the Australian Open final at the hands of Elena Rybakina, whom she went on to beat in the Indian Wells final and Miami semifinals.

“Aryna, congratulations. We’ve had many battles, many finals and, yeah, I think you push me to be a better player,” said Gauff. “You’re a great fighter and hopefully we can play many more. I think we will.” — Reuters

Atlanta Hawks retain NBA East No. 6 seed with win over struggling Sacramento Kings, 123-113

NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER scored 27 points, Jalen Johnson added 26 points and 10 assists and the Atlanta Hawks held off the visiting Sacramento Kings for a 123-113 victory on Saturday.

CJ McCollum scored 22 points, while Jock Landale finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks (42-33), who won their 15th game in 17 tries. Zaccharie Risacher tallied 13 points and Mohamed Gueye chipped in 10 for Atlanta, which holds a half-game lead over Philadelphia for the East’s No. 6 seed — the last guaranteed playoff spot in each conference.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder collected his 500th career victory, becoming the sixth active NBA head coach and 41st in league history to reach the plateau.

DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento (19-56) with 22 points, followed by Maxime Raynaud’s 18 points and 10 boards. Precious Achiuwa had 16, DaQuan Jeffries scored 15 and Daeqwon Plowden had 14 for the Kings, who dropped their third straight. Malik Monk and Killian Hayes both scored 10 points.

Atlanta pushed its 12-point halftime lead to 16 on Gueye’s 3-pointer with 8:08 left in the third.

The Kings pulled within nine on DeRozan’s layup, before Atlanta extended the lead back to 13.

Sacramento closed the third on a 7-1 run — including Hayes’ buzzer-beating triple — to cut its deficit to 88-82 entering the fourth.

The Kings tied the game at 97 apiece on Plowden’s 3-pointer with 8:03 left. Johnson’s five straight points began an 11-0 run that gave the Hawks a 108-97 edge with 5:47 remaining.

The margin was pushed to 14 on Landale’s triple. After DeRozan and Plowden’s 3-pointers, McCollum’s trey sealed the Atlanta win.

Neither team took a lead larger than five in the first quarter, as Jeffries’ 3-pointer with 46 seconds left gave the Kings a 30-27 lead after 12 minutes.

Sacramento opened up a seven-point lead on Plowden’s dunk at the 9:05 mark of the second quarter.

After Monk’s hook shot put the Kings ahead by 2, Alexander-Walker’s triple and Gueye’s dunk stamped a 14-0 run to put the Hawks up 63-51.

McCollum beat the first-half buzzer with a mid-range jumper to give Atlanta a 66-54 lead. Alexander-Walker had 14 first-half points, while Achiuwa’s 12 led the Kings. — Reuters

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