Are vaccines variant-proof? Here’s some good news

April 20, 2021 | 6:57 pm

SCIENCE has delivered some incredible achievements in the fight against COVID-19, not least of which is the swift development of several highly effective vaccines. The question is, will the shots continue to offer strong protection even as the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates and evolves?

We’ve already seen virus variants sprout up, from B.1.1.7 in the UK to B.1.351 in South Africa and P.1 in Brazil. Now we have B.1.617 in India and two variants — B.1.429 and B.1.232 — in California. Some of these variants have been found to be more contagious and potentially deadlier than the original strain, and more variants are sure to arise in any country or region where the virus is left to multiply and infect people at a high rate. Even in places where the virus seems to be under control, variants are a worry. In Israel, there have been reports of “breakthrough” infections among vaccinated people, mostly of the B.1.351 variant. These are big concerns. But there are hopeful signs that vaccine science is staying ahead of the variants in the most important ways.

First, some good news regarding potential “booster” shots. A recent study found that a new vaccine targeting the “spike protein” — the rod-like structure on the surface of the virus — of the South African variant induced a strong immune response in nonhuman primates that had been previously vaccinated against the older virus strain. Moderna, Inc. has also noted, though not published data, that its new mRNA-1273.351 vaccine was able to boost the immune response of previously vaccinated animals to provide increased activity against the B.1.351 variant.

These two studies address a key concern I had around the risk of “original antigenic sin” — that is, that a new vaccine against a slightly different virus variant might induce an immune reaction against the original version of the virus rather than the variant it was targeting. While we need to see data from a human study, which Moderna could have sometime in the second quarter, these results suggest we are one step closer to having a variant vaccine, should we need one.

As for existing vaccines, promising new data suggests that the shot now in use from Pfizer, Inc. and BioNTech SE is effective in protecting against variants. Results from a small South African trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showed 100% efficacy against the B.1.351 variant. Though based on only a few cases, it showed that none of those who were vaccinated as part of the trial tested positive, compared with nine who contracted the virus while taking a placebo (six of whom contracted the South African variant). It’s possible that the vaccinated group didn’t encounter the virus and a lot more cases are needed to draw a firm conclusion, but this early data suggests the efficacy against this variant is robust. This may explain why Pfizer and BioNTech have decided to use their original vaccine as a third booster, if it proves necessary, and not develop a shot using the spike protein from the B.1.351 variant.

But what about that news from Israel about breakthrough infections? In a nutshell, I am not that worried about it. We already knew that the vaccines can’t stop all infections. We also knew from several studies by different groups that the B.1.351 variant is not as susceptible to the antibodies generated by the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines as the ancestral versions of the virus are. So infections in vaccinated people in areas where the variant is circulating would be more likely to be by the B.1.351 variant than not. But while people may get infected by variants despite being vaccinated, the critical point is whether they develop anything but mild symptoms. What we truly care about is severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalizations. If all the infected individuals had only mild symptoms, or none at all, then that actually proves the point: The vaccine is doing its job in preventing severe disease and hospitalizations. This appears to be the case.

I am not suggesting that we stop worrying about variants. As I have written before, there needs to be much more genomic sequencing across the world to ensure we are on top of any changes in the virus. But we need not panic. Variants occur when the virus is multiplying at high levels. Having a fully vaccinated population significantly reduces its chances of doing that. What we do need to do is to get vaccines faster to the nations that cannot afford them.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

The state of COVID-19 vaccine procurement by the private sector in the Philippines

April 20, 2021 | 6:56 pm

The vaccination program in the Philippines is currently underway, but it seems that the virus is spreading faster than the government can vaccinate its people. One of the solutions proposed to ease the burden of the government and augment its current efforts is to allow the private sector to procure and import vaccines directly from the manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. However, the current Philippine regulations on the sale and importation of vaccines makes this challenging.

Under Philippine laws, only pharmaceutical companies that have been granted an authorization by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are allowed to sell or manufacture any new drug. Particularly, Section 21 of Republic Act No. 3720 (RA 3720), or the “Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act,” as amended, provides that any new drug should have an authorization from the FDA prior to the manufacture, sale, importation, exportation, distribution or transfer thereof.

The authorization is granted based on an application containing full reports of investigations to show whether or not such a drug is safe, efficacious and of good quality for use based on clinical studies. Likewise, the authorization can take the form of a permit, a license, a certificate of registration, of accreditation, of compliance, or of exemption, or any similar document. In general, the authorization required is the authority to register such drug or vaccine (i.e., with a certificate of product registration or CPR).

Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of time to study the efficacy and safety of available vaccines, no foreign or local pharmaceutical company has obtained the necessary authorization from the FDA for the sale and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. However, in order to address the need for such vaccines, the President of the Philippines issued Executive Order No. 121, series of 2020 (EO 121) entitled “Granting Authority to the Director General of the Food and Drug Administration to Issue Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 Drugs and Vaccines, Prescribing Conditions therefore and for other Purposes,” which gave the FDA Director General the power to issue EUAs for COVID-19 vaccines. As of this writing, only four vaccines have been issued the necessary EUA, namely: Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca, Sinovac CoronaVac, and Gamelaya Sputnik V.

Under Republic Act No. 11525 or the “COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021,” private entities may procure COVID-19 vaccines only in cooperation with the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) through a multiparty agreement which shall include the DoH and the relevant supplier of the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to this restriction, private entities are trying to convince the government to do away with the multiparty agreement as the government’s monopoly on the supply of the vaccine is creating a bottleneck in the importation of the vaccines into the Philippines.

However, the FDA has already stated that an EUA is not equivalent to a marketing authorization or a CPR. Hence, COVID-19 vaccines are not to be treated as commercial products even if issued with an EUA. Additionally, the vaccines are also still under constant review. As a matter of fact, recent reports of rare cases of blood clots with low platelets detected in some individuals injected with the AstraZeneca vaccine caused the Department of Health to temporarily stop the inoculation of people below 60 years old with the said vaccine.

Admittedly, government regulation is still a big part in ensuring that the vaccines procured meet the minimum standard to be allowed to be sold and imported in the Philippines.

However, in order to address the pressing needs of this nation, private entities should also be given a bigger role in the vaccine procurement. It appears that employers and business owners, especially those that belong to the micro, small and medium enterprises, are not fully aware of the process of procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines. There was even confusion as to the requirement to donate 50% of the procured vaccines by the private entities. This discouraged private entities to procure vaccines through the multi-party agreements because of their inability to cover or shoulder the cost of the additional vaccines to be donated. What added to the confusion is the government asserting that it was the suppliers of AstraZeneca and not the government which required such a donation. In any case, what may be needed right now is transparency in the process of procuring COVID-19 vaccines either by the government or the private sector.

The government is still miles away from reaching its target of vaccinating at least 70% of the population to achieve herd immunity. Since the start of the pandemic, the private sector has proven its capability of filling in the gaps in the government’s pandemic response. Giving the private sector more freedom in their vaccine procurement as well as streamlining the entire process would definitely result in achieving targets and the desired results faster.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not offered and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

Zyra Frances P. Aquilizan is an Associate of the Corporate and Special Projects Department (CSPD) of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices or ACCRALAW.

(632) 8830-8000

zpaquilizan@accralaw.com

China’s Xi calls for fairer world order as rivalry with US deepens

April 20, 2021 | 6:29 pm

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a giant screen at a media center, as he delivers via video link a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia, in Boao, Hainan province, China April 20, 2021. — REUTERS/KEVIN YAO

BOAO, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for a rejection of hegemonic power structures in global governance, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over a widening range of issues including alleged human rights abuses.

Speaking at the annual Boao Forum for Asia, Mr. Xi criticized efforts by some countries to “build barriers” and “decouple”, which he said would harm others and benefit no one.

China has long called for reforms of the global governance system to better reflect a more diverse range of perspectives and values from the international community, including its own, instead of those of a few major nations.

It has also repeatedly clashed with the biggest stakeholders in world governance, particularly the United States, over a range of issues from human rights to China’s economic influence over other countries.

“The world wants justice, not hegemony,” Mr. Xi said in remarks broadcast to the forum.

“A big country should look like a big country by showing that it is shouldering more responsibility,” he said. While Mr. Xi did not identify any country in his remarks, Chinese officials have in recent times referred to US “hegemony” in public criticisms of Washington’s global projection of power in trade and geopolitics.

On Friday, US President Joseph R. Biden held his first face-to-face White House summit since taking office, in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in which China topped the agenda.

Both leaders said they “share serious concerns” about the human rights situation in Hong Kong and China’s Xinjiang region, where Washington has said Beijing is perpetrating a genocide against Muslim Uighurs. China has denied abuses.

In a display of economic cooperation to the exclusion of China, Mr. Biden said Japan and the United States would jointly invest in areas such as 5G technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, genomics and semiconductor supply chains.

As the Biden administration rallies other democratic allies to harden their stance on China, Beijing is seeking to strengthen ties with its autocratic partners and economically dependent neighbors in Southeast Asia.

Chinese speakers at the Boao forum, Asia’s answer to Davos, also affirmed Beijing’s commitment to global free trade.

China’s trade practices were a focus of an intense tariff war between Beijing and Washington under the Trump administration, with the United States accusing Beijing of unfair subsidiaries that give Chinese companies unfair advantage abroad and forced transfers of technology and intellectual property.

“The biggest experience of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 20 years ago is that we Chinese are not afraid of competition,” Long Yongtu, China’s former chief negotiator for China’s WTO entry in 2001, told the forum on Monday.

However, despite the persistent confrontation between the US administration and China, both sides have rediscovered a common interest in tackling climate change, after bilateral talks on fighting greenhouse emissions fizzled out during the Trump era.

Last week, US climate envoy John Kerry flew to Shanghai to meet with his Chinese counterpart in the first high-level visit to China by a Biden administration official.

Both agreed on concrete actions “in the 2020s” to reduce emissions. — Reuters

UN chief warns world is on the verge of climate ‘abyss’

April 20, 2021 | 6:28 pm

SPAIN-RENEWABLES-IPO-ECOENER — People are silhouetted against the setting sun in Malaga, southern Spain July 24, 2019 — REUTERS

GENEVA/BRUSSELS — 2020 was one of the three hottest years on record, marked by wildfires, droughts, floods and melting glaciers, a United Nations (U.N.) report said on Monday, prompting the U.N. Secretary-General to say the world stands “on the verge of the abyss.”

In a “double blow” to millions hit by the extreme climate events, lockdown restrictions linked to the global coronavirus pandemic also delayed crucial assistance in some regions, said the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The ‘State of the Global Climate’ report confirms its preliminary findings, including on land and ocean temperatures, and comes ahead of a US-led summit on April 22-23 where Washington will seek to restore its credibility on climate change through fresh pledges.

“We are on the verge of the abyss… We are seeing record levels in tropical storms, in the melting of ice sheets or glaciers, in relation to drought, heat waves and wildfires,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Reuters.

The report showed the global average temperature in 2020 was about 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial period, ranking it somewhere in the top three hottest years alongside 2016 and 2019 despite cooling La Niña conditions.

A WMO spokeswoman said it was too close to make a call between them because of the margin of statistical error.

Among the indicators highlighted were record low Arctic sea ice extents in two months of 2020. Around 80 percent of the ocean experienced at least one marine heatwave last year.

The United States saw both the largest fires ever and the most hurricanes making landfall. Hurricane Laura alone, which hit Louisiana on Aug. 27, caused $19 billion in economic losses.

Death Valley in California also recorded the world’s highest known temperature for at least 80 years of 54.4 degrees Celsius (129.92°F) in August, the report said.

Measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 delayed assistance after Cyclone Harold, one of the strongest storms ever seen in the South Pacific, and after Cyclone Vongfong in the Philippines, where social distancing rules meant residents could not be evacuated in large numbers. — Reuters

Physical inactivity tied to higher COVID-19 risks

April 20, 2021 | 6:26 pm

PATIENTS with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have been consistently physically inactive have a significantly higher risk of severe outcomes than patients who were getting at least some exercise or regularly met physical activity guidelines prior to the illness, researchers found.

Among the 48,440 patients in their study, 14.4% were consistently inactive in the two years before their COVID-19 diagnosis, 79.1% had some activity, and 6.4% consistently met recommended physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes per week.

Compared with those who consistently met activity guidelines, people who were consistently inactive were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized and to die from the virus, according to a report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Consistently inactive patients also had worse outcomes than patients who got some exercise without meeting the guideline-recommended minimum.

“It is well known that immune function improves with regular physical activity, and those who are regularly active have a lower incidence, intensity of symptoms and death from viral infections,” said coauthor Dr. Robert Sallis of the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center in California.

“Regular physical activity is associated with improvements in lung capacity and cardiovascular and muscular functioning that may serve to lessen the negative impacts of COVID-19 if it is contracted,” he added. — Reuters

ASEAN to discuss Myanmar crisis at summit

April 20, 2021 | 6:22 pm

SOUTHEAST ASIAN countries will discuss the crisis in Myanmar at a summit in Jakarta on Saturday, the ASEAN bloc’s secretariat said on Tuesday, after the European Union (EU) imposed its toughest sanctions yet on the junta that seized power there on Feb. 1.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to find a way to guide fellow member Myanmar out of the bloody turmoil that has followed the military coup against an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Romeo Abad Arca, Jr., assistant director of the community relations division of the ASEAN Secretariat, said the summit would take place at its Jakarta headquarters on Saturday under strict health and security protocols due to the pandemic, confirming an earlier advisory.

It remains unclear how many leaders will attend in person though a Thai government official said on Saturday junta chief Min Aung Hlaing would go to Jakarta.

The foreign ministry of Brunei, which holds the ASEAN chair this year, declined to comment on arrangements for the summit on Monday.

Myanmar’s military has shown little willingness to engage with its neighbors and no sign of wanting to talk to members of the government it ousted.

Pro-democracy politicians including ousted members of parliament from Ms. Suu Kyi’s party announced the formation of a National Unity Government (NUG) on Friday.

It includes Ms. Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the coup, as well as leaders of the pro-democracy protests and ethnic minorities.

The NUG says it is the legitimate authority and has called for international recognition and an invitation to the ASEAN meeting in Min Aung Hlaing’s place.

Former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon urged his successor to engage directly with Myanmar’s military to prevent an increase in post-coup violence and said Southeast Asian countries should not dismiss the turmoil as an internal issue for Myanmar. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, has communicated with the military since the coup, but the junta has not allowed her to visit.

In its firmest response yet to the ousting of the elected government led by Ms. Suu Kyi, the European Union (EU) said on Monday nine members of the junta’s State Administration Council, formed the day after the coup, had been targeted with travel bans and asset freezes. Information Minister U Chit Naing was also sanctioned.

The decision follows similar measures by the United States. Min Aung Hlaing and Myint Swe, who has been acting president since the coup, were blacklisted by the EU last month.

“The military forces and authorities operating under the control of the SAC have committed serious human rights violations since Feb. 1, 2021, killing civilian and unarmed protesters,” the EU said.

Myanmar’s state media said on Monday that 258 civilians have died in violence in the country in anti-military protests since Feb. 1 and that other tolls were exaggerated.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group, 738 people have been killed by security forces since the coup. — Reuters

UEFA leads backlash against Super League

April 20, 2021 | 6:09 pm

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — European soccer’s governing body Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) led a backlash against plans for a breakaway Super League on Monday, saying associated players and clubs could be banned from its competitions — including three of this season’s Champions League semifinalists.

Addressing an emergency meeting the day after 12 of Europe’s top clubs announced the new league, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described the Super League plan as a “spit in the face” of all football lovers.

“As soon as possible, they (the clubs) and the players have to be banned from all our competitions,” he added.

Three of the 12 clubs in the new league — Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea — could be withdrawn from this season’s Champions League semifinals, UEFA executive committee member Jesper Møller told Danish broadcaster DR.

“The clubs must go, I expect that to happen on Friday. Then we have to find out how to finish [this season’s] Champions League tournament,” said Møller, who heads the Danish FA.

The renegade clubs — six from the English Premier League plus three each from Spain and Italy — will be guaranteed places in the new competition in contrast to the Champions League, which requires teams to qualify via their domestic leagues.

United States investment bank JPMorgan is financing the new league, providing a 3.5-billion euro ($4.2-billion) grant to the founding clubs to spend on infrastructure and recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier League clubs will meet to discuss the crisis on Tuesday but without the six breakaway clubs present as the remaining 14 clubs focus on their response.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has voiced his objections to the plan while his sports minister Oliver Dowden said everything possible will be done to block the league and is examining options to penalize the six Premier League teams to sign up.

Dowden said the government would seek to block the project if football authorities could not.

“If they can’t act, we will,” he told parliament. “We will put everything on the table to prevent this from happening.”

Prince William, who is also President of the Football Association, said the Super League risked “damaging the game we love.”

‘DISGRACEFUL PROPOSAL’
UEFA chief Čeferin said the Super League went against the core of the European football pyramid in which all clubs can dream of playing in the Champions League.

“We stand united against the disgraceful and self-serving proposal for a select few clubs in Europe motivated by greed. We are all united against this nonsense of a project,” he added.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had warned in January that any breakaway league would not be recognized by them and that players taking part could be banned from the World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is due to speak to UEFA delegates about the breakaway issue at its annual congress in Montreux, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

Bans or other sanctions could open the way for complicated legal battles. The Super League letter urged FIFA and UEFA to agree to talks and said they wanted the breakaway league to exist alongside current European club competitions.

Founding members of the planned Super League are Manchester United, owned by the American Glazer family, US-owned Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal, Abu-Dhabi backed Manchester City, Russian-owned Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid join Real Madrid from Spain, while AC Milan and Inter Milan make up a trio from Italy along with Juventus.

Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain and European champions Bayern Munich, which is majority-owned by its fans, have not signed up, meaning France and Germany are not represented. — Reuters

New league designed to save football, says Real president

April 20, 2021 | 6:08 pm

REAL Madrid is part of the planned European Super League along with two other Spanish clubs — Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. — REAL MADRID CF FB PAGE

A CONTROVERSIAL decision to form a breakaway European Super League was taken “to save football” and in part motivated because “young people are no longer interested” in the game, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez said on Tuesday.

Speaking for the first time since 12 top European clubs announced on Sunday that they would form a new elite league, the new chairman of the Super League said football needed to evolve and adapt to the times.

“Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it… and we are doing this to save football at this critical moment,” Perez said on the Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones.

“Audiences are decreasing and rights are decreasing and something has to be done. We are all ruined. Television has to change so we can adapt.”

“Young people are no longer interested in football. Why not? Because there are a lot of poor quality games and they are not interested, they have other platforms on which to distract themselves.”

Real has been joined in the venture by two other Spanish clubs, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Premier League clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur have also signed up to the plans.

The founding group of 12 is completed by Italian Serie A trio AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus. Another three will be included as guaranteed members and five others will qualify to join them each year.

Perez said they had not invited Paris Saint-Germain nor any German clubs and had not yet decided what criteria would be used to choose the additional teams.

But the top teams were losing money and needed a fresh impetus, he stressed, and the expanded Champions League announced by UEFA on Monday was no answer.

“If we continue with the Champions League, there is less and less interest and then it’s over,” he said. “The new format, which starts in 2024 is absurd… In 2024, we are all dead.”

“Together, we have lost 5 billion (euros),” he said of the top clubs’ alleged losses. “In two seasons, Madrid has lost 400 million.”

“When you have no income other than television, you say that the solution is to make more attractive matches that fans from all over the world can see with all the big clubs and we came to the conclusion that if instead of having a Champions League, we have a Super League we would be able to alleviate what we have lost.”

Perez came out with a string of novel suggestions during the almost two-hour long conversation, suggesting football matches could be made shorter to make them more appealing, and vowing the new league would have better officiating and better Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

He also lambasted UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who earlier in the day had himself launched an angry attack on the new league, but said the rebels would exhaust all dialogue before the new league started, possibly as early as August.

The move has plunged the game of football into turmoil and triggered widespread condemnation across both sport and society, but Perez brushed off the criticism and played up the prospect of more big games.

“This is not a league for the rich, it’s a league to save football.” — Reuters

Kobe Paras ends UP Maroon journey, signs up with EWP

April 20, 2021 | 6:07 pm

KOBE Paras has ended his journey with the UP Fighting Maroons and is looking to establish an international basketball career for now. — UAAP SEASON 82

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

KOBE Paras has ended his journey with the University of the Philippines (UP) men’s basketball team and signed to train in the United States under the guidance of East West Private (EWP).

Ohio-based agency EWP announced Mr. Paras’ joining its fold in an Instagram post on Tuesday where it shared its commitment to help the player, who left the country last week, in his bid to make another go at establishing an international basketball career.

“Let tomorrow be your second chance to prove that you are better than today and yesterday. Welcome to the family, Kobe,” EWP’s post read.

Mr. Paras joins fellow Filipino Kai Sotto with EWP.

Son of Philippine Basketball Association legend Benjie, and younger brother of incoming rookie Andre, Mr. Paras already tried his luck in the US in the past.

In 2013, he flew to the States to finish his secondary school. He was then recruited by University of California, Los Angeles but later transferred to Creighton University.

Mr. Paras only spent a year in Creighton before transferring to Cal State Northridge where he eventually opted out after its coach Reggie Theus was fired.

In 2018, he returned to play for the Philippines, first playing for the Gilas Cadet squad then for UP.

In his one year with the Fighting Maroons, Mr. Paras averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while helping UP to a Final Four finish in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

He last played with the Gilas Pilipinas team of cadets in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers second window in Manama, Bahrain, last November.

SUPPORTS THE DECISION
While they are sad to see Mr. Paras go, UP men’s basketball coach Bo Perasol said they completely support the decision, which was thoroughly discussed with the team.

“In the past few weeks, Kobe and I had discussed lengthily about his various opportunities amidst this lingering pandemic situation. His commitment in helping out our program has gone beyond our initial agreement of him playing for us for one or two seasons depending on what will come his way after each season. He was unwavering in his commitment to play for another season last year. In fact, he was still committed for another season, if we play it this year. However, we are both unsure and not so hopeful that college basketball will resume this year,” Mr. Perasol shared in a text message.

“It is in this backdrop that we agreed that he has to pursue his other opportunities. Kobe is too talented to be kept waiting for things to come. I believe it is his obligation to pursue these and showcase his God-given talent. Our program was blessed to have been a part of his journey,” he added.

The UP coach said they will now move on and work with the pieces they have once collegiate training, and then competition, are permitted.

“We will miss Kobe’s contribution to the team. Time for others to step up.”

Three LGUs commit to host training ‘bubbles’ of SEA Games-bound athletes

April 20, 2021 | 6:07 pm

THE local government units of Taguig City, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and Tagaytay in Cavite have agreed to host 2021 SEA Games-bound athletes for their bubble training, POC President Abraham Tolentino announced on Tuesday. (2019 SEA Games website)

PREPARATION of Team Philippines for the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Vietnam later this year got a boost after three local government units (LGUs) expressed their commitments to host training “bubbles” of national athletes.

Speaking at the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino announced that he had talked to leaders of Taguig City in the National Capital Region, Tagaytay in Cavite, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and they have agreed to come on board and support the country’s push in the 31^stSEA Games.

“In line with the call to have the LGUs help in the training of our SEA Games-bound athletes by Team Philippines, I called up some local officials and so far three have committed to host bubble training in their area, namely, Tagaytay, Taguig, and Sta. Rosa,” said Mr. Tolentino, who is also a member of the House of Representatives from the eighth district of Cavite province.

The POC said Sta. Rosa has agreed to host 50 athletes in a bubble while Taguig agreed to be the training venue of volleyball and table tennis. Tagaytay, for its part, will host cycling and kickboxing.

The three LGUs have committed to shoulder the accommodation, food and the facilities for training.

Athletes are expected to go to these training bubbles beginning July until November before they participate in the SEA Games happening from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.

Mr. Tolentino went on to say that he is still in communication with other local governments, but admitted that it would not be easy for some considering it would entail added cost for the LGUs.

For the planned training bubbles, Mr. Tolentino said the POC and the national federations of the sports to be accommodated will be coordinating with pertinent government agencies to ensure that all safety and health protocols in relation to the coronavirus are being followed and in accordance with the quarantine restrictions in effect by that time.

In the 2021 SEA Games, Team Philippines looks to become back-to-back overall champion after topping the 2019 edition of the biennial sporting meet held here with a total medal haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Stephen Curry drops 49 points to lead Warriors past 76ers

April 20, 2021 | 6:06 pm

STEPHEN Curry scored 49 points, including 10 three-pointers, to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Philadelphia 76ers (107-96) on Monday. — GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS FB PAGE

STEPHEN Curry scored 20 of his 49 points in the fourth quarter to propel the visiting Golden State Warriors to a 107-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Curry drained 10 three-pointers on his way to recording his National Basketball Association-best eighth 40-point performance of the season. It also marked Curry’s 11^thstraight game of at least 30 points.

The Western Conference Player of the Week initially received a spirited challenge from a familiar foe: his younger brother. Philadelphia’s Seth Curry scored all 15 of his points in the first half, while teammate Joel Embiid finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

For the Warriors, Andrew Wiggins collected 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevon Looney notched 15 rebounds. Golden State has won five of its last six games.

Matisse Thybulle scored 13 points off the bench and Danny Green made four three-pointers for the 76ers, who saw their four-game winning streak end.

Embiid made a pair of free throws to give Philadelphia a 92-91 lead before Stephen Curry made two of his own to ignite a 10-0 run for Golden State. He sandwiched three-pointers around Wiggins’ basket and answered Shake Milton’s three-pointer with another one. Curry tacked on three more free throws to cap his scoring.

The 76ers played without Tobias Harris (right knee soreness) and Ben Simmons (illness), although George Hill scored two points in 18 minutes in his debut. Hill, who returned from thumb surgery, was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder last month in a three-team trade with the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia scored the first 12 points of the game before Golden State responded with a 24-12 surge to end the quarter in a tie. Stephen Curry highlighted the Warriors’ surge with three 3-pointers, including one at the buzzer.

Golden State pushed its advantage to six midway into the second quarter before Embiid began to heat up. Embiid scored 10 points during the final five minutes of the quarter, including a midrange jumper with 7.2 seconds left to tie the game at 55 at half time.

Philadelphia mustered just 15 points in the third quarter. Golden State carried a 75-70 lead into the fourth quarter. — Reuters

PBA family to resort to salary cuts for now

April 20, 2021 | 6:05 pm

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial shared in an online press briefing that the temporary salary cut was among the measures presented by the league office during the special meeting of the PBA Board of Governors on Monday to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the financials of Asia’s first play-for-pay league. (PBA Images)

To cushion the impact of the pandemic on the financials of the league, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be imposing a temporary salary cut of 20%.

In an online press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and Vice-Chairman Bobby Rosales shared the a salary cut was among the measures presented by the league office during the special meeting of the PBA Board of Governors the day prior to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

Affected will be the PBA employees, players, coaches, managers, assistant managers and other personnel. Utility workers, however, are not included.

PBA employees will see cuts on their salaries on their payroll beginning April 25 while for the teams it will start in May.

Mr. Marcial said the cuts are the league’s share in helping team owners who have been patient and generous in continuing to look after their members and support the PBA during these trying times.

“It’s about time that we give back to the teams and team owners. They have supported us for 16 months, not cutting our salaries, protecting the players. This is our small way of helping them,” said the PBA chief.

“We’re lucky that we still have jobs and teams are honoring their players’ contracts. There are other workers who are no-work, no-pay. Us, we continue to get salaries despite not having games. We’re asking for their understanding,” he added.

Mr. Marcial said the board of governors in unison “appreciated” the gesture while the decision was already communicated to all concerned.

The league official, however, was quick to say that the salary cuts will only be in effect as the league awaits to return to play. Once teams are allowed to do scrimmages again the salaries will be reverted to their normal rates.

The PBA was hoping to begin its Season 46 on April 18 but saw its plans scuttled weeks before said date with the National Capital Region and nearby provinces put under stricter quarantine restrictions because of the spike in coronavirus cases of late.

It was looking at holding a closed-circuit setup where participants’ movements are confined to home-gym-home, with the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Rizal, as possible game venue.

The league is currently evaluating its options as far as the makeup of Season 96, which is now angled to kick off anytime within the next two months.

Last year, the PBA held a successful two-month bubble in Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga, to at least stage one tournament amid the pandemic. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo