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The way forward to recover and rebuild

With infection rates growing by a multiple of 2.2 times a month, it’s safe to say that our battle with the Wuhan virus will be long and painful. Its economic impact has so far been disastrous. With second quarter economic contraction plunging to an all time low of 16.5%, think-tanks agree that the economy will contract by at least 8% this year and joblessness will rise to 9 million.

While the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) fumbles through its anti-pandemic response, our great consolation is that we have an economic team that is both competent and steadfast. This includes the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance, NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), and the Bangko Sentral. We look to them to get us out of this deep recession we are in.

Last week, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez spoke before the joint European Chambers of Commerce and outlined the way forward to recover and rebuild.

The vision is to use this pandemic to strengthen everything that is weak in the economy. To make lemonade out of lemons, so to speak. This involves modernizing our industries, building production capacities, linking locally manufactured goods with global supply chains and producing more goods with higher value-added components. It also calls for our rapid digital transformation, the development of more innovative startups and green industries. By doing all these, the DTI hopes to manufacture more, export more, hire more and earn more when the crisis is over.

At the heart of the plan is to create and/or preserve jobs. Jobs stimulate consumer demand and in turn, entice corporations to produce more. This escalating chain reaction is what will restore the economy to its former vibrancy, said Secretary Lopez.

Four strategies are being pursued to create and/or preserve jobs. First, the government will do all it can to save micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) from insolvency. Second, the government will accelerate its infrastructure program. Third, the government’s multi-billion stimulus fund will be cascaded to its intended beneficiaries faster so as to pump prime the economy. Fourth, all efforts will be focused on attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs). FDIs can bridge the unemployment gap and lessen the budget deficit. They also offer long term benefits such as technology transfer, recurring income through taxes and exports earnings.

On saving MSMEs, the DTI has so far disbursed P460 million in loans to 7,151 MSMEs (each receiving an average of P64,300) out of its CARES fund. We all know that this will hardly make a difference to save MSMEs as they require hundreds of billions in financial aid to stay alive.  This is why Bayanihan 2 must be passed. Bayanihan 2 will give more MSMEs the lifeline they need.

Another thing the government must do is relax quarantine restrictions and allow commerce to resume. MSMEs can hardly survive under GCQ conditions, let alone under ECQ or MECQ. Each day of quarantine shortens the life of the remaining MSMEs.

We understand that relaxing quarantine restrictions comes with health risks. However, the number of potential infections should be balanced with the number of bankruptcies, lost livelihoods and jobs. This is as much an economic war as it is a health war. Harsh quarantines kill businesses.

On infrastructure, not only must the government accelerate infrastructure projects already under construction, it must also expedite all pending unsolicited projects awaiting notices to proceed. This includes the Bulacan Airport, among others. Government must also revive public-private-partnerships. All cylinders must be fired-up as far as infrastructure development is concerned. Infrastructure building also includes strengthening our healthcare system and stockpiling essential goods such as personal protective equipment, ventilators and medical equipment.

Awaiting ratification is a new stimulus package that could range from P374.89 billion (the senate version) to P1.3 billion (the congress version), or some amount in between. The larger the approved stimulus fund, the quicker our recovery will be.

As far as investments are concerned, Board of Investments (BoI) Vice-Chairman Perry Rodolfo was proud to announce that the BoI secured P645 billion worth of new investments from January to June this year, a 112% increase from 2019. This was achieved despite the three-month lockdown.

While the level of investment commitments are noteworthy, what is disconcerting is that P626 billion, or 97%, originate from local sources. Just 3% is attributed to foreign investors. This exemplifies how uncompetitive the Philippines is in attracting FDIs.

As I have written in this corner before, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, or the CREATE Law, is the silver bullet that can solve many of Philippine’s weaknesses. It has four features that will make us more competitive when it comes to attracting FDIs.

First, CREATE will cut corporate income tax from 30% to 25% as soon as it is enacted. The one-time 5% reduction will be followed by an annual cut of 1% from 2023 to 2027, to settle at 20%. This will put the Philippines in step with the corporate income tax rates of our regional neighbors. For context, corporate income tax is 24% in Indonesia, 20% in Vietnam and Thailand, and 17% in Singapore.

Second, to prevent existing investors from leaving, CREATE allows them to enjoy the same incentives that are in place today for a period of four to nine years.

Third, CREATE allows investors access to the domestic market, even if they are located inside PEZA zones.

Fourth and most importantly, CREATE allows our investment promotions agencies the flexibility to tailor-fit incentives to the needs of the investors. This gives us a greater probability of bagging the investors we deem “desirable.” It is certainly better than the one-policy-fits-all approach that is in effect today.

In addition, the DTI is pushing for the enactment of the Retail Trade Act, a statute that allows more foreign competition in the domestic retail scene; the enactment of the Public Services Act (approved in congress on third reading), a statute that allows foreign participation in public services such as electricity transmission and water distribution; and the reduction of industries where foreign investors are precluded from participation.

The passage of these acts are pending in the legislature. If enacted, the DTI is confident that the Philippines will finally get its fair share of FDIs.

All of us from the various Chambers of Commerce were satisfied with what we heard. The DTI clearly has a sensible roadmap to recovery. Let’s hope the rest of the government, especially the legislature, supports it.

 

Andrew J. Masigan is an economist

Trump signs executive orders for coronavirus relief

BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY — President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Saturday partly restoring enhanced unemployment payments to the tens of millions of Americans who lost jobs in the coronavirus pandemic, as the United States marked a grim milestone of 5 million cases.

Negotiations broke down this week between the White House and top Democrats in Congress over how best to help Americans cope with the heavy human and economic toll of the crisis, which has killed more than 160,000 people across the country.

Mr. Trump said the orders would provide an extra $400 per week in unemployment payments, less than the $600 per week passed earlier in the crisis. Some of the measures were likely to face legal challenges, as the US Constitution gives Congress authority over federal spending.

“This is the money they need, this is the money they want, this gives them an incentive to go back to work,” the Republican president said of the lower payments. He said 25% of it would be paid by states, whose budgets have been hard-hit by the crisis.

Republicans have argued that higher payments were a disincentive for unemployed Americans to try to return to work, though economists, including Federal Reserve officials, disputed that assertion.

Mr. Trump’s move to take relief measures out of the hands of Congress drew immediate criticism from some Democrats.

“Donald Trump is trying to distract from his failure to extend the $600 federal boost for 30 million unemployed workers by issuing illegal executive orders,” said Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. “This scheme is a classic Donald Trump con: playacting at leadership while robbing people of the support they desperately need.”

The Democratic-majority House of Representatives passed a coronavirus support package in May which the Republican-led Senate ignored.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called the orders a “series of half-baked measures” and accused Mr. Trump of putting Social Security “at grave risk” by delaying the collection of payroll taxes that pay for the program.

Mr. Trump also said he was suspending collection of payroll taxes, which pay for Social Security and other federal programs, an idea that he has repeatedly raised but has been rejected by both parties in Congress. He said the suspension would apply to people making less than $100,000 per year.

His orders would also stop evictions from rental housing that has federal financial backing and extend zero percent interest on federally financed student loans.

Mr. Trump initially played down the disease’s threat and has drawn criticism for inconsistent messages on public health steps such as social distancing and masks.

He spoke to reporters on Saturday at his New Jersey golf club, in a room that featured a crowd of cheering supporters.

FAR APART
Nearly two weeks of talks between White House officials and congressional Democrats ended on Friday with the two sides still about $2 trillion apart.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had pushed to extend the enhanced unemployment payments, which expired at the end of July, at the previous rate of $600 as well as to provide more financial support for city and state governments battered by the crisis.

Ms. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday offered to reduce the $3.4-trillion coronavirus aid package that the House passed in May by nearly a third if Republicans would agree to more than double their $1-trillion counteroffer.

White House negotiators Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows rejected the offer.

The $1-trillion package that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled late last month ran into immediate opposition from his own party, with as many as 20 of the Senate’s 53 Republicans expected to oppose it.

Mr. Trump did not rule out a return to negotiations with Congress.

“I’m not saying they’re not going to come back and negotiate,” he said on Saturday. “Hopefully, we can do something with them at a later date.”

Democrats have already warned that such executive orders are legally dubious and would likely be challenged in court, but a court fight could take months.

Mr. Trump has managed to sidestep Congress on spending before, declaring a national emergency on the US-Mexico border to shift billions of dollars from the defense budget to pay for a wall he promised during his 2016 election campaign.

Congress passed legislation to stop him, but there were too few votes in the Republican-controlled Senate to override his veto — a scenario that would likely play out again with less than 90 days to go before the Nov. 3 presidential election. — Reuters

NZ records 100 days without domestic virus case

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was among those recognized in the annual Forbes list of the world’s 100 most powerful women. -- Image via Reuters

WELLINGTON — New Zealand marked 100 days without a domestic transmission of the coronavirus on Sunday, but warned against complacency as countries like Vietnam and Australia, which once had the virus under control, now battle a resurgence in infections.

New Zealand’s successful fight against COVID-19 has made the Pacific island-nation of 5 million one of the safest places in the world right now.

New Zealanders have returned to normal life, but authorities are concerned that people were now refusing testing, not using the government contact tracing apps, and even ignoring basic hygiene rules.

“Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can’t afford to be complacent,” Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said.

“We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can reemerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand,” he said.

New Zealand has 23 active cases in managed isolation facilities, and 1,219 COVID-19 cases in all so far.

Vietnam, which went for three months without detecting any domestic transmission, is now racing to control a new outbreak in Danang.

Neighboring Australia’s second-biggest city, Melbourne, has gone into a six-week lockdown due to a surge in cases. The second wave of cases in Melbourne has been largely a result of lapses in quarantining.

“For countries like Australia and New Zealand, the source of such outbreaks is likely to be from managed isolation and quarantine facilities because of the large numbers of people held there and the multiple shifts of staff involved in looking after them,” said Michael Baker, professor of Public Health at the University of Otago.

There have been cases of returning New Zealanders sneaking out of quarantine, and other security slip-ups.

New Zealand last week ramped up testing at quarantine facilities and clinics, and started work on technology to track people using Bluetooth technology.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kicked off her reelection campaign on Saturday calling it a “Covid election.”

But a resurgence of cases due to “Covid fatigue” could spark a backlash against her, and give the opposition a chance to work its way back into the election contest. — Reuters

Johnson’s hot putter books 65 as he looks to secure second major title

SAN FRANCISCO — Dustin Johnson’s hot putter and improved accuracy off the tee gave him a one-stroke lead after the third round of the PGA Championship on Saturday, with the American looking set to secure his second major title on Sunday.

Johnson’s eight birdies were the most by him in a single round at a major and helped offset a bogey and double bogey on the front nine as he carded a five-under 65 and sit nine-under par 201 through 56 holes at TPC Harding Park.

Johnson is one clear of Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ with Collin Morikawa, Paul Casey and two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka all lurking a shot further adrift.

“I putted really well. That was key,” said Johnson, who leads the field in strokes gained with the short stick this week.

The former world number one and 2016 US Open champion is looking to avenge his loss at the 2010 PGA Championship, where he was leading entering the final hole but was hit with a controversial two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker and finished tied for fifth.

Johnson said landing the ball safely on the course’s narrow fairways will be key to hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.

“Tomorrow I definitely need to hit some more fairways, because it’s really tough playing this golf course from the rough,” said Johnson, who hit seven of 14 fairways on Saturday.

Johnson will be paired with Scheffler, who signed a busy scorecard that included eight birdies and three bogeys including one on the difficult par-four 18th, a hole that could prove critical on Sunday given the bunched leaderboard.

The 24-year-old Scheffler said he was trying to keep his wits about him as he looks to secure his first major title.

“There’s definitely some nerves but just got to try and handle them as best I can and go out and play, and I did a good job of that today.”

Hard-hitting Sacramento native Champ fired a 67 under foggy and cold San Francisco skies, conditions he said he is well used to playing in as the 25-year-old also looks to capture his maiden major.

“Obviously there is a comfortability,” he said.

“I’ve played a lot of golf down here growing up in junior events, state ams. And this has similar weather conditions as Monterey, which I’ve played a lot in, so I’m definitely used to that, kind of cold and damp.”

Four-time major champion Koepka, who had an uncharacteristic three bogey stretch late but birdied the last in his round of 69, said he would use his considerable experience on the sport’s biggest stages to his advantage even if there are no fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I feel very comfortable around the lead in the big events,” he said.

“Obviously we don’t have fans here, which makes it a little different when they’re hooting and hollering.

“It can be fun if they’re cheering for you, but if they’re against you it’s not so much fun. It’s going to feel completely different than any one we’ve ever played. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow.

“It should be a fun shootout.” — Reuters

United City Football Club taking further form

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

A FORTNIGHT since officially taking its place in the Philippines Football League (PFL), United City Football Club is steadily taking form, busy building up its roster that will carry its banner in the four-year-old league.

Took over the spot left by three-time PFL champion Ceres-Negros FC which decided to leave the league because of the coronavirus pandemic, United City has seen it stay true to its push of keeping the core of Ceres to sustain competitiveness.

It first re-signed midfielder Stephan Schrock, who will serve as the team’s captain and assistant coach.

The team then went on to ink deals with former “Busmen,” namely, OJ Porteria, Dennis Villanueva, Spaniard Bienvenido Maranon, Sean Kane, Japanese Takashi Odawara, Tristan Robles, Arnie Pasinabo, Joshua Dutosme, Jun Badelic, Ron Bayan, Hikaru Minegishi, Angeo Marasigan, and Senagalese Robert Lopez Mendy.

Last Friday, the team announced that it also signed to a deal brothers Manny and Mike Ott, who United City sees as playing key roles as it tries to make its own mark in the PFL and other tournaments in the region.

“We are happy to announce [the signing of] Manny and Mike, [who] bring a tremendous amount of experience on the club and international level to the team and this will be instrumental in our pursuit to defend the PFL title and to progress from the AFC Cup Group stages in September in Vietnam,” said United City co-founder Eric Gottschalk.

Manny and Mike Ott were also part of the Ceres squad last year.

Mr. Gottschalk said they will still sign four more players to complete the team, which they will announce on a later date.

Former Ceres players still left unsigned by the team are goalkeeper Roland Muller, Super, Dylan Bruycker and Junior Munoz. Jeffrey Christiaens is now in Belgium while Joshua Grommen is in Australia. James Younghusband, meanwhile, has already retired.

United City said it is still negotiating with coach Risto Vidakovic for a possible return.

Apart from signing players, United City also recently unveiled its new crest, sourced from a contest it conducted.

PSC vows to release athletes’ allowances this week after delay

EXPERIENCED some delays in the processing of the release of the allowances of national athletes, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) assured at the weekend that the issues have been addressed and disbursement will take place this week.

As per the report of PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy, Jr., the allowances will be deposited to the Land Bank of the Philippines by Monday.

The government sports body was called out recently by Senator Bong Go, Senate Committee on Sports chairman, after the lawmaker got wind that allowances of athletes for the months of June and July were yet to be given.

Mr. Go urged the PSC to release the allowances at the soonest possible time so as to help the athletes during these trying times with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The PSC, for its part, admitted to the delay and apologized for it.

It, however, explained that the delay in the release of the allowances of the national team was brought about by the overhaul of its payroll administration system after the agency was rocked recently by a payroll padding scam by one of its employees.

“We shifted systems, in coordination with our depository bank. It was one of the ways we saw to tighten up our process in connection with the payrolling of employees and national team members,” said Mr. Iroy in a statement.

The PSC said it recognized the inconvenience the overhauling caused but underscored it was an action needed to be done “to ensure that no underhanded schemes are ever done in this service aspect again.”

“We issued an advisory to the national team to advise them of the delay and the cause of it.  We understand that with the crisis raging, the delay is very stressful but the corrections were also needed,” Marc Edward D. Velasco, PSC chief of staff and National Training Director, said.

The PSC also enjoined all national sports federations to ensure proper monitoring and reporting on the training and activities of the athletes under their supervision and to religiously submit as these are requirements in the processing of monthly allowances. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

FIBA releases revamped guidelines for return to basketball

STAYING true to its push of adapting to the continuously changing situation with the coronavirus pandemic, world basketball governing body FIBA (International Basketball Federation) recently released a revamped version of its restart guidelines which came out earlier this year.

The second edition of the restart guidelines contains additions seen fit by the FIBA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which monitors the developments related to the pandemic and is working closely working with the different national federations and leagues, with the end view of providing direction and advice for the restart of basketball activities and competitions.

Also going through some revisions is the risk assessment tool which was produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Included in the latest return guidelines is the aspect regarding the spread of the coronavirus disease (2019) pandemic through aerosol. This is under the guidelines covering the close inspection of basketball venues and facilities so as to ensure ventilation is safe for attendees and spectators.

Also included are additional specific risk mitigation considerations to support professional leagues as well as national competitions in their restarts.

For the risk assessment tool, additions are the inclusion of the aspects regarding the possibility of modification of event delivery format; addition of the Decision Tree; and addition of the Risk Communication tab as communication of the COVID-19 risk to individuals in a mass gathering is considered as important as the other factors for risk assessment.

FIBA said the documents are updated regularly so as to provide a checklist to ensure any decisions on basketball events are based on an assessment of risks and the best chance of a successful restart.

It was quick to say, however, that these are not intended to supplant the guidance and restrictions of governments and public health authorities.

“As the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 continue to change around the world, we have witnessed some of our member federations and their leagues implement a safe and successful return to basketball in the past few months at the national level,” said FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis of the continuous updating of the restart guidelines and risk assessment tools.

“FIBA considers the well-being as well as the mental and physical health of all involved in our sport to be of paramount importance,” he added.

The second edition of the FIBA Restart Guidelines can be seen in this link http://www.fiba.basketball/documents/restart-guidelines-for-national-federations-en. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Doncic goes off in Mavericks’ overtime triumph over Bucks

LUKA DONCIC had 36 points, a career-high 19 assists and 14 rebounds for his 17th triple-double of this season and 25th of his career while leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 136-132 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night near Orlando.

Dorian Finney-Smith added 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Mavericks (42-30) rallied from a late seven-point deficit in regulation. Maxi Kleber scored 15 points, and Trey Burke had 10.

Brook Lopez recorded season highs of 34 points and six 3-pointers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 34 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots for the NBA-best Bucks (55-15). Khris Middleton registered 21 points and 11 assists, and Eric Bledsoe had 15 points.

Dallas scored 16 straight points — the final seven of regulation and the first nine of overtime — to open up a 128-119 lead. The Bucks closed within two points before Doncic’s highlight-reel, lefty bounce pass between his own legs set up Kleber’s three-point play to seal it.

SUNS 119 — HEAT 112
Devin Booker scored a game-high 35 points as Phoenix remained unbeaten during the NBA’s restart with a victory over Miami.

Phoenix also got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, and a surprising 20 points in 26 minutes off the bench from Jevon Carter, who entered the game with a 4.6 scoring average. Booker, who entered the night ranked 10th in the NBA with a 26.2 scoring average, made 15 of 26 shots from the floor, although he was 0 of 7 on 3-point attempts.

The Suns (31-39) are the only unbeaten team in the NBA restart as they try to avoid missing the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. Phoenix was without two of its top six scorers as Kelly Oubre and Aron Baynes missed the game due to knee injuries.

Miami (43-27) played without three of its top four scorers: Jimmy Butler (sore right foot), Goran Dragic (sprained left ankle) and Kendrick Nunn (unspecified reason). Heat coach Erik Spoelstra shuffled his lineup, giving rookie guard Tyler Herro his seventh start of the season. Herro responded with 25 points, a career-high 10 assists and eight rebounds.

PACERS 116 — LAKERS 111
T.J. Warren continued his stellar offensive play since the restart, scoring 39 points to lead Indiana over Los Angeles.

Warren, who came in averaging 33.8 points since the league reconvened on July 30, scored seven straight points in the final 1:25 to turn a one-point deficit into a six-point lead with 10.6 seconds left. Malcolm Brogdon scored 24 points, and Victor Oladipo had 22 for the Pacers (43-27).

LeBron James sat out the loss against the Houston Rockets on Thursday because of a sore groin, but returned Saturday to finish with 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers (51-18). James was the only starter in double figures for Los Angeles, as Anthony Davis was held to eight points on 3-for-14 shooting. — Reuters

Lewandowski dazzles as Bayern crush Chelsea to reach last eight

MUNICH, Germany — Robert Lewandowski struck twice and set up two more goals as Bayern Munich cruised past Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-1 aggregate victory and remain on course for a treble of titles.

The Bavarians will be on an 18-game winning streak across all competitions as they head into next week’s Final Eight tournament in Lisbon, where they will face Barcelona.

“We’re already excited. Barca are a quality side but we want to compete with them,” Bayern defender David Alaba said. “We will go to Portugal with confidence and, after the last few months, we have nothing to hide from.”

Bayern, who won the domestic league and Cup double and have won all eight of their Champions League games, quickly killed off the tie with a ninth minute Lewandowski penalty, after having won 3-0 in London in the first leg in February.

Polish striker Lewandowski, with 53 goals in 44 matches in all competitions this season, turned provider to set up Ivan Perisic in the 24th minute as the hosts showed no lack of fitness despite a five-week gap since their last competitive game.

Chelsea, who conceded seven goals in a two-legged European tie for the first time, did not lack match practice having played in the FA Cup final last week.

But half a dozen players were missing through injury, including Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and Pedro, or suspension.

“We had individual errors that gave them goals and at this level that will finish you off,” Chelsea coach Frank Lampard said. “It is a good exercise for us to go up against Bayern and their Champions League experience, with a lot of our players having debut seasons.

“I can see where I want us to go and I know we’ll be back.”

Chelsea did get on the scoresheet with Tammy Abraham’s tap-in after a goalkeeping error as Manuel Neuer palmed the ball into his path a minute before the break but it was Bayern who were in control in the second half.

Bayern substitute Corentin Tolisso restored their two-goal lead in the 76th minute with a well-timed volley from a Lewandowski cross.

The forward then bagged his second eight minutes later with a towering header to make it 13 goals in the Champions League this season, confirming Bayern’s status as one of the favourites for the title.

The three-month stoppage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic means that the remainder of the Champions League will be played at neutral venues in one-legged showdowns. — Reuters

Messi helps Barca sink Napoli to reach last eight

BARCELONA — A fired-up Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a 3-1 win at home to Napoli on Saturday for a 4-2 aggregate victory which took the club into the Champions League quarter-finals for the 13th consecutive season where they face Bayern Munich.

The Catalans had a shaky start but took the lead in the 10th minute with a powerful header from a corner by Clement Lenglet before Messi scored a superb second in the 23rd, seeing off four defenders to curl the ball into the far bottom corner.

Messi had the ball in the net again soon after following a superb team move but the goal was harshly ruled out for handball by the Argentine following a VAR review, although Messi later won a penalty which Luis Suarez converted for Barca’s third.

Napoli got one back when Lorenzo Insigne converted a spot kick at the end of the first half and were the better side after the interval but Barca survived to set up a mouth-watering clash with Bayern in the Final Eight tournament in Lisbon next Friday.

“We got the result we wanted. We’ve spent two weeks preparing for the game, knowing how difficult it would be and so it proved as they made it tough for us in certain moments,” said Suarez.

“We were taken by surprise at the start but we scored first. If they had scored it would have caused uncertainty but we managed the game well.”

Messi had sounded the alarm after Barcelona’s rusty performance in the 1-1 draw in the last-16 first leg back in February, saying they stood no chance of winning Europe’s top prize, which has eluded them since 2015, unless they improved.

He would have been worried by Barca’s stuttering start which saw Napoli swarm all over the home side’s area and Dries Mertens clip the crossbar in the second minute with a scuffed shot.

But Napoli’s slack defending allowed Lenglet to score with a free header which settled Barca nerves while Messi effectively killed the tie off with his goal and by winning the penalty by chasing down Kalidou Koulibaly in the area and earning a foul.

However, the fact Napoli ended the game so well, with Hirving Lozano hitting the post and Arkadiusz Milik’s header ruled out for offside, added to the sense that Barca will struggle to beat Bayern, who thrashed Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate. — Reuters

Sixers’ Simmons to have surgery on left knee

PHILADELPHIA 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons will have potentially season-ending surgery on his left knee, the team announced Saturday.

The 24-year-old guard/forward will leave the NBA bubble near Orlando for the procedure. A timetable for his recovery will be set after the surgery, but he would almost certainly miss at least the first round of the playoffs.

“After consultation with the 76ers medical staff and several specialists, Ben Simmons will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a loose body in his left knee,” the team said on Saturday in a news release.

Simmons sustained a partially dislocated left kneecap during Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Further examination revealed the loose body and the need for surgery.

The two-time All-Star got hurt midway through the third quarter. He was shown walking gingerly as he exited the arena shortly before the end of Philadelphia’s 107-98 triumph.

Simmons had eight points, six rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes on Wednesday. He is averaging 16.4 points, 8.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds in 57 games this season. He leads the NBA with 2.1 steals per game and leads the 76ers in minutes (35.4).

Philadelphia (42-27) entered Saturday’s play tied with the Indiana Pacers for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers have four games remaining in the bubble, starting Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. — Reuters

Confidence boosting

Doc Rivers doesn’t often disagree with referees’ calls. Armed with 36 years of league experience, including the last 21 as head coach, he understands that the men in gray can’t possibly get everything right. As far as he’s concerned, it’s enough that they try their best. Yesterday, however, he saw fit to voice his displeasure with a whistle late in the Clippers’ set-to against the Blazers. With 18.6 ticks left in the payoff period and his charges up one, he felt the contact that sent a driving Damian Lillard to the line was incidental at best. And so he made his sentiments known, never mind his reluctance for protest and notwithstanding the contest’s relative lack of bearing.

Rivers was simply being competitive, of course. Top dog Kawhi Leonard was out, and, for strategic purposes, he kept second-leading scorer Paul George glued to the bench in the last five minutes of the match. Still, he wanted to win it, if for nothing else than to boost the confidence of the second stringers burning rubber; after seeing them turn a five-point deficit into a one-point lead over the previous two and a half minutes, he felt they deserved to walk off with victory at hand. But because there was to be no changing the arbiters’ minds, he fully expected the lead to change hands anew with Lillard walking to the stripe for two charities.

As things turned out, Lillard came up with nothing. He missed badly on his free throws; as with his tries outside the paint in the fourth quarter, he could do no better than hit the front end of the rim. Considering his continual capacity to deliver come “Dame Time,” the development was a “surprise” to Blazers mentor Terry Stott and a “shock” to Rivers. Not to noted foils Patrick Beverley and Paul George, though, who celebrated with gusto in the moment and then, to add insult to injury, piled on in social media following the Clippers triumph.

The ensuing trading of barbs between the prideful players underscores both their competitiveness and the lengths they’re willing to go through to show it. Beverley was predictably the instigator, and Lillard couldn’t help but dig in as always. George, however, was a revelation, dishing out in his post-mortem with scribes and doubling down on the net before playing the sympathy card by referencing his six surgeries. Given the extent of the back and forth, it’s too bad the Blazers and Clippers aren’t likely to meet again this season.

In any case, fans shouldn’t fret. Long memories will keep the beef alive, with the protagonists counting the days until the next encounter, and then the next, and so on. Which is to say the games should be interesting at the very least; they certainly can’t come soon enough.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications,  and business development.

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