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Makati forces San Juan to sudden death in MPBL North Finals

MAKATI-SUPER Crunch survived a late surge from North leader San Juan-Go For Gold, 91-88, in a game that was held in closed doors to forge a decider in the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan North Division Finals, Wednesday, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

With San Juan down by 10 points, the quartet of Jhonard Clarito, Art Aquino, Orlan Wamar, and CJ Isit stepped up for the defending champions, putting up a 9-3 blast to trim the lead to just two, 87-89, with 20 ticks left to play.

Joseph Sedurifa, though, showed nerves of steel from the line to give Makati a slim four-point lead with 14 seconds remaining.

Lawrence Victoria then went for a split from the line, giving John Wilson one last chance to send the game to overtime. However, Wilson muffed his three-point attempt as the Knights suffered their first defeat at home.

“We talked to each other na we’ve been in this situation before, na our backs are against the wall. Kailangan bumalik tayo sa sistema natin, at siyempre, ‘yung depensa,” said Makati head coach Beaujing Acot.

Jeckster Apinan spearheaded Makati’s fight back, posting a near triple-double of 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, along with two steals and a block.

Jong Baloria, meanwhile, poured 10 of his 18 points in the final period.

Sedurifa stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals, and three blocks while Joshua Torralba pumped in 14 markers.

Cedrick Ablaza, who rolled his right ankle in the third period, finished with 13 points and seven boards.

Makati was supposed to play on its home turf for Game Two, but had to surrender the advantage after failing to secure a venue.

However, the Super Crunch-backed squad enjoyed an almost neutral venue as fans were barred from entering the venue as a precaution from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Actually sabi nga namin, God closes a door, he opens a window. Bawal yung court sa Makati, pero binigyan niya kami ng window of opportunity na maging closed doors,” Acot explained.

“So naging advantage sa amin ‘yun, walang home crowds both teams so it’s just really just a five-on-five basketball,” he added.

Wilson, who fired 17 points in the first half, was limited to just four the rest of the game, ending up with 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Isit and Andoy Estrella were the two bright spots for the Knights with 17 points apiece while Clarito scored 12 points — all in the fourth period — and grabbed 11 rebounds in San Juan’s first home loss of the season.

Game Three of the North Finals, originally set for March 14, however, has been deferred to a still-to-be-determined date by the league on Thursday night. This is to safeguard the welfare of fans, players, officials and league staff against the threat of COVID-19.

Season suspended

And so the worst has come to pass. The National Basketball Association has decided to suspend the 2019–20 season until further notice. In a statement issued yesterday, it said it will “use the hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.” Evidently, the commissioner’s office deemed the choice, however extreme, to be most prudent after it found All-Star Rudy Gobert to have “preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.” Prior to the turn of events, the Jazz and Thunder were supposed to face off at Chesapeake Energy Arena. In fact, they were ready for tip-off, only to be sent back to their locker rooms while fans lay in wait. After half an hour passed, an announcement was officially made on the postponement of the match “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Before the suspension, the league thought of holding matches without fans in attendance. The Warriors were supposed to face the Nets under such conditions today. Chase Center — still brand-spanking-new and the source of revenues franchise owner Joe Lacob deemed “much more … than the Knicks or Lakers” and “understated” by Forbes — was to be devoid of unnecessary warm bodies. Save for those to be occupied by members of the family of players and staff, the 18,064 seats in the arena would have been empty. The reason: compliance with the order of the San Francisco Heath Office barring the holding of events with at least 1,000 in attendance due to concerns about the outbreak of the virus in the city.

Not coincidentally, members of the NBA Board of Governors and commissioner Adam Silver earlier had a conference call and touched on ways and means to continue with the schedule in a manner that upholds public safety. No longer. And, needless to say, the cost to the league will be considerable. Estimates on the losses run in the millions of dollars for a single contest, and, along with foregone revenues after its disagreement with China earlier in the season, in the hundreds of millions of dollars on aggregate. That said, the decision was made in complete recognition of the importance of social distancing on curbing the transmission of the virus.

How the rest of the season will play out is anybody’s guess. At this point, the hope is that the global pandemic will be contained, and soon. And only after that can the league pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, everything else goes on, and all and sundry are left to cope as best they can.

 

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.

Duterte bans domestic travel to and from Metro Manila

President Rodrigo R. Duterte yesterday ordered a one-month halt to land, domestic air and sea travels to and from Metro Manila as part of government efforts to contain a novel coronavirus outbreak that has infected at least 52 people in the Philippines.

Mr. Duterte also suspended work in the Executive branch for a month from March 15, and extended class suspensions at all levels until April 12.

Companies should allow work-from-home and other flexible arrangements to prevent the spread of the virus, he said.

Government agencies can form “skeletal workforces” to ensure unimpeded delivery of services, Mr. Duterte said.

Manufacturing, retail and service establishments should continue operating, he said.

The President, who did not use the term “lockdown” for these measures, made the announcement in a televised speech after meeting with an inter-agency task force against the contagion that has killed more than 4,600 people and sickened about 126,000 more worldwide, mostly in China.

Mr. Duterte said the alert level had been raised to code red sublevel 2, which means there have been community transmissions and increased infection cases beyond the government’s responding capacity.

Mass gatherings are prohibited, while the entire Metro Manila must undergo community quarantines.

Mr. Duterte said local governments outside the metro must undergo village, city and provincial quarantines when there are at least two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases from two different households, villages and cities, respectively.

Mass public transport including the Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways would continue, the president said. The Transportation department will issue guidelines on social distancing, he said.

Mr. Duterte also partially lifted the travel ban on China, saying Filipino workers may go there except Hubei province — where the virus was first detected in its capital, Wuhan City — provided they sign a document signifying their understanding of the risks.

The president said he would issue an executive order to formalize the recommendations of the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The Health department yesterday reported three new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 52.

DoH data showed two of the patients had no travel history, while the 52nd case had been to the United Kingdom.

The patients were being treated at the Medical City, Makati Medical Center and Asian Hospital.

Two of the patients are from Quezon City, while the other’s residence was still being validated, DoH said.

The agency said there were 99 Filipinos overseas who had been infected — 80 in Japan, two in the United Arab Emirates, five in Hong Kong, and six each in Singapore and the US.

The World Health Organization declared the disease a pandemic.

DoH also confirmed the death of the 35th case, a 67-year-old female, on March 11 due to severe pneumonia.

Earlier, a Chinese national from Wuhan City in China’s Hubei province died after testing positive for the disease here.

The Health department said elderly people, 66 years on average, and those with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and immunosuppression are vulnerable to COVID-19.

“We further urge those who are immunocompromised and are with existing health conditions to be more vigilant and avoid crowded areas and mass gatherings.” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a statement.

Also yesterday, Senate premises were put under “restricted access” while the building was being sanitized after a resource person who attended a hearing later tested positive for the novel coronavirus strain, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said in a teleconference.

“I have issued a directive to the Senate sergeant-at-arms, the Senate is now under restricted access, not lockdown, as the term lockdown has been misinterpreted and abused,” he said.

This means Senate officials and their staff may be allowed to enter the Senate building if they need to complete some work.

Mr. Sotto on Wednesday evening announced a lockdown after Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian confirmed a resource person present at a March 5 hearing later tested positive.

Senate hearings would be suspended until the building is fully disinfected, Mr. Sotto said.

The blue ribbon committee headed by Senator Richard J. Gordon, was scheduled to continue its probe on alleged money laundering on Thursday. Mr. Gordon postponed the hearing after the lockdown.

Both Senator Gatchalian and Senator Nancy S. Binay said they were under self-quarantine starting Wednesday evening. Ten other senators followed their lead on Thursday.

These include Senators Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Franklin M. Drilon, Panfilo M. Lacson, Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Ramon B. Revilla, Jr., Imee R. Marcos, Francis N. Tolentino, Francis N. Pangilinan , Ralph G. Recto and Manuel M. Lapid.

Mr. Gatchalian said he was not showing symptoms but would be tested for possible infection.

Mr. Lacson said if Mr. Gatchalian tests positive for the virus, he will likewise subject himself to the test, having shared an elevator ride with him. — Gillian M. Cortez and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DTI says price freeze on basic goods in effect for 60 days

A SUPERMARKET shelf with organic products such as noodles, floor and sieved tomatoes is partly empty and not yet refilled on Monday due to coronavirus-related panic buyings over the weekend. — REUTERS/WOLFGANG RATTAY

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced a nationwide price freeze on basic goods after the country was placed under a state of public health emergency amid a novel coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the agency said the price freeze will be effective for 60 days, except household liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene, whose prices will be frozen for 15 days.

The Price Act allows the government to freeze the prices of basic goods to be frozen for 60 days or until lifted by the President when there is a declaration of a state of emergency or calamity.

Basic goods include canned fish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt.

“The DTI is closely coordinating with other government agencies, manufacturers and retailers of basic goods to ensure availability and continuous supply in the market,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.

“Retailers are reminded that there should be no price movements on these goods while the price freeze is in effect,” he added.

Also covered by the price freeze are basic agricultural products such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh, dried and other marine products, eggs, pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, vegetables, root crops, sugar and fresh fruits.

Prices of essential drugs, firewood and charcoal will also be frozen.

Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said the department continues to monitor the prices of basic goods, as well as N-95 and N-88 face masks.

Violators will be fined P5,000 to P1 million or imprisoned for up to 10 years.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced the public health emergency on Sunday. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Duterte to be tested for novel coronavirus

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will be tested for the novel coronavirus amid rising cases of infection in Metro Manila, the presidential palace said on Thursday.

Mr. Duterte and his former aide, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, will take the test to ensure they are fit, his spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters.

“They have opted to undergo the test to ensure that they are fit and healthy to perform their duties as government workers,” Mr. Panelo said.

Both had been advised by health officials to take the test because they had been in contact with Cabinet officials, some of whom opted to undergo self-quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, Mr. Panelo said.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Finance Secretary Arthur G. Dominguez III, Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, and central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno were also under self-quarantine.

All had attended events where some patients who later tested positive for COVID-19 were also present.

Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was also on self-quarantine.

Mr. Duterte on Wednesday received Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian during a call at the palace. On Wednesday evening, Mr. Duterte shook hands and welcomed newly appointed officials from the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police during a ceremony.

But Mr. Duterte’s scheduled visit to Boracay island was canceled on Thursday amid COVID-19 fears.

The World Health Organization has said older people who have underlying conditions were more at risk. — Gillian M. Cortez

Pinaglabanan Bridge reopens

THE HISTORIC Pinaglabanan Bridge that connects Old Sta. Mesa Road in Manila and N. Domingo Street in San Juan has been reopened after undergoing reconstruction works, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced on Thursday. In a statement e-mailed to reporters, SMC said that its infrastructure unit made a “new and stronger San Juan River bridge.” The bridge was closed Sept. 15 last year “following realignment of the Skyway Stage 3 project over the San Juan River.” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said, “We would like to thank motorists for their patience while we carried out a very important work.” The Skyway Stage 3 is an 18-kilometer elevated toll road that will connect Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway toll plaza in Balintawak, Quezon City. Last month, a portion of the elevated expressway project collapsed from a fire at a nearby warehouse, forcing SMC to delay the opening of the skyway project by three months to July. — Arjay L. Balinbin

COVID-19 Regional Updates: Visayas

1st COVID-19 case in Visayas is man who travelled to NCR; contact tracing on

BODY TEMPERATURE check for those coming into the Negros Oriental provincial capitol building. — @LGU.NEGORA

THE NEGROS Oriental provincial government has assured that contact tracing was immediately launched Wednesday night upon confirmation of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient in the capital Dumaguete City. In a live-streamed press conference, Provincial Public Information Officer Bimbo Miraflor said “contact tracing may have started tonight (March 11) with the Rural Health Unit of the LGU (local government unit) where he comes from.” He added that the provincial police, along with officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, will be tapped to assist in getting in touch with those who came into contact with the 62-year old male patient currently being treated at the Siliman University Medical Center (SUMC). The patient, according to details from the provincial government, traveled to the National Capital Region on February 28 for a convention and also visited Greenhills in San Juan City, where there are two confirmed cases. He flew back to Dumaguete City on March 1 on an 8:30 a.m. Philippine Airlines. Mr. Miraflor said they already have a copy of the flight manifest. “We urge the public not to panic. The provincial government is on top of the situation,” he said. Meanwhile, the SUMC, in a statement on March 11 before the COVID-19 case confirmation was announced, said the patient was already placed in isolation at an intensive care unit. “We are making sure that the rest of the Hospital functions normally as we are aware of the critical medical and health services that people in our community need,” SUMC said. On Wednesday morning, Governor Roel R. Degamo issued an order prohibiting “convergence of people in public events and gatherings” in any part of Negros Oriental. The executive order specifies that a large gathering consists of more than 100 people. For “small events” of 20–100 people, individuals showing any symptom of the respiratory disease “are not allowed to attend.”

Almost 100 Korean workers in Jalaur Dam project under monitoring for coronavirus symptoms

KOREAN NATIONALS working at the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) II in Calinog, Iloilo are under strict monitoring by the local government amid concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Calinog Mayor Francisco L. Calvo said he has directed the municipal health office and the police force to monitor the workers, particularly the almost 100 employees of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd., the project contractor. “We directed them to check the Koreans who arrive here so that we can prevent the entry of the virus,” he said in a press conference. Mr. Calvo also said a local task force focusing on COVID-19 has been formed. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jalaur project was held last February 27. The dam, a flagship project of the National Irrigation Authority, is the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon and is scheduled to be completed by 2022. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

COVID-19 Regional Updates: Mindanao

Coronavirus patient in CdO hospital “improving”

THE 54-year old coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro City is “improving,” according to Chief of Hospital Jose Chan. “He’s improving… We’re treating him as a case of pneumonia… but pneumonia of COVID-19 will be longer, three to six weeks,” Mr. Chan said in a media briefing streamed on the city government’s social media page. The male patient, the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Mindanao, has no recent travel abroad but previously worked in Pasig City, where there are nine confirmed cases as of March 11. He first showed symptoms of the disease in late February and was first admitted to a hospital in Iligan City. He was transferred to the NMMC on March 7. Department of Health-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Adriano P. Suba-an said contact tracing is underway. “The DoH is conducting contact tracing and heightened surveillance through the barangay health emergency response teams… hospital, local disaster risk reduction and management councils, and the rest of the government is ready to respond,” Mr. Suba-an said in the same briefing. He added that they will be implementing new or other protocols based on directives from the national agencies. Mayor Oscar S. Moreno, for his part, called for calm as he stressed that the city and other local governments in the region have been actively taking steps to address the coronavirus threat. “We have actually been doing the work to ensure the prevention, preparation, etc. since early January… Every morning we do briefings (on the COVID-19), we know that this is not an ordinary time… things have changed (with the confirmed case in the region) and we have to respond. We’re confident we can overcome this.”

Davao City mayor on self-quarantine after Manila trip, meeting with Gatchalian

@MAYOR’S FB PAGE/DR.APLICADOR (DJPRH)

DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is undergoing self-quarantine after returning from an official trip on Wednesday in Metro Manila, where she also had lunch with Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian. Mr. Gatchalian has also gone into isolation for having come into contact with a patient confirmed to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during a Senate hearing. In a press statement released by the City Information Office Thursday, Ms. Carpio said she met with Mr. Gatchalian to discuss “important matters.” “While Mayor Sara has not suffered from flu-like symptoms, she chose to undergo self-quarantine to protect others if she may be found to be sick in the next few days. She is now confined in an isolated bedroom at her residence and will continue to work through emails, messaging, and videotelecon,” the statement said. It added that an employee of the mayor has been placed as a person under monitoring by the City Health Office after “being unwell last night.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Screening tent

GENERAL SANTOS City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera has clarified that the tent set up outside a medical facility serves as a screening facility, not a quarantine area, for persons exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus disease. He made the statement on Wednesday to counter “fake news” circulating on social media. “This is where our screening process will take place. All suspected cases will be further investigated here before declaring them as PUI (person under investigation) or PUM (monitoring). This is to make sure that there will be no suspected cases, PUM or PUI, entering the Emergency Room of our city hospital,” he said. The mayor also noted that the tent was installed early February.

Nationwide round-up

Supreme Court suspends all court hearings March 13–18

BW FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court has ordered the suspension of hearings nationwide on March 13-18. Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on Thursday directed all justices and judges to reset hearings, inform the parties of the new schedule, organize the disinfection of court premises, pen orders and decisions, and act on pending matters in their jurisdiction. Court personnel will also continue to report for work, said Public Information Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Bill expanding RITM filed

A MEASURE institutionalizing the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines (RITM) and expand it to other regions for better response to infectious diseases has been filed in the Senate. Senate Bill No. 1407, or the proposed “RITM Act,” will institutionalize RITM, which was created in 1981 to conduct research in the diagnosis, control and prevention of tropical diseases. Senator Imee R. Marcos, who authored the bill, said on Wednesday that she is proposing to have at least three to five RITM regional branches. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

House ready to hold special sessions for COVID-19 response

THE HOUSE of Representatives is willing to hold special sessions during its coming nearly two-month break, amid growing concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a speech Wednesday evening. After discussing several preventive measures against COVID-19, Mr. Cayetano said lawmakers agreed that “it’s better to continue talking to the Executive, to the health experts, to look into the budget…rather than do constituency work (during the break).” Congress will go on recess March 14–May 3. — Genshen L. Espedido

Government officials under self-quarantine

Nation at a Glance — (03/13/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (03/13/20)

Dennis Uy on the lookout for the first Philippine unicorn

Tech startups looking to close their next round of funding might want to add Dennis Uy on their list of potential investors. The billionaire tycoon recently announced his interest in supporting tech firms positioned to grow into the nation’s first unicorns—startups with at least a billion dollars in valuation.

Some of the more popular U.S.-based unicorns include home-sharing giant Airbnb and technology-driven brokerage firm Robinhood. To date, no company has achieved unicorn status in the Philippines.

The eldest and the only boy among four children of an entrepreneurial family, Uy has a track record of building businesses to profit and growth. His corporation, Udenna, currently has stakes in industries such as oil, gas, and retail; shipping and logistics; education; food; gaming and tourism; property development and management; and infrastructure development. “We will always look for opportunities to grow,” he told STARweek in a July 2017 interview with them.

With a net worth of US $660 million, Uy is ranked 22nd inon the Forbes’ list of the 50 richest Filipinos.

Uy bared his sentiments about this biggest business hurdle in The Manila Times business forum last March 3. He said that while the future is in tech, startups encounter fundraising problems that make it hard for them to reach their full potential.

“The biggest hurdle is access to capital,” Uy said. “You may have the best ideas, brilliant, but if you don’t have access to capital, up to a certain level, then you won’t be able to grow the business. I dream of a time when brilliant entrepreneurs have better access to funding and are not forced to sell. Those companies can land in the top 20 in the country.”

Although he mentioned the possibility of financing promising startups “maybe in the next decade” or when he retires, he also clarified that he is not faulting creditors, as the system of requiring a borrower to pledge a property to secure a loan has been “that way for the longest time.”

“I hope our capital coming from fellow business people will be [braver], so they can face more risk and invest in the young entrepreneurs who have good ideas and scale up,” Uy said.

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