Blake Snell kept the best offense from the regular season off balance and Brandon Lowe hit two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays drew even in the World Series on Wednesday with a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers in Game 2 at Arlington, Texas.

Snell did not give up a hit until the fifth when the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor hit a home run.

Despite a rapidly rising pitch count, the left-hander, in his first career World Series start, befuddled a Los Angeles offense that scored eight runs in a Game 1 victory Tuesday and hit a major league-leading 118 home runs during the regular season. Snell gave up two runs on two hits over 4 2/3 innings with four walks and nine strikeouts while throwing 88 pitches.

Lowe got the Rays’ offense started with a solo home run in the first inning off Dodgers rookie right-hander Tony Gonsolin, then hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning off another Dodgers rookie in right-hander Dustin May.

Gonsolin was used at the outset, but it was essentially a bullpen game because the team did not have a fully rested starter. The Dodgers used three starters Sunday in their Game 7 victory in the National League Championship series against the Atlanta Braves.

Gonsolin (0-1) gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings, becoming the first starting pitcher to record just four or fewer outs in a World Series start since the San Francisco Giants’ Jake Peavy in Game 6 of the 2014 Series. The Dodgers used seven pitchers in the defeat.

The Rays never trailed in winning just the second World Series game in franchise history and the first since Game 2 in 2008 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rays lost that series in five games.

The Rays increased their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Joey Wendle hit a two-run double off May.

Lowe’s two-run shot in the fifth off May increased the lead to 5-0. Lowe, who led the Rays in the regular season with 14 home runs, had a hit in each of Tampa Bay’s first two games of the postseason, but was batting .083 with one home run in 13 games since.

Taylor’s two-run home run with two outs in the fifth, his first in 12 games for the Dodgers this postseason, cut the Rays lead to 5-2. Mookie Betts followed with a walk, and Corey Seager singled. Snell was then replaced by right-hander Nick Anderson (1-0). Justin Turner struck out to end the threat representing the tying run.

The Rays increased their lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning on a Wendle sacrifice fly, giving him three RBIs.

The Dodgers got the run back in the bottom of the sixth on a home run from Will Smith off Anderson, and another by Seager in the eighth against Pete Fairbanks to cut the deficit to 6-4.

Los Angeles again had the tying run at the plate in the eighth with nobody out, but Max Muncy flew out and Smith lined out against Fairbanks, while Cody Bellinger struck out against left-hander Aaron Loup.

Diego Castillo recorded the final out of the game, striking out Taylor, to earn his third save of the postseason. — Reuters

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

The juggernaut that is the TNT Tropang Giga stayed undefeated in the PBA Philippine Cup, rolling to their fifth straight win by topping the Blackwater Elite, 109-96, in the opening game on Thursday at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Pampanga. 

TNT took command right at the opening quarter and held sway for the rest of the contest to raise its record to 5-0 and take solo leadership in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association tournament.

Blackwater (2-3), with the loss, slumped to back-to-back losses.

The triumvirate of Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram and Simon Enciso set the tone for the Tropang Giga in the early goings, combining for 29 points to tow their team to a 34-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.  

In the second frame, TNT tried to create further distance, extending its lead to 16 points, 49-33, after just four minutes of play.

But Blackwater fought back, trimming its deficit to as low as six points several times before TNT went on a strong finish two make it a double-digit advantage still, 61-49, at the half.

TNT kept pouring it on in the third, not allowing the Elite to gain much traction for a comeback.

The count was at 78-64 in favor of the Tropang Giga by the midway point of the quarter.

It was a distance they would maintain, 87-73, entering the final 12 minutes of the match.

Had firm control, TNT spent the first minutes of the payoff quarter going for the jugular.

Its lead ballooned to 21 points, 102-81, with 5:10 to go and it never looked back from there.

Mr. Pogoy led five TNT players who finished in double-digit in scoring with 20 points. He also had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals to win player of the game honors.

Rey Parks Jr. had 18 points while Troy Rosario finished with 17 for the Tropang Giga. Messrs. Enciso and Erram, meanwhile, had 16 and 14 points, respectively.

For Blackwater it was Don Trollano who top-scored with 23 points, followed by Mac Belo with 16.

TNT next plays on Oct. 26 against the Northport Batang Pier (0-4) while Blackwater faces off with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-0) on Oct. 25.

Meanwhile, games on Friday will have the NLEX Road Warriors (1-3) colliding with the Meralco Bolts (2-2) at 4 p.m. and the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (1-3) slugging it out with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (2-2) at 6:45 p.m.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) remains hopeful that the first suspected coronavirus case in its tournament “bubble” in Pampanga turns out to be false positive.

This, after a referee who tested positive in a reverse transcription polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) test early this week yielded a negative result after the conduct of antigen testing Wednesday afternoon at a quarantine facility in Capas, Tarlac.

Earlier on Wednesday, the league reported that a game official tested positive for the virus after undergoing a swab test on Monday, the result of which came out on Tuesday night.

The person under monitoring was tested along with 27 others, but was the only one who yielded a positive result.

It was the fourth coronavirus test for the referee, second inside the bubble, aside from the two tests before entering Clark, all of which came out negative.  

The referee reportedly was not showing any symptoms of the virus, but as part of health and safety protocols of the league, he was immediately extracted from the Quest Hotel inside the Mimosa complex for quarantine.

First and second layer contacts of the person under monitoring have been identified and asked to isolate themselves. They will be retested on Saturday, Oct. 24.

With the negative antigen test result of the referee, the PBA is hoping that it was just a case of false positive, or “when someone does not have the coronavirus, tests positive for it.”

The referee will remain in the quarantine facility for further observation and set to be subjected to another RT-PCR test to confirm the negative antigen result.

Given the development, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial urged the PBA family inside the Clark not to let its guard down, continuing to be mindful of the protocols in place so as not to compromise the bubble.

He moved to reassure that there was nothing to worry about and the league was dealing with the situation accordingly.

“We would like to assure the public that the integrity of the bubble has not been compromised. Protocols have not been breached,” he said.

The PBA reopened its coronavirus pandemic-hit season on Oct. 11 after getting government nod under a bubble setup in Clark City, where all the participants are holed up for the duration of the tournament, lasting at least two months. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga City Chooks topped the initial leg of the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 Pilipinas President’s Cup on Wednesday and is now looking to continue to roll heading into the succeeding phases of the tournament.

Composed of the country’s top three-on-three players and national team members, namely Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike and Santi Santillan, Zamboanga City defeated Butuan-Uling Roasters, 21-17, in the finals of the first leg of the Cup held in a “bubble” setup at the INSPIRE Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.  

It is hoping to build on it as the team treks back to the court for the second leg of the two-week-long tournament on Friday.

Zamboanga City used a massive late charge, led by Mr. Munzon, to win the contest.

The team was trailing, 17-14, with less than three minutes to play when it went on a 7-0 blast to pull the rug from under Butuan.

Mr. Munzon, the Philippines’ number one-ranked player, capped their impressive run by coolly sinking his free throw that handed them the win and the P100,000 prize.

The 6-2 Filipino-American player tallied 12 points in their finals victory, with Mr. Pasaol, the country’s second-ranked player, adding six markers.

Mr. Rike had two points while Mr. Santillan finished with a point for the winners.

“Again, it showed we can fight through adversity. We just stuck to our script. We took advantage of our advantages,” said Mr. Munzon of their win and their team.

Incidentally, the ongoing tournament is being used by the national team as part of its preparation for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

Also part of the squad but could not join it in the President’s Cup are Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stars CJ Perez and mo Tautuaa who are playing in their own bubble with the PBA.

Leading Butuan in the finals game was former PBA player Karl Dehesa with six points, with teammates Chris De Chavez and Chico Laneta each contributing four. Franky Johnson added three points.

Despite losing in the finals, Butuan also got P100,000 as promised by Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. president and league owner Ronald Mascarinas to whoever the opponent is whenever Family’s Brand Sardines makes it to the finals.

Ending up at third place in the first leg was the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards. 

Meanwhile, focus now shifts to the second leg on Friday to be followed by two more legs on Oct. 25 and 27, and then the Grand Finals that has a P1-million top prize on Oct. 30. 

The Chooks-to-Go 3×3 Pilipinas President’s Cup powered by TM is endorsed by world basketball governing body FIBA.

It is the second league in the country to open amid the ongoing concern with the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament is being conducted under strict monitoring of health and safety protocols laid out by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). 

Participants in the Cup are staying in the government-approved Calamba facility of National University throughout the proceedings.

Local football action is set for a return this weekend with the Philippines Football League (PFL) opening its long-delayed fourth season.

And the league is doing it with a triple-header on Sunday featuring all the competing six teams at the Philippine Football Federation National Training in Carmona, Cavite.

The season kickoff is a culmination of what organizers said has been a “tedious” journey in trying to stage a tournament amid the challenging times.

The PFL was supposed to start its new season in March, but was pushed back several times because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Things opened up for the league after it was allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to start training, along with the Philippine Basketball Association, after submitting health and safety protocols for a return.

It continued to work with pertinent government agencies after, paving the way for the season to start.

The tournament, now presented by Qatar Airways, will be held in a “bubble” setup for two weeks and with no fans watching.

The PFF National Training Center is the official game venue while Seda Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, houses the teams and the league for the duration of the tournament.

Participants will be shuttled to and from the hotel and the game venue.

The PFL has scheduled five match days for the new season with the team on top in the end crowned as champion.    

Sunday’s schedule will have the Azkals Development Team going up against Mendiola FC 1991 at 9 a.m. to be followed by Stallion Laguna FC versus Kaya FC-Iloilo at 4:30 p.m. Capping off the opening day is the clash between Maharlika Manila FC and United City Football Club (formerly Ceres-Negros FC) at 8 p.m.

Succeeding match days are slated for Oct. 28 and 31 and Nov. 3 and 6.

The remaining pioneer teams in the league since its inception in 2017, Stallion and Kaya expressed their excitement to finally get the season going and take on the challenge.

“It’s great to be playing once again. We are looking forward to getting the competition going …” said Stallion coach Ernest Nierras

“We’re looking forward to the challenge and eager to play. We are excited for the matches and give the fans what they like,” Kaya general manager Paul Tolentino, for his part, said.

Given the long process it took to reach the season start, PFL organizers are seeking the cooperation of all participants to make the bubble a success and for their efforts not to go to waste.

“It has been a long journey for all of us. A lot of people worked hard to make this possible. Hopefully we will have a successful league,” said PFF President Mariano Araneta.

All PFL matches will be live streamed. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Surrounded by familiar and talented faces, United City skipper Stephan Schrock is confident that his club will be able to sustain the winning legacy of Ceres-Negros FC when the Philippines Football League unfolds on Sunday at the PFF national training center pitch in Carmona, Cavite.

“I think my team is pretty good and well prepared. Not surprisingly, my teammates are very, very eager to win another title,” said Schrock who is also the Azkals skipper.

Since 2017, with businessman-sportsman Leo Rey Yanson as the team owner, the Bacolod-based Busmen have ruled the PFL thrice in a row, capped in 2019 by a golden double in securing the league championship as well as capturing the Copa Paulino Alcantara Cup.

It was a fitting swan song for Ceres-Negros FC, which relinquished its team ownership and management to a new group of overseas investors early this year while taking on the new name of United City FC.

A total of 16 members led by Schrock and AFC Cup record goalscorer Bienve Marañon are back to carry the colors of the renamed squad, which opens its campaign at 8 p.m. against Maharlika Manila on Sunday. 

Schrock and his teammates entered the PFL bubble last Thursday in Seda Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“All happy, healthy and fit. It was hard for them to be mentally fresh but the boys did not lose their motivation and discipline during the (COVID-19) lockdown,” said Schrock referring to his teammates.

Schrock said that he felt fortunate to keep himself in tip-top shape during his six-month stay in Germany “since restrictions there were down to none in football for the last three months.”

He paid credit to the officials the PFF and PFL, especially commissioner Coco Torre, “in making us winners already in having this tournament. Our hats off to the PFF, the league and commissioner in working towards the fulfillment of this event.

With UCFC’s crack core intact, Schrock acknowledged that he and his teammates “have the biggest targets on our backs,” but felt no pressure himself from the other contending clubs such as Stallion-Laguna and Kaya-Iloilo.

“Generally. I have blinkers left and right. I just focus on the trophy, on my team, on my preparations and we will (aim to) advance and win the league as in the last three years,” he stressed.

AMSTERDAM — Liverpool beat Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 away with a fortunate own goal in their Champions League group-stage opener on Wednesday, riding their luck at times but still showing their title credentials.

Ajax fullback Nicolas Tagliafico turned the ball into his own net in the 35th minute to ensure a winning start in Group D for the English champions, who looked the stronger of the two teams despite Ajax creating several good chances at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Davy Klaassen struck the post with a powerful shot and Quincy Promes had a point-blank effort stopped by the legs of Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian as the Dutch club created a handful of excellent opportunities.

Yet Liverpool, who won their sixth Champions League title in 2019, still proved value for their victory, dominating possession and counter attacking at pace while keeping a clean sheet despite missing defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk, who suffered a serious knee injury at the weekend.

Fabinho moved from midfield to centre defence to replace Van Dijk and had an outstanding game, notably hooking a clearance off the line to deny Dusan Tadic just before halftime.

It was one of several chances for Ajax in the first half, as Lisandro Martinez had a header saved by Adrian and Ryan Gravenberch shot narrowly wide, much to the annoyance of Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who spent the early part of the game berating and shouting instructions to his players.

But his agitation was quelled when Sadio Mane turned the Ajax defence with a swift body movement to set up the goal. He miskicked his own effort, but it caught Tagliafico as he clumsily tried to clear, but instead deflected it into the Ajax net.

“It was a good enough performance to win the game, which at moments was pretty wild. It was not one of our sunny shiny world class football days. It was not perfect but the boys fought like crazy,” said a more satisfied Liverpool manager afterwards.

Klopp took off Mane and his strike partners Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah with 30 minutes still left, but replacements Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino kept up the pressure on the home team.

Ajax should have equalised, however, four minutes into stoppage time when Adrian did not properly deal with a cross into the area but substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp missed the target. — Reuters

Stan Van Gundy has agreed to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

The Athletic reported that Van Gundy will sign a four-year deal with the Pelicans.

There was no official word from the Pelicans, but Van Gundy confirmed the reports on social media.

“I’m excited to join a talented New Orleans Pelicans team,” he posted on Twitter. “It will be an honor to work with our players and to work for Mrs. Benson and David Griffin, Trajan Langdon, their staff and the great people of New Orleans. I can’t wait to talk to our players and get the process started.”

The reports come one day after the Indiana Pacers came to terms with former Toronto Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren on their vacant head coaching position.

The Pelicans met with Van Gundy, 61, last week for the head coaching position that was vacant after the team fired Alvin Gentry in August.

New Orleans lost six of eight games in the bubble to finish the season with a 30-42 record, good for 13th in the Western Conference.

The Pelicans’ coaching vacancy, however, is intriguing thanks to young talent such as 2019 No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, 20, and NBA Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram, 23. New Orleans also has the 13th overall selection in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.

Van Gundy has 12 years of experience as a head coach: three years in Miami, five in Orlando and four in Detroit. His most successful run came with the Magic, whom he led to a 259-135 mark from 2007-12 while guiding the team to the playoffs each season. The 2008-09 Magic advanced to the NBA Finals.

Overall, Van Gundy is 523-384 in his career with eight playoff appearances in his 12 seasons. His last season was 2017-18, when he led the Pistons to a 39-43 record. Van Gundy was also president of basketball operations in Detroit. — Reuters

The opening game of the World Series drew a record-low television viewership total, according to figures released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research.

Only 9.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 on Tuesday.

The previous low, since Nielsen began tracking viewership in the late 1960s, according to TheWrap.com, was Game 3 of the 2008 World Series, when 9.8 million watched the Rays lose 5-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 2008 game had several factors that led to the low ratings: The game was delayed by rain and didn’t start until after 10 p.m. ET, and it was played in a Saturday night, traditionally a poor night for TV viewership.

The first game of the 2019 World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros drew 12.3 million viewers on a Tuesday night.

The Rays and Dodgers posted a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49, the lowest for a World Series Game 1 since 1999, when the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves, according to TheWrap.com. Game 3 of Nationals-Astros last year drew a 2.3 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic.

While the Tuesday ratings were poor in terms of World Series norms, the Fox broadcast did earn the highest viewership among all network shows for the night. The competition included NBC’s “The Voice” (7.73 million viewers) and ABC’s “The Bachelorette” (4.29 million viewers). — Reuters