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Energy experts urge expedited transition to renewable power

THE Philippines must pick up the pace of its transition to clean power if it wants to make unacceptably risky for developers to build facilities running on fossil fuel, according to energy industry experts.

With renewable power now making up most of the Philippines’ new generating capacity, the risk grows for builders of baseload coal-fired plants, whose facilities could become stranded assets over the next decades, according to Alberto R. Dalusung III, the energy transition advisor of non-profit group Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

“We have to move quickly and recognize that the (energy) transition is happening,” he said in a virtual briefing.

In 2019, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered the Department of Energy (DoE) to accelerate the development of renewable energy. The department nevertheless maintained its technology-neutral stance in augmenting power capacity coming from various resources — from dirty ones to cleaner sources.

The grid is now being increasingly powered by clean energy, while the use of coal is dwindling, Sarah Jane Ahmed of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) noted.

“I believe we already are and we see many transitions taking place. We’re seeing a transition in island grids to micro-grids with a portfolio of energy, including renewables. And on the main grid, we’re seeing that coal utilization rates are going down because of renewables coming onto the grid,” the analyst said.

“It is important that the government and the regulator get in front of this to help the country navigate this transition,” Ms. Ahmed added.

Electricity tariffs in the Philippines are among the most expensive in Southeast Asia, IEEFA said. It blamed this on inflexible contracts with baseload fossil fuel-fired plants.

In 2019, coal still accounted for 10,417 megawatts (MW) with renewable power at around 7,400 MW or 29% of the total, which the DoE said is well above target for clean energy in the region. — Adam J. Ang

Rice farmer incomes, yields improve due to RCEF — study

RICE farmers’ incomes and yields are rising as a result of programs supported by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), according to a survey conducted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

PhilRice surveyed more than 4,000 RCEF beneficiaries across 55 provinces who harvested an average of 4.14 metric tons (MT) per hectare.

Respondents reported an additional yield of 440 kilograms per hectare were realized after farmers used certified inbred seed distributed by PhilRice under the RCEF program.

PhilRice’s Socio-Economics Division Chief Jesusa C. Beltran said the increase in output, assuming an average price of P17 per kilogram of dry palay, translates to nearly P7,500 per hectare in additional earnings.

Ms. Beltran said that due to higher income, farmers and their families have been able to weather the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

PhilRice said 97% of respondents reported receiving additional information about farming methods provided by PhilRice during the seed distribution activities.

Between March and July, PhilRice distributed more than two million bags of certified inbred seed to 750,000 farmers, who were tilling more than 855,000 hectares.

“With more farmers reached this wet season, a more positive outlook in rice production is expected this second semester under favorable weather conditions,” PhilRice RCEF Program Management Office Director Flordeliza H. Bordey said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, PhilRice said palay production during the first half rose 1.5% year on year to 8.39 million MT.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the findings are evidence that farming, with the right inputs and technology, can be profitable.

“We believe our joint efforts — in partnership with farmers, local government units and the private sector — are paying off, and thus we will vigorously implement the RCEF program in the succeeding years through 2025,” Mr. Dar said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

China’s Xi warns of ‘turbulent change’ as external risks rise

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world’s second-biggest economy is facing a period of ‘turbulent change’ and that rising external markets risk required policy makers to increasingly rely on domestic demand to spur growth.

Mr. Xi, chairing a seminar on Monday with a group of policy advisors and state economists, discussed the country’s mid- to long-term economic trends in preparation for the drafting of the 14th Five-year plan.

The five-yearly economic blueprint is expected to be unveiled in the annual parliament meeting next year, and Mr. Xi said China must be prepared for “a period of turbulent change” as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated protectionism, hammered the world economy and disrupted supply chains.

“In the coming period, we will face more and more headwinds in the external environment, and we must be prepared to deal with a series of new risks and challenges,” he said, according to comments released by state news agency Xinhua late Monday night.

Mr. Xi said the domestic market will “dominate the national economic cycle” in the future, but vowed to further open up China’s economy.

While Mr. Xi didn’t make direct references to intensifying US-China tensions, he signaled China’s willingness to work on issues with the US.

“We must actively cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises who are willing to cooperate with us, including states, localities and enterprises in the United States,” he said.

The US and China have been engaged in nearly two years of tit-for-tat tariffs and angry rhetoric, with tensions between the two economic superpowers spilling into other areas.

The US has sanctioned companies and individuals linked to a security crackdown in Hong Kong and human rights, banned a Chinese owned video app, penalized Chinese academics and closed Beijing’s consulate in Houston in recent months.

Mr. Xi also stressed the importance of technological innovation, adding without elaborating that China must “make breakthroughs in key core technologies as soon as possible.” — Reuters

Trump, Republicans paint dire portrait of America under Biden

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans opened their national convention on Monday by painting a dire portrait of America if Democrat Joe Biden wins the White House in November, arguing he will usher in an era of radical socialism.

Mr. Trump set the tone early in the day when he addressed Republican delegates in Charlotte, North Carolina, after formally securing the party’s nomination for another term, and claimed without evidence that Democrats were trying to steal the election.

Republicans had vowed to offer an inspiring, positive message in contrast to what they characterized as a dark and gloomy Democratic convention last week. But the first night’s prime-time program featured speakers who peppered their remarks with ominous predictions if Democrats win power.

“They’ll disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home and invite MS-13 to live next door,” US Representative Matt Gaetz, one of Mr. Trump’s staunchest backers in Congress, said, referring to an international criminal gang.

The four-day convention got under way at a critical juncture for Mr. Trump, who trails Biden in national opinion polls during a pandemic that has killed more than 176,000 Americans, erased millions of jobs and eroded the president’s standing with voters.

Mr. Trump has focused on a “law and order” message in response to widespread protests following the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, and he has pushed schools and businesses to reopen despite the pandemic. Both messages represent the campaign’s effort to win back suburban voters, especially women, who have abandoned the Republican Party in droves during the Trump era.

Donald Trump, Jr., the president’s oldest son, portrayed the ongoing civil unrest as violent assaults on small businesses by anarchists and said Democrats would fail to keep neighborhoods safe.

The convention’s opening night also laid out what promises to be a central theme of the week: that Biden, a former vice president, and his running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, will merely be puppets of radical left-wing activists.

Multiple speakers accused Mr. Biden of wanting to defund the police and ban fracking, though he has rejected both positions.

Another frenetic day for Mr. Trump threatened to overshadow his attempt to recalibrate the campaign, however. In Washington, congressional Democrats examined US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Mr. Trump donor, over whether he was deliberately sabotaging mail service to harm voting by mail, while one of Mr. Trump’s closest advisers, Kellyanne Conway, prepared to depart the White House.

The New York attorney general’s investigation into Trump’s family business deepened on Monday, while the National Guard was deployed in Wisconsin following unrest after a Black man was shot in the back by police.

A Reuters investigation revealed a sex scandal involving evangelical leader Jerry Falwell, Jr., a high-profile Trump supporter, whose tenure at the Christian university he runs appeared in limbo.

In contrast to the Democratic convention, which featured three former presidents, the Republican event does not include former Republican President George W. Bush, who has declined to endorse Trump’s reelection.

Mr. Biden, 77, and his fellow Democrats portrayed Mr. Trump, 74, as a force for darkness, chaos and incompetence during their convention, while stressing the Democrats’ diversity and values like empathy and unity.” — Reuters         

Facebook blocks group critical of Thai monarchy amid pressure

BANGKOK — Facebook blocked access within Thailand to a group with 1 million members that has criticized the country’s king, but said it was planning a legal challenge to the government’s demand that it block the group.

The move comes amid near daily youth-led protests against the government led by the former military junta chief and unprecedented calls for reforms of the monarchy.

The “Royalist Marketplace” group was created in April by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a self-exiled academic and critic of the monarchy.

On Monday night, the group’s page brought up a message: “Access to this group has been restricted within Thailand pursuant to a legal request from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.”

Pavin, who lives in Japan, said Facebook had bowed to the military-dominated government’s pressure.

“Our group is part of a democratization process, it is a space for freedom of expression,” Pavin told Reuters.

“By doing this, Facebook is cooperating with the authoritarian regime to obstruct democracy and cultivating authoritarianism in Thailand.”

Pavin’s new group of the same name already had over 455,000 members on Tuesday.

Facebook said on Tuesday it was planning to legally challenge the Thai government after being “compelled” to block access to the group.

“Requests like this are severe, contravene international human rights law, and have a chilling effect on people’s ability to express themselves,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

“We work to protect and defend the rights of all internet users and are preparing to legally challenge this request.”

Thailand’s lese majeste laws, which forbid defaming the king, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, is often the basis for such requests to block or remove content on social media platforms.

Earlier this month, Thailand’s digital minister accused Facebook of not complying with requests to restrict content, including insults to the monarchy.

On Aug. 10, he gave Facebook 15 days to comply with court takedown orders or face charges under the local Computer Crime Act, which carries a fine of up to 200,000 baht ($6,367.40) and an additional 5,000 baht ($159.18) per day until each order is observed.

Digital ministry spokesman Putchapong Nodthaisong said on Monday that Facebook cooperated before the deadline because it understood the context of Thai society.

Putchapong did not comment on Facebook’s plan for legal action when asked by Reuters on Tuesday.

The ministry last week filed a separate cybercrime complaint against Pavin for creating the group. — Reuters

TikTok sues Trump to challenge US restrictions

TIKTOK asked a federal judge to block the Trump administration from enacting a ban on the fast-growing social media network, bringing a geopolitical fight over technology and trade into a US courtroom.

TikTok and its Chinese parent, ByteDance Ltd., sued on Monday in federal court in Los Angeles to challenge an Aug. 6 order from President Donald Trump prohibiting US residents from doing business with TikTok. Mr. Trump says TikTok is a security risk for user data. The company said the president’s decision was made “for political reasons,” is unconstitutional and violates rights to due process.

While the order doesn’t take effect for weeks, it has escalated tensions between the US and China. On Aug. 14, Mr. Trump ordered ByteDance to sell its US assets and said the US should receive a cut of the proceeds. Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. have already shown interest in buying TikTok, which argues it poses no security threat.

Mr. Trump’s actions would “destroy an online community where millions of Americans have come together to express themselves, share video content and make connections with each other,” TikTok said. “The President has taken plaintiffs’ property without compensation.”

The White House did not comment on the lawsuit.

TikTok, a platform for creating and sharing short videos, has grown rapidly in the US from about 11 million monthly active users in January 2018 to 100 million today, according to the filing. Global usage has risen to almost 2 billion from 55 million in January 2018, it said.

TikTok has sought to distance itself from China and pushed back on the argument that it presents a threat to user data. In the lawsuit, the company said it has “taken extraordinary measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok’s US user data.”

Those moves included storing data in the US and Singapore, segregating TikTok data from other ByteDance offerings and appointing a US leadership and content moderation team that is “not subject to Chinese law.”

Mr. Trump’s decision to force the sale of ByteDance’s US assets was based on an investigation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. Decisions by the interagency panel, which is led by the Treasury Department, are all but impossible to overturn in court.

TikTok and ByteDance said in the lawsuit that they provided the committee with “voluminous documentation,” including about security measures. Yet the administration “ignored” the information, and the committee “repeatedly refused to engage with ByteDance and its counsel about CFIUS’s concerns,” TikTok said.

The suit comes as Mr. Trump steps up his campaign against China, betting it will help him win November’s election despite upsetting millions of younger TikTok users. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has urged American companies to bar Chinese applications from their app stores, part of his “Clean Network” guidance designed to prevent authorities in China from accessing the personal data of US citizens.

TikTok suggested that Mr. Trump’s actions amounted to payback against the network for providing a platform for those who oppose him. It cited an incident in June, when TikTok users claimed they coordinated mass ticket reservations and inflated projected attendance for a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so that many of the seats ended up empty. Mr. Trump’s reelection campaign has recently run online advertisements targeting the network, asking supporters to “sign the petition now to ban TikTok.”

Mr. Trump made his move under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a 1977 law that allows the president to declare a national emergency in response to an “unusual and extraordinary threat,” which authorizes him to block transactions and seize assets.

UPHILL FIGHT
The legal challenge faces an uphill fight, according to James Dempsey, executive director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at the University of California, Berkeley. Courts don’t generally review the President’s determinations on questions of national security, Mr. Dempsey said.

But the company may be successful with a due process argument, Mr. Dempsey said.

“If there were ever a case to challenge the President on using national security powers without an adequate basis, this may be the one,” he said. “A First Amendment challenge is also possible, but TikTok will have to establish that it has a First Amendment right to be on the phones of Americans or that TikTok is a publisher, separate from the First Amendment rights of its users.”

Mr. Trump has threatened penalties on any US resident or company that conducts transactions with TikTok or WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging app, saying that having Americans’ personal data exposed to China creates a national security risk. The apps could get bumped off Apple, Inc.’s and Google’s app stores.

“This executive order risks undermining global businesses’ trust in the United States’ commitment to the rule of law, which has served as a magnet for investment and spurred decades of American economic growth,” TikTok said in a statement hours after Mr. Trump’s order was issued. “And it sets a dangerous precedent for the concept of free expression and open markets.”

A TikTok employee joined the fight on Monday, saying the government action would unconstitutionally deprive him of a job. Patrick Ryan filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco, hours after the company filed its own constitutional challenge in federal court in Los Angeles.

On Friday, a group of WeChat users sued in San Francisco federal court saying Trump’s ban on the messaging app violated their right of free speech and due process rights because it doesn’t provide notice of the specific conduct that’s prohibited.

The case is TikTok v. Donald Trump, 20-cv-7672, US District Court, Central District of California (Los Angeles). — Bloomberg

PBA looking at bubble in tournament return

PBA OFFICIALS said that the league is looking at following the lead set by the National Basketball Association and have a single venue to host teams and all the matches in the event that the league returns this year. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

WITH team workouts resuming on Tuesday, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is mulling its next moves in its return-to-activities, including the possibility of mounting a league bubble that would host the resumption of the currently suspended season.

In their online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum session on Tuesday, PBA officials Ricky Vargas (chairman) and Willie Marcial (commissioner) shared that the league is looking at following the lead set by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and have a single venue to host the teams and all the matches in the event that the league returns this year.

The PBA suspended its Season 45 in March because of the coronavirus pandemic and is angling for an October resumption.

“We don’t have a choice. We already have a model, that of the NBA. We should just go ahead and move forward and look forward to the time that we could play,” said Mr. Vargas, who represents the TNT KaTropa in the league board.

The NBA resumed on July 31 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, after suspending its own season for four months and is proving to be successful as not one case of the coronavirus has been reported to date.

For the planned PBA bubble, among the places being considered for it are the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Clark in Pampanga and the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

Also being considered as locations are Batangas and Subic, Zambales.

“We have been talking to different people for possible bubble locations. I will lay everything to the board so we can decide which is the best option to take,” Mr. Marcial said.

But while the bubble is looming to be a suitable direction for the league in light of the health crisis, Mr. Vargas admits that it entails challenges, foremost of which financially.

“For the NBA bubble, I think the league financed the cost of some $180 million. Here we’ll see if the PBA can shoulder the cost of the bubble or if it will need the help of the teams,” said Mr. Vargas.

The PBA officials said the planned bubble will be discussed in the next board meeting along with other matters.

The league suspended its Season 45 on March 11 with only one game played in the Philippine Cup, that between the San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, which the former won, 94-78.

On Tuesday, after some delay the PBA finally pushed through with its team workouts, the first phase in its push to resume its currently suspended season.

Mr. Marcial said teams that already began their workouts were Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine, Alaska, Blackwater and San Miguel. The rest of the field are set to do theirs anytime this week.

“This is a good start. We are ready to do what we have to do. I think most teams are beginning to practice following the very strict protocols that have been set up by the PBA and the Board of Governors,” said Mr. Vargas.

Thunder even series with Rockets at 2-2

DENNIS SCHRODER converted a key turnover into a layup and the Oklahoma City Thunder evened their Western Conference first-round series with a 117-114 victory in Game 4 over the Houston Rockets in AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

After Danilo Gallinari picked off an errant pass from Rockets guard James Harden with 53.4 seconds left, Schroder scored to extend the Thunder lead to 111-108 with 35.9 seconds left.

Oklahoma City erased a 15-point, third-quarter deficit to post a second consecutive victory and square the series at two games apiece with Game 5 set for Wednesday at The Field House.

Schroder scored 30 points off the bench to lead the Thunder, while Chris Paul added 26 points, six rebounds and three steals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paired 18 points with 12 boards for the Thunder, who survived a 3-point onslaught from the Rockets that opened the second half.

Houston started the third quarter 8-of-8 from behind the arc and led 88-73 when Jeff Green scored off a Harden assist with 5:51 left in the period. But the Rockets then went ice cold, missing 20 of their ensuing 23 from deep as Oklahoma City roared back, starting with a 12-0 blitz to end the third, punctuated by a Schroder 31-foot buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Harden led Houston with 32 points, 15 assists and four steals while Eric Gordon added 23 points. Houston attempted an NBA postseason-record 58 shots from 3-point range, converting 23.

Also winning on Monday were the Miami Heat, who defeated the Indiana Pacers, 99-87, in Game 4 of their matchup to complete a sweep of their first-round series.

The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, went up, 3-1, in their best-of-seven series with the Portland Blazers with a dominant 135-115 win. LeBron James led the way for the Lakers 30 points with Anthony Davis adding 18.

Milwaukee, too, is now ahead of the Orlando Magic, 3-1, following a third straight victory in their series. The Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo in their 121-106 Game 4 victory with 31 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.

BROWN OUT
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers fired coach Brett Brown on Monday after seven seasons.

The move comes a day after the Sixers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in a four-game sweep. Brown led the Sixers to the playoffs the past three seasons.

“I have a tremendous level of respect for Brett both personally and professionally and appreciate all he’s done for the 76ers organization and the city of Philadelphia,” 76ers general manager Elton Brand said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, we fell well short of our goals this year and I believe it is best to go in a new direction. This will be an important offseason for us as we look to get back on track towards our goal of competing for an NBA championship.”

Brand conducted exit interviews with the players Sunday night, during which Joel Embiid, Al Horford and Josh Richardson criticized Brown, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Brown had two years and $10 million remaining on his contract.

Brown finished his tenure in Philly with a 221-344 record, including 12-14 in the postseason.

ESPN reports more changes in the front office structure of the team, though Brand is expected to be retained. — Reuters

PSC Chairman Ramirez: Putting things in perspective

AS THE investigation on possible violations of some collegiate teams of government’s health and safety protocols during this time of the pandemic continues, the head of the top sports agency of the land moved to chime in and put things in perspective.

In a statement released on Monday, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez lamented the possible lapses in judgment of varsity officials when, as per various reports, they conducted training in so-called bubbles when it is clearly stated in regulations released that such is still prohibited with the coronavirus still a concern.

Specifically mentioned was the basketball team of the University of Santo Tomas which allegedly conducted its bubble in Sorsogon beginning in June when most of the country was still under stricter quarantine setup.

Later on it was reported that the National University women’s volleyball team also held a training bubble in a sports facility in Laguna.

In his statement, Mr. Ramirez moved to underscore the moral challenges the sporting community faces particularly during this time of the pandemic and how people should be discerning in making decisions. This is primordial considering that lives are at stake.

“This issue brought to fore one glaring reality that we face in the field of sports, as in all other aspects of life — moral challenges,” said Mr. Ramirez.

The PSC chief went on to cite a paper written by Fr. Alfonso Suico, CSsR, entitled “Virtue and the Ethical Problems in Competitive Sports” which says “virtue ethics considers integrity and character of the athlete herself, a position that can determine the attainment of a goal, which is not (only) the winning of a game, but the flourishing one’s life.”

Mr. Ramirez found it striking and how it is very applicable to the issue at hand, zeroing in on the safety of all concerned, especially the student athletes.

“Does winning always mean everything else takes second place? Are we so focused on winning that we are ready to compromise important matters like the safety of the youth we are supposed to guide?” Mr. Ramirez posed.

“Is the athletic development and achievement, or team readiness more paramount that overstepping bounds, compromising one’s safety or putting your team credibility on the line takes a back seat?” he added.

The supposed UST bubble was brought to light as news of former captain CJ Cansino being cut from the team following a disagreement with coach Aldin Ayo in Sorsogon.

Cansino has since moved on, hooking up with the University of the Philippines while Mr. Ayo has not said much on the issue. The UAAP and UST, meanwhile, are doing investigations of their own on the matter and are expected to report soon.

Given the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Ramirez reiterated as a community every stakeholder must make it a point to be good followers during this health crisis and be mindful to put safety above all things.

“We cannot overemphasize how important it is to be good followers at this time of our nation’s journey. Just as our strict demand and high standards for good leaders are very much valid, we do our share in ensuring our victory against this health crisis when we decide to be good followers observing guidelines and moving as one team, community and country,” he said.

“Safety is priority. Your life, dear athletes, is more important than any medal could ever equal. We look to our sports officials to keep this prioritized in their decisions that may affect the good health of their athletes,” he added. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Serena begins marathon with exhausting first step

TORONTO — Serena Williams shook off some COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) layoff rust to grind out a 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(0) win over Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus on Monday to move into the third round of the Western and Southern Open.

Williams’ matches are a magnet for fans but with no spectators allowed onto the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the atmosphere inside a steamy Grandstand was one of relief rather than excitement as the 38-year-old American trudged off following the hard-fought victory.

“I was fine,” said Williams, when asked about playing without fans in the stands. “At one point I was pumping my fist and saying, “Come on.”

“I had a crowd in my head or something.

“It was actually funny to me. For me, it was like there was a crowd there.”

By the time Williams arrived on court to face her 72nd-ranked opponent, she was the highest seed left in the women’s draw after number one Karolina Pliskova and number two Sofia Kenin lost their opening matches on Sunday.

And Williams needed to draw on all her experience and survival instincts to ensure she did not join them at the exit as Rus put the former world number one through a near three-hour workout.

All four matches Williams has played since the WTA Tour restarted following the COVID-19 hiatus have gone to three-sets.

Monday marked the first exhausting day in what could be a three-week tennis marathon for Williams, who will be hoping her long search to win an elusive 24th grand slam title — and equal Margaret Court’s record tally — will end on Sept. 12 with victory in the Us Open final.

Down 6-5 in the third set and with Rus serving for the match, a drained Williams looked down for the count but she picked herself up to break the Dutchwoman to force a deciding tiebreak. She then moved in for the kill to win it 7-0.

After working her way into the main draw through qualifying, Rus came in match sharp while Williams looked sluggish on a hot and humid New York afternoon. She spent much of the first set trying to tame a misfiring forehand.

While Williams fitness has been questioned, her fighting spirit has never been in doubt and never more than in the third set.

Despite showing signs of fatigue, Williams insisted she was fit and ready for the task ahead.

“I’m actually super fit and I’m super ready,” assured Williams. I feel like I’m ready for anything.” — Reuters

URCC champion Drex Zamboanga set for maiden ONE fight

AFTER parading his wares in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga is set to make his ONE Championship debut this week.

Recently signed with ONE, 31-year-old Mr. Zamboanga (7-5) is to face fellow debutant Detchadin Srosirisuphathin of Thailand at “ONE: A New Breed” at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Aug. 28.

Mr. Zamboanga, the URCC bantamweight champion, will fight in flyweight in ONE where he hopes to make a grand splash in his first fight.

In A New Breed, Mr. Zamboanga will be competing in the same card with his sister, Denice, who is battling Watsyapinya Kaewkhong in an atomweight clash.

Mr. Zamboanga is coming off a first-round technical knockout win over Seung Hyun Choi of South Korea in April last year.

ONE: A New Breed will be the fourth live event for the promotion since returning on July 31 after taking a five-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be headlined by the ONE atomweight muay thai world championship clash between reigning champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand and challenger Allycia Hellen Rodrigues of Brazil.

“I am very fortunate to be here in Bangkok, with the ability to showcase my skills for the world to see. I know not all athletes are in the position that I am now, and I count myself blessed to be able to do what I love doing. Coming back so quickly after my recent performance in the ring, I’m still sharp and physically ready to put on another great show. I’m ready to defend my Muay Thai belt,” said champion Fairtex of his upcoming fight.

Also seeing action in A New Breed is Filipino-American KC Carlos in a muay thai battle with Wondergirl Fairtex. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Doncic confidence

Even by National Basketball Association standards, the stepback three-point shot is a low-percentage one. While taken to create significant separation — up to six feet when well executed — from a defender who will then be reacting too late, it likewise increases the subsequent attempt’s degree of difficulty. Don’t tell that to Luka Doncic, though; the Mavericks All-Star has it as an effective part of his arsenal, and all and sundry have no choice but to accept the outcome either way. The operative word is “effective” as opposed to “efficient,” so its launch is accompanied by anticipation; in the make-or-miss league, the make-or-miss proposition is accepted with bated breath.

Such was certainly the case when Doncic got the ball with 3.7 ticks remaining in regulation the other day. Having shaken free of the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard off a well-designed screen, he took the inbounds pass and got to work, setting up the shot with a bevy of moves aimed at giving him a free look at the basket. He already had four inches on Reggie Jackson, but his backward slide to the left ensured he had a clear shot regardless of the lunging coverage. And as he released the ball, he believed it would puncture the hoop and give the Mavericks the win, if for no other reason than because he was also prepared to fail.

Indeed, Doncic’s confidence knows no bounds. He’s just a sophomore in the NBA, but he’s already the undisputed leader of the Mavericks. His early successes in Europe prepared him well for the responsibility; he has a ton of experience at 21, and certainly more than enough to thrive in the first postseason outing of his career. It helped the other day, when he faced the powerhouse Clippers, when he competed on a bum ankle that required intensive treatment between matches, and when he had to play for all but two minutes and 15 seconds in the absence of second-leading scorer Kristaps Porzingis.

As things turned out, Doncic needed to ease his way into the set-to. His hobbled start put the Mavericks in a 21-point hole early on, but he would spearhead a comeback with a stat-stuffing effort and, more importantly, infectious perseverance. Those around him drew strength from his unshakable resolve; he walked the talk, and they repaid his trust with a collective performance that earned them the triumph. They would have been disappointed if his 28-foot make-or-break trey attempt missed, but not because of the way they competed. They shouldn’t have had any business getting the opportunity to win in the first place.

To be sure, Doncic could have approached the last play any number of ways. After all, the Mavericks were down by just one, with enough time for a penetration and a higher-percentage shot or a drive-and-draw play. Instead, he went for the stepback three despite three airballs off the same move earlier in the contest. In part, he was moved by recency bias; he had just made two in the crunch. In larger measure, he had boundless self-assurance that would not be shaken by previous missteps. Never mind his middling numbers from beyond the arc. Forget that advanced analytics pegged his actual attempt to have had a little over one in four chances of hitting the net. His flair for the dramatic sealed the decision-making process.

And so the Mavericks are right where they want to be: two triumphs away from advancing to the next round. Meanwhile, the Clippers are frustrated, still convinced that self-inflicted wounds had more of a hand in the final score. Perhaps. Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, could have fought the screen and stuck to Doncic on the fateful play. Paul George, a bona fide Most Valuable Player candidate last year, suffered from a shooting slump. Montrezl Harrell, presumptive Most Improved Player awardee, was still not in shape to log heavy minutes. Patrick Beverley, a pest even in dead ball situations, remained sidelined due to injury.

Then again, there can be no discounting the Mavericks’ handiwork. They had their backs to the wall, and they delivered with aplomb. Pundits have long held that any given seven-game series will ultimately show the superior side. Heading into the playoffs, that side was widely deemed to be the Clippers’. Not anymore. Not with Doncic cutting up the supposedly vaunted defense as he pleases, and not with the rest of the blue and white happy to follow his lead.

 

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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