Sports

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox is leaving Team USA to focus on the upcoming season, Yahoo Sports reported Saturday. Fox is the third player to leave the roster this week. Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker pulled out with an ankle injury Friday, and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry withdrew Monday with a thumb injury. Fox had 2 points and 1 assist in about 6 minutes of playing time in Friday night's 90-81 victory against Spain in an exhibition game in Anaheim, a tune-up for the upcoming FIBA World Cup in Shanghai, China. Fox, 21, averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 81 games in his second NBA season in 2018-19. Fox's withdrawal leaves Team USA with 13 players competing for spots on the 12-man roster, which doesn't have to be finalized until Aug. 29. The remaining participants: Guards: Joe Harris, Brooklyn; Donovan Mitchell, Utah; Marcus Smart, Boston; Kemba Walker, Boston; Derrick White, San Antonio. Forwards: Harrison Barnes, Sacramento; Jaylen Brown, … [Read more...] about FIBA World Cup: De’Aaron Fox to withdraw from Team USA

‘Nowhere to go but grand slam’ Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) - August 18, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — With two-thirds of the job done, triumphant San Miguel Beer can’t veer away from discussions on winning the grand slam in the 2019 PBA season. The five-peat Philippine Cup champion annexed the Commissioner’s Cup tiara after a 4-2 toppling of No. 1 TNT KaTropa Friday night. Now, they only need to win the season-ending Governors Cup to pull off the rare golden treble. “Well, wala nang pupuntahan kung hindi doon (There’s nowhere to go but the grand slam),” said SMB coach Leo Austria after his charges became the lowest seed at No. 7 to win it all. The Beermen will shoot for the missing third jewel with NBA G League and Italian league veteran Dez Wells as import.  “We’re targetting another championship in the third conference and if we win that, … [Read more...] about ‘Nowhere to go but grand slam’

Alfrancis Chua a boyfriend and phone pal, too Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) - August 18, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — There’s no doubt that the San Miguel Corp. sports program wouldn’t be as dominant as it is today if not for Alfrancis Chua. It’s not just because of his expertise in managing sports but also because of his openness to go the extra mile with keen attention to detail in measuring up to San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang’s expectations. When San Miguel Beer clinched the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown in Game 6 of the finals against TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Friday, Chua said it wasn’t easy reaching the top. “We were up against TNT, a first-class organization with NBA player Terrence Jones,” said the San Miguel Corp. sports director who also sits on the PBA Board of Governors as Ginebra representative. “They lost only once in … [Read more...] about Alfrancis Chua a boyfriend and phone pal, too

Arwind Santos shows remorse after humbling incident Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) - August 18, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — More than winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown, San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos learned a good lesson in life in their just-concluded showdown with TNT KaTropa. In Game 5, Santos made a monkey gesture towards TNT import Terrence Jones, claiming it was part of “mind games.” But the Best Import awardee and many others had none of it, branding it as a racial slur. The PBA also felt this way, slapping Santos with a staggering P200,000 fine and required him to render 100 hours of community service and undergo seminar and counseling on equality and racial discrimination. Santos publicly apologized in a video post on Twitter and during warmup for Game 6, he approached Jones to personally say sorry. “I’m very happy, not just for the championship but for … [Read more...] about Arwind Santos shows remorse after humbling incident

John Bryan Ulanday (The Philippine Star) - August 18, 2019 - 12:00am Up next is twice-to-beat Petron MANILA, Philippines — Cignal HD scored one over Generika-Ayala when it mattered most, taking a huge 25-15, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22 knockout win to advance to the semifinals of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday. Motivated by two heart-breaking five-setter defeats in the double-round prelims, the vengeful HD Spikers just would not be denied in the sudden death quarterfinals as they took care of business to arrange a gigantic Final Four duel with the reigning champion Petron. The fifth-seeded HD Spikers play the Blaze Spikers, who are armed with twice-to-beat edge as the No.1 team in the prelims, this Tuesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center. Four players hit double figures in a scattered Cignal attack led by skipper Rachel Ann Daquis with 13 points on 13 kills. Veteran gunners Mylene Paat (12 … [Read more...] about Cignal HD gains semis