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Lakers beat Clippers to arrest NBA skid
Los Angeles, United States—The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game NBA losing streak on Sunday, clawing out a 106-103 victory in a cross-town tussle with the LA Clippers — one of the hottest teams in the league. LeBron James scored 25 points, Anthony Davis added 22 and 10 rebounds and the Lakers got a big lift from their reserves, including.....»»
Mattel posts strong Q3 results, boosted by ‘Barbie’ mania
American toy maker Mattel revised its annual earnings forecast after its third-quarter results beat analysts' expectations, riding on the success of the "Barbie" blockbuster. "Consumer demand for our product increased in the quarter, and we continued to outpace the industry," Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said in a press release. He added: "Our results benefited from the success of the Barbie movie, which became a global cultural phenomenon, and marked a key milestone for Mattel." In a call with analysts, Kreiz said ticket sales, the movie toy line, and consumer product partnerships contributed to the company's performance. The film has grossed more than $1.44 billion worldwide since it was released in theaters in July. The group posted $1.92 billion in sales from July to September, which was higher than the $1.84 billion forecast by FactSet analysts. It posted a net income of $146,3 million, half the figure for the same period last year, due to a one-time charge of $212 million linked to taxes on foreign assets, the company said. However, its adjusted per-share profit of $1.08 beat analysts' estimate of 86 cents. "Given our year-to-date performance and expectations for a strong holiday season, we are updating our guidance for 2023 to reflect anticipated upside to our margin and bottom-line results," Chief Financial Officer Anthony DiSilvestro said in a statement. The company now expects annual adjusted earnings per share between $1.15 and $1.25, compared with $1.10 to $1.20 estimated previously. Operating profit is expected to be between $925 and $975 million, compared to $900-950 million in previous forecasts. Mattel shares fell 7 percent in extended trade. The post Mattel posts strong Q3 results, boosted by ‘Barbie’ mania appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Warriors, Cobras to clash in Cesafi men’s basketball on Thursday
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors will take on the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras tomorrow, October 19, 2023 in their college basketball duel of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) at the Cebu Coliseum. The Warriors plan to get their third straight win to improve their 2-1 (win-loss) record while the Cobras are still licking their wounds from their close defeat last Sunday against newcomer, the University of the Philippines-Cebu Fighting Maroons, 50-53. The Cobras of Cesafi champion coach Mike Reyes has one win and three defeats in their hand, tying with the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in the team standings. READ: Cesafi men’s basketball: Gabines trey gives Cheetahs a close win against Mustangs Warriors winning momentum Meanwhile, USC of head coach Paul Joven is riding on their winning momentum after grabbing their second victory last October 8 against the newcomers, Felipe Verallo Foundation College (FVFC), 56-40. The Warriors is expected to heavily rely on their primary scorer James Gica and will be reinforced by Vhan Joshua Baruc, Antonio Czar and Clint Anthony Octaviano, Bryle Puntual, and Uriel Avila. Meanwhile, the Cobras is expected to have Kyle Maglinte, Rey James Enriquez, and John Cardosa leading the team. READ: Keaton Taburnal of CRMC Mustangs suspended for two games by Cesafi Game time starts at 6 PM The Warriors and Cobras’ college basketball game tips off at 6:00 PM. Also playing tomorrow are the USC Baby Warriors against the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers at 5:00 PM. The Baby Warriors are fresh from a win over the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 64-57, last October 15, 2023. On the other hand, the Baby Green Lancers will return into action after roughly a 12-day rest. Their previous game came up short after losing to the high school defending champions, the Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles, 67-58, last October 8. READ: UAAP: Nic Cabañero to keep fighting as UST’s woes continue.....»»
No idle hours at franchise-less but booming ABS-CBN
Content supplier ABS-CBN seems to be amply rewarding the stars and talents who have chosen to stay put with the company after it lost its broadcast franchise. The loyal ones are hardly without a project that keeps them busy and (hopefully) well-compensated for what they do best. These stars include Maricel Soriano, Angel Aquino, Kathryn Bernardo, Andrea Brillantes, JM Guzman, Belle Mariano and screen sweetheart Donnie Pangilinan, Chie Filomeno, Kaori Ozuma and Anthony Jennings. Actors, hosts, singers, record producers and comic talents who have stayed with the network remain “well-oiled” cogs in the ABS-CBN entertainment machine. With Cory Vidanes and Lauren Dyogi as the media company’s top honchos, as well as production divisions that conceptualize and execute projects from beginning to end (such as Dreamscape, JRB Creative Production, Project 8 and Rise), there are no idle hours in the ABS-CBN corporate offices and studios. There are also directors (such as FM Reyes, Emmanuel Palo, Richard Arellano and Jojo Saguin), creative managers (such as Carmi Raymundo and Jay Fernando) and musical scorers who get projects one after the other even if only on a contractual basis. Romantic leading men A change of mindset and attitude has occurred among the big stars. They have become really professional entertainment artists who have realized they don’t have to play lead roles all time. They remain adored and respected even when they portray vicious personalities who make life hard for the lead characters. They can then reemerge in their next projects as virtuous lead characters. Romantic leading men Ian Veneracion and JM de Guzman did contemptuous characters in the action series Iron Heart, topbilled by Richard Gutierrez, Jake Cuenca and Albert Martinez. The show is slated to end in two weeks (with major scenes shot in Japan though the series’ main setting is Cebu). De Guzman has just attended the media conference for the series Linlang (Deception), which he headlines along with Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu. A major supporting actor in the new series that begins airing on 5 October is Maricel Soriano, whose “special participation” in the afternoon series Pira-pirasong Paraiso started only a few weeks ago. Soriano portrays a well-off grandmother in Pira-piraso and Linlang. Linlang is helmed by FM Reyes, who directed the ongoing ABS-CBN and TV 5 co-produced afternoon series Nag-aapoy na Damdamin. The new series is a suspense-thriller that will stream exclusively on Prime Video, available in the Philippines and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Linlang has only 14 episodes, and new episodes drop every Thursday at midnight. Surely favorable to the finances of stars and talents is the invariably large cast of ABS-CBN series these days. For instance, Iron Heart features in major roles Albert Martinez, Dimples Romana, Christian Vasquez, Sofia Andres, and young actors Enzo Pineda, Louise Abuel (who is male) and Iggy Boy Flores. It has had as guest actors Maja Salvador, Sue Ramirez, Meryl Soriano, Maricel Laxa, Joem Bascon, Pepe Herrera, Roi Vinzon, Carmen Soo, Fabio Ide, Richard Quan, Ruby Ruiz, Anna Luna, Ruben Soriquez, Krystal Brimner, Cris Villanueva, Alex Medina, Anna Marin, child star Althea Ruedas, Al Tantay, Diether Ocampo, Karina Bautista, Victor Silayan, Kyle Echarri and Lou Yanong. The show also has four directors: Richard Arellano, Lester Pimentel Ong, Wang Yan Bin and Ian Loreños. As for Linlang, its support cast includes Karla Estrada, Jaime Fabregas, Raymond Bagatsing, Albie Casiño, Jake Ejercito, Heaven Peralejo, Adrian Lindayag, Race Matias, Benj Manalo, Lovely Abella, Frenchie Dy, Ross Pesigan, Hanna Lexie, Juno Advincula, Connie Virtucio, Lotlot Bustamante, Meann Espinosa, Danny Ramos, Bart Guingona, Vance Larena and Marc McMahon. Whew! Who said ABS-CBN was a goner with the loss of its franchise? The post No idle hours at franchise-less but booming ABS-CBN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District have arrested 22 individuals for various offenses in a 24-hour operation over the weekend. QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said three wanted persons were among those apprehended by the Project 4 Police Station 8, Eastwood PS 12 and Payatas Bagong Silangan PS 13. PS 8 under P/Maj. Reynold Tobias arrested Sherwin Lubaton at 3:50 p.m. of 22 September 2023 for illegal possession of bladed, pointed or blunt weapons; the PS 12 under P/Lt. Col. Vicente Bumalay Jr. arrested Francisco Rosadeño Tañala at 2:09 p.m. of 22 September at No. 007, Barangay Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal for Acts of Lasciviousness; and PS 13 under P/Lt. Col. Leonie Ann dela Cruz served warrants of arrest to Ferdinand Bunuan Pantinople at 3:15 p.m. of 22 September at Quezon City Jail, EDSA corner Kamuning, Quezon City for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Maranan said the respective courts of origin of the warrants will be notified regarding the arrest of the wanted persons. In the campaign against illegal drugs, 19 druggies were apprehended in a series of buy-bust operations. The La Loma PS 1 under P/Lt. Col. Romil Avenido arrested Paulo Ramos at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September, along Kaingin Road, Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City and Francis Formento and Mike Pastrana at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September at Clover Leaf Market, Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City. Likewise, the same operatives arrested Alfredo Satiada at 3 a.m. of 23 September, in front of Petron gas station along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon, Quezon City and Adonis Mercader at 6 a.m. of 23 September along Don Pepe Street, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were 1.15 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P7,820 and the buy-bust money. Furthermore, the Talipapa PS 3 under P/Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar arrested Nelson Macaraeg; Mherly Solis; Erol Rivera; Mark Anthony Onana; Herchon Pronce; Jefrrey Harden; and Jamarde Kadil at 10:45 p.m. of 22 September along Ibabaw Ng Tulay, Quirino Highway, Barangay Balong Bato, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600; a black cellular phone; one unit orange Motorcycle Honda Beat; and the buy-bust money. The post QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Towns erupts in celebration with countrymen as Dominican Republic sweeps Group A
Karl-Anthony Towns could not contain himself Tuesday night after helping the Dominican Republic beat Angola, 75-67, to complete a sweep of FIBA World Cup Group A......»»
Gilas heartbreakers
The FIBA World Cup games have begun with an opening night of flag-waving, music-filled entertainment proudly showcasing our much-heralded love for singing and dancing. And for the next two weeks, basketball fanatics will be focused on the best of the best hoopsters in the world. Political leanings will be set aside and diplomatic disagreements among competing nations momentarily ignored by 32 countries bannered by a record number of 55 NBA players amicably but surely passionately battling for national pride on the hardcourts of Manila, Jakarta and Okinawa. Undoubtedly, the Philippines has prepared long and hard. Undoubtedly, our Gilas pool of an exciting combination of youthful and seasoned cagers possessed finally with enough height, girth, and basketball savvy to be internationally competitive have stepped up and put their individual professional careers on hold for the opportunity to don the colors of the country. Undoubtedly, MVP, the godfather and financial backer of SBP, has done his utmost best to deliver for the Filipino people the much-cherished dream of returning our basketball team to the Olympics by topping other Asian countries in the World Cup. Undoubtedly, the Filipino fans have continued to pour their hearts out for Gilas, desperately hoping for the much-fantasized victories over the top teams of the world starting with the higher-ranked countries in our group, namely, #10 Italy and #23 Dominican Republic versus our #40 rank. And certainly, a win against lower-ranked #41 Angola would not be an outsized expectation. So, what has happened so far? As of this writing, I must say that, surely, like millions of our countrymen, my heart is utterly heartbroken. Why? Two Gilas games have just been concluded and much to our lament, although we still have one more game to play against Italy, our aspirations for moving up to the second round of 16 have been shattered for all intents and purposes. We still have a long shot for a Hail Mary miracle if the Dominicans beat the Angolans, our tormentors in the second game of Gilas, and IF we beat Italy. This slimmest of slim scenarios will have Gilas tied with Italy and Angola at one win and two losses each, which will have to be settled on point differentials. We first lost to the Dominican Republic 87- 81 in a tightly contested match-up. Our team stood toe to toe against NBA star Karl Anthony Towns, an unstoppable behemoth every time he drove in on his strong side against the defenses of AJ Edu and our own man mountain June Mar Fajardo. Both defenders nevertheless stood out with their steady shooting and defensive efforts. The first game against the Dominicans, to the credit of our undersized team, was a nip-and-tuck affair all throughout that could have gone either way until our scoring machine, NBA star Jordan Clarkson, fouled out with about three minutes left. Without Clarkson to respond to Towns, the game of Gilas quickly unraveled and the outcome became inevitable. The game against Angola started and ended quite differently. With dimming hopes for moving up to the next round, Gilas ferociously came out strong, even leading by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Clarkson’s shooting, however, was not as sharp, hitting only 32 percent compared to his 38 percent clip against the Dominicans and Gilas’ penchant for turnovers continued to hurt. By the start of the fourth quarter, Angola took control and never looked back. Some lessons to be learned. No matter how great a player Clarkson is, other players will have to step up more consistently. Basketball after all is and will always be about team play. Fajardo was marvelous in the Dominican game but couldn’t maintain his strong play in the match-up against Angola’s NBA Atlanta Hawks center, Bruno Fernando. On the other hand, Edu, Dwight, and Pogoy showed intermittent flashes of brilliance but lacked game-long consistency. The much heralded Kai Sotto, perhaps through no fault of his own since he was denied sufficient playing time to show his stuff, was flat and didn’t really wow the crowd. But perhaps the biggest question asked by basketball pundits is if coach Chot Reyes is up to par compared to the brilliant bench tactician Tab Baldwin who unexpectedly stepped down as Gilas coach. Until next week… OBF! *** For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post Gilas heartbreakers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Golden sports opportunities
Dominican Republic led by Karl Anthony Towns won over Gilas of the Philippines by a score of 87-81. I felt sad for our country. It should have been an easy win for us, for an outright berth to the Paris Olympics in 2024. If coached skillfully, our 2023 Gilas Five, the best basketball team the Philippines has ever assembled in over half a century, could have “slaughtered” the opposition. The team suffered from lapses in coaching, faulty substitutions and, worst of all, failure to execute to our best advantage the alley-oop arc passes to Kai Sotto. Many times in the past, I witnessed Sotto perform this move with amazing success. All the Gilas players led by Jordan Clarkson have the skill to make the arc pass for an alley-oop shot to the basket. But how can we have the alley-oop when Sotto was benched in the crucial quarter of the game? The fourth quarter belonged to us. What was surprising was why, with five minutes remaining, Sotto, our 7-foot-2 superstar, was not sent in to help control the board, to stop Karl Anthony Towns from scoring from long range, and to save our most precious player, Jordan Clarkson, from fouling out. With Kai Sotto out of the court, what I feared would happen did happen. The Dominicans controlled the board, 17 for them, only 3 for us. Towns went to town scoring, and Jordan Clarkson, in a desperate bid to stop him, fouled out. We lost the game and the outright berth to the Olympics in Paris in 2024. The Philippines–Dominican Republic game, the most watched last Friday, 25 August, established a new world record of 38,115 fans in attendance, surpassing the 32,616 that witnessed the US-Russia final at the 1994 World Cup in Toronto, Canada. Our defeat at the hands of Karl Anthony Towns and his team dashed any hopes of repeating or surpassing what happened seventy years ago. The world was sweeter then. That was once upon a time when bronze glittered like gold, when the Philippines in a stunning performance at the 1954 World Basketball Championship — now known as the FIBA World Cup — in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil beat France for third place to achieve the highest finish ever by an Asian team on the world stage. The 6-foot-3 center, Carlos Loyzaga, led the golden age of Philippine basketball back in the 1950s. His best record was that bronze finish in 1954 — to date the country’s, or any Asian country’s for that matter, best in global basketball. Loyzaga fired 19 points to steer the Herminio Silva-mentored Philippine squad to victory over France, 66-60. Still, let us celebrate the victory of the Dominican Republic. Playing basketball in a global setting is a celebration of humanity, regardless of faith, race, culture, belief, gender and ability. Basketball brings us together — to meet across borders and boundaries, to learn to compete as friends, to respect and trust one another even in opposition. After the game, Karl Anthony Towns was warmly congratulated by the Filipino fans, young and old alike, who shook his hand, saying, “Mabuhay ka Karl Anthony” (Long live Karl Anthony). The big tall man responded, “Salamat po. Mabuhay kayo lahat.” (Thank you, long live to all). The Dominican Republic may have captured the game, but the Filipinos captured the heart of its captain. Sport is always the winner! The post Golden sports opportunities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines lose to Dominican Republic on FIBA World Cup opening day
MANILA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Dominican Republic beat the Philippines 87-81 on the opening day of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup here on Friday. Jordan Clarkson scored a game-high 28 points for the Philippines, while June Mar Fajardo added 16 points and seven rebounds. For the Dominican Republic, Karl-Anthony Towns had a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Victor Liz added 18 point.....»»
The World Cup and our national pride
Barely a few weeks after our women’s football team, the Filipinas, electrified the Philippine sporting world with a first-ever appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a first-ever goal and even more unbelievable, a first-ever win stunningly scored no less than against the host country, New Zealand, for the next two weeks, a much bigger world audience will have their eyes focused on the Philippines. Never mind that 90 percent of the Filipinas were composed of recruits from all over the world with some traces of Filipino blood flowing in their veins. Never mind that the biggest stars of the Filipinas, golden girl Sarina Bolden and goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, and in the case of our Men’s Basketball team, NBA Utah Jazz shooting guard sensation Jordan Clarkson of Gilas, are as American as McDonald’s. Our hearts ever so slightly would start to beat a lot faster whenever these heaven-sent athletes would do what they do best on the pitch or the hardcourt. Surely just watching the replay of Sarina heading in the goal against the Kiwis and sprinting across the field with arms spread-eagled like the Philippine Eagle, you can’t help but scream out loud “Yes!,” get goosebumps, be misty-eyed, and jump with joy all at the same time recalling that single moment of a wondrous feat that boosted Filipino pride in an instant. Why is this so? How can a single goal cause so much adulation for the Filipinas and breast-beating pride in a nation forgetting for a moment all our gargantuan problems, and social and political differences? Apparently, this phenomenon is nothing new. A quick look in Google reveals various articles that conclusively demonstrate that sporting success and national pride are clearly intertwined. For instance, in various surveys of the International Social Survey Program conducted by Social Weather Stations in 1995, 2003 and 2013, from number 2 in 1995, sports moved up to number 1 in 2013 as the main source of national pride, edging out our national history from the top spot. From an 80 percent mark in 1995 representing the number of Filipinos proud of our sports achievement, this moved up to 87 percent in 2013. Not surprisingly, these were the years that Manny Pacquiao became an international sensation putting the Philippines in the world limelight for his achievements as a boxing great. What’s happening in the next two weeks? Well, unless you have been completely zonked out of your senses, the FIBA World Cup, the world’s biggest basketball spectacular, will be happening right here in our backyard. Millions of Filipinos, including yours truly, will have their eyes glued to television, streamed games on their smart gadgets, or for some lucky thousands who can shell out some hard-earned pesos, watch the games live at Araneta, MOA, and Philippine Arena. To be realistic though, the odds of Gilas sweeping our Group A games against Angola, Dominican Republic, and Italy to move on to the knockout stage are next to impossible. I think that at best what we could hope for is a close win against Angola and if NBA Minnesota Timberwolves star center Karl Anthony Towns can somehow be neutralized by wide-bodied but undersized Junemar Fajardo and our guards like Scottie Thompson or Kiefer Ravena can match up against their bulkier but fleet-footed guards, then a miracle for our country might be in the offing. Unfortunately, our game against Italy will be more of a question of limiting the certain Italian win to single digits to keep our national pride from getting trampled on too badly. But in all these games, the fans will be feverishly anticipating the explosions of Jordan Clarkson, our one and only Filipino NBA pride, and perhaps maybe Kai Sotto, and why not AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos, finally getting their much-needed exposure in the international limelight to showcase their talents and demonstrate that they are good enough to make the NBA. Nevertheless, win or lose, I believe what is important is that as a host nation, we put our best foot forward, take a momentary pause and suspend the endless carping on social media and the news, to present to the world just what basketball crazy but hospitable people we are. Go Gilas! Until next week… OBF! *** For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post The World Cup and our national pride appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AboitizPower breaks ground on new Maco de Oro science lab
Aboitiz Power Corporation Thermal Group, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation and the local government of Maco, Davao de Oro, is set to build a one-story, two-classroom science laboratory within Maco de Oro College. Expected to be completed within the year, the building will assist scientific learning and support the academic curriculum of students. “This is a welcome addition to our educational facilities,” said Maco de Oro College president Dr. Anthony Pol P. Fulache. “It is great to see in action the cooperation among our government and private partners to support our students to maximize their learning.” The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by leaders from AboitizPower Thermal Group, the Aboitiz Foundation and the local government of Maco led by Mayor Arthur Voltaire Rimando and Vice Mayor Dr. Alvera Veronica Rimando. Maco de Oro College administrators and the Philippine Army 1001st Infantry PAG-ASA Brigade, led by Commander Col. Felix Ronnie Babac, also supported the event. “We in AboitizPower are thrilled to make this dream possible for Maco de Oro College,” said AboitizPower Thermal Group VisMin president and COO Ronaldo Ramos. “This is a legacy-defining project, together with our partners, Mayor and Vice Mayor Rimando. What we will do here, the science laboratory, will not just be a one-time benefit, but will benefit a whole generation of people in Maco,” he added. Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan emphasized how collaboration between businesses and communities is critical to the growth of both. “At the heart of this occasion is the belief that education is the key to transformation. As we continue to evolve in an increasingly technological world, the demand for a workforce with strong STEM skills is greater than ever,” she said. “We are proud to be partnering with AboitizPower, Maco de Oro College and the municipality of Maco to provide support and resources that will enhance the quality of STEM education for the students here.” Last year, the Aboitiz Group also collaborated with Maco de Oro College in its marine protection activities and in the implementation of coastal livelihood projects for families in the area. Mayor Rimando expressed his continued support for the programs extended to their municipality. “As the father of this town, wala na akong ibang masasabi kundi masayang masaya talaga tayo! (As the father of this town, I have nothing else to say except that we are very happy!) We are so lucky, so fortunate, and we will always be proud of this engagement because I consider this as a lifetime achievement. Isa itong legacy, hindi na ito mawawala (This is a legacy, this will not be gone),” Rimando said. “You (AboitizPower) have that unparalleled and unbounded courage to take a risk, because you have to invest a big amount in this very unique school... We cannot overemphasize our profound gratitude,” he added. Upon completion of the science laboratory, around 350 students will benefit from the resources and infrastructure of the donated science lab. The post AboitizPower breaks ground on new Maco de Oro science lab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz joins global beat plastic efforts
On 5 June, the United Nations’ or UN World Environment Day, the Aboitiz Group demonstrates its commitment to global sustainability efforts by highlighting its groundbreaking innovations in the fight against plastic pollution. With this year’s theme of #BeatPlasticPollution, the Aboitiz Group supports effective action and a transition towards a circular economy to address global environmental challenges. The Group hews close to the UN Environment Program or UNEP’s vision of a shift to a circular economy, in which the inflow of plastics into the ocean can decrease by more than 80 percent by 2040, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 25 percent, and in the process even generate 700,000 job opportunities. The Group aims to accelerate progress and inspire others to take bold steps in combating plastic pollution. At the heart of the Aboitiz Group’s operations lies the OneNewAboitiz Sustainability Synergy, guiding the Group toward innovative practices and technologies. The Aboitiz Group’s sustainability achievements work towards a worldwide sustainable development agenda, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. By pushing the boundaries of innovation, the Aboitiz Group tackles pollution challenges with effective solutions. Through these dedicated initiatives and actions, the Aboitiz Group demonstrates its unwavering commitment to sustainable development and actively contributes to the attainment of several SDGs. These include SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The Group’s efforts specifically focus on promoting responsible consumption and production, taking action against climate change, safeguarding marine ecosystems, and preserving terrestrial biodiversity. Reimagine seaweed As the Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, it is taking an innovative approach to #BeatPlasticPollution, reimagining the world in terms of possibilities and opportunities. With growing interest in using seaweed as an alternative to single-use plastic, leaders within the Aboitiz Group are working on the Reimagine Seaweed initiative, set to transform the seaweed industry of the Philippines. The initiative is holistically designed to create a sustainable and profitable seaweed industry that provides livelihoods to farmers, promotes biodiversity, reduces plastic pollution, and mitigates the effects of climate change. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Philippines is the fourth-largest producer of seaweed globally, supporting 1.4 million seaweed farmers. Under Reimagine Seaweed’s three-pronged strategy, seaweed farmers are taught better farming techniques and are introduced to green technology that will expand their product range to potentially include bioplastics, protein powder, cosmetics, and health supplements. Within the next five years, the Aboitiz Group and the Reimagine Seaweed team are looking to reduce single-use plastics in the region through the production of biodegradable and compostable packaging made from seaweed. This game-changing initiative is making progress towards improving the lives of seaweed farmers, bringing world-class green technology to the local industry, and eliminating single-use plastics in Asia and beyond. By leveraging a renewed entrepreneurial mindset and the latest technologies, the Aboitiz Group tackles global challenges with innovative approaches that advance the business and communities they serve. On the road to ending plastic toxicity, they are also opening up an ocean of opportunity with Reimagine Seaweed. Plastic Neutrality Republic Cement, a CRH-Aboitiz company, pioneered the use of alternative fuels through co-processing in the Philippines. The process involves the reuse and recovery of thermal and mineral properties of qualified waste materials as alternative fuels, allowing Republic Cement to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and minimize environmental impact. The firm uses residual plastic waste, including rejected plastic bottles, styrofoam, tarps, single-use plastic containers and utensils, sachets, shopping packages, and other soft plastics, as alternative fuels. In August 2022, Republic Cement achieved a significant milestone in becoming plastic-neutral. Through its resource recovery group, ecoloop, the company collected and co-processed an equivalent volume of residual plastic waste used in the packaging and transporting of its cement products. By integrating plastic waste into the cement manufacturing process, Republic Cement successfully offset its plastic packaging footprint for 2020 to 2022, equivalent to co-processing over 890 dump trucks filled with plastic waste. Republic Cement also supports numerous manufacturers to reach their plastic neutrality goals and be more responsible corporate citizens and stewards of the environment. Upcycled plastic City Savings Bank, the thrift bank subsidiary of the Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines or UnionBank, partnered with Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc. or Envirotech to upcycle plastic waste into classroom essentials: school chairs. In support of the Department of Education Matatag agenda to supplement basic education facilities and services, CitySavings donated 50 plastic chairs made of upcycled waste plastic to Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School in Davao City and Tunasan National High School in Muntinlupa City. Likewise, the construction arm of the Group, Aboitiz Construction, has been implementing its policy against single-use plastics across all projects and facilities since last year. The implementation resulted in a 14.60% reduction of plastic wastes from 2022 to 2023. Also, this initiative is anchored in the firm’s compliance to ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental Management System) and to its future plan of standardizing materials recovery facilities on all sites. The post Aboitiz joins global beat plastic efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including a three-point dagger with 11.5 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 114-108 in overtime Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs. Western Conference top seeds Denver, led by 43 points from reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, closed regulation on a 12-0 run to force overtime. But they were out-scored 18-12 in the extra session at the Target Center in Minneapolis as the Timberwolves pulled within 3-1 in the series. Minnesota still face a daunting task -- no NBA team has come back from 3-0 down to win a best-of-seven series. "See you in Denver, we're going back," said Edwards, whose 16 third-quarter points keyed a Timberwolves charge that carried them to a 12-point lead midway through the fourth. Mike Conley added 19 points for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Timberwolves withstood another big night from Jokic. The Serbian star matched his playoff scoring high and added 11 rebounds and six assists. The teams swapped the lead four times in overtime, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone said too many defensive lapses in the extra session doomed his team. "You hold them to 16 points in the fourth quarter, then (they have) 18 in five minutes," Malone said. "That's the hardest thing to stomach about this game is that when the game was on the line, we were unwilling and unable to get the necessary stops." 'Sloppy' Curry It was the second Western Conference thriller of the day, after the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a 126-125 victory that leveled their series at two games apiece. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento at the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points -- and breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. Curry missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. He then erroneously called a timeout when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. De'Aaron Fox's three-pointer pulled Sacramento within 126-125 and Curry missed another floater to give the Kings a final chance. "It was kind of sloppy not knowing how many timeouts we had left, and a couple of dagger shots didn't go in -- but we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. Klay Thompson added 26 points and Jordan Poole had 22. Draymond Green, back from suspension, scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench to help the Warriors withstand a 38-point performance from Fox. Knicks, Celtics close in In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points but Donovan Mitchell scored just 11 -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. Brown got off to a slow start, making just one of his first seven shots. Then he got rid of the protective mask he's worn since suffering a facial fracture in February and made 11 of 15. "Maybe it was all in my head," Brown said. "I took it off and started to turn things around a little bit." The post Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sixers sweep Nets to advance, Suns on brink as Heat burn Bucks
The Philadelphia 76ers shrugged off the absence of Joel Embiid to complete a 4-0 sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA playoffs on Saturday as the Phoenix Suns edged closer to a second-round berth by beating the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers advanced to an Eastern Conference semi-final showdown against either Boston or Atlanta with a dominant second-half display to seal a 96-88 victory in Brooklyn. Elsewhere in the East, the Miami Heat thrashed the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 121-99 to edge ahead of the top seeds 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. In Brooklyn, the Sixers trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter but transformed the contest with an 18-4 run to take the lead before closing out victory with a fourth-quarter rally. The Sixers' win was all the more impressive given the absence of star center Embiid, who suffered a right knee sprain in Thursday's 102-97 victory in game three. Embiid led the NBA with 33.1 points a game and is a finalist for the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Paul Reed stepped in to fill the void and finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Tobias Harris led the scoring for Philadelphia with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while De'Anthony Melton came off the bench to produce 15 points and lead the fourth-quarter surge. Harris said the Sixers were determined to use Embiid's absence as a motivator. "He's the MVP. And when we heard he wasn't playing, I think it was an opportunity for everybody else to really step up and understand that we've got to get a win without the big fellow," Harris told the TNT television network. "The whole group came together today. It's a great win for us and a great way to sweep the series." Asked what his message to the injured Embiid would be, Harris replied: "Hurry up and get your ass back out here." The 4-0 series victory was Philadelphia's first playoff sweep since 1991. Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn's scoring with 20 points while Nic Claxton had 19 points with 12 rebounds. "Getting swept is trash," a dejected Claxton said. "It's not a good feeling." Suns on the brink In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to help Phoenix beat the Clippers 112-100 for a 3-1 series lead. Devin Booker plundered 30 points and veteran Chris Paul added 19 in a late burst of scoring as Phoenix bagged their second straight win in Los Angeles. "I'm in a good place and I'm enjoying playing ball," Durant said. "I've been out a few months this season, and I'm just happy I'm out here where the ball is." It means the Suns need just one more win to book their place in the Western Conference semi-finals, with game five set for Phoenix on Tuesday. The Clippers' hopes of squaring the series had been dealt a blow by the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who joined Paul George on the injured list. Russell Westbrook produced one of his best performances for the Clippers with a 37-point display. In Miami, the Heat took full advantage of the absence of Milwaukee's two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, leading by double digits much of the night. Jimmy Butler scored 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting before departing late in the third quarter after taking a hard fall. After visiting the locker room he returned to the bench but with the game in hand did not go back on the floor. Duncan Robinson scored 20 points and fellow reserve Kyle Lowry added 15 as the Heat bench delivered 59 points. "We just came out here and played with some intensity," Lowry said. The Heat will try to level the series on Monday, but Lowry said he knows they'll face a tough task. "Every game is a different game," he said. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the team would continue to "monitor" Antetokounmpo, who suffered a back contusion in game one, missed game two and was a late scratch on Saturday. In the late game the Memphis Grizzlies welcomed star guard Ja Morant back after a hand injury as they visited the Los Angeles Lakers with their series knotted 1-1. The post Sixers sweep Nets to advance, Suns on brink as Heat burn Bucks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Redeem Team?’
Whether the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas admits it or not, the preparation of Gilas Pilipinas for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games is very problematic. Dubbed the “Redeem Team” for its ultimate goal of reclaiming the gold medal in the biennial meet, Gilas Pilipinas struggled to launch its training program as most of its players were still playing in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Gilas kicked off their training program on a promising note. Although cornerstones Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo were not around, the majority of the pool members showed up led by naturalized players Justin Brownlee, Jamie Malonzo, Christian Standhardinger, and Jeremiah Gray as well as Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Aaron Black, Marcio Lassiter and Kevin Alas. There were also some new faces in Mike and Ben Phillips, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser as well as returning pool members Mason Amos and Schonny Winston. For good measure, Gilas coach Chot Reyes invited defensive lynchpin Sean Anthony to provide an additional warm body that would give him a chance to study the combinations that he will use in the tourney that is set in Phnom Penh from 5 to 17 May. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good start. Everybody was in high spirits. But not for long. When Reyes called another training session, only seven players confirmed, prompting him to call off the supposedly once-a-week workout. Reyes called another training last Monday and only 11 players from the 28-man pool attended. The following day, Gilas convened anew and the same faces — except for Lassiter who had to fly to the United States — were in attendance, giving Reyes and his coaching staff the “luxury” of holding scrimmages and running through the plays. “That’s a luxury,” Reyes said in a report. “We get every opportunity that we have to form a team of at least 10 players then we go out and hold a practice session.” Reyes also branded the development of having at least 10 players as “real progress.” “But at least we were able to put in some offensive things, defensive concepts, and there’s some real progress that is being made.” Luxury? Progress? If your national team is preparing for a major international event that will open two weeks from now with only 10, or 11 players, then you have a big problem. For a country that eats, drinks, and sleeps basketball, losing the SEA Games gold medal is a crime. Failing to win it the following year, however, is a mortal sin. The Filipinos have been ruling the men’s basketball event of the SEA Games with an iron hand. In fact, before losing the gold medal in the Hanoi edition of the Games in 2022, the only times that they didn’t win the SEA Games title since the event was held in 1977 were in 1979 and 1985. And their wins were not just simple victories. It was a massacre, total devastation made by a team usually composed of college kids, journeymen, and amateur stars. The Philippines was so dominant that universities and clubs in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia were lining up just to “import” Filipino coaches who could teach them the basics of the game. But those days are gone. Since the emergence of the Asean Basketball League in 2009 and the explosion of social media and other online platforms, other Southeast Asian countries have discovered the formula for how to beat the Filipinos. They opened their eyes and started hiring international coaches and technical instructors while naturalizing foreign-born players to reinforce them in major events. Believe it or not, when Indonesia shocked the Philippines in the SEA Games final last year, it wasn’t represented by some skinny kids from Sulawesi or Sumatra. They were reinforced by United States-trained Marques Bolden, Derrick Michael Xzavierro, and Brandon Jawato with Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman manning the bench. The war in Phnom Penh is just two weeks away. While reigning champion Indonesia is deep in its training in Australia, Gilas Pilipinas is still figuring out how to put at least half of its 28-man pool on the floor. That’s a real problem. When the team for the SEA Games was formed, fans and media were quick to baptize it with a neat moniker of “Redeem Team” as it was armed with a mission of reclaiming the lost jewel in the country’s crown — the men’s basketball title. But with the way things are going, Gilas Pilipinas will be fortunate to make it to the semifinals. The post ‘Redeem Team?’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nuggets take 3-0 lead over Timberwolves, Knicks dominate Cavs
The Denver Nuggets, fueled by a Nikola Jokic triple-double, beat Minnesota 120-111 on Friday to take a 3-0 stranglehold on their NBA Western Conference playoff series as the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks notched big home wins. The Knicks had Madison Square Garden rocking with a dominant 99-79 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that put New York up 2-1. The Hawks clawed back to 2-1 after dropping the first two games against the Celtics in Boston with a 130-122 triumph. Atlanta crucially avoided falling into a 3-0 hole -- a deficit no NBA team has ever recovered from to win a best-of-seven series. And that's exactly where Western Conference top seeds Denver have the Timberwolves after two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic's seventh career playoff triple-double. Jokic scored 20 points with 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and when he was limited by foul trouble in the third quarter his teammates kept the pressure on. Michael Porter Jr scored 25 points to lead six Nuggets players in double figures and Denver's reserves out-scored the Timberwolves bench 29-10. They kept the Timberwolves at bay despite a sparkling 36 points from Anthony Edwards, whose three-pointer early in the third pulled Minnesota within three points. They were down by five with less than five minutes remaining, but couldn't break through. Jokic, who led the league with 29 triple-doubles in the regular season, said he knows they'll be even more determined on Sunday to prevent a sweep on their home floor. "We know they're going to go even more aggressive in two days," Jokic said. "So we just need to keep our composure and we know what to expect." In New York, Jalen Brunson scored 21 points and RJ Barrett added 19 for the Knicks, who rebounded from a humbling game two defeat in Cleveland. The Knicks' suffocating defense contributed to a dismal night for Cleveland's Darius Garland, who missed 17 of his 21 shot attempts on the way to 10 points. Donovan Mitchell scored 22 to lead the Cavs, who became the first team this season to be held under 80 points in an NBA game. To top it off, Garland -- who scored 32 points in the Cavs' win on Tuesday -- needed treatment on his left ankle in the second half after stepping on a courtside photographer's foot. The game was the first playoff contest at Madison Square Garden in two years and the "chaos" that New York native and Cavs star Mitchell predicted materialized. Both teams made sloppy starts in the raucous atmosphere, but the Knicks steadied to take a 13-point halftime lead that they pushed to as many as 27. "This was great," said Brunson, but he warned that the Cavs would punch back in game four on Sunday. "You want to carry it over, but at the same time we've got to be focused, we've got to be ready to go." In Atlanta, Trae Young scored 32 points and Dejounte Murray added 25 as the hot-shooting Hawks clawed back into their series against the Celtics. Young shook off two sub-par performances with a stellar display, connecting on 12 of 22 shots from the field with six rebounds and nine assists. "Our whole team was making plays all night and it was up to me to go make the right one," Young said. "It's not only to score, sometimes it's to get everybody involved." He also produced a pair of blocks as the Hawks out-hustled the second-seeded Celtics -- who fell to Golden State in the NBA Finals last year. Jayson Tatum scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Boston. Marcus Smart added 24 and Jaylen Brown had 15 for the Celtics, who drained 21 three-pointers but were out-rebounded 48-29. Smart said there was no secret to the Hawks' advantage on the boards, which led to their 23-9 edge in second-chance points. "It's just a matter of will," Smart said, "and they wanted it more tonight." Tatum still had a chance to tie it with 58.1 seconds left but his three-point attempt bounced off the rim and the Hawks pulled away. "I've got to play better," said a dejected Tatum, who said he made too many untimely turnovers and poor decisions. "This one tonight is on me." Atlanta will try to level the series when they host game four on Sunday. The post Nuggets take 3-0 lead over Timberwolves, Knicks dominate Cavs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Young paddler leads Team Phl
A 16-year-old paddler will be at forefront when the national team sees action in the table tennis competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Philippine Table Tennis Federation, Inc. secretary general Pong Ducanes said they will parade 16-year-old Keith Rynne Cruz in the biennial meet set from 5 to 17 May in Phnom Penh. Cruz is the youngest and top player in the country who has yet to lose in an actual tournament. She is coming off an impressive stint in which she beat the highly-touted Lee Xi Nin of Malaysia, 2-1, to rule the 10th Flexible Cup International Table Tennis Championships in Novaliches early this year. “She’s only 16 and remains undefeated here in the country,” Ducanes said. Ducanes added that several players had also undergone training in preparation for the SEA Games. “Jann Nayre is fresh from a six-month training in Portugal. She is considered one of our rising stars,” Ducanes said, referring to the first Filipino table tennis player to land a spot in the Youth Olympic Games and is ranked 491st in the International Table Tennis Federation men’s world ranking. In the previous edition of the SEA Games, the Philippine table tennis doubles team composed of John Russel Misal and Richard Gonzales took home a silver medal. Gonzales is considered as a legend in Philippine table tennis and at 52, there’s no slowing him down. “He’s still going to play,” added Ducanes on Gonzales, who is an enlisted member of the Philippine Army. “We hope we can improve on our previous finish and win the gold this time. Our mixed doubles are also pretty solid and hopefully we can get a medal.” “Of course, gold medal will always be a target in all the divisions we’re playing, but any medal would be a blessing and appreciated.” Also part of the national team are John Russell Picondo Misal, Eljey Dan Rivera Tormis, Edouard Imperial Valenet, Angel Joyce Tamares Laude, Emy Rise Pescadero Dael, Rose Jean Dela Torre Fadol and Sendrina Andrea Jumawan Balatbat. The post Young paddler leads Team Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grizzlies hold off Lakers to level series 1-1
The Memphis Grizzlies shook off the absence of star guard Ja Morant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-93 on Wednesday and knot their NBA Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece. Xavier Tillman scored 22 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 20 points in a bruising battle that saw Lakers center Anthony Davis suffer a small cut on his right eyelid and LeBron James drawn into a verbal back and forth with Dillon Brooks. With All-Star point guard Morant ruled out with a bruised right hand, the Grizzlies clamped down defensively, Tillman saying their message to Morant was "we've got his back, and we're going to hold it down for him." Tillman keyed Memphis's quick start, connecting on his first six shots and finishing 10-of-13 from the floor. The Grizzlies led by as many as 16 points on the way to a 59-44 halftime lead as the harried Lakers failed to find a way to get their offense firing. Davis blocked five shots in the first half but connected on just one of nine shot attempts. He finished with 13 points on four-of-14 shooting. James led all scorers with 28 points and Japan's Rui Hachimura added 20 to become the first Laker to score 20 points off the bench in back-to-back playoff games since Magic Johnson in 1996. But unlike in game one, there would be no late resurgence for the Lakers, the Grizzlies absorbing the Lakers' second-half push. Jaren Jackson Jr., the newly named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, scored 18 points, Desmond Bane added 17 and Brooks chipped in 12. Tyus Jones, starting in place of Morant, added 10 and eight assists. After the Grizzlies pushed their lead to 20 points early in the third quarter, the Lakers began to push back. Two baskets and two free throws from James launched a 17-3 Lakers scoring run that sliced the deficit to six points, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the way. Now, Tillman said, the Grizzlies will summon a "road warrior mentality" for game three of the best-of-seven series in Los Angeles on Saturday. Antetokounmpo ruled out Elsewhere the Milwaukee Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo as they tried to claw back a victory against the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, suffered a lower back contusion in the first quarter of the Eastern Conference top seeds' 130-117 loss in game one on Sunday. The Bucks, the top seeds in the East and owners of the best regular-season record in the league, had hoped he would be fit to return but he was ruled out less than two hours before tip-off. "He's continued to improve," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. "But organizationally, talking and working with him and the sports performance group, a decision was made. He's out." Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, sought to extend their series lead over Minnesota when they hosted the Timberwolves in game two of their Western Conference clash. The post Grizzlies hold off Lakers to level series 1-1 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Butler, Strus lead Heat past Bulls and into playoffs
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat caught fire down the stretch to beat the Chicago Bulls 102-91 and reach the NBA playoffs on Friday, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder to book their postseason berth. Miami, smarting from a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, clinched the Eastern Conference's eighth and final seed to set up a meeting with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks starting on Sunday. Minnesota meanwhile will face Western Conference top seeds Denver in the first round of the playoffs after a comprehensive 120-95 blowout of Oklahoma City. While Minnesota romped into the postseason, Miami's clash with Chicago went down to the wire before Butler, helped by the three-pointers of Max Strus, secured victory for Erik Spoelstra's team. Butler put up 31 points, a tally matched by Strus who shot 7-12 on three-pointers, including a crucial 26-foot jumper with 1:14 left that put Miami 96-91 up. For Strus, who grew up as a Bulls fan in the suburbs of Chicago and was released by them before joining Miami, it was a sweet night. "It's huge. It doesn't really matter who we're playing - we had to win this one, no matter what. It was win or go home and we're not done yet. "So we want to keep playing and it's good to get that one. But it does feel a little bit better against them, I'm not gonna lie," he said. Strus secured the win with three free throws after he was fouled by Alex Caruso as he tried to make a throw from the corner. The Heat had been 14 points up in the first quarter but a 12-2 run from the Bulls in the third leveled the game up at 56-56. A Zach LaVine dunk then put Chicago up for the first time since the opening basket of the game and three three-pointers early in the fourth from Coby White ensured the Bulls were 90-87 with three minutes to go. But then Butler and Strus took control. Butler was fouled while making a lay-up and then Bam Adebayo, who grabbed 17 rebounds, sank two free throws after he was fouled by Nikola Vucevic to make it 93-90. Butler set up Strus for a three-pointer before he then made sure of the victory from the free-throw line. The Heat had found themselves in the elimination game after losing their opening play-in game to the Atlanta Hawks and faced the prospect of being the first divisional winner not to make the playoffs. "I don't think any of us felt any type of pressure. We went out, we competed, we played the right way, corrected some things, and did what we were supposed to do," said Butler. DeMar DeRozan topscored for the Bulls with 26 points and nine assists. There is little time for Miami to savor the victory however as their playoff series against the Bucks begins in Milwaukee on Sunday. "Man, it's going to be tough," said Butler, "But I think we got a shot. A really good shot at that. As long as we stick together. I'm telling you, we're a really good team and we're going to go out there and play," he said. In Minneapolis, the Timberwolves put their team's recent turbulence behind them to demolish Oklahoma City. Minnesota finished the regular season in disarray, with team-mates Rudy Gobert and Kyle Anderson involved in a sideline punch-up in their final regular season game last Sunday. Gobert was subsequently suspended for Tuesday's play-in defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, but returned on Friday to contribute 21 points in a convincing victory. Minnesota led by as many as 29 points at one stage in the fourth quarter and were up by double digits for most of the second half. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves scoring with 28 points while all five starters finished in double figures. The post Butler, Strus lead Heat past Bulls and into playoffs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First Pinoy: Blind bar passer hails from Baguio City
BAGUIO CITY – A son of a taxi driver in Baguio City beat the tall odds when he became the country’s first visually impaired bar examination passer. Anthony Mark Emocling of the University of Baguio Law School was among the 3,992 passers of last year’s bar whose results came out Friday. He placed 1,407th but is largely believed to be a trailblazer after making it as a lawyer despite his being differently abled. Emocling graduated cum laude in political science also at UB. The post First Pinoy: Blind bar passer hails from Baguio City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»