Zamboanga steps up to challenge in ONE Championship Atomweight Grand Prix
ONE Championship's top atomweight contender Denice Zamboanga is ready to step up to the challenge come the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix next year......»»
Boston makes Miami feel heat
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Boston poured in 16 three-pointers in a dominant 110-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday that kept the Celtics alive in the National Basketball Association championship chase. For the second straight game, the Celtics fended off elimination, cutting the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals to 3-2 with the wire-to-wire triumph. Miami will get another chance to close it out when they host game six on Saturday. The Celtics will be trying to take one more step toward becoming the first NBA team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. “The only thing that can stop us is us,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said in an on-court interview. Before a rapturous, raucous crowd at TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics looked every inch the favorites they were before the series started — before the upstart eighth-seeded Heat grabbed the first two games in Boston, then embarrassed the second seeds in game three. Four Celtics starters scored more than 20 points, with Derrick White leading the way with 24 on a night when he made six of eight attempts from three-point range. “Got some good looks and was able to knock them down, and just kind of rolled with it,” said White, who said the Heat’s defensive focus on Brown and fellow star wing Jayson Tatum gave him more room to operate. Marcus Smart added 23 and had five steals while Brown and Tatum scored 21 apiece. More importantly, the energetic Celtics harried the Heat into 16 turnovers that led to 27 Boston points. They had 17 second-chance points compared to Miami’s seven. “Tonight we were the tougher playing team,” Brown said. “We set the tone from start to finish.” Boston was locked in on both ends of the floor from the opening tip-off, roaring to a 23-7 lead in a matter of minutes. After Tatum was whistled for a technical foul with 8:43 in the first quarter, the Celtics responded with three consecutive three-pointers. Tatum scored 12 points in the first quarter and Brown took over with 12 in the second. Meanwhile, Heat talisman Jimmy Butler struggled to get going, scoring eight points in the first half and finishing with 14 — his lowest-scoring game of the playoffs. He sat out most of the fourth quarter. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points off the bench. Bam Adebayo scored 16 points but coughed up six turnovers. Kyle Lowry starting at point guard after Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a sprained ankle, scored five points with four turnovers. “We’ve just got to play better,” Butler said. “Start the game off better, on the starters, make it more difficult for them. “They are in a rhythm since the beginning of the game,” Butler added. “But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We’ll just have to close it out at home.” Butler said the Heat allowed their shooting struggles to affect their defensive intensity. “But that’s easily correctable,” he said. “You just have to come out and play harder from the jump.” The Heat, who won the NBA title in 2006, 2012 and 2013, still only need one more win to reach a seventh NBA Finals. Boston, whose 17 NBA titles are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in history, last won it all in 2008 and came up short in last season’s championship series against the Golden State Warriors. The winners of the series will play the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time. White said the Celtics expect a formidable challenge in Miami on Saturday. “The crowd is going to be in it. It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “It’s going to take 48 minutes of battling, scratching, clawing, and we’ve got to find a way to win.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was unconcerned that two big defeats had demoralized his team. “Who cares about mood?” Spoelstra said. “We have a gnarly group. It’s a competitive series. You always expect things to be challenging in the conference finals.” The post Boston makes Miami feel heat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Celtics pummel Heat to keep NBA title hopes alive
Boston poured in 16 three-pointers in a dominant 110-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday that kept the Celtics alive in the NBA championship chase. For the second straight game, the Celtics fended off elimination, cutting the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals to 3-2 with the wire-to-wire triumph. Miami will get another chance to close it out when they host game six on Saturday. The Celtics will be trying to take one more step toward becoming the first NBA team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. "The only thing that can stop us is us," Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said in an on-court interview. Before a rapturous, raucous crowd at TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics looked every inch the favorites they were before the series started -- before the upstart eighth-seeded Heat grabbed the first two games in Boston, then embarrassed the second seeds in game three. Four Celtics starters scored more than 20 points, with Derrick White leading the way with 24 on a night when he made six of eight attempts from three-point range. "Got some good looks and was able to knock them down, and just kind of rolled with it," said White, who said the Heat's defensive focus on Brown and fellow star wing Jayson Tatum gave him more room to operate. Marcus Smart added 23 and had five steals while Brown and Tatum scored 21 apiece. More importantly, the energetic Celtics harried the Heat into 16 turnovers that led to 27 Boston points. They had 17 second-chance points compared to Miami's seven. "Tonight we were the tougher playing team," Brown said. "We set the tone from start to finish." Boston was locked in on both ends of the floor from the opening tip-off, roaring to a 23-7 lead in a matter of minutes. After Tatum was whistled for a technical foul with 8:43 in the first quarter, the Celtics responded with three consecutive three-pointers. Tatum scored 12 points in the first quarter and Brown took over with 12 in the second. Meanwhile, Heat talisman Jimmy Butler struggled to get going, scoring eight points in the first half and finishing with 14 -- his lowest-scoring game of the playoffs. He sat out most of the fourth quarter. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points off the bench. Bam Adebayo scored 16 points but coughed up six turnovers. Kyle Lowry starting at point guard after Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a sprained ankle, scored five points with four turnovers. "We've just got to play better," Butler said. "Start the game off better, on the starters, make it more difficult for them. "They are in a rhythm since the beginning of the game," Butler added. "But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We'll just have to close it out at home." Butler said the Heat allowed their shooting struggles to affect their defensive intensity. "But that's easily correctable," he said. "You just have to come out and play harder from the jump." The Heat, who won the NBA title in 2006, 2012 and 2013, still only need one more win to reach a seventh NBA Finals. Boston, whose 17 NBA titles are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in history, last won it all in 2008 and came up short in last season's championship series against the Golden State Warriors. The winners of the series will play the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time. White said the Celtics expect a formidable challenge in Miami on Saturday. "The crowd is going to be in it. It's not going to be easy," he said. "It's going to take 48 minutes of battling, scratching, clawing, and we've got to find a way to win." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was unconcerned that two big defeats had demoralized his team. "Who cares about mood?" Spoelstra said. "We have a gnarly group. It's a competitive series. You always expect things to be challenging in the conference finals." The post Celtics pummel Heat to keep NBA title hopes alive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gilas Pilipinas’ sweet, vengeful SEA Games win
GILAS Pilipinas’ vengeful win against an import-laden Cambodian basketball team marked its return to the top spot of the Southeast Asian Games or SEAG men’s basketball championships. It was a sweet victory for the Philippines men’s basketball team, as it was glaring how the Cambodians, the 32nd SEAG’s host country, took advantage of the rules by fielding more naturalized players than other competing countries. Though this may be allowed, it does not bode well for the tournament and the sport. Why so? Other countries, including the Philippines, continue to identify and develop players from the grassroots levels. And if tournaments, such as the recent SEAG Men’s Basketball competition, allow host countries to field more naturalized players than others, how does this promote fair play among competing nations? Luckily, after losing to Cambodia in the early group stage, Gilas booked a rematch against the home team for the gold medal. And this time, the Philippine squad came prepared with a sound plan despite unfavorable court conditions and the lopsided lineup of mainly naturalized Cambodian players. Gilas’ offensive and defensive strategy helped them stave off comeback attempts and left the Cambodians to settle for a silver medal. The three-point shooting of naturalized forward Justin Brownlee, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Newsome, and CJ Perez helped Gilas spread the floor, allowing our big men to dominate and score in the shaded area. Gilas shot slightly better with its 47.8 percent field goal percentage versus Cambodia’s 41.9 percent. Gilas also outrebounded the Cambodians by four boards at 40 rebounds versus 36 rebounds. The intense shooting, ability to draw fouls, minimizing turnovers, the solid defensive performance resulting in six steals and three blocked shots helped propel Gilas Pilipinas to win its 19th Southeast Asian Games Gold Medal. ‘This is a reminder to our country and the Southeast Asian Region that upholding the values of fair play, sportsmanship, and the love for country triumphs all’ In his congratulatory message to Coach Chot Reyes, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan said he was happy to be proven wrong with the gold medal victory of Gilas. MVP earlier tweeted his concern over Gilas’ defeat to Cambodia in the group stage. SBP President Alfredo S. Panlilio also commended Gilas, saying, “Gilas showed that the pride of fighting for our country is stronger than any motivation. The team played through substandard conditions in the court under the sweltering heat and overcame bumps and bruises to make us all proud.” He added, “This is a reminder to our country and the Southeast Asian Region that upholding the values of fair play, sportsmanship, and the love for country triumphs all.” Gilas Head Coach Chot Reyes acknowledged that the earlier defeat to Cambodia brought the team together. “They’re united, and they stuck together. I’m just so proud of what we’ve done. We came here for the gold medal, and we’ve done it.” SBP also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Basketball Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for allowing players from both leagues to represent the country in the 32nd SEAG. “On behalf of the SBP, I would like to thank UAAP, the PBA, its team owners, and the Board of Governors again for allowing its players to be part of the Gilas Team that won the Gold Medal in a hard-fought match against the host country,” Panlilio said in his letter to the two basketball associations. He added that SBP is aware of the PBA’s contribution to basketball’s growth, development, and success in the country. “The competitiveness in the league allowed Gilas to rise above the challenge it faced in Cambodia,” Panlillio added. The PBA players participating in the SEA Games were Justin Brownlee, CJ Perez, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Ross, Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, and Chris Newsome. Among the UAAP collegiate players were Adamson’s Jerome Lastimosa, Ateneo’s Mason Amos, and La Salle’s Michael Philips. As the country prepares to host the most prestigious World Cup FIBA basketball championship in August this year, Panlilio calls on all basketball stakeholders to unite in supporting Gilas Pilipinas as we compete in the international arena. Gilas Pilipinas’ strong performance, fueled by its heart and will to succeed, should inspire every Filipino to give their best in all the challenges they meet in life. The post Gilas Pilipinas’ sweet, vengeful SEA Games win appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Korean ace faces local challenge at Luisita
Kim Seoyun hopes to feed on a strong runner-up finish at Caliraya Springs in her search for a maiden win on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, coming in as one of the top draws in the ICTSI Luisita Championship unfolding tomorrow in Tarlac......»»
Alido, Zaragosa lead chase
After splitting the Visayan leg titles last month, Ira Alido and Rupert Zaragosa track the same route in pursuit of a second crown as action on the Philippine Golf Tour swings to Cavinti, Laguna on Tuesday for the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna. They both agree accent would be on iron and wedge game. “For sure, emphasis will be on the approach shots since putting would be a bit tricky on Caliraya greens. If I can manage to hit it closer than I did in the previous events, I would be up there for sure and would have a really good chance of winning,” said Alido, who battled back from five shots down to edge multi-titled Tony Lascuña by one in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at Marapara. Zaragosa, who dominated the field in scoring a breakthrough in the Iloilo Golf Challenge, is also putting premium on ball control. “Para sa akin, importante yung course management at driving para maka-pwesto sa second shot kasi unpredictable yung greens ng Caliraya,” he said. The P2.5 million event, put up by ICTSI, has drawn 64 players, including defending champion Zanieboy Gialon. Gialon broke away with a third round 68 to lead by five then cruised to a four-stroke victory over former Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla to snap a five-year title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. ‘It’s really important for my game because I know that I can really compete in this sport.’ Other notable players in the field are Guido van der Valk, Tony Lascuña, Michael Bibat, Jhonnel Ababa, Joenard Rates, Frankie Miñoza, Albin Engino and Mars Pucay. “It’s really important for my game because I know that I can really compete in this sport,” said Alido, referring to his improbable victory at Marapara. “It’s also a statement that my first win (at Riviera in 2020) wasn’t purely luck and I know that I have what it takes to be successful in my career.” As part of their buildup, Alido and Zaragosa worked on their irons and short game during the break. “It’s more about focusing on my weakness in my game right now which is my iron shots, knowing that is the key for me to stay up there on the leaderboard,” Alido said. “I’m obviously aiming for a win knowing I can play well at Caliraya.” Zaragosa, however, has opted to tone down expectations. “Wala naman akong expectations. Basta ang goal ko lang ay sundin yung game plan,” Zaragosa said. “Nagbabad ako sa short game at nag-practice ng mga clubs na magagamit ko sa Caliraya.” The post Alido, Zaragosa lead chase appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TNT joins Finals party
TNT has made it to a fifth Finals appearance in the last eight conferences, including this PBA Governors’ Cup and interim head coach Jojo Lastimosa, filling in for Chot Reyes who’s taken a leave to focus on Gilas, faces the challenge of leading the Tropa to a third championship since the 2014-15 Commissioner’s Cup......»»
Zaragosa cruises to 9-shot win in Iloilo
Rupert Zaragosa finally broke through in grand fashion, beating multi-titled Tony Lascuña by nine after a shaky 71 and nailing his first championship in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge presented by MORE Power at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club here yesterday......»»
Quiban seeks another golf crown as ICTSI Iloilo unfolds
Justin Quiban, toughened up by stints on the Asian Tour, headed straight from New Delhi to here in pursuit of a third Philippine Golf Tour championship as the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge unwraps......»»
Top pros, amateurs embrace challenge at ICTSI Riviera
Rianne Malixi gets another chance to prove her worth against some of the country’s top lady pros and fellow amateurs, incuding Harmie Constantino and title-hungry Marvi Monsalve at the start of the ICTSI Riviera Championship here today......»»
Fury challenges Joshua to a ‘UK fight’ for the WBC Heavyweight Championship
LONDON (Reuters) – World champion Tyson Fury launched a public challenge to Anthony Joshua on Monday to fight the “Battle of the United Kingdom” for.....»»
Fury challenges Joshua to a ‘UK fight’ for the WBC Heavyweight Championship
LONDON (Reuters) – World champion Tyson Fury on Monday launched a public challenge to Anthony Joshua to fight the “Battle of the United Kingdom” for.....»»
Mongkolpetch aims to finish Mahmoudi, challenge Rodtang
Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy has been no less than impressive since entering ONE Championship in 2019. .....»»
ONE Championship CEO open to mega event with rival UFC
A much younger organization than their Western counterparts, the Singapore-based promotion does not plan on backing down from the challenge......»»
Final 4 The Apprentice candidates get their toughest business challenge ever
The Final Four candidates of The Apprentice:ONE Championship Edition candidates did not have to deal with back-breaking physical challenges in Episode 11. They were immediately whisked off instead into arguably the toughest business challenge of the entire season......»»
All-female ONE Championship event postponed due to COVID-19 situation
The inaugural ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix was supposed to kick off in ONE: Empower, with the Philippines' Denice Zamboanga taking part......»»
Vera breaks down Bhullar& rsquo;s game plan ahead of heavyweight title defense
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera is ready to face the toughest challenge in ONE Championship so far......»»
Drex Zamboanga likes sister Denice& rsquo;s chances vs Seo
Fans eagerly await the highly-anticipated ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix, which ONE Championship announced a couple of weeks ago, including the tournament’s participants. Eight of the top female atomweights in the promotion are ready for absolute war......»»
Hamilton faces serious challenge in pursuit of 8th Formula 1 crown
London---Lewis Hamilton begins his bid for an unprecedented eighth drivers’ world championship this week facing a cluster of challenges to his crown, as Formula One launches its cost-cutting era with a record 23-race global calendar......»»
Harmie seeks 2nd straight win at LPGT Eagle Ridge
Harmie Constantino steps up her build-up for the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship unfolding Tuesday, expecting three days of exacting challenge not only from a compact field she humbled the first time out but also from the Norman course ready to test the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour cast’s mental toughness......»»
Constantino seeks big LPGT finish
Harmie Constantino hopes to come up big right in her first crack at a pro championship, joining the title chase in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge, which gets going Tuesday (March 9) at the Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite......»»