ZURICH:SHELLY-ANN Fraser-Pryce is aiming to run faster than she ever has before in the 100m Diamond League race in Zurich today.Fresh from winning the World Championships gold medal in Beijing, the Jamaican told The Gleaner that she is very focused on ending the season on a positive note.”The championships have finished and it’s a new race. Many of those competing might not have done what they wanted to in Beijing, and they are coming here to get things right.”I am really looking forward to running a personal best, and hopefully, I can do it here.”She added: “I love coming here. The stadium is always filled with fans. It’s one of the few places where the stadium is always sold out, and I know that the fans are looking forward to seeing lots of medallists from the World Championships, so I am looking forward to doing the best I can.”Keen on giving backPrior to her race, the three-time World champion, along with other Beijing medallists, was flown by helicopter to a track and field clinic for kids, where the 28-year-old was able to share some of her tips for success.A keen advocate of ‘giving back’, Fraser-Pryce said the experience was thoroughly enjoyable.”I am part of UNICEF Jamaica, which is dealing with kids and empowering them, helping them to understand that they have rights, too, and are allowed to live, blossom, and to be creative beings. I like the platform that I get because they are young and impressionable and need people to guide them, and if I can help to do that, then it’s a big part of why we are here,” she stated.”For me to come here and work with the kids at the clinic was really wonderful. They were so happy, and they just wanted to learn, and I like doing that. For me, they are pure and innocent in what they do. They show raw emotions, and I like that. You can’t buy that. That’s how they really are and I like that.”
Goal-hungry MoBay United hunt UWI scalp in Red Stripe Premier League
It could be a case of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire or from the fire into the frying pan, depending on how you look at it, when the newly-promoted UWI FC go up against last year’s beaten finalists, Montego Bay United, today in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).The newcomers faced a fiery baptism in their opening game of the season as they played away to defending champions Arnett Gardens and were punished 3-0.Their experience this week could be similarly scathing, as they come up against Montego Bay United, who are smarting from a 0-2 loss on the opening day to the other promoted team, Portmore United. Anything but a win for Montego Bay United could be cause for serious concern at the club.”We will have to score some goals. We have not scored any goals in our last four games, including those played in the CONCACAF Club Champion-ships, and have conceded about eight. That is not a good report, and we have to fix this,” Montego Bay United’s director of football, Dr Dean Weatherly, said of his team’s performance.”Training was very militant, very businesslike; everyone knows what is at stake. We conceded too many goals, lost too many games and have not scored any goals, and I am sure they will approach the game from the perspective of righting all those wrongs,” stated Weatherly, who presided over the club’s title success and last season’s runners-up spot in the League.Training hardMarcel Gayle of UWI FC is not overawed by the opponents or any team in the League for that matter.”Basically, we have been training hard all this week, trying to perfect what we do. We want to get it right from minute one and keep our concentration. With that, we will be fine,” said the man who created history by guiding the university team to top-flight football for the first time.”If we play the best (teams) in the first four matches, and if we can get some positives out of those, then it can only get better for us,” Gayle reasoned.”I will go further; our squad is a good integration, so the synergy will come out at the end of it. We have a lecturer in Dr McMorris, we have current students, future students and other players who have come with the experience from other clubs like Dino Schaffe (Cavalier), Kemar Flemmings and Jamie Robinson (Tivoli Gardens),” Gayle added.For Montego Bay United, the attacking duo of Dino Williams and Allan Ottey will have to produce, while the defensive pair of Ladale Richie and Cordel Simpson will have to provide cover for the towering Jacomena Barrett in goal, if they are to get their desired result.In other games, Boys’ Town and neighbours Tivoli Gardens will battle it out, while Humble Lion will host Harbour View and will try to give their fans something to smile about following last week’s loss to Reno.Portmore United will look for two wins in a row when they tackle parish rivals Rivoli United, while Waterhouse will be aiming to prevent Reno from recording their second successive win.
Little hope for Windies
GALLE, Sri Lanka (CMC);Feeble batting returned to haunt West Indies on the third day here yesterday, leaving them with an uphill task of saving the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.Dismissed for 251 in their first innings and then forced to follow on, West Indies were up against it at the close in their second innings, struggling at 67 for two and still 166 runs adrift of making the Sri Lankans bat a second time.Left-hander Darren Bravo was unbeaten on 20 and was partnered by nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo on six.Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had earlier put Sri Lanka in firm control of the game when he destroyed the Caribbean side’s innings, grabbing six for 68 as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 185 runs, to follow on by 233 runs.Bravo top-scored with exactly 50, tail-ender Jerome Taylor chipped in with a run-a-ball 31 while Bishoo scored 23 not out and Denesh Ramdin, 23.Seamer Dhammika Prasad supported with two for 65.lost both openersLeft with the majority of the final session to negotiate after their first innings folded 20 minutes after tea, West Indies lost both openers Shai Hope (6) and Kraigg Brathwaite (34) as Sri Lanka’s spinners once again threatened to expose the brittle Windies batting.The right-handed Hope failed again, dragging on a wide delivery from left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana with the score on 18, about 20 minutes before the final drinks break.Brathwaite looked compact and had faced 75 deliveries in 11/2 hours at the crease when he played down the wrong line to a straight one from Herath was palpably lbw. His resort to DRS was as baffling as it was desperate.Bravo then took responsibility for the innings, with a knock that has so far come from 44 balls and included two sixes – both sweetly timed straight hits in successive overs from Siriwardana.Much had earlier rested on the shoulders of the stylish Trinidadian after West Indies resumed the day on 68 for two in pursuit of Sri Lanka’s massive 484 all out.Unbeaten on 15 at the start, Bravo lost Samuels early after the right-hander had added just four to his overnight seven, dragging onto Herath in the day’s third over with West Indies on 70 for three.Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood (11) steadied the innings in a 41-run stand for the fourth wicket, and saw West Indies through the remainder of the first hour without further loss.Displaying fluency against both pace and spin, Bravo counted eight fours and a six, in an innings lasting 107 balls and just under 2 3/4 hours.SCOREBOARDSRI LANKA 1st innings 484WEST INDIES 1st Innings(overnight 66 for two)D.M. Bravo c Chandimal b Herath 50M. Samuels b Herath 11J. Blackwood c Siriwardana b Prasad 11+D. Ramdin c wkp Perera b Pradeep 23*J. Holder c wkp Perera b Prasad 19K. Roach st wkp Perera b Herath 22J. Taylor c Mathews b Kaushal 31D. Bishoo not out 23S. Gabriel b Herath 0Extras (b5, lb6, w1, nb7) 19Total (all out, 82 overs) 251Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Brathwaite), 2-49 (Hope), 3-70 (Samuels), 4-111 (Blackwood), 5-132 (Bravo), 6-165 (Holder), 7-171 (Ramdin), 8-217 (Taylor), 9-251 (Roach), 10-251 (Gabriel)Bowling: Prasad 15-6-38-2, Pradeep 15-4-56-1, Herath 33-9-68-6, Kaushal 14-4-65-1, Siriwardana 5-2-13-0.WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (following-on)K. Brathwaite lbw b Herath 34S. Hope b Siriwardana 6D.M. Bravo not out 20D. Bishoo not out 6Extras (nb1) 1Total (2 wkts, 27 overs) 67Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Hope), 2-60 (Brathwaite)Bowling: Prasad 3-1-4-0, Herath 7-3-17-1, Pradeep 4-1-7-0, Siriwardana 6-1-30-1, Kaushal 7-3-9-0.Position: West Indies trail by 166 runs with eight wickets second innings wickets intact.Toss: Sri Lanka.UMPIRES: Marais Erasmus, Richard Illingworth; TV – Simon Fry.
Father wishes for cheerful funeral
HONOURING DOMINIC Wearing his deceased son’s number 7 jersey yesterday, father David revealed to The Gleaner that he would like today’s thanksgiving service for the life of his only child, Dominic James, to be cheerful. The funeral will take place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, located on George Headley Road in Kingston, adjacent to St George’s College, at 10:00 a.m. “I would like the service to be cheerful, especially given that his life was what it was. I didn’t know that he had made such an impact,” said James. “I just want to give God thanks for his life and the impact that he has made on the society,” James told The Gleaner. James was attending the St George’s College ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup match at Winchester Park yesterday, where he would normally watch his son train and play football. “I would prefer not to have to deal with the loss of my son, but I have to accept it now or eventually. It’s difficult. God is our strength, and we’ve got a lot of support from well-wishers near and far,” he continued. The former St George’s College captain collapsed during a Manning Cup match on September 20 and died after being rushed to hospital just shy of his 19th birthday on September 26. Speaking of the loss of his son, James said: “A huge vacuum is left in the home, and the home is just not the same.” He added: “We hope that something can be set up in his honour. We want to, hopefully, play a part in assisting unfortunate footballers with their academics.” Besides the Flow Super Cup Most Valuable Player award named in honour of Dominic, James was of the view that youngsters who strike the balance between school and academics should be assisted in his son’s honour. “We believe in the balancing of both books and football. Thank God for Dominic, he had natural ability,” he stressed. Yesterday, The Gleaner Company and other organisations presented sympathetic plaques to the St George’s College team at Winchester Park.
Tony Becca | Wanted, a few more good men
Sadly lacking Jamaica is a blessed country, and it is blessed, despite the state of crime and health care, because of the many outstanding achievements in many forms of endeavours by its citizens. In sport, in particular, and especially in athletics and more so in sprinting, the name Jamaica is spoken in awe, with reverence, and drives fear into the hearts of many around the world. To many people, this would seem as not only something great and something unexpected; it would also appear that they believe that champions like Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle, and Alia Atkinson fell from the sky like some unbelievable but wonderful miracle. To others, however, those who experienced life immediately after the Second World War or thereabout, there were stars before those of today. There were men and women like Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, Fuarnado Roberts, Joy Foster, Monica DeSouza, Bunny Grant, Lawrence Rowe, Michael McCallum, Michael Holding, Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson, Juliet Cuthbert, David Weller, Richard Russell, Andrew Phillips and a host of others. There were men and women whose performances caused the name of Jamaica to resound around the world in a time of little or no publicity for small countries doing big things and upstaging bigger and more powerful countries. There was little or no television, especially for small countries, and certainly not of the magnitude of today, where television is the heart of sport, taking it to the four corners of the earth, spreading its popularity, and making it richer and richer as each the day passes. While Jamaica may be the envy of the world because of its sprinters, its growing depth in athletics, netball, the presence of Atkinson and other quality performers, and its wider presence in the field of sport generally, it certainly is losing ground in sports such as cricket – despite a five-year run a few years ago – football, boxing, table tennis, tennis, basketball, squash, badminton, hockey, cycling, darts, and, despite the wonderful performance of the West Indies team, women’s cricket. Some of these sports are apparently making their way back, and desperately trying to do so, but regardless of the reasons, and regardless of what the associations may say, it is difficult not to reminisce or to recall the days of the 1960s, the 1970s, 1980s and so on when they were in full bloom and bringing joy to Jamaicans. In cricket, I remember such names as Alfred Valentine, Neville Bonitto, Franz Alexander, Collie Smith, Jackie Hendriks, Easton McMorris, Maurice Foster, Renford Pinnock, Arthur Barrett, and Lester King and their performances. In football, I remember such names as Lindy Delapenha, Noel ‘My Son’ Tappin, Siddie Bartlett, Owen Parker, Bunny Goodison, Bunny Clarke, Anthony Hill, Denzil Lue, Karl Largie, Henry Largie, Vester Constantine, and Ken Barnes, and I also remember the likes of “The pirate of Port Royal” Selwyn Murphy, Orville Edwards, Warren Barrett, Ricardo ‘Bibby’ Gardner, Ian Goodison, and Theodore Whitmore. And there were many others, names such as Bunny Grant, Percy Hayles, and Trevor Berbick in boxing, Leo Davis, Glen Mitchell, Dave Foster, Orville Haslam, Pat Loi, Anita Belnavis, Stephen Hylton in table tennis when Jamaica were kings and queens of the Caribbean, Richard Russell, Lance Lumsden, David Tate, the Hale brothers, and Joni Vandegroot of tennis, and one like Byah Maragh of golf. There were also many more, players like Ken Palmer and Nigel Casserly of badminton, and Tony Seixas, Tenge Brown, and Hyacinth Misir of darts, Michelle Holt, Audrey Gaynor, Tasha Cooke of hockey, and David Weller and Peter Aldridge of cycling, not to mention the earlier days of one like Frankie Minott, the king of Town Moor and professional cycling. World event Experienced life Kings and queens Those were the days when sport in Jamaica was really big, and when Jamaica hosted many a world event, events like the days of the Sunshine heavy-weight world title fight, the Lovebird Table Tennis Tournament and the visit of a world champion like Stellan Bengtsson, the days of the Shell/Air Florida/Jamaica Cricket Association cricket festival, and the Johnny Walker World Golf Championship, the Mazda Champs, and champions likes Nick Faldo, Severiano Ballesteros, and Nancy Lopez. The days of the Brandon Trophy and Davis Cup matches, and they were days when champions like Muhammad Ali of boxing, Pele of football, English football teams, Richard Bergman of table tennis fame, tennis champs or future tennis champs like Bjorn Borg visited Jamaica and when the local stars played for little more than fun and the honour of representing the country, their beloved Jamaica. In those days, the days when Jamaicans of today tend to forget what Jamaica and Jamaicans used to do, people used to watch sport in numbers, and sometimes, most times, paid for the privilege of doing so in order to support a particular sport. At times like these, particularly whenever Jamaica loses, or does not play well, and the people forget how Jamaica and Jamaicans used to play, I remember all the wonderful people who guided the development of sport in Jamaica in those long forgotten but wonderful days. I know that there are some of them still around, people of passion and knowledge and integrity, and I thank God for them, although they seem to be less in numbers at a time when they are so badly needed. If only there were more of them around these days when there is so much need for them because there are so many more people around, and people of many dreams. Jamaica still has one like Mike Fennell, one like Lorna Bell, two like Glen Mills and Stephen Francis and many others, especially in track and field, where the sport is getting bigger and bigger as the days go by. In saying thanks to them, however, I cannot help but wish that those who went before, or more men and women like them, were still around and involved to share their passion for sport, and their knowledge of the respective sport with the Jamaicans of today. Sport is sadly lacking because of the absence of men and women like Vanny Hunt, Keith Noad, Owen Batchelor, Trevor Parchment, Baz Freckleton, Kitty Sharpe, Kay Wilson, Leila Robinson, Molly Rhone, Tino Barovier, Lincoln ‘Happy’ Sutherland, George Lazarus, Franz Botek and one like Pat Anderson. More importantly, however, I wish there were more men like G.C. Foster, Ted Lamont, Keith Gardner, Allan Rae, Jackie Hendriks, Utpal Ganguli, Ted Gray, Leighton Duncan, Winston Chung, George Thompson, and Teddy McCook, men who knew what they were doing, did it well, and served their sport and Jamaica with distinction fairly and honestly and without pay. Today, there are many people in sport, but they are in it more for what they can get out of it more than for what they can put into it. And although that is understandable because of the need of the people, that is not desirable. Jamaica is basically a poor country, and it cannot get richer without honesty, hard work, a love for each other, and some old fashion voluntarism.
Hyatt expresses confidence in TT administration
“So we have a lot of similar philosophies, and whether we agree everyday and see eye to eye is irrelevant. The bottom line is that it is very important that we stick together and not flip a new association because someone out there believe they can do better. We must stay the course, try to fix it and work together to make it a little better,” he said. “Our biggest issue is how they execute with zero budget. It’s just difficult to implement anything when you don’t have resources. So if I can help them execute a little better, and after a time get more sponsors confident that we are a good product to invest in, then we can get more plans executed. I have a lot of experience in business and in this sport, so I can help from a sporting administrative perspective on how to approach sponsors. This is something I have done on my own for the last ten years and I am very good at it and I want to help this particular association get that,” Hyatt added. SIMILAR PHILOSOPHIES Recently retired table tennis star Michael Hyatt gave the Godfrey Lothian administration his full vote of confidence and called on stakeholders to work together for the continued development of the sport. Speaking to The Gleaner at a press conference to announce his retirement from competitive tennis late last week, Hyatt said he was impressed by Lothian and his team and that he is confident that with his assistant in his new role as a marketing agent, they can continue to improve on the strides the current administration has made. “If I wasn’t confident in this administration and what they are doing, they can tell you, I wouldn’t be here. I, unfortunately, don’t have time to waste,” he declared. “I am very impressed with their communication and their planning. Mr Lothian and his team understand what they are doing.” Recently, Lothian’s administration has come under scathing attacks from former Jamaica Table Tennis Association Vice-president Samuel Lamont, but Hyatt believes there are more important issues than in-fighting. “There is a lot of negativity recently about what the association has done and hasn’t done. And the problem is everybody is always looking for the negative. It is so easy to complain and be negative, but what is hard is trying to figure a way to solve the problem, because that takes work, planning and requires confidence. It’s easy to talk,” Hyatt said. “Me and this administration have had our ups and downs and I look at it from a positive perspective that Mr Lothian has a passion for helping young people, like how I had a passion for helping my team when I played. Mr (Stephen) Grant (national coach) has a passion for improving players like how I have a passion to see the players do well.
Scorpions hit back
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):Fabian Allen lashed an aggressive half-century in his first match of the season and second in first-class cricket, to help Jamaica Scorpions keep their noses in front on day two of their eighth round game against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force here Saturday.After eking out a small 27-run first-innings lead, Scorpions found themselves stumbling badly on 66 for five in their second innings at Queen’s Park Oval before the 21-year-old arrived at the crease to pummel a top score of 60 from 68 balls, and help lift the visitors to 172 for seven at the close an overall lead of 199 runs heading into Sunday’s third day.Allen blasted five fours and four sixes as he posted his maiden first-class half-century, but, more importantly, put on 65 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, who made 38.Antiguan Thomas faced 59 balls and counted six fours before falling leg before wicket to pacer Marlon Richards, who finished with two for 25.Allen added a further 33 for the seventh wicket with Damion Jacobs (14 not out) before finally departing.Seamer Rayad Emrit, with three for 30, had done the damage earlier as Scorpions’ top order failed to find an answer to a purposeful Red Force attack.The hosts, though, produced yet another disappointing batting display to be bowled out for 173, after resuming the day on 79 for three.Captain and opener Kyle Hope, unbeaten on 33 overnight, top-scored with 67 while left-hander Yannic Cariah, starting the day on 19, made 45 providing hope for Red Force in a positive 88-run, fourth-wicket stand.Captain and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller claimed four for 39 while leg-spinner Damion Jacobs picked up three for 46.SCOREBOARDSCORPIONS 201RED FORCE 1st Innings(overnight 79 for three)*K. Hope b Miller 67Y. Cariah lbw b Miller 45Imran Khan run out 0+S. Katwaroo b Jacobs 10R. Emrit not out 10M. Richards lbw b Miller 1B. Charles c Blackwood b Miller 4S. Cottrell b Jacobs 1Extras (b7, lb9, w2, nb3) 21Total (all out, 84.2 overs) 174Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-21, 3-49, 4-137, 5-137, 6-152, 7-156, 8-161, 9-173, 10-174.Bowling: Mindley 13-6-23-1 (nb3), Green 14-5-30-1 (w2), Blackwood 4-1-7-0, Jacobs 23.2-2-46-3, Miller 28-8-39-4, Campbell 2-0-13-0.SCORPIONS 2nd InningsT. Griffith lbw b S Cottrell 21J. Campbell lbw b Richards 5J. Blackwood b Charles 16P. Palmer b Emrit 5A. McCarthy lbw b R Emrit 1+D. Thomas lbw Richards 38F. Allen c Hope b Emrit 60D. Jacobs not out 14D. Green not out 4Extras (lb3, w5) 8Total (7 wkts, 45 overs) 172Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38, 3-51, 4-53, 5-67, 6-131, 7-164.Bowling: Cottrell 8-1-32-1, Richards 8-1-25-2, Charles 12-7-35-1, Emrit 8-2-30-3, Imran Khan 9-0-47-0.Position: Scorpions lead by 199 runs.Toss: Red Force.Umpires: Zahid Bassarath, Deighton Butler.
Stephenson’s antics help Pacers turn corner
INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Lance Stephenson flapped his arms and screamed loudly after scoring an innocuous first-half basket Wednesday night. In some corners, fans may scowl at the sight of a journeyman bench player creating unnecessary drama. In Indiana, it’s embraced as a welcome change. After five months of watching erratic and often uninspired play, Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird gambled on one of his favourite players. He believed that Stephenson’s occasionally overbearing act would give the Pacers the energy boost they needed to make the play-offs. The difference has been stunning. “We’re playing with a little bit more edge than we have all season long. I’m seeing more of a sense of urgency,” coach Nate McMillan said when asked about Stephenson’s impact. “More fight and toughness. We’re seeing more consistency in what we’re doing on both ends of the floor.” While Paul George continues to produce big numbers, Stephenson has become a force in other ways. He’s made excitement, enthusiasm and effort chic again in the locker room. He’s brought panache to the defence. And the combination is a major reason the Pacers are heading to defending champion Cleveland on Saturday rather than home for the summer. BRINK OF ELIMINATION Before the 6-foot-5 guard re-signed with Indiana on March 30, the Pacers hadn’t posted consecutive wins since early February as they slid from a tie for fifth in the East to the brink of elimination. Stephenson’s return changed everything. Since making his first appearance in a double-overtime loss at Cleveland on April 2, Indiana have won five straight and heads into the postseason as the hottest team in the East. What’s different? “He’s different. He’s the oddball and you need that,” George said. “You need the guy that’s energetic and live, a guy who’s going to stir the pot and we work very well off of each other.” But Stephenson has learnt the hard way that his theatrics aren’t for everyone – even in Indy. During the 2014 Eastern Conference finals, he was criticised by Bird and others for trying to play mind games with LeBron James by embellishing contact, flopping and even blowing in James’ ear. Indiana wound up losing the series in six games. A few months later, Stephenson signed with Charlotte. Over the next three years, nothing went right. Stephenson played for five different teams and went from budding star to out of the league. Things deteriorated so much that the man nicknamed ‘Born Ready’ was actually looking ahead to next season. That’s when Bird called with a three-year deal, an offer that brought Stephenson to tears. “Certain teams and certain situations just don’t work for certain guys,” Stephenson said. “I learnt a lot from it and I’m a better person on and off the court because of it.”
Teng records 3rd triple-double as Flying V completes eliminations sweep
‘I’m out!’: PewDiePie releases last video before taking break from YouTube MOST READ Perpetual holds off San Sebastian for back-to-back wins Ai-Ai delas Alas on Jiro Manio: ‘Sana pinahalagahan niya ang naitulong ko’ BATANGAS 101 – Celiz 15, De Joya 14, Isit 13, Ablaza 11, Saitanan 10, Mendoza 8, Ragasa 7, Avenido 6, Anderson 5, Gabayni 4, Dela Peña 3, Bulawan 3, Bautista 2, Laude 0.Quarters: 36-24, 57-46, 84-71, 116-101.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ LeBron James scores 31 points, Lakers beat Rockets Kawhi Leonard, Clippers rally to beat Pelicans End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend With the Thunder in control the whole game, Batangas threatened to close in and got the lead to as low as 11, 84-73, with 9:53 remaining, but Salamat and Torres torched the nets to once again bring the lead back to 20.New recruit Robby Celiz paced Batangas (6-4) with 15 points off the bench, while Cedric de Joya had 14 markers and five assists.The defeat brought the Batangueños down to fifth-seed, as they will now brace for the fourth-ranked CEU in the quarterfinals, which will start on Thursday.The Scores:FLYING V 116 – Torres 26, Teng 24, Salamat 22, Thiele 13, Paredes 9, Tampus 7, Banal 5, Dionisio 5, Cañada 4, Austria 1, Koga 0.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES Still, coach Eric Altamirano isn’t putting too much on Flying V’s eliminations sweep as he prepares his team for the semifinals as the top-seed.“We’re happy that we’re able to get it done, but I’ll be happier if we win it all the way,” he said. “As much as we want to win a championship, we can’t look beyond that yet. Our focus right now is the playoffs and we have to hurdle the semis first.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’Thomas Torres caught fire from the outside as he went on a flawless 6-of-6 clip from threes to wound up with 26 markers and five boards.Eric Salamat also had 22 points, six assists, and two rebounds in the win. Jeron Teng. PBA IMAGESJeron Teng tallied a historic third triple-double and led Flying V to a dominant 116-101 blowout of Batangas and complete the team’s perfect 10-0 campaign this 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Tuesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.The La Salle stalwart registered 24 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists to lead the romp for the Thunder as it became only the fourth team to reach the milestone previously done by NLEX in the 2012 and 2014 Foundation Cups, and Cagayan Valley in the 2015 Aspirants’ Cup.ADVERTISEMENT 787 earthquakes recorded in 24 hours due to restive Taal Volcano McGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC return View comments Indian national gunned down in Camarines Sur Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite
Cignal HD wins back-to-back D-League titles
Hotdog’s Dennis Garcia dies Aaron Jeruta and Art Aquino tried to keep the Scorpions in the game, cutting the deficit to as low as eight, 75-67, after a JK Casiño layup in the last 29 seconds, but the comeback was just too late. Harold Arboleda iced the game from the charity stripe to secure Cignal’s second straight championship.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’Oping Sumalinog paced the balanced attack for the Hawkeyes with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Arboleda also contributed 13 markers, eight boards, and four dimes.Uyloan also went 3-of-8 from beyond the arc to wound up with 11 points, while Jason Perkins did all the dirty work with eight markers, seven rebounds, and two assists. LATEST STORIES CIGNAL HD 79 – Sumalinog 13, Arboleda 13, Uyloan 11, Perkins 8, Apinan 7, Bringas 6, Raymundo 6, Villarias 5, Sara 4, Batino 4, Cahilig 2.CEU 69 – Ebondo 20, Wamar 11, Guinitaran 9, Casiño 8, Aquino 7, Jeruta 7, Manlangit 4, Baconcon 3, Arim 0, Cruz 0, Intic 0, Saber 0, Uri 0.Quarters: 21-16, 45-30, 60-48, 79-69.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments Police seize P68-M worth of ‘shabu’ in Pasay Bishop Baylon encourages faithful in Albay to help Taal evacuees What’s in store for your animal sign this year Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ Search on for 5 Indonesians snatched anew in Lahad Datu Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Jason Perkins. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netCignal HD repulsed Centro Escolar University, 79-69, in Game 2 to complete a sweep in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.The Hawkeyes established control in the second quarter and took the 45-30 halftime lead, extending the advantage to 19, 69-50, after a Jonathan Uyloan trey with 7:20 to play.ADVERTISEMENT Cignal replicated its 78-56 Game 1 win last Tuesday despite missing the services of Conference MVP Raymar Jose, who is with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.“Nobody expected us to win a championship. Our lineup has been a consistent revolving door, some guys come in and they have to adjust to our system right away, but again, it’s really the effort of the players who want to win the championship. I will not be able to do this if not for the players so credit to them,” said coach Boyet Fernandez, who established his legend as the winningest mentor in PBA D-League history with eight titles under his belt.The Hawkeyes became only the third franchise to win back-to-back titles in a season, after the NLEX Road Warriors and Phoenix Accelerators.Congolese big man Rod Ebondo reigned for CEU with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Orlan Wamar had 11 markers, four boards, and three assists.The Scores:ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ National Historical team rescues Amorsolos, artifacts from Taal OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Huelgas willing to represent PH ‘in a heartbeat’ in 2019 SEA Games