Sports
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MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
Westbrook, OKC rip Jazz
WASHINGTON—Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook moved past Wilt Chamberlain for the second-most triple doubles in an NBA season on Saturday in the Thunder’s 112-104 win over visiting Utah. Westbrook collected his 32nd triple double of the 2016-17 campaign with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists -- his third triple double against the Jazz this season. That’s the most NBA games with doubledigit totals in three or more statistical categories in more than half a century. To match the NBA record, Westbrook has 16 games remaining this season to manage nine more triple-doubles and equal the alltime mark of 41 set by Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 campaign. That season by Robertson, known as “The Big O” in his heyday, was also the only campaign when an NBA player averaged a triple double over an entire season. Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists a game over 79 contests in the 1961-62 season. He narrowly missed the feat the season before as a rookie, managing 9.7 assists a game, and again in the 1963-64 campaign with 9.9 rebounds foiling his bid. AFP
Kasparov chessfest deadline March 24
NOT YOUR USUAL RUN. The Century Tuna Superbods: The Underpants Run returned to Subic Bay for a third year Saturday. Inspired by the tradition at Kona, home of the renowned Ironman World Championship, Century Tuna continued its own local fun tradition with the Superbods Underpants Run. Started as a pre-race activity for the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 back in 2015, it has since made headlines as it brought some of the world’s super athletes racing alongside Superbods finalists. This year’s event also raised money for the Philippine Red Cross Olongapo Chapter.
Locals seek rebound at LPGT R
OOKIE pro Pauline del Rosario hopes to ride the momentum of her big windup at Splendido last week as she banners the local challenge in the ICTSI Champion Tour at Malarayat beginning Wednesday at the Mt. Malarayat composite course in Lipa City, Batangas. Though she fell short of her title drive with a joint runnerup finish despite a closing 68 in the first of two Taiwan LPGA tournaments in Tagay-
tay, Del Rosario brims with confidence as she heads to the next $75,000 event, sponsored by Champion and also serves as the second leg of the ICTSI
Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. “I like my chances but unlike last week, I have to be consistent to get a crack at the crown,” said the former amateur hotshot, referring to her pro debut at Splendido where she opened with a 71 but faltered with a 78 in the second round. She did fight back in the final day but ran out of holes with Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul coming through with clutch birdies to seal the victory in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc .
Muangkhumsakul won’t be around to go for another crown to honor a previous commitment to play in China but the Thai contingent remains as formidable as ever with former LPGT leg winner Wannasiri Sirisampant, Narisara Kerdrit, Mookharin Ladgratok, Piyathida Ployumsri, Saranporn Langkulgasettrin and Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa all seeing action this week. There are actually 25 Thais in the 73-player field, which also includes former LPGT leg cham-
pion Hwang Ye-nah of Korea, who bested a tough international field at LPGT Southlinks in 2015, and Japanese Ai Asano, Ai Tanaka and Hidemi Nakamura. Focus will also be on Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong, who humbled Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Superal to snare the crown here in 2015, along with last year’s LPGT Beverly Place titlist Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, along with The Country Club teammate Mafy Singson and Sophia Blanco.
Ngu named PH team flag-bearer By Graham C. Lim IT’S official. Philanthropist and sportsman Angel Ngu is the Flag Bearer of the Philippine delegation to the 29th Summer Universiade to be held in Taipei City from Aug. 19 to 30 this year. David Ong, president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, announced the designation of Ngu, the president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.. Ngu’s designation came Ngu after much-respected sports patron Alvin Tai Lian accepted FESSAP Board’s offer for him to be the country’s Head of Delegation to the Taipei Universiade. “The FESSAP is very thankful of Businessman Angel Ngu and FFCCCII in their support of the country’s participation in the Taipei university games,” said David Ong. “It’s hard to find a legitimate sportsman/philanthropist whose sole motive is to help youth sports in our country. Businessman Angel Ngu is among the few. His advocacy to promote youth sports is noble as it enables our nationwide university
student athletes to showcase their skills in an international competition such as Universiade that is billed by many as the Olympics at the university level.” Alvin Tai Lian and David Ong both agreed added that Ngu is a perfect choice as the Philippine flag bearer in the Taipei Universiade not only because of his business intelligence but also his humanitarian activities with the FFCCCII. “These charitable projects have resulted in the upliftment of the poor and underprivileged with the establishment of various school rooms in the countryside and elsewhere, the holding of medical missions in the rural areas and the granting of scholarships to the less fortunate Filipinos,” said Ong. The formal acceptance by Ngu to the position will be held by the end of this month in a simple official ceremony to be held in Manila. Aside from the Taipei Universiade, the FESSAP looks forward to working with Ngu in international competitions other than the Taipei Universiade. This includes the World University Championship in the various sports and sports competitions in Asia and Asia-Pacific.
KASPAROV Chess Foundation Asia Pacific Director for Philippines Red Dumuk had announced that the deadline for the March 26 KCF Young Talents Rapid Chess Chess Championships at the well-appointed Alphaland City Center in Makati is on March 24. Interested boys and girls aged Under 8 years old, U10, U12, U14 and U18 can register with assistant tournament director Alex Dinoy (email address: alexandinoy@yahoo. com; mobile no. 09183705750). Entry fee is P100. Only 300 of the pegged 1,000 slots remain. Once the limit is reached, no more entry will be accepted. Meanwhile, pre-registration is ongoing for the other KCFAP event--the March 27 Chess in Education Training for Teachers, which aims to give the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ grassroots program, supported by Philippine Sports Commission, a shot in the arm. Chess teachers (in or out of the school system) can list up with Dumuk (email address: redumuk@gmail.com; mobile no. Sun-09258092353, Smart-09292396555 or Globe-09270534040) until March 23. Payment of the P1,000 registration fee may be made at the venue. CIE is limited to 200 participants. The Department of Education, along with the NCFP and Alphaland Corporation, stand as partners of the KCFAP in the twin initiatives celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Kasparov Chess Foundation. The Philippines is one of the only three countries (Myanmar and Indonesia are the others), aside from Guam where the trio of Kasparov Chess Foundation President Michael Khodarkovsky, KCFAP Director Ignatius Leong and KCFAP Projects Manager are visiting. Owing to the upscale character of the rapid championships and CIE venue, all participants are enjoined to observe the dress code—only shirts with collar, trousers (no shorts) and shoes (no sandals or slippers) are to be worn.
No. 25 stuns No. 1 Andy GOLF QUEEN. Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (second from right) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) Splendido Taal Golf Club general manager Teboy Javier, low amateur Yuka Saso and Chen Mei-chi, chairlady of the Taiwan LPGA after ruling the ICTSI Champion Tour, the kickoff leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and third stage of the TLPGA last Friday.
Shots fired! Wozniacki slams Maria INDIAN WELLS—Maria Sharapova’s planned return from a 15-month drugs ban at Stuttgart next month is “disrespectful” to other WTA players, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki said Saturday. The tournament will already be underway when five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova’s suspension ends on April 26, and she’ll play her first match that day. “I think it’s very questionable, allowing -- no matter who it is -- a player that is still banned to play a tournament that week,” Wozniacki said. “I think it’s
disrespectful to the other players and the WTA.” Wozniacki said she had no problem with Sharapova, whose ban for a positive test for meldonium was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, returning to the game. But she said the Russian star, whose world ranking has been wiped out by her absence, should play her way back into tournaments. “I think everyone deserves a second chance, and I think that she’s going to come back and she’s going to fight her way back,” Wozniacki said.
“I’m sure she’s going to play well. But at the same time, I feel like when a player is banned for drugs, I think that someone should start from the bottom and fight their way back, because it’s different from an injury where someone is out because they had hurt themselves. “When someone has been banned for drugs and something that is performance enhancing, I think that you deserve a second chance like everybody else, people make mistakes. But I think you should fight your way back from the bottom.” AFP
INDIAN WELLS—Vasek Pospisil, playing tennis with renewed purpose after a tumultuous 2016, knew something big was coming, but a stunning triumph over world number one Andy Murray exceeded his expectations. “Amazing feeling,” Pospisil said after vanquishing Britain’s Murray 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the second round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters. “I feel like I’m on a comeback trail,” he added. “I felt like a big result was coming, because I believe in my abilities, but just kind of had to put the pieces together again. Obviously to beat the number one player in the world is incredible.” The 26-year-old from Vernon, British Columbia, was ranked as high as 25th in the world in 2014 and in 2015 captured the Wimbledon doubles crown with American Jack Sock. AFP
Hall of Famers Pacquiao, Nietes, top boxers to be feted at Elorde awards’ rites ELORDE Hall of Fame honorees Manny Pacquiao and Donnie Nietes will be honored with an Award of Distinction, while three others will share the highest honors as Boxers of the Year during the 17th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at The Tent of the Manila Hotel. Pacquiao, the current WBO World welterweight champion, and Nietes, the WBO world lightweight champion, will be honored for their continuing feat as world champions even after they have already been enshrined into the Elorde Hall of Fame. Pacquiao was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame in 2012 after he won seven straight world crowns, which he accumulated in a 10-year campaign starting 2000. At the end of that period, he received the honor as boxer of the decade from the four major boxing organizations – the WBO,
IBF, WBC and IBO – as well as the Boxing Writers of America and Yahoo, ESPN, and The Ring Magazine. Nietes became world champion in three divisions – the minimum weight, light flyweight and superflyweight – retaining all these titles against the very best in each division for seven years starting in 2007 and was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame in 2015. The Award of Distinction, one of the major awards of the Elorde Awards Night, is conferred to a Filipino boxer who have already been enshrined to the Elorde Hall of Fame and became world champion for seven consecutive years, matching the feat of Da Flash who was, in addition, enshrined separately into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame as the undefeated world junior lightweight champion for seven consecutive years, from 1960 to 67.
The main awards of the Elorde rites and Banquet of Champions, also held to celebrate the 82nd birth anniversary of Elorde, is the conferment of the Boxer of the Year awards to the world champions of 2016 – IBF world flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero, IBF World superflyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas and WBO world bantamweight king Marlon Tapales. The other major highlight of the Elorde Awards, to be presented by the Elorde family led by Da Flash’s wife Laura, is the casting of the fists, a ceremonial casting of the fists of current and former Filipino world champions still alive. They will form part of a rich, extensive collection of memorabilia of Filipino greats. For information and reservations for the Awards Night please call 09390617319, 09172504156 and 8250625. Look for Beth or Liza.
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