06082017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017

Warriors grab 3-0 lead with Durant’s dagger 3

GOLDEN State forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with teammates last night after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland.

SEE THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 17 (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Bahamas climbs to No.38 in latest beach soccer world rankings poll

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH their performance at the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Bahamas moved up nine spots in the latest edition of the world rankings.

The Bahamas is ranked at No.38 with a total of 435 points, in the latest edition of the poll released yesterday.

Prior to the tournament, the Bahamas stood in the No. 47 spot in the 2016 world rankings with 287 points. Under the leadership of head coach Alexander Soares, the team finished with a 1-2 win-loss record.

In game one, they suffered a hard-fought 3-2 loss to familiar foe Switzerland, followed by a lopsided 10-1 loss to Senegal.

The Bahamas made history when they became the first Caribbean team to win a match at the

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with their 4-1 victory over Ecuador to close out play in Group A. In addition, the tournament featured another first as FIFA fielded a select All-Star side to host the Bahamas in an exhibition match.

The FIFA All-Stars won that match 6-3.

The Bahamas is also ranked No.5 in CONCACAF behind Mexico, El Salvador, Panama and the USA. Following the tournament, Team Bahamas captain Gavin Christie told FIFA.com that he hoped the performance left a lasting legacy and great source of pride for the future of beach soccer in the country.

“It’s a dream come true for a small nation like the Bahamas to host an event of this magnitude on our shores,” he said.

“It’s just the beginning for the Bahamas. It’s a building block and a very good start. It’s creating a

ALEXANDER SOARES new culture for beach soccer in the country. The fans love it and they want more. They’re already asking when the next tournament is

and they see that it’s a sport that the Bahamas can perform in at the highest level. This can be huge for the Bahamas.”

The tournament also produced a shakeup among the top teams in the world ranking.

Brazil returns to the top overall team in the rankings after they claimed their fifth Beach Soccer World Cup title, their first since 2009.

Former champions, Portugal, fell one spot behind to No.2, followed by this year’s surprise story Iran at No.3 after they finished third at the BSWC. Russia is ranked No.4 followed by 2017 runners-up Tahiti who returned to the top five. Switzerland remained in seventh, eighth-place Paraguay swapped places with Japan, who now sit ninth, while UAE end May in the top 10, having narrowly missed out on a place in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup quarter-final.

TENNIS

French Open, 18

PACESETTERS TAKE TOP PRIZE IN CRICKET TOURNEY

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN an effort to increase the local profile and attract a new generation of enthusiasts to the sport, the Bahamas Cricket Association hosted the second edition of one of the newest initiatives on its calendar.

The Pacesetters took the top overall prize with a first place finish at the second KFC Nassau Sixes Tournament over the Labour Day holiday weekend.

The winners batted first and scored a total of 66 runs. Ryan Tappin was the top batter with 19. St Agnes were unable to top their score and were all bowled out.

Other participating teams included St George’s, Police, Westerns and Lions.

Preliminary matches were played at Windsor Park with the playoffs and championship match at Haynes Oval, West Bay Street.

Along with the championship trophy and this year’s bragging rights, the Pacesetters claimed the $1,500 purse for the winners while St Agnes received $1,000 as runners-up. The Police took third place and $500.

In addition, cash prizes were given to the player

SEE PAGE 15

USAIN BOLT TO RUN 100 AT GOLDEN SPIKE PRAGUE (AP) — Usain Bolt will return to the Golden Spike track meet in the Czech city of Ostrava to run the 100 metres.

Organisers say the eighttime Olympic champion will run on June 28.

Bolt will race for the ninth time at the meet, part of the IAAF world challenge series, as part of his preparations for the world championships in London in August.

Bolt says “I think (the Golden Spike) was the first professional track meet that invited me to run back at the start of my career and it is fitting that I should return there in my final season.”

Bolt previously said he didn’t plan to run the 200 metres in his final season.

‘Super 60 Showdown/Hot 100 Bahamas Showcase’ starts June 16

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE basketball prospect showcase culture in the country continues to develop and International Basketball Academy Bahamas looks to become one of the leaders in the field as its event grows in stature.

IBA Bahamas and Get Me Recruited (GMR) will host the 2017 “Super 60 Showdown/Hot 100 Bahamas Showcase” at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium June 16-18.

Friday’s opening session will be hosted 4-8pm followed by 9am to 5pm sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

The Super 60 segment is geared towards the top seniors in the country and the Hot 100 is for the top juniors among both boys and girls.

The two groups collaborated last June when they hosted the inaugural edition of the showcase and scores of players came out to seize advantage of the opportunity.

The showcase featured some of the most highly touted Bahamian high school players based both locally and abroad.

IBA Bahamas has impacted the local basketball scene in its brief history led by its director Denycko Bowles, who also serves as the head coach of the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins. It is the first international branch of the IBA programme.

The showcase featured players from junior high schoolers to post grad unattached.

In addition to the summer programmes, IBA has participated in the Summer of Thunder and travelled to AAU tournaments in the US. Lamont Taylor, the CEO of GetMeRecruited.com said the partnership is aimed at bringing greater exposure to talented players from the Bahamas.

Get Me Recruited is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based company whose goal is to connect high school players and college coaches through the mission statement: “To be personally involved in the collegiate basketball recruiting process one recruit at a time.”

“We’re looking to build a bridge between America and the Bahamas because there is so much talent here. The athleticism here is a step above what we’ve normally seen.

The athleticism in these videos and in these games is well above what we’re used to. If no one sees them they don’t have a chance

to offer them scholarships and get them to the states. We want to provide a platform where these kids can showcase their skills, get coaches looking at them and provide opportunities,” he said following the 2016 showcase.

Training at the showcase also featured Tim Fields, a skill instructor at John Lucas Enterprises.

A busy summer for IBA Bahamas will also include its 4th Annual Elite Skills Summer Camp. The camp, to be hosted June 26 to July 14 at the Bahamas Academy Gymnasium, Wulff Road, is open to both boys and girls ages 5 to 18.

The camp will feature a concentration on offensive and defensive critiquing and performance, advanced ball handling and footwork.

Registration for both the showcase and the camp can be found at www.ibabahamas242.com and more information can be found via email – info.ibabahamas@gmail. com, or coach Bowles at 466-0049.

PAGE 14, Thursday, June 8, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Calling All High

SCHOOL STUDENTS

Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year.

In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands.

We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.

Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded

7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).

How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format.

By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau.

By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 8, 2017, PAGE 15

BTC congratulates Miller-Uibo on her world record in the 200m straight race OLYMPIC 400m gold medallist and BTC-endorsed athlete Shaunae Miller-Uibo created the pinnacle of the Adidas Boost Boston Games, clocking in at 21.76 (0.5m/s) on a 200m straight this past Sunday.

Participating in her first ever street athletics meet, Miller-Uibo now holds the fastest world record for the

200m straight run, defeating the prior world record of 22.55 attained by Allyson Felix in 2010.

Prior to this victory, Miller-Uibo held the top national records for the women’s 200m and indoor 300m races within the Bahamas.

“Shaunae has been with us as an endorsed athlete for four years now and she has never failed to astound us.

We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and we want to encourage her to continue to soar higher.

With BTC, the possibilities are limitless,” said CEO Leon Williams.

Shaunae has been a part of the BTC family since 2013 and the company wishes to congratulate her on yet another triumphant victory.

REDSKINS LEGENDS IN BAHAMAS WEEKEND GETAWAY

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo and BTC CEO Leon Williams.

DE GRASSE SAYS HE HAS ‘GREAT CHANCE’ TO BEAT BOLT IN AUGUST

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Andre De Grasse isn’t interested in taking over from Usain Bolt as the world’s best sprinter when the eight-time Olympic champion retires later this year.

He’s ready now.

“I’m trying to win this year.

I feel like I have a great chance and that’s what I want to do,” De Grasse told The Associated Press ahead of today’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet, where the Canadian will run the 200 metres.

Bolt won’t be running in Rome, but De Grasse is looking forward to racing the Jamaican great at the world championships in London in August.

“I feel like I have a great chance in both events — 100 or 200,” De Grasse said.

“If I can execute my race and I’m in top shape I feel like I can do that.”

The 22-year-old De Grasse took silver behind Bolt in the 200 at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

and bronze behind Bolt and Justin Gatlin in the 100.

Having also anchored Canada to a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay in Rio, De Grasse became the first Canadian sprinter to win three medals in a single Olympics.

De Grasse pushed Bolt so hard in the semi-finals of the 200 in Rio that Bolt acknowledged it was draining and prevented him from improving his world record a night later.

At the worlds, Bolt is set to appear in two events.

“Usain is planning to run the 100m and 4x100m at the World Championships,” Ricky Simms, Bolt’s manager, wrote in an email to The AP yesterday.

So what would it take to beat Bolt in the 100 in August?

“No idea. It’s anybody’s game.

You can’t name a time,” De Grasse said.

“It’s always about weather and conditions and those types of things. But it’s going to obviously take a well-executed race. I have to be at the top of my game and if I can do that I can do something

special.”

De Grasse is working on improving his starts, which also happens to be the only area that Bolt struggles in.

“If I can have a great start and try to hold the lead that would be great,” De Grasse said. “My topend speed is good. It’s all about finding the right factors to go out there and win.”

As a teen, De Grasse ran one of his first races wearing basketball shorts and borrowed shoes. He stood up in the blocks while others crouched. It launched his career and led him to signing a big contract with Puma — the same company that sponsors Bolt.

“I was a basketball guy growing up so most of my guys that I looked up to were in the NBA like Allen Iverson and Vince Carter,” said De Grasse, who was born in Ontario to Caribbean parents. “I never really had any track fanatics growing up that I idolised.”

At the Stadio Olimpico, De Grasse’s top competition should come from Olympic bronze medallist Christophe Lemaitre of

IST PLACE — PACESETTERS cricket team took home the top prize.

PACESETTERS TAKE TOP PRIZE IN NASSAU SIXES CRICKET TOURNAMENT FROM PAGE 1 with the most runs and most wickets.

KFC returned as the title sponsor. “KFC Nassau is delighted to once again be a sponsor of the BCA’s 2017 ‘Nassau Sixes’ Cricket Tournament. The KFC brand has supported the sport of cricket for many countries such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and other countries, which makes the KFC Nassau brand proud to also share our support of the sport in the Bahamas.

“As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary in Nassau we focus on how sport, including cricket, builds community and fosters relationships that help move our country forward. We look forward to the great collaboration with the BCA and the success of this year’s tournament,” the organisation said in a press release.

In previous interviews with The Tribune, cricket enthusiast Paul Thompson said the BCA continues to move toward youth development.

The International Cricket Council has appointed Theo Cuffy to develop the Bahamas’ junior national team programme and

he has been working with the programme since April.

The programme continues to benefit from the youth initiative it took years ago by hiring an international cricket coach from England to take the game into the country’s schools.

The coach was able to make contact with 26 primary schools in Nassau, seven in Grand Bahama and one in Bimini, where Kwik Cricket was introduced to the young boys and girls.

A total of 13,600 school children were involved in that scheme. Out of that programme, the BCA was able to start an under-15 and under-13 league with four teams in each competition, with the under-15s playing with a hard ball. The under-19 team was also developed with plans in place to sustain the game for years to come.

Many of those team members also advanced to the senior level and participated in the aforementioned Americas Division II tournament hosted in the Bahamas in 2016.

In their latest major event on the BCA calendar, the Bahamas finished second to Guyana in the NAGICO T20 event last May.

France.

Also in the field is Filippo Tortu, an 18-year-old Italian making his Diamond League debut.

“Since we have high expectations for the kid we’ve set up a big-time race,” meet director Luigi D’Onofrio said of Tortu, who took silver in the 100 at last year’s junior worlds. “If he wants to improve he’s got to race right away against the champions.”

Another highlight of the meet should be the women’s 5,000.

After coming up short in Eugene, Oregon, last month, Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia will make another attempt to break the world record held by her older sister, Tirunesh. Having Hellen Obiri of Kenya in the field could help matters. Obiri clocked a world-leading 14 minutes, 22.47 seconds in Shanghai, three seconds quicker than Dibaba managed in Eugene two weeks later.

In the javelin, Thomas Rohler of Germany looks to improve on his 93.90 in Doha, Qatar, last month, which was the longest throw in 20 years.

DOUG Williams, senior personnel executive for the Washington Redskins and first African American quarterback to play in the Super Bowl, along with the legends and fans of the Redskins, are expected to visit Melia Resort for a Bahamas weekend getaway from today until June 11.

The visit is the first for the Redskins and part of its new, five-year partnership with the Ministry of Tourism.

Williams will be joined

by Redskins alumni Ricky Sanders, Timmy Smith, Dexter Manley, Jeff Bostic, Doc Walker, Clarence Vaughn, Ravin Caldwell, Vernon Dean and Reggie Branch along with Redskins cheerleaders and the voice of the Redskins, Larry Michael.

“The Ministry of Tourism is excited and pleased to welcome this prestigious group to Nassau,” says Jeff Rodgers, senior manager for Sports Tourism.

“We are especially pleased to show off the warm hospitality of our people, share with them via multiple opportunities the vibrant, authentic and diverse culture of our country while showcasing the beautiful sports tourism product (like the golf course at Baha Mar and Thomas A Robinson Stadium) we possess,” he said.

Among some of the planned activities are a welcome reception and Junkanoo social today, a celebrity golf tournament at Baha Mar on June 9, a youth football and cheerleading clinic with Doug Williams and Redskins alumni at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium at 11am June 10 as well as other destination experiences, including a sunset cruise, island tours and more.

Youth between the ages of six and 17 years interested in attending the football and cheerleading clinic or for more information about the Doug Williams and Legends Celebrity weekend visit, www.dwbahamasweekend.com

PAGE 16, Thursday, June 8, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

DONALDSON HITS TIEBREAKING 2-RUN HOMER AGAINST FORMER CLUB

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Baseball Writer OAKLAND, California (AP) — Back when he played here, Josh Donaldson watched many a hardhit ball get halted by the wind at the Oakland Coliseum short of going over the outfield fences.

So he didn’t want to count on his 10th-inning drive going far enough.

It had plenty on it, and it still feels plenty sweet to make an impact where he began his big league career in 2010 — even in a different uniform.

Donaldson hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the 10th against his former club, Justin Smoak also homered in the inning for his second long ball of the day, and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a sweep by beating the Athletics 7-5 yesterday.

“Any home run’s nice.

The fact of the matter the

situation it was in to be able to come through for my team like that, with the circumstances, I was able to do that a few times when I played here, too,” Donaldson said. “It was nice to kind of be able to come back and hit one in a timely situation.”

Frankie Montas (1-1) plunked Kevin Pillar to start the inning and bring up Donaldson, who clobbered a 1-2 fastball and hit a high drive clearing the wall in left-center.

Liam Hendriks tossed two perfect innings over the eighth and ninth with three strikeouts for the A’s, but Montas couldn’t hold down Donaldson. After drawing three walks, the 2015 AL MVP hit his seventh homer of the year as he plays catch up after missing time with a calf injury. “I hit it pretty well,” Donaldson said. “I didn’t know because how high that I hit the ball, I’ve

hit many balls in this stadium that were like that and kind of got knocked down by the wind and the air.”

A’s manager Bob Melvin sent the third baseman out of town with the skipper’s bobblehead doll as a parting gift.

Ryan Tepera (4-1) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the win, while Roberto Osuna finished for his 14th save.

Pillar hit a three-run homer in the second after Smoak’s solo shot earlier in the inning.

Chad Pinder’s sacrifice fly in the fifth following a leadoff triple by Rajai Davis tied the game at 4. Davis also doubled twice and matched his career high with four hits, doing it for the 10th time and first since last July 2 at Toronto while with Cleveland.

“I’m just hoping that that’s the beginning of something that will continue,” he said.

Smoak homered three times in the series to bring his season total to 17, also leading off the second Wednesday against A’s right-hander Jharel Cotton.

That came after Oakland went ahead in the bottom of the first on Khris Davis’ RBI double.

Cotton made his first career start against Toronto but is still waiting for his first win since being recalled from the minors on May 27. He allowed four runs and four hits in six innings, struck out four and walked four.

Trevor Plouffe’s leadoff homer in the fourth for Oakland snapped a careerworst 0-for-25 hitting slump — a fourth homer in eight lifetime at-bats facing Toronto starter Francisco Liriano.

The Blue Jays lefty struck out five and walked one in five innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits.

BLUE Jays’ Josh Donaldson (20) hits a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the 10th inning yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

KERSHAW PITCHES DODGERS PAST STRASBURG, NATIONALS 2-1 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw made it sound as if he had a rough day. It looked pretty good to everyone else.

Kershaw outdueled Stephen Strasburg with seven effective innings and Yasmani Grandal hit a tiebreaking RBI double, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers edge the Washington Nationals 2-1 yesterday.

Kershaw (8-2) allowed three hits and struck out nine in his first win since May 17. Pedro Baez got two outs before Kenley Jansen finished for his 10th save.

But Kershaw also walked three and said he was not particularly sharp.

“I didn’t have much today in the tank,” he said. “I felt fine, it just wasn’t coming out quite the way I wanted to today. I felt like I threw a lot of off-speed pitches. That’s good lineup, too. They have a re-

ally good team over there. I’m fortunate to get a win.”

Strasburg (7-2) struck out eight in six innings in his first loss since April 29. The ace right-hander was 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA in his previous six starts.

Ryan Zimmerman hit his 17th homer for Washington in the second, and Strasburg sailed into the sixth inning before running into trouble.

“I don’t think we were giving at-bats away,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think Stephen was good today. He elevated his game.”

Roberts said one of Kershaw’s biggest contributions came at the plate when he forced Strasburg to throw nine pitches before grounding out in the sixth. Chris Taylor followed with another eight-pitch at-bat that ended with another groundout. “That was huge,”

DODGERS starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks off the field after finishing the top of the first inning.

(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager said. “(Kershaw) got his pitch count up a little bit and then (Taylor) did the same thing. It’s hard to throw when you have those long innings like that. Eventually you’ll make a mistake.”

Seager connected on one, hitting a drive to center for his eighth homer. Strasburg came back to strike out Adrian Gonzalez, but strike three got by catcher Jose Lobaton and Gonzalez reached on the passed ball.

After Gonzalez advanced on a wild pitch, Grandal lined a double past diving left fielder Ryan Raburn for a 2-1 lead.

“When you’re playing close games like that against a great pitcher — two great pitchers — there’s usually a mistake here, a mistake that’s the difference in the game,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said.

In a rematch of last year’s NL Division Series, won by Los Angeles in five games, the NL-leading Nationals took two of three from the Dodgers.

“We feel pretty good,” Baker said. “We certainly would have wanted this one. But they’re tough to sweep here.”

The Nationals had a chance to tie it in the eighth, but the Dodgers wiggled out of the jam.

Trea Turner led off with a triple off the centre-field wall. But Rayburn struck out and Baez snagged a hot comebacker from Bryce Harper to catch Turner in a rundown. Jansen then retired Zimmerman on another comebacker.

It was Jansen’s fifth four-plus out save of the year.

“He’s had three days off, this was a big game and we have a day off tomorrow,” Roberts said. “It made sense.”

FREELAND HELPS ROCKIES BEAT INDIANS 8-1 FOR 4TH STRAIGHT VICTORY

By BRENT W NEW Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland was in command on the mound. Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon took care of the rest.

Freeland pitched 6 1/3 effective innings, Arenado drove in three runs and

the Colorado Rockies beat the Cleveland Indians 8-1 yesterday for their fourth straight win.

Blackmon, the reigning National League Player of the Month, added two RBIs for the Rockies, who lead the NL with 38 wins. Ian Desmond had three hits and scored two runs.

Freeland (7-3) allowed one run and six hits, struck out five and walked none while lowering his ERA to 3.34. The Denver native walked off the mound to a standing ovation from the Coors Field crowd.

“I got chills,” Freeland said. “Day game, middle of the week, getting a crowd like that — it’s great for the city and great for this team.”

The fans had several reasons to cheer the NL West leaders.

With Colorado leading 2-0 in the fourth and Cleveland star Francisco Lindor on second, Blackmon ran down a fly ball in centre field and threw to Arenado, who dove at Lindor’s foot as he attempted to take third.

After a review, Lindor was called out. “It was basically all Charlie,” Arenado said. “I saw Charlie get behind it well. I knew we had a chance. I made my mind up I was going to dive for him no matter what, and luckily I got his foot.”

Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer (5-5), pitching on two days’ rest, allowed four runs and tied his season high with five walks in 3 1/3 innings. He threw just 30 pitches Sunday against Kansas City before rain halted the game and ended his appearance.

Bauer walked three in the third and Arenado hit a two-run double. Blackmon added another bases-loaded double in the fourth, lifting Colorado to a 4-0 lead.

“Got myself in trouble by walking people,” the 26-year-old Bauer said.

“When I got in jams I feel like I executed pitches to try and get out of them and did the best I could to minimise the damage. The ball didn’t go to people today. I don’t know why.”

The Indians looked to get back into the game in the seventh after Jose Ramirez homered and Edwin Encarnacion came off the bench with two runners in scoring position. But the 34-yearold slugger hit a weak

grounder to the pitcher to end the inning.

“The only thing we’re really consistent in is being inconsistent,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

“In our game, if something comes up short you usually pay for it. Either we make an error, or starting pitching doesn’t go deep or we don’t get any hits. But what I really care about more than anything is just our ability to just value how important every game is and leave it out on the field.”

Colorado outscored the Indians 19-4 in the twogame set. The Indians helped out, walking 14 batters.

SURGING ROCKIES, FLAILING INDIANS The Rockies have outscored their opponents 32-6 during their winning streak.

They are a season-best 15 games above .500 at 38-23.

The Indians have lost five of their last seven.

TRAINER’S ROOM Indians: Encarnacion (right hip soreness) is expected to start in the DH spot when the Indians return home Friday.

Rockies: OF Gerardo Parra (strained right quad) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and the team recalled INF-OF Jordan Patterson from the minors.

Parra left Tuesday’s game in the third inning when he pulled up short during an attempted steal of second base.

PACE OF PLAY Faster, please. That’s the opinion of baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who reiterated his priority of speeding up the pace of play when he visited Coors Field on Wednesday.

“I think we continue to struggle with dead time in the game,” Manfred said.

“We’re having and will continue to have conversations with the MLBPA about some rule changes that we feel would help us improve on the topic of pace of play.”

ROSTER MOVE Cleveland optioned righthander Mike Clevinger to Triple-A Columbus and recalled left-hander Kyle Crockett from its top farm club. Clevinger allowed five runs in four innings on Tuesday, but Francona said that was not the reason for

the move.

“We have three off days in eight days, that’s why,” Francona said. “It’s not a reaction to last night’s game. He knows he’s going to start one of those games in the doubleheader in Minnesota (on June 17). He’ll pitch once in between in Columbus.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 8, 2017, PAGE 17

Durant’s 3-pointer lifts the Warriors over Cavaliers in NBA Finals Game 3

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Durant drained the shot of his professional life — a 3-pointer with 45.3 seconds left — and scored 31 points as the Golden State Warriors moved within one win of postseason perfection and payback by rallying to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113 last night to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

The Warriors trailed by six with three minutes left before Durant, who signed with Golden State last summer to win a championship, brought them back, scoring 14 in the fourth.

With their 15th straight win, the Warriors have the longest postseason streak for any team in the four major professional sports.

And with a victory in Game 4 on Friday night, Golden State can exorcise those haunting demons from last June when the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals to the Cavaliers.

Not team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit.

Klay Thompson added 30 points and Stephen Curry had 26 for this California Dream Team now one win from its second title in three years.

LeBron James shook off a knee-buckling blow to the chin while scoring 39 and Kyrie Irving added 38 for the Cavs, who took a 113107 lead with 3:09 left on J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer.

Curry hit a layup and after both James and Irving missed for the Cavs, Durant dropped his 3 — a shot that could be the one most remembered in this magnificent run by the Warriors.

“All I was looking at was the bottom of the net,” Durant said. “I’ve been work-

ing on that shot my whole life. To see that go in, that was liberating, man. We’ve got one more to go.”

After the Warriors went up, Irving missed a 3 from his favourite spot on the right side and the Warriors closed it out with four free throws in the final 12.9 seconds before celebrating briefly on the floor and then charging down the hallway to their locker room.

After winning Games 1 and 2 by a combined 41 points at home, the Warriors had to scrap for all 48 minutes to take down the Cavs, who will need a similar effort to avoid being swept by a team with few weaknesses.

James and Irving were relentless in the second half and it appeared they had done enough to get Cleveland over the top and perhaps back in the series.

Durant, though, was not going to be denied. Not after getting this close, not after enduring so much criticism for leaving Oklahoma City and not with a chance to put the Cavaliers in an insurmountable hole.

The 7-footer finished 10 of 18 from the field with eight rebounds and four assists. Curry, who has benefited more than any other player by Durant’s arrival and is healthy in these Finals, added 13 rebounds and six assists.

With coach Steve Kerr back on the bench for the second straight game after battling back pain, Golden State, which made a record 9 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished 16 of 33 behind the arc, also got just what it needed from its reserves as Andre Iguodala had several big plays, none bigger than stripping James of the ball on a potential tying 3-pointer with 12.6 sec-

that his team was better off playing at a high tempo than trying to slow down the Warriors.

“We want to play fast; we don’t want to play in a hurry,” Lue said. “We want to get good shots. We don’t want to take the long 3s and things like that.”

Cleveland came out full throttle, matching the Warriors step for step and shot for shot in the opening minutes. But Curry hit backto-back 3s on a 10-0 run to close the entertaining and exhausting quarter.

TIP-INS Warriors: Golden State’s nine 3-pointers in the first quarter broke the previous Finals mark held by five teams, most recently the Warriors in 2015. Curry and Kerr walked through security and were immediately greeted by retired pro wrestler Ric Flair, best known as “The Nature Boy.” Actor Michael Rapaport, a diehard Warriors fan who was issued a media credential for the Finals, brought a broom and was heckled by some Cleveland fans.

GOLDEN State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, left, and Kevin Durant talk in the final moments against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland last night. Golden State won 118-113.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) onds left.

Cleveland had collapsed in the third quarter of the first two games, letting the Warriors run away and hide.

Irving didn’t let that happen in Game 3.

Showing off his ability to spin in shots high off the backboard, Irving scored 16 in the third quarter and the Cavs held the Warriors to 22 points in their lowest scoring output in any quarter in this postseason.

The Cavaliers, though, couldn’t get far enough ahead in the fourth to get comfortable and the Warriors kept chipping into their lead before Durant’s defining 3-pointer.

James was knocked flat in the first quarter, when he accidentally got blasted in the chin by teammate Tristan Thompson’s shoulder. James dropped to the floor and a hush fell over Cleveland’s crowd as the three-time champ laid in

the foul lane like a boxer sprawled on the canvas after taking an upper cut.

James shook it off, got up and slowly walked to the bench, and moments later drove for a layup.

Golden State landed the next blows, but the Cavs kept coming back.

Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue decided not to change his starting lineup for Game 3, sticking with the slumping Smith at shooting guard. He also insisted

Cavaliers: James (1,175) passed Sam Jones (1,143), Bill Russell (1,151) and Elgin Baylor (1,161) to move into fourth place on the Finals scoring list. Michael Jordan (1,176) is next. James became the first player to appear in 20 or more Finals games with two franchises.

He played in 23 for Miami. G Deron Williams has missed each of his 11 shots in the series. Kyle Korver’s dunk in the second quarter was just the 36-year-old’s second all season. Golfers Bubba Watson, Jason Day and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer were among the courtside celebrities.

Game 4 is Friday night.

BTC’S ANNUAL LABOUR DAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ‘A RESOUNDING SUCCESS’

GRAND BAHAMA JUNIOR OPEN LIVENS UP RUBY GOLF COURSE

Freeport, Grand Bahama – Nineteen years of youth basketball development on Grand Bahama Island culminated in the 2017 Hoytes’ Labour Day Basketball Tournament this long weekend. The BTC-sponsored event was a roaring success, bringing together the best and brightest young talents from across the country for four days of competition and filling Grand Bahama with over 400 visiting players, coaches and family.

Opening ceremonies were held on Thursday afternoon at the Jack Hayward Gymnasium, and in attendance were Michael Pintard, MP and Minister of Youth Sports & Culture, MP Iram Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Works, and Mrs Eldri Ferguson-Mackey, Vice President, BTC Northern Bahamas.

They joined the official organisers Gladstone “Moon” McPhee, founding president of HOYTES, Charles “Softly” Robins, president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, Fred Sturrup, president Sports Council, Churchill Tener Knowles, ISF Hall of Famer and other organisers of the Hoytes Labour Day invitational, special invited guests, teams and game officials, along with participating teams that travelled from Abaco, Bimini, Grand Cay, New Providence to join the Grand Bahama host teams.

The round-robin style format of the competition made for a series of exciting games which climaxed on Sunday with three championship clashes in three divisions - the Boys’ 15-16 category which saw the Reach Out Saints triumph over the Abaco team Agape, the Open Girls’ category where the Hoytes girls took on Greater Heights to secure the championship win and the highly anticipated Boys’17-18 category where the Pelican Bay Improvement Basketball team wowed audiences with their win over the Reach Out Saints.

“Sunday was definitely the most exciting day of competition,” noted BTC Northern VP Eldri Ferguson Mackey.

“After all the talent that we saw take to the courts, everyone was excited to see the remaining teams compete for the top spot.

THE Grand Bahama Junior Open took place at the Ruby Golf Course in Freeport, Grand Bahama, over the weekend.

This was the inaugural event and will be held for many years to come.

Spearheaded by the Northern Division of the Bahamas Golf Federation, and powered by Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, the event hosted 21 players from Nassau and six from Grand Bahama.

The participants’ ages ranged from seven to 18. It featured three unisex divisions for 18-and-under, 13-and-under and 10-and-under.

Notable players in the field included Inecia Rolle, the backto-back current female national amateur champion. She competed alongside six additional members of the 2017 junior national team, inclusive of Saketh Hedge, Ashley Michel Xavier Robinson, Lexander Antoine, Javonte Pinder and Tyesha Tynes. This event was a great precursor to their national team travel to Trinidad & Tobago in July.

The event also featured 18 of the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy (FCGA) junior golfers Michael Knowles, Alexander Knowles, Christopher Knowles, A Marie Smith, Riya Miller, Rhan Miller, Jalne Bowleg, Janeil Bowleg, Clinton Bowleg, Nyah Singh, Naji Grant, Taylor Brooks, Achim Cooper, Edward Forrest and Chemari Pratt.

Fourteen Clubs’ Parents of Golfers Association played an enormous role in assisting in the organisation of the event. Seventeen parents travelled with their aspiring and accomplished junior golfers.

The FCGA Parents of Golfers Association is dedicated to helping secure tournament/league play venues for our young golfers in the Bahamas.

Financial and in-kind sponsors for this event include Bahamas Power & Light, Northern Division of the Bahamas Golf Federation, Aquapure, Captain Jerry Exuma Tours, Sky Bahamas Airlines, Aliv, Centerville Food Stores and the Paint Fair.

“The tournament organisers send a special thank you to its sponsors, parents, junior golfers and the Ruby Golf Course. Thank you for helping to advance the growth of our young golfers,” summed up the federation.

TOP - Champions in the Boys’ 17-18 division The Pelican Bay Improvement Basketball Team receive their trophy from BTC Northern VP Eldri Ferguson-Mackey.

ABOVE - Ferguson-Mackey with Hoytes’ girls’ team after their championship win over Greater Heights.

We also got the chance to highlight specific members of each of those teams, those standout players received special awards for their outstanding performances as well as goodie bags courtesy of BTC.” In the girls’ division, Joana Moncur was named the most Valuable Player and the top player for the Hoytes team, while Ahmad Harvey of the Pelican Bay Improvement team was named the Most Valuable Player in the boys’ 17-18 division.

BTC Northern VP Eldri Ferguson-Mackey (far right) with Maurice Fawkes, head coach of the Show Time team and young Joana Moncur, who received recognition as Most Valuable Player in her division.

Photos courtesy of Derek Carroll for Barefoot Marketing “The organisers of this event have done an excellent job over the past many years of promoting youth development and we could not be prouder to have been a part of this year’s event,” said

Ferguson-Mackey. “As I told the organisers earlier this year, now that BTC is involved we plan to make this event bigger and better for everyone - especially Grand Bahama.”

PAGE 18, Thursday, June 8, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

2016 champion Djokovic in ‘whole new situation’ after Paris loss

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

but lost in the third round at Wimbledon, the first round at the Rio Olympics and the second round at the Australian Open.

“The win here last year has brought a lot of different emotions. Obviously, it was a thrill and complete fulfilment, I guess,” Djokovic said during an expansive and frank news conference. “I have lived on that wave of excitement, I guess, ‘til the US Open or so. And at the US Open, I just was emotionally very flat and found myself in a situation that I hadn’t faced before in (my) professional tennis career.”

The 23-year-old Thiem next faces ninetime French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who advanced when No. 20 Pablo Carreno Busta stopped while trailing 6-2, 2-0 after injuring an abdominal muscle late in the first set.

“I mean, it’s a joke how tough it is to win a Slam,” said Thiem, the only player who beat Nadal in one of his 23 clay-court matches this season. “Now I beat Novak.

On Friday, (it’s) Nadal. In the finals, there is another top star.”

In the other semi-final, 2016 runner-up Murray will face 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in a matchup of three-time major title winners. Murray eliminated No. 8 Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (0), 6-1 yesterday, while No. 3 Wawrinka won 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 against No. 7 Marin Cilic.

Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova reached the women’s semi-finals. Halep came all the way back from a set and 5-1 down in the second to defeat Elina Svito-

PARIS (AP) — His French Open title defence nearing an end, Novak Djokovic stumbled and tumbled to his knees on the red clay, his racket flying from his right hand as his opponent’s backhand zipped past.

Even Djokovic found it hard to fathom how far he’s fallen, only a year removed from leaving Roland Garros as a player nonpareil, the first man in nearly a halfcentury to win four consecutive Grand Slam titles.

That he departed this time with a surprisingly lopsided 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-0 quarterfinal loss to sixth-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria yesterday left everyone, including Djokovic, pondering the answers to difficult questions.

Did he give up in the last set? What has happened to his once-impervious play?

Can he summon that again? Does he need a break from the grind of the tour?

“It’s a fact that I’m not playing close to my best, and I know that,” Djokovic said after his first straight-set loss at a major since the 2013 Wimbledon final. “For me, it’s a whole new situation that I’m facing.”

Since completing his career Grand Slam at the French Open 12 months ago, Djokovic has participated in four majors in a row without earning a trophy. He also lost his No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray.

Djokovic was runner-up at the US Open

NOVAK DJOKOVIC falls during his match against Dominic Thiem yesterday. (AP) lina 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0. Pliskova beat Caroline Garcia 7-6 (3), 6-4.

With the wind whipping at more than 15 mph (25 kph), and the temperature in the low 50s (low teens Celsius), Djokovic was out of sorts in so many ways even before that 20-minute third set in which he won only 8 of 34 points. It’s only the second time Djokovic lost a final set by the score of 6-0 in his 937 career tour-level matches.

“It’s hard to comment (on) the third set.

Obviously, nothing was going my way and everything his way,” Djokovic said. “Just pretty bad set.”

But both men thought the match was decided in the first set, when Djokovic held

two set points at 5-4, 15-40 on Thiem’s serve. Thiem erased the first with a forehand volley and the other with a service winner that prompted Djokovic to roll his eyes.

Djokovic’s backhand really let him down in the tiebreaker: All seven points won by Thiem ended with that stroke.

In all, Djokovic made nearly twice as many unforced errors, 35, as winners, 18.

“More or less, all the parts of my game are kind of going up and down. I’m feeling like I’m missing consistency,” Djokovic said. “I play a great match or two in a row, and then I play a completely opposite match. That’s what happened today.”

Still, how unlikely was this result? Djokovic had won all five previous matches — and 11 of 12 sets — against Thiem, including in the French Open semi-finals a year ago.

Plus, Djokovic had appeared in a record six consecutive semi-finals in Paris.

Now he is at a crossroads of sorts. He just turned 30. He split from coaches Boris Becker and Marian Vajda and other members of his team, bringing aboard Andre Agassi for Week 1 of the French Open.

On Wednesday, he wouldn’t rule out some time off.

“It’s obviously tough to get out of it and figure out the way how to move ahead. At least I’m trying,” Djokovic said. “I know that I have achieved the biggest heights in this sport, and that memory and that experience gives me enough reason to believe that I can do it again.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

High: 95°

Low: 80°

High: 92° Low: 79°

High: 93° Low: 81°

High: 92° Low: 78°

High: 92° Low: 80°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

108° F

88° F

110°-89° F

109°-85° F

104°-84° F

101°-83° F

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

ABACO

S

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

10‑20 knots

S

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 77° F/25° C

S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

E

tiDes For nassau High

almanac

E

W

W

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 76° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 78° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 4.89” Normal year to date ..................................... 9.74”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 95° F/35° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Ht.(ft.)

2.3 2.9

2:03 a.m. 0.1 1:54 p.m. ‑0.1

Friday

8:30 a.m.

8:53 p.m.

2.3 2.9

2:42 a.m. 0.1 2:32 p.m. ‑0.1

Saturday

9:09 a.m.

9:31 p.m.

2.3 2.9

3:21 a.m.

3:09 p.m.

0.1 0.0

Sunday

9:48 a.m.

10:08 p.m.

2.2 2.9

4:00 a.m.

3:47 p.m.

0.1 0.1

Monday

10:27 a.m.

10:46 p.m.

2.2 2.9

4:38 a.m.

4:26 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Tuesday

11:08 a.m.

11:26 p.m.

2.2 2.8

5:17 a.m.

5:07 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Wednesday 11:52 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.2 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:57 a.m.

5:51 p.m.

0.3 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

7‑14 knots

S

6‑12 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Low

7:50 a.m.

8:15 p.m.

6:19 a.m.

7:59 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

7:19 p.m.

5:48 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Jun. 9

Jun. 17

Jun. 23

Jun. 30

CAT ISLAND

E

W

Ht.(ft.)

Today

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

L

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 84° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

S

S

6‑12 knots

4‑8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS SW at 8‑16 Knots S at 7‑14 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots SSW at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots S at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 8‑16 Knots SSW at 7‑14 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots S at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 3 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 81° F 81° F 84° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F