UE stuns, defeats Ateneo; La Salle bests UP

MANILA, Philippines – Chris Javier played the hero’s role once more, delivering a dagger with 0.4 seconds left to steer University of the East to a jaw-dropping 79-77 stunner over Ateneo de Manila University in the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament Thursday, September 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

With virtually the final play similar to their most recent win, spitfire guard Roi Sumang attacked the Blue Eagles’ defense before throwing a pass to Javier, who calmly sank the jumper that gave the Red Warriors their second straight win and what could be the biggest upset of the season yet.

Javier’s heroics put an exclamation point to a sterling performance by guard Gene Belleza, who fired a career-best 28 points and five rebounds, for the Recto-based squad.

“Everything will be magical if you really work hard,” exclaimed jubilant coach Boycie Zamar in his second trip to the post-game interviews.

Javier, the sophomore center out of San Beda High School, backstopped Belleza with 15 points and six rebounds, Sumang added 15 markers, five boards, 10 assists and two steals, and Adi Santos had 13 rebounds and 11 points, including a layup that shoved UE ahead, 77-75, with 20 seconds left.

Ravena tied it at 77-all with 7.8 ticks remaining but Zamar drew Sumang’s calling card to lead the Warriors in the end game.

Slaughter put up a monster statline of 24 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks even as Ravena (15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals) and Justin Chua (11 points, nine boards) contributed as the Eagles lost for just the second time this season.

DLSU steps closer to final four

In the second game, Almond Vosotros scored 20 of his game-high 21 points in the last 14 minutes to propel De La Salle University to a hard-earned 76-69 triumph over University of the Philippines in the main game.

The Fighting Maroons kept the game close through the first three quarters but a Vosotros explosion created much-needed separation as the Green Archers strengthened their hold of the fourth spot with a 7-4 card.

Rookie phenom Jeron Teng had 16 points in the first half and finished with 19 markers and five boards for the Taft-based crew while Norbert Torres asserted himself early in the game to wound up with 13 points and five rebounds.

On the other hand, Mike Silungan top scored for UP with 14 points even as Jett Manuel and Mark Lopez chipped in with 12 and 10 markers, respectively.

The scores:

UE (79) – Belleza 28, Sumang 15, Javier 15, Santos 11, Sumido 7, Duran 3, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Hernandez 0, Galanza 0

ADMU (77) – Slaughter 24, Ravena 15, Chua 11, Gonzaga 9, Salva 6, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0, Pessumal 0, Elorde 0

Quarters: 10-19, 34-36, 53-56, 79-77

DLSU (76) – Vosotros 21, Teng 19, N. Torres 13, Mendoza 7, Van Opstal 6, T. Torres 4, Andrada 2, Manguera 2, Tampus 2, Tallo 0, Webb 0

UP (69) – Silungan 14, Manuel 12, Lopez 10, Padilla 9, Asilum 6, Soyud 4, Romero 4, Gamboa 3, Mbah 2, Montecastro 2, Hipolito 2, Ball 1

Quarters: 19-14, 41-34, 54-50, 76-69 – Rappler.com

UAAP Board overturns Badolato’s FEU-NU decision

MANILA, Philippines – The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board on Friday, September 7, overturned UAAP basketball commission Ato Badolato’s decision to uphold Far Eastern University (FEU)’s controversial 77-75 win over National University (NU).

The decision means FEU will lose a ‘win’ in its record, while NU will have one loss removed off its record — as if the game never happened.

Rumors about the Board’s decision circulated on Twitter Friday afternoon. FEU athletics director Mark Molina confirmed the rumors via Twitter.

Mark Molina @marqmolina

Unprecedented decision by the UAAP Board to overrule Commish. FEU-NU Replay on September 23.

7 Sep 12

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The Tamaraws and Bulldogs are set to meet again on September 23 (Sunday), according to Molina, to settle the issue once and for all.

On September 2, the Tamaraws won over the Bulldogs with a last-minute shot by RR Garcia. Court officials ruled that Garcia’s shot counted, since he managed to release the ball with a tenth of a second left in the game.

NU filed a protest the day after the loss, which was denied by Badolato two days after.

As of September 7, FEU stands at 7-3, placing them at solo 3rd in the league. NU, meanwhile, is at 5th with a 6-4 record. -Rappler.com

Azkals make history, beat Singapore 2-0

AZKALS CAPTAIN Chieffy Caligdong, one of the scorers against Singapore. File photo from Azkals official website

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals made history by beating Singapore for the first time and on their home turf 2-0 on Friday, September 7.

In the second of a series of three FIFA-sanctioned international friendly games, the Azkals recovered from an initial shock when Singapore almost scored in the beginning at the Jurong West Stadium, packed full of Filipino fans cheering on their players.

Neil Etheridge was at the top of his game during the whole match and denied the Singaporean striker.

Electrifying start

In a blitzing start, captain Chieffy Caligdong received a ball on the counterattack in the 8th minute and after skirting past a defender scored with his bad right foot.

Although initially everyone thought his shot had been deflected by a defender, the replay showed that it was in fact a patch of grass that confused the keeper.

Singapore failed to recover from then and insisted on playing a stylish passing game that was interesting to watch but got them nowhere near Etheridge.

On the other side of the pitch, Phil Younghusband struggled to make an impact as sole striker but still managed to secure a few chances that he missed by just a few inches.

The trend continued into the second half.

Phil scores

In the 49th minute, Phil made it 2-0 after he controlled, stopped, dribbled and slotted the ball into the back of the net after a nice deep pass from Stephan Schrock.

The Azkals kept going and could have scored even more goals, but the Singaporean goalie denied them every time, while Etheridge kept the danger at bay at the other box.

Singapore tried their best but were unable to create anywhere near the opportunities the Azkals had for the Philippines to route the Lion City.

Next rival: Laos

After tonight’s win, the Philippine National Football Team will be full of confidence when the play Laos on Monday in the last stage of their three-game Asian tour.

Previously, the Azkals drew 0-0 with Cambodia.

All these friendlies are FIFA-sanctioned and are in preparation for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup 2012.

Immediately before the big tournament, the Azkals will play in the Philippine Football Peace Cup (formely Long Teng Cup) against Chinese Taipei, Guam and Macau at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. – Rappler.com

Murray blows away Berdych to reach US Open final

NEW YORK, United States – Olympic champion Andy Murray, trying to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since 1936, withstood blustery conditions Saturday, September 8 (Sunday, September 9 in Manila) to beat Tomas Berdych and reach the US Open final.

Third seed Murray advanced by defeating the Czech sixth seed 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) and will face either defending champion Novak Djokovic, the Serbian second seed, or Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer in Monday’s final.

“It was brutal,” Murray said, after a tornado warning had been issued earlier in the day.

“Some of the hardest conditions I have ever played in, and I come from Scotland so that’s saying something.”

Murray, who owns a 6-5 career record against Ferrer but trails Djokovic 6-8 in their all-time rivalry, was left not knowing who he will face in the final after the other semi-final was suspended until Sunday with Ferrer ahead 5-2.

Trying to end a British men’s Slam drought dating to Fred Perry’s 1936 US title, the lanky 25-year-old Scotsman battled through brutal winds to reach his fifth career Grand Slam final, his second in a row after falling at Wimbledon.

After collecting an Olympic crown last month, avenging his Wimbledon final loss to Roger Federer in the final, this might at last be Murray’s moment.

“I hope so,” Murray said. “You can never say for sure. I know how hard these tournaments are to win. When the conditions are like they were today anything can happen. You have to be there from the first point to the last.”

Murray and his coach, eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl, are the only Open-era players to drop their first four Grand Slam finals, Murray losing at the 2008 US Open, 2010 and 2011 Australian Opens and last June at Wimbledon.

Despite wicked breezes, Murray connected on 74 percent of his first serves and won 73 percent of those points while making only 20 unforced errors to 64 for Berdych.

MURRAY WINS. Andy Murray (R) defeated Tomas Berdych (L), 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(7), to reach his second US Open final. Photo by Andrew Ong/USTA

“The wind blew it away for me,” Berdych said. “It was really hard to play a passing shot in this kind of weather, but on the other hand, it was also tough not to make mistakes and be aggressive.”

Wind gusts whipped the net and players’ clothing, played havoc with many serve tosses, blew food wrappers across the court to foil several points and even sent Murray’s chair and racquet bag onto the playing area late in the second set.

“You had to focus for every single point. You had to get in position for every shot. You weren’t going for aces because it was hard enough to get the second serves in,” said Murray.

Umpire Pascal Maria turned off the electronic system to signal let serves after wind gusts set off random beeps.

“This is not about show. This is just about somehow to try to deal with the conditions and then trying to put ball over the net,” Berdych said. “Sometimes was impossible.”

Murray, also trying to become the first man to win the Olympic and US Open titles in the same year, will overtake Spain’s Rafael Nadal as World No. 3 in Monday’s world rankings.

This is the first Grand Slam event since the 2004 French Open without either Nadal or Roger Federer in the semi-finals. Nadal was absent with a knee injury while Swiss top seed Federer was ousted by Berdych in the quarter-finals.

With Scottish actor Sean Connery among those watching, Murray dominated the second set and broke Berdych at love to open the third set and again in the third and final games, then broke for a 2-0 lead in the fourth set.

Berdych, who will match his career-best ranking of sixth on Monday, broke back in the fifth game and they held to the tie-break, where Berdych took a 5-2 lead on a 129-mph ace but errors on the next three points pulled Murray even.

Murray, who lost four of six prior matches to Berdych, took advantage on his second match point to end it two minutes shy of four hours.

“I just tried to hang on and got through in the end,” Murray said. – Jim Slater, Agence France-Presse

Djokovic beats Ferrer; into 3rd Open final in row

NEW YORK (AP) — The weather was much better at the U.S. Open on Sunday. So was Novak Djokovic.

Under a cloudless blue sky, in only a hint of wind, defending champion Djokovic got his game into high gear and reached his third consecutive final at Flushing Meadows by beating fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in a match suspended a day earlier.

”I was a different player,” the second-seeded Djokovic said. ”I felt much more comfortable on the court today than I did yesterday, (when) obviously the conditions were more brutal.”

Ferrer led a shaky Djokovic 5-2 in the semifinal’s opening set Saturday, when wind was whipping at more than 20 mph and play was halted because of an impending rainstorm. When they resumed about 18 hours later, Ferrer held serve to take that set – and then Djokovic quickly took control, using the brand of defense-to-offense baseline excellence that has carried the Serb to four of the past seven Grand Slam titles.

”We were all praying for less wind today,” Djokovic said. ”He handled the wind much better than I did.”

In Monday’s final, Djokovic will face Olympic champion Andy Murray, who beat Tomas Berdych 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7) on Saturday. It’s the fifth consecutive year the U.S. Open men’s title match has been played a day later than planned.

Later Sunday, Serena Williams came back to take the last four games and beat No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 for her fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam championship. The final was shifted from Saturday to Sunday because of the weather, the fourth time since 2008 the women’s event went long, too.

The third-seeded Murray was able to enjoy a day off Sunday, while Djokovic had to put in some work. But in the end, it wasn’t too taxing: Djokovic played only about two hours and was finished with Ferrer by 1:20 p.m., giving him more than 24 hours to rest before taking on Murray.

”I don’t feel any problems physically. … It was good to have the job done in four sets,” Djokovic said. ”I feel fresh as I can be at this stage of the tournament.”

Murray is one of only two men to lose each of his first four major finals – his coach, Ivan Lendl, is the other – and he’ll try to avoid dropping to 0-5. He’ll also try to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win any of tennis’ four most important tournaments.

”I don’t think there’s any clear favorite,” five-time major champion Djokovic said. ”He’s looking for his first Grand Slam title. I’m sure he’s going to be very motivated, and hopefully we can come up with our best tennis for this crowd.”

Djokovic leads the head-to-head series against Murray 8-6 but lost their most recent matchup in the semifinals of the London Games.

”Most of our matches that we played against each other were very close,” Djokovic said, ”and only small margins decide the winner.”

He and Murray were born a week apart in May 1987 (Djokovic is younger), and they have come up through the ranks together and know each other well.

Before heading out to warm up for his semifinal, Murray sat in front of a computer with Djokovic and they watched online together while Scotland and Serbia played to a 0-0 draw in a qualifying match for soccer’s World Cup.

Djokovic extended his winning streak in Grand Slam matches played on hard courts to 27, including titles at last year’s U.S. Open and the Australian Open in 2011 and 2012. He slides along the surface as though it were red clay, allowing him to use his elastic limbs to contort and stretch to get to opponents’ shots that appear to be winners.

Over and over and over again Sunday, Djokovic would prolong points until he could gain an advantage or Ferrer would flub a groundstroke. After ending one 25-stroke exchange by snapping off a cross-court backhand winner while serving out the second set, Djokovic bellowed and spread his arms wide, holding a pose, as his parents rose to their feet in his guest box.

By late in the third set, when Djokovic took 12 of 14 points to go from a 3-2 deficit to 5-3 lead, Ferrer was muttering to himself and in the direction of his coach in the stands, the very picture of frustration.

”Playing so bad; a lot of mistakes,” Ferrer said. ”He was better. I don’t have to say nothing. In some games in the third and the fourth set, I lost a little bit my focus.”

The loss dropped Ferrer to 0-4 in Grand Slam semifinals, with another of those defeats also coming against Djokovic at the U.S. Open, back in 2007.

Djokovic was playing in his 10th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, equaling Rod Laver and Lendl for the second-longest streak behind Roger Federer‘s record of 23.

And after dropping that first set of this semifinal – the only set he’s lost all tournament – Djokovic immediately began turning things around, breaking Ferrer twice in a row en route to a 5-0 lead in the second. In the third, Ferrer made a little charge, taking three games in a row to briefly lead that set.

But the difficulty that dealing with Djokovic presents began to wear on Ferrer. He would rush shots, trying to sneak balls past Djokovic, and that simply was not going to work on this day. Ferrer made three unforced errors to get broken and fall behind 4-3 in the key third set, and when Djokovic eventually served it out with a 123 mph ace, their match pretty much was over.

In earning his tour-leading 60th match win of 2012, Djokovic also moved a step closer to being able to say he’s had the best season. Yes, he will stay at No. 2 in the rankings behind Wimbledon champion Federer, but Djokovic is the only man with a chance to claim two Grand Slam trophies this year, after grabbing three in 2011, when he began the year 41-0.

”In life, you have ups and downs, so I wasn’t really surprised with, if you want to call it, a bit less success,” Djokovic said. ”Regardless of the comparison with these two years, I still think it’s been a fantastic year for me.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

Serena Williams wins U.S. Open women’s title

Serena Williams of the U.S. watches her shot after a return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their women’s singles finals match at the U.S. Open …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Serena Williams won the U.S. Open women’s singles title at Flushing Meadows on Sunday, beating world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-2 2-6 7-5 in a dramatic final to capture her 15th career grand slam title.

Through sheer force of will as much as her unquestionable skill, the American showed all her great fighting qualities to claw her way back from the brink of defeat to become the oldest women’s champion at Flushing Meadows in nearly four decades.

Against the odds after losing the first set, Azarenka looked to be on the verge of an unlikely victory when she led 5-3 in the decider.

She got within two points of winning the championship but was unable to prevent Williams reeling off the last four games in a row to seal her fourth U.S. Open title and enhance her status as one of the greatest players the game has seen.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Jon Jones Says Chael Sonnen’s Time Will Come to Answer for His Verbal Attacks

 

Jon Jones Says Chael Sonnen’s Time Will Come to Answer for His Verbal Attacks

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took the brunt of the initial criticism when UFC president Dana White cancelled UFC 151 just one week out from its scheduled date.

Jones remained fairly quiet about the situation at first, even though White took him and his coach, Greg Jackson, to task for turning down a last ditch effort to match the champ up with Chael Sonnen on short notice.

When Sonnen went into attack mode – almost immediately – Jones could only sit back and take the unanswered blows for so long before fighting back.

“There’s guys on the street right now that would take a fight against me just to see how they would do, let alone talk about one of the top fighters in the world, especially one of the top fighters in the world that has absolutely nothing to lose,” Jones said in a recent interview on MMAFighting.com’s The MMA (After) Hour. “Why would I put a world championship on the line against a very dangerous opponent for a person that hasn’t even remotely earned the right to consider himself in the position to fight for a world title? That’s like hitting the jackpot and I refuse to be anyone’s jackpot.”

Jones did eventually agree to fight former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the UFC 152 main event on Sept. 22 in Toronto, but that’s not to say that he thinks Belfort really earned a shot at the belt either. He does, however, have a much different outlet on Belfort as an opponent.

“I don’t think he necessarily deserves (a shot at the title), but I’m honored to fight him. I respect Vitor a lot. He’s definitely a worthy opponent,” said Jones.

“I have zero respect for (Sonnen). I’m honored to fight Vitor Belfort. Vitor is a Christian like I am. He’s an honorable man. Fighting Chael Sonnen, he’s a punk. He’s a thug.”

Despite his own feelings for the way the situation went down, public opinion, right or wrong, has leaned heavily in Sonnen’s favor on this one. Jones still feels most of the sting for the collateral damage following the UFC 151 cancellation.

Regardless of the blame placed upon his shoulders, Jones isn’t doing an about face.

“I think it’s funny how Chael Sonnen became a hero out of this thing,” Jones commented. “Chael had nothing to do with this and he just talked his way into the limelight somehow. I signed a contract to fight Dan Henderson, not Dan Henderson and his best friend.

“At the end of the day, Dan Henderson got hurt. That’s what happened. I was ready.”

Although Jones vs. Belfort is now on tap, White has stated that a Jones vs. Sonnen bout, if fans wanted it bad enough, could still happen in due time.

Jones agrees… and welcomes the opportunity to answer Sonnen’s attacks, but with his fists, not his words.

“He’ll get his time when the time comes. I’ll beat that man silly.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

Tito Ortiz to Jon Jones: Don’t Disrespect Me

Tito Ortiz to Jon Jones: Don’t Disrespect Me

UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is a fan of current light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones, but took offense to recent comments Jones made about him in an interview.

Ortiz gave his side of the story to MMAWeekly.com concerning Jones’ recent statements about him and Jones’ role in the cancellation of UFC 151.

“The situation happened with UFC 151.  He was supposed to fight Dan Henderson.  He gets hurt a week before the fight. (The UFC) said you’re going to fight Chael (Sonnen).  He said, no way, and he got a bunch of flack for it.  All the fighters said he wasn’t a true fighter and no one has ever done this before.  It’s crazy.  I thought it was crazy and I stood up for the kid,” said Ortiz.

“I like Jon Jones.  I think he’s a great champion.  I think he’s a great guy.  I’ve hung out with him in Vegas, and I really took a liking to the kid. All of a sudden, I heard an interview from him saying people need to stop comparing me to Tito Ortiz because I don’t talk about money.  That was like a stab in my back.  I was like, I stood up for you.  When no one else did, I stood up for you and you turn around and say something like that,” Ortiz stated.

While Ortiz was originally supportive of Jones’ decision to decline a short-notice fight with Sonnen, his opinion has changed slightly.

“Dana said it best himself.  He’s never had this happen from a fighter before where he pulled out of a fight.  I never did in my career.  I fought guys no matter what.  It was about what I was worth, not talking about money because I didn’t have a manager.  I was the guy taking the flack for it,” said the former champion.

The angered Ortiz believes instead of criticizing him, Jones should be praising him for laying the foundation for fighters to apply leverage at the negotiating table with the UFC brass.

“You’ve got to understand.  When you’re traveling around in your Bentley – I don’t know if he still has it anymore since he wrecked it into a tree – but when you’re traveling around in your Bentley, you’ve got to understand.  I’m a person who put their life on the line and my career and my image and my name on the line to battle for you to have the type of contract you have and the money you’re making,” said the UFC Hall of Famer.  “If it weren’t for the things I’ve battle for, and took the bad image for it, you’d be traveling around in a Toyota right now.

“I took a lot of flack for negotiating and battling for what I believed in,” continued Ortiz. “It wasn’t a factor of talking about money.  It was a factor of what I thought I was worth. I was trying to raise the bar for all fighters, and I think I’ve done that.  For him to say the things he’s saying, don’t disrespect me like that.”

At the end of the day, Ortiz is still a fan of Jon Jones, but didn’t take kindly to the comments Jones has made.

“I was just disappointed, very, very disappointed with Jon. Maybe the stardom is getting to his head.  Like I said, I took a liking to Jon Jones, but I was just really disappointed with that interview.   That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

Report: Knicks’ Dolan trying to rehire Thomas

Former New York Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas has been offered a position with the team, but is reluctant to return. A report in the New York Daily News on Sunday cited sources close to Thomas that he has had discussions with Knicks owner James Dolan to return to the team in a management capacity. Thomas was fired as the Knicks’ coach following the 2007-08 season. He also served as the franchise’s president from December 2003 to April 2008. Until last spring, he served as head coach of Florida International University’s men’s basketball team for three seasons. “Isiah is very close with Jim Dolan but he’s told me that he’s not ready to jump back into the NBA just yet,” source said. “There’s this perception out there that Isiah is desperate to get back, but that’s false. I think it will eventually happen but just not now.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

Lakers hire 3 assistants, sign 2nd-rd pick Sacre

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have added assistant coaches Eddie Jordan, Bernie Bickerstaff and Steve Clifford to Mike Brown‘s coaching staff.

The Lakers also signed second-round draft pick Robert Sacre on Friday.

Jordan is the former head coach at Sacramento, Washington and Philadelphia, leading the Wizards to four consecutive playoff appearances.

The 68-year-old Bickerstaff was a head coach in Charlotte, Seattle, Denver and Washington.

Clifford was Stan Van Gundy’s assistant in Orlando the past five seasons.

Kuester essentially was Brown’s lead assistant last season. The former Detroit Pistons head coach will be an advance NBA scout for the Lakers, based on the East Coast.

Los Angeles lost assistant coaches Quin Snyder and Ettore Messina to CSKA Moscow earlier this summer.

Sacre is a 7-foot Canadian who played at Gonzaga.

Heat sign Gladness, Varnado

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat signed center Mickell Gladness and forward Jarvis Varnado on Friday.

Gladness appeared in eight games with the NBA champion Heat last season, scoring two points and grabbing 11 rebounds before becoming a free agent after his second 10-day contract with Miami expired. He finished the season by playing in 18 more games with Golden State, averaging 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds.

Varnado was a second-round draft pick by Miami in 2010 and has played overseas since. Both Varnado and Gladness were on Miami’s summer league roster in July.

Miami’s roster stands at 15. The Heat can bring up to 20 players in for training camp, which starts in late September.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Rockets sign G Machado

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets have signed Scott Machado, who led the nation in assists last season with Iona.

The 6-foot-1 Machado played well on the Rockets’ summer league team, averaging 8.0 points, a team-high 5.6 assists and 2.2 steals in five games. He closed summer league play by leading the Rockets with 20 points and six assists in a 96-88 win over Chicago.

Machado, a rookie free agent who averaged 9.9 assists as a senior, averaged 12.2 points, 6.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 132 games over four seasons at Iona. Machado is the Gaels’ career leader in assists (880) and ranks 17th in NCAA history.

The Rockets announced they have waived forward Diamon Simpson.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Wade entering busiest time of his summer

Dwyane Wade‘s offseason is now pretty much over.

The Miami Heat still have more than three weeks before assembling for training camp and starting the defense of their NBA title, but for Wade, summer vacation is essentially complete. He’s been cleared to return to the court and rehab from offseason knee surgery, a process he’s already started. And he’ll spend the next couple weeks bouncing from coast to coast on a tour for his book on fatherhood that was released Tuesday.

It means long, not-exactly-relaxing days will be the norm for Wade until training camp. Case in point: He was out of his hotel room in New York before 8 a.m. Tuesday, and didn’t return until after midnight, at least a half-dozen events jamming his calendar.

He calls the people around him Team No Sleep, and for the next couple weeks, that’ll be accurate.

”I think when it’s hard to find the energy, I think about all the things I want to do,” Wade said. ”Whenever I feel like I don’t have the energy, I have to go back and think about where I’ve come. This is what I wanted so let’s keep going, let’s keep pushing, let’s keep doing.”

That’s his business mantra. It also applies to basketball.

Miami’s first game against the Boston Celtics isn’t until Oct. 30, so there’s plenty of time to get sharp. But Wade’s process of getting ready for his 10th NBA season, physically and mentally, is under way. He had a couple slices of pizza for lunch Tuesday, meaning that when he got to the taping of CBS’ ”Late Show with David Letterman,” Wade had to pass on cookies left in his dressing room.

Such is life for those who want more NBA titles.

”It’s about now I start thinking about certain things,” Wade said. ”The season, it’s still back here, in the back of my mind. It’s not right here yet, not all the way in the front of my mind yet. But we’re getting closer.”

Wade said his rehab is ahead of schedule. He was on the court for workouts last week.

Clearly, though, he’s not going to maniacally test his knee for a while. With his itinerary of promoting ”A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball” in New York jampacked through the rest of this week, before the tour moves on to other cities, Wade is taking a few days off from court work.

And when eyebrows rise when he says that, Wade quickly points out that going a bit easy at first not only was the plan, but is the smart plan as well.

”Coming off knee surgery, I couldn’t possibly work out every day anyway,” Wade said. ”I have to work my way into things. I just left Los Angeles. I worked out for the whole week I was there. And now I needed a few days off. So when I leave here, I go to Miami and I’ll work out again there. It’s the way we mapped it out. It’s no good for my knee right now to put that much pressure on it.”

His shoulder, that’s getting a workout now.

Wade signed 575 copies of his book at two events on Tuesday, both of which had people lining up hours before the doors opened. One man told him he flew in from China just to get an autograph. A woman told him she missed her first day of classes at Penn State to make the trip to New York and stand in line to spend a few seconds with him instead.

When the Heat visit the Knicks this winter, Wade will be booed. Apparently, New York loves him the rest of the time, as evidenced by people standing outside his hotel for 12 hours to catch a glimpse, or others somehow who figured out his traffic pattern and ran up to his vehicle at red lights, unsuccessfully begging for autographs.

”Everybody wants to be associated with winners,” Wade said. ”Phones get picked up a lot easier when you’re a champion. I understand some people might want to see my book, some people might want to see me, some people might want to be there because you’re a champion. I see all sides of it. I appreciate it. When someone says ‘Hey, Champ,’ it never gets old.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

Widespread rain in Southern Luzon

NO STORM. The low pressure area in the Philippines is about to dissipate, PAGASA says. Satellite image as of 5:32 a.m. from PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Southern Luzon should prepare for cloudy skies with widespread rain, the state weather bureau said Wednesday, September 5, even as a low pressure area (LPA) in the Philippines has dissipated.

The rain in Southern Luzon may trigger flash floods and landslides, added the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 am bulletin Wednesday.

In a phone interview with Rappler, PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz quelled fears of a storm.

The LPA has dissipated as of 11 am on Wednesday.

The southwest monsoon is likewise in the “weakening stage,” he said. Loiz, however, did not discount the possibility that the monsoon could cause rain in parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, according to PAGASA.

 

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Puno in for now, out when Roxas takes over

MANILA, Philippines – As rumors circulate that Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Rico Puno will be taken out of his current position, Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang clarified that Puno keeps his post — at least for now.

Carandang said that as long as former Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas has not yet been confirmed as the new DILG Secretary, Puno stays in his position and the DILG still follows staus quo.

“Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa remains the OIC (officer-in-charge) until Mar Roxas can take over at DILG. And until such time that Secretary Mar assumes the post, then we can assume that Mr Puno remains in place,” Carandang said.

Roxas was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as the replacement for the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash August 18. The former is still awaiting confirmation by the Commission of Appointments, which may take as long as October. Until then, he will not be able to assume his post.

Carandang did verify however that once Roxas takes over the DILG, “he will be able to choose his people,” and said at that point, Puno may lose his position.

“I guess you could imply that,” Carandang said when asked if Puno would leave the department once Roxas becomes secretary.

Puno’s next post

Where Puno is headed is still unclear but reports said he may be moved to the Department of Agriculture or Clark Development Authority.

In a press briefing, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte echoed DILG OIC Pacquito Ochoa Jr. who told media a day earlier that he knew nothing of a supposed resignation letter filed by Puno.

“And I have gotten queries about a resignation letter. I also confirmed with Secretary Ochoa that there is no letter that they have,” said Valte. “So let’s just wait further announcements because Executive Secretary Ochoa also said yesterday, also echoed what (Transportation and Communications) Secretary (Manuel) Mar Roxas (II) did say last week—that the President has given him a free hand (as incoming DILG chief).”

Rumors about Puno’s fate started after Roxas told reporters on Friday, August 31, that Puno had another assignment waiting for him.

“[The President] gave me a free mandate to choose my team. I would expect that all of those co-terminus [positions] would be vacated by the time I come in,” he said. “According to the President, he has another assignment in mind for Usec Puno.”

Puno for his part has avoided media interviews but in a brief ambush interview Monday, said he would be willing to work with Roxas and would await the President’s orders. – Rappler.com

Tourism boss gets CA nod

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, September 5, confirmed the appointment of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

Named to the tourism department a year ago, Jimenez appeared on Wednesday before the CA for the first time. He got the CA nod in less than an hour.

“I am very pleased that they have given all of us their vote of confidence,” he told reporters.

Jimenez assured the senators and congressmen present that his background as a former advertising executive does not conflict with his current job. He also said that his family had already sold all its shares in Publicis Jimenez Basic, the advertising firm that he founded.

The remaining company that his wife heads is Winning Over Obstacles Communications Corp, which does not have clients in the tourism industry, according to Jimenez. – Rappler.com

Wanted: ‘Good’ PH envoy to China

MANILA, Philippines – The search for a new Philippine ambassador to China is on.

“We want to make sure that we have a good replacement for Ambassador Sonia Brady,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a press briefing Wednesday, September 5.

NEW ENVOY. Sonia Brady, whom the President named as the Philippines’ new ambassador to China, meets with a Chinese government official during her previous posting in 2010. File photo from China’s Ministry of Commerce website

Lacierda said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has already submitted a list of possible replacements for Brady, who is seen to leave her post after suffering a stroke in August.

When asked if Brady’s replacement would likely come from within the career service, Lacierda said: “Well, Ambassador Sonia Brady was from within… My limitation is I’m not aware of the shortlist submitted by Secretary Del Rosario. So I wouldn’t be able to comment on whether it’s an outsider or an insider. It really depends on the shortlist submitted by Secretary Del Rosario.”

Brady served as the Philippines’ ambassador to China from 2006 to 2010, and in various other capacities for the past 4 decades.

In the meantime, Lacierda said, Philippine charge d’affaires to China Alex Chua is handling the embassy’s day-to-day operations. “He’s been there for some time so he’s fully aware of the concerns and the problems and issues governing our Filipino compatriots in China,” Lacierda said.

President Benigno Aquino III is also expected to discuss the South China Sea disputes with China’s president, Hu Jintao, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Russia. Lacierda, however, said he defers to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs for further information on the matter.

Talks on these disputes recently resurfaced amid US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Southeast Asia and China. Clinton on Wednesday pushed for the code of conduct in the South China Sea. – Rappler.com

NPA rebels torch P20-M worth of equipment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – New People’s Army rebels burned down P20M-worth of construction equipment in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday evening, September 4.

The military said that suspected members of the Guerilla Front 30 under the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee set on fire the construction equipment of the Concepcion Basic Builders Inc in Barangay Poblacion, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur at around 10:20 pm Tuesday.

Damaged in the attack were two dump trucks, one payloader, one backhoe, one generator set with one welding machine, one crane, one concrete vibrator, and a chainsaw.

The equipment was being used to renovate a bridge that would link San Miguel to the key towns in Caraga region, the military said.

A brief encounter ensued after Army troops launched a pursuit operation. The soldiers fought with about 15 rebels in the town of San Miguel Wednesday morning, killing one guerilla, the military said.

The military added that it arrested 3 suspected NPA rebels after the clash.

Surigao del Sur is considered as one of the remaining strongholds of the NPA in the country. – Rappler.com

Sotto: RH bill a masked population control measure

MANILA, Philippines – The Reproductive Health bill is in reality a population control measure.

This is what Senate Majority Floor Leader Sen Vicente “Tito” Sotto asserted in the 3rd part of his “turno en contra” speech before the Senate on Wednesday, September 5. “Ang terminong RH ay obra maestra sa panlilinlang, mautak at masisteng pagkukubli sa pangunahing layunin ng batas,” Sotto said.

(The Reproductive Health bill is a masterpiece of deception, a shrewd and systematic way of masking its genuine objective: to drastically reduce the family size and eventually the country’s population.)

Advocates of the bill say it is about the reproductive health of women and that it is the bill’s objective to save the lives of women and the unborn.

But birth control, he said, is the instrument being used by advocates of the RH bill to decrease the population.

He refuted claims that the Philippines is overpopulated. Assuming it were, is the RH bill the best solution, he asked.

Poverty and population control

Poverty is being attributed to overpopulation but the solution to poverty is not population control. Rather, he said, the solution to poverty is “trabaho, edukasyon, pabahay, kalusugan (jobs, education, housing and health),” and not contraceptives.

Economists are unanimous in saying that poverty is caused by the unequal distribution of wealth and prosperity.

Citing a study by Rosa Linda Valenzona entitled, “A Paradigm for Demography,” Sotto said the country’s fertility rate has actually dropped from 7% in 1960 to about 3.19% in 2011. Population growth has also dropped from 2.07% in 1948 to 1.9% in 2010. In 2006, the Philippines also recorded a 51% prevalence rate in the use of contraceptives.

The figures have dropped without any intervention by the state, he pointed out.

The National Capital Region has become overpopulated and squatter areas with large families in Metro Manila are a product of “3 decades of erroneous policies of rural development,” Sotto said, quoting economist Dr Bernie Villegas.

It is development, especially of the rural area, that is the “best contraceptive,” he added.

Developed countries

Germany, Japan and Singapore are developed countries with smaller populations because of population control. Yet they are experiencing the negative effects of the wrong policies of controlling population.

These countries have ageing populations and are unable to sustain their labor force to maintain economic growth and security interests.

In Japan, population is expected to drop to 35 million by 2050. In the United States, the birth rate will drop to 2.1% because of the legalization of abortion in 1973.

It is wrong to discriminate against the poor, Sotto said, and it is also wrong to think that poverty and hunger are caused by overpopulation.

What is needed, Sotto asserted, is to provide jobs, livelihood, information and education to allow the poor to get a taste of prosperity. – Rappler.com

Aquino’s favorite cop promoted

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicanor Bartolome with Director Alan Purisima, now chief of the directorial staff of PNP. Photo from PNP-NCR Office

MANILA, Philippines – Director Alan Purisima has been promoted chief of the directorial staff of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Purisima, said to be President Benigno Aquino III’s favorite cop, was plucked from his post as chief of the PNP-National Capital Region Office (NCRPO). He is replacing Deputy Director General Rommel Heredia, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for operations.

A 1981 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Purisima served at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino. He was with President Aquino when the latter was ambushed in the botched 1987 coup against his mother.

Purisima is expected to become the next PNP chief when Director General Nicanor Bartolome retires in March 2013. Camp Crame sources however said Bartolome is being convinced to retire early.

Heredia replaced Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for administration, a position vacated by Deputy Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr who retired.

The turn-over ceremonies involving these positions were held in the PNP general headquarters building in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Sources disclosed that Purisima will be replaced at the NCRPO by his PMA mistah, Chief Supt Leonardo Espina, current head of the Highway Patrol Group.

Class ’81 is the emerging power bloc in both the PNP and the military. Another Class 1981 member, Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista, is now commanding general of the Army. – Rappler.com