Tag: good odds

Duplantis misses on 3 pole vault world record attempts at Euros

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Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, makes an attempt in the men’s pole vault final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Riccardo de Luca)

ROME— Armand Duplantis still has some work to do before extending his pole vault world record again.

The American-born Swede, known as “Mondo,” missed three attempts at clearing 6.25 meters at the European Championships on Wednesday.

But the Olympic and two-time world champion still claimed a third European title and extended his championship record to 6.10. And he has the Paris Olympics in less than 50 days to look forward to.

Duplantis has set the world record eight times, the last coming when he cleared 6.24 at the season-opening Diamond League meet in China in April.

READ: The difference between EJ Obiena and Mondo Duplantis

The Stadio Olimpico crowd tried to get “Mondo” going by singing “Volare” — and Duplantis came closest to another world record on his first attempt, hitting the bar with his chest on the way down.

On his second attempt, he hit his shins on the bar. Then his third attempt was the worst of the three.

With the competition ending near midnight, Duplantis acknowledged afterward that he was tired.

“I did not really think I was attempting the world record today,” Duplantis said. “It was not part of the plan. After the 6.10 meters, there was just too much energy there. I looked at my parents and we both had the same idea, we were like, ‘It is just fun, so why not?’ I cannot complain.”

READ: Mondo Duplantis breaks own pole vault world record

So it was an anticlimactic finish to the six-day championships.

But earlier, several other Olympic champions also claimed golds.

Jakob Ingebritsen, whose father was recently accused of abusing one of his other children, dominated the 1,500 in 3:31.95. The Norwegian shaved nearly a second off his own championship record set two years ago to complete the 1,500-5,000 double at Euros for the third time.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen European Athletics

Silver medalist Jochem Vermeulen, of Belgium, gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, and bronze medalist Pietro Arese, of Italy, from left, pose on the podium of the men’s 1500 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Riccardo de Luca)

Marcell Jacobs led host Italy to victory in the 4×100 relay in 37.82 as the Azzurri warm up to defend their unexpected gold from the Tokyo Games.

Defending European champion Britain didn’t qualify for the final after a poor handover from Richard Kilty to Romell Glave resulted in a last-place finish in their heat.

It was Italy’s 11th gold and 24th medal overall to lead both categories by a large margin.

Malaika Mihambo of Germany leaped 7.22 into a headwind to take the long jump title with her biggest jump since 2019 — when she reached 7.30.

“This is madness, I have goose bumps,” Mihambo said. “The 7.22 meters was close to a perfect jump. I hit the board well. But the headwind was disturbing, so the result could have been even better.”

Femke Bol anchored the Netherlands to victory in the 4×400 for her third medal of the championship, having also won the 400 hurdles and helped the Dutch win the 4×400 mixed relay.

Keely Hodgkinson of Britain defended her 800 title in 1:58.65 and Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the javelin competition with a throw of 88.65.

Hodgkinson and Vadlejch are Olympic silver medalists.

Tams bag bronze in preseason tilt, show signs of things to come

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Far Eastern just sent a message to the field of the coming UAAP men’s basketball season that the Tamaraws will be a far different team when the real battle comes.

“We’re not out to just be like wait for our turn, diba? We wanna get out, we’re here, we’re playing, every game is [dedicated] to the FEU community,” rookie head coach Sean Chambers said after steering the Tamaraws to the bronze medal of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason tournament.

Far Eastern showed its grit and never-quit attitude here throughout, highlighting it on Wednesday afternoon with an 80-78 nipping of NCAA power Letran, 80-78.

With the arrival of Chambers, regarded as one of the best PBA imports ever while playing for defunct Alaska, the Tamaraws are looking to turn things around after a disappointing seventh-place finish in Season 86 behind former star LJay Gonzales.

And the former TNT Tropang Giga assistant coach feels nothing but gratitude for having the chance to help the talented Tamaraws.

“I am truly, truly blessed and honored to be part of the FEU organization,” Chambers, who was not shy to admit that he still has a lot to learn with regard to UAAP rules, said. “I feel a complete sense of honor to be back here in the Philippines and get this opportunity.

“This [tournament] is amazing for me because it gives me a slight [idea] of what the UAAP is gonna be like,” he said. “I believe it’s only one way to continue and go up.”

Nothing but praise

Mainstay Jorick Bautista is still a reliable contributor on the offense end for Far Eastern, dropping 21 points on the Knights, while graduating guard Royce Alforque provided leadership for the younger Tams apart from finishing with 19 points and five assists.

“I am just amazed with [Alforque’s] work ethic, his determination and I think his leadership is gonna be so invaluable for us … I know we’re playing with a lot of young guys, but the talent level is amazing,” Chambers said of his ace, who has worked hard after an injury.

Chambers also had nothing but praise for incoming rookie forward Veejay Pre, who posted 13 points and 10 rebounds. He expects the young gun to be an asset when Season 87 unfolds.

“Veejay is gonna have a long career playing basketball,” Chambers said. “I think what’s most impressive about Veejay is that he’s such an amazing kid, too, like he’s such a great guy. He’s one of the hardest working guys everyday, he’s focused on everything.”

Another cog to look forward to is Senegalese big man Mohamed Konateh, who feasted off the boards to come up with 21 rebounds apart from 11 points.

Although it is only a preseason tourney, the Tamaraws believe that the bronze they earned is a sign of better things to come.

“Absolutely,” Chambers said when asked if Far Eastern can build on this. “I told the guys last time that we lost to UP that we’re not playing for show. We wanna continue to work on ourselves and let the chips fall where they fall, and we are out here trying to win.”

San Miguel teammates in collision course for PBA MVP plum

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June Mar Fajardo’s selection as the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) for the PBA Philippine Cup has officially made the MVP derby for Season 48 a two-pronged race between him and San Miguel Beer teammate CJ Perez.

Fajardo’s record 10th BPC which he claimed before Wednesday’s Game 4 of the all-Filipino title series between the Beermen and the Bolts may either put the 6-foot-10 center closer to an unprecedented eighth MVP plum and make it hard for Perez to nab the prestigious plum for the first time.

Perez was named BPC of the Commissioner’s Cup when San Miguel took down Magnolia in six games last February.

Teammates battling for the most coveted individual honor are not common cases, but have happened in past seasons.

Among them were San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle in 2000 and 2001, with the former ending up winning the award on both occasions.

Red Bull’s Willie Miller edged out Davonn Harp in 2002 for his first of two MVP plums and Purefoods’ James Yap prevailing over two others, including fellow Chunkee Giant Kerby Raymundo in 2006. In 1997, Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera, best friends who anchored Purefoods’ title runs, engaged in what was then one of the closest races for the award.

Fajardo became the cinch for the BPC award after early pacesetter Robert Bolick of NLEX saw his team being swept by Meralco in the quarterfinals. Bolick’s bid fizzled out despite outstanding numbers, particularly on the offensive end.

Terrafirma rookie Stephen Holt, a key fixture in the Dyip’s dream playoff run that nearly saw themselves score an upset over the Beermen in the quarters, was another BPC contender.

Disqualified

Fajardo, the gentle giant and longtime San Miguel cornerstone, compiled 1,100 points based on statistics and votes from media and players, with Holt placing second with 651 followed by Bolick in third with 641.

Perez was named the BPC of the season’s lone import-laden tournament, partly due to Fajardo being disqualified after failing to garner at least 70 percent of San Miguel’s Commissioner’s Cup games by the end of the semifinals.

Fajardo eventually got into the top of the MVP race after the Beermen defeated the Magnolia Hotshots for the Commissioner’s Cup title, when he finally got enough games to be eligible for any individual honors.

Interestingly, Fajardo didn’t miss any action during the conference despite being bothered by a calf injury in the early goings.Perez, however, has stayed consistent in the Philippine Cup, though he wound up just fourth in the conference’s BPC tally with 503 points.

June Mar Fajardo savors tied series; Best Player a ‘bonus’

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June Mar Fajardo takes home the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference Award for San Miguel Beermen ahead of Finals Game 4–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Taking home the Best Player of the Conference Award was a sweet accolade to get but tying the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series at 2-2 is even sweeter, at least according to June Mar Fajardo.

After winning the BPC award for a historic 10th time on Wednesday, Fajardo capped off his night by helping San Miguel Beer defeat Meralco, 111-101, in the highest-scoring game of the series thus far.

But while having new hardware in the closet is a clear motivator, Fajardo said he was more motivated by the fact that his Beermen was down in the series before Gamre 4.

READ: PBA: June Mar Fajardo wins 10th Best Player of Conference award

“I was motivated because we were down by one game in this series. The BPC [award] is just a bonus,” said Fajardo in Filipino. “I’m happy to get the BPC but [I give] credits to my teammates because I wouldn’t get that if it wasn’t for them.”

Fajardo proved why he was the All-Filipino Conference’s top player with another sensational double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds on a blistering 64 percent field goal shooting clip.

The seven-time league MVP was also instrumental in stopping the Meralco bigs, helping the Beermen force Cliff Hodge and Brandon Bates to foul out of the game in the fourth quarter quelling any hopes of a comeback rally.

HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Finals Game 4 San Miguel vs Meralco

Of course, it wasn’t an easy job for Fajardo–or the Beermen as a whole, for that matter–making the series a virtual best-of-three.

“The defense on me was good and that also goes for our whole team. We had limited shots but now, like coach (Jorge Gallent) told us, we passed the ball well and that’s the reason why we won.”

The PBA Finals reach a fever pitch in Game 5 at the same venue on Friday at 7:30 pm.

Justin Gutang joins Seoul Samsung Thunders in KBL

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Justin Gutang.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Justin Gutang has found a new home in the Korean Basketball League with the Seoul Samsung Thunders.

The club welcomed Gutang on Wednesday a week after the Filipino KBL import parted ways with his former team Changwon LG Sakers.

Gutang will be boosting the Thunders, who finished last in the 2023-24 season with a 14-40 record.

The College of Saint Benilde product averaged  8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season and led the Sakers to the semifinals but fell to finalists Suwon KT Sonicboom

Changwon bid farewell to Gutang after two seasons and signed Carl Tamayo, who will be playing in South Korea for the first time.

Khat Bell makes PH comeback with Chery Tiggo

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FILE–Khat Bell

MANILA, Philippines — Khat Bell makes her much-anticipated comeback in the Philippines as she bolsters Chery Tiggo’s roster in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, which begins in July.

Chery Tiggo on Wednesday unveiled the American wing spiker as their import for the second conference after arriving in Manila hours ago from Canada.

Bell is returning after four years since she last played for the defunct Petron in the Philippine Superliga in 2020 before the season was canceled by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“I’m so excited to announce that I’m finally playing back in the Philippines for Chery Tiggo! I’ve been looking forward to come back to Manila for a very long time now, about four years since COVID, and I cannot be more excited and be happy to be back here for the fans, playing for Chery,” Bell said.

The 6-foot-2 spiker, who won two PSL Grand Prix titles with the Blaze Spikers in 2018 and 2019, is excited to team up with the players she played before with the likes Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Mylene Paat, and Shaya Adorador and new faces Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva, whose availability for this conference is up in the air due to their commitment to Alas Pilipinas.

“For the fans that don’t know me, I bring a lot! I bring energy, I bring a little sass, and definitely I bring a winning mentality. I’m excited to be able to come back here and perform to the best of my ability, and hopefully help Chery Tiggo get to the top,” she said.

“Even though I’m new to Chery Tiggo, I’m fortunate enough to be playing[ with the likes of] Aby. There’s a few players as well that I’m excited to see, my old players from my old team. Coming to Chery Tiggo, I’m really excited just to be here.”

Determined to win a title in her first PVL stint and end Chery Tiggo’s three-year title drought, the 31-year-old Bell urged the Chery fans to support her and the Crossovers.

“To the fans, I am so ecstatic to be back playing here for you guys. Hope you guys come out, watch the games and cheer us on. Go, Chery Tiggo,” she said. 

Bell, who is armed with her experience in the Korean V-League and American pro team Vegas Thrill, is reunited with former Petron libero Buding Duremdes and ex-deputy coach Yani Fernandez, who is now part of Chery Tiggo coach KungFu Reyes’ coaching staff.

Chery Tiggo booked its second straight trip to the semifinals last All-Filipino Conference but they lost all three matches in the round and fell to Petro Gazz in the battle for third.

Two teams have already revealed their imports including PLDT, which welcomed returning Russian spiker Elena Samoilenko.

The top four of Reinforced will also qualify in the PVL Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest teams.

Mavericks need more 3s to fall in rally bid vs Celtics

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shoots free throws during basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Luka Doncic’s message is simple for the struggling 3-point shooters around him, and with Dallas trailing Boston 2-0 while coming home for the NBA Finals.

“Just one thing: Keep shooting,” the Mavericks superstar said. “We all believe in those shots. That’s how we came to the Finals. That’s how we played the whole season. We believe in those guys.”

Dallas faces several daunting numbers going into Game 3 on Wednesday night.

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic triple-double not enough for Mavericks 

The Celtics are on a nine-game playoff winning streak, a franchise record in pursuit of an NBA-best 18th banner. Just five of the previous 36 teams to face this deficit (14%) have come back to win the title.

One number has to change for the Mavs to rally. Players not named Doncic are 5 of 32 from beyond the arc, with co-star Kyrie Irving misfiring on all eight attempts.

When it comes to 3s, the supporting cast is just about as important as Irving. P.J. Washington Jr., a catalyst for the deep playoff run with his deep ball and defense, is 1 of 8. Derrick Jones Jr. is 1 of 5.

Doncic, who is 8 of 21 from deep, is the only Dallas player with more than one bucket from 3. His role-playing partners have to figure out how to produce without forcing things.

“I think it’s just taking good shots, taking open ones,” said Washington, who shot 47% from 3 in a second-round victory over top-seeded Oklahoma City but is at 23% since then. “Obviously, we haven’t been making shots. We feel pretty good coming home. It’s all about just making open ones, taking open ones.”

READ: NBA Finals: Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot rally

Let’s not forget the the defense of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, among others. Boston had the second-best defensive rating in the regular season, and has the size and tenacity on the perimeter to make Doncic and Irving uncomfortable.

While Doncic just had the first playoff triple-double in Dallas history with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 105-98 loss in Game 2, the five-time All-Star has 12 turnovers in the series. Irving is shooting 35% with significantly more shots (37) than points (28).

Brown has guarded both, often picking up Doncic at half court and occasionally poking the ball loose for easy buckets the other way.

“He’s been one of the emotional leaders on the team,” Irving said of his former teammate. “Defensively, he’s making it difficult. For the past few years, he’s tried to make his mark on that end. When you take pride in what you do on the defensive end, it’s going to show.”

Dallas has been outscored 39-25 in points off turnovers against a team that struggled with those miscues in a six-game loss to Golden State in the NBA Finals two years ago.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

“I sound like I’m repeating myself,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “But if we can take care of the ball and not give them live-ball turnovers where they are not just laying up the ball or dunking, it puts us in a better seat. We’ve got to take care of the ball. That’s the next step in the series.”

Those Celtics had a 2-1 series lead in 2022 before losing three in a row to the Warriors. Part of where they are now started with where they ended up against Stephen Curry and company.

“It’s almost like you got to trick your mind almost in a sense,” Brown said. “You almost got to play like you’re down 0-2 rather than up. That’s hard to do.”

Everything about the Finals is new for Doncic, including the 2-0 deficit. Not for Irving, who is in his fourth title series and won his championship with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2016 when the Cavaliers erased a 2-0 deficit against the Warriors.

Or for Kidd, the point guard when Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas to its only championship 11 years ago. Those Mavs won three in a row to close out Miami in six games.

“A lot of it is just a learning curve for myself, for my teammates, and also a peace of mind that we give each other that we want to give ourselves a chance by leaving it all out there on the floor,” Irving said. “That’s literally been the focus since Game 2 ended.”

In this series, Doncic added a chest contusion to the sprained right knee and sore left ankle the 25-year-old has been dealing with most of the playoffs.

The Celtics are facing uncertainty again with Kristaps Porzingis, the 7-foot-2 Latvian who missed 10 consecutive playoff games with a right calf strain before sparking the 107-89 Game 1 win with a dominant first quarter.

Porzingis has what the team called a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which was sustained in Game 2. He hasn’t been ruled out in Boston’s pursuit of a commanding series lead.

“Same old, same old,” Brown said. “(Porzingis) has been tremendous for our group, not just in the playoffs, but all season long. It’s obvious him on the floor just helps elevate us to a different level. But … we prepare for these moments to be able to play with or without anyone.”

Venice training set for ‘thankful’ Catantan

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Philippines’ Samantha Catantan reacts after beating Singapore’s Maxine Jie Xin Wong in the women’s epee individual fencing final at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi on May 14, 2022. (Photo by TANG CHHIN SOTHY / AFP)

Sam Catantan embarks on a final push with a rigorous training camp in Venice, Italy, where world-class fencers could simulate the challenges that she will face in the Paris Olympics.

“I can’t wait to enter the camp. I know I could gain valuable lessons and experience in time for the Olympics,’’ Catantan told the Inquirer after being treated to a mini-sendoff by the Philippine Olympians Association at the College of Saint Benilde on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old from Frisco, Quezon City, is the first woman fencer in the Philippine team to the Olympics, but there are no great expectations in her debut at the global sports showpiece.

Final exam

“The best fencers in the world will be there, so the challenge to win a medal is really overwhelming,’’ said Catantan, who secured an Olympic berth after topping the field in the Asian Olympic Qualification in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, last month.

Since that victory, she hasn’t really plunged into an intensive workout for the Summer Games.

Catantan took her final examination as a graduating accounting major at Penn State University nearly three weeks ago, got a much-needed vacation with the family and attended several functions within the Philippine fencing community.

She will leave for Venice on Wednesday.

“I’m very thankful for these opportunities to train in Italy and France. It will definitely boost my confidence and make me better as I prepare for the Olympics,’’ said Catantan.

Irving channeling 2016 as Mavs plot NBA Finals rally

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

DALLAS – Kyrie Irving is drawing from the experience of Cleveland’s 2016 NBA Finals comeback as he attempts to help dig the Dallas Mavericks out of an 0-2 hole against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
The Mavericks host their first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, desperate for victory after dropping the opening two road games of the best-of-seven series in Boston last week.
For Irving, the situation is eerily familiar to his experience with the Cavaliers eight years ago, when Cleveland went 2-0 down to the dominant Golden State Warriors before rallying and eventually winning the series 4-3 with victory in game seven.
Irving, who famously shot the game-winning three-pointer in the series decider against the Warriors in 2016, sees parallels between his past and present.
“It took a lot of will to win in 2016,” Irving said.
“We had time to fail together. We had time to go through our trials together. We lost in 2015.
“A lot of guys came back in 2016 and we won. So there was an inner motivation there. We also knew who we were going against, how well they played.”
Instead of being daunted by the challenge posed by the top-seeded Celtics, Irving wants his teammates to view their situation as “an opportunity to respond.”
“That’s all you can ask for in a basketball season,” he said.
“If you asked me in September or October, would I want a chance to be down 0-2 and having a chance to respond in Game 3 or be out of the playoffs, I think I would choose the former. It’s as simple as that.
“We’re the only teams left. This is about chess. That’s all it is.”
If the Mavericks are to haul themselves off the canvas, Irving knows he will need a more productive game after misfiring so far.
In games one and two against Boston, Irving scored a mere 28 points and was 13-of-37 from the floor, and 0-of-8 from three-point range.
“First thing is just accepting that I haven’t played well or up to my standards, as well as I would have liked,” Irving said.
Irving also believes that the scorelines from the first two games of the series don’t do Dallas justice.
“The margin of their victories hasn’t really displayed the full story in terms of the Celtics beating us,” Irving said.
“We just have to continue to lean in on each other, especially when it gets tough out there. We’re going against a great team.
“We know what we’re in for. But now we have to raise it to an even higher level, and it starts with me.”
Dallas coach Jason Kidd, meanwhile, hopes the home support can emulate the raucous atmosphere he experienced as a player in 2011 as a member of the Mavericks last championship-winning team.
“This is an incredible atmosphere,” Kidd said. “To win that championship in 2011, the city is incredible. They love their Mavs.
“To win it then and now to be here in 2024 is special because you don’t really get an opportunity to do that.
“I understand the opportunity that I have to be the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a dream come true.
“But we’re trying right now to figure out how to win one game, and that’s the next one tomorrow night.”

San Miguel veered away from brand of play in Game 3

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San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—There was nothing technical as to why San Miguel Beer lost to Meralco in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“Coach (Jorge Gallent) told us that we didn’t play San Miguel basketball. We needed to make more extra passes. That’s what he pointed out,” said June Mar Fajardo in Filipino on Sunday after Game 3 slipped away from the Beermen’s fingertips.

True enough, San Miguel had as many turnovers as assists with 15. Those errors led to 20 turnover points for Meralco.

READ: PBA Finals: ‘Still underdogs’ Meralco Bolts keeping their guards up

The Bolts, on the other hand, played with much better flow on the offensive end with 22 assists and only 10 turnovers.

“They’ve been playing really well throughout this series. This is a long series. We’ll do everything to bounce back next game. It is what it is,” said Fajardo.

READ: PBA Finals: Rest vital for SMB heading into Game 4, says CJ Perez

Fajardo finished with a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds but the seven-time MVP only went 2-of-5 from the field and turned the ball over seven times. In Game 1 where the Beermen also lost, Fajardo committed six turnovers.

“They play good defense. They have a lot of bigs and they rotate so quickly that it gets tiring. We also missed shots that we should’ve made. They had a lot of offensive rebounds. We just really have to improve.”