Football: Zenlike Zidane 'only focusing on present' at Real Madrid

MADRID - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane exuded Zenlike calm about his future with the club on Saturday, saying that he is not focusing on the future although at some point he may feel the need to depart for the benefit of everyone.

Real trail La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid by two points with two games to go and have an outside chance of retaining the title, but Zidane did not give any guarantees when asked whether he would remain in charge next season.

"I don't know what'll happen. I'm here, we're playing tomorrow and next week but I don't know what happens after that because this is Real Madrid," Zidane told a news conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Athletic Bilbao.

"I only focus on the present, not the future or the past."

Zidane unexpectedly left the club in 2018 just after winning a third consecutive Champions League crown, only to return 10 months later. He also quit the club unexpectedly as a player in 2006 when he retired from the game.

But the Frenchman said he had made those decisions in the best interests of the club and stressed that his commitment to Real Madrid had never wavered.

"People think I left in the past because I didn't want the responsibility or because things got too difficult. No, never. The only thing is that I work my socks off and there comes a point when it's time for a change," he added.

"But not just for me, for the players and the club, for everyone. I don't leave because it's easier to go. There are moments when you need to be around and moments when the end arrives and you have to make a change." (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/football-zenlike-zidane-only-focusing-on-present-at-real-madrid

TV Patrol Weekend live streaming May 15, 2021 | Full Episode Replay

Mobile Legends: 'UBE strategy' helps Blacklist edge Nexplay in MPL7

Blacklist International keep their hot streak going with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Nexplay Esports at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League. 

After a foiled Diggie strategy forced a decider match in favor of Nexplay, Blacklist tweaked their lineup and started poking through Nexplay’s bases early into the game with a much revamped strategy which saw the squad use Diggie anew in the deciding match. 

With Mark Jayson "ESON" Gerardo as Diggie, and Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Edward “EDWARD” Dapadap keeping them together, the league leaders employed the "UBE (Ultimate Bonding Experience) strategy" by sticking together in crucial team fights en route to victory. 

Nexplay was able to rack up an early 4-0 kill lead within 4 minutes into Game 1, thanks to James “Jeymz” Gloria's Benedetta and John Paul “H2wo” Salonga's Ling. 

But Blacklist never looked back since the first turtle take, courtesy of Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario's Yi Sun Shin, carrying on for the rest of Game 1, sticking together and exhibiting sheer durability in-play. 

Even with the loss, Nexplay are assured of a spot in the MPL7 play-offs, the team announced earlier on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, world finals MVP Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno propelled Bren Esports to a 2-0 sweep at the expense of Cignal Ultra, who in turn are ending their MPL7 campaign on a low note, with no wins. 

KarlTzy participated in 88 percent of the kills in Game 2, going unscathed with 13 kills and 8 assists to his name. 

It took two quick sets for Smart Omega to sweep Laus Playbook Esports in the last match for the day. Laus had put up some surprising picks such as Fanny and Lylia in the series but it was not enough to keep the squad afloat. 

ROSTER: 

BLACKLIST INTERNATIONAL - Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna, Dexter “DEX STAR” Alaba, Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario, Edward “EDWARD” Dapadap, Mark Jayson "ESON" Gerardo

NEXPLAY ESPORTS - Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse, James “Jeymz” Gloria, John Paul “H2wo” Salonga, Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera, Dexter “Exort” Martinez, Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan

BREN ESPORTS - CJ “Ribo” Ribo, Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, David “FlapTzy” Canon, EJ “Ejhay” Sambrano, Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel, Allan “Lusty” Castromayor

CIGNAL ULTRA - Arvie “Aquaboy” Antonio, DJ “ImbaDeejay” Astibe, Janus “JANUS” Badando, Jhones “RHEA” De Leon, Jefferdson “Kekedot” Mogol, Benson “Bensanity” Paglinawan

SMART OMEGA - Jiane “Kenji” Villa, Jeniel “Haze” Bata-anon, EJ “Heath” Esperanza, Salic “Hadjizy” Imam, Jankurt “KurtTzy” Matira, and Adrian “Toshi” Bacallo

LAUS PLAYBOOK ESPORTS - ANowee “Ryota” Macasa, Joshua “Aspect” Tating, Jay “JAKE THE DOG” Lapitan, Paul Ian “Beemo” Sergio, Erwin “Yakou” Magno

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/mobile-legends-ube-strategy-helps-blacklist-edge-nexplay-in-mpl7

Football: Sweden's Ibrahimovic out of Euro 2020 with knee injury

 Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of Euro 2020 with a knee injury, the Swedish Football Association confirmed on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic sprained his knee a week ago playing for club side AC Milan who revealed earlier Saturday that medical experts recommended "conservative treatment for six weeks".

The 39-year-old forward returned to his national side last March nearly five years after his international farewell.

Sweden open their Euro 2020 campaign against Spain in Seville on June 14, before further Group E games against Slovakia four days later and Poland in Saint-Petersburg on the 23rd.

Ibrahimovic's treatment would last until June 26 at least.

"I have spoken to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who unfortunately has told me that his injury will stop his participation in the European Championship this summer," Sweden team coach Janne Andersson said in a statement.

"Of course this feels sad, most of all for Zlatan but, also for us," Andersson added.

The veteran forward injured his knee last week during a 3-0 win over Juventus, and will not play again this season for the club.

Ibrahimovic has 62 goals from 118 appearances for Sweden but has only scored once for Milan since February after missing games through injury and suspension.

He recently signed a contract extension until June 2022 and has netted 17 times in all competitions for his club side this term.

jll-ea/nr

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/football-swedens-ibrahimovic-out-of-euro-2020-with-knee-injury

MMA: Bhullar stops Vera, crowned new ONE heavyweight king

(UPDATE) Indian bruiser Arjan "Singh" Bhullar stopped Filipino-American fighter Brandon Vera in two rounds to crown himself as the new ONE heavyweight title in the main event of ONE: Dangal.

The Indian fighter caught Vera fading early as the defending champion got hurt with a couple of big shots while on stand up.

The fight eventually went to the ground, where Bhullar dominated Vera with heavy punches to the head.

"It's amazing! India! We got one now! Your first world champion, baby!" said Bhullar, who became the first Indian MMA heavyweight champion.

The bout was actually quite close in the first round with Vera landing a couple of low kicks to the leg and warding off the Indian with the jab.

Bhullar was able to score a takedown near the end of the round and Vera was able to defend himself by countering with a kimura attempt.

Bhullar upped the ante in the second round, rocking Vera with a couple of overhand rights and poking the Fil-Am with a shot to the ribs.

The fight eventually went to the ground as Bhullar put his heavy weight on Vera's back while wearing down the Fil-Am with repeated shots to the head.

After seeing Vera unable to defend himself, the referee waved off the fight to award the victory to Bhullar.

"Just patience. I knew I was gonna hurt him. The plan was to keep patient... the intention is to rule the five rounds and I don't believe he's got five rounds," said Bhullar.

A disappointed Vera was puzzled by his defeat, saying he easily tired out in the fight despite going through a good camp in Florida.

"This is the first time in my entire career that I've gassed," he said.

"I'm disappointed. I don't know. We just keep training, we just keep grinding to get my belt back."

ONE: Dangal is a tape-delayed event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium that aired Saturday night.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/mma-bhullar-stops-vera-crowns-self-as-new-one-heavyweight-king

Toroman: Smart move for Sotto, Thirdy to play in Australia, Japan

Former Gilas coach doesn't like Paras training in US

Former Gilas Pilipinas team coach Rajko Toroman believes Kai Sotto and Thirdy Ravena made the smart move of getting playing time in Australia and Japan, respectively, to further improve their game.

Toroman said Sotto, who recently signed with Aussie team Adelaide 36ers, is better off playing in the National Basketball League, citing that he's a better fit for the Australian league.

 

“It was a great move. In my opinion, it was a great move,” said the Serbian coach in an interview on Nolie Eala's Power & Play.

Prior to signing with the 36sers, Sotto parted ways with Team Ignite of the NBA G League.

“I think that the G League is too strong for this moment for Kai Sotto,” said Toroman.

The Serbian coach added that the G League does not put too much focus on big men since it is largely driven by smaller players.

“I was watching a lot of games looking for the players, that is a league of small players,” he said. “Everybody is looking for the NBA contract. And they don’t give the ball to the big guy too much.”

He expects Sotto's talent to improve in Australia since he will get much playing time against bigger Aussie players.

“I think that was the best move, at this moment, for Kai Sotto, you know, to try to find the confidence in this kind of league. Very strong, very good big guys," he said.

Toroman also said Ravena made the smart choice of extending his contract with San-En Neo Phoenix in the Japan B League.

He said Ravena will learn a great deal from San-En's Serbian coach Branislav Vićentić. The added experience will also benefit Ravena in the long run, he added.

“He’s an extremely athletic player, and these experiences in Japan will help him go to the next level and help with the national team,” said Toroman.

“Even in the first window, he was the best player for the national team against us, scored 23 points, something like that. That’s the best for him.”

Toroman, however, cannot say the same thing for Kobe Paras, who decided to fly to the US to train.

He said the only place a pro player could flourish it the US is either through the NBA G League or the NBA. Paras won't get the benefit of improvement if he remains watching from the sidelines, said Toroman.

“I don’t think that the move of Paras will be that great, because only where you can only play there (in the US) in the G League and the NBA. If you cannot be the main guy, if you’re sitting on the bench, you will not get anything from that,” he opined.

“Individual practice is okay, but just for one month and not for the whole season. You have to play because without playing, you cannot improve."

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/toroman-smart-move-for-sotto-thirdy-to-play-in-australia-japan

Tennis: Local hope Sonego stuns Rublev in Rome to set up Djokovic semi

Lorenzo Sonego defeated world number seven Russian Andrey Rublev on Saturday, continuing his dream run at the Rome Masters and becoming the first Italian semi-finalist at the event in 14 years with a come-from-behind 3-6 6-4 6-3 win.

Following his wins over U.S. Open winner Dominic Thiem and former world number six Gael Monfils in previous rounds, the 26-year-old Sonego becomes the first local man in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 event since Filippo Volandri in 2007.

"(This is) my favourite tournament in the world. I'm with my people here," Sonego said. "I am so happy for this."

The 33rd-ranked Italian will have loud support from the stands when he returns to the court for his semi-final later on Saturday against top seed Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian world No. 1 was trailing 6-4 2-1 against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas when the match was halted by rain on Friday but rallied to a 4-6 7-5 7-5 win on Saturday.

Djokovic's match on Friday was suspended twice but he raised his game at crunch moments to twice come back from a break down in the deciding set on his way to the semi-finals for the eighth straight year.

Second seed Rafa Nadal will compete against big-serving American Reilly Opelka in the other semi-final. (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Berhampore, India; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/tennis-local-hope-sonego-stuns-rublev-in-rome-to-set-up-djokovic-semi

Late Lakers great Bryant remembered on eve of Hall of Fame induction

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant loomed large Friday on the eve of his posthumous induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside NBA greats Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.

The trio are among nine members of the 2020 Hall of Fame class who are being belatedly inducted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The celebration is being held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, to better allow for social distancing.

But the actual Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, is also unveiling a special exhibit honoring Bryant that president John Doleva believes will be come the "most talked about" exhibit at the shrine.

"The family had a time to think about what they wanted to do," Doleva said at Friday's pre-induction news conference.

"It's about Kobe's accomplishments but also about what Kobe was after he left the Lakers, after he left basketball."

NBA icon Michael Jordan, who spoke movingly at Bryant's memorial service last year after the superstar was killed on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash, will honor Bryant at the induction ceremony, where those being enshrined are traditionally introduced by someone close to them.

Bryant was on the mind of his fellow inductees as well.

"Your greatest competition brings the best out of you," said Duncan, who spent all of his 19 NBA seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, winning five championships. "And that's what he always did."

Duncan's Spurs and Bryant's Lakers met in the NBA playoffs seven times over the course of their careers.

"You always had to be at your best and bring your best from start to finish if you were playing against him or any of his teams, and I think that's what I appreciate about remembering playing against him and being on the court with him."

Duncan will be presented by fellow Spurs legend David Robinson.

Bryant's Lakers clashed with Garnett's Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals and all three retired from the NBA at the end of the 2015-16 season.

"You can go through the list of NBA greats and I couldn't pick two better players, not just that, but two better people, to go into the Hall with," said Garnett, who was drafted out of high school by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

- 'Class acts' -

He spent more than 10 years in Minnesota, where he was left hungering for regular title chances before finally arriving in Boston in 2007 and claiming the only title of his career in 2008.

"Both of them are class acts and unbelievable players," he said of Bryant and Duncan. "I'm very privileged, if I'm being honest. Ever since I stepped in the league, it has been like a dream, and this is no different."

Tamika Catchings, a four-time Olympic gold medallist and Women's NBA star, will also be enshrined, along with two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovic.

Catchings was a childhood friend of Bryant, their fathers playing together both with the Philadelphia 76ers and in Italy.

"I just remember calling my parents," she said of hearing of a Kobe Bryant drafted out of high school, "and saying, 'This is the Kobe we were just in Italy with, right?' And yeah, it was.

"So he went to the pros, I went to college, four years after that I went to the WNBA, and the rest is history."

bb/js

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/late-lakers-great-bryant-remembered-on-eve-of-hall-of-fame-induction

WATCH: PCSO 9 PM Lotto Draw, May 15, 2021

Tennis: Djokovic survives Tsitsipas scare to advance to Rome semi-finals

World number one Novak Djokovic survived a three-set battle with Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas over two days in their rain-delayed quarter-finals to advance to the Italian Open semi-finals on Saturday.

The defending champion won through 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after 3hr 16min on court in the clash which had been suspended from Friday because of rain in the Italian capital.

The Serb, a five-time Rome winner, had been trailing 6-4, 2-1 when the game was halted overnight.

Djokovic sealed the match on his second match point to set up a meeting with either Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev or Italian Lorenzo Sonego later in the day for a place in Sunday's final.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/tennis-djokovic-survives-tsitsipas-scare-to-advance-to-rome-semi-finals

Hip-hop to hoops: J. Cole joins Rwanda basketball team

American rap star J. Cole has signed with the Rwanda Patriots and will play as a shooting forward in the maiden NBA-backed Basketball Africa League which starts in the East African nation on Sunday.

The award-winning rapper and music producer, whose full name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole, 36, played the sport in high school and university, and has long dreamed of a professional basketball career.

His name featured on the roster of 13 players released Friday night by Patriots head coach Alan Major. Cole will play in jersey number 15 for the team representing Rwanda in the BAL.

"J. Cole is a very good shooter. We picked him because He has a really high IQ for the game," Patriots chief operations officer Haydee Ndayishimiye told AFP.

"He has a history of playing the game ... We just thought that he is a great fit with the team and as we have seen in practice he is gelling well with the team. While they are practicing with him, they are looking good out there. He really compliments the team," she added.

Ndayishimiye said Cole's contract was confidential, and he would only be with the team for the duration of the tournament.

Cole will play in the tournament's opening game between the Patriots and Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers on Sunday.

The BAL tournament will run until May 30.

The first edition of the 12-club event was scheduled for last year, but had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

BAL president Amadou Fall said the league "will provide a platform for elite players from across the continent to showcase their talent and inspire fans of all ages".

The BAL is being supported by the International Basketball Federation and the USA-based National Basketball Association.

It will be the first NBA-sponsored professional league out of the US.

Cole's Rwandan debut will come two days after the release of his sixth studio album "The Off-Season", a nod to his love of basketball.

"I'm at a point in my life where I'm like, are you going to be doing this forever?" Cole said in a recent interview with Slam, an American basketball magazine.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/hip-hop-to-hoops-j-cole-joins-rwanda-basketball-team

PBA: JayR Reyes retires after 14 years in pro basketball

PBA Veteran JayR Reyes has announced his retirement from professional basketball just days before the start of the league training.

Reyes, a four-time PBA champion who has seen action in teams like Rain or Shine, Alaska, Meralco, Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel and Phoenix LPG, said he is "signing off" after 14 years in the PBA.

"20 years, 10 teams, 1 love," said Reyes in his Instagram post, while counting all his years in basketball from high school.

"It has been a truly blessing to be able to devote more than half of my life to my first love. Now, I am officially announcing my retirement from basketball."

The 6-foot-7 Reyes was among the players automatically elevated from the amateurs by Welcoat (now Rain or Shine) upon its entry to the PBA in 2006.

He became a four-time PBA champion (2015 Governors' Cup, 2015–16 Philippine Cup, 2016–17 Philippine Cup, 2017 Commissioner's Cup) when he played for Ginebra and San Miguel.

Reyes played for a total of eight teams before calling it a career with Phoenix.

"I am extremely grateful to God, my wife, kids, family, and friends who have supported me throughout this journey," he said.

"To all the team owners, my teammates, coaches, ball boys, physical therapists, and my fans -- I would not have been able to be where I am if not for all of you."

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/pba-jayr-reyes-retires-after-14-years-in-pro-basketball

Volleyball: AVC green lights Clark's hosting of Asian Women’s Championship

The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) approved the Philippines' hosting of the 21st Asian Senior Women’s Championship.

The tournament is slated to take place in Clark and in Subic from August 29 to September 5 later this year. 

“The Philippines, which hosted the Asian Senior Women’s Championship twice in 1997 and 2017, received the AVC’s green light to organize the top-tier championship for the third time,” said the AVC in its statement.

Jiangmen, China was supposed to play host for the 21st edition of the championship but pulled out from hosting duties.

The hosting rights mean the Philippines gains automatic qualification for the tournament.

Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Tats Suzara said the AUF Sports & Cultural Center will be the main venue for the games.

The Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center or the Subic Bay Gym will serve as the secondary stadium.

The AVC, meanwhile, said Japan will host the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship.

"Japan has already confirmed to host the 21st edition in Chiba between September 12 and 19, 2021," said the AVC.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/volleyball-avc-green-lights-clarks-hosting-of-asian-womens-championship

WATCH: PCSO 5 PM Lotto Draw, May 15, 2021

NBA: Warriors rest stars, still slip past Pelicans

Jordan Poole capped a career-best, 38-point performance by driving for a layup with 21.4 seconds remaining Friday night as the Golden State Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 125-122 in San Francisco.

The Warriors won a fifth straight to open a regular-season-ending, six-game homestand despite resting Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins.

The win allowed the Warriors (38-33) to keep pace with Memphis (38-33), setting up a showdown in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon that will determine the eighth and ninth positions in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Curry, Green and Wiggins are all expected back for that game.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker went for a team-high 30 points and Naji Marshall posted career highs with 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Pelicans (31-40), who were eliminated from the Western playoff race earlier in the week.

Mychal Mulder had a career-best 28 points for the Warriors.

With Poole and Mulder leading the way, the Warriors scorched the net for 41 first-quarter points en route to a 75-57 halftime advantage.

Down by as many as 19, New Orleans rallied late to take a 122-121 lead with 25.9 seconds remaining when Alexander-Walker recovered a shot that had been blocked by Jordan Bell and laid it in.

Following a timeout, Poole connected at the other end, after which he added two clinching free throws following a missed 3-point attempt by Alexander-Walker.

Poole's 38 points were 12 more than the most he had scored previously in an NBA game. He hit 12 of his 22 field-goal attempts, helping the Warriors shoot 48.3 percent for the game.

Mulder bombed in a career-high-tying seven 3-pointers, and teammate Juan Toscano-Anderson registered a career-high nine assists to complement nine points and nine rebounds.

Eric Paschall, returning after a 21-game absence, chipped in with 12 points for Golden State. Kent Bazemore had 14 and Nico Mannion 11.

Alexander-Walker's 30-point total was his third highest of the season. Marshall's 13 rebounds were two more than he'd previously logged twice. The double-double was his third of the season

Jaxson Hayes put up 19 points, Wenyen Gabriel 14, Eric Bledsoe 11 and Willy Hernangomez 10 for the Pelicans, who lost their third straight.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-warriors-rest-stars-still-slip-past-pelicans

WATCH: PCSO 2 PM Lotto Draw, May 15, 2021

NBA: Luka Doncic's triple-double helps Mavs hold off Raptors

Luka Doncic recorded his 11th triple-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and the host Dallas Mavericks held off the Toronto Raptors to clinch a playoff spot, 114-110.

The Mavericks (42-29) came into Friday's matchup with the ability to avoid the play-in tournament in the West with a win, and jumped on the Raptors quickly.

After trailing by as many as 19 points about four minutes into the third quarter, Toronto sliced the gap to just six points in the fourth quarter on the strength of a 12-2 Toronto run that bridged the third and fourth periods.

The Raptors cut the deficit to three points with 2:59 left in the game when rookie Malachi Flynn knocked down one of his three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 26 points.

Dallas responded the next time down the floor when Jalen Brunson found Dorian Finney-Smith for one of the latter's four 3-pointers.

Finney-Smith went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and finished with 17 points. Brunson went 8-of-11 from the floor for 19 points with five rebounds and four assists off the bench.

While Finney-Smith's bucket gave Dallas some cushion, Toronto (27-44) kept coming. 

A Flynn steal from Doncic and fast-break layup cut the deficit to four points, and Freddie Gillespie made a pair of free throws after a baseline inbound play drew a foul on Kristaps Porzingis.

Josh Richardson scored four of his 10 points with free throws in the final 10 seconds, all of which proved critical to Dallas holding off Toronto's rally.

Porzingis led the Mavericks with 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Toronto rookie Jalen Harris, who scored a season-high 17 points on Thursday at Chicago, soared past that mark Friday with a game-high 31 points.

Stanley Johnson, who netted a career-high 35 points on Thursday, finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds on Friday.

Toronto closes the season Sunday in Tampa, Fla., against Indiana. Dallas closes the regular season Sunday in Minnesota, where a win will clinch the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-luka-doncics-triple-double-helps-mavs-hold-off-raptors

NBA: Bojan Bogdanovic fuels Jazz past reeling Thunder

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 109-93 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 18 rebounds to help the Jazz (51-20) inch closer to clinching the top spot in the Western Conference.

A Utah win in Sunday's regular-season finale or a loss by Phoenix in either of its last two games— both at San Antonio— would give the Jazz the top record in the NBA.

It would be Utah's first time finishing as the top seed in the Western Conference since 1997-98. The Jazz have never finished with the NBA's best record.

The Thunder (21-50) have lost nine in a row.

It didn't take Mike Conley long to make an impact in his first game back since April 26. Conley, who had missed nine games with a hamstring injury, had assists on each of Utah's first two possessions.

While Utah has performed well during their absences, the returns of Conley and Donovan Mitchell figure to play big roles in deciding how far the Jazz can go in the postseason.

Mitchell, who hasn't played since April 16 with a sprained right ankle, is expected to return for the playoffs.

Conley played just more than 16 minutes, all in the first half. He finished with 10 points and three assists.

Jordan Clarkson made four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for the Jazz.

Utah never trailed and needed just four minutes to extend its lead to double figures.

Oklahoma City cut the Jazz lead to seven early in the third after Svi Mykhailiuk scored nine points in the first five minutes of the quarter.

Mykhailiuk led the Thunder with 19 points, while Theo Maledon and Gabriel Deck added 18 points apiece.

For the seventh time in nine games, the Thunder failed to reach 100 points. Oklahoma City also tied its season low with 13 assists.

The Jazz scored 15 points on the Thunder's 15 turnovers.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-bojan-bogdanovic-fuels-jazz-past-reeling-thunder

NBA: Sixers clinch No. 1 seed in East with win over Magic

Seth Curry scored 20 points, Shake Milton added 15 and the host Philadelphia 76ers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 122-97 victory over the undermanned Orlando Magic on Friday.

Joel Embiid contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds while Ben Simmons had 13 points and nine assists for the Sixers (48-23), who will complete the 72-game regular season with another game against the Magic on Sunday before the playoffs begin.

The Sixers improved to 28-7 at home.

The Sixers played without key reserve Dwight Howard, who was suspended after being assessed his league-high 16th technical foul in Thursday's loss on the road to the Miami Heat.

Ignas Brazdeikis led the reeling Magic (21-50) with a career-high 21 points while R.J. Hampton added 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Chasson Randle also scored 12 points.

Cole Anthony and Mo Bamba had 11 each for the Magic. Dwayne Bacon went 0 for 11 from the field but made all four free throws.

The Magic have dropped six in a row.

The Sixers breezed to a 56-34 lead with 4:04 left in the second quarter as Embiid was dominant in the middle.

Philadelphia led 66-43 at halftime thanks in large part to Embiid's 13 points and eight rebounds.

Brazdeikis produced a surprising 14 points for the Magic by halftime.

The Magic missed 10 straight treys during one stretch between the second and third quarter and fell behind 70-51. Curry and Green then hit consecutive 3-pointers for the Sixers and the lead ballooned to 25.

The shot clocks were inoperable during most of the third quarter as public address announcer Matt Cord called out the time remaining on each possession.

Philadelphia held a commanding 96-69 lead at the end of the third.

Brazdeikis scored five straight— a jumper and a deep 3-pointer—yet the Magic still trailed 102-76 with 6:58 remaining in the fourth.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-sixers-clinch-no-1-seed-in-east-with-win-over-magic

NBA: Clippers rest stars, fall to lowly Rockets

Kelly Olynyk collected 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Houston Rockets ended a seven-game losing streak with a 122-115 win against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

The loss dropped the Clippers (47-24) into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets. Both teams have one game left.

The Nuggets own the tiebreaker against Los Angeles, which concludes its regular season on Sunday evening at the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-50), the same time Denver plays at the Portland Trail Blazers (41-30).

Seven players scored in double figures for Houston (17-54), which had lost 12 of 13 and 44 of 49.

Jae'Sean Tate scored 20 points, Khyri Thomas had 17 points and Anthony Lamb also scored 17 off the bench for Houston, which finishes its season on Sunday at Atlanta.

Luke Kennard scored 23 points, Jay Scrubb scored 17 in his third NBA game, and Serge Ibaka returned from a two-month absence caused by a back injury and scored 15 off the bench in 17 minutes for Los Angeles.

The Clippers rested their two leading scorers, Kawhi Leonard (24.8 points per game) and Paul George (23.3), after they played on Thursday night in a 113-90 road win over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Rockets held out 10 players, including leading scorers Christian Wood (21.0) and John Wall (20.6). Wood has a sore ankle and Wall is nursing a hamstring strain.

Houston led 73-69 at the half after shooting 63.6 percent from the floor.

The Rockets then scored the first four points of the second half to move on top by eight, and they later used a 9-0 run to take their first double-digit lead.

Up by as many as 17 points late in the third quarter, Houston eventually took a 12-point lead into the fourth.

The Rockets maintained the double-digit advantage until the Clippers went on a 10-0 run to pull within five with 5:49 remaining.

Houston came back with a 7-0 surge to re-establish its double-digit lead.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-clippers-rest-stars-fall-to-lowly-rockets

NBA: Nikola Jokic's speedy triple-double lifts Nuggets past Pistons

Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in less than 27 minutes on the court, finishing with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 104-91 victory over the host Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

The Nuggets (47-24) kept alive their hopes of moving up to the third seed in the Western Conference with one regular-season game left to play. Denver won its third in a row and entered Friday one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers, but in possession of the head-to-head tiebreaker.

L.A. played at Houston later on Friday night and closes the season at Oklahoma City on Sunday. Denver finishes at Portland on Sunday.

The Pistons' Hamidou Diallo, who was listed as questionable due to health and safety protocols heading into the game, totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds. Josh Jackson finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

But Detroit (20-51) shot a dismal 6-for-37 from 3-point range and lost its fourth in a row. The Pistons have lost 11 of 13 and finish their season at home on Sunday against the Miami Heat.

Markus Howard also had 20 points for Denver, while Vlatko Cancar had 11 points.

Monte Morris was back after sitting out Thursday's game against Minnesota for rest and finished with 15 points off the Nuggets' bench.

Detroit used only eight players as Wayne Ellington (bilateral calf strain), Jerami Grant (right knee soreness), Cory Joseph (left ankle soreness), Rodney McGruder (right elbow sprain), Frank Jackson (right ankle sprain), Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee soreness), Mason Plumlee (rest) and Isaiah Stewart (personal reasons) were out.

Tyler Cook had 17 points and Deividas Sirvydis also stepped up with 16 points off the Pistons' bench.

Saddiq Bey, who continues to be a bright spot on the Pistons' rebuilding squad, also had 14 points, while Jahlil Okafor added 13.

Will Barton (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) remained out for the Nuggets.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-nikola-jokics-speedy-triple-double-lifts-nuggets-past-pistons

NBA: Wizards clinch play-in berth with win over Cavaliers

Russell Westbrook added to his NBA triple-double record with the 183rd of his career Friday night, helping the Washington Wizards clinch a berth in the play-in round of the Eastern Conference playoffs as they stopped the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-105 in Washington, D.C.

Westbrook finished with 21 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds for the Wizards (33-38), who could still finish as high as eighth place in the conference if they beat Charlotte in their final game and Indiana drops its final two games.

Six other players scored in double figures for Washington. Davis Bertans tallied 17 points, while Rui Hachimura and reserve Robin Lopez each hit for 14. Anthony Gill and Daniel Gafford chipped in 12 points apiece and Ish Smith added 11.

Collin Sexton scored a game-high 26 points for Cleveland (22-49) but also committed six of its 17 turnovers. 

Jarrett Allen added 18 points and a game-best 14 rebounds, while Isaac Okoro hit for 17 points. Cedi Osman netted 16 and Dean Wade contributed 12 points.

The difference in the game was bench play. The Wizards' reserves outscored the Cavaliers' bench by a whopping 58-16.

Cleveland got off to a fast first-quarter start, thanks to sizzling shooting. 

It canned 12 of 21 from the field, including 4 of 9 on 3-pointers, and led by as many as seven points before Westbrook sank two free throws and a 3-pointer to pull Washington within 33-31 after 12 minutes.

Westbrook's free throws with 8:04 left in the half gave the Wizards a 44-38 advantage, but the Cavs rallied and took a 53-47 lead on a Darius Garland 3-pointer at the 4:06 mark. 

However, Westbrook drove for a layup with 15.3 seconds on the clock to put Washington ahead 58-56 at intermission.

The Wizards obtained separation in the third quarter with a 15-5 run over the final 4:23 of the period. 

Hachimura started it with a layup as he was fouled, and Gill ended it by sinking two foul shots to make it 91-76 going to the fourth period.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-wizards-clinch-play-in-berth-with-win-over-cavaliers

PBA: GAB clarifies basketball training in NCR limited to 'physical conditioning'

It looks like the PBA will have to wait for further instructions from the Inter-Agency Task Force regarding its plans to let some of its teams hold scrimmages in Metro Manila.

This as the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) clarified that 5-on-5 scrimmages are not yet allowed in NCR Plus despite the area being switched back to general community quarantine.

In an announcement Thursday night, Malacanangreverted NCR Plus back to GCQ but with "heightened restrictions."

GAB information officer Lorraine Rodriguez said that if the PBA were to follow the existing Joint Administrative Order, basketball practices in the NCR will be limited to individual physical conditioning.

"Kung gagawin nila ito sa Metro Manila na as of May 14 is under GCQ with modifier, kung susundin ang old JAO ang pwede nilang gawin ay individual physical conditioning, so bawal ang scrimmages," she said during the agency's presser.

For GAB chairman Baham Mitra, it would be wise for the league to wait for the supplemental JAO before pushing through with scrimmages in the NCR.

Mitra said that the GAB is just waiting for the signature of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“Hinihintay lang natin ang approval ng supplemental JAO. Waiting na lang sa pirma ni Sec. Duque,” he said.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said a number of teams have already been requesting to be endorsed to the local government units where their regular training venues are located.

Other teams, however, will still push through with their plans to train outside the NCR Plus.

The Blackwater Elite, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, and the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots have already confirmed bookings in Batangas City on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

“‘Yung PBA ganado na maglaro,” Mitra said. 

“Meron lang konting proseso na dadaanan. Kumatok muna tayo sa LGU. Maraming teams ata sa Batangas ata magpa-practice. Pero yung Meralco pati Talk N Text sa Ilocos naman magpapractice.”

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/pba-gab-clarifies-basketball-training-in-ncr-limited-to-physical-conditioning

NBA: Nuggets seek key win against short-handed Pistons

The Denver Nuggets have secured home-court advantage in the first round of the upcoming NBA playoffs.

But Denver still could improve its seeding with two games left and will try to do so when it travels to Detroit to face the Pistons on Friday night.

The Nuggets (46-24), who are fourth in the Western Conference, beat Minnesota 114-103 on Thursday as Nikola Jokic scored 31 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to help Denver win its second in a row and stay within one game of the third-place Los Angeles Clippers.

The Pistons (20-50) have lost three in a row and 10 of their past 12 following a 119-100 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Denver established its size advantage early against the Timberwolves with Jokic and JaVale McGee, who finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. It was the first time the two started together, giving the Nuggets another look they can implement as they prepare for the playoffs.

"I think we can go with a lot of different options," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "As we approach the playoffs with now two games to go, we can try some more different things."

Jokic set the tone for Denver with 16 points in the first quarter as he and McGee combined for 27 rebounds.

"I definitely think this could be a lineup in the future, especially with teams that play two bigs," McGee said. "I definitely feel like it gives Joke definitely some time off his legs on the defensive end."

The Pistons extended coach Dwane Casey through the 2023-24 season this week. Detroit owner Tom Gores has been pleased with Casey's leadership during a difficult, rebuilding season.

Casey, 64, is 81-137 in three seasons with the Pistons. Prior to coaching Detroit, Casey was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2017 with the Toronto Raptors.

"Dwane's ability to adapt and lead us through a challenging but very exciting year of growth and development has further established his place as one of the most highly respected coaches in the NBA," Gores said in a statement released Wednesday. "He is fully committed to the restoration of the Pistons where his competitiveness, teaching ability and developmental acumen can be seen in the growth of our young players."

One of the promising players of the Pistons' rebuild is rookie Saddiq Bey, who scored 21 points against Minnesota. But a season-high 28 turnovers led to 34 Wolves points.

Detroit had nine players available.

"You can't win a basketball game when you turn the ball over 28 times," Bey said. "It doesn't matter what else you are doing, that's going to cost you the game."

For the Nuggets, Monte Morris sat out against Minnesota one game after returning from a 12-game absence due to a right hamstring strain. Michael Porter Jr. was also given the night off. Will Barton (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) remain out and Malone doesn't expect them back before the end of the season.

Detroit will be shorthanded again as Wayne Ellington (bilateral calf strain), Jerami Grant (right knee soreness), Frank Jackson (right ankle sprain), Cory Joseph (left ankle soreness), Rodney McGruder (right elbow sprain), Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee soreness), Mason Plumlee (rest) and Isaiah Stewart (personal reasons) are out. Hamidou Diallo is listed as questionable due to health and safety protocols.

--Field Level Media

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-nuggets-seek-key-win-against-short-handed-pistons

NBA: Grizzlies look to improve playoff seeding vs. eliminated Kings

The Sacramento Kings have been eliminated from postseason play for the 15th consecutive season and will begin playing out the string when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in the second contest of a back-to-back.

Memphis notched a 116-110 victory on Thursday and extinguished Sacramento's last playoff breath with a game-ending 12-0 run.

The Kings' playoff drought ties for longest in NBA history with one put together by the Clippers franchise (Buffalo Braves, San Diego and Los Angeles Clippers) from 1977-91.

The Kings (31-39) played solidly for the first 45 minutes but the franchise's campaign ended in the same fashion each one has since Rick Adelman coached Sacramento to the playoffs in eight straight seasons from 1998-2006.

"I give our players a ton of credit," second-year Kings coach Luke Walton said after his team lost for just the second time in the past eight games. "I mean, they scrapped and fought and competed. It was fun. It was a fun game. Unfortunately we made a few too many mistakes down the stretch and they made us pay each time."

The Grizzlies (37-33) have won four straight games and own the same record as the Golden State Warriors as they jockey for positioning in the play-in round. Golden State currently holds the eighth spot due to having a better conference record and Memphis sits ninth.

The Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

The Grizzlies close the regular season against the host Warriors on Sunday afternoon. If the two teams enter with the same record, the team that wins Sunday will hold the tiebreaker advantage and land the No. 8 seed for the play-in round. They Warriors and Grizzlies split two games in March.

"We got to be focused, locked in and do whatever it takes," Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas said of the next two games.

Memphis also clinched a winning record for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.

"We have loftier goals ahead of us and more basketball to play," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said afterward. "It's obviously great to acknowledge that but we're never satisfied.

"I'm proud of what we've accomplished up to this point but we all know we want more."

Dillon Brooks poured in 30 points and Valanciunas added 24 points and 13 rebounds in Thursday's win.

The duo also fared well in Memphis' first meeting with the Kings, a 124-110 win on Feb. 14 in Sacramento. Valanciunas contributed 25 points and 13 boards and Brooks tallied 22 points in that contest.

Guard Justin James poured in a career-high 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting on Thursday for the Kings. His previous high was 16 against the Utah Jazz on April 28.

James had 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting over the previous two games before breaking out versus Memphis. But he was unable to take much joy out of his top NBA outing due to Sacramento being eliminated.

"I would be lying if I said this doesn't feel different than any other loss," James said. "Knowing that we're out of the playoffs, it (stinks) for our fans, it (stinks) for our city, but we'll be there one day."

James figures to have earned more playing time for Sacramento's final two games with the team's injury list including guards De'Aaron Fox (health and safety protocols) and Tyrese Haliburton (season-ending knee injury). Also sidelined are forwards Harrison Barnes (adductor) and Marvin Bagley III (groin).

Big man Richaun Holmes (knee) departed Thursday's game in the second quarter and also could be shut down.

Memphis guard Grayson Allen (abdominal) is expected to miss his sixth straight game.

--Field Level Media

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-grizzlies-look-to-improve-playoff-seeding-vs-eliminated-kings

NBA: Mavericks face depleted Raptors, look to solidify playoff spot

The Dallas Mavericks head into their final two regular-season games looking to pin down playoff positioning, a mission that begins Friday night at home against the Toronto Raptors.

Dallas (41-29) is getting hot ahead of the postseason, picking up its fifth win in six games and eighth over the past 10 with a 125-107 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Luka Doncic led the way with 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 27 points.

Hardaway's performance continued a strong spell for the eight-year veteran wing. He is averaging 26 points per game in his past eight appearances, including outings of a career-high 42 points on April 29 against Detroit and 36 points in a May 4 win at Miami.

Hardaway's scoring uptick coincided with a move into the starting lineup for seven of those eight games.

"The game naturally flows better," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of the difference in starting versus coming off the bench, during his postgame press conference on Wednesday. "You go right from warm-ups to the flow of the game."

"With Tim, the proof is in a sample size of well over a year," Carlisle added. "When he was starting last year, he had a great flow. He started early this year, we made a change to go to more of a defensive lineup. ... He was willing to do it. That's one reason I'm willing to make other changes in the lineup."

One lineup change for Dallas heading into the postseason is the return of Kristaps Porzingis to the rotation. Porzingis missed 10 of the past 11 games, first due to a left ankle sprain then with soreness in his right knee.

Porzingis scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in 22 minutes of play Wednesday.

Porzingis scored a team-high 23 points, while Doncic posted just 15 and Hardaway went scoreless when Dallas last faced Toronto (27-43) in January.

The Raptors' 116-93 win in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 18 was part of a stretch in which they won five of six. With a 114-102 loss Thursday in Chicago, Toronto dropped its fifth straight and eighth loss in the past 10.

Stanley Johnson recorded a career-high 35 points to go with another career-high of six made 3-pointers, 10 rebounds and five assists in Thursday's first leg of a back-to-back. It marked Johnson's first double-digit points since notching 12 on April 18 against Oklahoma City.

"As a kid I asked, 'God, can you just please put me on an NBA team and if I can run the bench for 10 years I'll be the happiest in the world?' And you get to 24 and you start getting ungrateful for things," Johnson said in his postgame news conference. "For me, it's all about being grateful."

Johnson entered Thursday's game averaging 3.3 points in just a little more than 15 minutes per game.

With Toronto eliminated from contention for a play-in tournament spot, Raptors coach Nick Nurse ran with a young starting lineup in Chicago. Johnson started alongside Yuta Watanabe and Khem Birch, along with rookies Malachi Flynn and Jalen Harris.

Meanwhile, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Chris Boucher (injury management), Aron Baynes (foot), Rodney Hood (hand), Kyle Lowry (scheduled rest), Pascal Siakam (shoulder) and Paul Watson (knee) were scratched on Thursday.

--Field Level Media

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/nba-mavericks-face-depleted-raptors-look-to-solidify-playoff-spot

Mobile Legends: Onic PH stuns Aura PH in thrilling MPL7 'El Clasico' match

Execration books MPL7 playoff ticket at the expense of LPE 

Onic PH avenged their loss in their last El Clasico matchup against Aura PH with a 2-1 reverse sweep in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League. 

Behind a stellar performance by Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol's Selena, Onic PH completed the reverse sweep in a long but dominating one-sided Game 3. 

Kairi took home the MVP award for Game 3, coming out unscathed with 9 kills, 7 assists, and an 82 percent kill participation to his name. 

Even with seven of their turrets wiped out, Onic PH was able to turn Game 2 around to their favor 15 minutes into the game by grouping together and pushing towards the mid lane to level the series with the help of Jaylord "Hate" Gonzales performance as Lancelot, who took the MVP award in Game 2. 

AuraPH had struggled in the early parts of game 1 in terms of durability, with some players raking in a lot of deaths early into the game. 

But the purchase of defensive items such as Athena’s shield kept the team afloat in crucial fights to counter the high damage output of Onic PH squad with Jason “Jay” Torculas' Silvana and Christian “Iy4knu” Manaog's Chang’e. 

Aura PH will remain atop the group A standings with the results. 

Onic PH will remain at fourth place behind defending champs Bren Esports with 17 points. 

Onic PH and Bren Esports are tied in terms of tournament points but Bren Esports hold an advantage with a 15-13 total win-loss game record. 

Meanwhile, Execration has booked a playoff ticket at the expense of Laus Playbook Esports, who are sent out of playoff contention after a 2-0 sweep in the earlier game. 

LPE looked to even out the Game 1, with the help ofJay “JAKE THE DOG” Lapitan's Chang'e. But a lord team fight 13 minutes into the game turned things around in favor of Execration, banking behind Patrick “E2MAX” James Caidic and Kiel “Kielvj” VJ Hernandez's stellar performances as Yve and Hayabusa, respectively. 

Game 2 was seemingly one-sided game in favor of Execration, as LPE struggled to farm in the early-game. At one point in the mid-game, Execration was able to amass a 6,000 gold lead versus LPE. 

LPE, which qualified in MPL7 through a qualifying tournament, are at 5th place in Group B with 8 points. 

Execration will face Aura PH Sunday evening, while LPE will look to end their campaign with a win against Work Auster Force.

ROSTER: 

ONIC PH - Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, Christian “Iy4knu” Manaog, Jaylord “Hate” Gonzales, Gerald “Dlar” Trinchera, Jason “Jay” Torculas, and Marky “Markyyyyy” Capacio 

AURA PH - Christian Provido "Rafflesia" Fajura, Allen Jedric "Greed_" O. Baloy, Ashley Marco "Killuash" Dungo Cruz, Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz, Frederic Benedict "Bennyqt" A. Gonzales, Jaymark Aaron "Lord Hadess" Tomas Lazaro

EXECRATION - Renz “Renzio” Errol Cadua, Patrick “E2MAX” James Caidic, Kiel “Kielvj” VJ Hernandez, Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog, Grant “Kelra" Duane Pillas, and Billy ”Z4pnu" Jazha Alfonso 

LAUS PLAYBOOK ESPORTS - ANowee “Ryota” Macasa, Joshua “Aspect” Tating, Jay “JAKE THE DOG” Lapitan, Paul Ian “Beemo” Sergio, Erwin “Yakou” Magno

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/21/mobile-legends-onic-ph-stuns-aura-ph-in-thrilling-mpl7-el-clasico-match

David Chua: In the right place at the right time

David Chua is a hardworking man who is fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

The 32-year-old actor, director and producer was in Donsol, Sorsogon, to shoot an advocacy campaign video when he guested on Daily Tribune’s online show Wazzup!

He recalled thinking in 2020 how he would cope with the cancellation of his home studio ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise when the opportunity to work in a TV5 show came his way.

There was an opening in Rated Korina for a director of photography which he felt he could do. A Fine Arts graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), David said he knew how to draw, operate a video camera and edit videos.

He got the job, and later on he was asked if he could also direct one of the show’s segments. He accepted the offer, taking it as a chance to learn something new.

Asked how he seemed to easily transition from actor to director, David said he did his homework and took his job seriously.

What he realized, he added, was that it’s harder to direct than to act. Eventually he understood why directors blow their top when they can’t get the shot they want.

It didn’t take long before he thought of putting up his own production outfit with two creative partners. He named it Dark Carnival Productions.

Explaining how he came up with the name, he said he looks at the entertainment industry as a carnival.

“And everyone has a dark side. Also, we’re like a dark horse standing side by side with the big players. DC are likewise my initials.”

Dark Carnival has done two documentaries, and its current projects are an online advertisement, the advocacy campaign, and an indie film. “We’re on our second draft of the script,” he said.

David has come a long way from his ethnic Chinese roots. His grandfather was an immigrant from mainland China who settled in Manila.

Born to a Chinese mother and a German father, he remembers attending a Buddhist school as a kid.

He was in college at UST when he was persuaded to join Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian, a campus personality pageant. Two of the judges, ABS-CBN’s John Lapus and beauty queen coach Jonas Gaffud, saw his potential as an actor and model.

He did some modeling stints, and in 2008 he was cast in the ABS-CBN series My Girl starring Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. David played the twin brother of Alex Gonzaga and Kim’s close friend.

As a Star Magic talent, he has appeared in over 30 TV series including May Bukas Pa, Imortal, Juanita Banana, Saturday Night Chill (for which he won Best Supporting Actor in the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2013 as a gambling lord), and his most recent project, Love Thy Woman.

As for his striking resemblance to Gong Yoo of Goblin fame, David said he’s a fan of the Korean actor but he’d rather be acknowledged as an artist with his own style and identity.

Hecyl Joy D. Brojan

Contributor

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/15/david-chua-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time/

After joining LuponWXC, Paulo Avelino out to prove there is future in esports

Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News

Actor and casual gamer Paulo Avelino has seen good opportunities to build a career in gaming, debunking beliefs that there is no future in esport. 

In a media conference conducted by esports streaming company LuponWXC, Avelino acknowledged the popularity of online games in the country which makes him believe that the industry will just get bigger in the succeeding years. 

“Nasanay kami na sinasabihan na walang future sa gaming. And siguro ngayon na marami ng nag-open na opportunities, masaya lang ako na nagkakaroon na, actually marami ng opportunities to build a career in gaming,” he said. 

In his advice to the younger generation, the award-winning actor reminded them the importance of balancing education and gaming but also opened the idea of eventually pursuing gaming as a career in the future. 

“Of course to all the young gamers out there, it’s always nice to balance things out. Kumbaga know your priorities at kapag alam mo siguro yung priorities mo, ma-ba-balance out mo yung oras mo for gaming and other real life stuff,” Avelino quipped. 

“Pero don’t be scared if you think that kapag tingin may future ka sa larangan na ito na e-sports or gaming. Don’t be scared because maybe after five or 10 years when they grow up I’m sure it’ll be an even bigger industry than it is now,” he added. 

Avelino also attributed the rise of esports to social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube which give the gamers opportunities to stream and play. This made the esports community thrive amid the pandemic. 

And now that he partnered with local esports personality Nico "KuyaNic" Nazario in a streaming business, the actor vowed to keep it safe for all ages. 

“Kumbaga sinasabi naman namin kung may mga hindi kanais nais na sinasabi sa stream,” he added. 

Asked about their plans in LuponWXC, Avelino admitted they have a lot lined up but they are still considering several factors before making big moves such as the budget and the pandemic. 

He said they are taking things one step at a time so when they finally decide to expand, the company is prepared. 

“Inuunti unti namin para pag umabot na sa time na mag-eexpand na kami or magagawa na namin yung gusto namin gawin for Lupon, wala kaming masasagasaan or sigurado kami na ready kami,” he said. 

Avelino and Nazario are also looking forward to the completion of their gaming facility in General Trias, Cavite, which has 11 broadcast studios.

The creators of LuponWXC regularly stream on YouTube, Facebook, and Kumu.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/14/21/after-joining-luponwxc-paulo-avelino-out-to-prove-there-is-future-in-esports