BASKETBALL
NBA stars in Philippines
The Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers are in the Philippines to treat fans to the first NBA game in the basketball-crazy nation. Both teams flew in early yesterday ahead of the NBA’s preseason Global Games in the Philippines on Thursday evening. Basketball is the country’s most popular sport and the NBA game has created a buzz on social media and radio and TV, with tickets going on sale months in advance. “We’re just excited to come over to play the game and give Filipinos a great show,” Houston Rockets guard James Harden said. The Rockets squad for the games in the Philippines and then Taiwan includes Jeremy Lin, the league’s first US-born player of Taiwanese descent. The Indiana Pacers roster features Danny Granger and NBA All-Stars Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and David West. Organizers said the game is part of the NBA’s comprehensive global schedule that will have eight teams play in eight cities in six countries this month. After Manila, the Rockets and Pacers play in Taipei on Sunday.
RUGBY UNION
Puma banned for stamping
Argentina scrumhalf Martin Landajo has been banned for a week for stamping after he was cited following the Pumas defeat by Australia in the Rugby Championship in Rosario on Saturday. Landajo planted his foot into a ruck repeatedly in full view of referee Wayne Barnes, but received only a penalty for a tackle infringement and a caution despite the incident being scrutinized by the television match official. The citing commissioner later deemed the incident had met the red card threshold for foul play and it was referred to a hearing. “This was a reckless attempt by Landajo to free up the ball in the back of the ruck, resulting in him making contact with his boot on the hands of two Australian players,” judicial officer Nigel Hampton said in a media release yesterday. “This was a lower end offence and, given the early guilty plea, Landajo’s contrition and his good playing record, appropriately could be dealt with by a one week suspension.”
SOCCER
Spain call up Michu
Swansea City forward Michu has been called into the Spain squad for next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia after David Villa was forced to pull out due to arthritis in his left ankle. It is a first ever international call up for Michu, who has scored five times for the Welsh side this season following an incredible debut campaign in the Premier League with 22 goals last season. Villa, who is Spain’s all-time leading international scorer, was forced off just before the hour mark of Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over RC Celta de Vigo on Sunday. “The Asturian player is suffering from arthritis in his left ankle, the medical services of the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] have been informed, which will make his presence in the squad managed by Vicente del Bosque impossible,” the RFEF said in a statement.
HORSE RACING
Treve wins Arc de Triomphe
Treve put on an impressive burst of speed in the final straight to outclass the field and win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by five lengths on Sunday. Race favorite Orfevre beat Intello by a neck to take second place in the world’s richest turf contest. Treve overcame a difficult draw, breaking from stall 15. The three-year-old French filly ran most of the race on the outside and hardly seemed in contention at the halfway stage, stuck in 14th place. However, she made her move about 600m from home to take the lead and then pulled away in the final straight.
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night. “Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our
Doping fears prevented former US Open champion Emma Raducanu from treating insect bites on the eve of the Australian Open, she said, with players increasingly wary about ingesting contaminated substances. The British player was speaking in the wake of high-profile doping cases involving Iga Swiatak and Jannik Sinner. “I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take on board, what we use,” the 22-year-old said, recalling an incident on Friday. “I got really badly bitten by, I don’t know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess,” she added. The bites “flared up and swelled up really a
TWO IN A WEEK: Despite an undefeated start to the year playing alongside Jiang Xinyu of China, Wu Fang-hsien is to play the Australian Open with a Russian partner Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien yesterday triumphed at the Hobart International, winning the women’s doubles title at the US$275,094 outdoor hard-court tournament, while McCartney Kessler lifted the trophy in the women’s singles. Fourth-ranked Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu of China took 1 hour, 15 minutes to defeat Romania’s Monica Niculescu and Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) at the Hobart International Tennis Centre, their second title in a week. Wu and Jiang on Sunday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, beating Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US. Their winning ways continued in Australia as they stretched
EL CLASSICO: La Liga champions Real Madrid would face Barcelona in the Super Cup final tomorrow. Barça secured their final spot after a 2-0 win over Bilbao on Wednesday Real Madrid would chase a record-equaling 14th Spanish Super Cup title in the final against Barcelona after second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo helped them to a 3-0 win over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday. England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock after the hour mark with a low shot into the middle of the goal before Mallorca defender Martin Valjent’s own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time followed by a Rodrygo strike from close range. Spanish champions Real are to play Barcelona for the trophy tomorrow after goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barça a 2-0 win over
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