Import Powell, palalaruin ng Bay Area para sa Game 6

ni MC @Sports | January 11, 2023

Muling ilalabas ng Bay Area Dragons ngayong Miyerkules si American guard Myles Powell para sa Game 6 ng 2022 PBA Commissioners' Cup finals.

Nasa krisis na sitwasyon ang Dragons kontra Ginebra Kings sa Araneta Coliseum, matapos kunin ng Gins ang 3-2 lead sa best-of-seven series.

Naglalarong walang import ang Bay Area sa Games 4 at 5 after makaraang dumanas ng ankle sprain si Canadian forward Andrew Nicholson sa papatapos na segundo sa Game 3. Nagwagi sila sa Game 4, 94-86 bago kinapos sa Game 5 noong Linggo, 101-91.

Si Powell, na hindi nakalaro mula pa noong November 23 laban sa TNT Tropang GIGA ay balik na ngayon sa active line-up ng Dragons sa Game 6, ayon sa ABS-CBN news mula kay Bay Area assistant coach Cholo Villanueva.

Hindi naman maasahan muli sa aksiyon si Nicholson sa Bay Area dahil una nang sinabi ni head coach Brian Goorjian na guard ay "never an option" makaraang mapilayan sa paa. "He's been in the weight room, he's been doing some strength work, but he's not ready to step on the floor," saad ni Goorjian hinggil kay Powell matapos ang Game 3. "It was snapped, so it's a 6-8 week proposition, and then he needs practice. So he was never an option, never an option," dagdag niya.

Nalalagay man sa do-or-die situation ang Bay Area magagawan pa rin ng Dragons ng paraan ang lahat. Si Powell ay may averaged na 37.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, at 2.0 steals para sa Bay Area sa eight appearances. Mamayang gabi ang Game 6 sa Araneta Coliseum.

Tennis star Eala, yuko sa Australian qualifying Open

ni MC @Sports | January 10, 2023

Nabigo sa kanyang pakay na grand slam sa unang professional tournament si Alex Eala nang matalo ito sa 6-4, 6-7(1), 3-6 kay dating Top 30 ace Misaki Doi ng Japan sa qualifying opening round ng Australian Open (AO) kahapon.

Dinaig ang Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 214 Eala, 17 ng 31-anyos na World No. 308 Doi sa loob ng 2 hours at 37 minuto na laro sa Court 8 ng Melbourne Park.

Kinakailangan ni Eala, singles champion ng 2022 US Open Juniors, 2022 W25 Chiang Rai, at 2021 W15 Manacor ng tatlong qualifying matches para umabanse sa AO main draw. Nagawa pa ng Filipina tennis star na makalamang sa 4-2, pero sumagot na ang two-time WTA 125K Series winner Doi ng isang serve para sa ace, 4-5.

Makaraan ang 42 minuto ng laro, masigla pa si Eala sa first set mula love service dahil sa backhand forced error ni Doi, 6-4, at narinig pang sumigaw ang Rafa Nadal Academy scholar ng, “Come on!”

Nagpatuloy ang makapigil-hiningang bakbakan sa second set hanggang makalamang uli si Eala, 4-2 dahil sa ilang sunod na forehand service return.

Dalawang beses nag-served si Eala para sa 5-2 at 5-4, pero nagawang humabol ni Doi para muling pamunuan ang momentum, 6-5, makaraang makaligtas sa tatlong break points.

Sa ikalawang round ng qualifying, makakasagupa ni Doi si No. 14 seed at World No. 113 Laura Pigossi ng Brazil. Kaugnay na rin ng kanyang pro grand slam debut, plano ni Eala sa kanyang International Tennis Federation (ITF) blog. “My team and I did everything we planned to, executing everything really well. I was so happy with how my team constructed those five weeks,” saad ng two-time junior girls’ doubles grand slam champion ng 2020 Australian Open at 2021 Roland Garros.

Sityodtong, 'heartbroken' sa pagpanaw ni MMA star Lee

ni MC @Sports | January 10, 2023

Bumuhos ang mga mensahe ng pakikiramay mula sa mga atleta at sports chief sa pagyao ng 18-year-old rising MMA star Victoria "The Prodigy" Lee noong Disyembre.

Maging si Asia-based ONE MMA Championship chief Chatri Sityodtong ay "heartbroken" umano sa pagpanaw ni Lee at maalalala niya ito bilang "the beautiful and precious soul that she was."

Si Lee ay nagmula sa pamilya ng champion MMA fighters, ang nakatatandang kapatid na si Angela ay ONE Championship atomweight world title holder habang ang kapatid na lalaki na si Christian ay hawak ang ONE lightweight title. "I am heartbroken by Victoria Lee's passing. I first met Victoria when she was 11 years old. I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being. I always remember thinking how wise, thoughtful, and selfless she was beyond her years. Of course, she was an extraordinary martial arts prodigy even back then, but I could see that she was so much more than that.

Victoria had the purest heart of gold and a brilliant mind. She looked after others before herself. She wanted to use her life to help the world. I will always remember Victoria for the beautiful and precious soul that she was.

May you rest in peace, Victoria. We will all miss you. I send my love, prayers, strength, and light to Ken, Jewelz, Angela, Christian, Adrian, and all of their loved ones. I am so truly heartbroken for your loss. May God bless you," ani Sityodtong sa kanyang Facebook page noong Linggo.

Ayon naman sa tweet ni Indian-Canadian mixed martial arts star Gurdarshan Mangat, "This one is tough. Her energy was felt whether you knew her or not. She was destined for greatness. I just pray she knew that before she left us. That she truly was a light."