Category: Uncategorized

LeBron James agrees to a 2-year extension with Lakers

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Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Bronny James, left, and his father, LeBron James, share a light moment as they arrive for the NBA basketball team’s news conference in El Segundo, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

LeBron James is making it official: He’s coming back for a record-tying 22nd season in the NBA, one where the league’s all-time scoring leader could share the floor with his son Bronny as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron has agreed to a two-year contract to remain with the Lakers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday. The second year of the deal is at James’ option and means he could become a free agent again next summer, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced publicly.

ESPN reported that the Lakers and LeBron’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, may agree on a salary slightly less than the max that LeBron could have gotten — a move that could keep the team from reaching the second apron and preserve some roster flexibility going forward.

READ: Lakers coach JJ Redick still hopes to create great content with LeBron

Either way, the expectation is that James will make around $50 million — give or take a little bit — this coming season, pushing his career on-court earnings to around $530 million and making him the first player in NBA history to eclipse the $500 million mark.

It will be LeBron’s 22nd season in the NBA, tying Vince Carter for the league record. The Lakers selected Bronny James last week in the second round of the draft, putting them in position to have the first on-court father-son duo in NBA history.

Bronny James already has signed his first NBA contract, the Lakers announced Wednesday. It is a four-year deal, the last of those years at the Lakers’ option, worth $7.9 million — with about $1.2 million as his rookie year salary.

Getting his latest deal done clears one logistical hurdle for LeBron James: He needed a contract to be in place before he could take the floor with USA Basketball for the start of its training camp in Las Vegas this weekend, one where the squad will start preparations for the Paris Olympics. James will play in the Olympics for the fourth time, his first since helping the U.S. win gold at the 2012 London Games.

READ: NBA: Bronny James says he can handle playing with LeBron, Lakers

He’ll turn 40 in December and averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists last season — as the oldest active player in the league.

Not only is James the all-time leader in points (40,474), but he’s fourth in assists (11,009), sixth in games played (1,492) and eighth in both 3-pointers made (2,410) and steals (2,275).

His 20 All-Star selections is a record, as are his 20 appearances on the All-NBA team. He holds the records for being both the youngest player, and oldest player, to make an All-NBA squad.

James became the youngest to make All-NBA when he was voted onto the team for the 2004-05 season. This past season, he became the first player to be age 39 or older in what became an All-NBA campaign.



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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan were both just a few days from turning 39 when the regular seasons ended in what became their final All-NBA campaigns, Abdul-Jabbar’s being 1985-86 and Duncan’s being 2014-15. James played in 71 games this past season, the last 42 of those coming after he turned 39.

Gilas win over Latvia ‘means a lot to fans back home’

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Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a Fiba OQT Riga game against world No. 6 Latvia. –FIBA BASKETBALL

MANILA, Philippines — Even Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone was shocked with how his team pulled off a massive upset against world No.6 Latvia in the opener of their Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) campaign.

Gilas Pilipinas, led by Justin Brownlee and big men June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto, never wavered against one of the world’s best teams as it stunned Latvia with a wire-to-wire 89-80 win in front of the massive home crowd on Thursday (Manila Time) in Riga.

It was the country’s first against a European team since beating Spain in the 1960 Rome Olympics. And Cone was in awe of how the Filipinos overcame the daunting task, pouncing on the absence of Latvia star Arturs Zagars and limiting the home team to 27-of-72 shooting through their steady defense and masterful run of the triangle offense.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

“I’m totally shocked to be sitting here in front of you guys after winning this basketball game,” Cone said in the postgame press conference.

“This is not something we thought we were gonna do, I’ll be honest with you, we wanted to come in and compete and really put on a good show. We got started early. We made shots early. Then, thankfully, Latvia missed shots and also Zagars didn’t play.”

Cone lauded the defense of his squad, which helped them pull off the stunner including the big shots of Brownlee down the stretch, limiting NBA player Davis Bertans to just 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

“Got to credit our guys and their defense. We were doing our best trying to defend everybody,” said the Gilas coach. “We were obviously very, very conscious of him (Bertans). We played him with a smaller guy who can be quicker. You look at our line-up, our big guy had to go out and guard (Rodion)Kurucs. We put our big guy on Kurucs and kept a smaller guy on Bertans.”

READ: Gilas Pilipinas stuns world No. 6 Latvia to open Fiba OQT bid

“But the guy (Bertans) still makes some incredible shots… Watching him in Georgia, and then we were going through all the videos, we were preparing for him. The shots he makes are just phenomenal. You just have to hold your breath and hope he misses. We try to slide into him and then hope and pray that he would miss. And tonight, he missed, went in our favor,” he added.

Cone attributed their big win to the Filipino fans back home, who stayed late which the game starting at midnight Thursday in Philippine time, to show their support by watching their first OQT game.

‘Basically Filipino’

Gilas Pilipinas looks to thr crowd after beating world No. 6 and home team Latvia in a Fiba OQT game in Riga.

Tim Cone-led Gilas Pilipinas looks to the crowd after beating world No. 6 and home team Latvia in a Fiba OQT game in Riga. –FIBA PHOTO

“How many times you can get to the international arena and have success? That’s a huge feather in your cap, not just for me but for all the players and all the people back home,” said the Barangay Ginebra coach.

“I grew up in the Philippines. I’ve been there my whole life. I went there when I was nine years old. And people know that about me and they know that I’m basically a Filipino although I have blonde hair and green eyes. It’s a feather in the cap for everyone.”

READ: Tim Cone dismisses notion that Gilas not big, fast, strong enough

“For us to have success on the world stage really means a lot to what’s going on back home. This is what we always wanted so this is a big huge step for us to be able to play Latvia at home and go at them face-to-face and come out with a win. It’s amazing for us.”

Despite their impressive start in the OQT, Cone stressed that the Filipinos didn’t come to win just one game but to “move on and get to the next round and have a chance to play in the final” as they battle World No. 23 Georgia on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (Manila time).



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“We really wanna try and get to the final and see what will happen if we get to the finals. That’s really the goal,” he said. “ Whenever you win a game the expectations go up so then you have to keep chasing the expectations and hopefully we won’t feel that and hopefully we can get that communicated to our team that we can’t play the expectations, we just play the way that we can play.”

“We have to turn around and play Georgia and our gonna country is gonna expect us, especially after this win tonight, to win tomorrow and it’s really gonna be a tough job for us to beat Georgia.”

Gilas’ Justin Brownlee ‘Michael Jordan of PH basketball’

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Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto was all praise for Justin Brownlee, who once again played the hero for Gilas Pilipinas in its 89-80 shocker of world No. 6 and host Latvia in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) on Thursday.

Sotto even went on to say that his naturalized teammate is the “Michael Jordan of Philippine basketball.”

Brownlee, also the hero in the Gilas’ historic gold medal run in the Asian Games last year, scored six straight points highlighted with a four-point play to give the visitors an 85-71 with over three minutes left.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

“The world doesn’t really know much about Justin Brownlee. But for me, he’s the Michael Jordan of Philippine Basketball,” said Sotto, who also stepped up for the Filipinos with 18 points and eight rebounds, in an interview with Fiba.com

Brownlee and Sotto paved the way for the Philippines’ first win against a European team in a Fiba-sanctioned tournament since 1960.

The 22-year-old Sotto was confident that Brownlee would deliver when it mattered most, restoring the order for Gilas when Latvia fought its way back from a 26-point deficit and cut it down to 79-69 midway through the fourth quarter.

Justin Brownlee Gilas Pilipinas stuns world No. 6 Latvia to open Fiba OQT bid schedule

Justin Brownlee soars for a slam in Gilas Pilipinas’ Fiba OQT win against Latvia. –FIBA BASKETBALL

“That’s what we expect him to do and that’s what he does every night,” said Sotto, who first teamed up with Brownlee in the first window of the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers early this year.

“He just goes out there with his A-game every single night. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great player and we’re very blessed. We’re very lucky to have him.”

READ: Tim Cone dismisses notion that Gilas not big, fast, strong enough

Brownlee flirted with a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

Sotto, who has been thriving under coach Tim Cone’s tutelage at Gilas Pilipinas, relished surpassing the Filipinos’ first test of the Fiba OQT on the road to the Paris Olympics.

“It’s a really great game tonight. We all know how great Latvia is and we really prepared hard against Latvia and their players. I think we just came out strong tonight and we had some rough couple of minutes in the second half but we just hung on and believed in each other, we just followed coach Tim [Cone],” he said.

“I’m very blessed and happy that we got the win tonight and no one got injured. I’m just happy that everyone contributed to the win.”



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Sotto and Gilas Pilipinas have no time to celebrate their historic win as they shift their focus against Georgia on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (Manila time).

Jonathan Isaac agrees to $84 million deal with Magic

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FILE -Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, right, goes to the basket as he is defended by Sacramento Kings center Alex Len, middle and Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Jonathan Isaac has agreed to an $84 million deal that will keep him with Orlando for five more seasons, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski, File)

Jonathan Isaac has agreed to an $84 million deal that will keep him with Orlando for five more NBA seasons, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

Isaac agreed to a renegotiation of the last year of his current deal along with an extension, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the new contract cannot be finalized before the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted Saturday.

ESPN first reported the agreement between Isaac and the Magic.

It’s yet another success story for Isaac, whose career seemed in jeopardy a few years ago because of injuries that kept him sidelined for 2 1/2 years.

READ: NBA: Paul George will leave Clippers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Magic

The No. 6 pick in the 2017 draft by the Magic hurt his left knee on Jan. 1, 2020, in a game at Washington. He returned and played two games in the pandemic bubble seven months later but blew out his left ACL in the second of those appearances. Isaac had other setbacks along the way in recovery — including a right hamstring injury that required surgery — and saw his 2022-23 season end early because of an adductor injury.

But this past season was a bounceback in many ways.

He averaged 6.8 points on 51% shooting, played in 58 games — 13 more than he played in the previous four seasons combined — and helped the Magic win the Southeast Division and return to the playoffs. Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley repeatedly credited Isaac for his defensive prowess.

“Elite, elite, elite defender,” Mosley said late in the season.



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End of an era as Andy Murray withdraws from Andy Murray singles

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Britain’s Andy Murray attends a Pre-Championships Press Conference in the Media Theatre in the Broadcast Centreon the eve of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on June 30, 2024. (Photo by Florian EISELE / various sources / AFP) 

Two-time champion Andy Murray called time on his Wimbledon singles career on Tuesday after the “extremely disappointed” former world number one lost his battle to recover from back surgery.

However, the 37-year-old, who plans to retire after the Paris Olympics, will still experience an emotional farewell to the All England Club when he plays doubles with brother Jamie later in the tournament.

Murray underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his back last month, a procedure he described as “not insignificant.”

READ: Andy Murray faces agonizing decision over Wimbledon farewell

The operation left him without full feeling in his right leg and placed in peril his final appearance at the tournament.

As a result Murray doubted if he would recover in time to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in his scheduled first-round clash on Centre Court on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” said a statement from Murray’s representatives.

“As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”

READ: Andy Murray uncertain if he’ll play in Paris Olympics

Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013.

He added a second title in 2016, taking his career majors total to three after breaking his duck at the 2012 US Open.

That win in New York came just weeks after he had lost his first Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.

 ‘Great guy’

Andy Murray Paris Olympic tennis great britain

Britain’s Andy Murray gestures to the public after playing against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of the French Open on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Murray, who has never been defeated in the first round at Wimbledon, has not progressed past the quarter-finals since his 2016 triumph.

The physical stress of 20 years on the tour has taken its toll.

He missed the 2018 tournament with injury and 12 months later sat out the singles after undergoing hip surgery.

READ: Andy Murray’s French Open career ended by Wawrinka in first round

That year, he played men’s doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and mixed doubles with Serena Williams.

Murray has competed with a metal hip since 2019 while this season he damaged ankle ligaments in Miami when he went down to defeat to Machac.

The Scot made his Wimbledon debut in 2005, reaching the third round, where he took a two-set lead before losing in five to 2002 runner-up David Nalbandian.

Fellow three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka hailed Murray as “an amazing champion”.

“He pushed everybody. He won everything in the sport that you can win. He’s been No. 1. He’s been an example for many players,” said the 39-year-old Swiss, who has faced the Briton 23 times since their first clash in 2005.

“He’s a great guy. We’re good friends. We spent so many times together. On the court, in practice court, we practice tons of times together. We always had a good relationship.”

Murray fans had been desperate to see their hero make his Wimbledon farewell.

“He feels like one of our own,” said 40-year-old Lorna Kennedy, who had traveled down to London from Dundee in Scotland.

“He’s done so well and he’s just been so good for the sport.”



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Murray was replaced in the draw on Monday by Belgium’s David Goffin, a lucky loser from qualifying.

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese lead WNBA team vs US Olympic squad

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Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky reacts after fouling Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the second half of a WNBA game Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will team up on the WNBA All-Star team to play against the U.S. Olympic team led by A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.

The pair of remarkable rookies were selected Tuesday by a combination of votes from the media, players and fans as well as the league’s 12 coaches to play in the game in Phoenix on July 20. It’s the 20th All-Star Game in the league’s history.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been her teammate before, even at USA Basketball. I know people will be really excited about it, but I hope it doesn’t take away from everyone else,” Clark said. “This is a huge accomplishment for everybody on Team USA and everyone on Team WNBA. They all deserve the same praise. I don’t want it to take away from any of that and be the focal point of All-Star weekend because that’s not fair to them.”

READ: Caitlin Clark left off Team USA roster for Paris Olympics

Clark was the leading vote-getter from the fans, receiving 700,735 with her Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston finishing second 72,000 votes behind. Reese was fifth with 381,518 votes. Wilson and Stewart were third and fourth. Wilson garnered 607,300 votes and Stewart had 424,135.

Clark and Reese have been a boon for the WNBA in ratings, merchandise sales and attendance. They are also playing well on the court with Clark third in assists with 6.9 and Reese leading the WNBA in rebounds at 11.4.

“They just told me I’m an All-Star. I’m just so happy,” an emotional Reese said after her Sky beat the Atlanta Dream. “I know the work I’ve put in. Coming into this league so many people doubted me and didn’t think my game would translate and I wouldn’t be the player I was in college, or better, or would be worse, or wouldn’t be where I am right now. But I trust the process and I’m thankful I dropped to No. 7 (pick in the draft) and was able to come to Chicago.”

READ: WNBA: Angel Reese says foul on Caitlin Clark a basketball play

It’s the eighth time that two rookies have been on the team. The last was Shoni Schimmel and Chiney Ogwumike in 2014.

Joining the rookies on the WNBA team were DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones of Connecticut, Allisha Gray of Atlanta, Dearica Hamby of Los Angeles, Jonquel Jones of New York, Kayla McBride of Minnesota, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana, Nneka Ogwumike of Seattle and Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas.

Ogunbowale was the MVP of the 2021 All-Star game which featured the same format of the U.S. team playing a league All-Star team. The WNBA team won that game.

“She’s had an incredible season to this point,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said of McBride. “She’s doing everything for us, so deserving of this All-Star nod.”

The U.S. team, which will be going for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris later this month, also features Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. The pair of Phoenix players will get a chance to play in front of their home crowd in the exhibition game. Taurasi will be vying for a record sixth Olympic gold medal.

Three of Wilson’s Las Vegas teammates — Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young — are on the U.S. team. Gray was on the Tokyo Olympic squad while Plum and Young both helped the Americans win the inaugural 3-on-3 gold medal.

Other returners from the Tokyo Games include Napheesa Collier and Jewell Loyd. Several first-time Olympians will join the team with Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper. All three played on the American team that won the World Cup in Australia in 2022.

Every player chosen for either the U.S. team or the WNBA squad is considered an All-Star making this Taurasi’s 11th time in the game. She’s now alone in second behind Sue Bird for most all time. Bird was a 13-time All-Star.



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The league will have a 3-point challenge and skill contest the night before the All-Star game.

Esteban sees action in Paris with milestone for PH

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Maxine Esteban—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Already having the support of two nations, Maxine Esteban just got validation that she has what it takes to win in the Paris Olympics.

Climbing to a world ranking of 27th the FIE (International Fencing Federation) for the year, Esteban just became the highest ranked Philippine-born fencer as she sees action for Ivory Coast in the glitzy fashion capital later this month.

“I want to thank all my Filipino and Ivorian supporters. Thank you for your prayers and love. You are the reason I continue to strive for excellence,” Esteban said. “Lastly, I thank God for this amazing season, thank you for your protection and guidance—and for the overwhelming abundance of blessings.”

Esteban is one of the 30 direct qualifiers for the women’s foil event—automatic berths granted to athletes based on their world ranking.

The final pairings for the women’s foil event, which will be a direct elimination format, will be known after the four lowest ranked fencers battle for the last two slots in the round of 32.

The top 16 in the rankings will battle the lower 16 in crossover fashion, and fencers will need at least three wins for a shot at the podium.

Esteban is currently in Germany with her coach, Andrea Magro, who tutored several gold-winning Olympians before.

“I am happy and excited that my world ranking has again risen,” she said. “After such a hectic season of 18 Olympic qualifiers which culminated in my direct qualification for Paris Olympics, this is indeed one of the biggest rewards for all my hard work.”



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Cabang completes journey from walk-in to the Olympics

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John Cabang is a remarkable success story for PH athletics. —PHILIPPINE ATHLETICS TRACK AND FIELD ASSOCIATION/FACEBOOK

John Cabang was a walk-in, a virtual unknown competing in the men’s 110-meter hurdles of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) weekly trials and winning the event two years ago.

In a few weeks, he’ll be wearing the PH red-white-and-blue in the Paris Olympics.

“I just tried my luck in the trials and it was all worth it,’’ said Cabang, a full-blooded Filipino who grew up in the Basque region of San Sebastian in Spain whose qualification for the Games, like Lauren Hoffman, was announced late Tuesday evening by World Athletics.

Cabang and Hoffman will accompany pole vault ace EJ Obiena in the French capital as athletics bets.

“Being there in the Olympics is surreal, I just couldn’t explain the feeling. Super happy I guess,’’ said the 22-year-old Cabang, the Philippine record holder of 13.37 seconds in the event.

Qualifying easily

He ended up ranked 29th out of 40 qualifiers on the deadline of the Olympic rankings last Sunday after punctuating his qualification journey with a victory in the Spanish Club Championships last month.

Cabang and Hoffman, the national champion in the women’s 400-m hurdles, performed well in several Olympic qualifying meets.

“It was a Herculean effort. From the outset, we set a very high expectation of qualifying four to five athletes. To date, we already have three. There’s still a slim chance albeit remote of maybe one more athlete,’’ said Patafa president Terry Capistrano.

Sprinter Kristina Knott is clinging onto the possibility of securing a Paris ticket after ranking No. 57 out of 48 qualifiers in the women’s 200 m.

The inclusion of Cabang and Hoffman has jacked up to 22 the number of Filipino athletes that will see action in nine sports in the July 26 to Aug. 11 global sports showpiece.

“This focused campaign to get our athletes to Paris is also an exercise to be able to understand, study and improve our processes in order to navigate the road to the Olympics,’’ said Capistrano.

“We hope this exercise will provide the template for the future,’’ he added.



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Olympic silver medalists boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam have been designated flagbearers in the opening ceremony where fellow boxer and Olympic bronze performer Eumir Marcial is expected to be in attendance along with Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo.

Converge has franchise find as Baltazar enters Draft

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Justine Baltazar. Photo from B.League

Justine Baltazar, the big man many see as Converge’s the top overall pick, officially threw his name in the PBA Draft on the eve of the deadline set by the league on Wednesday.

Baltazar formally submitted his application on Wednesday, joining notables who had put their names ahead of the Draft that will be held at Glorietta in Makati City on July 14.

Converge owns the right to select first after placing dead last in both the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup, winning just three out of 22 games combined.

Coach Aldin Ayo was not available for comment at press time. But he had said after the FiberXers’ final game of Season 48 that Converge intends to get someone who can turn things around.

“Hopefully we can get the players that would help us,” Ayo said then.

That may likely be Baltazar, whose versatility since his UAAP days at La Salle and impressive showing for Gilas Pilipinas three years ago in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and Olympic Qualifying Tournament made him a potential game changer for Converge.

His connections with key figures within the FiberXers franchise also seems to make his selection a no-brainer, even if Dave Ildefonso, the former Ateneo hotshot in the UAAP, is reportedly considering joining the pool before the deadline lapses on Thursday.

Baltazar currently plays for the MPBL’s Pampanga team owned by Gov. Dennis Pineda, whose bid to become Converge’s team governor last year was thumbed down by the PBA board. The FiberXers eventually appointed Pineda’s son-in-law, Archen Cayabyab, to the post.

The 6-foot-9 standout was also handled in 2016 by Ayo, who steered La Salle to the UAAP championship. Baltazar also played in past international tournaments for Strong Group Athletics of the Lao family. Jacob Lao currently holds the role of Converge team manager.

Ildefonso, meanwhile, is set to play for SGA in the William Jones Cup, and will enter the Draft following a two-year stint with Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League.

He also has a connection with Converge, where his dad, PBA great Danny, is part of Ayo’s staff.

Applicants have until 5 p.m. on Thursday to turn in their papers at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City. Once the official list is finalized, rookie hopefuls will take part in next week’s Draft Combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.



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Former Asean Basketball League player and Taiwan’s T1 League import Caelan Tiongson, Evan Nelle and CJ Cansino are among the other notable names already entered.

Philippines wakes up to result of Gilas’ first OQT game

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Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

National coach Tim Cone has made one thing clear months before the tall order Gilas Pilipinas needs to hurdle in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.

“I’m a big believer that there are always really hard things to do. But nothing’s impossible,” he had told the Inquirer.

The architect behind last year’s golden romp in the Asian Games in China put that mantra to the test once again on Thursday morning in Manila, when the Philippines wakes up to the result of its National squad opening its OQT stint against Latvia and its home crowd at Arena Riga.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas stuns world No. 6 Latvia to open Fiba OQT bid

Against overwhelming odds, Cone had already asked his crew—led by the indefatigable Justin Brownlee, the World Cup-tested duo of June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, and young cornerstones Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos—to have the immediate goal of making the knockout crossover, where they have a better chance of tabbing an Olympic berth.

“We’re not here to win a game. We’re here to win a tournament. We’re here to win the whole thing,” he was quoted saying during practice in a story published by the PBA website.

“Losing to [Latvia] does not get us knocked out. But losing—if we allow that first one to affect us in the second one (against Georgia), then we’re gonna be knocked out,” he added.

READ: Tim Cone dismisses notion that Gilas not big, fast, strong enough

Cone’s outlook may be the only logical step for the No. 37-ranked Philippines to take, considering how high Latvia is in the global basketball leaderboard.

The hosts are ranked sixth on the planet and lived up to that lofty billing with an 83-55 whipping of world No. 23 Georgia in Group A.

So hapless were the Jvarosnebi that national coach Aleksandar Dzikic and Duda Sanadze had very little to say about their performance.

Latvians flex might

“We didn’t respond well enough and long enough to their physicality and this result in the end is actually quite embarrassing, to be honest,” said Dzikic.

“[W]e’re very disappointed. The score is not what we are and what we worked [for]. We worked hard these past days and some weeks, but this score’s not us. From the bottom of our hearts, I just want to say sorry for our efforts—to our fans and families—because this is not really us,” Sanadze said.

Cone and his charges were witnesses to the merciless Latvian display. And so Gilas also knows how deflated the Georgians are.

And that could spell trouble for the Filipinos, too, as that means the Jvarosnebi will be dead-set on redeeming themselves in their clash set 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (Manila time).

“If we can beat one of those two teams (Latvia or Georgia), that means we can compete in the crossover, [and] you never know from there,” Cone said.



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The Philippines will need at least a win over Georgia to improve its chances of making the next phase, where they could either play Cameroon, Montenegro, or Brazil.