Tag: soccer betting

Ateneo farewell points Amos to La Salle; UP signs Gilas prospect

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Mason Amos is leaving Ateneo Blue Eagles after just one UAAP season with the team and is reported to be moving to La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Mason Amos traveled over 9,000 kilometers to get to Riga, in Latvia, from Manila for his national team career.

His college career took a shorter trip—just about 20 km—but that voyage looks headed to a destination farthest from the minds of basketball fans.

Amos, the Ateneo big man who has become some sort of a regular in the Gilas Pilipinas pool, announced he was leaving the Blue Eagles, with multiple reports tagging him in a transfer to the other end of Philippine basketball’s greatest and longest-running rivalry.

“To my teammates—with a heavy heart I would like to express that you guys have been a huge part of my life. I am thankful for everything that we were able to share. I have no regrets having fought by your side,” Amos wrote on his Instagram account. “I am thankful that you guys taught me lessons and that we were able to create memories I will cherish forever. I love you guys and that’ll never change.”

The shock announcement, which was made public late Monday night while Amos was with Gilas Pilipinas in Latvia for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, caught almost everyone by surprise especially since the stretch big was marked as a cornerstone for the Blue Eagles.

Instead, he will reportedly begin his residency at La Salle as the UAAP arms race continues at a frenzied pace.

The Citadel product

On Tuesday, University of the Philippines (UP) announced that it had secured the services of Gilas Pilipinas talent target Quentin Millora-Brown, who will suit up for the Maroons in Season 87.

The 6-foot-10 center from The Citadel in the US NCAA Division 1 averaged 11.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 blocks for the same school that produced former PBA guard Noy Castillo.

“We have been talking with Quentin for a time now. We’ve visited him a couple of times since 2019,” UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol said in a statement released to the media. “We are beyond happy and really excited to finally have him in the team for next season.”

Amos, the 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 games for the Blue Eagles in what now turned out to be his lone season in Katipunan.

Amos helped anchor Ateneo’s 7-7 (win-loss) record in Season 86, where the Blue Eagles were eliminated by Final Four foe UP.



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La Salle and Ateneo have yet to respond to requests for a comment on the transfer. INQ

Klay Thompson heading to Mavs; George joining 76ers

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Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three point shot during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on February 15, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (Getty Images via AFP)

NEW YORK – Paul George is joining the Philadelphia 76ers and Klay Thompson is heading to the Dallas Mavericks, multiple US reports said Monday as NBA free-agency got into full swing.

Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, forming a potent back-court partnership alongside Stephen Curry and featuring prominently in the Warriors’ NBA championship-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Thompson, whose exit from the Golden State Warriors was confirmed on Sunday, has agreed terms on a three-year $50 million contract with Dallas, ESPN reported.

Nine-time All-Star George is joining the Sixers on a four-year deal worth $212 million while

The two deals bolster the Sixers’ and Mavs’ championship aspirations, with George set to form a big three alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and Thompson linking up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.

George, 34, has averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game over 867 career contests in 14 seasons for Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers, who he left behind last weekend after five seasons.

NBA clubs have a signing moratorium on finalizing all contracts until Saturday, so it’s left to media reports to chart the moves that cannot yet become official.

George’s coming to terms was reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Athletic and ESPN through unnamed sources.

The 76ers have not advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semi-finals since 2001 but might have their best chance with George joining All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and Cameroonian star center Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Multiple reports on Monday also had Maxey signing a five-year maximum contract extension worth $204 million. Maxey averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists for the Sixers last season.

George declined a $48.8 million deal for next season with the Clippers to test his value on the free agency market.

The 76ers also reportedly have struck a two-year deal worth just over $10 million with center Andre Drummond, a 12-year NBA veteran and five-seasons league rebounding leader.

Tobias Harris, a forward who played the past six seasons in Philadelphia, is reportedly off to the Detroit Pistons on a two-year deal worth $52 million.



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Center Isaiah Hartenstein, according to multiple reports, will leave New York for a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who also reportedly struck deals with reserves Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe.

Pistons, coach JB Bickerstaff agree on 4-year contract

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FILE – Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff shouts at his team during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, May 3, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a four-year NBA contract with coach J.B. Bickerstaff with a team option for a fifth season, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

The Cleveland Cavaliers fired Bickerstaff in May after they lost to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals despite them winning 99 games over two years.

The Pistons fired coach Monty Williams one season into a six-year, $78.5 million contract after they had the NBA’s worst record for a second straight year. They also fired general manager Troy Weaver after they won 23% of their games in his four seasons.

READ: NBA: Pistons decline 19M option for Evan Fournier

Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has been busy trying to turn around a three-time NBA championship-winning franchise that has fallen on hard times.

The 45-year-old Bickerstaff, who twice finished among the top five in NBA Coach of the Year voting, was 170-159 in four-plus seasons in Cleveland. He had six victories in the playoffs. He took over when John Beilein, a former Michigan coach, walked away from the Cavs during the 2019-20 season.

Bickerstaff also was promoted to replace fired coaches in Houston and Memphis, going 37-34 with the Rockets in the 2015-16 season and winning 48 games with the Grizzlies during most of the 2017-18 and all of the following season.

READ: NBA: Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to Pistons for Quentin Grimes

Bickerstaff’s father, Bernie, won 419 NBA games with Seattle, Denver, Washington, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Pistons went into free agency with $50 million in salary cap space, desperately looking for an influx in talent to play with 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.

Langdon has begun to reshape the roster by declining a $19 million option for Evan Fournier, extending a qualifying offer to Simone Fontecchio and acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr. from Dallas in a trade. He drafted Ron Holland of the G League Ignite with the fifth pick overall.

The Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since 2008, when they appeared in the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year.



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Max Christie returning to Lakers on 4-year, $32 million deal

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FILE – Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie controls the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Dec. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

LOS ANGELES — Promising wing Max Christie is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers with a four-year, $32 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Lakers haven’t announced the deal for their former second-round draft pick. ESPN first reported it.

The 21-year-old Christie has averaged 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists while playing inconsistently during his first two NBA seasons, but the Lakers clearly believe in his potential.

READ: NBA: LeBron James intends to sign new deal with Lakers

The Michigan State product is a career 37.8% shooter on 3-point attempts, and he showed promise as a three-and-D wing during his stretches in the Lakers’ rotation last season, including seven starts.

New Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned Christie prominently when he spoke of the team’s promising young talent ripe for development during his introductory news conference last week.

Even with two years of NBA experience, Christie is two years younger than Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round draft pick last Wednesday.

Christie’s brother, Cam, was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers last week.



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Gilas loses narrowly to world No. 15 Poland, showing that—despite some glitches—it is now armed well enough for OQT battle

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San Antonio mainstay in the NBA Jeremy Sochan (left) tries to dribble past Justin Brownlee in late second half action. —PHOTO COURTESY OF POLAND BASKETBALL FEDERATION

Gilas Pilipinas spent little time ruing another narrow loss in its preparations geared toward the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.

“Now the real fight begins,” national coach Tim Cone wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday noon (Manila time), swiftly putting behind an 82-80 loss at the hands of World No. 15 Poland which is also preparing its own OQT that will be held in Valencia, Spain.

The Nationals looked poised for a good outing at Sosnowiec Arena on early Sunday, thanks to a balanced attack led by Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto.

But miscues in the second period allowed the Poles to mount a fightback. The hosts held on and kept their poise in the final period, dousing Gilas’ spirited tries at a comeback and ultimately denying the Filipinos a chance at pocketing a morale-boosting win right before it plunges into the OQT in Riga.

Brownlee had 30 points to lead Gilas anew. He also starred in the loss to Turkey two nights ago. Ramos, meanwhile, added 16.

The Philippines actually enjoyed a nine-point edge in the first half before falling prey to disjointed play in the third period that had Cone fuming in one of the time-outs.

Cone being livid

“We’re not even trying anymore,” the seasoned mentor, livid, could be heard saying during the broadcast. “This isn’t about ‘Hey, yeah! Let’s go! Let’s go!’ That’s bulls**t. It’s about fu***ng doing your job, fellas!”

“We look like an Asian team right now. We look like a team who are playing Asia—and not European,” he added. “[I]f we’re gonna fu***ng play like sh**, we have no fu***ng chance. Get your head out your a** and let’s start playing!”

Gilas smoothened the gaps after that tongue-lashing, with Brownlee and Ramos joining hands in turning a 13-point hole to just a five-point deficit, 82-77, with 1:43 remaining.

The Nationals, however, couldn’t make the most out of the time left to complete a turnaround against the Jeremy Sochan-led Poles as Chris Newsome’s freebie and CJ Perez’ layup both came a little too late.

The Philippines thus settled for a 1-2 win-loss record in its preparatory games, the lone victory at the expense of club team Taiwan Mustangs. Capable

The Inquirer reached out to Cone just before the Philippine contingent left for Riga on Sunday, but the decorated mentor has yet to respond as of press time.

While moral victories don’t count for Cone and the rest of the Gilas brain trust, the gallant stand against Poland can still give the Nationals a good indication of their capabilities ahead of the tall task in Riga where World No. 6 Latvia and No. 23-ranked Georgia await.

The Philippines lost to Poland by just two points. And that should be an achievement in itself considering how the Poles handily beat New Zealand in an earlier friendly, where they won by 29 points.

While pulling off a stunner in Riga may be difficult, Cone has repeatedly said that it won’t be impossible.



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“I keep saying, it’s not impossible. It’s tough, sure. It’s always tough for us, but I feel we haven’t brought a team like this in OQT before,” he said. INQ

Risacher focusing on ‘good stuff,’ not pressure as top pick

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Atlanta Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher, left, and General Manager Landry Fields, right, hold up Risacher’s jersey after an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Atlanta. Risacher was selected as the first overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA basketball draft. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ATLANTA — Zaccharie Risacher says he’s not worried about the expectations that accompany being the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft — even if that also includes the daunting task of following fellow French star Victor Wembanyama.

“I feel like there is no pressure,” Risacher said Friday in his introductory news conference in Atlanta. “I just focus on the good stuff, you know, on the right stuff, which is playing here. I’m just excited to be with the Hawks right now, and I want to compete and win games. So that’s all.”

Wembanyama was last year’s No. 1 overall pick by San Antonio and was a unanimous selection for NBA rookie of the year.

“If I had to give him one advice to him, it would be to just be yourself, don’t change for anything, don’t let the pressure change you, don’t let fame, money whatever,” Wembanyama said Thursday in Paris. “But I know Zacch, he’s got it.”

READ: Zaccharie Risacher second straight from France picked No. 1 in NBA draft

Risacher said he hasn’t received pointers from Wembanyama. When asked if he learned anything from watching Wembanyama’s rookie season, Risacher said his best lessons came from following Wembanyama’s exploits as a professional in France. Risacher followed that path by playing for the same French club, JL Bourg, in 2023-24.

“That was great,” Risacher said. “You know, for myself, for a younger dude like me to see just him growing so fast and, like, I guess, dominated the France championship. That’s what I wanted to do when I came to Bourg.”

The 6-foot-9 Risacher (pronounced Ree-zah-shay) became only the second overall No. 1 pick in Atlanta history, following David Thompson, who in 1975 chose to play for the ABA’s Denver Nuggets.

The pressure that goes with the No. 1 pick doesn’t just fall on Risacher, who at 19 will be expected to play a significant role immediately. General manager Landry Fields also will be scrutinized after he helped to carve out minutes for the rookie by trading AJ Griffin to Houston on Thursday. The Hawks ended up acquiring rights to guard/forward Nikola Djurisic of Serbia as part of that deal.

Risacher, who impressed the Hawks with his catch-and-shoot skills and ability to defend multiple positions, could compete with De’Andre Hunter for minutes at small forward. The rookie joins guard Trae Young and forward Jalen Johnson as the foundation for a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since advancing to the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference finals.

READ: Zaccharie Risacher chosen by Hawks with top pick in NBA draft

“I think it’s hard to project out in terms of playing minutes and all that stuff,” Fields said after making Risacher the top pick on Wednesday night. “But of course we want him to be the absolute best player he can be. How we’re defining a franchise player, I’ll leave that to you. But there’s nobody that wants to see him succeed more than us, and we’re going to absolutely set him up to do that.”

Fields followed up on that vow with the trade of Griffin, a 2022 first-round pick.

“We’re always going to look for ways to improve the team,” Fields said Friday.

Risacher’s family, including his father, six-time French all-star Stephane Risacher, attended Friday’s news conference. Stephane Risacher won a silver medal for France in the 2000 Summer Olympics and closely monitored his son’s growth as a player.

Stephane Risacher said he was smart enough to retire from backyard competitions when his son was 15.



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“That was totally unfair,” the elder Risacher said with a smile. “I knew that was it. I retired. I’m still undefeated.”

Farm Fresh still mulling its picks

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FILE– PVL Rookie Draft aspirants after the two-day Draft Combine. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — With ZUS Coffee already firm with its top pick, Farm Fresh is still pondering the best player who will fit into its team with the fourth overall pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft. 

Kiara Cruz, Strong Group’s head of volleyball operations, admitted that the Foxies aren’t decided on their first-round pick among the talent of the 47 rookies, who showcased their skills in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park.

“To be honest, we’re in a tough spot but we’re very grateful fourth pick. Honestly, we’re also a bit coi confused right now, especially with the pool of talent that are here and we don’t know who to pick yet,” Cruz told reporters as Farm Fresh was drawn fourth in the lottery with just a 10 percent chance of getting the top pick.

READ: Teams begin plotting PVL Draft strategies

“I guess we’ll see on draft day itself and we have to talk about it with the upper management as well.

ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee already has prospects to draft including Thea Gagate.  He also has his eye on rookies who could complete their roster with only Dolly Verzosa and Mary Joy Onofre the remaining players from their debut conference joined by College of Saint Benilde products Cloanne Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual, Michelle Gamit, and Jade Gentapa.

“It’s definitely a big event to be here because we still need to fill slots for our team but we see great potential from these players even if you know in the likes of Gagate, Leila, and La Salle girls, NCAA players and players from other countries that are very someone to look out for. Very promising for us,” said Cruz.

READ: Team owners’ reluctance to salary limits puzzles PVL chief

As they continue to figure out how to maximize their draft picks for Farm Fresh, Cruz believes that the Foxies will surpass their 3-8 record in the All-Filipino with the Japanese coaches taking over in the Reinforced Conference.

“I can say that it’s very smooth since the kids are receptive, we have very young pool who are receptive Japanese culture so I would say watch out for us this conference. They’re only going up from here,” said the former Farm Fresh libero-turned-executive.



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Bronny James to wear No. 9 jersey with Lakers

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Bronny James will be wearing the jersey No. 9 with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. –LAKERS

MANILA, Philippines—Things are getting clearer when it comes to Bronny James’ stint in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Lakers with his father LeBron.

In his first season in the NBA, Bronny James will be donning the No. 9 as announced by the Lakers a day after he was picked in the second round of this year’s NBA Draft.

Bronny was selected 55th overall, a historic feat that made buzz all around the world.

READ: Bronny James, LeBron’s son, picked by Lakers in NBA Draft

Bronny’s selection signaled the first-ever father-and-son duo playing together in the NBA with league legend LeBron still under contract with the Lakers.

However, LeBron still hasn’t picked up his player option amounting to 51.4 million dollars for the 2024-25 season but Bronny’s selection may change that decision into a positive one for the Lakers.

“LeBron has a decision on his opt-out… but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made,” team manager Rob Pelinka said.

“And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”

READ: NBA: After drafting Bronny James, Lakers hope to lock down LeBron next

The last time the Lakers saw someone in action with the No. 9 was Sterling Brown two seasons ago. Before him was Rajon Rondo, the last No. 9 to wear the Laker kit and win a title at the same time.

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht, the other Los Angeles rookie, will be wearing No. 4.



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Nick Van Exel, who used the jersey No. 9 in his time with the Lakers, approved of Bronny’s jersey number choice to which LeBron couldn’t help but react.

“That’s so TOUGH!! Nick the Quick was SO COLD!!!!!” LeBron posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Grave of legendary boxer Pancho Villa undergoes restoration

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National artist for sculpture Frederic Caedo (left) and portrait artist Rudy Aquino begin work on Pancho Villa’s grave in Manila. Photos courtesy of Rudy Aquino.

Pancho Villa was the biggest sports celebrity of his time, but the illustrious memory of that greatness was eroded with the neglected state of the legendary Filipino boxer’s grave.

Filipino artists Rudy Aquino and Frederic Caedo took notice of Villa’s forgotten resting place at the Manila North Cemetery and will embark on a noble act of restoring the damaged bust of the boxing hero.

“I decided to visit Villa’s graveyard after seeing its miserable state in social media,’’ said Aquino, a former personal portrait artist for boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

The Philippine News Agency post tugged at Aquino’s heartstrings as it showed photos of the defaced monument that immortalized the first Filipino world boxing champion.

READ: Before Pacquiao there was Pancho Villa 

Trash, which included a wash basin, dirty kitchen utensils and an old helmet, further messed up the area, part of which is likewise occupied by informal settlers.

“I politely asked them (informal settlers) to remove the extension kitchen and other trash,’’ said Aquino, who was assisted by the occupants themselves in tidying up Villa’s burial ground.

Fame came to Villa, also known as Franciso Guilledo, after knocking out Jimmy Wilde of Wales in the seventh round of their flyweight bout in New York on June 18, 1923 to become the first Pinoy world boxing champ.

The Brown Bomber, as Villa was popularly called in the United States, defended his title in Brooklyn in May 1924 and in Manila in May 1925.

Villa lost his final trip atop the ring in California on July 4, 1925 after he got tormented by an aching tooth that led to infections causing his death 10 days later at the age of 23. He was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

READ: Losing spell: Philippines left with no reigning boxing world champion

Villa’s name was clearly etched below his bust with gloves on the left side and an angel figure behind it holding a belt declaring him as the world flyweight champion.

Requiring proper conservation and restoration, the bust has a broken jaw and a missing left ear with improperly done paint. Aquino will collaborate with Caedo, a national artist for sculpture, for the complete makeover.

“There are cleaning techniques to remove surface dirt, old paints, grime and stone corrosion to reveal the original surface,” said Aquino, who had done numerous portraits of Pacquiao, especially during the prime of the eight-division world champion.

“However, we can only do simple retouching,” he added.

Aquino intends to reach out to Villa’s family in the US and ask permission for the restoration.

He also plans to seek authorization from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission, the Manila City government and the North Cemetery management.



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:We need to upgrade the bust to metal pouring or a mix of metal and granite,” said Aquino.

Alas women draw tough first FIVB assignment

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Alas Pilipinas during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The popular Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team returns to action next week, and right off the bat, the squad will be playing a do-or-die game against a formidable foe in Vietnam when the FIVB Challenger Cup gets off the ground at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After clinching a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women last month, the Filipinos will be battling Vietnam, needing no less than a win to progress in the tournament where the champion qualifies for next year’s Volleyball Nations League.

The team will be made up basically of the same personnel that finished third in the AVC save for the addition of pro star Jema Galanza and stalwarts of UAAP champion National University Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.

Jia de Guzman, hands-down the country’s best setter, and Angel Canino were the stars for the Philippines in that campaign as both bagged individual accolades.

Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Julia Coronel, Jen Nierva, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag and Arah Panique are the other members of the squad.

Philippines vs Vietnam is set on July 5 at 6:30 p.m. after the Czech Republic-Argentina duel at 3. On July 4, Puerto Rico and Kenya open hostilities at 3 p.m. while Belgium and Sweden slug it out at 5 p.m.



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