Philippine anger as game with NBA players cancelled

MANILA, July 23, (AFP): Organisers of a visit by NBA stars to the basketball-mad Philippines have apologised and offered refunds after an exhibition game was abruptly cancelled.

Tycoon Manny Pangilinan, whose company sponsored the scheduled match Tuesday night between a visiting NBA contingent and the national team, issued a profuse apology amid growing anger at the cancellation.

“We wish to apologise to our Filipino basketball fans for the sudden and disappointing turn of events... we ourselves are extremely disappointed by this unexpected development,” he Hammon had 10 points as San Antonio remained in third place in the West ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks (10-12).

Sims had 39 points and Diggins 34 for Tulsa (8-16), which fell to 3-9 on the road.

Sims was 15 for 20 from the field in surpassing her previous high as a rookie of 30 points against Connecticut on July 3. She fell one point short of the most ever by a rookie, set by Candace Parker in 2008.

Diggins was 14 for 23 in besting her previous high of 33 set June 22 against Chicago.

Sims scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including a driving layup to tie the game at 91 with 1:19 remaining. Adams followed with a pair of free throws, but Sims had another driving layup to forge another tie at 93.

Robinson scored the game-winner on a layup high off the glass over Glory Johnson to put the Stars ahead 95-93 with said in a statement.

The NBA team, including the Houston Rockets’ James Harden, the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, were supposed to play “five on five” games with the national team, Gilas Pilipinas, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But on Tuesday night, before a large crowd — some of whom had paid as much as 23,300 pesos ($530)— it was abruptly announced that the players would instead just engage in practice drills.

As boos and shouts of “Give us 3.5 seconds remaining. Following a Shock timeout, Sophia Malcolm-Young tipped away the inbounds pass to McBride to seal the victory, leading Tulsa coach Fred Williams to kick the scorer’s table in frustration.

Both teams had a slow start to what became an offensive showcase.

Diggins missed two open layups to start the game before making her third on a contested attempt that resulted in a three-point play. The Notre Dame product also made her team’s next three shots in a personal 9-2 run that put Tulsa up 136 with 2:19 remaining.

Reserve post Kayla Alexander sparked San Antonio’s own 9-2 run to open the second quarter, cutting Tulsa’s lead to 2421. After completing a three-point play, Alexander followed a miss by McBride to complete the run with 7:41 remaining in the half.

Alexander’s pull-up jumper tied the game at 30 and Robinson’s 19-footer back our money!” echoed through the stadium, organisers told the crowd they would be offering refunds while reminding them that the event, cosponsored by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT), was for charity.

PLDT, which is chaired by Pangilinan, said in a statement that “it was informed by the organisers a few hours before the event that “the fiveon-five game was... not allowed by the NBA”.

It was not stated why the NBA did not sanction the event, intended as a tune-up for Gilas Pilipinas before this year’s FIBA World Cup. gave San Antonio its first lead at 32-30. Robinson later crossed over Sims, freeing herself for an open jumper and a 34-30 lead.

San Antonio held Tulsa to 28 percent shooting in the second quarter.

An aggressive approach helped Tulsa get nine free throws free throws in the third quarter, making all but one. The Shock tied the game at 61 on Johnson’s jumper, but the Stars closed with a 3pointer by Adams and a driving layup by Robinson for a 66-61 lead.

Sky 60, Fever 57 In Rosemont, Ill, Sylvia Fowles knew she had to step up for her struggling team. Her teammates have said they need her, and her coach has challenged her.

Fowles responded with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the Chicago Sky to a 60-57 victory over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night. The Sky (9-14) snapped a six-game losing streak.

Epiphanny Prince added 13 points for the Sky, who had lost 13 of 16.

Marissa Coleman and Tamika Catchings each had 11 points for the Fever (11-13).

Prince hit a driving layup for a 57-55 Sky lead with 21.3 seconds left. Fowles fouled Erlana Larkins, who made one of two free throws with 16.1 seconds remaining. After the Sky’s Jamierra Faulkner hit one of two free throws, Fowles tried to block a driving Catchings but was called for the foul with 4.1 seconds left.

Catchings made one of two free throws. On the other end, Allie Quigley hit both free throws for the final.

The Sky shot 16 of 17 from the freethrow line while the Fever were 9 for 20.

The Fever tied it at 51 after Karima Christmas’ 3-pointer with 5:12 left and Catchings’ two free throws at 3:54. Catchings missed both free throws with 1:32 remaining, but hit a layup with 1:02 left.