Sportsinbrief

RAIN or Shine playmaker Paul Lee scored 18 points, including four triples, as Gilas Pilipinas showed a rousing performance to rout a struggling Taiwan squad, 78- 64, on Saturday in the opening of 2014 FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China. Meralco’s Gary David, who finished with 16 points, scored six points in opening quarter to lead an early 10- 0 blast. Gilas Pilipinas will play its second game on Monday against Singapore.

MCILROY SUFFERS ANOTHER FRIDAY FRIGHT

ABERDEEN, United Kingdom: Rory McIlroy’s on Friday ( Sturday in Manila) curse struck again as the double Major winner slumped from an overnight one-stroke lead to be trailing by six shots on day two of the Scottish Open. After setting a new course record of a seven under par 64 in the first round, McIlroy returned to the stunning Aberdeen links where he stumbled his way to a seven over par 78, dropping back to a share of 34th place at level par. Three players—Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg (71), Scotland’s Marc Warren (69) and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez (71)—share the lead on six under par.

TIGER BRACES FOR BRITISH OPEN

TIGER WOODS enters next week’s British Open at Royal Liverpool needing a victory to keep pace with Jack Nicklaus in major wins while his injury- ravaged body tries to turn back the clock. The 38- year- old American has won 14 major titles, but none since the 2008 US Open as he tries to