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D22 SPORTS Saturday, 13 July 2019 Daily Tribune GERAINT Thomas shuts down his doubters by climbing the leaderboard in Stage 6 of Tour de France. AFP McIlroy on prowl I think they were pretty generous in terms of the course set-up because they have never been here before LONDON, United Kingdom — Matt Kuchar and Edoardo Molinari were among a four-way tie for the lead on eight under par on a low scoring first day of the Scottish Open while Rory McIlroy remained in contention four shots back. Molinari, who is hoping to qualify for next week’s Open Championship where his brother Francesco defends the title, won the Scottish Open back in 2010 and continued his fine form after a top-10 finish at last week’s Irish Open. Kuchar and Molinari hit two eagles each to card rounds of 63 alongside France’s Romain Wattel and Italy’s Nino Bertasio. McIlroy was less clinical in his first outing since the US Open, but the world number three still recorded six birdies for a round of four under par. “I think they were pretty generous in terms of the course set-up because they have never been here before,” McIlroy said. “The rain softened the greens and any links course we go to where there is not much wind people are going to rip it apart.” Andy Sullivan, Jamie Donaldson, Kalle Samooja, Thomas Aiken, Lee Slattery and Erik van Rooyen made up a group of seven just one shot off the lead. Former Open champion Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter were among the six-strong chasing pack on six under. AFP CHUN Youngin fires a 64 to join Alena Sharp on top of the LPGA Marathon Classic standings. AFP I didn’t know I shot 64 HEART OF A CHAMPION No doubting Thomas It’s one of those climbs where you really have to be patient PARIS, France — Defending Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas defied his doubters while Belgian Dylan Teuns won Stage 6 and his breakaway partner in Giulio Ciccone snatched the yellow jersey by just a few seconds on an iconic mountain stage. Teuns won the tough mountain stage to Planche des Belles Filles when he and Ciccone crossed the summit finish line as sole survivors of a mass breakaway. Behind them, Thomas dispelled skepticism over his form. This was the Tour’s first foray into the mountains. It was a stage that defending champion Thomas described as “the big day.” He was expected to drop time, instead he showed strong form by beating all his main overall title rivals. For Teuns, this was a prestige win. He enters a storied history of the Planche des Belles Filles finish. Meanwhile, Ciccone goes down as the 269th yellow jersey in its 100-year history. “When it came down to the two of us, we stayed calm. We talked about it,” said Teuns, hinting that the pair did a deal for a win-win instead of risking it all by not collaborating and getting caught by the big guns. Ciccone was less relaxed about his feat. “It’s just unbelievable,” said the Italian after taking the overall lead from Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe by just six seconds. Alaphilippe put in a heroic defense of his lead, but missed out due to the bonus seconds over the final two summits that prompted the young Italian to edge him. “It feels strange, to have the yellow jersey on my back feels so strange,” said Ciccone. “I wanted to win the stage for the team NOAH Lyles vows to pour it all in the men’s 100-meter event of the Diamond League. WASHINGTON — South Korean teen rookie Chun Youngin and Canada’s Alena Sharp both fired a seven-under par 64 to share the lead after the opening round of the LPGA Marathon Classic Thursday. Chun, a 19-year-old who has missed eight cuts in 11 starts this year, fired the low round of her LPGA career, a bogey-free effort to stun herself by topping the leaderboard at Highland Meadows in Sylvania, Ohio. “I didn’t know I shot 64,” Chun said. “The funniest thing is that I finished par on 18 and then I saw the leaderboard and there’s a 7-under and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ I asked my dad. ‘I think I shot 6, right?’ He said, but I never believed it would be possible to take the lead,” said the 24-year-old, who rides for the same Trek-Segafredo team as Richie Porte. The stage ended as a battle not only for the stage and the overall lead but for the psychological control of the race with Thomas gaining an edge. Chris Froome won the first finish on the mountain in 2012 to confirm his potential before he went on to win the 2013 Tour -- and Thomas must have sensed something special. The Welshman gave food for thought to those who called him a one-hit wonder after his 2018 win, who raised eyebrows when he lost a few seconds on a climb at Epernay earlier in the week and who had tipped Ineos teammate Egan Bernal. “I don’t listen to tips,” said Thomas. “I felt pretty good. I thought it would be more of a solid day.” “I was feeling good but I was unsure. I thought the steep climbs weren’t my cup of tea.” It’s just unbelievable. ‘No, you’re 7.’ So it was me.” “There are three more rounds, but I’m just happy that my name is up there.” Sharing second on 65 were Caroline Masson of Germany, Jenny Haglund of Sweden, Stacy Lewis of the United States and Azahara Munoz of Spain. Chun’s best LPGA result came in her 2017 debut when she shared 43rd at the New Zealand Women’s Open. “First year on LPGA, kind of tough year. But my shots are getting better and better,” Chun said. “When I make a mistake, ball go left, but this week I’m trying to start right side of the pin.” Chun hit only seven of 24 fairways but recovered well on a course she had played only once, in a Monday pro-am. “My driver wasn’t that good, but iron was so good,” Chun said. “Narrow fairway but small green. I’m just focused on trying to make birdies.” Thomas and Bernal, who dropped nine seconds to the Welshman, were part of an impressive Ineos team effort that controlled the pace over the most of the course as the peloton crossed seven mountains. Thomas waited until first Mikel Landa, then Thibaut Pinot and, finally, the overnight leader Alaphilippe himself had attacked before showing his form was back after a nasty fall in the Tour de Suisse in June. “It’s one of those climbs where you really have to be patient,” the 33-year-old Thomas said. Other good performances came from Colombia’s Nairo Quintana, Briton Adam Yates, Irishman Dan Martin and Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who grew up in the region. Two of the overall contenders lost significant time as 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali and Frenchman Romain Bardet suffered on the slopes. AFP Lyles to assert might It was really exciting MONACO — Fast-emerging American sprinter Noah Lyles fired a warning shot by insisting that he would push himself to the maximum in the 100 meters of the Diamond League meet Friday, just a week after becoming the fourth-fastest 200 meters sprinter of all-time. The 21-year-old timed a breath-taking 19.50 seconds in Lausanne with only Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Michael Johnson having gone quicker. “It was really exciting,” Lyles said of his performance. “Running is my passion, so running fast each and every time and getting better and better is the exciting part of track so it makes my job even more exciting.” Lyles added: “The 200 meters went really well. I have definitely seen an improvement there and we have been doing practice in the 100 meters so I think Friday could be a race where I can put everything together and see how far I can push myself.” “There are nothing but fast times expected, all round.” But Lyles would not commit to what time he expected would win the race, which also features American veteran Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and current world champion. “I’m not going to say a time. Any time I say a time all of a sudden we’re going to hear ‘It’s world record pace, world record pace!’” In attempting to improve his century dash start, Lyles said he had been working with Ralph Mann, a 1972 Olympic 400-meter hurdles silver medalist for the United States, who went on to become a leading sports biomechanist who also helped Gatlin. Lyles said Mann had him working on strength using pressure pads with the goal being to apply that pressure from the blocks into his start. “I have definitely gotten a lot stronger,” he said. “I’m finally starting to get it.” AFP Chun, Sharp share lead “The green is so small here, if you put it on the green you’re going to birdie chances. My putter was good.” Chun had back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes and again at the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth. She also ran off three birdies in a row starting at the 13th. Sharp birdied three of the first four holes but took her lone bogey at the par-3 second. She birdied the eighth as well as back-to-back back nine birdies at 11-12 and 15-16. “I played really well right from the first tee shot. I felt really calm,” Sharp said. “I’m hitting it really well, so I think I took advantage of a little bit softer greens. I hit a lot of good wedges.” “The challenge is on the tee shots to get the right spot on the fairway. I did that well. As I made more and more just the hole looked bigger and seemed easier to make putts today than it has the last couple weeks.” AFP Lewis skirts controversy It is definitely not going to be an easy weekend SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom — Lewis Hamilton did his best to avoid controversy when he ducked comparisons with other drivers and heaped praise on his countrymen ahead of his home British Grand Prix. The defending five-time world champion and current series leader was asked to respond to claims by rival Red Bull team boss Christian Horner that Max Verstappen was now the “best driver in the world.” Horner suggested that the 21-year-old Dutch driver, who ended Mercedes’ winning start to 2019 by winning last month’s Austrian Grand Prix for Red Bull, would beat Hamilton if they raced in equal cars. “I don’t compare myself to anybody,” Hamilton said. “I don’t need to. I don’t really have a response to his claims. Ultimately every now and then someone needs certain attention.” “I think Max has been doing a great job and it is really exciting to watch. I think the last race was fantastic. It will be really interesting to see how they go moving forward.” Asked where he would be in 2024 and beyond, Hamilton said he could not imagine what he would be doing, but that if was still coming to Silverstone, it would be as a driver. “And if not, I won’t be here in any other capacity.” Hamilton will be seeking a record sixth British Grand Prix win this weekend, as Mercedes try to bounce back from their defeat in the Styrian Alps. “I think we are fully aware that the Red Bulls and Ferraris have taken a step forward and the pace that they had at the last race was great,” he said. “I expect this weekend that it will be closer between us all.” “Last year, Ferrari was super fast here as was the Red Bull. I think the Red Bulls were a little bit down, but now they have the new engine I think they will be even quicker. It is definitely not going to be an easy weekend.” He explained how much his home event meant to him. “It really is a spectacular weekend,” he said. AFP
Saturday, 13 July 2019 Daily Tribune SPORTS D23 Creamline seeks crown The best is to win Game 2, so that would be our focus Creamline shoots for the clincher against an embattled PetroGazz squad, looking not only for a 13th straight victory but also another sweep of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown at the Filoil Flying V Center. Game time is at 4 p.m. The Cool Smashers have yet to yield a game in two months and they go all out to cap that remarkable run with another victory against the squad that dealt them their first and only setback last 25 May. The Cool Smashers actually lost the first set of Game 1 of their best-of-three series, but fought back and dominated the next two before thwarting the Angels’ late charge to fashion out a 24-26, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22 victory last Wednesday. The win moved Creamline a win away from duplicating its sweep of PayMaya last year. The Cool Smashers went on to capture the Open conference crown against the Motolite-Ateneo Lady Eagles also via sweep. But Creamline is actually bracing for the worst, knowing PetroGazz will pour it all out to force a sudden death. “We’re thinking of the worst but we’re also thinking of the best for our team,” said Creamline top local Alyssa Valdez who with Risa Sato, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Jia Morado, Kyla Atienza and Melissa Gohing have provided the needed firepower and hustle to imports Thai Kuttika Kaewpin and Venezuelan Ale Blanco, scoring 16 hits in the series’ opener. “The best is to win Game 2, so that would be our focus.” Hard-pressed to equalize, the Angels remain confident of their chances with imports Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson vowing to even things up and keep PetroGazz’s bid for a breakthrough win going. “Everyone’s reflecting, including myself,” said Johnson, who joined Salas to deliver a combined 38-point output in Game 1. The duo took two of the top four spots in scoring in the double round eliminations and normed a combined 42 points in the Final Four. SIMONA Halep declares readiness to spoil Serena Williams’ bid of matching the Grand Slam record of Margaret Court. AFP FIBA, Go for Gold forge deal The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) tapped Go for Gold to promote worldwide FIBA events in the Philippines until 30 June next year. According to FIBA media and marketing services director general James Leenders, they tapped Go for Gold because they want to capture more attention in Asia Pacific, especially since the FIBA Basketball World Cup would be held in China next month. “The national team competitions within FIBA basketball are key. We want to capture more attention and more followers for FIBA basketball,” Leenders said. “We want fans to get excited about their national team moving towards our primary competitions. By seeking out partners in the Philippines and bringing FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy to the country, we’re engaging our fans and helping them feel a part of the World Cup competition this year.” The collaboration will kick off with Go for Gold spearheading the attempt to break the Guiness World Record for most number of people dribbling basketball simultaneously. The standing record is 7,556 notched in an event organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza Strip in Palestine in 2010. Go for Gold is looking at least 10,000 participants in the event that fires off on 21 July at the Mall of Asia concert grounds. Oragons, Express collide The National Basketball League Season 2 resumes with Iriga City and CamSur clashing on Sunday at the JMR Coliseum in Naga City. The Oragons and the Express tiff is at 6 p.m. following the Laguna Pistons and Zambales Converge Fiber X-Men battle in the 4 p.m. appetizer. But on Saturday, the Express face the X-Men at 4 p.m. while the Oragons tackle the Pistons at 4 p.m. in an explosive double-header that will be shown live on BTV. The Oragons are currently in third place with a 5-2 record while the Express hold sixth place with a 5-3 card behind Taguig and Pampanga, who are on top with a 7-2 and 7-3 cards, respectively. WOODS FIRES UP SERENA Tiger of tennis Those athletes, Tiger obviously, what he did at the Masters, was on top of my mind LONDON, United Kingdom — Tiger Woods’s remarkable Masters win this year at age of 43 serves as an inspiration to Serena Williams, who is just three years shy of 40 herself, after reaching her 11th Wimbledon final on Thursday. Williams, who will match Margaret Court’s Grand Slam singles haul of 24 if she beats Simona Halep in the finals, believes that technology helped her continue to succeed even after taking time out to have a baby. The American superstar lost just three games to her 33-year-old semifinal opponent Barbora Strycova to ease to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in less than an hour on Thursday. “I think technology has really changed,” said Williams, who at 37 years of age and 291 days is the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the modern era. “That’s the only reason why I’m able to compete.” “I feel like if we had this technology 20 years ago, maybe Michael Jordan would still be playing basketball.” “I just feel like we know so much more about our bodies.” “Things I do different now than when I first was on tour, it’s lengthening my career.” Williams, whose early part of the season was affected by a knee injury, said it was not just her who is enjoying extended careers. “It’s not just me; Roger (Federer), Tom Brady and Peyton Manning all played forever.” “There are so many athletes now that are able to do better and play longer, even play some of their best way after 30s.” “Those athletes, Tiger obviously, what he did at the Masters, was on top of my mind.” “Those athletes are incredibly inspiring. That’s one thing that keeps me moving forward.” Williams said despite being proud of what she was achieving at her age, she still hankered after her mentality when she was younger. She revealed she had recalled prior to her semifinal match how she felt when she won her first Wimbledon title beating elder sister Venus, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, in 2002. “I was trying to tap into those emotions,” said Williams. “I was really calm. I remember I think I hit an ace.” “I just remember, like, how it’s so, so different when you’re younger as opposed to now.” Williams, whose two sets win took her to 200 career sets won at Wimbledon joint second with Chris Evert in the all-time women’s list behind Martina Navratilova (249), said she is in a better frame of mind than she was when she ended up losing in both the Wimbledon SERENA Williams draws inspiration from Tiger Woods, who won a Masters crown at 43. AFP and US Open finals last year. AFP Halep, Williams seal title duel We always have great matches. I look forward to it LONDON, United Kingdom — Simona Halep is the last woman standing between Serena Williams and achieving her long held ambition of matching Margaret Court’s Grand Slam title record after both recorded easy victories in their Wimbledon semi-finals on Thursday. Seven-time champion Williams made short work of plucky unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova, whose experience of her first ever Grand Slams singles semifinal in her 53rd campaign lasted just under an hour as she lost 6-1, 6-2. Former world number one Halep’s clash with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina lasted a bit longer, but the 27-year-old ran out a 6-1, 6-3 victor to become the first Romanian woman to reach the Wimbledon final. Williams missed the chance to tie Australian Court’s record on two occasions since returning from giving birth as she lost last year’s Wimbledon final and then a bad-tempered defeat in the US Open final. “It feels good to be in the final again after the year I had,” the 37-year-old Williams said. “I have just needed matches to feel good and do what I do best and that is play tennis.” “I love what I do. I have a great job and I am still pretty good at it. I get a remarkable experience every time.” Williams produced a dominant performance that has not always been the case during the Championships and she said she would not be taking seventh-seeded Halep lightly. “She’s a tough opponent,” said Williams. “We always have great matches. I look REY Vargas puts his unbeaten record on the line when he clashes with Tomoki Kameda for the World Boxing Council super bantamweight title. AFP forward to it.” Strycova, who never managed to impose her delightful stroke-filled game on her opponent, at least has the consolation of perhaps winning the women’s doubles. Halep, who was French Open champion in 2018, will be playing in her fifth Grand Slam final. “It’s an amazing feeling but I am also excited and nervous. It is one of the best moments of my life,” Halep said. “The match was not easy, the games were long and went deep. “I fought hard to win this match and I was strong mentally and physically and had the right tactics.” Halep, who had knocked out new star, 15-year-old Coco Gauff in the Last 16, lost in her previous semifinal appearance at Wimbledon to Eugenie Bouchard in 2014. She, however, said she was a different player now and had taken to grass. “I have more experience, I don’t give up anymore,” she said. “I plan to be the best version of myself and fight to the end.” AFP Vargas stakes clean slate We fought a long time ago but that doesn’t count. Right now, it’s a new story LOS ANGELES — Undefeated super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas of Mexico defends his World Boxing Council crown on Saturday in suburban Los Angeles against Japanese top-ranked challenger Tomoki Kameda. The showdown at the home stadium of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy will be the fifth time Vargas, 33-0 with 22 knockouts, defends the title he won by winning on a decision against Britain’s Gavin McDonnell in February 2017. Vargas last fought five months ago when he took a unanimous decision over Venezuela’s Franklin Manzanilla. Kameda is 36-2 with 20 knockouts, his only losses coming in 2015 World Boxing Association bantamweight title bouts against Britain’s Jamie McDonnell. Since then, Kameda has won five times, most recently by unanimous decision over Spain’s Abigail Medina last November in Japan. Neither fighter sees much that can help them now in their fight as amateurs. “Kameda is a good rival,” Vargas said. “We fought a long time ago but that doesn’t count. Right now, it’s a new story.” “It’s going to be a different fight in terms of style and quality. We’ve both improved. I can promise you it’s going to be a good fight. Whatever kind of tune he dances to, I’ll dance to that as well.” AFP
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