Prosecutors accuse the four-time world player of the year of having evaded 14.7 million euros ($17.3 million) in tax.Ronaldo, 32, has denied any wrongdoing. He told the judge he has always filed his tax returns and “never had the intention of evading taxes”, according to a statement from his representatives.Spanish daily El Mundo said the player — the world’s highest paid athlete according to Forbes magazine — implied during his court hearing that he was only being investigated because of who he is.“I am only here because my name is Cristiano Ronaldo,” the player told the judge, according to the newspaper.Ronaldo had been expected to speak to the throng of reporters gathered outside of the court after the hearing but instead his spokesman Inaki Torres emerged from the building to announce the player “was on his way home”, prompting jeers from the press.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo said Tuesday his “brilliance” annoys people, a day after he was quizzed by a Spanish judge investigating whether he evaded paying millions of euros in taxes.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’“What bothers people is my brilliance, insects only attack lamps that shine!!!!” the Portuguese wrote in an Instagram message that received over a million likes within an hour of being posted.ADVERTISEMENT Ai-Ai delas Alas on Jiro Manio: ‘Sana pinahalagahan niya ang naitulong ko’ LeBron James scores 31 points, Lakers beat Rockets Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Kawhi Leonard, Clippers rally to beat Pelicans McGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC return MOST READ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Portuguese television SIC reported that Ronaldo aborted the appearance at the podium set up outside the court because the court hearing had gone badly, with many moments of “tension” between him and the judge.Ronaldo is not the only footballer to fall foul of authorities in Spain.His arch-rival, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, was found guilty of tax evasion last year.Other footballers have also recently run into trouble with Spain’s taxman, some of them already convicted and others under investigation.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next 787 earthquakes recorded in 24 hours due to restive Taal Volcano ‘I’m out!’: PewDiePie releases last video before taking break from YouTube Indian national gunned down in Camarines Sur End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend Ronaldo spent over 90 minutes on Monday answering the questions of investigating judge Monica Gomez at a closed door hearing in Pozuelo de Alarcon, the wealthy suburb of Madrid where he lives. Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ Herndon to Marinero, Apinan to Cignal as D-League teams retool ahead of playoffs View comments
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Guiao focused on winning, not securing top draft pick Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. National Historical team rescues Amorsolos, artifacts from Taal Vettel finished second, about 2 seconds behind Hamilton.“Sebastian was very, very close. He was very consistent throughout,” said Hamilton, after his 200th GP. “That’s what racing’s about.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’Hamilton was in good form all weekend, topping every part of qualifying.“Really brilliant,” Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff said. “Hamilton’s drive was really fantastic.” Search on for 5 Indonesians snatched anew in Lahad Datu The 19-year-old Verstappen secured a podium with third place in China but has been hit with reliability issues since.Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso retired on lap 27 — the latest setback as McLaren continues to struggle with Honda engines. The Spanish driver has completed only three races so far.The Spa track, nestled in the Ardennes forest, is the longest in F1 at 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) and the race is often full of incident, especially when it rains.It stayed dry, but there was one heated clash between Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, prompting the safety car to come out after they made contact with each other on lap 30, sending debris onto the track.Their tense relationship is degrading fast.After bumping on the track at the Azerbaijan GP in June, they did it again when they touched wheels as Ocon moved on the outside of the track shortly after the start, with Perez responding by squeezing the Frenchman against the barrier.Later the pair came into contact again with Ocon’s front wing flying away and a tire dropping off Perez’s car as a result.This prompted a furious, expletive-laced outburst from Ocon, who was already unhappy that his team had pitted Perez for new tires ahead of him. After both cars pitted for repairs, Ocon finished ninth but Perez had to retire just before the end.The safety car stayed out for four laps, which was too long for Hamilton’s liking, and he used an expletive of his own to complain.“There was hardly any debris about,” Hamilton said afterward. “They did a good job cleaning the track.” Drivers worry that their tires lose heat if they stay behind the car too long.But Vettel failed to capitalize.“Maybe that was the problem, my restart was too good,” Vettel said. “I was too close.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite On a track more suited to Mercedes than Ferrari, Hamilton felt Vettel got “way too close” for comfort.“This weekend we definitely didn’t have the race pace. The car is not quite where we need it,” Hamilton said. “It was only just enough to stay ahead.”Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was third — for his sixth podium of the season — finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, with Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas fifth.Ricciardo showed great race intelligence and opportunism to pass Bottas after the safety car incident.After 12 races, four-time F1 champion Vettel has 220 points to three-time champion Hamilton’s 213 heading into next weekend’s Italian GP in Monza.“The positive thing is that we had really good race pace,” Vettel said. “I’m looking forward to next week.”Hamilton made a good start to the race on the long climb up to Eau Rouge, with Vettel on his tail.But Max Verstappen’s hopes of a first win this season ended on lap 8 when his Red Bull lost power.“I can’t believe this,” Verstappen said. His exasperation was understandable — it is the sixth time this season he has failed to finish the race, and some 80,000 Dutch fans had crossed the border to cheer him on.“I’m not happy at all,” Verstappen said. “I am very disappointed for the fans who buy an expensive ticket to watch and I retire after eight laps. No words.” Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (right) raises his trophy in the air on the podium after winning the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany placed second and Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia (left) placed third. (Photo by OLIVIER MATTHYS / AP)SPA-FRANORCHAMPS, Belgium — Lewis Hamilton celebrated his record-equaling 68th pole position with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, trimming championship leader Sebastian Vettel’s lead to seven points.Hamilton clinched his fifth win of the season and 58th overall, having equaled Michael Schumacher’s pole record.ADVERTISEMENT Hotdog’s Dennis Garcia dies Police seize P68-M worth of ‘shabu’ in Pasay Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles LATEST STORIES Although it was a comfortable win for the British driver, it got a bit tense toward the end.“I was waiting for Lewis to make a mistake and he didn’t,” Vettel said.With about 10 laps left, Vettel almost overtook his challenger as they emerged from behind the safety car.Vettel got his Ferrari alongside Hamilton on a long straight, but Hamilton edged his Mercedes into the corner just in time.“I’m not entirely happy,” said Vettel, adding that he got his approach slightly wrong.ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ View comments Bishop Baylon encourages faithful in Albay to help Taal evacuees Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’
The Celtics have rallied from an 0-2 season start that saw them lose new signee Gordon Hayward to an injury in the opening game at Cleveland.“We’re just really buying into what the coach wants us to do and our young guys, they’re all ears,” said Horford. “They’re all listening, trying to be better.” FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSFederer blasts lack of communication on Australian Open smogIrving led his new team by scoring 24 points, while Jaylen Brown scored 18 for the Celtics who improved to 5-2 on the 2017-18 NBA season. Former first overall draft pick Irving was dealt to the Celtics in the offseason after demanding a trade out of Cleveland.Terry Rozier scored eight of his 12 points in 52 seconds to put the game away in the fourth quarter and rookie Jayson Tatum grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Boston Celtics’ Kyrie Irving (11) drives past San Antonio Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. The Celtics won 108-94. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)Al Horford delivered 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Boston Celtics won their fifth straight and snapped an 11-game losing skid to the San Antonio Spurs with a 108-94 win on Monday.Kyrie Irving played his best game for the Celtics who beat the injury-depleted Spurs for the first time in Boston since January 2011.ADVERTISEMENT Hong Kong to become first Asian host of Gay Games Margot Robbie talks about filming ‘Bombshell’s’ disturbing sexual harassment scene It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson
Jo Koy: My brain always wants to think funny Kiss-and-tell matinee idol’s conquests: True stories or tall tales? Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Porzingis, of Latvia, produced his fifth 30-point game of the season and eighth of his career. He made 14 of 26 shots, including four three-pointers, and surpassed his previous career best set November 16 against the Detroit Pistons.“Some of the stuff that he does, we look at each other on the bench and go ‘man he really just did that,’” Knicks center Enes Kanter said. Kyle O’Quinn finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Tim Hardaway scored all 13 of his points in the fourth, while Kanter and Courtney Lee contributed 12 apiece. Serbia’s Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points. Jamal Murray added 20 for Denver, which used a 22-2 run in the third and outscored the Knicks 38-19 in the period. After withstanding the difficult third, the Knicks took an 84-81 lead into the fourth and expanded it to 100-93 on a three-pointer by Hardaway with about seven minutes left before Porzingis finished it off. Elsewhere, Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and a career-high six assists to lead the Utah Jazz to a 104-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The Jazz improved to 4-0 at home this season. MOST READ Marcus Smart added nine points and seven rebounds in the win.The Spurs are still without injured Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili also skipped the game to get some needed rest.San Antonio got a career-high 18 points and five rebound performance from Brandon Paul.Pau Gasol had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs who suffered their third straight loss on a 1-3 road trip. They won at Miami to start the trip. In New York, Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 38 points as the New York Knicks held on for a 116-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets.ADVERTISEMENT Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set View comments
Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Margot Robbie talks about filming ‘Bombshell’s’ disturbing sexual harassment scene Ira Brown is Japan’s naturalized player and will surely make the roster, posing as a defensive matchup problem for Reyes and the Filipinos because of his size and agility.With Romeo absent, Reyes would most likely opt for Kiefer Ravena to share the point guard chores with Jayson Castro. Kevin Alas is the other point in the pool and if Reyes slots him in, that could mean time in the wings for Castro.Tickets for the Friday game have been sold out weeks before, guaranteeing that the intrepid Filipinos will be playing on hostile ground, though their impressive record against the Japanese recently certainly makes them the favorites.“The game against the Filipinos, our very first home game, will be very important in setting the tone [for us] for the rest of the qualifiers,” Lamas told Fiba.com. “Knowing that tickets were sold out quickly, I can see a lot of people are paying attention to our game.”ADVERTISEMENT Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award LATEST STORIES Jo Koy: My brain always wants to think funny Kiss-and-tell matinee idol’s conquests: True stories or tall tales? OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Peping: No more indigenous sports in SEA Games Gilas Pilipinas pool. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Smart SportsJapan still has to make two final cuts for its game against Gilas Pilipinas on Friday in the first round of the Fiba Asia World Cup Qualifying series as coach Julio Lamas tries to get payback against the Filipinos.Star center Joji Takeuchi has practically promised a victory for the Japanese in the match set at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Stadium in Tokyo, with their last two losses to the Filipinos still fresh in his mind.ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ View comments “We will surely get them back this time,” the 6-foot-10 Takeuchi told Fiba.com after recounting two losses to Gilas in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship.Like the Philippines, Japan will unveil its final 12 on the eve of the contest.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSBack on the throneGilas, meanwhile, took a 15-man pool to Japan on Tuesday morning, and conspicuously absent was leading scorer Terrence Romeo, the PBA superstar guard who is nursing a leg injury.Team PH coaching staff led by Chot Reyes told the Inquirer on Monday that they will also wait for the veritable last minute, or during the team managers’ meeting on Thursday, to reveal their final roster. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set
View comments For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award “I think we didn’t take that situation [blowing the 21-point lead] well,” said Ravena who had 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists. “We have to realize that when they make those runs we have to play at the same level or even higher. We can’t just keep on doing what we’re doing with La Salle making that run.”“It was a real lesson for us that it’s not over until it’s over, we had a 20-point lead but we got complacent. And when they starting catching up we weren’t tough enough to take on that situation.” MOST READ It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson Thirdy Ravena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netAfter squandering what could’ve been a title-clinching win, Ateneo now has no other choice but to face defending champion De La Salle in a do-or-die Game 3 in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball finals.And Thirdy Ravena knows they can’t miss a beat.ADVERTISEMENT NBA: Steph Curry says he can ‘sort of relate’ to Lonzo Ball Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set Jo Koy: My brain always wants to think funny Kiss-and-tell matinee idol’s conquests: True stories or tall tales?
Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson LATEST STORIES “We have to stay laser-focused on the third game, we have to be aware that that’s going to happen and we have to be prepared for that situation when that comes in,” said Ravena Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.What Ravena was talking about was the Blue Eagles’ wasted 21-point lead against the Green Archers in Game 2, wherein an Ateneo win could’ve draped the trophy in blue-and-white ribbons.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkAteneo held a 45-24 lead in the second quarter after Ravena made two free throws, but the Green Archers mounted a 40-10 run that spanned the two middle periods to take a 68-59 lead heading into the fourth.The Blue Eagles never recovered as the Green Archers tied the series at 1-1 after a 92-83 win with the decider scheduled on Sunday. Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Margot Robbie talks about filming ‘Bombshell’s’ disturbing sexual harassment scene Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring the second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. APMADRID — Barcelona has almost ended Real Madrid’s defense of its Spanish league title, and there’s still half a season to go.Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez left Madrid staring at a 14-point deficit after leading Barcelona to a 3-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Messi also set up substitute Aleix Vidal to round off the commanding win in stoppage time.Despite the current situation, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde and his players aren’t excluding a Madrid comeback.“We took another step forward in the league,” said Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta. “But I don’t rule out Madrid. This is a long-distance race. Madrid is a very good team and they are not out of the title race.”But Barcelona is undoubtedly performing like a champion-in-waiting.It extended its unbeaten streak to 25 matches across all competitions since losing to Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup in August, when Barcelona was reeling from the departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.ADVERTISEMENT In Thailand, Paul Zamar resuscitates PBA dream with Mono Vampire Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Madrid has a game in hand, but the gap already looks too big as La Liga approaches its midway point.“It is a loss that hurts,” said Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. “It is a very, very difficult match for us. But this is not over. It might look like it, but we can never give up.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkBarcelona increased its lead to nine points over second-place Atletico Madrid, which lost at Espanyol on Friday. Valencia trails by 11 points before playing Villarreal later.Suarez struck in the 54th minute of the “clasico” and Messi added a penalty 10 minutes later after Madrid’s Dani Carvajal received a direct red for stopping a goal-bound header by Paulinho. Redemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie Thompson SEA Games 2019: PH’s Carlo Paalam boxing light flyweight semi final (HIGHLIGHTS) PLAY LIST 03:13SEA Games 2019: PH’s Carlo Paalam boxing light flyweight semi final (HIGHLIGHTS)03:42SEA Games: Rogen Ladon enters flyweight boxing semis00:50Trending Articles02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Brian Heruela arrival bolsters Phoenix backcourt, defense Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. It was then Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s turn to get his foot on Ronaldo’s strike to turn it past the post.Paulinho tested Navas again with a header from another pass by Messi to culminate Barcelona’s attack with one-touch passes. Madrid responded by again attacking through left back Marcelo, whose cross Karim Benzema headed off the post in the 42nd.Suarez forced a save from Navas before the Uruguay striker scored the opener.Sergio Busquets cued Barcelona with a forward pass for Ivan Rakitic, who pushed down the middle before playing Sergi Roberto wide. The right back’s one-touch pass found Suarez arriving from the left to drill his shot under Navas.Madrid collapsed after falling behind, losing ball after ball to Barcelona.Messi seized the moment by playing Suarez clear. After Suarez hit the post, Carvajal blatantly used his arm to stop Paulinho’s header from going in — a decision that earned him a direct red card and sent Messi to the penalty spot to fire his strike into the corner of the net.Trying to spark a comeback, Zidane sent on forwards Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale, who drew a save from Ter Stegen.But it was Messi who reached the endline before finding Vidal to cap the win, as Barcelona won a third straight league visit at Madrid for the first time in their long rivalry.“We will start 2018 in a difficult position,” said Madrid defender Raphael Varane.The game came only two days after separatist political parties in Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, won a majority of seats in the regional parliament. MOST READ OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina Meralco ‘never the same’ after Almazan injury in PBA Finals That all seemed light years away on Saturday with Barcelona resisting an early push by the hosts before imposing its will.“There is a long way to go, but it is true that we are ahead and with significant leads over our rivals, but nothing is decided. The season is not even halfway over,” Valverde said. “They were better when we played in the preseason, we won today. Football takes those twists and turns.”The match was a contrast in tempos: Madrid wanted a frantic, up-and-down shootout, with Cristiano Ronaldo having space to roam, while Barcelona wanted to hold the ball and let Messi pick his moments.Ronaldo beat Messi for the Ballon d’Or earlier this month but the Portuguese failed to make a decisive impact on Saturday as Messi took his “clasico” record to 25 goals in 37 matches and his season-leading tally to 15 in the league.Zidane left Spain midfielder Francisco “Isco” Alarcon on the bench in a surprise move. Instead, he gave Mateo Kovacic his first league start of the season, hoping to repeat his success from the Spanish Super Cup when the Croatian was charged with man-marking Messi.After Barcelona shook off Madrid’s early intense pressure, helped by the more physical Kovacic, the Catalan club made Madrid look clueless.Zidane defended his choice after the stinging loss.“I am here to take decisions. Nothing is going to change what I think,” Zidane said.Ronaldo had an early goal disallowed for offside before the Madrid star completely missed making contact with Toni Kroos’ pass in his best chance to score in the 10th.Barcelona went close to scoring when Messi found Paulinho with a forward lob, only for goalkeeper Keylor Navas to tip his strike over the bar in the 30th. Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Scottie Thompson also worthy of Finals MVP, thinks Cone View comments
San Miguel still sits atop the standings at 5-1, but the Cebuano giant knows that his squad can’t be complacent as it seeks to bounce back on Sunday against red-hot Magnolia.”It’s a good thing that it happened to us midway through the conference, so we still have time to adjust. But we need to move on and win our remaining games,” he said.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next WADA probes possible flaw in test bottles Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina PBA IMAGESWith Ginebra’s Jervy Cruz and Raymond Aguilar stepping up, June Mar Fajardo admitted that the unheralded bruisers’ performance against San Miguel on Sunday was further proof of how strong the Gin Kings are.“We know how good they are. They’re a championship-contender team and they made good adjustments in the second half,” Fajardo said in Filipino.ADVERTISEMENT Almazan vows to comeback stronger after finals heartbreak OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson View comments OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ’a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Nonito Donaire vs Naoya Inoue is BWAA 2019 Fight of the Year
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Sans lead big man Greg Slaughter, Cruz and Aguilar combined for 33 points and nine rebounds in the Gin Kings’ 100-96 victory over the Beermen.Fajardo tried his best to keep San Miguel afloat but failed to rescue the Beermen despite his mammoth stat line of 33 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and four steals.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkBut rather than feel down with the loss, the reigning four-time PBA MVP sees the first defeat of the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup as a reality check of sorts.“It happens. We can’t win all of our games. So we have to move on and learn from our lapses,” he said as he rued the Beermen’s 18 turnovers in the matchup. LATEST STORIES MOST READ Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Michael Porter Jr. stays patient as playing time increases Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Newsome sets focus on helping Bolts open new PBA season on right track
Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next “For us, this is already our peak,” he told INQUIRER.net on Friday after the team’s practice at SGS Stadium.“I’m already 100-percent, same with my teammates. We’ve already jelled and you could see our chemistry. Yes, we are young, but I believe that we’ve all matured not just as individuals, but also as a group. So we need to perform this conference.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownErram had his best showing to date this past all-Filipino tournament, norming 14.2 points, to go with league-best marks of 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks to finish fifth in the voting for the Best Player of the Conference award.But the former Ateneo slotman is not done yet as he aims to translate those numbers to wins for the Elite. Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew LATEST STORIES Erram will be sharing the duties with fellow young guns Mac Belo, Raymar Jose, and Mike DiGregorio, alongside veteran Allein Maliksi.“Coming to this conference, we know we have the materials and talent to win. We have an import in Jarrid Famous who’s willing to sacrifice and give everything for the team,” he said.That’s why Erram is exuding in confidence that Blackwater won’t only make a noise this second conference, but also give the opposition a run for its money every time it takes the court.“We’re working hard in practice so that whatever we’ve built last conference, we can improve on that and we could achieve our goal which is to make it to the playoffs and hopefully, the semis,” he said.ADVERTISEMENT Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ MOST READ Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netAfter a largely promising performance in the past Philippine Cup, JP Erram knows that pressure is slowly mounting on Blackwater to deliver this upcoming 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.So much so that he’s acknowledging the expectations and challenging his side to deliver this second conference.ADVERTISEMENT Truck driver killed in Davao del Sur road accident Scientists seek rare species survivors amid Australia flames Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Jo Koy draws ire for cutting through Cebu City traffic with ‘wang-wang’ Lakers’ big summer looms after 5 straight losing seasons Green group flags ‘overkill’ use of plastic banderitas in Manila Sto. Niño feast P16.5-M worth of aid provided for Taal Volcano eruption victims — NDRRMC View comments
Mexico’s players smiles during Mexico’s official training on the eve of the group F match between South Korea and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Rostov Arena, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Friday, June 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Mexico fans are trying out a new chant so the country’s federation avoids another FIFA fine.Only time will tell, though, whether some of them won’t go back to the old one that got them into trouble in the first place.ADVERTISEMENT “It’s the way we are. When you tell Mexicans not to do something, they keep on doing it,” he said, but added that the Mexicans were keen to repay the kindness of their Russian hosts.“People have been really, really nice to us, they have welcomed us everywhere. The Russians have been chanting for us — chanting ‘Mexico, Mexico’ — and it makes us feel like this is a second home.”Mexico takes on South Korea in its second Group F match after a shock 1-0 win over Germany. The Koreans lost their opener 1-0 to Sweden.Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he intended to continue his attacking style, would stick with core players who beat Germany, and would not get carried away with the opening win.“We hope it doesn’t happen, but there would be no shame in losing to South Korea,” the Colombian said. “We all have respect for them … No matter how prepared you are, the unthinkable can always happen in every game.”ADVERTISEMENT Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Captain Andres Guardado echoed the sentiment, adding that the team had been hardened by frequent disappointments on the road to Russia — as the Mexicans vie for a quarterfinal spot, having been stopped at the last 16 in the six previous World Cups.“Beating Germany was good for us. It strengthened our (winning) mindset. But we know how dangerous praise can be. But we’ve had so much criticism in the past … And in those very difficult moments we built this team … Thanks to those failures, we will stick to our dream and maybe, this time, it will be within reach.”South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong said he was worried that expected high temperatures would favor the Mexicans. The forecast is for 34 C (93 F) on Saturday.“The change in the weather will have a negative impact on us,” he said. “I haven’t seen much of the city, only what I could see on the bus coming into the city. But I noticed that it’s hot and it has large fields.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Dirk to Doncic: Mavs tap brakes on inevitable comparisons MOST READ Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina Jury of 7 men, 5 women selected for Harvey Weinstein rape trial LATEST STORIES Bicol riders extend help to Taal evacuees Standing next to a golden-domed cathedral, Mexican fans visited the sites of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia on Friday and practiced a new chant — “eeeeeeee-ROO-si-ya,” the last part meaning Russia in Spanish — that they hope will keep the tournament hosts and organizers happy.The modified version was introduced after national federation was fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,000) for over a chant by supporters considered to be homophobic during the opening game against Germany.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownMexico fans use the chant to intimidate opposing goalkeepers. FIFA considers it a slur, but many supporters argue it has no discriminatory intent.Carlos Quezada, from San Luis Potosi in central Mexico, joined revelers at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and said he wasn’t certain fans would comply with the ban. Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Christopher Tolkien, son of Lord of the Rings author, dies aged 95 Cloudy skies over Luzon due to amihan Taal victims get help from Kalayaan town View comments
‘High crimes and misdemeanors’: Trump impeachment trial begins Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Then she was off to grab tiny 4ft 7in (140cm) Ri Song Gum, the 48kg class gold medallist, and carry her aloft around the stage with the pair laughing, joking and punching the air.Selfies and smiles Hardly a single request for a selfie by a fan or Games volunteer has been turned down — most have been accommodated with huge smiles. At the 2014 Asian Games none was entertained.The shackles are off, athletes are reveling and happy to reveal their personal stories for the first time.Om Yun Chol even thanked South Koreans for helping him to win 56kg men’s gold.ADVERTISEMENT There, every medallist trotted out a well-worn script of thanking leader Kim Jong Un for his inspiration to reporters before being whisked away.But over eight days at the Jakarta International Expo their athletes have gone off-piste to talk frankly about their nerves, fears, emotions and life back home while mingling freely with spectators and reporters.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSTim Cone still willing to coach Gilas but admits decision won’t be ‘simple yes or no’They even were joined by the South Korean weightlifting team to celebrate the end of the competition with an unprecedented joint team photo.“I think we have shown the world that the people of Korea are the greatest as one,” +75kg winner Kim Kuk Hyang told AFP after posing with her South Korean counterparts, an astonishing statement from a North Korean given that the two countries have technically remained at war for the past 65 years. Gold medallist North Korea’s Kim Kuk Hyang (C) poses with teammates during the awards ceremony for the women’s +75kg weightlifting event during 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 27, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDINNorth Korea’s athletes are not only scooping record numbers of medals at the Asian Games, they are winning hearts with an unprecedented charm offensive and will go home as heroes — rewarded with new cars and houses.At the weightlifting competition which concluded Monday with an eighth gold — smashing North Korea’s previous best of four in 2014 — the team’s attitude has been the polar opposite from Incheon four years ago.ADVERTISEMENT DepEd’s Taal challenge: 30K students displaced LOOK: Poy Erram chips front teeth in PH loss to South Korea Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award LATEST STORIES Peza offers relief to ecozone firms Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next “The weightlifting champions who raise the country’s honor will be rewarded with a new house and a new car,” head coach Kim Kwang Dok told AFP, for the first time confirming something that had long been suspected in the secretive nation — that sporting glory is a way out of grinding poverty.“Our athletes will get national hero status once they return and will get big attention from our people. Everyone will be proud.”It is not just at the weightlifting arena that heads have been turning and relationships opening up.The two Koreas marched together at the opening ceremony, fielded a joint team in women’s basketball and so far have won a historic gold and two bronzes in dragon boating.Members of combined Koreas team celebrate their victory during the ceremony for women’s 500-meter dragon boat at the 18th Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (Kim Do-hun/Yonhap via AP)“They are not scary or anything like portrayed on the internet,” South Korea basketball player Kim Han-byul said. “It’s been the normal girl talk with them.”Weightlifting sisters Rim Un Sim and Rim Jong Sim tenderly cried tears of joy at each other’s success as they pulled off a golden double and said they couldn’t wait to get home to show off their medals to their family.Rim Jong Sim was one who did remember, albeit briefly, to thank Kim Jong Un. “This gold medal isn’t for me, but it’s for my country and our supreme leader,” she said.But such expressions were few and far between and her sister had soon changed the subject.“I can’t describe how happy I am,” Rim Un Sim said. “We competed together and won medals at the university championship last year, but this is the Asian Games.” “The passionate support from the South Korean cheerleading squad is my source of great strength,” he said while posing for pictures.Was this really the same man who four years earlier had thanked leader Kim for teaching him how to “crack a rock with an egg”?Gold medallist O Kang Chol of North Korea celebrates on the podium during the victory ceremony of the men’s 69kg weightlifting event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMAO Kang Chol cried buckets for his dead mother after his maiden gold medal in the men’s 69kg.It was a touching moment as he mourned his mum who passed away earlier this year and whose ambition had been to see him win a first title.“I will visit mother’s grave and give her this gold medal,” he told reporters, still weeping and unabashed at baring his grief — a huge contrast to the robotic strongmen and women paraded at previous championships.It is an eye-opening change, which appears to have gone hand-in-hand with the thawing of global diplomatic relations culminating in the historic summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June.South Korean observers have been taken aback. “We have never see the North Koreans like this,” Yonhap news agency reporter Joo Kyung-don told AFP.The new open attitude appears to have been encouraged right from the top.North Korean Sports Minister Kim Il Guk, one of Kim Jong Un’s right-hand men, was in attendance Sunday and giving his blessing to team officials spilling the beans on previously taboo topics.‘They are not scary’ Palace OKs total deployment ban on Kuwait OFWs Gov’t in no rush to rescue animals in Taal Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? 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