Harden's 28 points lead Rockets past Pacers | ABS-CBN

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Harden's 28 points lead Rockets past Pacers

Harden's 28 points lead Rockets past Pacers

Field Level Media/Reuters

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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

James Harden scored 28 points, but it was his lone block that helped the Houston Rockets secure their third consecutive win, 98-94, over the Indiana Pacers on Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Pacers guard Victor Oladipo scored seven consecutive points down the stretch, but Harden blocked an Oladipo shot with 28.8 seconds left and the Rockets leading 93-90. Harden later sealed with victory with two free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining.

Harden and P.J. Tucker (nine points, five rebounds, two steals) hit a key 3 down the stretch to offset the Oladipo surge, who led Indiana with 28 points. Domantas Sabonis added 17 off the bench for Indiana while Tyreke Evans and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 11 points apiece.

Clint Capela chipped in a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets.

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The Pacers frustrated Houston throughout the third quarter, running the Rockets off the 3-point line while forcing eight turnovers in the period, seven by the 6:56 mark of the third. Indiana turned a 9-0 run into its biggest lead of the game at 65-57 in a Myles Turner tip-in.

Still, the Pacers failed to take full advantage offensively despite limiting the Rockets to six field goals in the third. The Rockets trailed 75-69 entering the fourth, a deficit that vanished quickly.

When Carmelo Anthony drilled an open 3, the Rockets pulled even at 81-all with 6:17 to play.

The Rockets' promising start from the perimeter proved fleeting. Houston started 3 of 4 from behind the arc and led by as many as nine points in the opening period, but once that 3-point proficiency dried up, Indiana fashioned a comeback and erased that deficit early in the second.

The Pacers' defense was largely responsible, forcing two turnovers and a pair of Rockets misses from deep during a 13-2 run. Oladipo converted a scoop layup at the 7:31 mark of the second quarter, providing the Pacers their first lead at 37-36.

Indiana produced 28 points in the paint in the first half, a nice complement to its defensive prowess. The Rockets missed 17 of 22 3-pointers following the hot start, but Harden kept them afloat with 18 points prior to the break.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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Triumphant PH men's curling team shares struggles, hopes to inspire Filipinos

Triumphant PH men's curling team shares struggles, hopes to inspire Filipinos

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

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The Philippine men's curling team with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in Tagaytay City on February 16, 2025. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN NewsThe Philippine men's curling team with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in Tagaytay City on February 16, 2025. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The country’s men's curling team, Curling Pilipinas, has brought home a historic triumph after securing the country's first-ever gold medal at the Asian Winter Games, held in Harbin, China.   

The team made history on Friday, February 14, after defeating South Korea in the finals. 

In the earlier matches, the team bested powerhouse teams from China and Japan.   

Curling Pilipinas is composed of Benjo Delarmente, who also serves as the team’s president, Allan Frei, brothers Enrico and Marc Pfister, and Christian Patrick Haller— all with Filipino blood. 

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In a media briefing in Tagaytay, the team shared their struggles in preparing for the competition, stressing they had to juggle training with their respective jobs.   

“This movement grew as we are sitting here as first South East Asian country with the gold medal in Asia Winter Games which is absolutely incredible. For us, as a team, our job is to create success because success is building bridges for the next generation. We won’t stop here,” said Frei. 

“I was so excited and we have to know that old and young teams are more on the ice than us but we have more experience,” Enrico Pfister shared. 

The team also recalled the intense final match, saying that they did not expect to end up with a gold. 

“We know it’s gonna be a hard game for us… somehow we tied it up. It was really emotional for us. It took a lot of pressure on us, and then the final. We don’t realize we do that. It’s just amazing,” said Marc Pfister. 

“This is so much more here in Harbin. So many more people. And also the emotions I experienced is second to none. It was really great to play with these guys. The experience has so much motivations. I put so much effort in this sport,” Haller said, describing all the sacrifices the team made. 

Meanwhile, the team hopes their victory will give awareness of curling in the Philippines, as it is known and traditionally played in winter nations like the United States, Japan, and South Korea. 

Since the country does not yet have proper facilities for the sport, Curling Pilipinas will first promote “floor curling”— a modified game of the sport which suits tropical countries like the Philippines. 

“It sorts of replicate curling. There are like replica stones instead of actual stone. Merong gulong, meron court na parang linoleum siya na you can set up in any gym. And you can actually introduce the sport,” Delarmente explained. 

The team will also collaborate with various universities in the country to introduce curling to students and young athletes. 

“We will be organizing learn to curl trips or event. We are in talks with Korean curling federation… they have the facilities where we will rent ice. Curling Pilipinas will pay for the ice. We will pay for the interpreter and if needed we will lay for the instructors,” Delarmente added.   

Moreover, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) committed their support to the team, stressing that they will bring this agenda to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

“With this courtesy call, definitely we will request first the journey to Olympics that curling should be included in all the expenses,” said POC President Abraham Tolentino.   

Following a short break for their well-deserved rest, Curling Pilipinas will already start preparing for the Olympic pre-qualifiers in October this year.

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