Wembanyama hits another milestone with 50-point game for Spurs | ABS-CBN

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Wembanyama hits another milestone with 50-point game for Spurs

Wembanyama hits another milestone with 50-point game for Spurs

Agence France-Presse

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Updated Nov 14, 2024 05:30 PM PHT

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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images/AFP Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images/AFP 

MIAMI (UPDATED) -- Victor Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game when the 20-year-old Frenchman led the San Antonio Spurs to a 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The first overall pick in last year's draft rattled up his career-high 50 points in just 26 minutes and ended the game with 18-29 shooting with eight three-pointers -- also a career high.

The Spurs center, whose previous highest-scoring game was 40, was at a loss to explain his incredible performance.

"I'd love to tell you that you wake up a certain way or you feel really smooth during warm-ups, but at the end of the day, in NBA games we got one game every other day," he said.

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"So every time we struggle to warm up, we have pain, you know, we sweat, we bleed on the court, so it's really a minute-to-minute thing, it comes to 48 minutes every game," he added.

It was the third straight game in which Wembanyama had hit six-plus three-pointers.
It was the third straight game in which Wembanyama had hit six-plus three-pointers.

The three players who scored 50 points at a younger age than the Frenchman were Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker, all of whom were also aged 20.

The Spurs again won the game without head coach Gregg Popovich. The team said on Wednesday that he had suffered a mild stroke earlier this month but is expected to make a full recovery.

Wembanyama wasn't the only player to break the 50-point mark on Wednesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 127-120 in overtime.

The Greek star shot 21 of 34 and had 14 rebounds and seven assists in what was the highest point performance by a player so far this season.

"As a leader I keep reminding guys, don't take moments for granted. No matter who plays we don't give up and always have to find ways to win the game," said Antetokounmpo.

- Cavs roll on -

The unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers made it 13 straight wins in the NBA with a 114-106 victory at the Philadelphia 76ers.

With the win the Cavs became just the sixth team to start a season with a 13-0 record and the first since the Golden State Warriors in the 2015-16 season.

Darius Garland top-scored for Cleveland with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell put up 23 points along with nine assists and 13 rebounds.

Mitchell ended the game on fire, scoring 11 points in a 1:35 spell in the fourth quarter.
Mitchell ended the game on fire, scoring 11 points in a 1:35 spell in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland trailed 54-48 at the half but turned it on in the third quarter. Yet it was a tight game until Mitchell made a 29-foot three-pointer with 2:52 remaining to open up a seven-point lead.

Mitchell conceded that the 13th game in 22 days had been a battle.

"We all fought. Biggest thing is, obviously, we played a lot of games and it's going to test you.

"The streak is going to test you. These games are going to test you.

"We kept pushing, just continued to fight, continued to battle and we all did a great job," he said.

Philadelphia's injury-plagued star center Joel Embiid, who made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday after nine games out with a knee issue, sat out the game and the 76ers were also without Paul George.

Rookie Jared McCain stepped up with 34 points for Philadelphia, who are 2-9 on the season.

The Boston Celtics continued their strong start to the season. Their 139-114 win at the Brooklyn Nets extended their record to 10-3.

Jayson Tatum put up 36 points, made 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds as the reigning champion Celtics enjoyed a convincing victory.
Jayson Tatum put up 36 points, made 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds as the reigning champion Celtics enjoyed a convincing victory.

After a defeat to Atlanta in the NBA Cup on Tuesday, the Celtics trailed by two after the first quarter but grabbed a five-point lead by the half and dominated from then on.

It was a strong all-round display from Boston with Jaylen Brown producing 24 points and 12 rebounds while Payton Pritchard claimed 23 points and had eight assists and six rebounds.

© Agence France-Presse

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Here are more details about the MOA Football Pitch -- 'an engineering marvel'

Here are more details about the MOA Football Pitch -- 'an engineering marvel'

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

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The newly-opened MOA Football Pitch in Pasay City, February 25, 2025, in Pasay City. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.The newly-opened MOA Football Pitch in Pasay City, February 25, 2025, in Pasay City. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — The newly-opened Mall of Asia Football Pitch seeks to create new opportunities for the sport that is continuously growing in the country.

Inaugurated on Tuesday by members of the Philippine women’s national football team, the Philippine Football Federation, and other officials from the mall in Pasay, it looks to become one of the newest hubs of the beautiful game in the country.

“The whole project was an engineering marvel, actually,” Lester Louie Lee, the sales manager of Sports & Play International Corporation, told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday.

He revealed that the pitch, which currently houses a 1,800 seating capacity but is designed to be expandable, started over a decade ago, and detailed how the progress went over the years.
The audience’s seats in the MOA Football Pitch, February 25, 2025, in Pasay City. Photo from Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.The audience’s seats in the MOA Football Pitch, February 25, 2025, in Pasay City. Photo from Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.“This project goes back more than a 10-year span,” Lee shared. “Planning stage na ‘to, mga 2014, 2015, kasi there were super limited football pitches in the Philippines pa lang. Then over the years, medyo challenging ‘to because MOA was only a two-floor mall.”

“MOA management was planning and building their third and fourth floors while the mall was operating and renovating, so it was very challenging,” he continued.

Lee said that their 35-year-old company — which was also the mall’s partner for its flooring when it hosted the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup as well as the 2024 Volleyball Nations League — and their initial project with SM, the pitch in National University-Laguna’s Inspire Sports Academy, helped paved way for this facility.

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“We worked with them from the start,” said Lee, of the pitch that has dimensions of 115 meters by 74 meters. “So this is a certified pitch na AFC size.”

Lee added that the pitch, which cost almost P30 million, was delayed by two to three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the PFF and the players were ultimately ecstatic about the outcome.

“They are very happy. There is a new home, and this will boost local football and grassroots programs,” he shared.

“They are very happy na: ‘Okay, may paglalaruan na kami na very accessible to the public.’ So there is access to all players, and people are craving for reservations na,” Lee furthered, while also saying how the facility seeks to aid grassroots programs aside from being eyed as a venue for big games.

“The PFF is very happy, and for sure, it would entail new football players, student-athletes, and possibly, future members of the National teams,” he said.

Lee added that there would be a separate company that would handle how interested parties and leagues can reserve the facility, but this MOA project is far from being their last one.

“We’re building more pitches in the Metro, in Ortigas, and in Quezon City,” he hinted.

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