The entry of all three San Miguel Corp. (SMC) teams in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup semifinals has put the possibility of a sibling battle for the championship at favorable odds.
That is unless the Bay Area Dragons want to have a say on it as the guest team stands in the way of a potential first all-SMC Finals in three years.
Facing them are the San Miguel Beermen, who after a sluggish start have regained the form that enabled them to capture this season’s Philippine Cup crown.
“Bay Area is well-organized,” said assistant coach Jorge Gallent, who still called the shots for the Beermen when they swept the Converge FiberXers in their best-of-three quarterfinal series on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Bay Area also holds the psychological edge over San Miguel when it took a 26-point win in mid-October. But things have changed since, with the Beermen now having June Mar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo not just physically present, but almost in their usual forms.
Tough to crack
But that doesn’t take away the fact that the Beermen feel the Dragons will still be tough to crack, given their own recent showing where their local players have stepped up as fitting complements to their imports Myles Powell or Andrew Nicholson, who recently returned to action due to the former’s injured foot.
Gallent has been preaching the need to play aggressively since he was tasked to call the shots in lieu of coach Leo Austria’s absence due to health and safety protocols.
“We just have to match their aggressiveness, their intensity and we will be okay,” he said. “In our first game, we just didn’t have guys who had the advantage to go at them.
“But now, I think, Terrence is back and June Mar back, we have ways to take advantage of our offense,” added Gallent.
Romeo will try to make sure that he can match up with Bay Area guards led by Glen Yang, a silent contributor on both ends for coach Brian Goorjian.
Dilemma
San Miguel may also face the dilemma of which import Bay Area will field since there’s still the likelihood of Powell, a guard, returning after Nicholson suited up in its semis clincher against Rain or Shine.
Nicholson was the same player who suited up last Oct. 16 when his 32 points enabled the Dragons to produce a 113-87 victory over the Beermen at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo, however, may serve as at least an equalizer this time, and Gallent is also confident of their early plans against Nicholson.
“Size-wise, we’re kind of okay with them,” he said. “We have guys who can match up against him, we have talented big guys also.
“Plus, when we played them, it was Nicholson who was the import, so we can watch videos and see what went wrong … heading into our series.” INQ
Read Next
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Bigg Boss season 16 saw actress Tina Datta’s re-entry last night and she was seen as more fierce and stronger than before.
Bigg Boss 16: Times When Tina Datta Went Against Patriarchal Chauvinism In Bigg Boss 16
Bigg Boss 16: Bigg Boss season 16 saw actress Tina Datta’s re-entry last night and she was seen as more fierce and stronger than before. Right after her entry, Tina came in and exposed Shalin Bhanot’s double-faced personality. She lashed out at him and questioned his statements and actions after her eviction. Looking at how Tina pointed at Shalin’s chauvinist behavior of being with her only for satisfying his food needs, we looked through and found a few times when Tina went against the typical patriarchal and chauvinist behavior of men in Bigg Boss 16. Tina is amongst the few girls who have actually stood up against the ill behavior of men in the house.
1 SHALIN BHANOT’S HYPOCRISY
Not only yesterday but time and again Tina has spoken against Shalin’s behavior. She has even pointed out to him that she doesn’t need a man to fight her battles, and gave a befitting reply to him whenever he tried to portray that Tina needs dependency. By her actions too, the actress has shunned Shalin’s patriarchal nature, and hypocritical personality.
2 SHIV THAKRE’S DEARY REMARKS
Shiv Thakre and Tina Datta had a massive verbal spat during the actress’s birthday. In the chaos Shiv was seen provoking Tina by calling her dear, to which Tina kept saying she isn’t comfortable being called ‘dear’ from someone who has done nasty to her. But Thakre didn’t stop. Right after a point, she called his male ego and sternly called him out.
3 SAJID KHAN’S SMOKING SHOW OFF
Being amongst the only few contestants who dare to go against Sajid Khan, Tina told Sajid that smoking in front of cameras on national television is not ok. He was boasting about his chain-smoking habit and was lashed by Datta with facts. Tina even mentioned in the confession room to Bigg Boss about Sajid’s selective involvement in the show.
4 AGAINST GAUTAM USING SOUNDARYA
Gautam Vig’s gameplay with Soundarya Sharma was first exposed by Tina Datta. She had even warned Soundarya about this and right after Karan Johar exposed Gautam’s game, Tina went and reminded Soundarya about this. Tina’s stand on this typical game of Gautam was later analyzed by others.
Tina Datta has always spoken her heart out in the Bigg Boss house and stood upfront to all her opinions. She has been stern and bold too. As she re-entered yesterday, it would be interesting to see how the actress will take her game forward.
Morocco defeated heavyweights Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to became the first African team to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinal.
France players train in Doha ahead of their semifinal against Morocco. (Image: AP)
Doha: France defender Rafael Varane is wary of the Moroccan side ahead of the big semifinal in the going FIFA World Cup 2022 and stated that the African team is not into the last four by chance. Defending champions France face Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday night.
Morocco have eliminated heavyweights Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages to become the first African team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup semifinal. France, on the other hand, eliminated England in quarterfinals to keep their hopes alive for back-to-back trophies.
“We have enough experience in the team to not fall into that trap,” said Varane, who was one of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning members, in a pre-match press conference. “We know Morocco are not here by chance.
“It is up to us experienced players to make sure everyone is prepared for another battle.” Although France have already fulfilled country’s football federation’s target of reaching the last four, but for Varane the job is yet to be done.
“It is not easy to get to a World Cup semifinal so we are very pleased, but the only real objective is to win it,” added the Manchester United star. “That was always the aim.” During the group stages, Walid Regragui men had defeated Belgium and also drew with Croatia.
France defender Jules Kounde heaped high praise for Morocco and also chalked out how to stop their opposition. “They are very compact, with lines that are close together, and they leave little time for the player on the ball to organise himself,” said Kounde.
“They also run really fast, so we’ll need to play with few touches, move the ball around quickly and try to unbalance them by moving from one side to the other. It is remarkable to have only conceded one goal at this stage of the competition, all the more so given the teams they have faced,” added the Barcelona right-back.
Where once were wires, now Bluetooth reigns. And if it’s cordless audio you’re after, this is the list to listen to: from accessible in-ears to premium earphones, we’ve ranked the best true wireless headphones you can buy right now.
Whether you’re tired of tangled wires or upgrading to a port-free phone, there are buds for every ear and budget. The top options go light on your lugs but are sizeable on sound, offering sonic capabilities to rival any cabled competitor. Many also augment the listening experience with in-app adjustments and active noise cancellation.
Every pair of earbuds is tested extensively by our keen-eared team. Trialled in real-world conditions and challenged with a range of genres to rival your average Glastonbury line-up, you can be sure that the wireless earbuds below all cut the musical mustard. Looking for specifically for gym buds? Check out our dedicated list of the best wireless in-ears for sporty sorts.
Our pick of the best true wireless headphones to buy today
Sony WF-1000XM4
Continuing its record of true-wireless winners, the WF-1000XM4 show once again that Sony knows how to make excellent earphones. Successors to the brilliant WF-1000XM3, the upgraded earbuds deliver a listen that’s as punchy as it is detailed. Spacious and balanced, they’re endlessly engaging in the ear. Besides their convincing sonic talents, the WF-1000XM4 cancel outside sounds effectively, with the option to tweak ANC levels in the outstanding partner app. That’s also where you can tinker with EQ levels, touch controls and more. Battery life is par for the course, but the trade-off is a tidy design that’s smaller than before – mirrored by a charging case that’s more pocket-friendly by 40%. The WF-1000XM3 remain better value, but the WF-1000XM4 set a fresh bar for in-ear superiority.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
With a few simple improvements, the third generation of Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless in-ears cement their place among the best. Build quality feels as bomb-proof as before, while a 16% size reduction and means the updated ‘phones look less chunky. Each earbud features a touch interface, customisable through the feature-packed app. Taps can be set to cycle through ANC settings, which include effective transparency and anti-wind modes. Battery life is acceptably average at seven hours from the earbuds, but superlative audio performance makes up for it: fire up the 7mm drivers and they treat your ears to a poised recital. Favouring balance and fidelity over punishing bass, the Momentums demonstrate remarkable sonic control. Detail is engrossing across the range, with a spacious and tonal soundstage.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
Building on the five-star benchmark set by their predecessors, Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1+ shape up as a feature-packed and remarkably affordable pair of hi-fi wireless earbuds. With bullet-shaped shells, the flat-topped ‘phones are lightweight at 4.6g apiece. There’s no ANC, but superb sound isolation creates a hushed backdrop for a balanced listen. Even without tweaking EQ settings in the smartphone app, the 5.8mm graphene drivers produce a soundstage with real width, depth and texture. Wear detection is notably absent from the spec sheet, but class-leading battery life more than compensates, managing a formidable 45 hours with top-ups from the tidy charging case. At full price, they’re hard to fault. At their discounted ticket, the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ are unbeatable for buyers on a budget.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds were already five-star wireless earphones. Their successors improve the recipe in almost every way. Smaller, lighter and less conspicuous, the second-gen Earbuds are also more comfortable. In testing, we found the swappable tips and stability bands ensured a snug fit. Stems are short, but still accommodate responsive touch surfaces which can be customised through the feature-packed app. To our seasoned ears, the 9.3mm full-range drivers delivered bass that felt bold yet controlled. An expansive soundstage is matched by stacks of detail across the range. Others might make big dynamic variations more obvious, but the QuietComfort Earbuds II don’t want for nuance. And they excel when it comes to ANC: deploying four mics per earbud, they deal decisively with ambient noise, with no hint of in-ear pressure. So while six hours of on-board battery is bettered by rivals, the QCE II are Bose’s best noise-cancelling earphones to date.
Beats Fit Pro
Pairing AirPods tech with sporty styling, the Beats Fit Pro are some of the finest fitness earbuds around. With the help of flexible wingtips, their fit is equal parts comfortable and unshakeable. Sound quality is excellent, courtesy of Apple’s H1 chip and 9.5mm drivers inside: bass is predictably punchy, but overall output also proves rich, crisp and clear. Spatial audio support means sonic immersion with compatible tracks, plus Adaptive EQ tweaks sound to suit your surroundings. ANC and transparency modes ape the AirPods Pro, even if noise-cancellation isn’t the strongest. Battery life is competitive enough at 30 hours, while wear-detect sensors pause the playlist when you can’t hear it. The earphones reward iOS users with seamless connectivity, although the Android app also offers welcome customisation.
AirPods Pro
Comfortable, clever and equipped with active noise-cancellation, Apple’s AirPods Pro are a stellar set of wireless in-ears for iPhone fans. From Spatial Audio to automatic device-switching, the feature set is smart from start to finish. Find a good seal with assistance from Apple’s fit test and the AirPods reward you with a personalised listen: Adaptive EQ attunes audio output to suit your ear, while ANC monitors noise 200 times per second. The latter makes a notable difference in removing unwanted interruptions, while the former ensures a consistently rich, warm and detailed listen. Smarts are restricted for Android users and the AirPods Pro are easily beaten on battery life and price. But they’re an enticing choice for iPhone owners, with lightweight, ergonomic and neatly familiar packaging
Shure AONIC Free
Big and borderline gawky, Shure’s AONIC Free focus on sonic perfection over fashionable impressions. Robustly built and comfortable to wear, there’s no escaping their heft. Nor are the dimensions justified by a comprehensive feature set: there’s no ANC, the interface uses physical buttons and battery life is average at seven hours. So why are they in this list? Simple: they offer outstanding sound quality across the board. Few earbuds at any price can match their combination of accuracy, detail, punch and fidelity. The soundstage is large yet well-defined. Dynamic potency is considerable, rhythmic expression is naturalistic, and the overall tonality is entirely convincing. In short: if you’re willing to ignore their shortfalls in exchange for the best-possible sound, you need to hear the AONIC Free.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Ask any audiophile and they’ll tell you the Bowers & Wilkins name carries certain expectations of audio excellence. Luckily, the British hi-fi brand’s debut wireless earphones emphatically fulfil them. Bold by design, machined caps contribute to a premium finish. Not the smallest or lightest, each earbud harbours dual drivers and two individual amplifiers, producing incredible separation. Lows are deep but refined, while mids are given freedom to breathe, with incredible detail across the range. Which is good, because there’s no option to tweak the EQ. Noise cancellation is impressive, if not quite at Bose’s level for total blackout. Battery life should be better for the eye-watering price, but that’s countered by the clever charging case: retransmission tech means it can broadcast non-wireless signals via Bluetooth.
Denon AH-C830NCW
Adopting a dangly stem design, Denon’s first true wireless in-ears don’t upset the status quo. But with well-made, ergonomic shells, they represent a relatively stylish example of the form. They also benefit from ANC, although performance is decent, rather than outstanding. With muting smarts enabled, the AH-C830NCW deliver around five hours of battery life, plus a further four from the charging case. Each earbud features a touch surface, although you can’t use it to control the volume. Nor do you get an app, EQ or voice-assistant support. But these boldly old-school earbuds do have solid audio chops: bass frequencies are deep and textured, yet nicely balanced against an expressive mid-range and well-judged high frequencies – something not all true wireless earphones are brave enough to deliver.
Sony LinkBuds S
Lighter and smaller than Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4, the LinkBuds S are miniature earbuds for all-day audio. Barely there at 4.8g per bud, Sony reckons they’re the world’s lightest noise-cancelling wireless earphones and they’re certainly some of the best true wireless headphones. They a little practice to position, but silicone tips seat them securely and comfortably, while tap controls are easy to master. Relatively small drivers mean the LinkBuds S can’t compete with the WF-1000XM4 on energy. But while they feel a little lacking at higher frequencies, bass is decent and the listen is broadly balanced and enjoyable. Battery life could be better at six hours with ANC, but the overall experience is easy to live with. Sony’s Headphones app offers adaptive ambient sound control, while noise-cancelling excels when it comes to silencing wind during calls.
Jabra Elite 5
Comfortably resting between the company’s entry-level Elite 4 and excellent premium Elite 7 Active, the Jabra Elite 5 offers superb call quality, physical controls, and all manner of codecs to keep Apple and Android users sweet, including AAC, SBC and aptX.
Sound is punchy, and you can tweak things to your liking using the equaliser settings in Jabra’s app. Noise cancellation, while not the best around, is suitably decent, and the seven-hour battery life is respectable, if not mind-blowing. Given its mid-range price and solid overall design and performance though, this is a great choice for those looking for a respectable all-rounder with particularly excellent call performance.
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd
Somehow it’s taken Beyerdynamic until 2022 to release its first pair of truly wireless earbuds, and while not the absolute best pair around, they still deliver on practically all fronts, including a very sturdy, if perhaps not awe-inspiring design. With a very generous selection of earbud tips, you’ll easily find your perfect fit, while sound customisation tuned to your ears make for an excellent listening experience.
ANC works well, and the wireless Qi case charging is a delightful touch — as are the customisable controls which can be easily changed in the Beyerdynamic app. If you’re a fan of the brand, you won’t be disappointed by this formidable first attempt.
The candidates must note that the Board has not yet announced any date for the release of UP Board Class 10, 12 Date Sheet 2023.
UP Board Class 10, Class 12 Date Sheets
UP Board Exam 2023: The candidates who are preparing for UP Board Class 12 and Class 10 examinations, we have some important news for you. The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) will release the UP Board Date Sheet 2023 soon. According to the reports, the UP board is likely to announce the time table before December 25. Soon after the formal announcement of the UPMSP Class 10 and Class 12 datesheet, the same will be available on the official website of the board i.e. upmsp.edu.in.
The candidates must note that the Board has not yet announced any date for the release of UP Board Class 10, 12 Date Sheet 2023. Therefore, it is advised that students must not believe on fake news or fake date sheet on the internet. They are suggested to follow only the official website for authentic information.
How to download UP Board Date Sheet 2023?
For the convenience of the candidates, we have mentioned the steps via which they can download the UP Board Date Sheet 2023:
Step 1: Go to the official website – upmsp.edu.in
Step 2: Click on the Download section.
Step 3: Click on the link available for UP Board Class 10, 12 Date Sheet 2023 (when available).
Step 4: A PDF file for the same would open.
Step 5: Students can download the UPMSP Class 10, 12 timetable 2023 and save it for future references.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s new look from his upcoming spy-thriller movie ‘Pathaan’ was unveiled on Sunday.
Shah Rukh Khan Looks Uber Cool In Beachwear From ‘Besharam Rang’ Track Of ‘Pathaan’
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s new look from his upcoming spy-thriller movie ‘Pathaan’ was unveiled on Sunday. In the picture, SRK can be seen in a casual beachwear look donning a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, a pair of black sunglasses, a light stubble with hair tied up loosely in a bun. The look is from a new song from ‘Pathaan’ titled ‘Besharam Rang’ which is due for release on Monday. SRK, who plays a gun-toting spy with a licence to kill in ‘Pathaan’, is presented as the king of cool in the song.
Talking about SRK’s prep for the film, director Siddharth Anand said, “SRK will be seen letting his hair down with Deepika in this party track of the season. He has pushed his body for the film to be his fittest best and has also flaunted an eight pack in this song as well which should get his fans very excited to see their idol looking the way he is in ‘Pathaan’”.
About the pairing of SRK and Deepika, Anand said, “His chemistry with Deepika in the song is infectious. They are considered one of the all-time biggest on-screen jodis in the history of Hindi cinema, given their massive blockbusters, and this song presents them to their fans and audiences in a way that they have never seen before on screen. I am eagerly awaiting to see the reaction of people when the song drops tomorrow!”
Produced by Yash Raj Films, ‘Pathaan’ also stars John Abraham and will arrive in cinemas on January 25, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s decision to leave the Democratic Party was driven by “political aspirations for the future in Arizona,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday.
“I happen to suspect that it’s probably a lot to do with politics back in Arizona,” Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I think the Democrats there are not all that enthusiastic about somebody who helped sabotage some of the most important legislation that protects the interests of working families and voting rights and so forth.”
Along with fellow centrist Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sinema held strong negotiating power on Democratic priorities in the evenly divided Senate. “She is a corporate Democrat who has, in fact along with Senator Manchin, sabotaged enormously important legislation,” said Sanders, a prominent progressive lawmaker.
Sinema’s announcement to register as an independent came just days after Democrats reached a 51-49 Senate majority following Sen. Raphael Warnock’s victory in the Georgia runoff election, which expanded the party’s narrowest of majorities.
However, she has said she intends to keep her committee seats assigned to her by Democrats, meaning the party will still have a clear majority and full control of committees, a Democratic leadership aide told NBC News.
In a recent interview on CNN, Sinema said she does not want to “be tethered by the partisanship that dominates politics today.” “I think Americans are tired of it. I think Arizonans are tired of it,” she said. “The national political parties have pulled our politics farther to the edges than I have ever seen.”
Sinema added, “I want to remove some of that kind of— that poison from our politics.”
While some Democratic senators have criticized Sinema’s decision to leave the Democratic Party, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., shared a less critical view of her move in an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“I had a good experience working with Kyrsten on a number of different topics, especially the bipartisan infrastructure package,” Tester said, adding that that he doesn’t think it matters if Sinema is a Democrat or Republican as long as she “wants to get things” in Congress.
Summer Concepcion is a politics reporter for NBC News.
