FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

News is swirling around the sports community that Tokyo Olympics gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz and world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo, the country’s best bets to secure golds in their respective events, may not be seeing action in Cambodia this May.

This is because Olympic qualifying tournaments for weightlifting and gymnastics are going to be held at the same period

Gymnastics association president Cynthia Carrion however clarified that Yulo will take part in the world championships in score a triple-double in their 20th season.

The Lakers star was backed by Anthony Davis with 27 points and new signing Rui Hachimura, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 17 points off the bench.

“We played good ball throughout 48 minutes tonight,” James said afterwards.

“We were in tune with the game plan throughout 48 minutes and we did a good job of executing offensively and defensively.”

James meanwhile insisted he was not burdened by chasing down Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record -- stating bluntly that it

DIAZ, YULO MAY MISS CAMBODIA SEAG

Antwerp, Belgium instead of the Hangzhou Asian Games which will be held in overlapping dates in September.

The Belgium event is the qualifying tournament for next year’s Summer Olympics in Paris where Yulo can vindicate his name after failing to snatch a gold in Tokyo..

Quite naturally, Yulo, assured Carrion, will take part in the Cambodia SEAG but will not be around in the Asian Games because the world championships are more important contests.

Diaz, a four-time Olympian, is already peaking up in her prepa- rations for the qualifiers where she will move up to the 55 kg event. Pinoys are expecting the Zambo native to qualify for the Paris Olympics and repeat her Tokyo feat. The Cambodia SEAG is in conflict with the Olympic qualifier Diaz will take part in..

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann rues these developments because Diaz not only is a sure gold medal winner in Cambodia. Her physical presence also inspires and greatly motivates her fellow Pinoy athletes to give their best despite the odds.

The Philippines placed fourth in the 2022 Vietnam joust with just 52 golds, so that the absence of Diaz will lessen the country’s gold medal production.

In Cambodia, Yulo and company are not expected to bring home the bacon. Strong opposition will come from reigning SEAG champion Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and even the tiny citystate of Singapore, not necessarily in this order.

The SEAG serves only as a basic training ground and competition standard for potential Asian Gamers and Olympic hopefuls.

Yulo is the defending SEAG was only a “matter of time” before he passed the mark of 38,387 points.

“No, it’s not getting heavier because I’m going to do it,” James said.

“I mean, it’s just a matter of time when I’m going to do it.”

James had looked to have done enough to se-

FJAMES, P10

champion in the men’s all around artistic, vault, artistic rings, artistic horizontal bars and artistic floor exercise.

The positive note is that there are several others waiting in the wings who may prove their capability as replacement for Diaz. They will be the new discoveries who are certainly motivated to follow her Olympic journey.

The turnover of Pinoy talents should be a regular development if Philippine sports is to move up a notch higher. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!