A Repost From Sid Ventura of Sportsaholic

Azkals blast Brave Reds, 4-0

By Sid Ventura | Sportsaholic – Sun, Jul 3, 2011

Scenes from Azkals vs. Sri Lanka

Azkals coach Michael Weiss hugs Chieffy Caligdong, who scored the first goal in the 19th minute of the first half of the Azkals vs. Sri Lanka Brave Reds second leg match, Round 1, of the 2014 World Cup Asia playoffs held in Rizal Stadium in Manila. (Mike Alquinto/NPPA Images)

The Philippine Azkals made history today when they pounded the Sri Lanka Brave Reds, 4-0, in the second leg of their Round 1 World Cup qualifier at the packed Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

With the convincing victory, fashioned out before a crowd of 12,000 that didn't move an inch even when half of them were drenched by a heavy downpour that struck the pitch early in the first half, the Azkals clinched the tie on an aggregate of 5-1 and made history on several counts.

First off, it was the Philippines' first-ever victory in World Cup qualifying matches. It's also the first time the country scored more than one goal in a WC qualifying match. Finally and most importantly, it's the first time the Philippines will advance to the second round of the WC qualifiers.

Chieffy Caligdong of the Philippine Air Force broke the ice in the 19^th minute by eluding two defenders in the box before striking home a shot that just clipped the inside of the goal post. Phil Younghusband made it 2-nil two minutes before halftime when he beat the Sri Lankan defense and found himself unmarked in the box for an easy goal.

There was some confusion after Younghusband's goal after the linesman initially signalled a foul on the Fil-British striker, thus nullifying the goal. But after consulting with the linesman, the lead referee overruled the nullification and let the goal stand to give the Azkals a comfortable lead heading into the halftime break.

Scenes from Azkals vs. Sri Lanka

The Azkals in full force. (Mike Alquinto/NPPA Images)

There was no let-up in the second half as Angel Guirado just beat the offside trap and fielded a perfect pass from James Younghusband to rush unmarked towards the goal. With only the keeper to beat, Guirado deftly maneuvered away from the keeper to the right and found the back of the net to make it 3-0 in the 51^st minute. Five minutes later, midfielder Stephan Shrock was taken down in the penalty box by Sri Lanka's Chathura Gunaratne to give the Philippines a penalty kick. Phil Younghusband stepped up to take the shot and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 4-nil.

Sri Lanka had its chances in the first half but just couldn't get a clear shot. The Brave Reds' best chance came in the 33^rd minute when they were rewarded a free kick just outside the left side of the penalty box. A chance was created when the Philippine defense failed to clear and Neil Etheridge was caught out of position, but a header sailed harmlessly above the crossbar.

Glad to be home and to be playing on a better pitch, the Azkals employed more short passing and created several chances by going behind the defense and beating the offside trap. This was a big turnaround from their 1-1 draw in Colombo, where the poorly maintained pitch, which coach Michael Weiss described as "used for planting tomatoes and potatoes", forced his side to resort to long passes.

"I almost called them irregular conditions," Weiss said of the Sir Lankan pitch. "Stony and with bumps and is very difficult to play. We had to change our tactics and play long ball."

Coming home after being away for several weeks training in Germany, Weiss added, was a welcome relief for the players, and provided them with an added boost.

"Today was a totally different environment. We were away from home for a long time, and it was physically and mentally different. The players had a different comfort level."

In contrast, the Brave Reds attacked almost exclusively on the right flank, and were met with good defending by left back Paul Mulders and center defenders Aly Borromeo and Rob Gier.

"The Philippines was the better team today," said Sri Lankan coach Jang Jung.

Scenes from Azkals vs. Sri Lanka

James Younghusband (#7) of the Philippine Football Team Azkals goes after the ball against a Sri Lanka Brave Reds player. (Mike Alquinto/NPPA Images)

Next up for the Azkals is a training camp in Bahrain in preparation for their second-round two-leg tie against Kuwait, a country ranked 103 in the world and considered a very tough opponent for the national side. The first leg will be played in Kuwait on July 23 and the second in Manila on July 28. The Azkals might miss Borromeo and Shrock in the first leg after both players picked up their second yellow cards of the qualifiers. Weiss, though, is hopeful his team captain and top midfielder can play, noting that FIFA is more lenient about such infractions during World Cup qualifiers.

The coach, though, minced no words about the level of competition they will face, and cautioned the public against expecting a similar attacking style that they unleashed on Sri Lanka.

"We will have to enhance our level of play, especially considering who we will be up against. I don't think we will be able to compare both opponents (Sri Lanka and Kuwait) because it's like you play Crystal Palace and Manchester United. It's totally different football. We will not be able to be as offensive-minded as we were today against Kuwait. Otherwise we will get hammered like we have never seen before.

"So we have to change our tactics, but nevertheless, if we stand compact we will have a chance. The first match will be played under incredible hot weather and we have to play smart and not waste our energy against an opponent who moves the ball very fast and technically superior.

"We have to analyze them carefully. I have all their tapes and I am looking forward to the challenge."

Reposted From Sid Ventura of Sportaholic

A Repost From Cedelf P. Tupas of Philippine Daily Inquirer

Moment of truth: Philippine booters battle Sri Lanka today

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

1:51 am | Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

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Photo by AP

MANILA—It’s a match that means the world for a Philippine football team seeking a shot at history.

The Azkals try to justify their status as the new pride and joy of Philippine sports when they face Sri Lanka in the return leg of their World Cup qualifying match today at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The 3:30 p.m. game carries a lot of significance for the country, which missed playing at the qualifying event of the 2006 and 2010 editions.

The first World Cup qualifying match in the Philippines in 10 years also gives the national team a chance to advance to the second round of the qualifying tournament for the first time.

“Considering what the national team has been through over the years, this match and playing in front of Filipinos mean so much to us,” said Chieffy Caligdong, a vital cog of the Philippine teams over the past decade.

Caligdong was one of the players who soldiered on even when support for the team was hard to come by and was there when the Azkals finally burst into the nation’s consciousness a few months ago with a historic win over powerhouse Vietnam in Hanoi.

The 1-1 draw in the first leg in Colombo Wednesday may have left several players disappointed, but it has also put the Azkals in a good position to reach the second round with the home side needing just a scoreless draw to advance.

A 1-1 tie will result in extra time and, if needed, penalties to determine the winner, while a 2-2 draw or more will send the Sri Lankans to the second round.

That’s why the Azkals find themselves in a dogfight against a Sri Lankan team that also promised an improved performance from Wednesday.

“We’re not going to sit out there and defend,” said skipper Aly Borromeo. “We’re gonna play our usual game and work hard especially in front of our home crowd.”

The South Asians held their own against the Azkals, slightly taking the shine out of the star-studded lineup, which apparently struggled with several new combinations in the squad while playing on the hard, pockmarked pitch.

Sri Lanka captain Rohana Kuwanthilake said they are ready to spoil the Azkals’ homecoming after working out yesterday. The team arrived late Friday after a 12-hour journey.

“We know that the crowd will be big tomorrow,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. We want to win the match.”

The Sri Lankans took the lead in the first half of the opening leg, but substitute Nate Burkey gave the Azkals the crucial “away” goal with his header five minutes after the break.

Surprisingly, the enormity of the task of finally hurdling the opening-round and meeting big expectations is not bothering the squad.

“They (players) will say we are pretty much looking forward to tomorrow’s (today’s) game,” Azkals coach Michael Weiss said. “There is no pressure.”

The Azkals trained at the Rizal Memorial Stadium for the first time since the game on Saturday afternoon and while several players like Angel Guirado looked gimpy, Weiss said he’ll most likely stick with the same eleven that started Wednesday.

The starting eleven included Guirado, Phil Younghusband who was substituted in the 40th minute because of pain is hamstring, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, midfielders Stephan Schrock, Manny Ott, Caligdong and defenders Anton del Rosario, Rob Gier, Aly Borromeo and Paul Mulders, an attacking midfielder who has been deployed as leftback in the absence of Ray Jonsson.

Several things look to be going Weiss’ way, particularly with a better-conditioned pitch, which he described as “pretty amazing” and a far cry from the one in Colombo.

Sri Lanka coach Jang Jung, a South Korean, is confident that his squad can stifle the Azkals.

“We are at a disadvantage, but we are prepared,” said Jung, whose team relied on long balls and quick counter attacks to keep the Azkals on their heels in the first leg.

Reposted From Cedelf P. Tupas of Philippine Daily Inquirer

A Repost From Yahoo! News

She punched the Sheriff

Yahoo Newsroom – Fri, Jul 1, 2011

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has proven she is no different from her feisty father ‘The Punisher’ Rodrigo Duterte who was Davao’s disciplinarian for years.

In a demolition operation in Davao City, the lady mayor repeatedly punched the Sheriff of the Davao Regional Trial Court, Abe Andres.

See for yourself.

(Video by ANC)

She punched the SheriffVideo by ANC.

UPDATE:

In an interview with ABS-CBN's ANC, Duterte said she already sent the Sheriff to the hospital.

"I actually sent him to the hospital after the confrontation. I think that's sorry enough," Duterte said in the interview.

Duterte said the Sheriff refused to wait for her before pushing through with the demolition. She noted that she was asking for a two-hour extension to avoid riots.

Duterte refused to categorically apologize but has admitted that her act cannot be justified.

"I cannot justify what I did but I will stand by what I'm saying that I was asking him, for humanitarian reasons that you wait for me...so that no riot will happen," Duterte said in a televised interview.

The lady mayor said she's also ready for any charges.

"Fine. I heard they said they're gonna file contempt charges, that's not a problem with me," added Duterte.

Reposted From Yahoo! News and ANC

A Repost From Yahoo! Southeast Asia

REVEALED: What sugar actually does to your brain and body

about a week ago. 14

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Sugar is a sweet, funny thing. For some of us, it’s a love-hate affair that borders around obsession, caution and indulgence. To others, it’s merely just glucose and/or fructose; have too much of it and you get diabetes. Regardless of which group you belong to, you probably can’t avoid having sugar in your diet, so it’s always a good idea to understand better what you eating. Perhaps after reading this entry, you’ll find that sugar isn’t as bad as you had imagined – or possibly much worse than you believe.

Firstly, we should understand that sugar is a very broad term describing different forms of saccharides, of which glucose and fructose are of most direct concern to us. Glucose is what you should consider the natural “fuel” of your body, and that most bodily processes, such as thinking about an exam question or doing push-ups, require glucose in one way or another. Despite so, glucose has its own problems, namely leading to the release of VLDL which in higher amounts, could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. And then there is the all-too familiar diabetes of course.

Fructose on the other hand, is really just very bad. The body doesn’t require fructose for energy consumption, but will actively do so when its freely flowing in your bloodstream after a fructose-heavy meal. The main difference between this and glucose is that fructose affects your metabolism in more than one negative way, encompassing the release of more VLDL in addition to uric acid production and a whole bunch of other nasty stuff. Bottom is clear: glucose can be bad, whereas fructose can very bad when both are taken in copious amounts.

How does knowledge of fructose, glucose and the scientific stuff affect us? A majority of processed food rely on fructose to get you that tasty flavour, which means that you take in a lot of fructose when you indulge in junk food often. We’re not just talking about hamburgers, potato chips and the like, but also elusive softdrinks that can creep in your life quite sinisterly. Working in the office OT and feeling a little tired? Not a big deal. Simply reach out to the pantry fridge and grab yourself a 7-up. You know how the story goes, so watch out for these moments.

Aside from processed foods, fresh fruits are actually another easy to acquire fructose. Sounds bad? Not exactly. Although fruits contain high fructose, an inherently high fibre content in most of them (like bananas and papayas) informs your brain that satiety is met. Since hunger is disposed of, there isn’t a need for eating anymore, so any further fructose intake is thereby controlled. Besides, fruits are a primary source of vitamins so there is absolutely no reason to cut down on it. Cut away the soda drinks and desserts if you must.

Now that you have a better idea of the magical workings of sugar and especially fructose, how do you deal with it on a day to day basis? To save you from cracking your brains, we have some advice for you:

• Stay away from processed foods and especially soft drinks as much as possible
• Avoid sitting for too long; stand up and walk around a little every hour
• Have a few “sugar” days a week to avoid withdrawal symptoms
• Replace Dessert with something like fresh fruits or fruit juice

Sugar isn’t necessarily bad when taken in higher amounts, as glucose and fructose can boost sporting performances and even give your brain an energy lift (the brain favors glucose as an energy fuel) when you’re falling asleep in class. Just remember that like all things, sugar should taken in moderation.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be on track to a healthy sugar life. It’s inevitable that you’ll eat sugar all the time so don’t be paranoid consuming sugar regularly in your diet. Instead, focus on how you can reduce sugar intake and watch out for those that are rich in fructose.

Reposted From Yahoo! Southeast Asia

A Repost From TJ Burgonio of Philippine Daily Inquirer

Erap Estrada provides laughs, Imeldific the songs

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

3:05 am | Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

FORMER President Joseph Estrada and ex-first lady Imelda Marcos provide the entertainment at the Santiagos’ wedding anniversary. Joseph Agcaoili

The reception dinner that followed Sunday’s renewal of vows between Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and her husband Narciso Santiago Jr. had no less than an ousted dictator’s wife as guest singer and an ousted President as party joker.

Former President Joseph Estrada got to dish out some of his so-called “Eraptions” while former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos sang a Visayan song and a Perry Como oldie.

As soon as he was called to speak before the VIP gathering at the Manila Hotel, Estrada launched into a spiel as though playing before a crowd in a comedy bar.

Estrada said he and his wife, former Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito, had reached their golden wedding anniversary because she simply refused to listen to his favorite Engelbert Humperdinck song, “Release Me.”

Then turning to Senator Santiago, Estrada said: “I’m sure you will reach that (golden anniversary) too because my kumpadre Jun doesn’t have the nerve to sing that to you.”

Estrada, one of the principal sponsors at the rites held at Manila Cathedral to mark the Santiagos’ 40th wedding anniversary, also wondered aloud why the senator had many dos and don’ts written on the invitation.

“I had to be here at 5:30 p.m. ‘for support,’” he noted, citing one of the dos. “Then in the letter, you said ‘I can’t pay you. So you and Imelda have to sing, and you should bring your own piano and pianist.’”

Surveying the crowd at the hotel’s Centennial Hall, the former President acknowledged the mix of former and incumbent government officials, setting them up for his next punch line.

“Ex-ambassadors, ex-senators, ex-Cabinet members. There are so many exes,” he said. “But among all of them, I have the most exes: I’ve been an ex-movie actor, ex-mayor, ex-senator. I’ve been an ex-Vice President, an ex-President. I’ve been an ex-detainee.”

“And lastly, I’m now an ex-convict,” said Estrada, who was convicted of plunder in September 2007 and pardoned a month later by his successor, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Mere front act

But an “ex-singer” he’s not, Estrada said, thus closing his act by singing Robert Goulet’s “Always You.”

After his song, though, Estrada said he was only serving as a “front act” for Imelda Marcos.

Also a principal sponsor at the wedding, the 81-year-old widow of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos treated the diners to Perry Como’s “I Want to Give.”

Asked to do an encore, Marcos picked the Visayan song “Malipayon Ang Takna,” again to generous applause.

Estrada’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, also sang a duet, “Unforgettable,” with actress Heart Evangelista, who served as maid of honor in the wedding.

The younger Estrada actually stood in for the best man, President Aquino, who attended the 6 p.m. wedding but begged off from the reception, citing another appointment.

Show of civility

“I would have wanted for the President to come and sing a duet with Heart Evangelista, and then I would have talked to him about certain urgent problems on our national agenda particularly the Spratly Islands dispute on which we already had a consultation,” Senator Santiago told reporters.

Former President and now Pampanga Representative Arroyo, another principal sponsor, stayed at the reception only up to 9 p.m. and left just before the Estrada-Marcos numbers began.

Santiago said she was just happy to see her guests, particularly political archenemies Estrada and Arroyo, “greeting each other very heartily.”

“I suspected that they will greet each other civilly. But they went beyond that. So that set the tone for this event,” she said.

The menu included seasonal salad with poached shrimp, cream of zucchini and spinach, guyabano sherbet, baked salmon, Australian beef tenderloin baked in mushroom crust, and frozen banana walnut crunch parfait.

Reposted From TJ Burgonio of Philippine Daily Inquirer

A Repost From Norman Bordadora of Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘We will defend what is ours’

Palace talks tough on Spratlys row

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:36 am | Sunday, June 19th, 2011

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The deployment of the BRP Rajah Humabon—the Philippines’ only warship—to patrol the seas near Scarborough Shoal is meant to show the country’s resolve to defend its sovereignty over what it considers its undisputed territory, Malacañang said Saturday.

On Friday, President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines “will not be pushed around [just] because we are a tiny state compared to [China].”

He reiterated the Philippines’ right to explore its seas despite China’s claims over the same.

The only World War II-era destroyer still in active service, the Humabon was sent to patrol the waters off Zambales after China sent Haixun 31, a helicopter-equipped 3,000-ton maritime patrol ship, on a voyage that will see it passing through the West Philippine Sea.

The Humabon’s displacement is only 1,390 tons. Acquired in December 1978 and commissioned by the Philippine Navy in February 1980, it is the Philippines’ only warship.

In Baguio City, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban Jr. said on Saturday that “miracles on the table will resolve” the Spratlys row.

“Diplomacy will work,” he said at the Philippine Military Academy where he was the guest during the incorporation of 195 new cadets.

“It’s a way of saying that this is ours,” Secretary Ramon Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said of Scarborough Shoal, which is also being claimed by China.

Scarborough Shoal lies about 220 kilometers from Zambales, 350 km from Manila, and more than 800 km from Hong Kong.

“We may be a small country, but we will do whatever we can to defend our sovereignty … Whatever capabilities we have, no matter how big or small, we’re going to assert our sovereignty,” Carandang said.

He also said that while the Philippines wanted a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the dispute over the Spratly island chain—which is being claimed wholly or partly by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan—it was asserting its sovereignty over its territories.

Also on Saturday in a news briefing over government radio, presidential deputy spokesperson, Abigail Valte, said Malacañang expected China to continue its support for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the ongoing dispute with respect to territories in the West Philippine Sea.

“Our statements have always been very clear … Our approach is a rules-based settlement of the dispute, and we are seeking a multilateral approach to the dispute resolution,” Valte said.

“But I think our counterparts in China are saying the same thing. [T]here will be no use of force and they also want a diplomatic means to come up with a peaceful resolution of the problem,” she said.

Through its spokesperson, Commodore Miguel Rodriguez, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it found “no cause for worry” over the three-day military drills conducted by the Chinese Navy near the potentially resource-rich Spratlys.

In fact, he said in a text message, the military hoped to someday participate in joint military drills with China, with whom the Philippines had traded diplomatic barbs over alleged intrusions in disputed waters.

On the other hand, Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez cautioned the government against relaxing its claim over parts of the Spratlys despite repeated assurances from other claimant-countries, particularly China, that they would not start a war there.

“We should always keep our guard up, in spite of the conciliatory tone of the latest China statement on the Spratlys,” he said.

Golez said that when China occupied Mischief Reef near Palawan in 1995, Chinese authorities lulled their counterparts in the Philippines that they had only built temporary structures for their fishermen. Four years later, he said, the AFP discovered full-blown concrete military structures and facilities on Mischief.

Only recently, Golez said, China issued warnings, combined with physical harassment, that it owned the seas all the way to Recto (Reed) Bank, followed by a conciliatory message that it would not allow force.

“If we allow them to lull us again, we might wake up one morning witnessing a flotilla of PLA (China’s People’s Liberation Army) frigates patrolling Recto Bank which is a stone’s throw from Palawan’s west shoreline,” he said.

Henry Bensurto, secretary general of the Philippine permanent mission to the UN in New York, has pointed out that recent events in Recto bank tended to widen disputed areas in the Spratlys to include even those falling within Philippine jurisdiction.

“The Philippines firmly rejects any efforts in this regard. Such actions are inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Bensurto said at the 21st Meeting of States Parties to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea held on June 13-17 at the United Nations.

At the same meeting, other nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Singapore also echoed the need to maintain peace and security in the region.

They also called “for the peaceful resolution of disputes as enshrined in the [Unclos]” in their national statements, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement on the DFA website, Bensurto called for the adherence to the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea and rejected efforts to broaden disputes.

He said the Philippines was committed to international law, particularly the Unclos. He added: “We expect nothing less from our international partners.

Reposted From Norman Bordadora of Philippine Daily Inquirer

A Repost From Greg Heakes of Agence France-Presse

Mavericks clinch first NBA championship

By Greg Heakes
Agence France-Presse

12:02 pm | Monday, June 13th, 2011

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Dallas Maverick’s Dirk Nowitzki (41) holds up the Larry O’Brien trophy and celebrates with teammates and team owner Mark Cuban after winning 105-95 against the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Photo by Ronald Martinez, AFP

MIAMI – (UPDATE) Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks captured their first NBA championship Sunday with a 105-95 win over the Miami Heat — the team that ended Dallas’ shot at a title five years ago.

Jason Terry scored 27 points and Nowitzki finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Mavericks won the best-of-seven championship series four-games-to-two.

Germany’s Nowitzki was named Most Valuable Player of the finals, finally securing the NBA’s biggest prize to secure his place among the NBA legends.

“This is unbelievable,” said Nowitzki, who turns 33 next Sunday. “We are a resilient bunch. This team has come back from huge deficits all season long.”

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, celebrates wit Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson during the final seconds of the second half of Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Mavericks won 105-95 against the Miami Heat. Photo by David Phillip, AP

Terry ran the clock down in the final minute then passed to a wide open Shawn Marion who chose not to shoot as the seconds clicked down.

When the buzzer sounded Marion handed the ball to 17-year veteran guard Jason Kidd who tried twice before in the finals but failed to get a ring.

J.J. Barea had 15 points and five assists for the Mavericks, who clinched their first NBA championship in their 31 year franchise history.

LeBron James scored 21 points and Dwyane Wade finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Heat, who failed to send the series to a decisive seventh game despite having home court advantage.

“Hats go off to Dallas,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “There is an emptiness to it. It was a tough series. Sometimes you just come up short. Crunch time needed to be done, they made bigger plays than us.”

This year’s final was a rematch of the 2006 NBA championship series, which Miami took in six games for its first title in franchise history.

With Terry having a superb start to game six, the Mavericks led 53-51 at the end of the first half in what began as a game of runs by either side. Terry came off the bench to score 19 points in the first two quarters on eight-of-ten shooting.

Dirk Nowitzki (41) of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with Jason Terry (31) in the second half of Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. Photo by David Phillip, AP

James had his best start of the series by scoring nine points and dishing three assists in the first quarter.

Tempers flared halfway through the second quarter when the Mavericks’ DeShawn Stevenson and Miami’s Udonis Haslem got into a shoving match.

Haslem was celebrating an Eddie House three pointer when he brushed past Stevenson who shoved him. The Heat players came charging off the bench and Mario Chalmers made a bee line for Stevenson.

Chalmers, Haslem and Stevenson all received technicals but no one was thrown out because a timeout had already been called before the players left the bench.

Nowitzki struggled early, scoring just a single point in the second quarter, and finished with three points on one-of-12 shooting in the opening half. He finished strong, however, by scoring 10 of his 21 in the fourth.

Dallas’s Ian Mahinmi of France nailed a buzzer-beating field goal at the end of the third to give the Mavericks a nine point lead at 81-72. Dallas got their own rebound and Terry ran down the clock and then pump faked James before slipping a short pass over to Mahinmi who got nothing but net.

The Heat had almost twice as many free throw chances as the Mavericks but hit just 60 percent of them. They also had 16 turnovers.

Although the Mavericks had several players in foul trouble in the fourth, they built their biggest lead of 13 points in the final period.

Reposted From Greg Heakes of Agence France-Presse