ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021 SPORTS 15

Italy, Czech Republic and Germany secure Oly men’s berth Doncic, Slovenia headed to Tokyo Olympics

KAUNAS, Lithuania, July 5, (AP): on an 11-2 run. Lithuania eventually this.” pair of down-to-the-wire games - is Most of the members of Slovenia’s closed within 71-69, but a 14-0 run by Vlatko Cancar scored 18 for Slove- headed to the Olympics for the fi rst basketball team charged toward Luka Slovenia put Doncic’s club in control nia, which got 16 from Jaka Blazic and time after running away from Greece. Doncic moments after the fi nal buzzer for good. 13 from Mike Tobey. Jan Vesely (16), Jaromir Bohacik sounded, determined to get him onto And when the last few seconds Italy 102, Serbia 95 (15), Ondrej Balvin (14) and Tomas their shoulders and carry their best ticked away, Doncic threw his arms Italy went into Serbia and pulled off Satoransky (12) reached double digits player around the court in celebration. skyward in celebration. a stunner, eliminating the team that for the Czechs, who beat Uruguay by How fi tting. “We’re making history for our fi nished second behind the U.S. at the one point just to make the semifi nals He lifted them, so they lifted him. country,” Doncic said. “We can just go 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. and then ousted Canada by two points Doncic and Slovenia are headed to up from here.” scored 24 points, in overtime to make the fi nal. the Olympics for the fi rst time, after Lithuania was one of four nations scored 22 and Italy The Czech Republic will be in winning 96-85 at Lithuania on Sunday playing host to Olympic qualifi ers that reached the Olympics for the fi rst time Group A at the Tokyo Games, facing to clinch a spot in the Tokyo Games. ended Sunday, all four being winner- since the 2004 Athens Games - lead- Iran on July 25, France on July 28 and Doncic - the MVP of the tournament take-all events, one team from each the U.S. on July 31. region making the Tokyo fi eld. ing by as many as 24 before a stunned - was simply brilliant: 31 points, 11 arena in Belgrade. rebounds and 13 assists, the fi rst triple- Germany 75, Brazil 64 double by any player in any of the four Simone Fontecchio scored 21, Ste- Moritz Wagner scored 28 points and Olympic qualifying tournaments that BASKETBALL fano Tonut added 15 and Alessandro Germany is headed back to the Olym- were played in the past week to deter- Pajola added 10 for Italy. The Italians pics for the fi rst time since 2008, after mine the last four teams in the Olym- And all four home teams, which will be Group B at the Tokyo Olym- topping Brazil to win the qualifying pic fi eld. fi gured to have major advantages by pics, facing Germany - another winner tournament in Split, Croatia. “I don’t care about the MVP,” Don- being at home, fell short of the Olym- on Sunday - on July 25, Australia on Robin Benzing scored 13 points cic said. “We won here. We’re going pics. Slovenia beat Lithuania in the fi - Czech Republic’s Jaromir Boracic, (center), drives to the net against July 28 and Nigeria on July 31. and Maodo Lo scored 10 for Germa- to the Olympics, the fi rst time in our nal, Croatia and Canada lost semifi nal Greece during the first half of the FIBA men’s Olympic basketball qualifying Danilo Andjusic scored 27 for Ser- ny, which is seeking its fi rst Olympic country. It’s amazing. I think every kid games - and Serbia, the reigning Olym- final at Memorial Arena in Victoria, British Columbia, on July 4. (AP) bia, while Filip Petrusev scored 22 and men’s basketball medal. dreams about being in the Olympics. I pic silver medalists, were stunned in a Ognjen Dobric added 17. Germany will be in Group B at the did, too. So, here we are. We fought re- regional fi nal Sunday by Italy. Slovenia will be placed in Group C for pion Spain on Aug. 1. The top two teams Czech Republic 97, Greece 72 Tokyo Games, facing Italy on July 25, ally, really hard and I think we deserve “A huge disappointment,” Lithuania the Tokyo Games, one of the three four- in each group, plus two wild-cards, will Patrik Auda led a balanced effort Nigeria on July 28 and Australia on to be here.” coach Darius Maskoliunas said. “We team groups at the Olympics. Slovenia make the Olympic quarterfi nals. with 20 points on 8 for 9 shooting, July 31. Anderson Varejao scored 14 The game was tied 52-52 at half- lost at home. We expected a better re- will play Argentina on July 26, Japan on “It’s just one of the best feelings,” and the Czech Republic - which stayed points and Alex Garcia fi nished with time, and Slovenia opened the third sult.” July 29 and reigning World Cup cham- Doncic said. “We worked hard for alive in the tournament by winning a 10 for Brazil. Stewart, Storm beat Sparks Aces set franchise record Ohtani homers again as points in win over Dream LAS VEGAS, July 5, (AP): Kelsey Vegas, which shot nearly 60% from Plum had 23 points and passed 1,000 the fi eld. for her career, and the Las Vegas Courtney Williams led the Dream Aces set a franchise record for points (6-11) with 19 points. Cheyenne Angels ‘hold off’ Orioles with a 118-95 victory over the Atlan- Parker scored 18 points, and Odys- ta Dream. sey Sims had 10 points and 13 as- Plum reached the milestone on sists. a 3-pointer that made it 90-77 with Storm 84, Sparks 74 Pirates stop Brewers’ 11-game win streak 8:47 left in the fourth quarter and In Los Angeles, Breanna Stewart added 11 more before the end of the had 21 points and Sue Bird moved game. into sixth place on the WNBA career ANAHEIM, California, scoring list in Seattle’s victory over July 5, (AP): Shohei Ohtani BASEBALL Los Angeles, hit his major league-lead- Bird passed Katie Smith (6,452) ing 31st homer in the third, A’ja Wilson added 19 points and with the fi rst points of the game, a nine rebounds and Liz Cambage 3-pointer, and fi nished with 13 for and Juan Lagares ended it had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the game and 6,464 overall. with a two-run double in the Aces (14-4). They remained tied Ezi Magbegor added 20 points for the ninth inning of the Los with Seattle for the WNBA lead af- the Storm (14-4). Brittney Sykes and Angeles Angels’ 6-5 come- ter the Storm beat Los Angeles later Erica Wheeler had 19 points each for Sunday. the Sparks (6-11). back victory over the Balti- Dearica Hamby chipped in 18 The Samuelson sisters - Karlie more Orioles. points, Jackie Young scored 16 and of the Sparks and Katie Lou of the Cedric Mullins hit a tiebreaking Riquna Williams added 13 for Las Storm - played against each other for the fi rst time. homer for Baltimore in the ninth in his first game after making his first All-Star team, but the Angels jumped all over Cole Sulser (2-1) without making an out in the bot- tom half. BASEBALL

After Los Angeles loaded the bases on a walk and two short singles, Lagar- es doubled to the gap in right-center, extending the Angels’ winning streak to fi ve games. Raisel Iglesias (6-3) got the win. Pirates 2, Brewers 0 In Pittsburgh, Tyler Anderson Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game pitched seven sparkling innings, and against the Baltimore Orioles, on July 4, in Anaheim, California. (AP) Pittsburgh snapped Milwaukee’s 11- game winning streak. threw 8 2/3 effective innings, Austin Wander Franco hit his second hom- Dodgers improved to a season-best 22 Kevin Newman homered and Wilm- Slater and Darin Ruf both homered and er for Tampa Bay, which had dropped games over .500 at 53-31 following a er Difo had an RBI double as the Pi- San Francisco won its third straight. fi ve in a row overall. Yandy Díaz had sweep of the four-game series. rates stopped a six-game slide. Giants All-Star catcher Buster Posey two hits and scored twice. Padres 11, Phillies 1 Mets 10, Yankees 5, Game 1 left the game with a left thumb contu- In Philadelphia, Manny Machado In this Oct. 31, 2020 file photo, Australia’s Noah Lolesio, (left), runs past sion after taking a foul tip off his glove Dodgers 5, Nationals 1 New Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga, to score his team’s first try during their Yankees 4, Mets 2, Game 2 In Washington, Albert Pujols hit a drove in fi ve runs with a pair of hom- Bledisloe rugby test at Stadium Australia, in Sydney. (AP) hand. He tried to stay in the game but ers, leading San Diego to the victory. In New York, Gio Urshela hit a left after just one more pitch. go-ahead single as a pinch hitter in the three-run homer and the New York seventh inning, and the Dodgers com- The Padres stopped a three-game Yankees saved a little face by beat- Braves 8, Marlins 7, 10 Innings pleted a seven-game season sweep of losing streak with their 50th win of the New-look pummel rusty ing the Mets to avoid a Subway Series In Atlanta, pinch-hitting pitcher the Nationals. season. Padres left-hander Blake Snell sweep. Max Fried lined a bases-loaded single Los Angeles has won a season-high tossed four scoreless innings, allowing In the opener of the split doubleheader, in the 10th inning, lifting Atlanta to a nine straight games since getting no-hit US 43-29 in Twickenham try-fest Pete Alonso hit a tying home run off im- wild comeback victory. two hits and four walks in his fi rst start on June 24 by the Chicago Cubs. The since June 22. Snell had been on the LONDON, July 5, (AP): England ac- wing, and fl yhalf Jacob Umaga, the ploding Yankees closer Aroldis Chap- Fried was called on to hit with the man (5-3) leading off the seventh inning Braves out of position players after a injury list after feeling the effects of counted for the United States 43-29 at nephew of New Zealand great Tana, food poisoning. Twickenham with a messy fi nish after was in the centers. and José Peraza had a go-ahead, two-run four-run rally in the ninth. He singled a brilliant start. Brache was wearing 15 after the late double that included interference from a on a 3-1 pitch off Anthony Bass (1-4), Reds 3, Cubs 2 England had the expected win in withdrawal of an injured . visiting fan in the Bronx in a 10-5 Mets driving in Dansby Swanson from third In Cincinnati, Amir Garrett escaped hand after 30 minutes when it led 26-3, Christian Dyer, who tried to make the stunner. The Mets also won Saturday’s base and setting off a celebration on a jam in the ninth inning, and the Reds but the Eagles, in their fi rst test since Olympic sevens team, became the series opener 8-3. the fi rst-base line. handed the Cubs their ninth straight the 2019 Rugby World Cup, improved sixth American new cap. Red Sox 1, Athletics 0 Mariners 4, Rangers 1 loss. quickly, and outscored the home side The U.S. opened the new half by In Oakland, California, Nick Pivetta In Seattle, Chris Flexen pitched six Chicago scored a total of fi ve runs 26-17 in an entertaining second half exposing an England weakness, the struck out 10 over seven innings, and effective innings for the Mariners, and in the weekend series. It went 1-9 on a featuring skimpy defense. maul, as fl anker Jamason Fa’anana- Boston went ahead on a double-play Luis Torrens homered for the seventh 10-game trip. With 12 away with the British and Schultz was driven over. groundout by Rafael Devers in the time in his past 13 games. Astros 4, Indians 3, 10 Innings Irish Lions, England debuted 12 - its New England hooker Jamie Blamire sixth. Seattle extended its recent surge, In Cleveland, Yuli Gurriel scored most in one match since 1947 - and and U.S. No. 8 Cam Dolan then went The teams played a third straight winning its fi fth straight series of lon- on a two-out error by pitcher Emman- eight of them started. They produced tit for tat with chargedown tries. one-run game after splitting a pair of ger than two games. It has won 11 of uel Clase in the 10th inning, helping seven tries. extra-inning contests, including Oak- 15 overall. Houston complete a four-game series “We have got to be pleased with land’s 7-6, 12-inning victory Saturday sweep. how they went,” coach Eddie Jones RUGBY Rays 5, Blue Jays 1 Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher that snapped Boston’s eight-game win- In Buffalo, N.Y., Austin Meadows Gurriel advanced to third on a fi eld- said. “It was one of those games that ning streak. Tyler Anderson delivers during had three hits, including two RBI dou- the first inning of a baseball game er’s choice by Jason Castro, then came tend to open up. As we got loose they England led 31-13 amid the disrup- around when the Indians failed to com- got stronger. Full credit to USA.” tion of both benches being cleared Giants 5, Diamondbacks 2 bles, and the Rays ended their 10-game against the Milwaukee Brewers in In Phoenix, Anthony DeSclafani road losing streak. Pittsburgh, on July 4. (AP) plete a double play on the throw back Jones wanted his side to click from when tyro halves Randall and Smith to fi rst by Amed Rosario. the fi rst minute. They clicked from the struck to make it a much safer 43-15 seventh. New fl yhalf Marcus Smith with 10 minutes to go. Tigers 6, White Sox 5 kicked to touch, Max Malins impres- Randall broke from a scrum and MLB Results/Standings In Detroit, Jeimer Candelario had sively caught it, and fl anker Sam Un- popped up for Smith to score, and mo- three hits, Akil Baddoo drove in two derhill charged up the inside to score. ments later Randall dummied three runs and the Tigers held on for the vic- In the act, Malins injured his shoulder Americans and broke clear from the tory. and left. U.S. 22 to score. WASHINGTON, July 5, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Sunday. Detroit won the fi nal two games of New fullback Freddie Steward then Smith was man of the match on de- Tampa Bay 5 Toronto 1 NY Yankees 4 NY Mets (7 inn 2nd game) 2 the series for its fi rst series win over Houston 4 Cleveland (10 inn) 3 LA Dodgers 5 Washington 1 drew the defense and freed Ollie Law- but. On Jones’ radar since 2015 when Detroit 6 Chicago White Sox 5 Pittsburgh 2 Milwaukee 0 the White Sox since Sept. 3-5, 2018. rence, who dragged U.S. wing Mikey he was a schoolboy, he adapted his im- Minnesota 6 Kansas City 2 Cincinnati 3 Chicago Cubs 2 Rockies 3, Cardinals 2 Te’o to the tryline. pressive club form to test rugby a week NY Mets 10 NY Yankees (7 inn 1st game) 5 San Diego 11 Philadelphia 1 In Denver, Elías Díaz hit an RBI A tap penalty by new scrumhalf after leading Harlequins to the English Seattle 4 Texas 1 Atlanta 8 Miami (10 innings) 7 Boston 1 Oakland 0 Colorado 3 St Louis 2 single for Colorado with two out in Harry Randall, and Steward’s chip title on the same ground. LA Angels 6 Baltimore 5 San Francisco 5 Arizona 2 the ninth inning, and Germán Márquez out of heavy traffic gave Joe Co- The U.S. completed its fi rst match American League Texas 33 51 .393 18-1/2 struck out 11 and was picked for his kanasiga an easy try, and minutes against England at Twickenham in East Division National League fi rst All-Star team. later the wing burst into a gap from 22 years with tries to Hanco Germi- W L Pct GB East Division Boston 53 32 .624 _ W L Pct GB Díaz sent a 3-2 pitch from All-Star a Smith pass and scored 40 meters shuys and Dyer. They scored four tries Tampa Bay 48 36 .571 4-1/2 New York 43 37 .538 _ closer Alex Reyes (5-3) into left. Josh later for 26-3. against a tier one team for the fi rst Toronto 43 39 .524 8-1/2 Atlanta 41 42 .494 3-1/2 Fuentes, who had reached on a single, Cokanasiga also scored two tries time since 2004 when they posted fi ve New York 42 41 .506 10 Washington 40 42 .488 4 beat the throw home with a headfi rst against the U.S. at the World Cup, his against France. Baltimore 27 57 .321 25-1/2 Philadelphia 39 42 .481 4-1/2 Central Division Miami 35 47 .427 9 dive. last test before he was sidelined for a “Things could have gone belly up, W L Pct GB Central Division year by a knee injury. He has a pair in especially at halftime,” U.S. coach Chicago 49 34 .590 _ W L Pct GB Twins 6, Royals 2 his last three starts. Gary Gold said. “But I thought the Cleveland 42 39 .519 6 Milwaukee 51 34 .600 _ In Kansas City, Mo., Kenta Maeda Detroit 38 46 .452 11-1/2 Cincinnati 43 40 .518 7 struck out a season-best 10 in six The romp was on. But England’s bench brought a huge amount of en- Kansas City 35 48 .422 14 Chicago 42 42 .500 8-1/2 fi re cooled after a collision of heads ergy. Minnesota 34 48 .415 14-1/2 St Louis 41 44 .482 10 scoreless innings, and Minnesota halt- that forced Lawrence and U.S. full- “The other thing I’m very encour- West Division Pittsburgh 30 53 .361 20 ed a fi ve-game losing streak. back Marcel Brache to walk off before aged about is that it showed the world W L Pct GB West Division Maeda (4-3) gave up two hits and a Houston 52 33 .612 _ W L Pct GB halftime. that Major League Rugby is going in Oakland 49 37 .570 3-1/2 San Francisco 53 30 .639 _ walk in a splendid outing that matched England had only two reserve backs, the right direction. And it’s helping us Seattle 45 40 .529 7 Los Angeles 53 31 .631 -1/2 his longest of the year. and both had to play out of position: to be able to prepare our players in a Los Angeles 42 41 .506 9 San Diego 50 36 .581 4-1/2 Jorge Polanco, Alex Kirilloff and Scrumhalf Dan Robson moved to the better way.” Max Kepler homered for the Twins.