SECTION B VISIT SAMOA NEWS ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 CLASSIFIEDS • CARTOONS • ALOHA BRIEFS & MORE ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Hercules Mata’afa named Polynesian College Football C M Y K Player of the Year Honolulu, HI (December 12, 2017) – Washington State University Defensive Lineman Hercules Mata`afa has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Polyne- sian College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most out- standing Polynesian college football player that epito- mizes great ability and integrity. University of Oregon and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014, Notre Dame and Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley was selected as the recipient in 2015, and Uni- versity of Colorado quarter- back Sefo Liufau was selected as the recipient in 2016. A redshirt junior from Lahaina, Hawai`i, Hercules was named the AP’s Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated, The Athlet- ic’s, FWAA, and the AP All- American Teams. Mata’afa was the corner- stone of the Washington State defense, leading the Pac-12 with 21.5 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks. He started all 12 games for the Cougars while recording 43 tackles with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, had multiple tackles- for-loss eight separate times and earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors fol- lowing the Washington State win at Utah. “On behalf of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Selection Com- mittee, we congratulate Her- C M cules on this historic accom- Y K plishment,” said Jesse Sapolu, Chairman and Co-Founder. “He had an outstanding season and truly represents the very best of our Polynesian culture.” The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 19, 2018), along with being recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 20, 2018) on Oahu, Hawai`i. The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award was voted on by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee composed of coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), Ron (Continued on page B6) Page B2 samoa news, Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagatomo scores the decisive penalty during the Italian Cup soccer match between Inter Milan and Pordenone at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.12, 2017. Inter won 5-4 following a shootout. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Inter beats 3rd-division Pordenone 5-4 on penalties in Cup MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan Brozovic at halftime as well as netted their efforts but Porde- scraped into the Italian Cup star forwards Ivan Perisic and none defender Giulio Parodi, quarterfi nals after the Serie A Mauro Icardi later. who is on loan from Juventus, leader was taken to penalties Pordenone went closest to was saved by Padelli. by third-division Pordenone on taking the lead during regula- “Getting through was very Tuesday. tion as Inter goalkeeper Daniele hard, Pordenone probably Pordenone goalkeeper Padelli did well to turn Simone would have deserved to go Simone Perilli pulled off sev- Magnaghi’s shot onto the right through, but I still congratulate eral saves in regulation time to post. the lads, Padelli and the others, keep the game scoreless, and Inter should have broken the because it wasn’t easy to win he almost proved to be the hero deadlock shortly before half- on penalties after that match,” during the shootout, stopping time but teenager Yann Kar- Spalletti said. two penalties. amoh fi red over with only the “The players who have But Inter prevailed 5-4, with goalkeeper to beat after great played less until now got into a Yuto Nagatomo tucking away work from Joao Cancelo. bit of a diffi cult tonight, Porde- the fi nal spot kick. Perisic was brought on in the none had quality in the middle “The lads were brilliant, they 67th and he had a great chance of the park. We got a bit mixed were brilliant and you couldn’t shortly afterward but sent his up and couldn’t pass the ball ask for more, they took Inter to effort inches wide of the left quickly, and when that hap- penalties, for us it’s like win- post. pens the match becomes more ning the Italian Cup,” Porde- Even Icardi couldn’t score complicated.” none coach Leonardo Colucci when he was introduced in the ___ said. 80th, heading over the bar from RECOVERY “When you get to penalties close range and sending another Atalanta recovered from it’s a lottery, anyone can make a header onto the left post in extra conceding an early goal to win mistake, I appreciated all those time. at Genoa 2-1 and move into who had the courage to take one. The match incredibly went eighth spot in Serie A. (Inter Coach Luciano) Spalletti to a penalty shootout, which got The match was scheduled for told me that we deserved to go off to a bad start for Pordenone Monday but was postponed for through, I thank him because as Padelli saved Gianvito Mis- 24 hours due to bad weather. he is a loyal, honest and sincere uraca’s kick. Genoa got off to a great person.” However, Perilli saved from start as Adel Taarabt picked Both sides hit the woodwork Skriniar and Roberto Gagliar- out Andrea Bertolacci for the during the 120 minutes. dini, while Luca Lulli blazed opener in the fourth minute. Inter coach Luciano Spall- over for the visitors. Josip Ilicic leveled on half- etti rang the changes, and only Salvatore Burrai, Magnaghi time and Genoa wasted sev- Milan Skriniar and Matias and Mirko Stefani converted eral chances to restore its lead Vecino remained in the starting for Pordenone, while Brozovic, before Andrea Masiello headed 11 from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Perisic and Icardi did the same in a free kick seven minutes Juventus. for Inter, so the shootout went after the break to put Atalanta However, he was forced by to sudden death. in front.Genoa remained two desperation to bring on Marcelo Patrick Ciurria and Vecino points above the drop zone. Two-time champ Azarenka gets Australian Open wild card MELBOURNE, Australia where since Wimbledon, where on Wednesday that every assis- (AP) — Two-time former she lost to Simona Halep in the tance would be provided to the champion Victoria Azarenka fourth round on July 10. The former No. 1, adding “Vika’s has been awarded a wild card dispute with her former partner current situation is obviously for the Australian Open. started shortly after Wimbledon very diffi cult for her and we Azarenka, who won the Aus- ended. have reached out to offer any tralian Open in 2012 and 2013, Azarenka has played only support we can.” has been involved in a custody six matches this year and is The Australian Open starts dispute involving her son Leo, ranked 208th. on Jan. 15. who was born last Dec. 19. Australian Open tourna- She hasn’t competed any- ment director Craig Tiley said samoa news, Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Page B3 Column: Defi ning shots based on every club in the bag Some of the defi ning shots last of a six-shot lead in the on the PGA Tour this year were HSBC Champions when Justin hit from the tee and fairway, Rose, in the group ahead of from the bunkers and behind him, faced the tough par-3 17th trees, and even from the driving at Sheshan International with a range.Two of them effectively back pin. Rose hit 5-iron just clinched a fi rst major. One of left of the fl ag and watched it them introduced another young roll to 4 feet for a birdie that led star.One way to look back on to a two-shot victory, his fi rst of 2017 is through every club the year. in the bag. The shots weren’t 6-IRON: The two memo- necessarily the best, but they rable shots from Jordan Spi- helped shape the year. eth’s victory in the British Open DRIVER: Moments after were the shot from the driving Dustin Johnson made a birdie range and the 50-foot eagle putt to force a sudden-death putt. The most important shot playoff at the Northern Trust, was the 6-iron he nearly holed Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray (56) tackles New York Jets quarterback Josh he effectively ended it with one on the par-3 14th. Trailing for McCown (15) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Denver. swing . CBS analyst Nick Faldo the fi rst time in the fi nal round McCown left the game aft er the hit. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney) pointed to a bunker beyond the after his adventurous bogey on right side of the lake on the the previous hole at Royal Birk- 18th hole at Glen Oaks as a dale, Spieth’s tee shot plopped target for Johnson’s powerful down in front of the hole and Jets place McCown on IR, fade. Instead, he took it over stopped 4 feet away. The birdie the entire lake, a 341-yard blast. tied the lead, and Spieth was on That left him a lob wedge to 4 his way. feet for birdie to beat Jordan 7-IRON: Justin Thomas took offi cially end QB’s season Spieth. control in the fi nal round of the NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Geoff Gray terminated his of it and I’m so thankful they let 3-WOOD: “Oh gosh, PGA Championship with a par McCown is offi cially done for practice squad contract to sign me be a part of this team.” Jimmy, be good.” Justin putt on the 16th.