ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021 SPORTS 15 INEOS move directly to Prada Cup challengers fi nal Team UK edge Luna Rossa to win AmCup Challenger series AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan 23, (AP): Britain’s INEOS Team UK overcame a major technical issue to Hatton leads by 1 shot, Cabrera Bello surges at Abu Dhabi beat Italy’s Luna Rossa by 33 seconds on Saturday, retaining its unbeaten re- ABU DHABI, United Arab Emir- Cabrera Bello (67) was alone in bi, McIlroy has fi nished second cord after fi ve races in the America’s ates, Jan 23, (AP): Tyrrell Hat- second place on 10-under. Tied on four occasions and third three Cup challengers series and to qualify ton’s overnight lead was reduced for third were Nacho Elvira (68), times. Apart from one missed cut, automatically for the fi nal. to one shot by Rafa Cabrera Lucas Herbert (68) and four-time he has only one fi nish outside the British yacht Britannia came from Bello on Saturday morning as the major champion Rory McIlroy top 10 - tied for 11th place in 2008 behind to lead by one second at the second round of the Abu Dhabi (72), on 8-under. in his fi rst appearance. fi nal mark and held on to win a race Championship was completed. Justin Thomas missed the cut which contained nine lead changes Hatton held a 5-shot lead when GOLF after he double-bogeyed the 18th and was the best of the regatta so far. play was halted Friday because on Saturday morning. of fading light but Cabrera Bello Defending champion Lee West- closed the gap with four birdies “I wish I would have shot a few wood (73) was 10 strokes off the SAILING early Saturday. lower but I’m still sort of right in lead. Hatton bogeyed the 17th in there and obviously a lot of golf The Abu Dhabi Championship When the boats came together on the morning to fi nish his round left to play,” McIlroy said Saturday begins a run of three events in the 4-under 68. The Englishman was morning. “Regroup and get ready “Gulf Swing” – the Dubai Desert opposing gybes near the bottom of In this Jan 15, 2021 fi le photo, Ineos Team UK (left), leads American Magic the last leg – Team UK on port and 11-under with the third round to to go for the third round.” Classic and the Saudi Internation- during the Prada Cup challengers series on Auckland’s Waitemate Har- start later Saturday. In 10 appearances at Abu Dha- al come next. Luna Rossa with the right of way on bour, New Zealand. (AP) starboard – Britannia slid just across the bow of Luna Rossa. The Italian downhaul system which controls the on guesswork in the way it controlled the guys just did an awesome job get- vantage downwind and reached the while the Italians chose the left. That team immediately protested but the shape of the sail and rake of the mast. the trim of its mainsail and it again ting us around the track in one piece second mark nine seconds ahead. allowed Luna Rossa to spend longer umpires dismissed the protest and They were able to take advantage of showed outstanding tactical sense and and getting the win.” It extended on the second upwind on the favored gybe but the Brit- Britannia went on to a narrow win. a new rule, just brought into force, crew work. Britannia and Luna Rossa were side leg and led by 19 seconds at the top ish boat held its advantage. It gybed Team UK now moves directly to which allows both teams one chance “Our mainsail trimmer did an awe- by side across the start line with the mark. back to the left and then, almost lay- the Prada Cup challengers fi nal while to call for a 15-minute postponement some job to try to keep us powered up British yacht to windward – Ainslie Team UK made some gains on the ing mark came back on port and just Luna Rossa will race the United to the start. downwind,” Team UK skipper Ben pushed the Italian yacht to the left- fourth leg of the leg of the six-leg squeezed across Luna Rossa’s bow. States team American Magic in the The race start had already been Ainslie said. “We were losing a little hand boundary before tacking away. race, cutting Luna Rossa’s lead to 10 “It looked good initially out of the semifi nal. American Magic is cur- delayed on several occasions as the bit as you probably saw, had a high When the boats crossed, Luna Ros- seconds. It continued that improve- gybe and it looked good most of the rently making repairs to its race yacht wind shifted from southwest to west, fast mode. We guessed the setting sa was just in front of Team UK but ment on the penultimate leg, fi nding way across,” Ainslee said. “Then we Patriot which was severely damaged forcing the race committee to make just about right for the up winds and the British boat was slightly faster. It speed on the left of the course as the both went for a soak mode so I guess in a capsize a week ago. changes to the orientation of the it was nice to have enough pace to get approached the top mark just inside wind continued to shift. their soak mode was a little better The British team had a major prob- course. around. Luna Rossa and rounded two seconds The British yacht turned the fi nal than ours with the cunningham off. lem in the leadup to Saturday’s race The technical issues aboard the “We were missing one of the key in front. mark just one second ahead of Luna So it was about as close as you want with the cunningham – the hydraulic British yacht forced it to rely largely settings for the power of the boat so Luna Rossa showed its speed ad- Rossa, choosing the right marker to get it.” Oakland beats Detroit 86-81 No. 7 Michigan uses strong Embiid dominates again defense to pummel Purdue WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, Jan 23, Grand Canyon (9-3, 3-0 Western Ath- (AP): Isaiah Livers matched his season letic Conference), which earned its high with 22 points, Eli Brooks added fi fth consecutive victory. 11 and No. 7 Michigan relied on a Cleveland St 64, Milwaukee 53 as 76ers overrun Celtics staunch defense to beat Purdue 70-53. In Cleveland, Craig Beaudion had The Wolverines (13-1, 8-1 Big Ten) a season-high 25 points as Cleveland maintained their stranglehold on the State topped Milwaukee. Nets fall to Cavs conference lead by winning their fi fth Beaudion made 8 of 10 shots. He straight in the series. added six rebounds. Trevion Williams had 14 points Torrey Patton had 13 points for PHILADELPHIA, Jan 23, and 11 rebounds for the Boilermak- Cleveland State (10-4, 10-1 Horizon (AP): Joel Embiid had 38 ers, who never led as their four-game League), which earned its fi fth straight winning streak came to an end. Pur- home victory. Tre Gomillion added points and 11 rebounds, due (11-6, 5-4) played without guard 10 points and eight rebounds. D’Moi Tobias Harris scored 23 Sasha Stefanovic, its top 3-point Hodge had six rebounds. points and the Philadelphia shooter, after he tested positive for CSU Fullerton 83, Hawaii 67 76ers beat the Boston Celt- COVID-19. In Fullerton, California, Tray Mad- Michigan took full advantage of dox Jr. scored 23 points as Cal State ics 122-110. absence by limiting Purdue to 32.1% Fullerton topped Hawaii. Dante Mad- Seth Curry returned to the Six- shooting and shutting out the Boiler- dox Jr. added 20 points for the Titans. ers’ starting lineup following a makers from 3-point range in the fi rst seven-game absence because of half as they took a 34-21 lead. BASKETBALL a positive COVID-19 test and Purdue made its fi rst two 3s in the scored 15 points. second half and cut the defi cit to 42-32 Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with with 14:58 to play. But the Wolverines Tray Maddox shot 5 for 7 on 3-point- 42 points and nine rebounds, and Mar- answered with six straight points. ers. Vincent Lee had 14 points for Cal cus Smart had 20 points. Oakland 86, Detroit 81 State Fullerton (4-4, 3-4 Big West Embiid followed a 42-point outing In Oakland, Michigan, Jalen Moore Conference). Doctor Bradley added 13 in a win over Boston on Wednesday had a triple-double with 18 points, 14 points. night with another fantastic effort. He assists and 11 rebounds to carry Oak- San Diego St 98, Air Force 61 made 14 of 15 from the free-throw line land to win over Detroit. In Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jor- -- a near-fl awless retort after some mild Zion Young scored a career-high 28 dan Schakel had 18 points to lead fi ve criticism from Smart. points for Oakland (6-12, 6-5 Horizon San Diego State players in double fi g- Smart said Embiid “fl ails and gets League), which earned its fourth con- ures as the Aztecs easily defeated Air the calls” after the All-Star center went secutive home victory. Daniel Oladapo Force. to the line 21 times in his 42-point added 18 points. Micah Parrish had Aguek Arop and Adam Seiko added game.