Chris Brown free to leave PH after securing clearance

American singer Chris Brown may now leave the Philippines after securing an emigration clearance certificate (ECC) on Friday afternoon from the Bureau of Immigration.

Bureau spokesperson Elaine Tan said Brown personally appeared before the immigration office in Makati City to apply for an ECC at 4 p.m. She said his application was granted.

“ECC issued by BI Makati office around 4:30 p.m. today after verifying that Chris Brown has no other derogatory record apart from the [immigration lookout bulletin],” said Tan, adding “departure formalities” would be implemented by immigration officers at the airport.

According to Immigration Commissioner Sigfried Mison, Brown has no derogatory record despite the complaint filed by Maligaya Development Corp.

“Since the complaint is still pending, walang nag-a-appear na derogatory record sa amin. Pero alam naman namin na merong pending complaint although wala sa court so it is really not a pending obligation,” Mison said.

The $1-million estafa complaint, he said, was still with the prosecutors’ office, “so based on our lookout bulletin, directive ni ma’am (Justice Secretary Leila de Lima), it is not a basis to deny departure.”

He also said there was no agreement for Brown to return to the country in case he needed to appear in court.

“It is really a matter between the lawyers of Mr. Brown at yung kanyang promoter and the [National Prosecution Service],” Mison said.

However, if the case would be filed in court, De Lima said the government had recourse to go after Brown like extradition and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

Brown has been barred from leaving the country after being put on the watch list of the immigration bureau.

The singer staged a concert on Tuesday night at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Brown is expected to leave the country via his private jet anytime today. His next destination is Macau.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Ivanovic beats Sharapova in IPTL showdown

MANILA, Philippines—Ana Ivanovic bested Maria Sharapova in their International Premier Tennis League showdown on Saturday night.

The two crowd-darlings went head-to-head with Ivanovic beating Sharapova, 6-3, in a keenly awaited clash between two former world No. 1 players that had the fans at the Mall of Asia at the edge of their seats the entire time.

“It was fun,” the Serbian beauty Ivanovic said just moments after capping the Micromax Indian Aces’ 24-15 win over the Manila Mavericks to the delight of the crowd. “I’ve been really happy being on the court and I’m enjoying my life.”

The 27-year-old Russian Sharapova, currently ranked No. 2, pulled ahead, 1-0, before Ivanovic won the next four.

Sharpova rallied from 2-5 down to beat Kristina Mladenovic on Friday and it seemed as if she was up for another comeback when she returned a volley and was a point away from taking a set.

But the Aces strategically called a power point, which amounts to two points, and Ivanovic was able to make full use of it after Sharpova fell short on her attempt.

The Mavericks dropped to 0-2 while the Aces hiked their record to 2-0.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mariah Carey receives ‘incredible welcome’ upon arrival in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – An “incredible welcome.” That’s how Mariah Carey described the reception she got upon her arrival in Manila on Monday morning.

The international diva, who is in the Philippines for a concert, was greeted by screaming fans at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Carey herself posted a short video on Instagram of the crowd, with the caption “Just arrived in Manila at 3 a.m.”

The fans were holding signs and chanting the singer’s name. At one point, some of them could be seen running toward her as an aide shoots the video.

Later she posted, “Thank you #Manila #lambily for the incredible welcome. I love you much!!! Can’t wait to see you at the show!!”

Lambily refers to her fans, whom she calls “lambs.”

Her “The Elusive Chanteuse Show” will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The last time Carey held a concert in the Philippines was in 2003.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Houston Rockets trounce Pacers

Midway through the fourth period, Omri Casspi rescued a miss with a wild tap that turned into an extra possession for the Houston Rockets. There was a drive by Jeremy Lin, there was an extra pass after an extra pass and then Casspi capped the fun sequence with a three-point play that got a lot of love from his bench.

If that was any indication at all, this could be how the Rockets will look once the season rolls along: Deeper than last season, fast and quite enjoyable to watch.

Houston started hot and stumped the Indiana Pacers with a lot of pace en route to a 116-96 victory last night in the NBA Global Games preseason match at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Rockets scored the first 12 points of the game—within the first three minutes of the opening period—and never allowed the Pacers to get any rally going to notch the victory.

“We wanted to get out to a good start,” said Rockets coach Kevin McHale. “We set some defensive goals and the first unit gave us a strong start defensively.”

The game had preseason written all over it. Both teams were far from the forms their coaches want them to be once the regular season rolls around. But there was still enough action to excite the crowd.

Fans cheered a dunk by Dwight Howard, the newly acquired Rockets center, and strong scoring finishes by Houston star James Harden. They roared when Jeremy Lin did anything at all and reserved a lot of cheers for forward Chandler Parsons, who became a crowd favorite after rumors that he went out with a popular Filipino actress.

Indiana had its share of supporters also. Paul George worked up the crowd with back-to-back treys to fuel a strong Indiana reply late in the first quarter. Danny Granger, who spent last season on the injury list, got a lot of cheers when he checked in as a sub.

But as the Rockets started to pull away, there was little reason for Pacers fans to applaud.

“Tough loss,” said Indiana coach Frank Vogel. “Houston had a lot of speed. It’s early in the season and our guys are still struggling in transition.”

Mostly, that Indiana transition defense struggled because the offense allowed Houston to run a lot.

“Our defense was phenomenal,” said Harden “We got stops, [forced] turnovers and that allowed us to get easy points.”

Vogel, though, did see something he liked: With a little more time, George and Granger could wreak havoc this season.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tigers outlast Green Archers in OT

MANILA, Philippines — In a game where both teams struggled to get their rhythm, it looks like University of Santo Tomas.

UST scored eight of its 12 points in overtime from the stripe, getting just enough cushion to oulast La Salle, 63-58, Saturday in the UAAP season 76 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Maybe the opening jitters were part of it. Our game wasn’t good. No matter what, in the end, we won,” said head coach Pido Jarencio in Filipino.

Cameroonian center Karim Abdul pushed the Tigers’ to the front early in OT, 56-51, scoring on drives to the lane and fishing the fouls.

UST never trailed anew but the Green Archers turned to Almond Vosotros and their savior in regulation Jason Perkins to pull within 58-60 with 1:33 left.

Aljon Mariano, who struggled all game, then saved the Tigers with three freethrows in the final 23 seconds as they pounced on a crucial miscue by La Salle at the half court.

But Jarencio revealed that his prized forward wasn’t a hundred percent, having injured his foot 10 days before the season.

“That’s why he was on and off but in the end he was still able to help,” said Jarencio.

Teng scattered a game-best 23 points, including a series of his specialty tough jumpers, along with three assists and steals. Abdul, meanwhile, added 17 points and 10 boards.

“Jeric is now an all-around player. He has developed his post move and his outside shooting is a bit consistent. Karim is our inside player. He has developed his inside moves and presence,” said Jarenio of his key cogs.

Vostros and Perkins, meanwhile, both finished with 13 points for La Salle, which came back from 11 points down early in the fourth to forge overtime.

But the Green Archers, who even had a huge 52-44 edge in boards, were outgunned at the start of overtime and never recovered.

source: sports.inquirer.net