Gasol gets historic double, Spain dominates Argentina for Fiba World Cup gold

BEIJING — Spain has captured its second World Cup championship, defeating Argentina 95-75 on Sunday to give Marc Gasol a rare double-title year.

Tournament MVP Ricky Rubio scored 20 points and Sergio Llull added 15 for Spain (8-0), the ninth team to make it through a World Cup or world championship unbeaten. Gasol scored 14 for the winners, who never trailed.

For Gasol, it was historic.

The Toronto Raptors center becomes the second player to win an NBA title and a FIBA world gold medal in the same year, joining Lamar Odom — who did it for the Los Angeles Lakers and USA Basketball in 2010.

Gasol is also the 19th to win either an NBA or WNBA crown along with a gold medal, either of the Olympic or World Cup variety, in the same year. And he’s the first to accomplish that feat while representing a nation other than the U.S.

When Spain won its first title in 2006, it was Pau Gasol — Marc’s older brother — leading the way. This time, it was the not-so-little brother who led his nation to gold, hoisting the World Cup trophy three months after getting his hands on the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time.


Gabriel Deck scored 24 points for Argentina (8-1), which got off to a slow start and played uphill the rest of the way. Luis Scola was held to eight points, shooting 1 for 10 from the floor.

Spain led 43-31 at the half, riding the strength of two big runs.

Spain ran out to a quick 14-2 lead, only to have Argentina answer with an 11-0 spurt. But when that ended, Spain came back with a 17-1 run and took what was then its biggest lead at 31-14.

Scola, even at 39 years old still Argentina’s best player throughout the tournament, didn’t get on the scoresheet until he made a pair of free throws with 2:57 left in the third. But they only cut the Spain lead to 19, and by then the Argentinian fans — who stood in the stands a few rows from their team’s bench, singing and chanting for much of the game — were relatively quiet.

They probably had a good idea what was coming.


There was one last gasp from Argentina, an 11-4 run to open the fourth quarter and cut Spain’s lead to 12 with 6:30 left. But Llull’s three-point play on the next Spain possession pushed the lead back to 15.

TIP-INS

Argentina: This was the third FIBA World Cup medal for Argentina, making it the fifth nation with that many after the United States (12), Yugoslavia (10), the Soviet Union (eight) and Brazil (six). Another four nations have two medals, including Spain. … Argentina fell to 2-8 all-time against Spain in World Cup or Olympic competition.

Spain: It was the fourth consecutive FIBA title game to be decided by double digits. … It was also a double-title year for Spain coach Sergio Scariolo; he’s an assistant on Nick Nurse’s staff in Toronto. … Everything went Spain’s way early — even air balls. Rudy Fernandez took a corner 3 that sailed long by about two feet, landing in the hands of Juancho Hernangomez. He laid in the miss to start a three-point play, part of Spain’s 14-2 game-opening run.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Joining Rubio on the all-tournament team were Gasol, Scola, France’s Evan Fournier and Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic.

DIGNITARIES

Among the big names in attendance on the final day of the World Cup: Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, FIBA ambassador and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili — both four-time NBA champions with San Antonio.

5 WITH 2

Spain is the fifth nation to win the World Cup (or its predecessor, the world championship) at least twice. The U.S. and Yugoslavia are five-time champions, the Soviet Union won three titles and Brazil has won two.


UP NEXT

Argentina: Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Spain: Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Gold market demand quiet despite recent strong gains in Vietnam

HANOI — Gold futures for the first time in six years broke the US$1,450 an ounce last week, gaining 1.75 percent last Friday and a total 13.6 percent since May 28.

The strong growth of gold futures is attributed to previous speculations of a Fed rate cut – which was realized on May 31, worries about the global economy outlook, and increasing political, geographical and economic tensions.

Those developments, especially the Fed rate cut, sent US bond yield rates down and weakened the US dollar, which are the key factors making gold more expensive.

In addition, more tensions around the globe have pushed investors away from risky assets like stocks and towards safety in gold. Meanwhile, the possibility of a global economic slowdown increases after China reported its Q2 economic growth of 6.2 percent is the lowest in 30 years and central banks have delivered gloomier economic growth forecasts.

Those negative factors are forecast to boost gold prices to $2,000 an ounce at the end of the year as they may make investors more pessimistic and avoid purchasing risky assets.

The increases of gold futures on global markets also raises the prices of Vietnamese gold products to around VNĐ40 million per tael, equal to VND30 million ($1,290) an ounce


Since May 28, prices of gold products have gained about 10 percent at Phu Nhuan Jewellery JSC (PNJ) to VND39.92 million for a tael, equal to VNĐ29.94 million an ounce.


Though prices have reached new levels, market demand is quiet, proving Việt Nam’s success with its anti-gold policy.

According to Phan Dung Khanh, director of investment consultancy department at Maybank Kim Eng Securities Co Ltd, the domestic gold market may not heat up like it did eight years ago.

Some factors that may benefit the domestic gold market include the stability of foreign exchange rates between the Vietnamese dong and foreign currencies, a zero per cent US dollar savings yield rate and tightened policies regarding the number of eligible gold businesses, he told Dau Tu (Investment) newspaper.

According to banking expert Can Van Luc, the domestic gold market was quite quiet in the first six months of the year though gold prices gained 10 per cent globally and 6.3 per cent in the domestic market.

In the past, buyers rushed to gold shops immediately when they heard gold prices were up only 2-3 per cent, he said.

The gold market had been controlled well and the stability of the foreign exchange rates had increased the economy’s creditability to people, making them less interested in buying gold, Luc said.

The domestic gold market had remained stable, economist Nguyen Minh Phong said, as there was not much difference between buying and selling rates as well as between global and domestic gold prices.

The daily trading was stable, plus, the central bank did not have to make public announcements to stabilize the market – which had been done before whenever the market turned volatile, Phong said.

In addition, rushing into gold at the moment may not be a smart decision, especially after the Fed cut lending rates, business insiders said.

Buying gold is somewhat risky in the short term while there are also other attractive options for investors such as securities, real estate and corporate bonds, they said.

Gold should be a long-term investment for institutional investors and any individuals buying in gold must stay updated about prices to lock in profits at the right moment, they said.

source: business.inquirer.net

Asian Games: PH golfer Yuka Saso wins gold medal in dramatic fashion

Philippine bet Yuka Saso delivered the country’s second and third gold after conquering the women’s individual golf competition in the 2018 Asian Games Sunday at Pondok Indah Golf and Country Club in Jakarta.

Saso flourished in the crucial stages, delivering on an eagle in the 18th hole to finish with a -13 overall score after 18 holes.

The 17-year-old Saso bounced back from her double bogey in the 17th hole.

China’s Liu Wenbo was the frontrunner going into the 18th hole with a -13 mark but wavered in the final with a quadruple bogey.

Saso’s triumph also lifted the Philippines women’s team to the gold medal spot, pushing the country’s gold total to three.

The Philippine team secured the gold medal with a -22 mark after Saso’s performance.



Weigtlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines first gold medal. The Filipinos now have 12 medals overall, nine of which are bronzes.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Figure skating champion Zagitova gets dog for gold

MOSCOW — Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova has been given a Japanese akita dog in a ceremony involving Japan’s prime minister.

Zagitova said at this year’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that she had fallen in love with the akita breed — which she calls a “devoted friend” — while training before the Games.

Her parents said they would consider having a dog if she won in Japan.


Japanese dog enthusiasts then rallied round to send the 16-year-old the puppy, named Masaru, or “victory”.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie attended Saturday’s ceremony in Moscow during a visit for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Zagitova won gold in February, beating her friend and fellow Russian Evgenia Medvedeva.

source: sports.inquirer.net

California couple finds $10M in buried treasure while walking dog

LOS ANGELES - A trove of rare Gold Rush-era coins unearthed in California last year by a couple as they walked their dog may be the greatest buried treasure ever found in the United States, worth more than $10 million, a currency firm representing the pair said on Tuesday.

The 1,400 gold pieces, dating to the mid- to late 1800s and still in nearly mint condition, were discovered buried in eight decaying metal cans on the couple's land last April, said coin expert David McCarthy of currency firm Kagin's.

"We've seen shipwrecks in the past where thousands of gold coins were found in very high grade, but a buried treasure of this sort is unheard of," McCarthy said. "I've never seen this face value in North America and you never see coins in the condition we have here."

Kagin's has declined to identify the couple, who according to the firm want to remain anonymous for fear treasure hunters will descend on their property in Northern California's so-called Gold Country, named after the state's 1849 Gold Rush.

The couple had been walking their dog when they came across a rusty metal can sticking out of the ground and dug it out. After finding gold coins inside they searched further and found the rest of the cache.

Also unclear is who hid the gold pieces, which were minted between 1847 and 1894, in a variety of 19th-century metal cans on land that eventually became part of the couple's yard.

McCarthy said it was curious that the containers were discovered scattered across one section of the property at different depths, suggesting that they were not all put there at the same time.

The $20 gold pieces appeared to have been new when they went into the ground and had suffered little damage from being in the soil for so long.

McCarthy said the couple wisely refrained from cleaning the coins themselves and brought a sampling of them to him in little baggies, still covered in soil.

"I picked up one of bags. It was an 1890 $20 gold piece. It was covered in dirt," McCarthy said, recalling when he first saw one of the gold pieces. "An area of the coin was exposed and the metal looked as if it had just been struck yesterday."

His company took what became known as the "Saddle Ridge Hoard" to an independent coin-grading service, which found that it was comprised of nearly 1,400 $20 gold pieces, 50 $10 gold pieces and four $5 gold pieces. One of the coins, a so-called 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle, is said to be valued at $1 million on its own.

"The Saddle Ridge Hoard discovery is one of the most amazing numismatic stories I've ever heard," said Don Willis, president of Professional Coin Grading Service. "This will be regarded as one of the best stories in the history of our hobby."

McCarthy said Kagin's will sell most of the coins on Amazon for the couple and that a sampling will be displayed at the upcoming American Numismatic Association show in Atlanta later this month. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Engagement Rings That Last A Lifetime

What Are The Celebrities Choosing For Engagement Rings?

Engagement rings are a symbol of commitment and also love that endures a lifetime. Just like the sentiment, the engagement ring you choose should also be timeless. Even as long ago as the early Roman period, men would give betrothal rings to their special loved one to indicate their desire to wed. In those days, the rings used to be crafted from iron. The practice of choosing gold and silver rings was a later adaptation.

Engagement rings have come a long way from the iron rings of middle ages times to the diamond studded platinum rings on the market today. When we discuss jewelry, the very first thing that comes to mind is stars. Over time, stars have been seen donning some of the most exquisite pieces of jewelry including some spectacular engagement rings. Just about the most well-known engagement ring could be the one worn by late lady Diana, Princess of Wales. The ring had incredible 14 gemstones, an enormous 18 carat sapphire in the center, which was surrounded by 14 smaller diamonds. The 6 carat pink engagement ring given by Ben Affleck to Jennifer Lopez before their break up is also rather famous. Nikki Reed may be the latest celebrity to flaunt an incredible engagement ring.

Engagement Ring given by Paul McDonald to Nikki Reed

Twilight star Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald of American Idol fame make a attractive couple. According to a Nikki verified the news concerning her engagement with Paul at the 2011 MTV movie awards. She set the media abuzz with the news about her engagement as she stepped on the red carpet dressed in a chiffon black colored dress, Jimmy Choo peep toes and a gorgeous engagement ring.

Paul and Nikki met the very first time in March 2011. Following a whirlwind romance of only 2 months, they're so deeply in love they have made a decision to take the next step. According to jewelry experts, the engagement ring worn by Nikki is a contemporary type of an eternity ring made from diamond and platinum. The ring can be used as a stunning wedding band as well. It features full diamonds, that are set in interweaving platinum. It is a lovely representation of a lifelong bond between two people. The estimated cost of the ring is just about $30,000.

Tips to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring

Prior to engagement ring searching, it is advisable to be aware of some things about them so you do not find yourself making a bad bargain. Cost is often the most crucial consideration. Remember that high quality diamonds are usually really costly. In metros, for example at an [Austin jeweler], you may need to spend around $1000 for a good cut of diamond. Various other critical things to consider include the style and color. You can choose silver, gold or platinum rings. Furthermore, you are likely to have more variety, if you buy a stand-alone engagement ring rather than a set of engagement and wedding rings. But you must take care that the rings go well together. Locals from large cities like Austin will have no trouble in getting a wide variety of [Austin engagement rings] to choose from.
The above was written by Michael Crane who is a precious stone expert and past lawyer. He has owned and operated a jewelry store in austin engagement rings and jewelry austin texas being the specialty for clients regarding one of the most incredible decisions in their life.
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