Next Gen players to use Jeddah as launching pad for top ATP careers

DUBAI: The Desert Vipers’ CEO Phil Oliver says the franchise would support an increase in the number of UAE players from two to three in the starting 11s of sides in future editions of the DP World ILT20.

Speaking during the Vipers Voices podcast, Oliver reflected on the 2025 tournament that ended on Sunday when the Vipers lost to the Dubai Capitals in a thrilling final in front of a capacity crowd at the Dubai International Stadium.

On the status of UAE players, he said: “I think it is very apparent that the talent is there to sustain two players in the starting 11s and potentially increase it.”

He said there were “some nuances around it in the super-sub rule. My view is that the introduction of the super sub, something that usually happens at the end of the first innings of matches, often means an international-quality player coming in.”

This was “something that often seems to reduce the opportunity to contribute for one of the two UAE players so there is a bigger picture for the franchises and the league to discuss.”

He added: “We could go to three UAE players or perhaps a player from one of the other Associate countries instead, as there is the requirement to have two Associates in the 18-man matchday squad.

“So maybe there is something on that Associate angle too, because we are really developing these Associate players, not only UAE players, through them having this exposure to fantastic coaches and players for the period of the tournament.

“I think options could be looking at the super-sub rule and asking could that be a UAE player who has to come in, or perhaps a third UAE player (in the starting 11).

“We would be supportive of any of these sorts of moves to be discussed and properly looked at because it is very apparent that the quality is there.

“We have had a fantastic group of UAE players throughout the first three years of this tournament. And the fact we had Khuzaima bin Tanveer break through this year and become a genuine frontline bowling option for us, I think, says it all, so the talent is there.

“We need to give the pathway for these players to develop so we very much look forward to introducing more opportunities for UAE players.”

The tournament may be over for this year, but the Vipers’ presence in the UAE will continue with a growing number of initiatives, including the franchise’s schools outreach program that began in the second half of 2023.

The program, which combines coaching and an introduction to the Vipers’ sustainability agenda that references recycling, sustainability and the ongoing climate emergency, has exposed more than 12,000 children to the sport.

Oliver said it would continue over the coming months. “It is great that the schools program has been ticking along in the background,” he said.

“During the tournament the coaches were working hard and we were able to get a group of the players to go in and join a couple of sessions, so that was great for the kids to see the heroes up close and for the players to see what we do behind the scenes.”

LOS ANGELES: Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to propel the NBA champion Boston Celtics to a 116-103 victory over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

With Jaylen Brown sitting out their last game before the All-Star break with a sore right knee, the Celtics didn’t miss a beat, scoring 37 points in the first quarter to seize control and pushing their lead to as many as 24 on the way to a 66-47 halftime advantage.

The Spurs made inroads after the break and had the deficit down to eight points early in the fourth quarter before the Celtics pulled away again.

Tatum produced his third straight 30-point performance and added seven assists. Kristaps Porzingis delivered 29 points and Derrick White added 19 for the Celtics, whose 18 three-pointers helped make up for 17 turnovers leading to 22 Spurs points.

Boston notched a third straight win and their seventh in their last eight games.

“We know these kind of games heading into the All-Star break are tough,” Porzingis said. “But we’ve got to protect home court.

“We’ve had enough slips already in he first part of the season,” Porzingis added of the Celtics, who had lost three of their last four home games.

De’Aaron Fox, acquired by the Spurs at the trade deadline, led San Antonio with 23 points. Wembanyma added 17 points and 13 rebounds with two blocked shots.

With his 85th straight game with at least one block, Wembanyama passed Hakeem Olajuwon for the fifth-longest such streak in NBA history.

“He’s one of the generational talents,” Porzingis said of the French phenomenon. “He’s still in his second year and he’s already a big force in this league.”

With the win the Celtics remained 5.5 games behind Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland, who cruised past the Raptors 131-108 in Toronto.

Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points to lead seven Cavs players to score in double figures.

Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City rallied from a 21-point deficit for a 115-101 home win over the Miami Heat.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, when the Thunder scored 24 straight points to open the period as a Heat team with three players sidelined by a stomach illness faded.

Bam Adebayo scored a team-high 27 points for the Heat and Tyler Herro — who was questionable to start after battling the stomach bug — added 14.

In New York, Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead basket with 11.3 seconds left in overtime and the Knicks held on for a 149-148 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 44 points with 10 rebounds for the Knicks and Brunson added 36 points with eight assists as New York snapped the Hawks’ three-game winning streak.

The Indiana Pacers needed overtime to get past the league-worst Washington Wizards 134-130.

Obi Toppin came off the bench to score 31 points and pull down 10 rebounds and Bennedict Mathurin added 28 points off the bench for the Pacers, who trailed by as many as 19 in the third quarter.

Jordan Poole scored 42 points for the Wizards but missed a three-pointer as time expired in regulation.

The Milwaukee Bucks, missing both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-101.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 21 points off the bench to lead the Bucks and Brook Lopez added 14 — including two free-throws to cap the scoring after Kevin Porter Jr.’s basket pulled the Bucks level at 101-101 with 38.4 seconds left.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28 points but missed a potential game-winner with 3.5 seconds remaining.