Curses, foiled again! That's what Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson both had to be thinking after LA fell to the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals.

SNOOKER
Tough draw for world No 4 Selby

World number four Mark Selby of England, the top-ranked contender for the inaugural SangSom 6-red Snooker International, was yesterday handed the toughest draw, but the Lady Luck smiled on Thai ace Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm. The tournament offers a total purse of more than 1.8 million baht with the winner pocketing 500,000 baht and takes place from July 8-13 at the Montien Riverside Hotel.

GRANDSTAND VIEW
Triumph for Spain and the rest of us

At long last, Spain are finally champions.

SEA GAMES
Thailand to give Laos $2.9m help

Thailand will give Laos 98 million baht (US$2.9m) to help it organise the SEA Games next year, a Thai government spokesman said yesterday.