Latest news with #Graciano
Observer
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Seeb emerge Super Cup champs for fourth time
Muscat, March 25 Seeb Club were crowned the volleyball Super Cup champions on Monday after defeating Al Salam Club by three sets to one, in a match held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher under the auspices of Captain Pilot Nasser al Salmi, Chief Operating Officer of Oman Air. With this victory, Seeb continued their dominance by securing the title for the fourth consecutive edition. The match started with high intensity from both sides. Seeb took an early lead through a successful serve from Majid al Shibli and offensive brilliance by Saud al Maamari. However, Al Salam quickly regained composure, relying on powerful spikes from Adam al Jaradi and impressive attacking and passing from their foreign player, Graciano. Despite Seeb's attempts to close the gap, repeated errors in serving and defence gave Al Salam the upper hand. They clinched the first set 25-17 with a calm and organised performance. Determined to bounce back, Seeb entered the second set with clear intent. Yet it was Al Salam who again started strong, scoring three consecutive points through Graciano. Seeb then began to find their rhythm, capitalising on Al Salam's individual errors to narrow the gap. Bogdan shone with his offensive strikes, supported by a solid blocking wall formed by Ismail al Haidi and Youssef al Shukeili. Adam al Jalbubi and Younis al Amri imposed a fast-paced offensive rhythm that turned the tide. Seeb dominated the latter part of the set and won 25-18, levelling the match. The third set was evenly matched from the start, with both teams exchanging points. Seeb took the lead thanks to the continued brilliance of Adam al Jalbubi and Younis al Amri, but Al Salam fought back, equalising through Al Jaradi and Graciano. The set featured thrilling moments, including a tie at 18 points and a brief lead by Al Salam in critical moments. However, Seeb showed their championship spirit, taking advantage of Al Salam's serving errors. After a long exchange of points, Seeb sealed the set with an exciting 32-25 win, moving closer to clinching the title. Seeb captain receives the trophy. — Abdulwahid al Hamadani FOURTH SET Both teams entered the fourth set with caution and intense focus. But Seeb displayed superior mental readiness, opening the scoring through Ismail al Haidi and Bogdan. They maintained an organised performance on both defence and offence. Adam al Jalbubi continued to impress, widening the gap with his powerful strikes. Despite Al Salam's efforts to stage a comeback through Al Jaradi and Graciano, Seeb maintained their lead thanks to team spirit and tactical discipline. In the final moments, they capitalised on Al Salam's mistakes to finish the set 25-21, officially crowning themselves as Super Cup champions. Seeb coach Jamal al Maamari expressed his happiness with the title win, attributing the victory to the players' readiness and the constant support from the club's management. 'The players delivered when it mattered most, and the administration provided an ideal working environment that helped us succeed,' he said. Al Maamari said the team faced challenges after participating in the Arab Championship, but noted that competing with strong teams helped elevate their performance. He credited the technical staff and mental focus for helping the team regain form and overcome that phase. He also affirmed that Seeb aim to achieve even more titles, stating, 'We've won all four Super Cups so far, and now our goal is the league and the ministry Shield.' He thanked all team members and praised Al Salam's performance, describing them as a strong and experienced team, especially with several national team players in their ranks. Al Maamari concluded, 'This is my 13th title with Seeb in six seasons, and the ambition to win more championships continues.' The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used multiple times during the match to review key plays, including a crucial point in the third set. The reviews added tension but ensured fair decisions. Pics by: Abdulwahid al Hamadani
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tobacco bill advancing through legislature
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — If it becomes law, Senate Bill 54 would decrease the amount of money that goes into South Dakota's Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Trust Fund. Those who support the change call it a necessary step because of the state's tight budget. Opponents worry it could impact smoking and vaping rates. Under the current South Dakota law, the first $30 million of tax revenue from cigarettes and other tobacco products goes to the state general fund. The next $5 million goes into the Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Trust Fund. Senate Bill 54 would reduce the amount going toward the Tobacco and Prevention Trust Fund to $2 million, allowing an extra $3 million to go into the general fund. Jim Terwilliger, commissioner of the Bureau of Finance and Management, is a proponent of the bill. 'This is one of the areas where we felt we could still do a really good job of offering tobacco prevention services but also be smarter with how we spend the money and then allocate some of those funds to the general fund, which will help cover some of our increased health care costs that we're seeing on the general fund side,' Terwilliger said. Carla Graciano with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network opposes the $3 million cut. 'The tobacco companies are spending about $24.9 million per year on marketing for their products in South Dakota,' Graciano said. 'We're only spending $5 million to fund our tobacco prevention and control program, and a $3 million cut is going to be detrimental to reduce smoking rates.' Terwilliger points to a recent decrease in smoking rates in South Dakota. Graciano says Senate Bill 54 could turn those numbers around. 'That problem has gotten gotten smaller over time. The public's attitude towards tobacco has changed, so we thought it was an opportunity to reinvest those dollars into other areas,' Terwilliger said. 'If we don't have the resources to keep programs like the Quit Line, we know that the smoking rates are going to increase, and the smoking deaths are going to also increase,' Graciano said. SB 54 passed the Senate by a vote of 21-14. Next, it heads to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
