Sports

Kiefer Ravena, Shiga crowned B2 champs

Ravena puts on a show with 10 points, eight assists, and three rebounds

Why forcing Red Bull to make a “bad choice” is Vasseur’s main F1 target

As someone who understands well the challenges of Formula 1, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur knows there is no magic bullet that guarantees success.

UST dynamo Xyza Gula is prime example of heart over height

There were not a lot of expectations for University of Santo Tomas (UST) prior to the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. The Golden Tigresses were composed of mostly rookies and sophomores with only a third-year libero skipper guiding them. And they were once dubbed “Mini Miss UST” due to their relatively shorter player composition. But UST had something that most failed to recognize as a big factor—one that would eventually carry the...

SGA secures Heading, Tiongson for Jones Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Jordan Heading and Caelan Tiongson are the first to commit to Strong Group for its campaign in the 43rd William Jones Cup. This year's mid-year tournament will take place from July 13 to 21, 2024, in Taipei, Taiwan. Heading is no stranger to Strong Group, as he was part of the Athletics team that finished second in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship. The 6-foot-2 sniper averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 assists,...

Klitschko and Shevchenko laud 'historical' win for Ukrainian Usyk

Usyk, who hails from Ukraine, was crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a gruelling battle in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. Two judges scored the bout 115-113 and 114-113 in Usyk's favour.

NBA: Kinder, gentler Luka Doncic has Mavericks on verge of series win

DALLAS — A kinder, gentler Luka Doncic has the Dallas Mavericks in the same place they were in the first round, headed home with a chance to clinch an NBA playoff series in Game 6. The difference is the smile on the face of the 25-year-old superstar, replacing the scowl that often accompanies his complaints toward officials over their calls, or non-calls. Doncic focused on other things in his third career 30-point playoff triple-double, leading...

The F1 driver market dominoes about to fall

Formula 1’s driver market dominoes are on the verge of falling down, with decisions set to be taken imminently that could finalise some key seats.

Anthony Edwards had great message for Charles Barkley after Game 7 win

Anthony Edwards did not want to hear any excuses from Charles Barkley on Sunday after the Timberwolves punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals.

NU queens Belen, Solomon beg off from national squad

Eya Laure is excited over the chance to represent the country and improve herself. But whatever hopes fans were nursing to watch the brightest young stars in women’s volleyball team up with the rebranded Philippine squad took a hit on Friday after it was revealed that National University (NU) stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon begged off from joining. University of the East’s Casiey Dongallo, meanwhile, has been ruled out due to a right wrist...

UAAP: After breakthrough year, Aringo tipped to play bigger role for NU

MANILA, Philippines — Leo Aringo rose to the occasion on the biggest stage to help National University earn a historic “four-peat” in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball Finals against University of Santo Tomas. Buds Buddin did most of the damage to UST but Aringo provided the steady presence, averaging 18.5 points in the championship series to complete a sweep and keep NU on top of the collegiate men’s volleyball scene. “Kuya Owa [Retamar] gave...

Far from done: Alyssa Valdez aims to return to 100% health before thinking on-court farewell

Philippine volleyball star Alyssa Valdez says she is far from done with the volleyball courts. In a Rappler Talk Sports interview, she shares she is well-aware that she has not been in her best form for quite some time. Full story: https://www.rappler.com/sports/volleyball/alyssa-valdez-aims-return-health-before-thinking-on-court-farewell/

Letran last team in front of St. Benilde juggernaut

If St. Benilde remains unchecked, it will continue a run of wins that has gone on for 30 games thus far. In the current NCAA Season 99, women’s volleyball championship, Letran remains the last team that can put the brakes on the streak. So maybe it’s easy to dismiss the Knights, or at least label them heavy, heavy underdogs—emphasis on heavy. There is one person who doesn’t think so. And he sits at the front end of the Lady Blazers bench....

Meralco a much different team under coach Nenad, says Cone

'This is a familiar team with a different system. And we struggled with it at times'

Boxing fans forced to pay £25 to watch Fury v Usyk on pay-per-view

Furious boxing fans have labelled the lack of radio coverage for the Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk fight a 'tradegy' as supporters are forced to cough up £25 to watch the clash on pay-per-view.

PBA: June Mar Fajardo too much for Rain or Shine in Game 2

MANILA, Philippines—It was another day at the office for June Mar Fajardo on Sunday in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. Like clockwork, Fajardo had a field day in the third quarter where he made his first five attempts in the period and scored 18 of his game-high 22 points to propel San Miguel Beer past Rain or Shine for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. Fajardo, who went 9-of-13 from the field and also had 10 rebounds and...

Obiena captures gold in LA Grand Prix

MANILA, Philippines — Pole vaulter Ernest John 'EJ' Obiena resumed his Paris Olympics build up by capturing the gold medal in the Los Angeles Grand Prix at the Drake Stadium on Sunday, May 19 (Manila time). The first Filipino Paris Games qualifier cleared 5.80 meters to rule the competition and claim his third championship out four tournaments he joined this year. Obiena bested Norway's Simen Guttormsen and home bet KC Lightfoot who both cleared...

Bryson DeChambeau Praised For 'Classy' Move After Losing PGA Championship

Bryson DeChambeau came oh-so-close to forcing a playoff at the PGA Championship on Sunday, but Xander Schauffele's put dropped into the hole to clinch the win. DeChambeau finished his final round at -20, which at the time was tied for the lead. But Schauffele was able to birdie the final hole ...

Nuggets HC Michael Malone loses cool with reporters following Game 7 collapse

Denver Nuggets HC Michael Malone wasn't having it during his postgame news conference.

PBA: Ralph Cu makes most of minutes in Ginebra’s Game 1 win

MANILA, Philippines—Ralph Cu kept showing his worth for the Ginebra Gin Kings in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals over Meralco. In 36 minutes of action, Cu showed why he was worthy of the minutes with 18 points built on six made triples with only one miss from rainbow country. Despite playing more minutes than usual, Cu understood the memo and stepped up to the plate especially since Ginebra was without one of its main men in Jamie...

Forthsky Padrigao eager to make his presence felt for UST

Forthsky a staple piece in rebuilding Growling Tigers

Fajardo still a dominant force, but deflects credit to SMB teammates

MANILA, Philippines — June Mar Fajardo remains a reliable force for San Miguel Beer. And he demonstrated that again last Sunday after leading the Beermen to a 106-89 demolition of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters en route to a 2-0 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series. The 6-foot-10 Fajardo showed his dominance especially in the third period after racking up 18 of his game-high 22 points that enabled SMB to pull away after a tight...

Tyson Fury unsure on rematch after Usyk inflicts his first loss

Tyson Fury was undecided about a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after losing his unbeaten record in one of the biggest fights in boxing history on Sunday. Britain’s Fury dominated the early rounds of their undisputed heavyweight clash but lost a split decision to the Ukrainian maestro, who nearly sent him to the canvas in the ninth round. It was the only loss in 36 professional bouts for Fury, who was contesting the first heavyweight unification...

Video: Controversial Finish To HS Baseball State Championship Sparks Major Debate

A controversial finish to a high school baseball state championship game in California has sparked major debate on social media. Moorpark’s Taylor Busch hit what appeared to be a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 7th inning. However, the umpires ruled that it was a ground-rule double. The ...

PBA: Meralco fights back, beats Ginebra in semis Game 2

MANILA, Philippines–Meralco got back at Barangay Ginebra behind its main weapons with a 103-91 win that tied their best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup at 1-1 Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. Allein Maliksi scored 25 points while Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Chris Banchero and Raymond Almazan came through in the fourth quarter as the Bolts won despite blowing a 17-point lead in the third. Newsome made eight of his 20 in the final...

Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Casiey Dongallo out of AVC Cup team

MANILA, Philippines — National University’s MVP duo Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon have begged off participating in Alas Pilipinas’ upcoming AVC Challenge Cup campaign while University of the East star rookie Casiey Dongallo has also been ruled out due to a right wrist fracture. Philippine women’s volleyball team coach Jorge Souza De Brito told Inquirer Sports that Belen and Solomon will no longer play for the upcoming AVC hosting from May 22 to...

NBA: Jamal Murray hurts elbow in Game 6 flop by Nuggets

MINNEAPOLIS — Jamal Murray failed to make a fadeaway on Denver’s first possession, then tried a floater that spun around the rim and spit out in portending fashion. Neither of those misses hurt the normally smooth-shooting Nuggets point guard like what came next for him on defense in Minnesota in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals. As he tried to move around a high screen by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert early in the first quarter...

Asian body honors Tolentino

THE Asian Cycling Confederation will confer to PhilCycling President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino the 2024 ACC Merit Award during the continental body's Congress next month in Kazakhstan. ACC Secretary-General Onkar Singh informed Tolentino of the award in a correspondence dated May 16. "The Executive Committee of the Asian Cycling Confederation has decided to confer the 2024 ACC Merit Award for your exemplary service towards the development of...

SMB survives ros scare

MANILA, Philippines — It wasn’t the prettiest of victories but top seed San Miguel Beer would gladly take it. The battle-scarred Beermen were made to sweat by youthful but tough Rain or Shine before escaping with a 101-98 win and taking a 1-0 running start in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series yesterday. “A win is a win,” SMB coach Jorge Gallent said after getting the job done despite blowing an eight-point lead in the fourth and going...

Marcio Lassiter has dream scenario on breaking PBA 3-point record

MANILA, Philippines—It might take a few more games but Marcio Lassiter can leapfrog to the top of the list of the PBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made. And the San Miguel shooter has an ideal scenario on when he wants that to happen. “I’m not a good mathematician with numbers like that but it would be great to do it if it’s given to me in the Finals,” said Lassiter after their 101-98 win over Rain or Shine on Friday at Mall of Asia...

NBA: Mavericks beat Thunder in wild finish to reach West finals

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving probably wondered if his uncanny run of closeout victories without a loss in his career was finally near an end. The streak lives, and the Dallas Mavericks are through to the NBA Western Conference semifinals for the second time in three seasons. P.J. Washington Jr. made two free throws before an intentional miss with 2.5 seconds left as the Mavs rallied from 17 points down in the second half for a 117-116 victory over the...

UAAP: UST Tigresses and the ghosts of Game 2s at Mall of Asia Arena

MANILA, Philippines—There is a ghost inside the Mall of Asia Arena… and University of Santo Tomas just couldn’t exorcise it. Back in Season 81, the Golden Tigresses figured in a women’s volleyball Finals affair against Ateneo only to fall short to the eventual champions Lady Eagles. Five years later, UST saw itself on a collision course with National University in the hopes of doing what it couldn’t do five years prior. READ: UAAP: All-heart UST...

Cone calls out on other Kings to step up after Game 2 loss

Cone: We need to get contributions from everybody

Cone sees a lot of upside on future Gilas stars Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quimabao

MANILA, Philippines — Tim Cone has high expectations on Gilas Pilipinas' two young players in Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, whom the national coach sees as the future stars of Philippine basketball. The 6-foot-7 Tamayo is coming off a stint with Japan B.League's Ryukyu Golden Kings, and in 23 games played, he averaged 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13 minutes of action. Though his playing time has been limited with the Golden Kings, where he...

PVL holds first-ever Rookie Draft

THE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is set to hold its first-ever Rookie Draft on July 6, a landmark event designed to bolster team rosters with fresh talent and enhance the league's competitive balance. This comes on the heels of another successful PVL All-Filipino Conference, where Creamline triumphed over Choco Mucho, securing its fourth straight AFC championship and eighth overall crown. The draft process will allow member teams to select...

Which F1 driver has led the world championship the longest?

The world drivers’ championship is the most coveted award in Formula 1 and every driver hopes to one day secure the title. Only a small number will ever achieve the world championship though, and even fewer will hold onto the achievement for a significant amount of time.

Pacers set NBA playoff shooting mark, torch Knicks in Game 7

NEW YORK — When the Indiana Pacers compiled one of the best offensive seasons in NBA history, they were just getting warmed up. For Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, they delivered something really spectacular. Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points and the Pacers set an NBA playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field, beating the New York Knicks 130-109 on Sunday to advance to the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the first time in...

British boxer Sherif Lawal dies after being knocked down in pro debut

LONDON — A British boxer has died after he lost on his professional debut in London. Sherif Lawal was knocked down by a blow to the head from Malam Varela in the fourth round of a scheduled six-round middleweight fight on Sunday at Harrow Leisure Centre. READ: Mexican teen boxer dies of injuries suffered in ring The referee waved it off to allow paramedics to attend to Lawal. He was taken to hospital but died. He was 29. “The British Boxing...

Dave Apolinario’s first world title fight will be in Mexico

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Sanman Boxing’s top prospect Dave “Dobermann” Apolinario will spend his first world title shot on hostile soil. The Mexican boxing outfit, Zanfer Boxing, won the purse bid for Apolinario and Angel Ayala’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) world flyweight title fight later this year. This means that Apolinario will fight Ayala for the world title in Mexico with the official date and venue yet to be announced. READ:...

St. Benilde inches closer to another unchallenged reign; Perpetual triumphs

St. Benilde is on the verge of a third straight 11-game title sweep in NCAA women’s volleyball and even as it showed off its dominance against Letran in Game 1 of Season 99’s championship series, coach Jerry Yee refuses to be complacent. “I know there is still a next game that we have to work hard for, that there’s a chance we will lose,” Yee said after the Lady Blazers’ 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 victory over the Lady Knights on Sunday, one that...

Jaja Santiago felt sense of fulfillment seeing NU win UAAP title

MANILA, Philippines — Despite not winning a UAAP title in her playing years for National University, Jaja Santiago felt as if she had finally won one after witnessing the Lady Bulldogs reclaim the glory in the Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals. Santiago was part of the proud NU faithful among the ecstatic 22,515 crowd at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday when the Lady Bulldogs completed a series sweep of the UST Tigresses in Game 2, 25-23,...

Notable People who died in 2024

Carlos Yulo wins elusive all-around gold at Asian Championships

Carlos Yulo had long desired to reach the Asian summit of the men’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around competition. Amazed by the breathtaking view at the top, perhaps it won’t be a stretch if the Filipino dynamo aspires to climb the Mt. Everest of his event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “We were jumping with joy for Carlos being No. 1 in Asia. That’s how happy we are,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia...

ESPN Is Taking Serious Heat For Its 'Embarrassing' Game 7 Broadcast

The only thing more embarrassing than the New York Knicks' efforts in Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers was ESPN's pregame show on ABC. ESPN went all-in on Stephen A. Smith and the Knicks, basically turning their Game 7 pregame show into a lovefest for New York and their top personality. If you ...

Discipline, respect among things Canino will pack for PH stint

Being under the wings of Ramil de Jesus, De La Salle University’s Angel Canino has learned two important virtues, among other things: Discipline and respect. “We have to bring [those] because [if] not … [how can] you [represent] the school and also [the] Philippine flag?” Canino said. “Everywhere you go, you have to have that discipline and respect.” Canino, after leading La Salle to a bronze finish in the recently concluded UAAP Season 86...

F1 Imola GP – Start time, how to watch, starting grid & TV channel

The 2024 Formula 1 Imola Grand Prix takes place this Sunday on 19 May. Here's how you can watch the seventh race of the 2024 F1 season on TV.

NBA: Timberwolves rally from 20 down to stun Nuggets in Game 7

DENVER — Anthony Edwards overcame a slow start and the Timberwolves roared back from a 20-point second-half deficit to eliminate the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets 98-90 in a Game 7 Minnesota masterpiece on Sunday night. The Timberwolves erased a 15-point halftime deficit — the largest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history — behind Edwards, who had just four points, no rebounds and three assists at halftime but finished with 16...

Edwards leads Wolves back from 20-point deficit for 98-90 win over defending NBA champion Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — Anthony Edwards overcame a slow start and the Timberwolves roared back from a 20-point second-half deficit to eliminate the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets 98-90 in a Game 7 Minnesota masterpiece on Sunday night. The Timberwolves overcame a 15-point halftime deficit — the largest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history — behind Edwards, who had just four points, no rebounds and three assists at halftime but finished with...

Usyk in tears for late father after historic heavyweight win

An emotional Oleksandr Usyk shed tears for his late father after crowning a brilliant career by becoming boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight world champion on Sunday. The 37-year-old Ukrainian won a split decision against Britain’s Tyson Fury in Riyadh in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999. The former European and world amateur champion, Olympic gold medalist and undisputed cruiserweight champ — still undefeated as a...

Noynay takes on Japanese knockout artist in Tokyo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Joe “Jaw Breaker” Noynay and Japanese Jin Sasaki passed the official weigh-in for their double regional title showdown at the Korakuen Hall scheduled in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, May 16. Noynay, a native of Bogo City in northern Cebu, will battle Sasaki for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific welterweight title. Also up for grabs in this 12-rounder bout is the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF)...

Usyk edges Tyson Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Oleksandr Usyk has been shorter, lighter and older than all of his opponents since he moved up to the heavyweight division. Usyk’s heart and skill are enormous, and he overcame a major size disadvantage against Tyson Fury to become the world’s first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years. Usyk defeated Fury by split decision on Sunday, knocking down his hulking opponent in the ninth round and eventually earning...