PBA: RHJ, Arvin Tolentino win Best Import, Best Player awards

ANTIPOLO — For their steady and equally impactful performances throughout the tournament, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino and TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson have been feted as the Commissioner’s Cup’s finest on Friday night. The 29-year-old Tolentino was crowned Best Player of the Conference, the first winner outside the San Miguel power bloc to bag the honor since Christian Standhardinger, who also played for the Batang Pier, did it during the 2019...

Cabañero brothers earn spots in Gilas program

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Two of Cebu’s brightest young basketball stars, Nic and Nickson Andwele Cabañero, are set to don the country’s tri-colors after being named to the Gilas Pilipinas program. No less than former Gilas Pilipinas stalwart-turned-coach LA Tenorio selected the Cabañero brothers, who hail from Lapu-Lapu City, to be part of two different Gilas squads. Their inclusion was also confirmed by their father, Dominic, through a post by...

Pepito preaches patience as Tigresses fall to bad habits, second straight loss

MANILA, Philippines — UST Golden Tigresses team captain Detdet Pepito preaches patience as her team succumbed to bad habits and to their second straight loss after bowing to the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 22-25, 24-26, 25-17, 24-26, in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. The way she sees it, Pepito said that the Tigresses were quick to get frustrated when things don't go their way and this is something...

The cost of championships

THE Boston Celtics broke another record recently. I am not referring to their NBA-leading 18 champion-ship rings or their league-leading 48.1 attempts per game from the three-point line this season, it's the record-breaking sale to new franchise owner William Chisholm for $6.1 billion. The Celtics transaction represents the largest sale of an American sports team, slightly over the $6.05 billion set by the Washington Commanders of the National...

Cavs beat Jazz to snap four-game NBA skid; Celtics, Pistons win

LOS ANGELES — NBA Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland snapped a four-game losing streak on Sunday (Monday in Manila) with a balanced scoring performance in a 120-91 victory at Utah. Jarrett Allen scored 18 points and Donovan Mitchell added 16 to lead six Cavaliers in double figures while Evan Mobley added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland. "It's a long season. We're going to go through some ups and downs, we're not going to play our...

NBA: Andrew Wiggins scores 42, Heat halt 10-game skid vs Hornets

Andrew Wiggins scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the decisive third quarter as the host Miami Heat snapped their 10-game losing streak, beating the Charlotte Hornets 122-105 on Sunday night in the NBA. Wiggins – who fell five points shy of his career-high point total – made 16 of 21 shots from the field, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range, and had five assists and two steals. Snapping their longest skid since 2007-08, the Heat (30-41)...

Aussie NBA great produces incredible act of sportsmanship as Illawarra Hawks end a 24-year drought

It came after he was crowned the NBL championship series MVP, trumping rival Will Hickey of the Illawarra Hawks.

Junior Altas gun for semis berth in NCAA

NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball leader University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas aim to secure a spot in the final four when they face the San Sebastian Staglets at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.The hard-working team of coach Joph Cleopas will try to reach the semifinal round for the second consecutive year and only the third since joining the league in 1985.Fresh from a 103-84 win over Emilio Aguinaldo...

Jonah Sabete spreads wings, lifts Angels past Thunderbelles

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — The Angels had divine assistance this time to extend the series. After being sidelined for two months, Jonah Sabete returned to the court and brought life to the Petro Gazz Angels in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. Petro Gazz was stunned by ZUS in five sets in its first playoff clash, but the team bounced back stronger in Game 2 after winning via sweep, 25-19, 25-13,...

Bea De Leon absorbs Creamline's winning culture

MANILA, Philippines — Hungrier to win than ever, Bea De Leon now understood why Creamline is the perennial champion of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). The former team captain of Choco Mucho flaunted her beastly form as a middle blocker after chipping in 14 points on seven attacks, five blocks, and two aces to allow Creamline to secure its 17th straight semifinals appearance, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, on Saturday, at the Ynares Center in...

Eala stuns world No. 5 in historic Miami Open win

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala’s Cinderella run continued with the biggest win not only of her career but of the entire Philippine tennis. A wildcard entry among the sport’s biggest stars, Eala took down another heavyweight in world No. 5 Madison Keys of the United States, 6-4, 6-2, to barge into the Miami Open Round of 16 yesterday at the Hardrock Stadium in Florida. On the heels of a massive win against world No. 25 and 2017 French Open...

Scottie Thompson leads Ginebra to first win streak of PBA Finals

Scottie Thompson has been Barangay Ginebra’s most consistent local in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals—maybe even its silent operator, if you will. But Thompson, as he has done in the past, finally came out with plays that 12,447 mostly pro-Ginebra fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum were glad to see on Sunday night as the Gin Kings moved on the cusp of savoring that championship feeling once more. Thompson led a grind-out 73-66 win over TNT that...

Aussie Open champ Keys crashes out to Filipino teenager

Miami Gardens, United States—Fifth-seeded American Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, crashed out of the Miami Open on Sunday suffering a shock loss to 19-year-old Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala. The 6-4, 6-2 win for the teenager prompted her to hug her team and celebrate passionately after she became the first Filipino woman in the Open Era to beat a top-10 opponent since the ranking system came into being in 1975. Eala, the 2022...

UAAP: Beth Hilongo emerges as bright spot amid UST losing skid

MANILA, Philippines — In the University of Santo Tomas’ second straight defeat to old rival Far Eastern University, Beth Hilongo emerged as a bright spot for the Golden Tigresses. Hilongo unleashed a career-best 17 points on top of 11 digs and nine excellent receptions but UST fell to its second consecutive loss at the hands of FEU, 22-25, 24-26, 25-17, 26-24, to start the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball second round on Sunday at Mall of Asia...

PBA: A title and MVP part of Arvin Tolentino’s big dream

In just five seasons, Arvin Tolentino has established himself as one of the brightest stars in the PBA, with a Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award in the Commissioner’s Cup as a testament to that. For the NorthPort standout, the formula behind his recent milestone is simple. “I dream big,” he said. Now, an even bigger prize looms for the two-way forward as he automatically became a candidate for the season MVP. But Tolentino remains...

Emerging talents in UAAP keep MVP frontrunner Belen honest

MANILA, Philippines — Up-and-coming talents in the UAAP women's volleyball tournament keep NU Lady Bulldogs star Bella Belen honest. Belen, the Season 84 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, the latter award she repeated in Season 86 last year, said that the rise of talented players every year just made her raise her game even more. Safe to say, Belen's motivation is working since she's on pace to win her third MVP award in four seasons...

F1: Both Ferrari drivers disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI–Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified from the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix after their cars failed post-race checks on Sunday. The pair finished fifth and sixth respectively in the race in Shanghai but Leclerc’s car was found to be under the weight limit while Hamilton’s car was reported to stewards for excessive skid wear. “Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tyre wear was very...

Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas receive house incentives from POC

Olympic medalists Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas received another one of their incentives as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) turned over their house and lots in Tagaytay City. POC shared on their social media platforms snaps from the blessing and turnover ceremony on March 23, Sunday, which was attended by the three athletes, who participated in the Paris Olympics. According to the committee, the recognition "reflects the...

Ginebra late surge seals win over TNT, moves in cusp of PBA title

MANILA, Philippines — Scottie Thompson and import Justin Brownlee joined hands in leading Barangay Ginebra's 8-0 finishing kick to seal a come-from-behind 73-66 Game 5 victory against TNT, and moving within a win from capturing the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup title on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. After a quiet two-point output on just 1-of-5 shooting in the first two quarters, Brownlee came alive in the second half, dropping 16...

P15-M Tagaytay home Carlos Yulo’s latest bonanza

Carlos Yulo looks at material rewards that keep coming as reasons why the first Filipino double Olympic gold medalist will try to become even better. “Bonuses such as this new house from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will motivate me to push myself [harder],’’ said Yulo on Sunday after receiving the keys to his new two-storey home built on a 500 square meter (sq m) lot in Tagaytay’s Prime Peak Town House Subdivision from POC president...

Nitura: 'I'm here to win, not set any records'

(UPDATE) GRATEFUL as she is to have set the UAAP women's volleyball scoring record, Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura insisted that her main goal is to win games for Lady Falcons and not set any records as they try to make the UAAP Season 87 Final Four. Nitura posted the new league scoring record of 38 points in a 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons at the end of Season 87 first round action on March 16. "Since the...

LA Tenorio makes every second count in surprise Game 5 action

Cone asked his veteran guard to polish up the team's execution and give Scottie a breather. He delivered both

Buoyed-up Ginebra eyes 3-2 series lead

GALVANIZED by Justin Brownlee's inspired plays, Barangay Ginebra tries to ride on that momentum when it shoots for the series lead against TNT in Game 5 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Gin Kings shoot for the 3-2 series lead against the Tropang Giga at 7:30 p.m. Brownlee surprised everyone by delivering 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, managing to play through a heavily taped right...

Tolentino turns over brand new homes to Yulo, Petecio and Villegas in Tagaytay City

MANILA, Philippines — PARIS Olympics double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo now has a property in Tagaytay City and so do bronze medalist Aira Villegas. Nesthy Petecio? The other boxing bronze medalist in Paris now has a second home in the city where Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino is mayor. "They deserve these homes, they're not only our Olympic heroes, all of them are national treasures," said...

THUMBS UP: Brownlee 'injury game' draws PBA Finals' highest TV rating

Epic JB moment draws biggest TV audience

Emotional Eala credits family for rise up WTA ranks

MIAMI GARDENS — Alexandra Eala wrote her name in tennis history on Sunday when the 19-year-old Filipina defeated Australian Open champion Madison Keys from the Miami Open. She became the first woman from the Philippines to beat a top-10 opponent since the ranking system came into being 50 years ago. It was a result that Eala celebrated with spontaneity and emotion, hugging her team while on the brink of tears. A little later, more composed but...

UAAP: NU beats La Salle anew to go 8-0 in women’s volleyball

National University remained perfect after sweeping their head-to-head matches against La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. In their second encounter this season, the Lady Bulldogs hammered in a 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18 decision on the Lady Spikers to surge to an 8-0 card behind Bella Belen’s 23 points scattered from 17 attacks, four blocks, and two aces, a performance that...

PVL: Still long way to go for young Galeries after quarterfinals exit

MANILA, Philippines —The young Galeries HighRisers couldn’t extend what could’ve been a Cinderella run as they fell short in two games in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. Just like in Game 1 of the playoffs, Galeries took two sets to one lead — a set away from a playoff win — and could have even swept the series if it was able to close out. However, the HighRisers were booted out by the Akari Chargers in five sets, 25-19,...

NBA: Celtics rain 3-pointers on Blazers, win fifth straight

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the host Portland Trail Blazers 129-116 on Sunday night. Tatum scored 24 of those points after halftime, and narrowly missed his third triple-double of the season, finishing with nine rebounds and nine assists. Sam Hauser racked up 24 points on 8 of 10 3-pointers, while Derrick White added 17 points, including going 4 of 10 from deep. In a rare starting role, Payton Pritchard scored 16...

NBA: Jamal Murray leads Nuggets in key win over Rockets

Jamal Murray scored 17 of his game-high 39 points in a turnaround third quarter as the Denver Nuggets claimed a critical 116-111 victory over the host Houston Rockets on Sunday. Murray shot 15-for-28 and added seven assists to help the Nuggets (45-27) overcome the absence of star center Nikola Jokic, who missed his fourth consecutive game with a left ankle impingement. Murray scored 12 straight points during one decisive stretch in the third, a...

NBA: Bulls rout Lakers, spoil LeBron James’ return

Coby White, Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey led the hot-shooting Chicago Bulls to a 146-115 win over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, spoiling the returns of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. White finished with 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field, making 6-of-9 attempts from 3-point range for Chicago (31-40). Buzelis, a rookie, added 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Giddey perhaps one-upped them both, notching his 15th career...

Alex Eala stuns Madison Keys, becomes 1st Filipina to beat top-10 player

MIAMI GARDENS, United States — Filipina teen Alexandra Eala stunned fifth seed Madison Keys in the Miami Open on Sunday, securing a historic 6-4, 6-2 victory. The 19-year-old wildcard became the first Filipina to defeat a top-10 opponent since the WTA rankings began in 1975, celebrating the milestone with an emotional embrace with her team. Eala, the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion who has been based to the Rafael Nadal academy in Mallorca...

Petro Gazz win sets stage for thrilling decider

Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle has so much respect for ZUS Coffee that she feels it will take nothing less than an all-out grind for her team to seize a winner-take-all triumph. “It’s going to be a push. It’s going to be high intensity, so we need a 100-percent effort from everyone,” said Van Sickle after the Angels evaded a quarterfinal exit on Saturday in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. The Angels refused to be blown out of the sky by the...

Jasmine Mojdeh captures bronze in Singapore National Age Group

MANILA, Philippines — National pool member Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh capped off her campaign in style, clinching the bronze medal on the final day of the prestigious 55th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre in Singapore. Mojdeh, representing Behrouz Elite Swimming Team, went head-to-head with top-notch swimmers in the women's 200m butterfly, including reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Quah Jing...

Game 6: Tropa to fight ‘like hell’

MANILA, Philippines — Down but not out, TNT is committed to put up a big fight and stop Barangay Ginebra from delivering the kill shot and ascending to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup throne. After leading, 2-1, the Tropang Giga dropped back-to-back games, 95-78 and 73-66, to find themselves in a do-or-die situation in tomorrow’s Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “I see us fighting like hell, fighting to win, fighting to play an excellent game,...

Lewis Hamilton clashes with Ferrari engineer AGAIN and is made to swap places with Charles Leclerc in miserable Chinese Grand Prix - as Oscar Piastri wins it

JONATHAN McEVOY IN SHANGHAI: Serenity at the front for Oscar Piastri. Victory from pole in China for the Australian. And another day of turbulence in paradise for Lewis Hamilton.

NBA: Lakers look for redemption on road against Magic

After their worst defensive performance of the season, the visiting Los Angeles Lakers will try to stop Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic on Monday. Over his last 12 games, Banchero has averaged 30.6 points for Orlando (33-38), the most of any player in the Eastern Conference and second-most in the NBA over that span. “I think it’s his poise and his demeanor,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Friday after his team’s 120-105 road win over the...

Emma Raducanu cruises into Miami Open final 16 after dominant showing against McCartney Kessler sees Brit claim the first set in less than 30 minutes - before American retires

Emma Radacanu crushed McCartney Kessler to reach Miami Open round of 16, leading 6-1, 3-0 after two sets, before the American opted to retire.

Ginebra finds a hero in Malonzo, who helped preserve JB heroics

CITY OF ANTIPOLO—Jamie Malonzo is no stranger to struggles. He’s fought through several of them in his young career—both on the court and off of it. So when Barangay Ginebra’s indefatigable import Justin Brownlee faced struggles of his own, Malonzo made sure he would not let his teammate down, rising to the occasion in the crowd darlings’ 95-78 Game 4 victory against TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night. Malonzo played...

George Foreman's story was one full of huge determination - he was honest, had great strength and will be regarded as one of the greats for a long time to come, writes JOHNNY NELSON

JOHNNY NELSON: He was an honest talent, born with great strength, and his story was one of huge determination. He won his first amateur fight in 1967 and barely 18 months later was an Olympic champion.

Ranking the 15 most jacked players in NBA history

Bernadeth Pons keeps sheer focus heading to PVL semis

MANILA, Philippines — Bernadeth Pons made a double-double performance to propel Creamline to its 17th straight semifinal appearance in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). Pons led the scoring with 18 points, along with 15 excellent receptions to allow Creamline sweep the series against Chery Tiggo, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, last Saturday, in Game 2 of the PVL 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference. The 2024 Reinforced Conference Most Valuable Player...

Ranked: The 25 greatest college basketball players ever

Brooke Van Sickle raring for first international stint

MANILA, Philippines — Brooke Van Sickle looks forward to representing the Philippines through Petro Gazz when it plays in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Champions (AVC) League from April 20 to 27 at Philsports Arena. As a player who has yet to play in international tournaments like the AVC, Van Sickle is eager to carry the flag with the Angels one of three Philippine clubs to compete in the country’s hosting of the continental meet alongside...

Tagaytay houses for Caloy, Nesthy, Aira

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee officially turned over yesterday to gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas Tagaytay house and lot units earned for their medal feats in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. “Grateful and feeling blessed for the house and lot, and I’m also thankful to the POC for helping us in our Olympic preparation in Paris,” said Yulo during the house blessing attended by POC president...

NBA: West top seed Thunder escape Clippers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and Aaron Wiggins added 19 as the Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to six games by holding on for a 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Inglewood, California. Isaiah Hartenstein scored 14 points with 10 rebounds and Alex Caruso added 14 points for the Thunder (59-12), who clinched the top seed in the NBA Western Conference last week. Oklahoma City plays at...

Dave Apolinario squares off against China’s Longyi Hu in Tokyo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — World-rated flyweight Dave “Dobermann” Apolinario is set to test his mettle once again in Japan’s bustling boxing scene as he returns to action on April 22 in Tokyo. Apolinario will face Chinese prospect Longyi Hu in an eight-round non-title bout, part of a fight card promoted by renowned Japanese boxing promoter Hideyuki Ohashi. The event, dubbed “Phoenix Battle Lemino 133,” will take place at the iconic Korakuen Hall....

PBA Takeaways: Oftana, Pogoy fire blanks in the clutch once more

The newest member of the 'Introvoys' club?

Duke’s Cooper Flagg returns, makes March Madness debut

RALEIGH, North Carolina — Cooper Flagg had long watched March Madness and imagined being a part of it. A sprained ankle suffered last week wasn’t about to delay that dream for Duke’s freshman star. “I mean, this is something that I’ve dreamed about since I was 6, 7 years old, watching every single year with my family, my friends,” Flagg said. READ: Duke’s Cooper Flagg is biggest star heading into March Madness In other words, there was no way he...

Ex-Red Bull flop reveals why all drivers are doomed from the start as axe looms on another of Max Verstappen's team-mate

It comes following their indifferent start to the 2025 season, with Verstappen placing fourth in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, while team-mate Lawson slumped to 15th in the standings.