National

PLDT, Chery clash in crucial tiff

MANILA, Philippines — How far can the PLDT High Speed Hitters go in a loaded Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference minus their injured big guns – former captain Mika Reyes and blue-chip free agency recruit Kianna Dy? The answer is in a second-best record and a crack at the top spot. “Maganda maturity ng core,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort, whose charges tackle an equally resurgent and dangerous Chery Tiggo in today’s critical...

Five retired players who look like they can still cut it in PBA

Get this: Dondon still tips the scales at 185 lbs - his playing weight during his long PBA career

Paris Olympics flame lit at Greek cradle of ancient games

The flame that will burn at the Paris Olympics was kindled on Tuesday at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece. Cloudy skies prevented the traditional lighting, when an actress dressed as an ancient Greek priestess uses the sun to ignite a silver torch - after offering a symbolic prayer to Apollo, the ancient Greek sun god. Instead, a back-up flame was used that had been lit on the same spot on Monday, during the final rehearsal. Credit International Olympic Committee, 72-hour usage

Hotshots focused on fighting hard

MANILA, Philippines — There’s a lot of positive vibes inside the Magnolia camp. After a stumbling 1-2 start, the Hotshots have gained traction especially on defense and racked up back-to-back wins over NorthPort, 104-97, and Phoenix, 107-93, to leap to solo fourth in the PBA Philippine Cup at 3-2. A major factor in this resurgence is the return-to-form of star slotman Ian Sangalang. In tip-top shape after his recovery from the thyroid illness...

NBA: Pritchard scores career-high 38 in Celtics win over Wizards

BOSTON — Payton Pritchard scored a career-high 38 points and the NBA-best Boston Celtics rested their entire starting lineup in a 132-122 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday in the teams’ regular-season finale. Svi Mykhailiuk added 26 points and Sam Hauser 16 for Boston, which sat Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday along with top reserve Al Horford. Pritchard added 12 assists with nine...

Ando, Ceniza vow to train hard for Paris Olympics after cash windfall

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Elreen Ando and John Febuar Ceniza vowed to do their best to bring honor not just to the Philippines and Cebu, but to their ever-supportive alma mater — the University of Cebu (UC) in the upcoming Paris Olympics. On Monday, April 15, Ando and Ceniza and their coaches Christopher Bureros and Ramon Solis were given P200,000 each as cash incentives for qualifying for the Paris Olympics’ weightlifting competition this July....

Cone looks to Cu, next man as injury bug bites Kings anew

Can’t blame Barangay Ginebra if scraping past a hard-fighting NorthPort squad on Sunday night hardly felt like a win. The crowd darlings pulled out a 95-88 win in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup showdown at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila, but saw one of its fast-rising stars falling to yet another injury. “It happened literally in the last seconds of the basketball game,” coach Tim Cone said. “I didn’t even had...

Trailblazhers sue Boston Marathon organizers and Newton police chief

Trailblazhers, an all-female running crew, is suing the Boston Marathon organizers, the city of Newton and the Newton police chief for barricading them from last year's marathon.

Thunder rout Mavericks for top spot in NBA Western Conference

OKLAHOMA CITY — With about 90 seconds remaining, Oklahoma City’s fans stood in unison and began chanting. O-K-C! O-K-C! As the final moments wound down in a 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the still-standing Thunder fans celebrated a team that went from winning 24 games two seasons ago to having the best record in the Western Conference this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in one half of action, and the Thunder dominated a...

PVL: Petro Gazz boosts semis bid with win over Cignal

MANILA, Philippines–Jonah Sabete fueled Petro Gazz’s semifinal bid in a 25-13, 25-18, 25-17 triumph over Cignal on Tuesday at the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference. Sabete injected 16 points that came from 13 attacks, two blocks and an ace to extend the Angels’ winning streak to three and improve to a 7-2 win-loss card, tied with defending champion Creamline. “Masaya [surviving Cignal pero] kasi hindi namin mina-maliit yung next...

Notable People who died in 2024

Beijing half marathon: Organizers to investigate Chinese runner’s controversial win

Beijing, China—Beijing half marathon organizers said they are investigating a widely shared video online that appeared to show three African runners deliberately allowing China’s He Jie to win. Video clips of Sunday’s race showed the Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia and home runner He approaching the finish. The three African runners can be seen pointing to the finish line and apparently waving He out in front,...

NBA: Steve Clifford ends tenure as Hornets’ winningest coach

CLEVELAND — Steve Clifford ended his Charlotte coaching tenure on Sunday as the winningest coach in NBA franchise history. Clifford expects to remain with the franchise as an advisor. He announced in early April this season would be his last, saying the grind of 82 games has become too much for him at 62 years old. “I’m really proud of all of our guys, but tomorrow, for sure, I’ll reflect back on everything,” he said, breaking into a sly smile...

PLDT hopes to make record legit with hellish 3-game windup

The worst is yet to come for PLDT, whose coach thinks the team’s current standing is a “scam” and that the team’s true worth in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will be revealed during “hell week.” “Our 7-1 [win-loss record] is sort of a scam because we haven’t fought the top teams,” High Speed Hitters coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino after his team continued its roll in the ongoing All-Filipino Conference.“Our last three assignments will...

'Tornado' hits Staffordshire town as strong winds batter the UK

A tornado appeared to hit a town in Staffordshire on Monday as strong winds battered much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Police said they attended the scene in St Giles Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, just before 7.45am on Monday morning after the strong gusts which damaged roofs.

Hoffman resets Phl 100m hurdles mark

MANILA, Philippines — Olympic aspirant Lauren Hoffman has made a habit of rearranging national records. On a fair-weathered Sunday in Durham, North Carolina, Hoffman, seeking a ticket to the Paris Games in July, shattered a Philippine mark anew, this time in the women’s 100-meter hurdles where she clocked 13.41 seconds in the Duke Invitational. The reigning Asian 400m hurdles champion smashed the 17-year-old standard set by Sheena Atilano in...

Thirdy gets win over Kai as Parks, Dwight extend streaks

Filipinos made it rain in recent B.League weekend

NBA: Warriors defeat Jazz, wind up 10th in West

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr firmly believes his team still has a shot to make a splash this postseason — facing a familiar foe to start the uphill quest. Klay Thompson scored 25 points with six 3-pointers, Andrew Wiggins added 19 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 123-116 in the regular-season finale Sunday and wound up with the 10th spot in the NBA Western Conference. “We have a really good connection on this team, good...

30 fascinating facts you didn't know about the Summer Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is around the corner, but the Olympic Games have been making history for centuries. From the Games' Greek origins to their first foray into South America, the Olympics are known for bringing nations all over the world together to celebrate the very best in athletics. And even if you don't care much about sports, there's no denying the magic of the Olympics. In order to get into the Olympic spirit and the emotions that come with it, check out this gallery of fascinating facts you probably didn't about this extraordinary sporting event.

Kings bracing for worst on Malonzo’s health issue

MANILA, Philippines — While hoping for the best, Barangay Ginebra is bracing for the worst as it deals with the injury that hit wingman Jamie Malonzo last Sunday. The athletic Fil-Am went down by his lonesome while driving to the basket in the dying seconds of the Gin Kings’ 95-88 win over NorthPort last Sunday. Concerned teammates gathered around Malonzo, who appeared to have hurt his right foot or calf, and had to carry him off to the locker...

Ateneo aims to be the best team outside semis

To the best team outside the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball semifinals. Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso said this is the Blue Eagles' goal now that they have bowed out of contention for the final four. They put themselves in a good position to do that after defeating their first round tormentors University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, April 14. "Yeah. Our target all the time was...

Malonzo's injury status still uncertain

BARANGAY Ginebra head coach Tim Cone is keeping his fingers crossed as wingman Jamie Malonzo figured in a freak accident during the dying seconds of the Gin Kings' 95-88 come-from-behind triumph over NorthPort Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila. Scottie Thompson made a long pass from the other side of the court to Malonzo, who appeared to be going for a dunk. But the Filipino American wingman slipped right in front of the...

UAAP volleyball: La Salle shocks NU, moves closer to Final Four

MANILA, Philippines — Vince Maglinao, JM Ronquillo, and Noel Kampton formed a potent trio as La Salle stunned three-time defending champion National University, 25-19, 25-18, 31-33, 27-25, on Sunday to secure at least a playoff for a berth in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball Final Four at Mall of Asia Arena. Maglinao unleashed 22 points, Ronquillo, who missed the previous game due to illness, had 19 points, while Kampton delivered 18 points,...

LeBron, Lakers take on Pelicans as NBA play-in tips off

LeBron James will be out to extend his 21st NBA campaign on Tuesday when his Los Angeles Lakers open the NBA play-in tournament against the New Orleans Pelicans, the winner booking a playoff meeting with the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The Lakers closed the regular season with a dominant victory over the Pelicans on Sunday. James said the Lakers can’t afford a letdown against a Pelicans team eager to turn the tables. “They’re going to be...

Olympic hopefuls vie in Athletics Championships

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Olympic hopefuls headed by Lauren Hoffman will spearhead a star-studded cast seeing action in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships slated May 8 to 12 at the PhilSports oval in Pasig. Hoffman, a 24-year-old Fil-Am hurdler who recently eclipsed the 100m hurdles record, will be one of the national team mainstays – all with a legitimate chance of making the Paris cut – who will see action in the five-day meet...

Mercedes becomes first F1 team to exceed £500m turnover

Mercedes has become the first Formula 1 team to exceed a turnover of £500 million, according to its latest published accounts.

What happened to legendary Man United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy?

NBA Playoffs: The play-in arrives and drama awaits

After 1,230 games, here’s where things stand: 12 teams are in the NBA playoffs, 10 teams are done and eight teams are about to fight for the final four postseason spots. The NBA’s play-in tournament starts Tuesday with the Western Conference games. The eighth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers visit seventh-seeded New Orleans, and 10th-seeded Golden State plays an elimination game at ninth-seeded Sacramento. The Lakers-Pelicans winner is the No. 7 seed...

The heat is on

IT is getting more interesting as the season gets deeper. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament for women seems to be getting more patronage this year due to unpredictable circumstances. The women's team of National University, a former UAAP champion, upset defending champion De La Salle Lady Spikers in four hair-raising sets last weekend. The win sent NU to a tie with University of Santo Tomas on...

Ginebra rookie starts to 'announce himself into the league'

Tim Cone said he was the least surprised to see rookie Ralph Cu perform well in Barangay Ginebra's last two victories that allowed the league's most popular squad to climb up to solo third spot in the team standings of the PBA Philippine Cup. After firing 14 points on a 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range to help Ginebra dominate Blackwater, 105-85, the 6-foot-4 wingman churned out a PBA career effort last Sunday with 24 points, 10 rebounds...

Expect chaos and lots of it on last day of NBA regular season

Maybe it’s parity. Maybe it’s chaos. Either way, the final day of the NBA regular season should be wild. Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Denver all have a shot at No. 1 in the NBA Western Conference. Every seed from No. 2 to No. 8 is up for grabs in the Eastern Conference. Sunday’s slate, with all 30 teams playing, will see nine seeds get decided, three first-round playoff matchups determined and three play-in matchups set as well. “There’s so many...

Stage set for NBA post-elims battles

MANILA, Philippines — LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are staying in New Orleans for a couple more days. Stephen Curry and Golden State will head back to Sacramento to face elimination again. And the Miami Heat are back in the play-in, which started their run to the NBA Finals last year. The play-in field is set. On Tuesday, it’s the Lakers facing the Pelicans for a No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, then the Warriors and the Kings in...

Milo vows to keep on producing champs

MANILA, Philippines — Milo vowed to continue nurturing champions in the next six decades and beyond after helping blaze the trail for Filipino world champions – across all sports – in line with its 60th anniversary. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, the country’s first and only Olympic gold medalist, headlined Milo’s celebration at the Ayala Malls TriNoma in Quezon City with volleyball icon Alyssa Valdez, karateka star Jamie Lim, basketball...

Play-in pressure on Kerr

Three dates are reserved for six games involving eight teams in the NBA’s play-in tournament with only four, two from the East and two from the West, surviving to advance to the playoffs starting Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time). Play-in fireworks begin this morning (Manila time) as four Western Conference squads square off, featuring No. 7 New Orleans against No. 8 LA Lakers and No. 9 Sacramento against No. 10 Golden State. Tomorrow, it’s...

PBA: Jason Perkins sneaker switch briefly gives Phoenix good luck

MANILA, Philippines—Call him superstitious but Phoenix forward Jason Perkins opted to wear a different sneaker on Friday in hopes of changing the Fuel Masters fortunes in the PBA Philippine Cup. And somehow, switching to the Nike Sabrina 1s–a pair he usually wears in practice–worked wonders after Phoenix picked up just its second win of the conference following a 113-107 victory over Converge. “I usually wear them in practice and the Anthony...

Zion Williamson finally set to suit up in NBA postseason

NEW ORLEANS — It’s been nearly five years since Pelicans fans packing a downtown block party erupted as New Orleans officially selected Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. On Tuesday night, Williamson is slated to play in a postseason game for the first time since he starred for Duke in the NCAA Tournament. It’ll be in the Western Conference play-in as No. 7 seed New Orleans hosts an eighth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers team...

PBA: Ginebra starting to click but facing injury woes

MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra coach Tim Cone didn’t seem too happy even when the Gin Kings are starting to hit their stride following a victory over NorthPort on Sunday. Ginebra moved to third on the standings with a 5-3 card after an up-and-down start in the PBA Philippine Cup. But Cone can’t afford to feel relieved after one of his key cogs in Jamie Malonzo went down with an injury with only a couple of ticks to go in the game. The injury is a...

Rizal Xentro Mall rolls; Pampanga bounces back

MANILA, Philippines — Rizal Xentro Mall sustained its strong start with a 71-69 dumping of Muntinlupa last Monday in the MPBL Sixth Season at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Revved up by an upset of defending national champion Pampanga last April 9, the Golden Coolers broke free midway of the fourth quarter en route to their second straight win. Alwyn Alday shone for Rizal, now being coached by Ralph Rivera, with 24 points, including four...

Brownlee aims to be in best shape possible for Gilas stint in OQT

Two birds with one stone for JB

KJ Cataraja is WBO’s No. 1 super flyweight contender

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Unbeaten Cebuano prospect, Kevin Jake “KJ” Cataraja’s dream of fighting for a world title is within reach. It was after Cataraja had been elevated as the No. 1 contender in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) in its latest rankings in the super flyweight division. It means that Cataraja is next in line to fight WBO world super flyweight champion and three-division world champion Kosei Tanaka. READ MORE: Cataraja walks...

Oh brother: Remembering some of MLB’s most notable siblings

Thinking out of box

In this sequel to last Sunday’s column, coach Norman Black reveals that SBP’s ultimate goal in its nationwide grassroots program is to develop players who could graduate to become competitive pros and national players. “We’re rethinking how we train our kids,” said Black who’s in charge of executing the action plan. “In the past, if you’re 11 or 12 and you’re big for your age, maybe grow to six or 6-1 or 6-2 in a few years, you’re taught center...

NU Lady Bulldogs temper expectations after win vs La Salle

Still a long way to go in title chase, says Belen & Co.

Boxing world shocked: former British champion Willie Limond dies at the age of 45

It was year of the comeback in NBA

IT was the year of the comeback in the NBA. Teams rallied from at least 20 points down to win on 38 occasions in the regular season that concluded Sunday, by far the most in NBA history. The previous record for wins after trailing by 20 or more in a game was 30, set last season. To put in some perspective how different this era is, consider that in 2008-09 there were only eight successful comebacks from deficits of 20 or more. Sacramento was...

How do you build an NFL contender?

UAAP, NCAA teams out in full force for Filoil Preseason Cup

UP Maroons, La Salle Green Archers, San Beda Red Lions favored in preseason tournament

Oklahoma City grabs top seed in West

LOS ANGELES: The unexpected Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the Western Conference top seed ahead of the defending champion Denver Nuggets as the NBA regular season wrapped up on Sunday (Monday in Manila). The youthful Thunder rolled past the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks — who rested Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving among others — 135-86 to emerge from the trio of teams who went into the final day of action tied atop the West. It marked the first...

LeBron, Steph Team USA lead guns

MANILA, Philippines — Team USA will bring the big guns to the Paris Olympics. NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry will reportedly spearhead a powerhouse USA squad bent on dominating Olympic men’s basketball for the fifth straight edition. According to multiple outlets such as USA Today and ESPN, the Americans have already picked 11 from the original pool of 41 for the Paris mission. Aside from two-time Olympic gold...

Sangalang resurgence, Cu near-triple double highlight Sunday comebacks

As rookie Ralph Cu puts on a head-turning performance, Sangalang shows he's back in his element