Thunder crush Grizzlies, Celtics win

LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma City Thunder destroyed the Memphis Grizzlies, 131-80, in the most lopsided Game 1 win in NBA playoff history on Sunday (Monday in Manila) as reigning champions Boston, Cleveland and Golden State opened the post-season with victories. The Celtics, fueled by 30 points from Derrick White, defeated Orlando Magic, 103-86. The Cavaliers, who beat out the Celtics for top seed in the Eastern Conference, downed Miami Heat, 121-100,...

Final Four bonus in pocket, Lady Bulldogs looking to make statement vs Tigresses

National University continues to stay where many expected it to be at this point in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament: on top. The Lady Bulldogs have racked up 11 wins against just two losses, well ahead of La Salle (8-4), Santo Tomas (8-4), and Far Eastern (8-5) in the standings. With that, they’ve secured a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four—a familiar bonus for a program that has steadily built a winning pedigree. But...

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Antetokounmpo named NBA MVP finalists

LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo were named finalists for the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player award on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Jokic, named MVP for the third time in four years last season, has delivered another remarkable individual statistical season, averaging a triple-double of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per...

AVC preview: Meet the imports boosting PVL teams’ campaigns

SCHEDULE: Petro Gazz, Creamline, PLDT at 2025 AVC Champions League MANILA, Philippines — In their bid to represent the host country with pride, PVL teams Petro Gazz, Creamline, and PLDT tapped world-class imports for the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League from April 20 to April 27 at Philsports Arena. Amid the grueling 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the three Philippine clubs made sure to sign the best foreign...

Aleiah Torres ‘grateful for challenge’ as part of Creamline in AVC

MANILA, Philippines — Aleiah Torres is embracing the big responsibility after getting her international stint with the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League. Torres, who got a call-up to be one of Creamline’s two floor defenders, delivered 10 digs in their 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Jordan’s Al Naser Club on Sunday at Philsports Arena. READ: AVC: Creamline imports connect right away in opening win...

Creamline opens AVC campaign vs Jordan

DENIED of a five-peat after falling to the Petro Gazz Angels at the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals just a little more than a week ago, the Creamline Cool Smashers seek to bounce back in international play as they start their AVC Women's Champions League campaign at the PhilSports Arena on Easter Sunday. Creamline battles Jordan club Al Naser at 4 p.m. in Pool A that also includes Kazakh champion club Zhettyzu VC, being the first of the three...

PBA Greatest inductee Manny Victorino left in awe of June Mar

'Bago mo ito bantayan pumunta ka muna ng simbahan'

Olympians Malabuyo, Finnegan shine in US-NCAA

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American Olympic gymnasts Emma Malabuyo and Aleah Finnegan made podium finishes in their senior year at the US-NCAA women's individual gymnastics championships on Friday. Representing the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Malabuyo snared a silver medal in the balance beam apparatus. Malabuyo's routine that netted 9.9750 points also sent the Bruins to the team final. With an individual podium finish, the...

Inside the mind of Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison... from the people who know him best

One night last spring - after a typically brilliant Luka Doncic performance - Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison dined with a couple of his former college teammates.

Oklahoma City Thunder smash NBA record to leave Memphis Grizzlies stunned in playoff showdown

The Thunder drew first blood in the Western Conference playoff series in dramatic fashion. Only four NBA postseason games in history have been more one-sided.

Top 10: Best used sports cars

Top 10: Best used sports cars

The 20 players with the most powerful shots in football history

Warriors halfback hero Luke Metcalf catches eye of NBA superstar Damian Lillard

Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf landed a 50-metre penalty goal for an incredible 20-18 golden-point win over Brisbane - and also the attention of NBA megastar Damian Lillard.

AVC: Buoyed by crowd, Alyssa Valdez shows she still has it

MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez is honored to represent the country again, through the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League, in front of an energetic home crowd. Valdez proved she can still shine on the international stage as she delivered 10 points off seven spikes, two aces, and a block to beat Jordan’s Al Naser Club, 29-27, 25-20, 25-19, in Pool A on Easter Sunday at Philsports Arena....

NBA: Ja Morant soars as Grizzlies clinch West No. 8 playoff seed

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Two-time All-Star Ja Morant promised a sprained right ankle wouldn’t keep him out of Memphis’ play-in game against Dallas with the NBA Western Conference’s last postseason berth up for grabs Friday night. 2025 NBA Playoffs: First round schedule, matchups, results Morant did more than just play. He delivered a thrilling start that included a high-flying, one-handed slam of a dunk that had teammate Desmond Bane yelling...

Max Verstappen offered £226m to leave Red Bull and join F1 rival

He could be set to earn £75.4m a year.

NCAA women’s volleyball is coming to GTV | Perpetual Lady Altas

The Perpetual Lady Altas are ready to reclaim the crown this season. Watch the NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball games on GTV and Heart of Asia starting April 22.

LIST: PBA teams which fell short in respective Grand Slam bids

We take a look at those who came close, but ultimately fell short in the end

NBA: Lakers have some quick work to do after Game 1 blowout loss

LOS ANGELES — When Luka Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter of his NBA playoff debut with his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers’ downtown arena crackled with excitement from fans probably imagining dream scenarios for their team and its new superstar this spring. The Timberwolves made sure that dream got ugly quite quickly in Game 1. They also left the Lakers looking for ways to help Doncic before Minnesota runs away with this...

F1 Saudi Arabian GP: Piastri wins to take title lead as Verstappen gets penalty

Piastri came out on top in Jeddah, with his race start battle against Verstappen playing a key role

Shohei Ohtani missing from Dodgers lineup over personal drama

Ohtani stunned the baseball world when he revealed he was married in an Instagram post last year, with his bride eventually being identified as Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.

All-time great Black believes RHJ-Brownlee matchup one of best PBA has seen

Norman Black can possibly go for hours naming the great imports that have come and gone during the course of his 44-year association with the PBA. And there’s no doubt on his part that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee are among those magnificent foreigners who have succeeded in this part of the pro basketball world. “I think the first thing to recognize is Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson are two of the best imports to ever play here,”...

Chinese overcome early woes to sweep Iranians in AVC Champions League

MANILA, Philippines — Beijing Baic Motor shook off a shaky start to dominate Saipa Tehran in straight sets, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19, kicking off its 2025 AVC Women's Champions League campaign with an impressive win on Sunday at the Philsports Arena. Despite missing key players due to national team duties and fielding only 10, Baic Motor, the tournament's highest-ranked club at No. 5, showcased its depth and resilience. The Chinese side battled...

Being a trans boy on a girls' rugby team has changed my life

To the people who truly matter on my team, the fact I’m trans would never be a big deal.

PLDT’s Wilma Salas says returning to play in PH an ‘easy decision’

MANILA, Philippines — Wilma Salas is happy to return to the Philippines with a different shade of red as part of the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League. Salas, a former Petro Gazz Angel, delivered 10 points to lead her new team PLDT past the Queensland Pirates of Australia, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday at Philsports Arena. READ: Savi Davison dazzles in AVC debut as PLDT cruises to victory “I’m...

Alex Eala eyes improvement on clay after early Oeiras Open exit

Alex Eala is determined to improve her game this clay season as she gears up for her next slate of tournaments, following an early exit in the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal. READ: Alex Eala officially earns spot in 2025 French Open main draw In her first tournament since her dream run in the Miami Open and her rise to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 72, the 19-year-old Filipino fell to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 6(4)-7, 4-6, in the...

PhlPost launches Carlos Yulo Olympics stamp

MANILA, Philippines — Eight months after his historic feat, the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost) will honor two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo by featuring him on a stamp. In a statement, PhlPost said it would unveil the 2024 Paris Olympic Games stamps featuring the 25-year-old Yulo on April 24. PhlPost will also feature amateur boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas with their own stamps. Both brought home medals from the 2024...

NBA: Curry scores 31 points as Warriors destroy Rockets in Game 1

HOUSTON — Draymond Green easily boiled down the key to Golden State’s victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series Sunday night. “In order for us to win basketball games it requires Steph Curry to be great,” Green said. “And he was just that.” Curry scored 31 points and the Warriors built a huge lead and held on to beat the Rockets 95-85. READ: NBA: Thunder make history, bury Grizzlies by 51 points, take Game 1...

Eala-Swiatek rematch looms in Madrid Open

A POTENTIAL rematch against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland awaits Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain. Ranked 72nd in the world, Eala begins her campaign against No. 64 Vikotoriya Tomova of Bulgaria on Tuesday at 5 p.m. (Manila time). Should Eala beat Tomova in their round of 128 match, she will advance to the round of 64 where Swiatek is waiting. Swiatek, 23, earned a bye to start her campaign in Madrid and...

NBA: Nuggets rally late in Game 1, upend Clippers in OT

Aaron Gordon had six of his 25 points in overtime, Russell Westbrook came up with a big defensive play in the final seconds and the host Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday. “Russ is Russ,” said interim Nuggets head coach David Adelman. “Defensively, he was absolutely incredible.” Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, Jamal Murray...

AVC: Thai coach Jang Bualee has full circle moment in return to PH

MANILA, Philippines — Jang Bualee, one of the pioneering imports in Philippine volleyball, went full circle from playing in the Shakey’s V-League and the PVL to coaching and handling Nakhon Ratchasima in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League. Bualee, a longtime player of coach Roger Gorayeb from San Sebastian in 2005 in the V-League and BaliPure in the 2017 PVL Reinforced Conference, relished her comeback in the Philippines,...

Pido thrilled as UST Tiger Cubs star trio commit to stay put

Tiger Cubs Buenaflor, Bucsit, Manding commit to stay at UST

AVC: Creamline imports connect right away in opening win

MANILA, Philippines — Erica Staunton relished her connection with fellow imports Ana Kudryashova of Russia and Nastia Kolomoyets of Kazakhstan to give Creamline a winning debut in the (AVC) Champions League on Sunday at Philsports Arena. Staunton, who led Creamline to a historic grand slam in the 2024 PVL season, picked up where she left off, pouring in 17 points built on 13 kills, three aces, and a block to win their first Pool A game with a...

Milestone puts Akari back in gold-hunting path

The little piece of trivia might have escaped everyone considering the groundbreaking championship that made a lot of noise in the PVL. But it was enough to make sure that Akari’s finish in the All-Filipino conference would not be overlooked. By finishing third, the Chargers became the lowest-seeded team to finish on the podium of the professional league. Making it even more remarkable was that at the end of the preliminary round, the Chargers...

Myla Pablo looks to continue resurgence for Petro Gazz in AVC

MANILA, Philippines — Inspired by her resurgence that led to Petro Gazz’s breakthrough PVL All-Filipino Conference triumph, Myla Pablo is determined to continue the Angels’ winning ways while flying the flag in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League. “Honestly, it’s overwhelming because everything’s been going up lately—one good thing after another. I’m really thankful and I just want to grab every opportunity that comes my...

NBA: Luka, LeBron must find formula fast as Lakers face tough Wolves

EL SEGUNDO, California–Less than three months after the trade that shook the basketball world, the Los Angeles Lakers are headed into their first NBA postseason with LeBron James and Luka Doncic atop their roster. READ: NBA: Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers The trouble is that this stellar duo has only played 21 games together. James realizes that might not be enough time to build a bond strong enough to beat the Minnesota...

PLDT’s Kianna Dy gets first start since injury, still finding her form

MANILA, Philippines — Kianna Dy savored her first start in 641 days, helping PLDT win its first assignment in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League. In her first start since July 20, 2023, Dy scored four points as PLDT made quick work of the Queensland Pirates of Australia, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday at Philsports Arena. SCHEDULE: Petro Gazz, Creamline, PLDT at 2025 AVC Champions League “It feels good. We’ve been training...

Cool Smashers rise from the ashes of a failed PVL AFC title bid and get off to rip-roaring AVC start

Creamline could still be smarting from a big letdown after seeing its championship quest lay in ruins in the previous PVL conference. But if they remain in great pain over that title setback just a week back, the Cool Smashers certainly didn’t show it. Strengthened by three foreign reinforcements, the Cool Smashers seemed to have forgotten totally about their All-Filipino title series loss after dismantling Jordan’s Al Naser, 29-27, 25-20,...

Pope Francis' favourite football team pays heartfelt tribute to catholic Pontiff with statement following his death aged 88

Confirmed by the Vatican, the first-ever Latin American pontiff died at the age of 88 - with all football matches scheduled for Monday postponed as a mark of respect.

Kazakhstan's Zhetysu deals Creamline first loss in AVC

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline suffered a straight-set defeat at the hands of Zhetysu VC of Kazakhstan, losing 16-25, 17-25, 17-25, in Pool A of the 2025 AVC Champions League on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The 10-time PVL champions now stand at 1-1. No Creamline player reached double digits in scoring. American import Erica Staunton led the team with 9 points, followed by Anna Kolomoyets (6 points) and Anna Kudryashova (5...

Uichico says Nocum reminds him of PJ Simon, PBA great Samboy Lim

MANILA, Philippines — NLEX coach Jong Uichico likened Rain or Shine's fast-rising star Adrian Nocum to retired PBA star Peter June Simon, who once served as a member of the Magnolia (formerly San Mig) "big three" several years ago. Fast, shifty and has shown his ability to score in bunches, Uichico shared that Nocum, who hails from Tondo, Manila, reminds him of Simon due to the ROS guard's ability to score at any given moment. "I remember PJ...

Three former UP Maroons stars still standing in KBL Final Four

Tamayo, Juan GDL and JD Cagulangan are still in the hunt in Korea playoffs

Robots race against human runners in half-marathon in China

The robots from Chinese manufacturers took part in the 21-kilometre event and came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120cm and others as tall as 1.8m.

PBA players focus on ironing out flaws during break

MANILA, Philippines—Holy Week may be a time of reflection and abstinence to some but for PBA players Justine Baltazar, Bong Quinto and Ricci Rivero, improvement is the number one focus. Fresh off a dominant win over Blackwater, FiberXers rookie Baltazar bared that for the Holy Week break, he will be putting a premium in improving his game and avoiding complacency. READ: PBA: Phoenix coach not worried about rust “I still can’t relax this week. We...

Boxer Ben Whittaker slammed for 'classless' reaction to knockout win

Ben Whittaker was slammed for his ‘classless’ reaction after his knockout victory over rival Liam Cameron. Former Team GB boxer Whittaker, 27, stopped Cameron, 34, in the second round of their much-anticipated bout in Birmingham. The pair’s first fight back in October ended in a controversial draw after both fights were flung over the ropes and Whi...

Sabalenka reaches Stuttgart semis, Swiatek out

BERLIN — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the Stuttgart Open semifinals on Saturday while two-time champion Iga Swiatek lost to Jelena Ostapenko for the sixth time in as many meetings. Sabalenka reached the last eight without striking a ball following a bye and walkover, and took time to find her rhythm against Elise Mertens before wrapping up a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Mertens broke for a 4-3 lead in the opening set but Sabalenka hit back...

Savi Davison dazzles in AVC debut as PLDT cruises to victory

MANILA, Philippines — Savi Davison dazzled in her first game on the international stage, powering PLDT’s romp of Queensland Pirates, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League on Sunday at Philsports Arena. Davison drilled 14 points all on attacks to put the High Speed Hitters on the verge of the quarterfinals with an early 1-0 lead in Pool D. SCHEDULE: Petro Gazz, Creamline, PLDT at 2025 AVC Champions...

Olympian Emma Malabuyo’s clutch beam routine sends UCLA to NCAA finals

Proving she was born for high-stakes moments, Filipino American Olympic gymnast Emma Malabuyo delivered a near-flawless beam routine that catapulted the UCLA Bruins into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) gymnastics final for the first time in six years. With the weight of the team’s hopes resting on her shoulders during the semi-final session, she did far more than a landing. Sticking the landing with remarkable poise, she...

Error-plagued Angels bow to Taipower to open AVC campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Premier Volleyball League (PVL) champion Petro Gazz kicked off its 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League campaign on a tough note, succumbing to Taiwan's Taipower in a four-set loss: 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 19-25., on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Petro Gazz's lackluster start was marked by 28 errors, compared to Taiwan's 18. Taiwan's Wan Yun Hsu led the charge with 18 points (16 attacks, 2...

Furious Max Verstappen hits out at F1's rulers and insists people 'can't handle the truth'... as a five-second penalty costs him in Saudi Arabia with rival Oscar Piastri claiming victory

Max Verstappen took a thinly veiled swipe at Formula One's rulers with a near-vow of silence over the first corner incident that cost him victory in Saudi Arabia.