Volleyball fans empathized with Petro Gazz veteran Myla Pablo after she was benched during the Angels’ loss to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference semifinals. In a video shared by the HELLA Facebook page on Monday, the former National University Lady Bulldogs standout was visibly emotional, seen shedding tears while heading to the dugout with her Angels teammates. According to the post, an assistant coach of the Angels proposed to head coach Koji Tsuzurabara to substitute Pablo for the struggling Jonah Sabete, but the Japanese coach declined. “Sana pagkatiwalaa ..read more

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) refused to acknowledge the leaked composition of the national women’s volleyball team for the AVC Challenge Cup. According to PNVF President Ricky Palou, the federation is still talking with head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito regarding his final lineup for the tournament scheduled from May 22 to 29. “We have a pool of 20 [players]. It’s not yet final because we’re waiting for coach [Jorge Edson Souza] De Brito to give us his inputs into the pool,” Palou said in an interview on Monday night. “But basically, we came up with a list of 20 pla ..read more

Despite their recent encounters in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament playoffs, University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses mentor Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes does not regard his De La Salle University Lady Spikers counterpart, Ramil de Jesus, as a rival. According to Reyes, he considers De Jesus his “father figure” in volleyball coaching, as he always learns from him whenever the Golden Tigresses face the Lady Spikers. “Siya na ‘yung mga nilo-look up namin. Again, naglalaro pa ako dyan sa UST, si coach Ramil na ito,” said Reyes, who has a career record of nine wins against the legendary DLSU me ..read more

Klay Thompson and the Orlando Magic reportedly have a mutual interest in heading into NBA free agency on June 30 (July 1 in Manila). According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Magic are interested in bolstering their roster after their first-round defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “One name to keep an eye on, Klay Thompson; I’m told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson,” Charania said during his appearance on Fan Duel TV’s Run It Back. “The Magic can open up an excess of sixty million dollars in cap space this offseason,” he added. If ever, Thompson will join the ..read more

Choco Mucho Flying Titans star Cherry Ann Rondina credited the team’s system for securing their second consecutive final appearance in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference. According to the Cebuana volleyball player, the Flying Titans have achieved their success so far in the PVL’s season-opening conference by adhering to the system of head coach Dante Alinsunurin. “Ang ginagawa talaga namin, ‘yung mapigilan ‘yung kalaro namin na makapuntos sa amin. Sumusunod lang kami sa sistema sa plays namin,” said Rondina, who was named PVL Player of the Week. Rondina delivered 23 points from 21 attacks, on ..read more

The Dallas Mavericks signed head coach Jason Kidd to a multi-year contract extension on Monday, the NBA club announced, removing Kidd as a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers vacancy. The 51-year-old Kidd has guided the Mavericks to a 140-106 record over three seasons and 13-11 in the playoffs, including a second-round spot against Oklahoma City in this year’s NBA playoffs. In a 19-season playing career, the Hall of Fame point guard helped the Mavs win the 2011 NBA title. He was also part of the US Olympic gold medal teams in 2000 and 2008. “We’re excited to have coach Kidd continue to lead o ..read more

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama won the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year award, the league announced on Monday, marking the first time a Frenchman has captured the honor. The 20-year-old center, a 7-foot-4 (2.24m) prodigy who was the top pick in last year’s NBA Draft, averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, a league-high 3.6 blocked shots and 1.2 steals a game in his impressive debut campaign. Wembanyama was a unanimous selection, taking all 99 first-place votes, the first unanimous top rookie pick since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016. “My goals were always to have my team as best as ..read more

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was listed as questionable for the team’s Monday night NBA playoff game at Denver after reports he became a father for the first time. The 31-year-old Frenchman was listed as in doubt due to “personal reasons” by the club in a Monday afternoon status report ahead of game two of the NBA best-of-seven Western Conference second round series against the defending champions. The Timberwolves won the series opener 106-99 on Saturday. ESPN reported 7-foot-1 (2.16m) Gobert might not play because his partner, Julia Bonilla, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday mo ..read more

Reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark, Sweden’s sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry and Australian Min Woo Lee were named Monday to the TGL’s Bay Golf Club. The six-team, technology-based golf league is set to be launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy next January with matches in a Florida arena utilizing high-tech driving technology plus live chipping and putting areas. The Bay squad is owned by former NBA Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry with Golden State Warriors four-time NBA champions Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala among the co-owners. “We ..read more

The De La Salle University Lady Spikers honored their graduating players with a tribute following their semifinal exit in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday. In their traditional “Archer Stance,” the team gathered around seniors Thea Gagate, Maicah Larroza, Julieanne Levina, and Gillianna Torres to pay homage to their contributions. Thank you Maicah, Jenna, Jhay-ar and Thea!!! Come back stronger next season ladies!!!#ReverseTheCurseDLSU pic.twitter.com/HGp6lrs4w5 — Lumot Banners (@LumotBanners) May 5, 2024 The “Archer Stance” is a longstanding tradition of the Lady Sp ..read more