Category: Uncategorized

Mangliwan vows to keep away from wrong lane

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FILE–Jerrold Mangliwan—TEAM PH PHOTO

Jerrold Mangliwan frantically pushed his wheels and unintentionally crossed the adjacent lane, automatically dashing all hopes of landing a medal.

Mangliwan is now driven not to commit a similar lapse in the coming 2024 Paris Paralympics.

“It’s hard to control it when you’re at full speed. I hope I don’t cross to the wrong lane again,’’ said Mangliwan.

The Filipino wheelchair racing ace will battle the world’s best in his third consecutive Paralympics—this time, in the French capital from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.

He will race in the men’s 400-meter T52, three years after committing a lane infringement in the final where he achieved a personal best.

“I’ve been practicing daily to avoid committing that mistake,’’ said Mangliwan, ranked No. 6 in the world in the event.

Podium contenders

But a lot has changed since that inadvertent fault as Mangliwan refined his skills while navigating at full acceleration on the track.

The 44-year-old pride of Tabuk, Kalinga, is the current Asian Para Games champion in the 400 m after beating Japanese Hirokazu Ueyonabaru in Hangzhou, China, last year. Ueyonabaru was the bronze-medal winner during the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

Mangliwan also brought home a silver medal from the 100-m T52, another event where he could figure prominently in Paris.

“The competition (in the Paralympics) has become stronger, but there’s a chance (for a medal),’’ said Mangliwan.

Podium contenders Raymond Martin of the United States, Japanese Tomoki Sato, Yuki Oya and Ueyonabaru count as his possible foes along with Mexico’s Leonardo de Jesus Perez Juarez.

And then there’s Maxime Carabin of Belgium, a 23-year-old who won a pair of gold medals in the 400-m and 100-m T52 during the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.



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Carabin became much bolder in the worlds early this year in Kobe, Japan, where he won golds in the 100 m, 400 m and 1500-m T52 events. INQ

Ateneo farewell points Amos to La Salle; UP signs Gilas prospect

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Mason Amos is leaving Ateneo Blue Eagles after just one UAAP season with the team and is reported to be moving to La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Mason Amos traveled over 9,000 kilometers to get to Riga, in Latvia, from Manila for his national team career.

His college career took a shorter trip—just about 20 km—but that voyage looks headed to a destination farthest from the minds of basketball fans.

Amos, the Ateneo big man who has become some sort of a regular in the Gilas Pilipinas pool, announced he was leaving the Blue Eagles, with multiple reports tagging him in a transfer to the other end of Philippine basketball’s greatest and longest-running rivalry.

“To my teammates—with a heavy heart I would like to express that you guys have been a huge part of my life. I am thankful for everything that we were able to share. I have no regrets having fought by your side,” Amos wrote on his Instagram account. “I am thankful that you guys taught me lessons and that we were able to create memories I will cherish forever. I love you guys and that’ll never change.”

The shock announcement, which was made public late Monday night while Amos was with Gilas Pilipinas in Latvia for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, caught almost everyone by surprise especially since the stretch big was marked as a cornerstone for the Blue Eagles.

Instead, he will reportedly begin his residency at La Salle as the UAAP arms race continues at a frenzied pace.

The Citadel product

On Tuesday, University of the Philippines (UP) announced that it had secured the services of Gilas Pilipinas talent target Quentin Millora-Brown, who will suit up for the Maroons in Season 87.

The 6-foot-10 center from The Citadel in the US NCAA Division 1 averaged 11.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 blocks for the same school that produced former PBA guard Noy Castillo.

“We have been talking with Quentin for a time now. We’ve visited him a couple of times since 2019,” UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol said in a statement released to the media. “We are beyond happy and really excited to finally have him in the team for next season.”

Amos, the 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 games for the Blue Eagles in what now turned out to be his lone season in Katipunan.

Amos helped anchor Ateneo’s 7-7 (win-loss) record in Season 86, where the Blue Eagles were eliminated by Final Four foe UP.



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La Salle and Ateneo have yet to respond to requests for a comment on the transfer. INQ

Bronny James ready for pressure after ‘surreal’ Lakers move 

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EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 02: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo after a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on July 02, 2024 in El Segundo, California. The Lakers selected Bronny James and Dalton Knecht in the 2024 NBA Draft.  (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Bronny James said Tuesday he is ready to deal with the pressure of playing alongside his NBA superstar father LeBron as he was formally unveiled by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 19-year-old former University of Southern California player, chosen by the Lakers last week with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft, will form the first father-and-son double act in NBA history when he suits up for the Lakers next season.

The Lakers’ move for the teenager has been greeted with skepticism in some quarters, with pundits questioning whether the Lakers would have drafted him if he wasn’t LeBron James’ eldest son

Bronny James, with dad LeBron standing in the background, addressed those criticisms head on in Tuesday’s press conference at the Lakers training facility at El Segundo.

It’s for sure an amplified amount of pressure,” Bronny said.

“I’ve already seen it — social media and … the internet and stuff talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity.

“But, you know, I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. So it’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure. But I’ll get through it.”

James, who was unveiled along with fellow draftee Dalton Knecht, was handed his signature yellow and purple Lakers jersey for the first time.

He will wear a No.9 shirt next season emblazoned with “James Jr.” on it.

“Everything has been surreal, trying to take it all in,” Bronny said about the whirl of emotions he has experienced since being drafted by the Lakers last Thursday.

Bronny said he had not gone into detail about his hopes for his rookie season in talks with his father, who will turn 40 in December in what will be his 22nd season in the NBA.

‘Work ethic’

We haven’t gone too deep into that stuff yet, especially since we haven’t even started summer league yet.

“But just stuff that he’s been telling me my whole life, just having that work ethic and getting your work in and listening to your coaches and being coachable — something he’s driven into my head my whole life.”

Bronny appeared with Lakers new head coach J.J. Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka, and expressed gratitude to the front office for “everything (they) have given to me.”

That drew a clarification from Redick, who himself was controversially appointed to the Lakers head coaching hot seat last month despite never having coached in the league.

“I want to clarify one thing that you just said, which is Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said, insisting that the younger James had been recruited on merit.

“Bronny has earned this. Bronny talks about his hard work. Bronny has earned this through hard work,” Redick said.

“We view Bronny as like Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing, there is a lot to like about his game.

“He’s going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player.

“Bronny James, who in July last year suffered a cardiac arrest while practicing with USC in pre-season, said the possibility of playing alongside his father was not a “main focus” of being drawn to the Lakers.

“Rob has told me there’s a great development system here, so I just want to come in and put my work in and get better every day,” he said. “I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad, but that’s always there … but that wasn’t a main focus.”

He said the health scare last year, which restricted his appearances in college basketball, had made him determined to make a success of his NBA move.



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The time that I had off I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more,” he said. “Yeah, I just feel like I’ve been given an opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at USC.”

Missing players, reassigned roles hit Alas Pilipinas with reality check

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Bella Belen.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Coming off the high of a historic achievement, Alas Pilipinas is beginning to feel some of the problems of maintaining a high-profile national pool.

Luckily, the women’s program has a few reinforcements coming its way.

National University (NU) ace and UAAP two-time MVP Bella Belen and multi awarded spiker Jema Galanza will bolster Alas Pilipinas when it takes on Vietnam on Thursday in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenger Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The development took place as the playing status of vital players such as Eya Laure and Jen Nierva remains questionable with Chery Tiggo no longer allowing the two to attend the practices of the national team.

“But we are still waiting for them,” coach Jorge Souza de Brito told the Inquirer over the phone on Tuesday. “It’s OK. If [they are no longer suiting up] we’re gonna fix the problem that we have with the good players [from] our lineup.”

The national squad is coming off a historic bronze-medal performance in the previous AVC Challenge Cup.

Alas Pilipinas is also awaiting opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon, who declined the national team call up stating her need for more time to recover after leading the Lady Bulldogs to a golden run in the UAAP Season 86. De Brito said that Alas can expect Solomon to join and start training before the SEA V.League and addressed the absence of Tots Carlos.

“Rebisco (Creamline’s parent company) is supposed to release a statement regarding her condition and what happened [to her], why she’s not [in training], De Brito said as fans will have to wait more before seeing the Creamline mainstay in an Alas uniform. “It’s out of my control.”

Carlos was recently added to the Alas’ player pool even as the Cool Smasher was experiencing some injury after Creamline’s eighth Premier Volleyball League (PVL) championship earlier this year.

No shortage of talent

“Of course it [has] a huge [impact] because we are just beginning [our journey] with them and they are [possible] first six [selections],” De Brito said. “[But] every time you miss starting players, [it] also gives a chance for other players [to step up].”“In fact, they are right there so they are fighting for their place [which the missing players] should be the first one to get the spot for this competition,” said the newly re-signed mentor, who had agreed to extend his stay with the national team for two more years after his contract expired in June.

There is no shortage of talent in the Alas pool that still has opposite spikers such as Faith Nisperos, NU’s Arah Panique and Challenge Cup best opposite hitter Angel Canino of La Salle.

Middle blocker Fifi Sharma, veteran Dell Palomata and prospected top PVL pick Thea Gagate will still man the net while outside hitters Vanie Gandler and Sisi Rondina continues to backstop Alas now with Belen under the leadership of Jia de Guzman and back up playmaker Julia Coronel, another PVL aspirant.

“It’s really hard but also we [will] give other players more chances, more spots to play and show up in the national team—hard but it’s the reality right now,” De Brito added.

Galanza, however, might be seen playing a different role than her usual offensive position to fill up the libero spot left by Nierva.



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“Right now, it’s undecided. It can be because she’s a really good receiver, she has a good defense and since we have a problem we have to fix it with what we have,” De Brito said. “But it’s still not 100 percent.” INQ

Tim Cone dismisses notion that Gilas not big, fast, strong enough

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There will be plenty of questions and realities that Gilas Pilipinas will tackle in the few days left leading up to the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

There will be plenty of questions and realities that Gilas Pilipinas will tackle in the few days left leading up to the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.

Fortunately, the squad’s mental fortitude and size won’t be among those things.

Despite an 11-man crew and a lowly No. 37 ranking, national coach Tim Cone has been steadfast in his belief that the Filipinos are not going to be outmatched in Riga, where one of the four OQTs for the remaining berths in the Paris Summer Olympics will be contested.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

“They see the potential in themselves,” he previously told the Inquirer. “We are not going to be overwhelmed by anybody.

“It has always been a size factor—that we’re not big enough, we’re not fast enough, we’re not strong enough to play on the international [stage],” he added. “But we are.”

Cone’s optimism stems from the squad’s composition, which boasts length and athleticism aside from smarts and versatility.

This edition of Gilas Pilipinas is easily one of the biggest ever assembled, with 6-foot-4 Dwight Ramos serving as a point guard, youngsters Carl Tamayo (6-8) and Mason Amos (6-7) taking turns at the wings, and 6-10 June Mar Fajardo and 7-3 beanpole Kai Sotto patrolling the middle.

READ: Tim Cone ‘not satisfied’ until Gilas Pilipinas reaches optimal OQT form

“They’re gonna be more physical than us, maybe, but they’re not gonna outsize us. And I think that always gives us a possibility [of winning],” he said of the field in Riga that is littered with higher-ranked foes.

The Philippines is set to battle world No. 6 Latvia and 23rd-ranked Georgia in a 20-hour span in Group A of the short meet that will send one winner to the glitzy French capital later this month.

Both early opponents will be backstopped by NBA-caliber talent. Davis Bertans of the Charlotte Hornets is set to reprise his role for the hosts, while Sandro Mamukelashvili of the San Antonio Spurs and Goga Bitadze form a ferocious frontline for the Crusaders.

Pulling through that tough stretch would send Gilas to the knockout stage where the Nationals could go up against Brazil, Montenegro, or Cameroon.

“For us, I think, to have any success in this thing is to get to the crossover,” Cone said in a separate interview. “We’ve got to go out and beat either Latvia or Georgia to really feel we’ve had success—and then we’ll see where we go from there.

“If we can beat one of those two teams, that means we can compete in the crossover, [and] you never know from there. And that’s going to be our kind feeling—just go there, and I keep saying, it’s not impossible,” he added.



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“If we can bring our best version of ourselves, we can beat anybody. Whether we can do that or not is the big question.”

76ers spend $400M in contracts for Paul George, Maxey

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FILE – Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 17, 2024. George will sign a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press early Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, FIle)

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George ditched LA and decided to help form a new Big Three in Philly with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Of course, Maxey needed to stick around to complete the talented trio — and the Philadelphia 76ers went all in on lavish, long-term contracts to make that happen.

Up first, George agreed overnight to a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract after the nine-time NBA All-Star spurned the Los Angeles Clippers. Maxey was on deck, and the first-time All-Star soon agreed in principle by sunrise Monday to a five-year, $204 million extension.

The 76ers threw down the gauntlet while most of the NBA was sleeping — committing more than $400 million in salary to two players they believe position them as the top contender to dethrone the NBA champion Boston Celtics.

Here they come, team of the year?

Hold up.

READ: NBA: Paul George set to join 76ers on $212 million deal

The 76ers have been down this high-priced, high-expectations road before without a championship to show for their efforts. They have failed to find the right pieces to field a winner around their franchise player Embiid, falling short in their star hunting with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden, Al Horford and a list that goes on and on.

They’ll try again, this time with George in tow — not as the elite centerpiece he was asked to be in the past with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers, but in a complementary role to Embiid, hopeful his 34-year-old legs can hold up over the long haul to ease some of the burden on the 2023 NBA MVP. The 76ers were a bottom feeder when Embiid was hurt last season — and he’s often injured — so rolling the dice on a player widely considered the best available on the free-agent market was a chance team president Daryl Morey was willing to take.

George and Maxey intend to sign their contracts shortly after the league’s moratorium on signings is lifted on Saturday, a person with knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not yet finalized. Though the ink hasn’t hit the contracts yet, the 76ers already are a sports betting darling, jumping to an 8-1 favorite to win the 2025 title behind Boston and Denver, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

“We’re planning on being the best team in the East next season,” Morey said last week during the draft.

George at least should keep them in the mix in the East and give them a viable No. 1 scoring option when Embiid is out.

READ: NBA: 76ers president Daryl Morey has big plans for Embiid, Maxey

The 76ers finished 31-8 in the regular season with Embiid — about a 65-win pace — and a woeful 16-27 without him.

The Sixers were a play-in tournament team this season and lost to New York in the first round. The Knicks also made an early splash in their bid to remain in the championship picture. They agreed to a $210 million deal with OG Anunoby and are set to acquire Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn in deals that only increased the pressure on Morey to take a big swing at the free-agent fence.

Morey and the 76ers devised this plan as far back as a year ago when they asked Maxey to play out the final year of his rookie contract and wait a summer for an extension to free up the salary cap space needed to pursue free agents. Morey then took on only expiring contracts and draft picks in his deals throughout the season — notably in trading Harden to the Clippers and signing veteran Kyle Lowry to a short-term deal — that left the 76ers with essentially only Embiid and Maxey as the lone key holdovers on the roster once the season ended and roughly $65 million in cap space this summer.

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey NBA

Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (0) gestures after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

“This offseason’s a big one,” Morey said after the 76ers were knocked out of the playoffs. “I owe it to the fans, to ownership, to everybody to get this team where we’re in a place where we’re competing for championships.”

George — who has averaged 20.8 points over a 14-year career — wanted to move on from the Clippers and declined a player option in his contract for $48.8 million in 2024-2025 that ended a five-year stretch with the team in which he averaged at least 21.5 points each season.

READ: NBA: 76ers waste another season of Joel Embiid’s prime

The Clippers’ attempt at winning it all with their Big Three of George, Kawhi Leonard and Harden fell flat.

“The gap was significant,” the Clippers said Sunday night in a news release. ”We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”

He looked all the way across the U.S. to Philadelphia.

George joins a Sixers team that has been a perennial underachiever, even as Embiid blossomed into one of the top players in the NBA. Philadelphia has not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the playoffs since 2001.

Embiid, set to play this summer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, fueled rumors that George was headed to Philly during a TV appearance together during the NBA Finals.

“Hopefully this offseason, we find a way to get better, and you know,” Embiid said, pausing to side-eye George, “add some pieces.”

The 76ers did strengthen their roster with the expected addition of center Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon and the return of Kelly Oubre Jr. in more deals expected to be announced as early as Saturday. The 76ers are also high on first-round draft pick Jared McCain out of Duke. And George is an upgrade in talent over the departed — and much-maligned — Tobias Harris.

Maxey was named the league’s most improved player this season. His scoring rose for the third consecutive year, and he finished the regular season averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game — all career bests.

George is a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. He’s a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and was the league’s most improved player in 2013. He was a finalist for both NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, when he led the league with 2.21 steals per contest. George also has never played in an NBA Finals.

Much like Embiid’s, George’s injury history should give the 76ers reason for some concern. George played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 since 2018-19.

Still, with few available options, and money to burn, the 76ers had little choice but to chase an aging — yet still elite — star such as George.

“It’s a big offseason for us,” Morey said in May. “We obviously have two great studs to build around in Joel and Tyrese.”



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They hope they found a third one in George.

Geo Chiu ‘hurt’ over Mason Amos’ sudden Ateneo departure

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Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin and the Blue Eagles led by Geo Chiu and Mason Amos in the UAAP Season 86 opener. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Count Geo Chiu among the guys who were affected by the news of Mason Amos’s sudden departure from the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

During Strong Group Athletics’ training for the William Jones Cup, Chiu bared that he was quite hurt by the news of Amos leaving the Blue Eagles after just one season in the UAAP and

“Just like what everyone feels right now, of course, it’s painful,” said Chiu, a former Ateneo big man, at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday. “It’s like a cut here [in the heart]. Me, I just try to be in the middle as much as possible.”

READ: Mason Amos leaves Ateneo amid reported La Salle transfer

Chiu and Amos played together during Season 86 when the Blue Eagles finished with a Final Four spot before tumbling at the hands of the University of the Philippines in the semifinals.

After last year though, Chiu decided to forgo his playing years in Ateneo and turned professional in Taiwan with the Mustangs then most recently signing with Ehime in B2 of the Japanese B.League a few days ago.

Geo Chiu Strong Group Athletics Ateneo

Geo Chiu during an open training with the Jones Cup bound Strong Group Athletics team. -SGA PHOTO

Without Chiu, Amos was expected to be the Blue Eagles’ next big thing. Until he wasn’t, as Amos departed Ateneo on Monday in a stunning announcement and is reported to be moving to archrival La Salle.

READ: UAAP: Mason Amos showing steady improvement for Ateneo

Chiu, though said, he chose to understand the situation and Amos’ decision-making but couldn’t deny the disappointment as his older brother in the team.

“I get the other side but I’m also trying to understand Mason. There’s so many things going on right now for him but as a Kuya, I’m still worried for him and everything he’s been going through.”

“But it still hurts. ‘Di ko inexpect eh.”



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Amos is currently in Riga, Latvia, for Gilas Pilipinas’ run in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament while Chiu will also represent the Philippines in a few days with SGA in the Jones Cup.

Inquirer Sports has reached out to La Salle coach Topex Robinson for a comment on whether Amos is headed to Taft or not but there was no response as of writing.

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers agree to 3-year extension

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FILE – Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates an offensive foul against the Orlando Magic during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett, File)

CLEVELAND— Donovan Mitchell isn’t taking his talents anywhere. Not yet, anyway.

The five-time All-Star guard has agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Mitchell’s choice to commit to the Cavaliers had been expected for some time. Still, there was plenty of anxiety inside Cleveland’s fanbase, which cannot forget LeBron James leaving the franchise as a free agent in 2010 for Miami.

The 27-year-old Mitchell spent much of this past season saying he’s happy playing with Cleveland, which acquired him in a 2022 trade from Utah. The Cavs have made the playoffs in both seasons with Mitchell, one of the league’s best all-around guards.

READ: NBA: Donovan Mitchell’s future bigger priority for Cavaliers

He agreed to the extension in Los Angeles over the weekend, according to the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NBA prohibits deals from being announced until its moratorium ends on Saturday. ESPN was first to report Mitchell’s agreement.

The extension includes a $54 million player option for the 2027-28 season, the person said. Mitchell was under contract for one more season. Technically, Mitchell’s new deal means he can become a free agent in three years, raising the Cavs’ urgency to compete for a title.

The new deal also allows Mitchell to reach a 10-year criteria, making him eligible for a next extension worth $380 million.

Shortly after word of Mitchell’s extension emerged, he posted a video on social media from the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” in which actor Leonardo DiCaprio profanely announces to his colleagues, “I’m not leaving.”

READ: NBA: Cavaliers owner thinks Donovan Mitchell will ink long-term deal

Mitchell was in LA hosting his “Spida Elite” basketball camp for some of the nation’s top high school guards. He was visited by Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman and Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson, who was formally introduced by the team at a news conference on Monday.

Atkinson, who was Golden State’s top assistant the past three seasons, said he and Mitchell chatted mostly about family during their time together. Altman said Mitchell reaffirmed his commitment to the Cavs.

“We feel good about Donovan,” Altman said Monday. “He’s in a great space mentally. He’s healthy. Really enjoyed the fact that him and Kenny could sit down and talk about the future, talk about the team.

“He’s invested. He’s really invested in what we’re doing. Hopefully soon we’ll have more of a decisive answer on that for you, but he’s been great. He’s been super involved and super collaborative and very, very much pro-Cleveland.”

The Cavs’ move to get Mitchell two years ago was a surprise. It appeared he was on his way to play for his hometown New York Knicks before Cleveland swooped in. Mitchell’s arrival accelerated the Cavs’ rebuild, which began when James left as a free agent for the second time in 2018 for the Lakers.

Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds this past season, but he was limited to just 55 games because of a left knee injury. Mitchell was slowed by the injury in the playoffs and pushed through before sitting out Cleveland’s final two games in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a calf injury.

The Cavs were eliminated in five games by the eventual champion Boston Celtics and fired coach J.B. Bickerstaff a week later.

In two seasons with Cleveland, Mitchell has averaged 27.5 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He scored a career-high 71 in his first season in a game against Chicago.

Atkinson understands his charge is to get the most out of Cleveland’s “Core 4” of players — Mitchell, guard Darius Garland, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen. He also believes there’s another level to Mitchell’s game and wants to make him one of the league’s top five players.



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“Why not?” Atkinson said. “With the skill level and the athleticism and the human being, I don’t see why we can’t.”

Ronaldo says he is playing his ‘last European Championship’

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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is seen after the win against Slovenia during a round of sixteen match between Portugal and Slovenia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

HAMBURG, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed this year’s European Championship will be the last of his career.

The Portugal superstar, who is 39, is playing at the Euros for a record sixth time and has helped his country reach the quarterfinals — where Kylian Mbappé and France await in Hamburg on Friday.

Speaking to Portuguese public broadcaster RTP after the penalty-shootout victory over Slovenia on Monday, Ronaldo said: “It is, without doubt, my last European Championship.

READ: Portugal beats Slovenia at Euro 2024 despite Ronaldo penalty miss

“But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.”

Ronaldo, who is one of the most prolific scorers in soccer history and has a record 14 goals at European Championships, said his main motivation now was “making people happy.” He was reduced to tears during the Slovenia game after having a penalty saved in extra time.

“It’s not about leaving the world of football,” he said. “What else is there for me to do or win? It’s not going to come down to one point more or one point less.”



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Kiefer Ravena says leaving Shiga for Yokohama ‘hard’

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B.League player Kiefer Ravena during an open training with the Jones Cup bound Strong Group Athletics team. -SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Kiefer Ravena is looking for a change of pace to better himself and he did just that with his most recent move in the Japan B.League.

After a rollercoaster string of seasons with the Shiga Lakes, Ravena signed with the Yokohama B-Corsairs a few days ago, giving him a new opportunity far from what he’s already familiar with.

“Just like any decisions that you make, you have to leave something very familiar. It was hard but at the same time, basketball isn’t forever and I have to make something that would make my future better,” said Ravena during Strong Group Athletics’ training at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday.

“That move was going to Yokohama.”

READ: B.League: Kiefer Ravena signs with Yokohama B-Corsairs

Ravena’s final run with the Lakes was been memorable, to say the least.

While posting averages of 10.51 points, 4.0 assists and 2.59 rebounds per game, the Ateneo product helped Shiga return to the B1 division after being relegated to B2 a year prior.

To add even icing on the cake, Ravena helped Shiga win the B2 division championship with a 24-36 card.

READ: B.League: Kiefer Ravena, Shiga Lakes claim B2 crown

In the title-clinching win over Koshigaya Alphas a few weeks back, Ravena dropped 10 points, three rebounds and eight assists in the 89-87 squeaker.

After the end of their stellar run, Ravena will be suiting up for the B-Corsairs, a team that formerly had another Filipino in Kai Sotto.

Before that, he will be playing in the Jones Cup in hopes of improving himself while also representing the country again after his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 Fiba World Cup.

“I’m now preparing here [for Jones Cup], trying to get myself in shape and see where it takes me in order to prepare for next season.”



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“I’m very proud, still. Whatever you say, SGA or Gilas, we’re still representing the Philippines when we go to the Jones Cup. What you’ll see there is still the Philippine flag.”