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

On: By: admin


FILE–Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 09, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said early Monday morning.

A nine-time All-Star, George intends to sign the contract shortly after the league’s moratorium on signings is lifted July 6, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be announced by NBA rule until that time.

With George joining 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers will boast one of the most formidable trios in the league.

George picked Philadelphia after he spurned the Los Angeles Clippers and declined a player option in his contract for $48.7 million in 2024-2025, ending a five-year stretch with the team where he averaged at least 21.5 points each season.

READ: NBA: Paul George will leave Clippers, Caldwell-Pope to Magic

George has averaged 20.8 points over a 14-year career spent with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers.

“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers said in a release Sunday night.

The team added: “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”

He looked all the way across to Philadelphia.

The 34-year-old George joins a Sixers team that has been a perennial underachiever, even as Embiid blossomed into one of the top players in the NBA. They have not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference since 2001.

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

Embiid fueled rumors George was headed to Philadelphia 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 have failed to find the right pieces to build around Embiid, failing with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and the list goes on. Team president Daryl Morey had prepared for this opportunity for years, building a roster with essentially all expired contracts at the end of this past season. Embiid and Maxey, expected to sign a five-year, $205 million contract this summer, are the lone key holdovers on a team chasing NBA champion Boston, New York and Indiana.

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.

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

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

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



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

George at least keeps them in the mix in the East.

Alaysha Johnson runs in borrowed spikes, uniform she designed

On: By: admin


Alaysha Johnson reacts to a second place during the women’s 100-meter hurdles final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

EUGENE, Oregon — Alaysha Johnson ran in shoes she borrowed from a fellow hurdler and in a uniform she designed herself.

Both fast and fashion-forward.

The 100-meter hurdler earned a spot to the Paris Games with a second-place finish in a competitive field at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Sunday. Johnson, the hurdler who has hypothyroidism and trains around NFL and NBA players, ran a personal-best time of 12.31 seconds to finish .06 behind winner Masai Russell.

READ: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets 400m hurdles world record

To think, Johnson was a long shot to make this team — a long shot, that is, to everyone but herself.

“People like me who come from the inner city of Houston … it’s hard for us to get opportunities,” said the 27-year-old Johnson, who ran at the University of Oregon and at Texas Tech. “It always takes what I say is double the effort to get half as far. I always tell people if we had a little bit more support, I probably could have been here a long time ago.

“But it made me understand that regardless of how many people have your back, I’m still strong enough to do this on my own two feet.”

Running down the track in borrowed spikes, no less. Tonea Marshall, who finished fifth, was gracious enough to give Johnson a pair after the first round when Johnson said the “bubble popped” on the only pair she brought.

It hasn’t been the traditional path to the starting line for Johnson.

For one, she doesn’t train around sprinters/hurdlers so much as some recognizable names in the NBA and NFL realms. She said the list includes Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant.

“Anybody that you ever knew that was amazing, on those cereal boxes, we probably trained them,” Johnson said of the staff she works with.

READ: Noah Lyles speeds through finals, earns spot at Paris Olympics in 100m

Among the support staff for Johnson is an endocrinologist. She has hypothyroidism, a condition with her thyroid gland that leaves her tired and lethargic. She cut down on her warmup Sunday, “to make sure I can conserve as much as I could to be able to get through 10 hurdles,” she said.

Once she crossed the line, she anxiously looked at the board.

“I had no idea what place I was and I was like, ‘Hurry up and put these names up,’” said Johnson, who has a deal with Oakley but not a shoe contract. “I knew I was ready to make this team. I knew nothing or nobody was going to come in between me and making this team. So I feel fulfilled.

“We did this ground up. So honestly, I just hope that somebody sees that I’ve worked my tail off — my team has worked their tails off — to get this far. We could have been this far a long time ago, had we had a little bit of help.”

Rai Benjamin

In the men’s 400 hurdles, Rai Benjamin won in a 46.46 seconds, a trials record, the best time of the year and the sort of time men only started dreaming about a few years ago.

Benjamin was part of the fastest 400 hurdles race ever at the Tokyo Games, where he ran 46.17 but finished second to Norway’s Karsten Warholm, who ran the first sub-46 hurdles in history.

Make it a double

Grant Fisher won the 5,000 meters in 13 minutes, 8.85 seconds to complete the distance double. He opened the meet with a victory in the 10,000.

Fisher holds the American record in both races. He withstood an early gamble by Woody Kincaid, who went out fast early in hopes of reaching the Olympic standard that he did not have (13:05). But Fisher was part of a pack that caught Kincaid midway through the race. Then, Fisher beat Abdihamid Nur in a sprint to the line for a .16-second win.

Jamaican trials

At Jamaican nationals, world champion Shericka Jackson won the 200 meters in 22.29 seconds. Brian Levell won the men’s race in 19.97, followed by Andrew Hudson.

Hudson’s trip to world championships last year was marred when the cart he was riding to the waiting area for his race crashed into another cart, spraying glass shards into his eye.

Around the track

— Maggie Malone Hardin won the javelin throw and will head to the Olympics. Second-place finisher Kara Winger, who came out of retirement to compete, threw 62.94 meters (206 feet, 6 inches), which was short of the Olympic standard of 64 meters (209-11). She said she needed to throw 64 to go to the games because she has lost her world ranking.

— Bridget Williams won the pole vault, with reigning Olympic champion Katie Moon earning a spot by taking second place. Sandi Morris, the 2016 Rio Games silver medalist, wound up fourth.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

— Shelby McEwen cleared 2.30 meters (7-6 1/2) to take the high jump title. JuVaughn Harrison, an Olympic medal hopeful, didn’t make the Olympic squad.

— Bryce Hoppel won the 800 and Nikki Hiltz the 1,500 — both with meet records. Daniel Haugh (hammer) and Salif Mane (triple jump) also won.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets 400m hurdles world record

On: By: admin


Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone poses for a photo after winning the women’s 400-meter hurdles final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

EUGENE, Oregon — For the better part of two years, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone all but disappeared from the 400-meter hurdles course.

Turns out, she wasn’t hiding or looking for something else to do. Just getting better at what she does best.

The 24-year-old Olympic champion lowered the world record for the fifth time Sunday, closing out U.S. Olympic trials with 10 leaps over the barriers, then an all-out sprint toward the finish line in 50.65 seconds. She broke her last record by .03 seconds.

READ: Sydney McLaughlin dominates 400m, breaks world record

This one came on the last day of trials at Hayward Field. Her first record came back in 2021 — also on the last day of trials and also at Hayward Field.

In fact, this marked the fourth of her five world records she’s set on the track at the University of Oregon, which has hosted the lion’s share of American track’s greatest moments over the past quarter century.

To say she expected this, though, would not be the case.

“Just shock. Honestly shock,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who covered her mouth in amazement when she crossed and saw the time. “I know when it first came up it said, ‘50.67.’ I was like, ‘There’s just no way.’”

Then, the clock adjusted down two ticks.

“I wasn’t expecting that time,” she said.

READ: Sydney McLaughlin breaks own 400m hurdles record

Counting the two preliminary rounds at trials this week, this was only McLaughlin-Levrone’s fourth 400-meter hurdles race of the season. Unlike other times when she’s taken the track, there wasn’t a huge amount of buzz about her mark of 50.68 — set at world championships in 2022, also here at Hayward — going down this time.

A closer look shows this was all simply part of the plan.

She spent her time working on the shorter hurdles, along with 200- and 400-meter sprints, both of which she had hinted might be in her future as her main event. Really, what all those races were doing were making her better at her main job. All of them are good for speed. The short hurdles helped her master the difficult art of jumping off either foot.

“She ran in Atlanta, and she was having problems attacking the hurdles and getting her steps together” because of all her newfound speed, hurdling great Edwin Moses said of McLaughlin-Levrone’s first 400-hurdles race of 2024. “I told her I’d had similar problems and that her brain just had to catch up with her physicality.”

It did, and in an event that used to be decided by steps or slivers, McLaughlin-Levrone’s victory came by 1.99 seconds over Anna Cockrell and 2.12 over Jasmine Jones.

“She’s really fast and she’s really strong, it’s hard to put it any other way,” Cockrell said.

The latest record doesn’t so much reset the storyline for the Olympics — McLaughlin-Levrone would’ve been the big-time favorite either way — as it forces track to once again rethink what’s possible.

Now, instead of a much-anticipated showdown with Femke Bol of the Netherlands, the conversation will turn to when the 50-second mark might come tumbling down in this race. Maybe as soon as Aug. 8, which is the date of the Olympic final in Paris.

“It could happen,” Moses said. “She might need a couple more races, but that’s about it.”

It’s been a remarkable journey that has happened remarkably fast.

From 2003-19, the world record in this event stayed stuck at 52.34. American Dalilah Muhammad broke it twice in 2019 — the second time at world championships in a race that demoralized McLaughlin-Levrone and sparked her move over to coach Bobby Kersee.

Kersee changed everything for her. One of the biggest adjustments was dropping her to 14 strides between the early hurdles. It was a game-changer that has put her in a class by herself but also forced her to rework her takeoffs, which is where the work on the short hurdles has helped.

“I’ve said it before, (she) just ran a world record and it’s like we’re not even shocked at this point,” said Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion who finished sixth Sunday. “She’s just an amazing talent, a generational talent for sure. I didn’t know I’m the only one to beat her, so kudos to me.”

In addition to leaving trials with the world record in hurdles, she’s also the world leader this year in the flat 400.

McLaughlin-Levrone ran 48.75 in New York at the start of June — just more speed work, but also a daunting sign for any country that hopes to challenge the U.S. in the 4×400 relay come Paris.

McLaughlin-Levrone started running all those 400s and 200s shortly after the close of world championships in 2022 in Eugene, the time she lowered the world record to 50.68.

At the time, she hinted that all those races might be the future for her. Not until a few weeks ago did she say she was going back to her first love.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Then, on a calm night in Oregon, she pulled down the curtain on the 2024 Olympic trials, and threw a little jolt into track at the same time: All those other races weren’t just for kicks.

“The 400 hurdles is a mixture of all of it,” she said. “It’s the short hurdles combined with the 4, combined with the 2. You need that endurance, that speed and that technicality. So those were definitely just building blocks along the way to get us through.”

Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing on court

On: By: admin


In the handout picture taken and released on July 1, 2024 by public relations and media division of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) shows, Chinese badminton players and coaches (in white jackets and black armbands), along with all players competing in the 2024 Asia Junior Championship, praying together for the late Chinese player Zhang Zhijie, who collapsed during a match against Japan in the preliminary round and received medical assistance in Yogyakarta. (Photo by Handout / public relations and media division of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) / AFP)

A 17-year-old Chinese badminton player died after collapsing on court during an international tournament in Indonesia, officials said on Monday, mourning him as “outstanding” and “talented”.

Zhang Zhijie was suddenly taken ill during a match late Sunday against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta.

The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang fell to the floor. He received treatment at the venue and was taken to hospital by ambulance, but passed away after efforts to resuscitate him failed.

READ: Asian Games: Tears as South Korea beats China for badminton gold

The cause of death was not immediately known.

“China’s Zhang Zhijie, a singles player, collapsed on the court during a match in the evening,” Badminton Asia and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) said in a joint statement on Monday.

“He was sent to the hospital where he passed away at 23:20 local time yesterday.

“He was attended to by the tournament doctor and medical team. He was taken in the standby ambulance in less than two minutes and sent to hospital.

“The world of badminton has lost a talented player,” the statement added.

READ: 4 Chinese badminton players punished for not trying hard enough

Zhang started playing badminton in kindergarten and joined China’s national youth team last year.

Earlier this year he won the singles title at the Dutch Junior International, a prestigious youth tournament.

China’s badminton association said that it was “deeply saddened”.

“Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete of the national youth badminton team,” the CBA said in a statement.

It added: “At present the local hospital has not yet identified the cause of death.”

The team tournament in the city of Yogyakarta held a moment’s silence on Monday and the Chinese team wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

India’s P.V. Sindhu, who has won Olympic silver and bronze, called Zhang’s death “absolutely heartbreaking”.

“I offer my deepest condolences to Zhang’s family during this devastating time,” Sindhu, who was not at the tournament, wrote on X.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“The world has lost a remarkable talent today.”

Chris Paul joins Wembanyana at Spurs as NBA free agency opens

On: By: admin


San Antonio Spurs’ French center #01 Victor Wembanyama (L) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors’ US guard #03 Chris Paul after the NBA preseason game between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on October 20, 2023. (Photo by Loren Elliott / AFP)

Chris Paul is set to form a partnership with Victor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs next season after agreeing a one-year $11 million deal with the franchise, reports said Sunday as NBA free agency got underway.

The 39-year-old, 12-time NBA All-Star, who played for Golden State last season, will now spend his 20th season in Texas as he chases an elusive first championship ring.

Paul was used sparingly by the Warriors last year, making only 18 starts at an average of 11.9 points and 7.3 assists.

However, the likely future Hall of Famer provides crucial experience in a young squad that is being built around the talents of French prodigy Wembanyama under the guidance of veteran coach Gregg Popovich.

Paul is also an avowed admirer of Wembanyama, describing the towering 7ft 4in center as the player best placed to be the figurehead of the league in years to come.

READ: NBA: Warriors’ Chris Paul returns after missing 21 games

“Wemby is different and he’s the guy you’re talking about after the game,” Paul said. “Wemby is the guy that, after the game in the locker room we all were talking about playing against him. We literally all had to change how we shot a little bit.”

The Warriors announced earlier Sunday they had waived Paul in a move to save luxury tax funds.

Golden State star guard Klay Thompson is now a free agent. The 13-year NBA veteran, every second of it played for the Warriors, is expected to have talks with Dallas, Philadelphia, the Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In other free agency news on Sunday, James Harden was reported to have reached a two-year deal to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.

With teams unable to confirm new deals, media reports revealed most player moves in the opening hours of the scramble for clubs and talent to come to terms to reshape the landscape for the 2024-25 season.

READ: NBA: Chris Paul fractures left hand, will require surgery

The NBA moratorium period begins Monday and ends on Saturday.

Paul George, a former Clippers forward, was the biggest name in the available talent pool and his deal was expected to set the tone for more moves.

He was expected to have talks with Philadelphia and Orlando. Those clubs and Oklahoma City have the most salary cap space to offer deals to free agents.

Harden, according to multiple reports, reached a deal worth $70 million to spend the next two seasons with the Clippers.

READ: NBA: James Harden set to stay with Clippers

Forward Kevin Love was expected to re-sign with Miami for $8 million over two seasons, The Athletic and ESPN reported, while ESPN reported center Obi Toppin was set to return to Indiana on a four-year deal worth $60 million.

Turkish center Omer Yertseven was set to be released by Utah, ESPN said.

Another free agent is Lakers star LeBron James, although he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers to play alongside son Bronny next season.

James reportedly has said he would take a pay cut if it would help the Lakers sign certain top free agents such as Thompson.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

The NBA announced the salary cap for the 2024-25 campaign was set at $140.588 million with the tax level for the season at $170.814 million and the minimum team salary at $126.529 million.

Max Christie returning to Lakers on 4-year, $32 million deal

On: By: admin


FILE – Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie controls the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Dec. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

LOS ANGELES — Promising wing Max Christie is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers with a four-year, $32 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Lakers haven’t announced the deal for their former second-round draft pick. ESPN first reported it.

The 21-year-old Christie has averaged 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists while playing inconsistently during his first two NBA seasons, but the Lakers clearly believe in his potential.

READ: NBA: LeBron James intends to sign new deal with Lakers

The Michigan State product is a career 37.8% shooter on 3-point attempts, and he showed promise as a three-and-D wing during his stretches in the Lakers’ rotation last season, including seven starts.

New Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned Christie prominently when he spoke of the team’s promising young talent ripe for development during his introductory news conference last week.

Even with two years of NBA experience, Christie is two years younger than Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round draft pick last Wednesday.

Christie’s brother, Cam, was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers last week.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Three-way fight for two national finals spots looms

On: By: admin


A three-way fight for two National Match Play finals berths in the girls’ 13-15 division will take centerstage when the ICTSI Junior Philippine Golf Tour concludes its three-leg Visayas series in Bacolod starting Monday at tree-lined Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Tiffany Bernardino, Alexie Gabi and Rane Chiu are locked in a tight race for the two slots in the finale set in October at The Country Club in Laguna, with Bernardino having a lot of momentum after ruling last week’s stop at Bacolod Golf Club in nearby Murcia town.

Players are allowed to compete in multiple series, with their best three results considered. The top four players from Luzon and the top two from Visayas and Mindanao will advance to the match play finals, with the top player from each age category across all series also earning a finals spot.

Gabi topped the Iloilo leg, followed by Bernardino and Chiu. Bernardino then edged out Chiu and Gabi by a stroke last week with Chiu topping Gabi in the countback for runner-up honors.

Points are awarded based on finishes in each leg of the five-month, 14-stage nationwide series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., with the winner earning 15 points, while the second and third placers gaining 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Other age group categories include 8-9, 10-12, and 16-18 for both boys and girls.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Harden set to stay with Clippers as NBA free agency opens

On: By: admin


             

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden brings the ball up during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo)

 

NEW YORK –  James Harden has reportedly reached a two-year deal to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers while Chris Paul was released by the Golden State Warriors on Sunday as NBA free agency began.

With teams unable to confirm new deals, media reports revealed most player moves in the opening hours of the scramble for clubs and talent to come to terms to reshape the landscape for the 2024-25 season.

The NBA moratorium period begins Monday and ends on Saturday.

Paul George, a former Clippers forward, was the biggest name in the available talent pool and his deal was expected to set the tone for more moves.

He was expected to have talks with Philadelphia and Orlando. Those clubs and Oklahoma City have the most salary cap space to offer deals to free agents.

Harden, according to multiple reports, reached a deal worth $70 million to spend the next two seasons with the Clippers.

Forward Kevin Love was expected to re-sign with Miami for $8 million over two seasons, The Athletic and ESPN reported, while ESPN reported center Obi Toppin was set to return to Indiana on a four-year deal worth $60 million.

Turkish center Omer Yertseven was set to be released by Utah, ESPN said.

The Warriors announced they had waived 39-year-old Paul, a 12-time NBA All-Star, in a move to save luxury tax funds.

Golden State star guard Klay Thompson is now a free agent.

The 13-year NBA veteran, every second of it played for the Warriors, is expected to have talks with Dallas, Philadelphia, the Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Another free agent is Lakers star LeBron James, although he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers to play alongside son Bronny next season.

James reportedly has said he would take a pay cut if it would help the Lakers sign certain top free agents such as Thompson.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

The NBA announced the salary cap for the 2024-25 campaign was set at $140.588 million with the tax level for the season at $170.814 million and the minimum team salary at $126.529 million.

Track stars could up number of PH bets in Paris to 23

On: By: admin


President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. grants a photo opportunity with officials and Philippine Olympians and Philippine Paralympians as they were sent off for Paris Olympics. –HANDOUT PHOTO

The final count of Philippine bets in the Paris Olympics could swell to 23 as three more athletics aces are just awaiting confirmation of inclusion on July 7.

Hurdlers John Cabang and Lauren Hoffman are within reach of Olympic berths after comfortably staying inside the qualification circle in their respective events with sprinter Kristina Knott clinging onto the last available spot in the women’s 200 meters that could propel her to a second straight Olympics appearance.

When they all get in, Team Philippines will bring at least 23 athletes from nine sports in the coming global sports spectacle set from July 26 to August 11 in the world’s fashion capital.

Cabang, a full-blooded Filipino based in Spain, is tucked safely at No. 29 out of 40 qualifiers at the end of the men’s 110m hurdles race for Olympic rankings, capping his qualification journey with a victory in the Spanish Club Championships last month.

He nearly reset his own Philippine record of 13.37 seconds with a 13.38 performance during the meet.

The Filipino-American Hoffman is ranked 36th, well inside the top 40 Olympic qualifiers in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Hoffman, the national standard-bearer in her event at 55.72 seconds, wrapped up the quest for Paris by placing third in the Edmonton Athletics Invitational in Canada on June 13.

‘[N]o easy feat’

“The list of those who made it to Paris will be released a week later. Our athletes have done their best and it was no easy feat,’’ said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano.

Bidding for another trip to the Games, Knott is at No. 48, which is the number of Olympic berths to be given away in the women’s 200m.

Out of qualification range after Sunday’s cutoff are former Asian champion and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympian Eric Cray (No. 47 out of 40 in the men’s 400m hurdles), Asian champion Robyn Brown (No. 47 out of 40 in the women’s 400m hurdles) and long jumper Janry Ubas (No. 44 out of 32 qualifiers).

With 23 possible Filipino Olympians in Paris, the number eclipsed the PH athlete delegation of 20 in Tokyo 2020 when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz captured the first gold medal for the nation. INQ



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

PVL team that drafts Roma Mae gets a determined, title-hungry libero

On: By: admin


Roma Mae Doromal–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

As former Ateneo skipper and libero Roma Mae Doromal makes the jump to the pros by joining the PVL Draft, she’s making it clear that she just wants to achieve something in the pro league that has eluded her in the UAAP.

“I never experienced [winning] a championship,” Doromal said in Filipino as she and 46 others in the aspirants pool await their respective fates in the July 8 Draft. “I am really hopeful that in the PVL [when I am drafted] I can do something about it.”

In her three years with the Blue Eagles, Doromal only reached the Final Four once and capped off her UAAP stint just short of the semifinals of Season 86.

Under coach Sergio Veloso, the 5-foot-4 skipper helped Ateneo finish fifth with a 5-9 record, but what she learned from the Brazilian mentor will be her main weapon if she gets picked in the historic, first-ever Draft.

“I feel like other than the skills I’ve accumulated, my leadership inside the court [is my biggest takeaway from Ateneo],” Doromal said. “This time, I want to, even as a rookie, lead the team that I will go to.

Showing loyalty

“Coach Sergio has helped me to really become a leader, so for sure, I will be able to bring that as well as the skills in terms of technicalities.”

The 23-year-old defensive stalwart showed her loyalty to her alma mater after staying for one last run with the Blue Eagles even after already finishing her communications degree last year, where Ateneo ended up sixth with a 4-10 record to miss the Final Four for the first time in 15 years.

Now, despite being among the young bloods trying her luck in the pros, Doromal wants to apply everything she’s learned as a UAAP star and help the team that will take a chance on her on Monday where former La Salle star Thea Gagate will be made the first-ever No. 1 pick by rebuilding Zus Coffee under Jerry Yee.

And her sister, Galeries Tower mainstay Roma Joy, will be guiding her as she embarks on this journey.

“She told me to just enjoy the journey,” the younger Doromal said. “It’s actually scary feeling, a lot of emotions, but at the same time even if I am scared, I will continue fighting and let things happen as long as I give my best.” INQ



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.