Tag: best bets

Jonathan Isaac agrees to $84 million deal with Magic

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FILE -Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, right, goes to the basket as he is defended by Sacramento Kings center Alex Len, middle and Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Jonathan Isaac has agreed to an $84 million deal that will keep him with Orlando for five more seasons, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski, File)

Jonathan Isaac has agreed to an $84 million deal that will keep him with Orlando for five more NBA seasons, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

Isaac agreed to a renegotiation of the last year of his current deal along with an extension, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the new contract cannot be finalized before the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted Saturday.

ESPN first reported the agreement between Isaac and the Magic.

It’s yet another success story for Isaac, whose career seemed in jeopardy a few years ago because of injuries that kept him sidelined for 2 1/2 years.

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

The No. 6 pick in the 2017 draft by the Magic hurt his left knee on Jan. 1, 2020, in a game at Washington. He returned and played two games in the pandemic bubble seven months later but blew out his left ACL in the second of those appearances. Isaac had other setbacks along the way in recovery — including a right hamstring injury that required surgery — and saw his 2022-23 season end early because of an adductor injury.

But this past season was a bounceback in many ways.

He averaged 6.8 points on 51% shooting, played in 58 games — 13 more than he played in the previous four seasons combined — and helped the Magic win the Southeast Division and return to the playoffs. Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley repeatedly credited Isaac for his defensive prowess.

“Elite, elite, elite defender,” Mosley said late in the season.



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Esteban sees action in Paris with milestone for PH

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Maxine Esteban—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Already having the support of two nations, Maxine Esteban just got validation that she has what it takes to win in the Paris Olympics.

Climbing to a world ranking of 27th the FIE (International Fencing Federation) for the year, Esteban just became the highest ranked Philippine-born fencer as she sees action for Ivory Coast in the glitzy fashion capital later this month.

“I want to thank all my Filipino and Ivorian supporters. Thank you for your prayers and love. You are the reason I continue to strive for excellence,” Esteban said. “Lastly, I thank God for this amazing season, thank you for your protection and guidance—and for the overwhelming abundance of blessings.”

Esteban is one of the 30 direct qualifiers for the women’s foil event—automatic berths granted to athletes based on their world ranking.

The final pairings for the women’s foil event, which will be a direct elimination format, will be known after the four lowest ranked fencers battle for the last two slots in the round of 32.

The top 16 in the rankings will battle the lower 16 in crossover fashion, and fencers will need at least three wins for a shot at the podium.

Esteban is currently in Germany with her coach, Andrea Magro, who tutored several gold-winning Olympians before.

“I am happy and excited that my world ranking has again risen,” she said. “After such a hectic season of 18 Olympic qualifiers which culminated in my direct qualification for Paris Olympics, this is indeed one of the biggest rewards for all my hard work.”



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Converge has franchise find as Baltazar enters Draft

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Justine Baltazar. Photo from B.League

Justine Baltazar, the big man many see as Converge’s the top overall pick, officially threw his name in the PBA Draft on the eve of the deadline set by the league on Wednesday.

Baltazar formally submitted his application on Wednesday, joining notables who had put their names ahead of the Draft that will be held at Glorietta in Makati City on July 14.

Converge owns the right to select first after placing dead last in both the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup, winning just three out of 22 games combined.

Coach Aldin Ayo was not available for comment at press time. But he had said after the FiberXers’ final game of Season 48 that Converge intends to get someone who can turn things around.

“Hopefully we can get the players that would help us,” Ayo said then.

That may likely be Baltazar, whose versatility since his UAAP days at La Salle and impressive showing for Gilas Pilipinas three years ago in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and Olympic Qualifying Tournament made him a potential game changer for Converge.

His connections with key figures within the FiberXers franchise also seems to make his selection a no-brainer, even if Dave Ildefonso, the former Ateneo hotshot in the UAAP, is reportedly considering joining the pool before the deadline lapses on Thursday.

Baltazar currently plays for the MPBL’s Pampanga team owned by Gov. Dennis Pineda, whose bid to become Converge’s team governor last year was thumbed down by the PBA board. The FiberXers eventually appointed Pineda’s son-in-law, Archen Cayabyab, to the post.

The 6-foot-9 standout was also handled in 2016 by Ayo, who steered La Salle to the UAAP championship. Baltazar also played in past international tournaments for Strong Group Athletics of the Lao family. Jacob Lao currently holds the role of Converge team manager.

Ildefonso, meanwhile, is set to play for SGA in the William Jones Cup, and will enter the Draft following a two-year stint with Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League.

He also has a connection with Converge, where his dad, PBA great Danny, is part of Ayo’s staff.

Applicants have until 5 p.m. on Thursday to turn in their papers at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City. Once the official list is finalized, rookie hopefuls will take part in next week’s Draft Combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.



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Former Asean Basketball League player and Taiwan’s T1 League import Caelan Tiongson, Evan Nelle and CJ Cansino are among the other notable names already entered.

Philippines wakes up to result of Gilas’ first OQT game

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Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

National coach Tim Cone has made one thing clear months before the tall order Gilas Pilipinas needs to hurdle in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.

“I’m a big believer that there are always really hard things to do. But nothing’s impossible,” he had told the Inquirer.

The architect behind last year’s golden romp in the Asian Games in China put that mantra to the test once again on Thursday morning in Manila, when the Philippines wakes up to the result of its National squad opening its OQT stint against Latvia and its home crowd at Arena Riga.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas stuns world No. 6 Latvia to open Fiba OQT bid

Against overwhelming odds, Cone had already asked his crew—led by the indefatigable Justin Brownlee, the World Cup-tested duo of June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, and young cornerstones Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos—to have the immediate goal of making the knockout crossover, where they have a better chance of tabbing an Olympic berth.

“We’re not here to win a game. We’re here to win a tournament. We’re here to win the whole thing,” he was quoted saying during practice in a story published by the PBA website.

“Losing to [Latvia] does not get us knocked out. But losing—if we allow that first one to affect us in the second one (against Georgia), then we’re gonna be knocked out,” he added.

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

Cone’s outlook may be the only logical step for the No. 37-ranked Philippines to take, considering how high Latvia is in the global basketball leaderboard.

The hosts are ranked sixth on the planet and lived up to that lofty billing with an 83-55 whipping of world No. 23 Georgia in Group A.

So hapless were the Jvarosnebi that national coach Aleksandar Dzikic and Duda Sanadze had very little to say about their performance.

Latvians flex might

“We didn’t respond well enough and long enough to their physicality and this result in the end is actually quite embarrassing, to be honest,” said Dzikic.

“[W]e’re very disappointed. The score is not what we are and what we worked [for]. We worked hard these past days and some weeks, but this score’s not us. From the bottom of our hearts, I just want to say sorry for our efforts—to our fans and families—because this is not really us,” Sanadze said.

Cone and his charges were witnesses to the merciless Latvian display. And so Gilas also knows how deflated the Georgians are.

And that could spell trouble for the Filipinos, too, as that means the Jvarosnebi will be dead-set on redeeming themselves in their clash set 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (Manila time).

“If we can beat one of those two teams (Latvia or Georgia), that means we can compete in the crossover, [and] you never know from there,” Cone said.



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The Philippines will need at least a win over Georgia to improve its chances of making the next phase, where they could either play Cameroon, Montenegro, or Brazil.

Chargers, Chameleons shake up rosters, benches

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Akari Chargers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Sister teams Akari and Nxled have been the busiest team of late in the Premier Volleyball League offseason, as they exchanged players even with league president Ricky Palou rejecting the idea.

The Chargers, aside from signing former US NCAA standout Olu Okaro as import, acquired Ivy Lacsina, Dani Ravena, Kamille Cal and Cams Victoria while giving the Chameleons Trisha Genesis, Bang Pineda and Jaja Maraguinot.

Akari also lost Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who opted out of her contract after she was initially involved in that multiplayer swap with the Chameleons. She will now play for Choco Mucho.

“I learned that Dindin was not in favor (of the team-switching),” ex-interim coach Raffy Mosuela told the Inquirer over the phone in Filipino on Wednesday afternoon. “So she decided to just end her contract with Akari.”

There were also movements on the bench for both teams as Japanese Taka Minowa now assumed the coaching position at Akari with Mosuela transferring to Nxled as the assistant of Chinese coach Chen Gang.

“In the case of coach Taka and I, actually it was already planned for a long time by management that he will take over after the All-Filipino Conference,” Mosuela said.

“The management told me that they were really looking for an international coach, so for the meantime that they haven’t found him yet [last conference], I headed Akari first,” Mosuela said.

Jaja, who wanted to play alongside her sister Jho, and Maji Mangulabnan will be the setters of Nxled with Cal joining Michelle Cobb at Akari.

“The owners agreed with regard to the changes of players because it was really planned a long time ago even during the last conference,” Mosuela said.



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Bronny James says he can handle playing with dad, Lakers

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Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Bronny James, left, and his father, LeBron James, share a light moment as they arrive for the NBA basketball team’s news conference in El Segundo, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

EL SEGUNDO, California — Bronny James says the opportunity to play professionally alongside his famous father played no role in his decision to enter the NBA draft.

Now that the 19-year-old son of LeBron James has been selected by the Los Angeles Lakers anyway, Bronny says he can still handle all the extra attention and pressure while the James family makes basketball history.

“I’m … trying to get my name out for myself,” Bronny said Tuesday. “I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad. That’s always there to take part of, but it wasn’t a main focus of mine.”

The Lakers formally introduced Bronny James and their first-round pick, Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht, in a news conference at their training complex. Los Angeles selected Bronny with the 55th overall pick last week, creating the potential for an NBA first.

No father and son have ever played in the league at the same time, let alone on the same team.

READ: NBA: Bronny James ready for pressure after ‘surreal’ Lakers move

“It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure,” Bronny James said. “I’ve already seen it in (social) media and on the internet and stuff talking about (how) I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life. It’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it.”

Bronny reiterated that he didn’t jump to the NBA just because his 39-year-old father is still an active player, acknowledging he didn’t necessarily share his father’s oft-stated dream of playing in the league together. Bronny also knew he couldn’t control where he was drafted, despite what he’s read on social media recently about the Lakers’ pick being a nepotistic effort to keep LeBron James with the Lakers for the rest of his career.

Bronny James is the oldest son of the NBA’s career scoring leader. LeBron James has spent the past six seasons with the Lakers, and he is all but certain to return to the team even though he is currently a free agent after declining his $51.4 million player option for next season.

LeBron James quietly watched his son’s introductory news conference from the back of the Lakers’ gym at their training complex.

Bronny said he’s better prepared for the challenges ahead of him because of “stuff that (LeBron) has been telling me my whole life. Just having that work ethic, and coming in and getting your work in, and listening to your coaches and being coachable, stuff like that he’s driven into my head my whole life.”

READ: NBA: Bronny James to wear No. 9 jersey with Lakers

Bronny James deftly answered questions about everything he’ll face after jumping straight to the NBA from one short season of college basketball. He played inconsistently last winter at USC after recovering from a frightening cardiac event in July 2023.

“The time that I had off, I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more,” Bronny said. “I just feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC. So I’m excited for what it’s going to be.”

Rather than spending another year in college, Bronny said he expects to improve his game in the Lakers’ player development system being set up under new coach JJ Redick, who emphasized the necessity of developing talent from within the organization after general manager Rob Pelinka hired him last month.

“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said. “Bronny has earned this through hard work. For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing, there’s a lot to like about his game. As we build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have the opportunity to be an excellent NBA player.”



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Bronny James and Knecht both expect to play for the Lakers’ summer league teams in Sacramento and Las Vegas this month.

LeBron and Bronny James are likely to join a short list of fathers and sons who have played together in North American professional sports. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together with the Seattle Mariners during parts of the 1990 and 1991 MLB seasons, while hockey great Gordie Howe played with his sons Marty and Mark with the WHA’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.

Badminton body holds ‘thorough review’ of teenage player’s death

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In the handout picture taken and released on July 1, 202  Chinese badminton players and coaches pray together for the late Chinese player Zhang Zhijie, who collapsed during a match.  (Photo by Handout / public relations and media division of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) / AFP) 

Badminton’s governing body on Tuesday announced a “thorough review” following the death of a promising Chinese teenager who collapsed during a match.

Seventeen-year-old Zhang Zhijie was playing at the Asia Junior Championships in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta on Sunday when he suddenly fell to the floor.

Indonesia’s badminton association (PBSI) and Badminton Asia said he was promptly rushed to hospital but died that night having suffered a cardiac arrest.

READ: Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing on court

However, there were questions about the medical response at the venue. Footage showed it took 40 seconds from when Zhang collapsed for any kind of help to arrive on the court.

“We are taking all necessary steps to thoroughly review this matter in consultation with Badminton Asia and Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI),” the Badminton World Federation (BWF) governing body said in a statement.

A PBSI spokesman on Monday blamed the hesitant emergency response on the referee and said that as hosts they were only adhering to BWF rules.

“Following the completion of our review, we will determine whether specific aspects of these guidelines need to be changed,” the BWF added.

It is also waiting for an official report from Badminton Asia and the local organizing committee “to assess whether the correct medical procedures were followed in providing aid to Zhang when he fell to the court”.

Badminton great Lee Chong Wei earlier Tuesday called for changes in scheduling to give players more time to recover.

READ: Malaysia’s top badminton star Lee Zii Jia banned after quitting national team

The retired Lee, a three-time Olympic silver medallist, told The Star newspaper in Malaysia that Zhang’s shock death should be a wake-up call for the sport.

He said that medical teams needed to be “more alert” and called for the BWF to “review their match and tournament schedule”.

“He appeared tired and it’s sad to accept the reality that China’s future top player is gone,” Lee said.



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Chinese state media has also questioned the emergency response.

Charles Tiu sees ‘great balance’ in Jones Cup-bound Strong Group

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Strong Group Athletics coach Charles Tiu and Rajko Toroman during an open training ahead of the Jones Cup. –SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—With the William Jones Cup coming up, Strong Group Athletics coach Charles Tiu is liking what he’s seeing from the Philippine side’s squad.

After SGA’s practice at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday, Tiu said that the team’s composition and chemistry so far have been exemplary as they undergo their final preparations before their tournament in Taiwan.

“I really like what I’m seeing. We’ve got great balance, a lot of talents in the wings and that’s a great problem to have,” said the top coach.

READ: Strong Group to represent PH in Jones Cup 

“It’s been really nice so far, they’re all coachable, they all pick up things so fast and I’m really excited for this tourney.”

The College of St. Benilde tactician, though, knows the competition will be anything but easy.

While the list of final participants for the Jones Cup has yet to be released, Tiu did some research of his own and saw that the playing field will be quite stacked.

READ: RJ Abarrientos nursing hurt foot ahead of Jones Cup stint

“Some of the teams participating are quite strong. I saw the Ukraine national team being there, there’s also an American team… Competition’s going to be good but it’s something that we’re hopeful to prepare for,” said Tiu.

The 43rd iteration of the tournament will signal Tiu’s fifth run.

With experience under his belt, Tiu compared his previous squads to the current team and acknowledged the local-heavy lineup flying to Taiwan.

“I think this time we’ve got a lot more local talents. We’re deeper on the local side, less imports and I think we’ve had a bit more time to prepare and that’s good. Hopefully, the results will be the same [from my previous coaching stints].”



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SGA will fly to Taiwan for the Jones Cup on July 12.

PVL to use different format in return of Reinforced Conference

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FILE–A shot of the crowd during the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals between Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The return of the PVL Reinforced Conference features a Pool Play format, dividing 12 teams into two groups as pro volleyball action unfurls on July 16 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

With the import-laden tournament returning to action for the first time in two years, the PVL will be using a different format, using the serpentine method to separate the teams into two groups — based on their standings in the previous All-Filipino Conference with champion Creamline headlining Pool A, while runner-up Choco Mucho leading Pool B.

Creamline, which will be bolstered by American Erica Staunton, eyes to end a six-year Reinforced Conference title drought with the Khat Bell-led Chery Tiggo, PLDT with returning Russian import Elena Samoilenko, Galeries Tower with Brazilian Monique Helena, and Farm Fresh and Nxled, who have yet to unveil their respective imports.

READ: Cha Cruz-Behag returns to PVL as Petro Gazz assistant coach

Choco Mucho, which will miss Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag due to their Alas Pilipinas duties, parades Greek spiker Zoi Faki and newcomer Dindin Santiago-Manabat in Pool B with three-peat-seeking Petro Gazz, MJ Perez-led Cignal, Akari with Oly Okaro, Capital1 reinforced by Russian Marina Tushova, and ZUS Coffee bringing Japanese spiker Asaka Tamaru.

PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo bared that ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh were supposed to end up in the same group due to their records but they transferred the Thunderbelles to Pool B to avoid having sister teams in one group.

The Highrisers, who will also pick No. 3 in the inaugural PVL Draft on Monday at Novotel, will tip things off on July 16, facing the new-look Chameleons at 2 p.m.

Bell marks her return in Manila with the Crossovers’ 4 p.m. match against the Foxies, while Creamline and PLDT cap the tripleheader at 6 p.m.

READ: Thea Gagate eager to help ZUS Coffee rise after winless campaign

The group phase will feature two stages, starting with a single round-robin format. In the second round, the top three teams from Pool A will face the bottom three from Pool B in Pool C, while the top three squads from Pool B will compete against the lower-ranked teams of Pool A in Pool D.

Following the preliminaries, teams will be ranked using the FIVB Classification System. The top eight squads will move on to the knockout quarterfinals. The winners advance to the knockout semifinals, qualifying for the Invitational Conference in September with two foreign clubs.

The finalists will clash in a winner-take-all gold medal game. The Reinforced Conference will feature three games on all preliminary game days, paving the way for the Invitational Conference set for September.



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Ownership group of Boston Celtics putting team up for sale

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Majority owner Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics holds up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/AFP

BOSTON — The ownership group that controls the NBA champion Boston Celtics says it intends to sell all its shares of the team.

In a statement released Monday, Boston Basketball Partners LLC said it intends to sell the majority of its shares in 2024 or early 2025. The balance of its shares would then close in 2028.

Wyc Grousbeck, whose family leads the ownership group, is expected to remain the team’s NBA governor until the sale is complete.

“The controlling family of the ownership group, after considerable thought and internal discussion, has decided to sell the team for estate and family planning considerations,” the statement said.

The Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals last month to capture the franchise’s 18th championship.

READ: NBA: Celtics’ Brad Stevens expects only roster tweaks in repeat bid

Boston Basketball Partners — led by venture capitalist Grousbeck, his father and investor H. Irving Grousbeck, along with venture capitalist Steve Pagliuca — purchased the Celtics for $360 million from the Gaston family in 2002. The Gastons had owned the team since 1983.

One of the NBA’s original and storied brands, the Celtics were valued at $4.7 billion last year by Forbes, placing them behind only the Golden State Warriors ($7.7 billion), New York Knicks ($6.6 billion) and Los Angeles Lakers ($6.4 billion).

The current ownership group was in charge when the Celtics won the NBA title in 2008.

READ: Boston salutes Celtics’ record 18th NBA championship with parade 

In an email to Celtics staff that was obtained by The Associated Press, Wyc Grousbeck wrote they are “committed to finding a worthy incoming ownership group who will guide the Celtics to more decades of success.”

He added: “There will be a thoughtful and thorough process to find a buyer that recognizes the importance of Celtic Pride on the court and in the community.”

Last year, the Phoenix Suns were purchased by mortgage firm owner Mat Ishbia for $4 billion. That was followed by the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam for $3.5 billion. Last November, Mark Cuban agreed to the sale of the majority of his Dallas Mavericks’ ownership shares to Miriam Adelson and son-in-law Patrick Dumont, who operates the Las Vegas Sands casino company, for $3.5 billion.



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