Returning Jema Galanza ready for challenge with Alas Pilipinas

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Alas Pilipinas’ Jema Galanza during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza embraces the challenge of helping the young guns of Alas Pilipinas as one of the reinforcements ahead of the squad’s campaign in the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“Super excited kasi ngayon na lang ulit ako makakabalik for the national team and makaka-experience ulit ng international games,” said Galanza, who played for the Philippine women’s volleyball team in the past two Southeast Asian Games.

Galanza, the reigning PVL Finals MVP of the Creamline Cool Smashers, is delighted to join a new-look national team composed of the AVC Challenge Cup bronze medalist team, led by tournament’s Best Setter and captain Jia De Guzman and Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino as well as Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Faith Nisperos, Jennifer Nierva, Arah Panique, Julia Coronel, and Vanie Gandler.

READ: Jia De Guzman ‘grateful’ as Alas Pilipinas adds more firepower

The Creamline star was added with her teammate Tots Carlos and National University tandem Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon to the training pool led by coach Jorge Souza De Brito after missing the Challenge Cup due to the Cool Smashers’ long-awaited Spain trip.

“Marami naman talagang nagbago and super happy na mga bata ‘yung kasama ko kasi nacha-challenge ako at marami rin akong natututunan sa kanila. Masaya rin kasi mas relax din kasi ‘yung mga bata ngayon,” said Galanza.

“Marami na rin naman akong laro sa national team na hindi Creamline ‘yung kasama ko so wala namang bago. Maganda siyang challenge for me na iba ‘yung kasama ko so kailangan ko talagang mag-adjust sa sistema ni coach Jorge.”

The do-it-all spiker is grateful to reunite with longtime teammate De Guzman, who has been leading the charge for Alas. 

READ: NU stars, Jema Galanza join Alas Pilipinas training

“Kaming dalawa, hindi na mahirap sa amin ‘yung adjustment. Alam na namin agad ‘yung mga galawan namin sa loob ng court pero super happy kasi alam ko naman din kung paano siya mag-lead sa Creamline pa lang,” Galanza said. “Hindi naman ako mahihirapan gumalaw kasi alam ko na kung paano si ate Jia mag-lead.”

Galanza is also thankful for the warm support she received during the short Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s teams meet and greet in the VNL on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Kahit saan naman tayo maglaro, laging nakasuporta ‘yung mga Filipino fans ng volleyball. I think ganito na talaga kalaki ‘yung volleyball community at tumataas na ‘yung level of competition kaya grabe na rin talaga ‘yung suporta na natatanggap namin,” she said.



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Swimmers in doping scandal named in China Paris Olympics team

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(FILES) Gold medallist China’s Qin Haiyang celebrates on the podium during the medals ceremony for the men’s 50m breaststroke swimming event during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)

China will send 11 swimmers implicated in a major doping scandal to next month’s Paris Olympics, after the country named its squad for the Games.

Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for the prescription heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) — which can enhance performance — ahead of the pandemic-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games, it emerged in April.

They were not sanctioned after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the argument of Chinese authorities that the positive tests were caused by contaminated food.

Several of the swimmers went on to win medals, including gold, in Tokyo months later.

READ: Chinese star swimmer Sun Yang’s 8-year doping ban overturned

China named its swimming squad for Paris on Tuesday. Among them were 11 of the 23 who were named in news reports in April that broke the story about the mass positive tests.

The squad includes butterfly specialist Zhang Yufei, who won two golds in Japan, as well as another gold medalist in Wang Shun.

Breaststroke multiple world champion and 200m record-holder Qin Haiyang is another who was named in the reports and will go to Paris.

In April, The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD reported that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for TMZ at a domestic competition in late 2020 and early 2021.

It was determined by Chinese anti-doping authorities that they ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food at their hotel and no action against them was warranted.

READ: Chinese swimmer Sun Yang handed Tokyo Olympics lifeline

WADA’s decision not to punish the swimmers and allow them to carry on competing provoked intense criticism, particularly from the United States.

There was also anger at how the case emerged, via media reports rather than official channels.

The head of the US national anti-doping agency Travis Tygart called it a “potential cover-up”, an allegation WADA and China have strongly denied.

WADA has said it will send a compliance audit team to China to “assess the current state of the country’s anti-doping program”, an investigation that China has said it will cooperate with.

Asked Wednesday about when that compliance team might go to China, Beijing said only that it “consistently adhered to the firm stance of zero tolerance for doping”.

China has “resolutely safeguarded the physical and mental health of athletes, safeguarded fair competition in sports competitions, and has made positive contributions to the unified global fight against doping”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

 Scrutiny in Paris

This month The New York Times reported that Qin, Wang and another swimmer among the 23 had also tested positive for a different banned substance in separate cases years earlier.

The Times said the three tested positive for clenbuterol in 2016 and 2017.

Chinese authorities argued they had ingested the substance inadvertently through contaminated meat and no disciplinary action was taken.

WADA said the trio were found to have levels of clenbuterol which were between “six and 50 times lower” than the minimum reporting level currently used by the agency.

In a statement to AFP, China’s anti-doping body hit back this week, calling the latest Times story a violation of “media ethics and morals”.

Along with powerhouses the United States and Australia, China will expect to be among the swimming medals when the Paris Olympics begin on July 26.

China’s swimmers will however be under intense added scrutiny.

Speaking on the eve of the US Olympic trials, which started Saturday, the 100m breaststroke world record-holder Lilly King called the most recent revelations involving Chinese swimmers “disappointing and frustrating”.

“You know, when we put everything on the line… everything that we do to compete with a level playing field, it’s extremely frustrating to not have faith that others are doing the same thing,” she said.

Australia’s head swimming coach Rohan Taylor urged his team to focus on themselves.



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“We have to trust that WADA and (governing body) World Aquatics are going to continue to investigate and that we are aligned with a clean sport,” he said.

Clint Escamis braces for tougher challenge in Season 100

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Mapua Cardinals’ Clint Escamis during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Clint Escamis will have to represent Mapua in the NCAA Season 100 without his usual partner-in-crime, Paolo Hernandez.

Before the centennial season of the NCAA, Cardinal sniper Hernandez announced that he would be forgoing his final playing for Mapua, leaving Season 99 MVP Escamis alone in the driver’s seat.

“Before Season 99, he already told me it’s his last playing season,” said Escamis at the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Monday.

READ: NCAA: Clint Escamis, Paolo Hernandez show brotherhood amid finals loss

“I got sad, of course, but that’s his decision. I told him good luck and wished him all the best. There’s pressure and at the same time, it’s an opportunity to rise to the occasion, especially with our loss last year.”

The tandem of Hernandez and Escamis brought the Cardinals to greater heights last year.

After missing out on the Final Four in Season 98, Mapua got the biggest shot in the arm with the resurgence of Hernandez and Escamis; a duo that already materialized during their high school days with the Red Robins.

However, Mapua faltered to San Beda in three games in the Finals, prematurely ending the stellar stint of Escamis and Hernandez together.

READ: NCAA: Mapua’s Clint Escamis wins Rookie of the Year, MVP

Now with a younger core and improved swingmen in tow, Escamis is excited to run it back and hope for a greater outcome with the new Cardinals.

“We can bounce back now especially since we have recruits who underwent residency last year. We also have improving sophomores from last season who didn’t play much last year. They’ll have bigger roles this season and I can count on them.”

Another thing that Escamis is also looking forward to, other than bouncing back, is defending his MVP award.

Escamis won not just the MVP award but also the Rookie of the Year plum for Season 99 after posting norms of 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game.

Now with his second season loading, he hopes to achieve the same feat and more.



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“Of course, we can only go up from here. Hopefully I go back-to-back and get my first title this year. That’s the goal.”

Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

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MANILA, Philippines — Iran turned to Poriya Hossein and Milad Ebadipour to stun the powerhouse USA, in five sets, 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13, and earn its first win in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Although they are no longer in contention for the Final Eight, the Iranians played their hearts out to overcome the runner-up and Olympic-bound USA and snap an eight-game skid.

Hossein drilled 23 points including the game-winning kill to end a thrilling two-hour and 21-minute duel, while Ebadipour delivered 20 points off 16 kills, three blocks, and an ace to overcome TJ Defalco’s 33-point explosion.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

“It was a great game. We had tough weeks in the past and we lost eight games from eight. This is the most difficult team to play in the third week, to start (the week) against USA, one of the biggest teams in the world,” said Ebadipour.

“I think we have to start to win games and today was our first game in the third week. I’m so happy to win against the biggest team like USA.”

The Iranians couldn’t close out the game in the fourth, allowing the Americans to force a decider, where the former squandered a 13-11 lead before Defalco trimmed it down to one before Micah Ma’a’s crucial service error that sent Iran to matchpoint, 14-12.

Defalco saved a point but Poriya ended the game for Iran to improve to a 1-8 record and sent USA to a 3-6 record in 12th place.

READ: Team USA has ‘mountain to climb’ as VNL unfolds in Manila

Amin Esmaeilnezhad also stepped up for Iran with 14 points including three blocks, while Alireza Moslehabadi added nine points.

Ebadipour is proud of his young teammates for holding their ground against the World No.6 USA.

“I would say I’m proud of them (Iran team). We have a really young generation as I’ve said many times. They have a really good and nice future. I’m happy for this because today, they showed in the future that they can show the best performance and they can improve a lot,” he said.

“All of them are almost under 25 years old. This is great for our national team. This is really good and today, they showed the best quality, especially in the fifth set because it is not easy to play a fifth set against USA or these kinds of teams but they showed the best quality and I’m happy.”



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Iran seeks to carry its momentum heading ito Thursday’s game against the Netherlands at 3 p.m.

Defalco poured in 30 kills, two blocks, and an ace. Setter Micah Christenson ran the plays for the USA, as Matthew Anderson had 13 points including three aces. Jordan Ewert added 10 points. 

USA has less than 24 hours before facing Brazil on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Micah Christenson, USA grateful for fans’ support in loss

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Micah Christenson and Team USA during a VNL Week 3 game against Iran. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

MANILA, Philippines — Team USA setter Micah Christenson wanted to win it for their Filipino fans, but their Manila debut was spoiled by Iran in five sets in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Christenson and the fan-favorite USA, cheered by the Filipino crowd, couldn’t complete a comeback as Iran pulled off a 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13 stunner to end a winless eight-game skid.

“I wish it could’ve gone differently, you know? But nonetheless, we really, really appreciate all of the support and love from the Filipino fans. We feel it every day all the time. It’s great to finally be here and try to put on some good performances for them in person,” said the American captain.

READ: VNL 2024: Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

TJ Defalco unleashed 33 points but it wasn’t enough as the Olympic-bound USA dropped to a 3-6 record in 12th place.

Christenson and some of his teammates still accommodated their supporters at the fan zone to show their appreciation after their post-game interviews. 

With USA’s final eight chances in limbo, the veteran setter seeks to keep on improving before heading to the Paris Olympics next month.

“We have a long way to go from where we wanna be, in the Olympics, so we’re gonna continue to work on that,” Christenson said.

The USA star praised Iran for pulling off a big win to improve to a 1-8 record despite their valiant effort to force a fifth set. 

“I think we have to first give credit to Iran. They played great. Everybody was making good defensive plays, even the middle blockers. They put a lot of pressure on us in certain situations. We have to give a lot of credit there, but we also have a lot to work on. We know that and we’re going to face it head-on,” he said.

“They’re always a dangerous team and they showed it tonight.”



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Christenson and USA have less than 24 hours before facing Brazil on Thursday at 7 p.m. as they hope to deliver a win for their country and Filipino fans.

Nine-year-old Argentine motorbike racer dies after Brazil crash

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Argentine junior motorbike rider Lorenzo Somaschini. –SuperBike Brazil

A nine-year-old Argentine junior motorbike rider has died after suffering serious injuries in a crash during a practice session at a weekend competition in Sao Paulo, event organizers said.

Lorenzo Somaschini was pronounced dead Monday at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital, according to SuperBike Brazil.

Somaschini — who hailed from the Argentine city of Rosario — had been riding in a free practice on Friday for the Honda Junior Cup, one of the region’s largest youth racing events, when he crashed in a curve at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo.

Event officials said Somaschini received immediate medical attention and initially had stabilized, but his condition then worsened and he was moved to intensive care at the Albert Einstein hospital on Saturday.

“Everyone on the SuperBike Brazil team is appalled by this event and expresses our sincere sorrow to all of Lorenzo’s family and friends,” organizers said in a statement.

The Junior Honda Cup brings together riders between the ages of eight and 16 to race on modified motorbikes with specially adapted pedals and handlebars.

The bikes can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) per hour.



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Germany beats France, stays in Final Eight hunt

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Gyorgy Grozer of Germany during a game against France in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — György Grozer stepped up for Germany with 21 points to stun France, 25-23, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, to keep their Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Final Eight bid on track on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The 39-year-old Grozer, who wasn’t part of last year’s Germany team in the VNL to focus on the Olympic qualifier, continued to prove that age is just a number as he led a balanced attack to beat contender France and improve to a 4-5 record for ninth place behind No. 8 Cuba (4-4).

“For me, this is my first game after a long time for the season to finish so of course, I have my mistakes still and it’s not going around but we are working on [it],” said Grozer after pounding 18 kills, two aces, and a block. 

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

“I think today we did already really great things like [in] the team. We were fighting. In important moments we didn’t put down our heads, we stayed strong and we were fighting against really really strong team so I am glad that we won today.”

It’s Grozer’s first time to play in the Philippines and he’s loving the experience, playing in front of an ecstatic crowd.

“It was really great. I was really surprised and happy that we had so many fans today here and I mean, two different teams played [today] like France and Germany and there’s a great atmosphere in the gym,” said Grozer, who retired twice from volleyball in 2016 and 2020 but still decided to keep on playing. “I was really enjoying and thanks to all the Filipino fans who are supporting us and pushing us. It’s really great to play here in the Philippines.”

The Germans prevented the French from forcing a decider after fighting back from a 19-21 deficit in the fourth set. Lukas Maase took charge to give Germany a 23-22 lead but his error tied the set anew. Moritz Reichert and Grozer delivered the finishing blows for their second straight win coming off a Week 2 win over Turkey.

READ: VNL set for Manila leg with Japan and USA headlining

Maase and Reichert delivered 12 points each. Tobias Krick and Tobias Brand added 10 points, as setter Lukas Kampa’s playmaking led to five double-digit scorers.

Seeking to make it to the final week in Poland, Germany battles Canada in less than 24 hours on Thursday at 11 a.m.

France remained in fifth place with a 6-3 record tied with Japan as Jean Patry carried the team with 20 points off 17 attacks two blocks and an ace. Trevor Clevenot had 16 points to backstop Patry.

The French Spikers try to bounce back against Iran on Friday at 11 a.m.



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UAAP: Topex Robinson, Jacob Cortez excited to join forces at La Salle

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La Salle coach Topex Robinson and Former San Beda Red Lion Jacob Cortez during the Collegiate Press Corps awards night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle coach Topex Robinson was given several reasons to smile from ear-to-ear at the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Monday.

Robinson took home the UAAP Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year award while also gaining the recognition of Kevin Quiambao as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Former San Beda Red Lion Jacob Cortez was also awarded as one of the members of the Men’s Basketball Mythical Five and even that made Robinson ecstatic.

Just a year from now, Robinson and the Green Archers will enjoy the services of Cortez in the Green Archers’ lineup after he switched ships from Mendiola to Taft a few months ago.

READ: After moving ‘mountains,’ Topex brings Jacob Cortez home to La Salle

“It’s so exciting to have him. He’s really going to put our program on a higher note. Having him here, I’m excited especially for next year,” said Robinson.

La Salle, the defending champions of the UAAP, will not have the talents of Cortez right away for Season 87. The NCAA Season 99 champion will have to serve one residency year before suiting up in the UAAP.

So far, though, Cortez has been “easing in” with La Salle.

“I’ve been, I’d say, sort of easing in. It’s a new team, new set of coaches, new staff and teammates for me but so far it’s been really chill. It’s been easy so far but then again I’ll have more time with them [before playing],” said Cortez.

READ: Pressure is key for La Salle’s improvement, says Topex Robinson

In his final year with the Red Lions, Cortez posted norms of 15.39 points, 3.56 rebounds, 3.44 assists and 1.17 steals per game.

He was also instrumental in helping San Beda overcome all odds as the third seed with a 12-6 card.

Now, he can’t wait to do the same or even better in a school that he holds sentimental with the memory of his father Mike playing in the 2000s.



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“It feels good because even before high school, my dad would bring me to La Salle UAAP games and now I’ve won my first championship with them in PinoyLiga. After that I just felt the excitement to play in the UAAP,” bared Cortez.

Djokovic to play at Paris Olympics, says Serbia

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FILE–Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics men’s singles tennis match. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Former tennis world number one, Novak Djokovic will play at the Paris Olympics, the Olympic Committee of Serbia said on Tuesday.

“Novak Djokovic and Dusan Lajovic have fulfilled the conditions according to ATP ranking and confirmed their participation at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris 2024”, the Serbian committee said on their website.

Djokovic has not yet publicly confirmed the announcement.

READ: Djokovic looking forward to Paris Olympics in hectic 2024

At the start of June, the 24-time Grand Slam winner withdrew ahead of his Roland Garros quarter-final against Casper Ruud after a scan revealed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

Two weeks ago, Djokovic confirmed he had undergone an operation on his knee and that it “went well”, but gave no timeframe for his return.

Djokovic has long said he will prioritize the Olympic Games this summer as he chases an elusive singles gold.

In October last year, he said winning Olympic gold next year is one of his main ambitions, while before the clay tournaments this year he reiterated his goal.

READ: No medal for Novak Djokovic for third straight Olympics

“The Paris Olympics are very important. The Olympics have always been a priority for me,” Djokovic said in April ahead of the clay swing in Monte Carlo.

He has played four Olympic tournaments and won a bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. He has since twice come close to another medal

He lost the bronze-medal match to Juan Martin del Potro in London in 2012. He lost again to the Argentine four years later in the first round in Rio.

At the last Games in Tokyo, Djokovic lost the bronze-medal match to Pablo Carreno Busta from Spain.

At the same tournament, he pulled out of the mixed doubles bronze medal match with a shoulder injury.



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After his early exit at the Rolland Garros, Djokovic has slipped to third in the ATP rankings.

Lassiter says losing in PBA Finals worse than missing record

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San Miguel Beermen’s Marcio Lassiter during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Marcio Lassiter missed out on some big stuff in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

For one, Lassiter and San Miguel fell short of defending its title against Meralco, which won its first PBA title after six games.

Then Lassiter also missed out on his dream scenario of being atop the leaderboard for most three-pointers made by a PBA player in history this oncference.

READ: PBA: Classy San Miguel core looking forward to next challenge

Lassiter, though, isn’t even concerned about the record. For him, losing the title stung much worse.

“I’m not even thinking about that,” said Lassiter, pertaining to the three-point record.

“All the individual awards, I have never won. I’ve never come here and say I want to be a mythical player, obviously you want to be but I’ve never come into situations where I say I want to be that. It’s always a team thing for me.”

Lassiter dropped 11 points in the Beermen’s last gasp effort of forcing a do-or-die, only to absorb an 80-78 loss at the hands of the Bolts in Game 6 at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

READ: PBA Finals loss fuels CJ Perez to get better

It certainly didn’t help Lassiter’s cause that he didn’t sink any triples in the season-ending loss.

Prior to the Finals, the veteran sniper had 1,224 recorded triples.

Lassiter sank 12 money balls across six games to go up to 1,236 but is still at third behind legends Allan Caidic (1,242) and record-holder Jimmy Alapag (1,250).

Despite inching closer to the top, Lassiter said that next season, he will focus on bouncing back and not gaining the bragging rights of being the league’s best shooter in history.

“Obviously, this one hurts. I wanted to win so bad.”



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“At least I get to recover, come back and get back to it. The love for the game’s still there. Whatever happened, has already happened and I’ll go from there. I’ll keep on chipping away with that chip on my shoulder.”