Tag: soccer betting

Moral wins don’t count for Gilas in OQT buildup

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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo and Justin Brownlee flank as Turkey player during a tune-up game in Istanbul ahead of the Fiba OQT. –TURKEY BASKETBALL FEDERATION

Gilas Pilipinas wasn’t too keen on framing Friday’s valiant stand against Turkiye as a moral victory.

And for good reason.

“We only have one shot at [making] it to the Olympics, and we cannot be satisfied with [a result of] almost winning,” team manager and national assistant coach Richard del Rosario said in a bulletin released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas following an 84-73 defeat at the hands of the World No. 24 hosts in Istanbul on Friday.

“While others may see it as a satisfying first game, our team mindset is: Almost is not enough,” he added of the friendly that had the Philippines dropping to 1-1 in its series of preparatory games geared towards the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia, set July 2.

With just 11 players making the trip, Gilas managed to keep it close with the Turks for most of the contest at Besiktas Akatlar Culture and Sports Complex. But saddled with frosty shooting and fouls, the Nationals eventually kissed their hopes of taking down the Dev Adam side preparing for the EuroBasket.

Justin Brownlee and June Mar Fajardo starred for the Filipinos, with the naturalized ace turning in 21 points and the PBA’s seven-time MVP chipping in 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Young and towering big man Kai Sotto was limited to just seven points, no thanks to fouls that shelved him with three minutes remaining. Fellow cornerstone Dwight Ramos managed to toss in just four points as he focused on playmaking, further highlighting gaps left by the absences of AJ Edu and Scottie Thompson—two mainstays grounded by injuries.

Cold shooting

The Filipinos hit only five triples while the Turks converted 14 of their own, which could very well be a preview of how OQT host Latvia and Georgia would take on Gilas in Group A of the Riga showcase next week.

“We had our first taste of the type of opposition we will be facing in the OQT,” said Del Rosario. “We move on to the next game with a [more firm] belief that we can hold our own against higher-ranked teams with a real chance of reaching our mission of making it to Paris.”

Foes priming up

Gilas’ unsatisfied outlook may be warranted, especially with how the Philippines’ OQT assignments are faring in their respective preparatory matches.

Latvia, the sixth finest squad on the planet, gave its home crowd a preview of how well they could play on both ends with an 84-63 rout of Egypt behind Charlotte Hornet Davis Bertans and now-healthy Arturs Zagars. And they did so without Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who will be out for about six months after going through foot surgery.

The Latvian power forward suffered a “rare” leg injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals earlier this month and will go under the knife to repair the problem.

“The injury doesn’t allow for consistent play at the level required for Olympic competition. Surgery will be performed in the coming days, and further updates will be provided when available,” the Celtics said.

They may have won in runaway fashion, but national coach Luca Banchi—as if putting opposing nations on notice—feels his squad has so much more to offer.

“It wasn’t our best game, but there were good episodes both for individual players and for the whole team when we found our rhythm,” he said in a report published by the Latvian Basketball Association. “We will try to take the next steps forward in Tampere.”

Georgia may have lost in their last two friendlies, bowing to Italy, 79-68, and then narrowly to Cameroon, 67-66. But a closer look at those defeats shows the Crusaders—especially NBA players Sandro Mamukelashvili and Goga Bitadze—thriving under the system brought by new Serbian coach Aleksandar Dzikic.



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Gilas moves to Poland; Latvia, meanwhile, tackled Finland in Tampere; while Georgia played Egypt on Friday night (both Manila time) for their final tune-up matches. —with a report from AFP

Wembanyama ‘can’t wait’ for France-USA showdown at Paris Olympics

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French basketball player Victor Wembanyama talks to the audience during a 5×5 France Olympics Basket Team Media Day in Paris, on June 27, 2024. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

PARIS — Victor Wembanyama plays against the top names in the game with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He can’t wait to do the same for France at the Paris Olympics.

The NBA Rookie of the Year was asked Thursday about the potential for a France-USA final and possibly battling against LeBron James and Stephen Curry for the gold medal in his home city.

“I can’t wait to face them, it will be a very interesting matchup,” Wembanyama said at a news conference in Paris. “As a basketball player, it’s also a dream to play against Team USA and even against all those players, all those legends.”

READ: LeBron, Durant, Steph Curry lead Team USA for Paris Olympics

The U.S. beat France 87-82 in the final at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

This time, though, France has Wembanyama, who at 20 years old is making his Olympic debut. He’s the biggest star of the French team and at the center of attention, both on and off the court.

“I believe it’s the biggest competition for an athlete. But I’m going to approach it like everything else in my life: a sporting pleasure,” Wembanyama said.

For France coach Vincent Collet, it’s a sporting pleasure to have both Wembanyama and fellow NBA star Rudy Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, disrupting opposing offenses.

READ: Paris Olympics: What to know and who to watch in men’s basketball

“If we want to reach our dream, we will have to display exceptional defense,” said Collet, who will be assisted by the newly appointed Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.

France, which has never won an Olympic gold medal in basketball, was set to hold its first full practice on Friday in Paris. They have six warmup games in July.

The players will miss the opening ceremony of the Olympics on July 26 because France is scheduled to play its first game the following day in Lille, 220 kilometers (136 miles) north of Paris, where the group stage for the 12-team tournament will take place.

“Victor would be arriving in Lille at 3 or 4 in the morning if he were to participate in the ceremony. That would put a stop to his preparation for the Games,” said Fabrice Canet, a spokesman for the French national team.

France doesn’t know its first opponent yet — it will be the winner of the last qualifying tournament next week. The host nation then plays Japan and reigning world champion Germany in Group B.



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Playing in front of home fans, France is considered among the strongest teams alongside the U.S, Canada, Serbia and Germany.

Maicah Larroza has added motivation heading into PVL Draft

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PVL Draft aspirant Maicah Larroza from La Salle during the Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Maicah Larroza has some extra motivation heading into the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft with her La Salle teammates Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, and Julia Coronel among this year’s top prospects.

Gagate is set to be ZUS Coffee’s choice for the No.1 pick and Cruz and Coronel are expected to be picked, but Larroza is not taking it as a source of additional pressure, but rather as motivation.

“Of course, added motivation because they’re my teammates, I also want to play at their level,” said the versatile aspirant, who enjoyed with her batchmates in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park. 

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

“I really enjoyed this PVL Draft Combine, especially knowing that some of the players I used to compete against were there. I felt very comfortable and the process went smoothly for me.”

Larroza, a substitute wing spiker in her playing years for La Salle, is bringing all the things she learned from coach Ramil De Jesus, who fully supported their decision to enter the PVL draft.

“Coach Ramil always teaches us about discipline, determination, hard work, and perseverance. He encourages us to explore constantly and reminds us to enjoy the things we love,” she said.

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz looking at best available players in the draft

“I told my coach, ‘, I’m going to enter the draft,’ while I was still wearing my toga. We attended the thanksgiving event to say goodbye properly, and we parted ways on good terms.”

Now that she’s moving on to a new chapter of her career, Larroza offers her versatility as she can play on both ends as spiker and libero. 

“It depends on the team that picks me whether I play as an outside hitter or libero. I’ll embrace any role they give me,” Larroza said. “I can offer my teammates the assurance that they can rely on me every time I step onto the court, whether leading the offense or defense.”



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Julia Coronel to bring versatility in PVL

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Julia Coronel during the final day of the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Julia Coronel believes her versatility and athleticism separate her from the other aspirants in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft 2024.

Although she has been a setter for the past years, Coronel also listed herself as an opposite spiker, her alternate position. She showed her strengths at the combine, displaying impressive leaping abilities on Wednesday, topping the standard vertical jump at 27.78 inches, and placing second in the vertical jump with approach and standing broad jump, with distances of 316.0 centimeters and 248.9 cm, respectively.

“Nilagay ko din yung pagiging opposite ko so at least whichever position ang kailanganin ako yun ang ifu-fulfill ko,” said Coronel, who still played setter on the final day of the combine at GameVille Ball Park before leaving early with Thea Gagate due to their Alas Pilipinas’ commitments.

READ: Julia Coronel shines in PVL Rookie Draft combine

With her teammate Gagate the presumptive No.1 pick of ZUS Coffee, Coronel hopes to make it to the first round as she is determined to help whoever team drafts her on July 8 at Novotel.

“I would say it really depends kung ano yung kailanganin nung mga unang magpi-pick na team so hoping siyempre I am one of the top picks or sa may bandang kalagitnaan kung kakayanin,” said the La Salle playmaker. 

“I’ve been saying din na I am a very versatile player so whatever is needed of me I am willing to fulfill that,” she added.

Coronel, armed with her experience with Alas Pilipinas under the leadership of eight-time PVL Best Setter Jia De Guzman, relished her time to compete with her fellow Lady Spikers, Gagate, Leila Cruz, and Maicah Larroza as well as the other 43 other rookie aspirants and free agents.

READ: PVL rookie aspirants Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel focused on Alas stint

“I would say kakaibang experience siya kasi kumbaga pinaghalohalo kami lahat na players and sa set namin nakalaban ko sila Thea and Maicah so in a way medyo new din yun for me and nakakatuwa kasi grabe yung talent nung bawat player na nandito,” she said.

From settling for third place in the UAAP Season 86 to earning a chance to play for Alas including a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup, the 5-foot-9 setter admitted that a lot of things are “happening a bit too fast” in her volleyball career as she juggles her studies and Alas duties.

“I am just here taking on every challenge that comes on me and pagbubutihan ko lang talaga sa bawat sitwasyon na ibibigay sakin,” said Coronel, who will see action in the FIVB Challenger Cup against Vietnam on July 5 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“Ang priority ko talaga is the national team for the time being and I hope na yung future PVL team ko rin po will be understanding of that kasi I am not there just to play but to also serve our country,” she added. “Sana mapakiusapan nga (PVL team) na priority muna national team for the time being kasi it’s still national team period so once that is over that’s when I’ll be fully committed [to my PVL team].”



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Carlo Bumina-ang battles Asa Ten Pow in ONE official debut

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FILE–Carlo Bumina-ang.–Photo from ONE Championship

MANILA, Philippines—Carlo Bumina-ang’s first challenge as an official member of ONE Championship has arrived in the form of Asa Ten Pow for ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart.

As announced by ONE, Bumina-ang will test his mettle anew against Ten Pow in the bantamweight division just a few months after signing his 100,000-dollar contract deal.

The Team Lakay fighter is eager to prove his worth against his American competitor.

READ: Filipino Bumina-ang earns ONE contract, stays unbeaten

“I want to show that I belong in this league,” said Bumina-ang in Filipino. “Expect this fight to be as explosive as the last. Only two things will happen here; I knock him out or I make him submit.”

Bumina-ang made noise last May in ONE Friday Fights 65, where he sealed the ONE contract with a second-round submission win over Chayan Oorzhak.

READ: SEA Games: Philippines’ Carlo Bumina-ang plucks silver in vovinam

Before that dominant win, the bantamweight combatant won five straight which helped earn him his full-time contract.

But in his official debut, he will have to deal with a resurgent Ten Pow, who won over Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon in ONE Fight night 14: Stamp vs. Ham via TKO in the third round.

Tan Pow and Bumina-ang will clash in an undercard bout to back up the main event bout between Jarred brooks and Gustavo Balart at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on August 3.



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MJ Perez returns to power Cignal in Reinforced Conference

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FILE–MJ Perez. Photo By Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — MJ Perez is returning to Manila five years after her last stint in the country and will take her act to Cignal in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference starting on July 16.

The HD Spikers on Wednesday welcomed the former Venezuela national team player, who is no longer a stranger to the Philippine volleyball scene.

The 36-year-old Perez is a former Philippine Superliga Grand Prix MVP in 2017, leading the defunct F2 Logistics to a championship. She also served as import for the Cargo Movers in 2018 and 2019 before the club moved to PVL in 2021 and debuted in the following year but the squad was disbanded last December.

Perez last saw action in Egypt with the Alexandria Sporting Club in the previous season. She played in Vietnam with the Than Quang Ninh Volleyball Club two years ago and also excelled in Indonesia and emerged as a decorated player in Venezuela.

Cignal is seeking to return to the PVL Reinforced Conference finals after their breakthrough two years ago with import Tai Bierria but fell to Petro Gazz in the series.

READ: Vanie Gandler, Dawn Catindig bring Cignal connection to PH team

Perez’s arrival is a timely boost for the HD Spikers, who could miss Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Vanie Gandler due to their commitments to Alas Pilipinas.

Cignal missed the semifinals of the previous All-Filipino Conference as Perez teams up with former PSL rivals Ces Molina and coach Shaq Delos Santos, who is also banking on Gel Cayuna, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ria Meneses, and Rose Doria.

Perez was the sixth PVL import unveiled hours after Choco Mucho welcomed Greek Spiker Zoi Faki. Capital1 brought Russian outside spiker Marina Tushova, Creamline will be baking on American spiker Erica Staunton, Chery Tiggo brought back Khat Bell in the Philippines, and PLDT will be running it back with its previous Russian reinforcement Elena Samoilenko.



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Celtics’ Brad Stevens expects only roster tweaks in repeat bid

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Confetti falls from the sky after Boston Celtics 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 past week has been a whirlwind for Brad Stevens since the Celtics reached the goal he’s been chasing since he arrived in Boston in 2013.

He’s gone from coach to president of basketball operations during that time, experiencing all the failures and near misses it took to finally earn the franchise’s 18th championship.

It’s also why he’s not allowing himself to get caught up in the expectations that already hover around the Celtics to do it again next season.

“The adulation doesn’t mean much in all sincerity. And the scrutiny doesn’t mean much either,” Stevens said Tuesday. “If you hang a banner everybody is going to talk about how great you are. And if you don’t, they’re going to talk about how much you stink. … If you tie your approach to that, then you’re just going to ride a roller coaster that’s not worth the journey. So, I think the most important thing is you appreciate the people you’re with, you try your best to have the best season you can. And you just keep going.”

READ: Celtics look to become first repeat NBA champion since 2018

The good news for Stevens is that the Celtics are positioned well to be very much in the mix to defend their title next season. Their top six players — Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford — are under contract for next season.

After having secured long-term extensions with Brown, Holiday and Porzingis, the Celtics are expected to do the same with Tatum and White this summer.

It’s why Stevens isn’t anticipating any major changes this offseason.

The Celtics hold the 30th and 54th overall picks in this week’s draft, but he said any player they select will be with an eye toward the future, not the present.

READ: NBA: Brown, Tatum answer critics while leading Celtics to title

“I think there’s a lot of moving parts to keeping this roster sustainable beyond this year. But specifically to this year, we’ve got a lot of guys back,” Stevens said. “It will be hard for any draft pick to crack our rotation when healthy. So we’ll think about how we can continue to invest in young players and their development and growth, with the reality that if we’re able to continue to move forward with this group — these guys are going to be on the court.”

Keeping the current core of this group intact will put the Celtics into the second apron of the luxury tax for a second straight year, but the biggest ramifications of that won’t need to be addressed until after next season.

While Stevens expects winning the title to put a target squarely on their backs next season, he bristles at the notion that the Celtics will be clear-cut favorites.

“I don’t know what the league’s going to look like in three weeks, so who knows?” Stevens said. “But I know this. Human nature is going to be another huge opponent. All of our opponents — when you win — the other 29 teams target you. It’s a different thing to come back from to then be great again.”

What this group has earned though, he said, is the opportunity to come back together to take on that challenge.

“We’ll always evaluate how to make our team better,” Stevens said. “But I think we would be crazy not to say that character and the foundation of this team is right. And let’s see if we can be as consistent as we can. Grow. Develop. Get better. Improve. … I’m not anticipating major changes, at least early on. Because I think this team deserves that.”

PORZINGIS UPDATE

Stevens said Porzingis is still being evaluated for the next steps on how to proceed to repair the dislocated tendon in his left ankle that he injured in the NBA Finals.



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“Kristaps is still in the middle of consulting with some different doctors and specialists. We anticipate surgery will be soon. We’ll have more of a timeline and recovery after the surgery,” Stevens said.

Knicks to acquire Mikal Bridges in trade from Nets

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Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on March 05, 2024 in New York City. Mike Lawrie/Getty Images/AFP

NEW YORK — Mikal Bridges is being traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the New York Knicks, where he will join Jalen Brunson and his other former Villanova teammates, two people with knowledge of the details said Tuesday.

The first trade between the New York rivals since 1983 will put Bridges in the lineup alongside Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, players who helped the Wildcats win two NCAA championships and were the core of a Knicks lineup that reached the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals last season.

READ: NBA: Knicks must weigh whether if being healthy enough is good enough

The Knicks will pay big to get him, with ESPN reporting that they are sending Bojan Bogdanovic to the Nets along with four unprotected first-round picks and one protected pick.

The deal was confirmed to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity because it is not yet official.



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‘Watch out for me,’ Petecio says as last gold chance looms

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Nesthy Petecio (right) may not be announcing it to the world, but gold is the goal of every athlete in the Olympics. —AFP

In what could be Nesthy Petecio’s last time to represent the country in the Olympics, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist will be looking to do things a little different than the way she handled her Summer Games debut.

“If you’re asking me how I will be [in the Paris Olympics], I will just be chill with everything that I will do,” Petecio said in Filipino during a send- off event for the country’s bets in Makati City last week.

Chill means never needing to brandish her target for everyone to see. But even as Petecio isn’t vocal about what medal she will be chasing in Paris next month, she also knows she isn’t kidding anyone.

“All of us athletes are aiming for the gold medal; no one is thinking of not getting that and we are all working hard in training,” Petecio said. “But I don’t want to be the kind of person who says what color of medal I want to get, what I want is for all of you to watch out for me in every fight.”

“Whatever pressure I will encounter, I already know about that because us athletes are always accompanied by pressure … we should just focus on what we can handle and what I can handle is how I will perform,” she added.

Petecio ended the country’s Olympic medal drought in boxing when she landed a silver medal three years ago in the Japanese capital.

After two flawless preliminary bouts, the Davao del Sur native advanced to the quarterfinals to beat Yeni Arias of Colombia and assure herself of a medal in the inaugural women’s featherweight event.

Asian Games target

In the semifinals, Petecio carved out a majority decision win against Italian Irma Testa but fell short to the also debuting hometown bet Sena Iria via a unanimous decision.

“Imagine, I was going to sleep before my fight the next day and when I lifted my blanket I saw the Japanese flag—that’s how intense the pressure I felt was because it was my first time to reach this high level,” Petecio said.

“It was really different so I prayed ‘Lord, remove this pressure that I am feeling,’ because it was really hard to fight when even while sleeping I was seeing the Japanese flag,” she added.

With Father Time catching up, the first female Filipino Olympic boxing medalist might be looking at her last shot for the elusive gold. Petecio is 32 years old and because of politics surrounding the sport, boxing could lose its spot in Los Angeles in 2028.

If that pushes through, Petecio would be shifting her focus to the Asian Games.



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“I am getting older, but I am still raring to get a medal in the Asian Games because I have come up always zero in that so I still need to push one last time,” Petecio said. INQ

NBA: Cavs hiring Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as next coach

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FILE – Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson watches during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Feb. 1, 2020, in Washington. The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach, a person familiar with decision told the Associated Press on Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

CLEVELAND — Just days ahead of the NBA draft, the Cavaliers picked their coach.

Kenny Atkinson, an assistant with Golden State who helped Brooklyn rebuild before a puzzling departure, will be Cleveland’s new coach, a person familiar with decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

The Cavs have been looking for a new leader for their young team since firing J.B. Bickerstaff last month despite two straight playoff appearances and continued progress.

The sides have agreed on a deal and are working through details of Atkinson’s contract, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not discussing its search publicly.

ESPN.com was first to report Atkinson is heading to Cleveland.

READ: NBA: Bucks receive permission to interview Kenny Atkinson

It’s possible there could be a minor delay in the Cavs officially announcing Atkinson’s hire. He joined the French national team’s staff as an assistant to coach Vincent Collet late last year and is currently in Paris preparing for the Olympics.

Atkinson spent the past three seasons as Steven Kerr’s top assistant with the Warriors. In 2022, Atkinson accepted Charlotte’s coaching job but backed out a week after agreeing to a four-year contract.

Atkinson’s hiring ends an expansive search by the Cavs’ front office. Atkinson was one of at least six known candidates to interview with the team since Bickerstaff’s firing on May 23 — a week after Cleveland was eliminated from the playoffs in five games by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

The 57-year-old Atkinson checked all the boxes in what the Cavs were looking for: head coaching experience, offensive-minded and a strong reputation for player development.

He emerged as the choice by Cleveland vice president of basketball operations Koby Altman and general manager Mike Gansey last week. Atkinson then met with team chairman Dan Gilbert, who signed off on the Cavs’ first coaching hire in five years.

READ: NBA: Kenny Atkinson spurs Hornets to stay with Warriors

Atkinson went 118-190 in his three-plus seasons with the Nets, overseeing their rise from the lower tier of the Eastern Conference to a playoff berth in 2019. It appeared he might be with Brooklyn for an extended period following the additions of superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but had a surprising split from the franchise in 2020.

Atkinson’s parting was a major surprise given the team’s growth under his guidance. After leaving, he spent one season on the Los Angeles Clippers’ staff before going to Golden State.

With the Warriors, Atkinson got to see one of the league’s best offensive players in Stephen Curry and immersed himself in a dynamic offense system he’s certain to borrow from with Cleveland.

One of the knocks on Bickerstaff was his inability to improve Cleveland’s offense. Still, he went 170-159 in the regular season while guiding the Cavs back to relevance through a rebuild that began in 2018 when LeBron James left as a free agent.

Bickerstaff, who replaced John Beilein midway through the 2019-20 season, kept Cleveland among the top teams in the East this season despite a slew of injuries and Cleveland advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs without James on its roster for the first time since 1994.

Atkinson, who got his NBA coaching start as an assistant on Mike D’Antoni’s staff with the New York Knicks in 2008, has some connections on the Cavs after working with center Jarrett Allen and forward Caris LeVert while in Brooklyn.

Hiring a new coach was the first priority in a pivotal summer for the Cavs. Next is getting All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to accept a long-term contract extension, this week’s draft (Cleveland has the No. 20 overall pick) and perhaps retooling the roster with trades and in free agency.

After the Cavs were knocked out of the playoffs, Altman said the team needed a coach who could bring new ideas and a fresh approach to get the most from the team’s core of players — Mitchell, Allen, guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley.



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Atkinson will get the next shot.