Tag: what to bet

Chris Paul joins Wembanyana at Spurs as NBA free agency opens

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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.



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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.

Three-way fight for two national finals spots looms

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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.



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Pistons decline $19M option for Evan Fournier

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Evan Fournier #31 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after he is called for a foul during the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2024 in New York City. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have declined a $19 million option for Evan Fournier, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced, said the move gives the Pistons $50 million in salary cap space.

Detroit acquired Fournier from New York just before the NBA trade deadline last season as part of a deal that sent Bojan Bogdanovic to the Knicks.

Fournier, a 31-year-old shooting guard from France, averaged 7.2 points in 29 games for the Pistons last season. He has averaged 13.6 points over his career with Detroit, New York, Boston, Orlando and Denver, which drafted him No. 20 overall in 2012.

READ: NBA: Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to Pistons for Quentin Grimes

Detroit also decided to extend a qualifying offer to Simone Fontecchio, making him a restricted free agent. If Fontecchio receives an offer sheet next week or later this offseason, the Pistons can match it and retain the 28-year-old from Italy.

Detroit added Fontecchio from Utah in February in a three-team trade and the Jazz acquired the Pistons’ second-round selection as part of the deal and used it to take Duke’s Kyle Filipowski in the draft No. 32 overall.

Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, making 42.6% of 3-pointers, in 16 games with the Pistons last season. The 6-foot-8 small forward has averaged 8.6 points over two NBA seasons.

READ: NBA: Pistons president doesn’t give timeline on coaching search, rebuild

Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, hired recently to replace the fired Troy Weaver, acquired former Michigan star Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks along with three second-round draft picks for Quentin Grimes earlier this week.

Detroit, which has been without a coach since firing Monty Williams, drafted Ron Holland of the G League Ignite with the fifth pick overall.

The Pistons have had the NBA’s worst record in each of the last two years and haven’t won a playoff game since 2008, when the three-time league champions appeared in the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year.



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Dan Ige puts up valiant effort with just hours notice at UFC 303

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Dan Ige, left, punches Diego Lopes during a 165-pound catchweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 303, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. Ige replaced Brian Ortega, who withdrew from the bout due to illness. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

LAS VEGAS — An illness forced Brian Ortega to withdraw Saturday hours before his scheduled fight with Diego Lopes in the co-main event at UFC 303, and Dan Ige was called in as a replacement and narrowly lost by decision.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor Lopes (25-6).

“I’ve said before whoever, wherever, I’ll fight anybody,” Lopes, a Brazilian, said through an interpreter.

READ: Alex Pereira keeps title with TKO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303

Ige (18-8) received a loud ovation from the crowd after his loss for his willingness to step in on short notice.

“I was like, ‘Man, this an opportunity to become a legend,’” Ige said. “This is a story I will tell my grandkids. I’d love to (have won), but man I couldn’t be happier.”

UFC President Dana White said before the bout that it likely would have been called off if Ige hadn’t been available.

“There would have been no other options,” White said.

The match is the warm-up bout to the main event between light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka.

White said Ortega was running a fever and wasn’t ready to go on. Ige, who is from Honolulu but trains in Las Vegas, already was in town preparing for another fight.

READ: Conor McGregor forced to withdraw from UFC 303 due to broken toe

“It’s all about opportunity,” White said. “He jumped at it. Who’s hotter than Lopes right now?”

White joked that Ige likely was sitting on his couch about to order the pay-per-view when he got the call.

Jeff Mullen, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, told ESPN that because Ige fought Feb. 10 in Las Vegas, that made the process smoother to get him approved.



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“We already had his medicals and all his requirements completed,” Mullen said. “It was a perfectly approved matchup. I checked with the attorneys to make sure everything was in order.”

The Ortega-Lopes fight itself was a replacement for a previously scheduled bout. Jamahal Hill had to ask out of his match against Carlos Ulberg because a knee injury in training.

Alex Pereira keeps title with TKO of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303

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Alex Pereira of Brazil stands over Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic during a light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ian Maule/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS — Alex Pereira delivered a vicious left kick to Jiri Prochazka’s head and then pounded the top-ranked challenger 13 seconds into the second round to retain his light heavyweight championship Saturday night in UFC 303.

Pereira (11-2) now has beaten Prochazka (30-5-1) twice since November to end any doubts about who reigns in that weight class.

Most of the drama at UFC 303 occurred outside the octagon in the weekend and even the hours leading up to the event.

READ: UFC 300: Alex Pereira retains title, knocks out Jamahal Hill

Officials had to act quickly after a late change was needed in the co-main event when an illness forced Brian Ortega to drop out. Dan Ige already was in Las Vegas training for another fight and wound up taking on Diego Lopes in the lightweight fight.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor Lopes (25-6) of Brazil. Ige (18-8), who is from Honolulu but lives in Las Vegas, was cheered loudly for showing up with little notice.

The UFC also scrambled to pair Pereira and Prochazka after scheduled headliner Conor McGregor’s broken toe forced him to withdraw. They were given about two weeks to prepare after Pereira had his Australia vacation disrupted and Prochazka was interrupted while at a three-day meditation retreat.

Even without McGregor, this fight could have been the richest in UFC history. A packed crowd of 18,881 that included New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, sitting next to former Green Bay Packers teammate Marcedes Lewis, watched. Lewis now plays tight end for the Chicago Bears.

Pereira and Prochazka engaged in a lengthy stare-down that carried through Bruce Buffer’s fighter introductions and referee Herb Dean’s instructions.

READ: UFC 295: Pereira is light heavyweight champ, Aspinall wins interim heavyweight title

Both fighters spent the opening round feeling each other out, but there was a strong hint of what was to come as it ended. Pereira knocked down Prochazka with a left hand, but it occurred after the bell.

Then Pereira finished the job to open the second round.

The bout was a rematch from Nov. 11 at New York’s Madison Square Garden when Pereira won the championship with a technical knockout at 4:08 of the second round to claim the vacated light heavyweight champion.



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Then Pereira cemented his hold on the belt by beating previous title holder Jamahal Hill with a first-round stoppage in UFC 300 on April 13 in Las Vegas. On the same card, Prochazka recorded a second-round TKO of Aleksandar Rakic to put himself in position for the earlier-than-expected rematch.

Mayra Bueno Silva (10-4-1) suffered a gash so big in her bantamweight fight that the ring doctor called the fight at 1:58 of the second round in favor of Macy Chiasson (11-3). Blood poured down Silva’s face, who asked to continue.

A door opens for Marinduque gal

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Jamie Solina during the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The inaugural PVL Rookie Draft, as expected, attracted some of the best talents from the UAAP and NCAA.

But lurking alongside those familiar names from prestigious universities in the country’s capital are unheralded players looking to pursue their dreams of breaking through in the league.

One of those aspirants is Jamie Solina, a 23-year-old setter out of Marinduque State University, who took the first step to reaching her goal through the Rookie Draft Combine held recently to allow teams to see what the 47-strong pool has to offer.

But Solina, who has drastically less experience than the others from her class, knows how slim her chance can be.

“When I passed my requirements [for the Draft], I said to myself ‘no expectations,’” Solina said in Filipino. “Because we all know that the other applicants will be from the UAAP and NCAA so when I saw that I was among those accepted, it was an answered prayer.”

“I didn’t expect that the list of accepted applicants will be posted [online] and I was shocked at the other names with me on the list so I started doubting my decision to continue because the others are way stronger,” she added.

And Solina, who unsurprisingly looks up to Jia de Guzman, wasn’t wrong about that with the names in the hat filled with stalwarts from formidable collegiate programs to national team members.

Those applying to be playmakers include Arellano’s Donnalyn Paralejas, Adamson’s Nikka Yandoc and Angelica Alcantara, Filipino-Canadian Nathali Ramacula, who also plays as a libero from Red River College Polytechnic, and one of the strongest bets Julia Coronel from La Salle and Alas Pilipinas.

Solina actually spent a lot of her childhood in Manila, transferring to different cities before an unexpected problem forced her family to move to Marinduque.

But her love for the sport remained the same as she continued playing and returned to Manila to finish her senior high school before the pandemic prevented her from trying out for a UAAP or NCAA school and she had to go back to the province.

But Solina pushed through, bringing with her to Manila the support of her kababayans (provincemates), coaches and teammates and dedication to improve herself.

Solina DIY-ed a bulk of that self-improvement, training herself by doing drills she learned as a senior high school student and adding to that by asking for more advanced workout programs from former teammates still in Manila.



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“They told me to continue pursuing the Draft because this is an opportunity that I have been waiting for a long time … and no matter what happens they still have my back,” said Solina. “Me being a fan of professional volleyball players has helped [motivate] me to try and join the PVL Draft.”

Nathalie Ramacula chases childhood dream with PVL Draft chance

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PVL Draft aspirant Nathalie Ramacula. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — After her aborted UAAP stint, the Filipino-Canadian libero Nathalie Ramacula seeks to fulfill her childhood dream as one of the 47 aspirants hoping to be selected in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft on July 8 at Novotel.

Ramacula flew all the way from Canada back to Manila as she tries to complete her unfinished business nine years after she last played in the country when she was 15 years old.

“I did my residency with UE, and then unfortunately, I was gonna be playing sa UAAP but then I had to go to Canada,” Ramacula told reporters in the Draft Combine on Wednesday at GameVille Ball Park.

READ: Teams begin plotting PVL Draft strategies

Veteran setter Chie Saet discovered the Red River College Polytechnic product in Grade 8 before she went to UE. However, her collegiate stint in Canada was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My journey po, I started playing in grade 5. I got recruited by coach Chie Saet when I was in grade 8 then I went to Canada and I played to clubs there as well. I went to nationals as well and college,” Ramacula said. “Unfortunately, it was COVID so I had to stop for a bit and then I had to come back again for PVL.”

Despite the pitstops in her volleyball career, Ramacula won’t stop chasing her dream to play in the PVL even though she attended the Draft Combine still feeling the effects of jet lag. 

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

“I applied because this is my dream like my big dream kasi since bata pa po ako ito na po or yung UAAP yung pinaka dream ko so I’m thankful po na [nabigyan ng chance magpadraft],” she said. “Hopefully, I did best because I’m a bit jetlagged kasi po three days ago kakarating ko lang din po so medyo I’m still adjusting sa time.”

“What I can offer is my big motivation po like I can motivate each one of the team as well. Being a [vocal] libero I hope to give my best for the team.”

Ramacula is one of the two Filipino-Canadian players with libero Aleiah Torres of Brock University, hoping to be part of the 12 PVL teams in the Reinforced Conference starting on July 16.



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Bronny James to wear No. 9 jersey with Lakers

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Bronny James will be wearing the jersey No. 9 with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. –LAKERS

MANILA, Philippines—Things are getting clearer when it comes to Bronny James’ stint in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Lakers with his father LeBron.

In his first season in the NBA, Bronny James will be donning the No. 9 as announced by the Lakers a day after he was picked in the second round of this year’s NBA Draft.

Bronny was selected 55th overall, a historic feat that made buzz all around the world.

READ: Bronny James, LeBron’s son, picked by Lakers in NBA Draft

Bronny’s selection signaled the first-ever father-and-son duo playing together in the NBA with league legend LeBron still under contract with the Lakers.

However, LeBron still hasn’t picked up his player option amounting to 51.4 million dollars for the 2024-25 season but Bronny’s selection may change that decision into a positive one for the Lakers.

“LeBron has a decision on his opt-out… but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made,” team manager Rob Pelinka said.

“And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”

READ: NBA: After drafting Bronny James, Lakers hope to lock down LeBron next

The last time the Lakers saw someone in action with the No. 9 was Sterling Brown two seasons ago. Before him was Rajon Rondo, the last No. 9 to wear the Laker kit and win a title at the same time.

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht, the other Los Angeles rookie, will be wearing No. 4.



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Nick Van Exel, who used the jersey No. 9 in his time with the Lakers, approved of Bronny’s jersey number choice to which LeBron couldn’t help but react.

“That’s so TOUGH!! Nick the Quick was SO COLD!!!!!” LeBron posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Grave of legendary boxer Pancho Villa undergoes restoration

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National artist for sculpture Frederic Caedo (left) and portrait artist Rudy Aquino begin work on Pancho Villa’s grave in Manila. Photos courtesy of Rudy Aquino.

Pancho Villa was the biggest sports celebrity of his time, but the illustrious memory of that greatness was eroded with the neglected state of the legendary Filipino boxer’s grave.

Filipino artists Rudy Aquino and Frederic Caedo took notice of Villa’s forgotten resting place at the Manila North Cemetery and will embark on a noble act of restoring the damaged bust of the boxing hero.

“I decided to visit Villa’s graveyard after seeing its miserable state in social media,’’ said Aquino, a former personal portrait artist for boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

The Philippine News Agency post tugged at Aquino’s heartstrings as it showed photos of the defaced monument that immortalized the first Filipino world boxing champion.

READ: Before Pacquiao there was Pancho Villa 

Trash, which included a wash basin, dirty kitchen utensils and an old helmet, further messed up the area, part of which is likewise occupied by informal settlers.

“I politely asked them (informal settlers) to remove the extension kitchen and other trash,’’ said Aquino, who was assisted by the occupants themselves in tidying up Villa’s burial ground.

Fame came to Villa, also known as Franciso Guilledo, after knocking out Jimmy Wilde of Wales in the seventh round of their flyweight bout in New York on June 18, 1923 to become the first Pinoy world boxing champ.

The Brown Bomber, as Villa was popularly called in the United States, defended his title in Brooklyn in May 1924 and in Manila in May 1925.

Villa lost his final trip atop the ring in California on July 4, 1925 after he got tormented by an aching tooth that led to infections causing his death 10 days later at the age of 23. He was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

READ: Losing spell: Philippines left with no reigning boxing world champion

Villa’s name was clearly etched below his bust with gloves on the left side and an angel figure behind it holding a belt declaring him as the world flyweight champion.

Requiring proper conservation and restoration, the bust has a broken jaw and a missing left ear with improperly done paint. Aquino will collaborate with Caedo, a national artist for sculpture, for the complete makeover.

“There are cleaning techniques to remove surface dirt, old paints, grime and stone corrosion to reveal the original surface,” said Aquino, who had done numerous portraits of Pacquiao, especially during the prime of the eight-division world champion.

“However, we can only do simple retouching,” he added.

Aquino intends to reach out to Villa’s family in the US and ask permission for the restoration.

He also plans to seek authorization from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission, the Manila City government and the North Cemetery management.



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:We need to upgrade the bust to metal pouring or a mix of metal and granite,” said Aquino.

Petro Gazz looking at best available players in the draft

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Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara and head of operations Oliver Almadro during the PVL Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz is leaving no stone unturned with the opportunity to get solid acquisitions from the PVL Draft aspirants and free agents who attended the first-ever Draft Combine this week.

Head of volleyball operations Oliver Almadro said Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara took a long hard look at the 47 rookies as well as the 11 free agents to help the Angels in their ‘three-peat’ bid in the Reinforced Conference on July 16.

Although Petro Gazz is picking 10th in the first round, Tsuzurabara had perfect attendance in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park — even the morning session with the free agents.

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

Almadro said their head coach ranked the players during the combine, seeking to pick the best available in their 10th and 20th picks. 

“We’re lookin’bg at who’s the best available players in every position. We will talk about what position will be fit for our team for the next few conferences, for the next years. But Coach Koji’s happy and he’s really ranking every player, every position,” the Petro Gazz executive told reporters.

“These players are talented. Some players nga, hindi pa nakita in the UAAP. Some of them are in the NCAA, and some of them are in the provinces. It just shows that there are really, really lots of talent here in the Philippines. We just have to provide exposure for them to compete with Manila teams.”

Almadro, who coaches the University of the Philippines in the UAAP and Letran in the NCAA, said the pro teams can’t count out the NCAA players and other aspirants from provinces and even abroad. 

READ: Brooke Van Sickle puts PVL on notice with impressive Petro Gazz debut

“For the UAAP, NCAA, I guess it’s about time na magkaroon ng joint league para malaman talaga ‘yung (level of play). Sometimes, ‘yung NCAA, na-uunderrate eh. We know naman that the UAAP is at a much higher level but you cannot underestimate kasi the NCAA players, the provincial players kasi talagang the volleyball here in the country is really growing. The level’s going up,” he said.

Petro Gazz is coming off a bronze finish in the All-Filipino Conference with Brooke Van Sickle emerging as the MVP in her PVL debut.

The Angels are seeking to complete their third straight Reinforced Conference reign, two years after Lindsey Vander Weide led them to a golden repeat.



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“The coaches and the team are really excited going to this conference. We cannot count out other teams. Other teams have good imports also. They have talented players, they are intact,” Almadro said. “Malaking bagay na umabot kami ng Final Four last conference so it’s really a good challenge for us going into this conference. Sana ma-sustain namin ‘yung record or ‘yung laging nagagawa ng Petro Gazz.”