Gretchen Walsh sets 100m butterfly world record at US trials

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Gretchen Walsh swims during the Women’s 100 butterfly semifinals heat Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS — Gretchen Walsh set a world record in the women’s 100-meter butterfly Saturday night, posting a time of 55.18 seconds in a semifinal heat at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Walsh was more than a half-second under world-record pace at the turn and held on to eclipse the mark of 55.48 set by Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I definitely was feeling it,” said Walsh, who considers herself a stronger swimmer in the short-course pool. “I thought I was dying. I didn’t know I was going that fast and, apparently, I took it out too fast.”

READ: McKeown becomes first woman to hold every backstroke world record

Not to worry. Walsh held her left hand over her mouth as she looked at the scoreboard in disbelief, a “WR” beside her name.

“There has been a little bit of a buzz out there,” she said. “I think going into tonight, like I knew it would take a (55) point-4 or I guess point-5, but I didn’t think I was going to do it tonight. I just knew I wanted to go a fast time and now here I am — a world-record holder.”

The 21-year-old Walsh, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who competes for the University of Virginia, still has some work to do to claim a spot on her first Olympic team.

READ: Joseph Schooling, Singapore’s only Olympic champion, retires

In the final Sunday night, she will face a strong field that includes Torri Huske, Regan Smith and Claire Curzan — all of them medalists from the Tokyo Games.

But Walsh feels she can go even faster.

“I still have room to grow in that race,” she said.



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Conor McGregor says he will return to UFC after injury recovery

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FILE – Conor McGregor prepares to fight Dustin Poirier in a UFC 264 lightweight mixed martial arts bout July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. McGregor will not compete in UFC 303 on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. He has indicated he is injured. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

LAS VEGAS — In his first public comments since pulling out of UFC 303 on Thursday because of an undisclosed injury, Conor McGregor called it a postponement rather than a cancellation of his fight with Michael Chandler that had been scheduled for later this month.

McGregor said Saturday that he was injured shortly before his scheduled June 3 news conference in Dublin. The news conference was abruptly canceled, creating speculation that McGregor might not fight in the June 29 bout in Las Vegas.

“The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team,” McGregor posted on X.

READ: Conor McGregor says he’s returning to UFC octagon vs Michael Chandler

“My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!”

Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will face top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in the main event in place of the McGregor-Chandler match.

There also was a change with the co-main event. An injury forced light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill to drop out, and Carlos Ulberg will face replacement Anthony Smith.



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David Benavidez outpoints Gvozdyk for interim WBC belt

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David Benavidez walks to the corner in between rounds during a WBC interim light heavyweight title boxing bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

LAS VEGAS — David Benavidez made the most of his debut in the light heavyweight division, outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Saturday night to win the interim WBC championship belt.

“I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” Benavidez said.

Well, not every round, as Don Trella scored the fight 119-109, Dave Moretti had it 117-111, and Zachary Young scored it 116-112.

READ: David Benavidez wants Canelo Alvarez next after dominant win

That said, Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) controlled much of the fight, playing the role of aggressor while keeping Gvozdyk backpedaling and playing defense.

“I had him hurt a couple of times,” said Benavidez, who landed 42.8% of his punches. “I wasn’t throwing a lot of combinations because I reinjured my hand in the third round. I tore my right ligament four weeks before the fight and I hurt my left hand in camp. I’m proud of myself because I also got a cut three weeks ago and I pushed through and gave the fans a good fight.”

Benavidez — at 27, 10 years younger than Gvozdyk (20-2) — didn’t seem to be affected by moving up a weight class from super middleweight.

By the fourth round, Benavidez was bullying his way into Gvozdyk’s space, while peppering the Ukranian with flurries of combinations. To his credit, Benavidez tactfully chose rounds to work the body, as Gvozdyk seemed to absorb a lot of the early punishment.

Nevertheless, the former super middleweight champion who said he came into the fight weighing 189 pounds never appeared intimidated.

Of the 349 power punches he threw, Benavidez landed 163 (46.7%), including 75 to the body. Gvozdyk connected on just 23.3% of his punches (163 of 699), and just 27.8% of his power punches (108 of 388).

“I obviously wish we got a different decision tonight,” Gvozdyk said. “I wish I had done a little more and been more active in the early rounds of the fight.

“I think the scores were pretty accurate. It was a good fight, a close fight. He was better in the first half of the fight, but I think I started doing better in the second half. I’d love a rematch with him.”

Benavidez closed -500 at BetMGM Sportsbook, which means a bettor would have to wager $500 to win $100.

Next up?

Benavidez showed his boxing skills while his combination punching translated well in the heavier class? A fight that makes the most sense, would be a huge payday for both, and that Benavidez has been in pursuit for, a showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

READ: Canelo Alvarez retains undisputed title, dominates Jamie Munguia

“That’d be a big fight,” said Benavidez, who added he needs to take some time off for his hand to heal. “Now I’m at 175 these are some big boys, I’m looking forward to what’s next in the division. I still can make 168, I have a lot to prove.

“If I can go down to 168, there are big fights at 168. I want the opportunity … if it’s Canelo or whoever, I want the opportunity to be a four-time world champion.”

During his post-fight press conderence, Benavidez had 3-year-old son Anthony stand on the dais and throw a bevy of combinations with fast hands, stealing the show and ending the 10-second display with whom he wants to see step in the ring to face his father next: “Canelo!”

“He’s going to be world champion,” an emotional Benavidez quipped, with a proud smile and tears in his eyes.

The fight was the co-main event, Gervonta “Tank” Davis successfully defending his WBA lightweight championship belt against Frank Martin.



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Both fights were two of four championship bouts highlighting the 100th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The card drew 13,249 fans.

Gervonta Davis knocks out Frank Martin to keep WBA title

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WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis (R) celebrates in a neutral corner after knocking out Frank Martin in the eighth round of a title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Referee Harvey Dock checks on Martin at left. Davis retained his title with an eighth-round knockout. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS — Gervonta “Tank” Davis made a triumphant return to the ring after more than a year away, once again showing why he is one of the top pound-for-pound boxers.

Armed with a punching power not typically associated with a lightweight, Davis made full use if his skills Saturday night in dominating Frank Martin and knocking him out at 1:29 of the eighth round to retain the WBA championship.

“I knew the way he fell he wasn’t getting back up,” Davis said.

READ: Gervonta Davis outclasses Ryan Garcia to remain unbeaten

Davis delivered a right and two lefts to Martin’s face to send the Indianapolis resident to the canvass for his first career loss after he won his first 18 fights. Tank again proved to be one of boxing’s most ferocious punchers, improving to 30-0 — all but two by knockout.

He predicted before the fight an eight-round knockout.

“I was just throwing that out there. Next fight in the first round,” Davis said, smiling.

This fight showed why Davis, a Baltimore native and resident, was a substantial favorite at 7-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

That bout between 29-year-olds headlined the 100th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which has been supplanted by T-Mobile Arena as Las Vegas’ prime spot for combat sports. To mark the occasion, four title fights took place, including the interim WBC light heavyweight championship that David Benavidez won by unanimous decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

READ: Gervonta Davis stops Hector Garcia to keep ‘regular’ WBA title

But there was no doubt who the main attractions were on this night, and that was clear at Wednesday’s press conference. Davis and Martin bantered back and forth during the Wednesday news conference. Then when the two boxers did the traditional poses afterward, Davis pretended to take a swing at Martin. Martin flinched and Davis left the podium laughing.

This was Davis’ first fight since April 22, 2023, when he delivered a devastating left uppercut that handed Ryan Garcia a seventh-round knockout at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia, wearing a shirt that read “Tank’s No. 1 Fan,” congratulated and hugged the champion after the victory over Martin.

The 421-day layoff showed early as Martin won two of the first three rounds, including a right that caught Davis in the face.

That seemed to wake up Davis, who then took over the fight by repeatedly sending Martin into ropes and corners. Davis appeared ready to finish off Martin with several hard blows in the sixth round, bringing the pro-Tank crowd of 13,239 to its feet.

“I had to get in the right range,” Davis said. “He has a decent jab. I had to break him down as the fight was going on.”

Then in the eighth, Davis ended any doubts by charging after Martin early then knocking him out midway through the round. As Martin was being counted out, Davis bounced on the second rung of the ropes, jumped off, and then went to the top cords and did a backflip and stuck the landing.

“I got caught with a shot that I didn’t see,” Martin said. “It came from underneath.”

Benavidez (29-0) made a successful debut in his move up from super middleweight. The Las Vegas resident defeated Gvozdyk (20-2), a Ukraine native who trains in Oxnard, California, by scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.

Alberto Puello (23-0) of the Dominican Republic won the WBC interim super lightweight championship with a split decision over Gary Russell (17-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland. Two judges gave Puello the victory with scores of 115-112 and 114-113 and another had it for Russell 118-109.



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Dominican middleweight champion Carlos Adames (24-1) retained his WBC belt with a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha (24-4-1) of Encino, California. Two judges scored the fight 118-110 and the other had it 119-109.

Heisman Trophy winner and Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was among those in attendance. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and coach Antonio Pierce and owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders also were in the crowd.

Celtics take season’s worth of lessons into Game 5

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) during the first half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

BOSTON — The Celtics picked the most inopportune time to play their worst game of the season.

Boston’s 122-84 Game 4 loss to Dallas had all kinds of superlatives, and none of them were good.

It ended the Celtics’ 10-game playoff win streak. It was the Celtics’ lowest scoring output of the season and marked the first time the Celtics have allowed the Mavericks to eclipse 100 points in the series on a stellar night for Dallas stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic learning in first NBA Finals but not conceding to Celtics

It also reminded the Celtics that putting a championship bow on what has been one of the franchise’s most successful seasons will require the same resilience they’ve shown during a postseason in which they haven’t lost consecutive games.

“It’s a learning lesson, for sure. Got to show up and show out every night. They’re not going to roll over,” Celtics reserve Sam Hauser said. “They’re down 3-1 now. They’re desperate. … They’re not going to make it easy on us.”

As humbling as Game 4’s loss was, history will be on the Celtics’ side for Game 5.

While Friday’s loss was the seventh time that the Celtics have lost by 20 or more points in the finals, they are 5-1 in the previous six.

The game Monday also falls on the 16th anniversary of Boston clinching its last championship in 2008.

“It’s a great opportunity to respond,” said Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, who finished Game 4 with a minus-19 plus-minus – his second-worst of these playoffs and third-worst of his entire playoff career. “We just regroup. We keep our same mentality, and we come out and get ready to fight in another battle on our home floor.”

READ: NBA Finals: Mavericks crush Celtics to avoid sweep

It’s also the latest chance for coach Joe Mazzulla to reinforce the lessons he has tried to instill in his team. Hauser recalled Boston’s Game 3 win when Dallas rallied to cut a 21-point fourth quarter lead to just one with less than four minutes to play.

“The Mavs were on that big run, the start of the fourth there. He came in and said, ‘That was great. That makes us hungrier,’” Hauser said. “He didn’t even focus on the win, he focused on that, which was cool. It keeps all of us grounded and knowing that we have more work to do.”

It was the same tone Mazzulla tried to set during the regular season.

Boston opened the season by winning its first five games before losing in overtime at Minnesota. Postgame Mazzulla expressed excitement for his team experiencing an opponent challenging it to play its best basketball. Following another loss two nights later at Philadelphia, the Celtics reeled off six straight victories.

In February, the Celtics lost on their home court to a Los Angeles Lakers team without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Then Boston reeled off a season-high 11-game win streak.

The Celtics are now just one more bounce-back win away from seeing those instances of adversity bear championship fruit.

If they need any more consolation — each of the Celtics previous three title-winning teams in 1984, 1986 and 2008 all lost with close-out opportunities on the road and then returned to win at home.

“Close-out games are hard. Close-out games are tough,” Brown said. “They always have been like that, and you’ve got to have extreme focus. You’ve got to come out and meet their intensity to finish things out.”

Jayson Tatum is expecting the TD Garden crowd to bring the energy to match the moment.



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“I think it’s going to be as loud as it’s ever been in my seven years of being a Celtic,” he said. “Excited to go back home. Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and compete for a championship on Monday.”

Maliksi makes sure there are no weak links with Bolts

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Meralco Bolts’ Allein Maliksi in during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With four PBA titles under his belt, Meralco gunner Allein Maliksi knows a thing or two about winning where lights shine the brightest and stakes are at their highest.

And he proved just that on Friday night, figuring prominently in the Bolts’ 92-88 Game 5 conquest of defending champion San Miguel Beer that also put the club on the threshold of a historic first championship.

“I remember during my San Mig (Coffee) days, coach Tim Cone would always tell us that a team is only as strong as its weakest link,” he told the Inquirer on the heels of the contest at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“So we just wanted to hold each and everyone accountable. We wanted nobody to be the weakest link,” he wanted.

Maliksi, who won all his first four PBA championships with Cone and the Purefoods franchise, took such a lesson to heart with 22 points to lead—alongside Chris Newsome’s identical output—Meralco’s scorers that night.

‘Dirty work’

His performance was also a triumphant return from a lackluster showing, as he was contributing only 8.3 points in the last three contests before Friday’s duel.

“I have Raymond (Almazan), he motivates me. Cliff (Hodge) and (Chris) New(some) always tell me to stay ready. Bong (Quinto) reminds me to stay positive. We motivate each other, and we lift each other whenever someone’s feeling down,” he said.

Maliksi may have the wealth of championship experience, but he knows that it will take much to pull through this coming Sunday when the Bolts take the first crack at knocking the Beermen off their lofty porch.

“It will take a lot of mind-setting—our willingness to do the dirty work, the littlest of things,” he said. “Close-out games are the hardest to play in a series because the other team will do everything just to stay alive.”

“And we’re playing San Miguel—a veteran team when it comes to stages like this, a championship series. They also have a June Mar Fajardo who is almost automatic (with his baskets).”



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Facing deficit nothing new for deadlock-seeking San Miguel Beer

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June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer is in a precarious, yet familiar predicament which it will try to overcome in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals when it stands up to Meralco’s first of two chances to end its long search for a championship.

Game 6 is set 6:15 p.m. on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the defending champion Beermen will try to solve the woes that allowed the Bolts to seize a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series two nights earlier.

“For sure we will bounce back in the next game,” June Mar Fajardo said as San Miguel eyes a repeat of similar scenarios in past championship runs.

Fell short twice

It’s the fourth time that San Miguel is in a virtual twice-to-win scenario in a Finals in Fajardo’s well-documented career in the big league, eventually hoisting a title on two of those occasions.

The Beermen defeated the Magnolia Hotshots after losing Game 5 to win the 2019 Philippine Cup, before doing the same three years in the same conference by taking down the TNT Tropang Giga.

Fajardo wound up getting the Finals MVP award from the PBA Press Corps on both occasions.

But Fajardo also fell short twice, back in the 2013 Governors’ Cup in his rookie season and when the Beermen were known as the Petron Blaze Boosters, falling short to the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in seven games.

In the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, the Beermen ended up with the runner-up trophy as well after Barangay Ginebra overcame a 2-1 deficit, taking the next three to emerge victorious.



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Trillo: ‘Nobody remembers second place’

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Meralco Bolts in Game 5 of the PBA philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Now that they are within a win of their first-ever PBA championship, the Meralco Bolts are determined to not let a golden opportunity slip away.

Their first chance to close the series out is on Sunday night in Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the franchise that endured so many title heartbreaks can make those defeats a distant memory with another victory over the favored San Miguel Beermen.

“Nobody remembers second place. You got to win one to gain respect,” coach Luigi Trillo said late Friday after the Bolts took Game 5, 92-88, for a 3-2 lead in the series.

History favors Meralco since 15 of 19 teams in the last 12 years that won a Game 5 to take a pivotal advantage in the Finals have gone on to wrest the championship trophy.

But San Miguel is no stranger to overcoming such a precarious deficit, winning the titles in the 2019 and 2022 Philippine Cup against Magnolia and TNT, respectively, in a series-comebacking fashion.

And the Beermen have dug themselves out of an even deeper hole before, erasing a 0-3 deficit in the 2015-2016 Philippine Cup Finals to stun Alaska and emerge victorious.

Clank after clank

The potential clincher or potential setup to a deciding Game 7 will see if the Bolts can finally get the job after falling short in four previous Finals appearances, all against Barangay Ginebra.

Meralco, under the collective tutelage of Trillo, active consultant Nenad Vucinic and the rest of the coaching staff, has practically dictated the tempo of the series with its defense, preventing San Miguel from scoring at least 90 points in all its three wins.

The only time San Miguel even breached the 100-point mark was when the Beermen put up 111 in a Game 4 triumph on Independence Day.

Chris Newsome bucked early struggles to deliver when it mattered most, then got plenty of offensive help—especially from Allein Maliksi, who was fueled by news articles calling out his Game 4 scoring woes and matched the Meralco leader with 22 points.

Also key were the Bolts’ defensive stand, that made the Beermen supporting cast endure clank after clank while leaving June Mar Fajardo to carry the load with his season-high 38 points.

If Meralco once again succeeds in making things uncomfortable for its opponent, while getting shots from multiple sources other than Newsome or any of its key players, it could be a likelihood that the Jun Bernardo Perpetual Trophy could be lifted at game’s end.

“We’re ready,” said Trillo. “It’s our first all-Filipino chance and we have to relish these situations. But we know San Miguel is capable [of coming back].



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“Clearly, [the series] is defined on what they want to do, and it’s defined by what we want to do. But that’s the beauty of it. They have their offense and we have our defense. We just need to be locked in to come out and play.”

PVL draft quality takes hit with Belen

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Bella Belen, left, and Alyssa Solomon during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The absence of National University’s (NU) Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon has left the PVL draft pool rather shallow when it comes to talent, team officials told the Inquirer on Saturday after names of the applying rookies were made available to the public.

“It’s not as deep as hoped,” a team official said, a sentiment echoed by several others regarding the pool that will be spearheaded by Alas Pilipinas players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel of La Salle and dependable Adamson outside spikers Lucille Almonte and Ishie Lalongisip.

Turnout high

But some PVL coaches are positive that the number of players who applied for the draft is something that could make an impact for teams.

“We’re happy because at least the turnout of applicants was high,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said. “We hope more will apply next time.”

PLDT will pick eighth in the draft, with Ricafort looking more at a player’s behavior to help a roster hit by injuries. “When it comes to qualities of players, we’re looking for those who are coachable and have good attitudes,” Ricafort said. “We’re trying to fill in positions where we are lacking. We have a lot of players who are injured or in recovery.”

“The 47 draftees are good and it all depends on the needs of the team,” said Creamline tactician Sherwin Meneses. “For our choice, it will all depend on whoever is still available for the 12th pick.”

Belen and Solomon, sources told the Inquirer, are running it back with the Lady Bulldogs next UAAP season, where NU will go after its third crown in four years.

The Inquirer reached out to Belen and NU coach Norman Miguel for comments but they have not responded as of press time.

The PVL will be holding its first Rookie Draft in history with the league’s 12 teams hoping to fill roster spots from among the 47 players that signed up for selection.

Apart from Gagate and Coronel, fellow Lady Spikers Maicah Larroza and Leila Cruz also applied for the draft, along with Adamson opposite spiker AA Adolfo. Ateneo libero Roma Mae Doromal and Santo Tomas’ Pierre Abellana also threw their names in the pool.



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Team USA, Japan arrive for VNL in Manila

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Team USA arriving in Manila for the VNL competition hosted by the country. –PH VOLLEYBALL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) fever is on as fan favorites the United States and Japan arrived in Manila on Saturday.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) shared that the competing men’s teams in its third consecutive hosting of the VNL have landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Team USA, led by ace setter Micah Christenson, is set for its Manila debut, receiving a warm welcome from its Filipino fans at the airport.

READ: VNL: A primer on a world-class tournament

The Americans will debut on Wednesday against Iran at Mall of Asia Arena, 7 p.m.

Japan, bannered by Ran Takahashi, Yuki Ishikawa, and Yuji Nishida, also arrived on Saturday afternoon for its third consecutive Manila stint.

The Japanese highlight the opening day of the third leg on Tuesday against Canada, which landed in Manila earlier, at 8:30 p.m. The Netherlands and Brazil raise the curtains at 5 p.m.

READ: MOA Arena to host 2024 VNL Manila leg

Alas Pilipinas men’s squad was supposed to take on Japan in a friendly but PNVF announced it won’t push through “due to unforeseen circumstances that have impacted its preparation and scheduling.”

“Our commitment to delivering an exciting volleyball experience remains unwavering. Please stay tuned to our official channels for updates on future events,” the PNVF wrote on Friday. “In the meantime, join us for Week 3 of VNL 2024 from June 18-23 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. We look forward to seeing you cheer your hearts out!”

Germany and France are also part of the third VNL in Manila.



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