Tag: bout today

Latvia’s Porzingis to have surgery, out of OQT and Paris Olympics

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FILE– Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics will not be available for Latvia for the Paris Olympics. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/AFP

Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis will miss next month’s Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) and the Paris Olympics–assuming Latvia qualifies–after opting to have surgery on a leg injury, the NBA team announced on Tuesday.

The Latvian power forward suffered a “rare” leg injury in game two 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.

READ: Celtics’ Porzingis out of Game 3 of the NBA Finals

Porzingis suffered a 38-day layoff after injuring his right calf in April, before coming off the bench to play in game one of the NBA Finals for the Celtics.

He played in game two but suffered a “torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg”.

That injury ruled him out of games three and four, although he returned from the bench to play 16 minutes in game five as the Celtics wrapped up a 4-1 series victory.

World No. 6 Latvia is hosting the OQT from July 2-7 in Riga and will play Gilas Pilipinas on July 4.



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Julia Coronel looms as a prime PVL Draft catch

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

As if her schedule isn’t jampacked as it is with a commitment to the Alas Pilipinas team and the completion of her degree at La Salle, former Lady Spikers captain Julia Coronel is also set to turn pro after joining the first-ever PVL Rookie Draft.

After deciding to forego her remaining UAAP eligibility years, the 5-foot-6 playmaker is taking on a new challenge and swears that she’s ready for it.

“This is a different experience,” Coronel told the Inquirer with a mix of Filipino on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City during the Draft Combine where she got to play against La Salle teammates Thea Gagate and Maicah Larroza in scrimmages.

Coronel was a part of the formidable La Salle crew under coach Ramil de Jesus, which for the last three seasons landed podium finishes including a championship in Season 85.

“[Everything is] happening a bit too fast for me, but I am just here taking on every challenge that comes and I will try to do my best in every situation that will be given to me,” she said.

It is with the national team that Coronel crossed off a longtime dream of playing alongside veteran setter Jia de Guzman, something which greatly influenced her decision to turn pro.

“It was unexpected, because I never imagined being teammates with [De Guzman] cause I’ve been looking up to her for the longest time,” Coronel said. “I got to learn from her, from one of the best from our country.

“I really learned a lot [from her], which I am excited to apply hopefully in my future pro team,” she added.

National team first

With a standout resume, Coronel, who also made her versatility as an opposite hitter known, said a few PVL teams have already reached out to her, though nothing is final yet until the July 8 Draft.

She made it known, though, that on top of her commitments list is playing for the national team.

“With that hectic schedule, I would really say that I have to compromise, but my priority is the national team for the time being,” she said. “I hope that my future PVL team will also be understanding of that because I am not there just to play but to also serve our country.

“It’s still national team period, so once that is over, that’s when I’ll be fully committed [to my future PVL team].”

Coronel has stood out in the two-day combine after exhibiting her leaping abilities by logging a 27.78 inch standard vertical jump—the best in the class.

Given her productive years in the UAAP, Coronel looms as a sure first round pick and has promised to do her job right.



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“To the team that will pick me, I am a versatile player so whatever is needed of me, I am willing to fulfill that,” Coronel said.

B.League expands reach with more countries for Asia special quota

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FILE–Former SanEn NeoPhoenix player Thirdy Ravena is among the trail blazers of the Asian Special quota in the Japabn B.League.–Photo from B.League

MANILA, Philippines—The Japan B.League is expanding its horizons with a new rule on Asian players’ special quota.

In a statement released by the league on Wednesday, the B.League said it has “decided to expand the Asia special quota for the 2024-25 season.”

The new rule means that players from countries like Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Malaysia, to name a few, can now be signed in a B.League team, giving more opportunities to aspiring Asian swingmen.

READ: Thirdy Ravena happy to see Filipinos thrive in B.League

“The Japan Professional Basketball League is pleased to announce that it has decided to expand the Asia special quota for the 2024-25 season. The new quota includes Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and India,” the statement read.

“Together with the existing quota for China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the Asia special Quota will apply to players with nationalities from a total of 13 countries and regions.”

Several Filipino players have been beneficiaries of the B.League’s Asian quota rule.

READ: Thirdy Ravena, San-En win breakthrough B.League conference title

Established in the 2021 season, the B.League opened doors for Filipino imports such as Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and Kai Sotto, who are still actively in the league.

“This [Asian quota] is a system established from the 2020-21 season for the purpose of improving players’ competitive abilities to global standards and expanding the B. LEAGUE’s market in Asia.”

The rule states that other than three foreign players, either naturalized players or Asian special quota players can also join, not adding up the three-import count.

In the B.League’s last season, the Asian quota covered just five countries in China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.



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The Hiroshima Dragonflies won the title after defeating the Ryukyu Golden Kings. Both teams had Filipino players Sotto and Carl Tamayo.

Ray Parks embarks on ‘new chapter’ with Osaka Evessa

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FILE–Filipino import Ray Parks during a B.League game.–Photo from Nagoya Dolphins

MANILA, Philippines—Bobby Ray Parks Jr. has joined Osaka Evessa during the Japan B.League offseason frenzy.

Evessa revealed on Wednesday that Parks Jr. signed with Evessa weeks after the Filipino import left his previous team Nagoya.

Parks expressed excitement for the new chapter in his B.League career as he inks a new deal with Osaka.

READ: Ray Parks, Nagoya reach B.League semis, Kiefer’s Shiga back in B1

“Looking forward to this new chapter. [I’m] excited to represent the city of Osaka, the fans, and the organization. Come out and support us with all of your hearts,” said the former TNT swingman, who was earlier reported to be negotiating an extension with the Diamond Dolphins.

In his three-year stretch with Nagoya, they never missed the B.League Playoffs. They got bounced out of the semifinals last season.

The 31-year-old baller out of National University averaged 8.74 points, 3.66 rebounds and 2.12 assists per game for the Diamond Dolphins in his last go-around for Nagoya.

Parks Jr. will now bolster an Evessa squad that finished with 25-35 card last season.



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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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Josh Giddey embraces fresh start with Bulls

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Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey plays during an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

CHICAGO — Josh Giddey is looking forward to a fresh start in Chicago.

The 6-foot-8 guard from Australia confirmed Tuesday he did not want to come off the bench for Oklahoma City and insisted he appreciated Thunder general manager Sam Presti’s honesty leading up to the trade to the Bulls last week for Alex Caruso.

“I’m 21 years old, it wasn’t something that I was overly eager to do,” Giddey said during a videoconference. “He completely understood. And just throughout the whole process, we were open and honest with each other. And I said to him, ’Look, coming off the bench at this point in my career, it’s not something I’m trying to do and take a reserve role. He got it. And we worked together through the whole process, and he got me to a great spot.”

READ: NBA: Josh Giddey didn’t want to come off the bench, prompting trade

Giddey is coming off a challenging season in which his numbers dropped and he lost his starting job in the playoffs. He goes from a team that went 57-25 to earn the top seed in the NBA Western Conference and reached the conference semifinals with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren leading the way to one that missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Giddey said he hasn’t discussed his specific role with the Bulls, though it’s hard to envision him coming off the bench in Chicago if he didn’t want to do it in Oklahoma City.

Presti said in a statement last week that the Thunder saw him in a reserve role next season in order “to maximize his many talents and deploy our team more efficiently over 48 minutes.” He said Giddey had a tough time with that idea and asked to be traded.

“The one thing about him that I really respect is his transparency,” Giddey said. “And he’s very open and honest with players and especially with me throughout this whole process.”

Giddey was the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 and he made the All-Rookie second team. He is a member of Australia’s national team that will play at the Paris Olympics this summer. He is an exceptional passer and his size makes him a solid rebounder.

READ: NBA: Thunder trade Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso

Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his second season, but those numbers dropped to 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 2023-24.

Giddey was also often booed on the road after an anonymous social media user accused him of having an improper relationship with an underage girl, leading to investigations by police in Newport Beach, California, and the NBA.

Newport Beach police completed their investigation in January and said detectives were “unable to corroborate any criminal activity.” The NBA also later dropped its investigation.

“I completely understand the question and I know you’ve got to ask as part of your job, but I’m not going to comment on anything regarding that situation,” Giddey said.

The trade for Giddey was the first move in what could be a busy offseason for Chicago, which owns the No. 11 pick in the draft on Wednesday. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas vowed to make changes after the team he constructed finished 39-43.

Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is a free agent. Zach LaVine might be dealt after playing in just 25 games before having season-ending foot surgery, though the five-year, $215.16 million extension he signed following the 2021-22 season could make him tough to move.

It’s not quite clear how the guard rotation will play out with Giddey added to a mix that includes Coby White coming off a breakout season and Ayo Dosunmu in a key role. Lonzo Ball could also figure into it, though he’s been sidelined since January 2022 because of a left knee injury. He has said he expects to be ready for the season opener.

Giddey said he didn’t discuss with the front office if the Bulls were retooling or undergoing a major overhaul.



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“In terms of what direction the franchise is going, I haven’t asked any questions,” he said. “I’ve just kind of bought into whatever happens here, happens. And, I’ll probably play my part in helping our team be as good as we can be right from the jump.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick hopes to create great content with LeBron

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JJ Redick speaks after being introduced as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball team Monday, June 24, 2024, in El Segundo, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

EL SEGUNDO, California — JJ Redick says his extraordinary hiring as the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach means the end of his podcast with LeBron James.

Redick hopes they’ll be able to produce much more compelling content next season in a new incarnation of their partnership, chasing an NBA championship together with the Lakers.

The Lakers formally introduced Redick as their coach on Monday, which also happened to be the 15-year NBA veteran’s 40th birthday.

In a news conference with general manager Rob Pelinka at the Lakers’ training complex, Redick humorously embraced the unlikeliness of his extraordinary hire as he looked across a gym filled with team employees, media members and some of his new players.

“I have never coached in the NBA before,” Redick said with a straight face. “I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”

READ: NBA: Lakers hiring JJ Redick as their new head coach

Redick’s coaching experience is confined to volunteering with his sons’ youth teams, but he plans to overcome that yawning gap with encyclopedic basketball knowledge, personal charisma, an experience-packed coaching staff and an eagerness to innovate.

“This process has been surreal, to say the least,” Redick said. “I take this responsibility very seriously.. … The Lakers have some of the most passionate fans around the world, and the expectation is a championship, and so it’s my job to deliver a championship-caliber team. That’s what I signed up for.”

Redick also said he got this opportunity with no help or advice from James, who must decide this week whether to exercise his player option to return to the Lakers next season or to become a free agent.

Although Redick didn’t break any news, he spoke extensively about the way he hopes to deploy James next season with the Lakers — including shooting more 3-pointers to capitalize on his high percentage.

Redick said he didn’t speak with James at all about Los Angeles’ lengthy coaching search until a 15-minute conversation after the Lakers offered the job to him last Thursday. But Redick has spoken extensively with fellow Lakers star Anthony Davis, who was more involved than James in the team’s hiring process.

Redick and James won’t be speaking on microphone together anytime soon, however: Redick acknowledges that he’ll have to stop recording their podcast.

READ: NBA: Dan Hurley turns down Lakers offer, will stay UConn

“For the time being — and hopefully it’s a very, very long time — I am excommunicated from the content space,” Redick said. “There will be no podcasts. We’ll do something when I have a breather from what I have coming up. I’m gonna be drinking from a firehose for the next month.”

The Lakers reached an agreement with Redick last week, about two weeks after UConn coach Dan Hurley turned down a lucrative offer to jump to the NBA from the back-to-back defending national champion Huskies. Neither Redick nor Hurley has ever coached in the NBA.

Redick said he met with Pelinka before the Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley, and he was on broadcast duty for ESPN while the saga played out.

“At no point was my ego or feelings hurt or bruised in any way,” Redick said. “Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the third- and fourth-grade division. I understood, you know?”

Redick played 15 NBA seasons for six teams as a productive shooting guard after a four-year career at Duke. He became the Blue Devils’ career scoring leader under Mike Krzyzewski.

After he retired in 2021, Redick embarked on a media career. In just the past several months, he started the “Mind the Game” podcast with James while also ascending to ESPN’s top commentary team, working the NBA Finals this month. Yet Redick realized last year that he wanted to be an NBA head coach after interviewing for the job in Toronto, and he has since spoken at length to top coaches about every aspect of their jobs.

Redick’s insightful podcast with James opened many eyes about Redick’s understanding of the game, and his name arose as a viable — albeit unorthodox — candidate to replace Darvin Ham, who had been fired May 3.

Ham was dismissed by Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss despite leading the Lakers to two winning seasons, the 2023 Western Conference finals and a victory in the inaugural In-Season Tournament. The Lakers lost to defending champion Denver in the first round of the postseason, and they won just one game in two playoff series against the Nuggets over the past two years.

“I think in industry in general and in sports in specific, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in patterns of being in a sea of sameness, and doing the same things everybody else is doing,” Pelinka said. “When we embarked on this search, it was really important for us to see if we could do something a little bit different.”



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Lakers players including Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood and Gabe Vincent attended the news conference.

Redick spoke optimistically about the Lakers’ roster, saying championship expectations are “reasonable. I don’t look at the current roster as being that far off from being a championship-caliber team.”

JJ Redick confirmed as new Lakers coach

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Former NBA player JJ Redick  (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Former NBA player-turned-pundit J.J. Redick says he is ready for the challenge of taking the Los Angeles Lakers back to the pinnacle of the NBA after being confirmed as the new head coach of the 17-time champions.

Redick, who spent 15 years in the NBA as a player before joining ESPN in 2021 as an analyst, was formally unveiled on Monday as the successor to Darvin Ham, who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round playoff defeat to Denver.

Redick’s appointment to such a high-profile position, which was first reported last week, has raised eyebrows across the NBA given his lack of coaching experience.

The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged those concerns in remarks to reporters on Monday, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been “surreal.”

“This process has been surreal to say the least,” Redick said, before thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me in this position.”

“I take this responsibility very seriously,” Redick said. “I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 47-35 record but were unable to threaten Denver in the opening round of the playoffs.

Redick said he was under no illusions about the scale of the rebuilding task before him.

“I know what the expectations are,” Redick said. “Lakers fans have some of the most passionate fans around the world. And the expectation is a championship.

“So that’s my job. It’s our staff’s job … It’s on all of us to to deliver a championship-caliber team.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said Redick had been appointed after a “thoughtful and thorough search process.”

“J.J. is a fierce competitor and has an extraordinary basketball IQ and understanding of the modern game that will energize players and excite fans,” Pelinka said.

“He brings an intense dedication to innovation, advancing the game and staying at the forefront of an ever-evolving league…this is an exciting time for Lakers basketball.”

Media reports say Redick has been appointed on a four-year deal.

It came after the Lakers were rejected by highly rated University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, who opted to remain in college basketball.

Redick has a close relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a podcast, and the Lakers are clearly hoping that bond will help turn the team back into title contenders.



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During his NBA playing career, Redick averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game over 940 contests from 2006-2021 with Orlando, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Gilas Pilipinas beats Taiwan Mustangs in tune-up before OQT

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Dwight Ramos leads Gilas Pilipinas past Taiwan Mustangs in a tune-up game ahead of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the Paris Games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas rolled past Taiwan Mustangs on Monday night, 74-64, kicking off its build-up for the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament on a positive note.

Dwight Ramos had 19 points to lead the Nationals who are priming for the short meet that will complete the field in the Summer Olympic Games that will be held in Paris, France.

Justin Brownlee, fresh from plying his trade in Indonesia, delivered 12 points and 15 rebounds in a wire-to-wire victory fashioned before over 5,000 spectators at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

READ: Gilas loses Scottie to old injury, will fly with only 11 men to Latvia

“Well you know, we weren’t concerned about winning a basketball game, we wanted to play a certain style. And I think we did a really good job,” Gilas coach Tim Cone said shortly after the triumph over a visiting crew led by former PBA players Alex Cabagnot and Rashawn McCarthy.

“We got a lot of work to do but we have time. We got a lot of work to do ahead of us … We’ll just continue to get better and better as we move forward,” he went on.

Gilas will now set its sights on a pair of friendlies in Europe. The Filipinos fly to Turkey on Tuesday night where they will take on the host national team then move to Poland before plunging into action in the OQT in Riga where World No. 6 and host Latvia and No. 23 Georgia await.

Kai Sotto had nine points and nine rebounds, June Mar Fajardo chipped in eight points, while Carl Tamayo and skipper Japeth Aguilar combined for 13 in the scoring effort.

READ: Gilas plays tuneup matches before OQT

Gilas stuck with just 11 players as Roger Pogoy, a former national team gunner, joined the crowd as a spectator. He was with the team in its short closed-door camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna a few days ago.

Cone said he will be sticking with that roster number with Fajardo finally activated and Amos completing the cast as a replacement.

Jamie Malonzo, AJ Edu and Scottie Thompson are all sidelined by injury.



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Oscar Lopez, who served the Cambodian national team during the Southeast Asian Games in the past, had 15 points, Cabagnot tossed in 13, while McCarthy 12 for the Mustangs who were coached by former Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina.