Tag: betting bonus

Spain advances to knockout round at Euro 2024, beating Italy

On: By: admin


Spain’s Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates after Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori, right, lies face down on the pitch after scoring an own goal during a Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 football tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany— Europe beware — Spain might just be back.

The three-time European champion advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against holders Italy on Thursday.

A 55th-minute own goal by Riccardo Calafiori settled the Group B game at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. But that didn’t begin to tell the full story of a statement performance from Spain, which surely marks it as one of the favorites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship.

“I think it was the best Spain performance I have taken charge of,” coach Luis de la Fuente said. “I don’t see a ceiling on this team. The sky is the limit.”

READ; Mbappe breaks nose in France Euro 2024 win

Spain totally dominated defending champion Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of football’s most exciting young stars.

Player of the match Nico Williams also tormented Italy’s defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring in the second half.

It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn’t prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal.

“They deserved to win and we were never in the game,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said. “There was too much of a gulf. We were constantly stretched, we were never able to squeeze the gaps between the various units and they were able to cause us problems. They caused us more problems than the score line suggests, let’s not beat around the bush.”

READ: Spain removes word ‘women’ from national team name to show conceptual shift

Spain produced a throwback performance that brought to mind the years when it ruled international football when winning back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 through 2012.

Having failed to dominate possession for the first time in 136 competitive games in its opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain was back to its old ways in starving Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided game.

Chances came thick and fast in the first half, with Donnarumma pulling off a number of saves to keep the score goalless.

For all of Spain’s superiority, it took Calafiori’s own goal to break the deadlock after halftime.

Donnarumma pushed Alvaro Morata’s glancing header into the legs of Calafiori, who could only watch as the ball rebounded into the back of the net.

Williams was then millimeters away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit the bar.

“We dominated across the board,” Williams said. “Italy are an excellent side but we played very well and deserved to win.”

Williams is just one of the bright young stars in De la Fuente’s team. Yamal is another and the Barcelona teenager, who has a $1 billion buyout clause, showcased his talents with slaloming runs and tricks.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri looks like the modern-day answer to Spain great Andres Iniesta.

“I want to underline the quality of this generation of players, particularly those in this squad. Spanish players are the best in the world,” De la Fuente said.

Spain has endured frustrating times since it last won the Euros in 2012, with early exits from the last three World Cups.

At the last Euros, it lost on penalties to Italy in the semifinals.

But there have been signs of its resurgence in recent times, having won the UEFA Nations League last year.

Now it looks well-positioned to push for another major title in Germany.

“Essentially we haven’t achieved anything yet,” De la Fuente said. “Football can be very cruel. We have to be cautious, humble and show resect.”

England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored and then made a mistake that led to the Danes’ leveler. Kane struck a record-extending 64th goal for his country to fire England ahead in Frankfurt. But his loose pass then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from long range.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

In the other Group C game, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia against Slovenia.

England leads the group on four points and is likely to advance to the round of 16.

EJ Obiena’s Olympics stint ‘just a bonus’ for dad Emerson

On: By: admin


FILE–Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

MANILA, Philippines—Amid all his son EJ’s achievements so far, Emerson Obiena feels like a second stint in the Olympics feels like “just a bonus.”

Emerson, who was in attendance during the Philippine Airlines’ special dinner for the country’s Paris-bound athletes for the 2024 Olympics at Century Park Hotel on Wednesday, said he is already immensely proud of his son even before the Paris Summer Games where his EJ gets another shot at a historic medal.

“Well, to tell you the truth, this is just a bonus,” said Emerson in Filipino. “My dream when I started teaching pole vaulting was to develop world-class athletes. I’m already very proud of the achievements he’s made.”

READ: EJ Obiena nabs gold in Poland tilt as Paris Olympics looms

Emerson wasn’t just a father to EJ in his early years of training to become a world class pole vaulter.

After achieving triumph during his heyday as a pole vaulter himself, even winning a medal in the 1993 Southeast Asian Games, Emerson turned to training EJ to become where he is now as the world No. 2

From his humble beginnings at University of Santo Tomas to the world stage, Emerson has been behind EJ all the way.

But even Emerson acknowledged the up-and-down season that EJ’s been having this year with just a few weeks to go before the Paris Olympics late in July.

READ: EJ Obiena embraces responsibility as Asia’s top track and field athlete

If he had anything to say about it, having a rocky stint is normal for an athlete, especially considering EJ’s equipment mishaps in the past.

“In his past competitions, his problem was his equipment,” explained Emerson.

“Maybe somewhere along the way, they had a mishandling or an accident with the equipment so he wasn’t ready for those. His falls were dangerous,” he added.

Emerson also revealed that EJ’s hips were stretched during the season but it was nothing serious.

READ: The difference between EJ Obiena and Mondo Duplantis

It seems like EJ is still fairing well with the competition despite his hardships, winning gold in the Irena Szewinska Memorial on Friday with his highest jump of the year at 5.97 meters.

While the season has been rocky for EJ, Paris will be a different beast and Emerson acknowledged one of the athletes that EJ will be facing in France in a few weeks.

And Emerson knows all eyes will be on world No. 1 Mondo Duplantis.

“Anything can happen when it comes to game time. Until it’s over, you have to have hope. Mondo is one of the greatest. His caliber is far from the usual pole vaulters.”

“However, as you know, people make mistakes. Sometimes they have ups or downs so we can’t say what can happen there [in Paris]. I’m just hoping. Whatever color the medal is, it’s okay with me and I’ll be happy.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Before Paris, EJ will compete in Poznan, Poland on Sunday, Manila time.

EJ Obiena nabs gold in Poland tilt as Paris Olympics looms

On: By: admin


EJ Obiena wins gold in the Irena Szewinska Memorial in Poland. –WORLD ATHLETICS

MANILA, Philippines–EJ Obiena continued his season by reigning victorious in his most recent conquest in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Friday (Manila time).

Not only did he snag gold in the Irena Szewinska Memorial, but the Filipino pole vaulter also registered his highest jump of the year at 5.97m.

Obiena expressed his excitement over winning gold while competing in Poland with hometown bet Paweł Wojciechowski.

READ: EJ Obiena bounces back with pole vault silver in Norway tilt

“I am extremely happy to have shared this [trophy] with friends and especially @wojciechowski_pv (Pawel) as he bids his farewell to his home fans,” wrote the Tokyo Olympian.

“We hold the despedida! Poznan is still to come!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Athletics (@worldathletics)

According to Obiena’s post, it was Wojciechowski who invited him to compete in the Szewinska Memorial.

Emmanouil Karalis of Greece won silver after clearing 5.92m while home bet Piotr Lisek rounded up the podium with 5.75m cleared.

READ: EJ Obiena wins gold in Croatia to begin 2024 season

With just a few weeks away from the Paris Olympics, Obiena will continue his season with more competition before the quadrennial sporting event in France.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Next up for Obiena is a competition in Poznan with just two days to prepare.

“Til’ next time! Now some much needed rest and we go again to Poznan on the 23rd!” wrote Obiena.

Team USA overcomes Brazil for first win in Manila

On: By: admin


Team USA’s TJ Defalco goes for a hit during a VNL 2024 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — TJ Defalco connected to Micah Christenson’s brilliant playmaking as USA earned its first win in Manila after staving off Brazil in five sets,  25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9, in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on Thursday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Defalco delivered 21 points including the two game-clinching attacks, as Christenson orchestrated USA’s offense with 41 excellent sets to keep themselves in the hunt for the Final Eight with a 4-6 record in 11th place. 

The 27-year-old Defalco also led the Americans’ bounce back from a tough 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13 loss to Iran less than 24 hours ago as his 33-point explosion went for naught. 

READ: VNL 2024: Team USA’s Erik Shoji lauds ‘awesome’ Filipino fans

“That one was tough. We’re in an interesting part right now in USA volleyball. We just come out of every game trying to get better and just trying to play USA volleyball. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re figuring it out and that was a big step for us,” said Defalco, who had 18 kills and three aces.

“Coming out of playing Brazil, you know they’re gonna play hard every single time, and I’m very proud of our team staying in the game. We helped each other out. Brazil’s an amazing team and it feels great to barely pull that one out in five.”

Micah Christenson and Torey Defalco in Team USA's first win in VNL Week 3 in Manila

Micah Christenson and Torey Defalco in Team USA’s first win in VNL Week 3 in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Maxwell Holt finished with 15 points built on nine attacks, four blocks, and two aces that gave USA an 11-6 lead before Defalco put on the finishing touches.

Matt Anderson chipped in 13 points, while Taylor Averill added 11 points to gift their thousands of Filipino fans with a win.

READ: VNL 2024: Micah Christenson, USA grateful for fans’ support in loss

“Very intense five sets against Brazil. They’re always there to come out and play as hard as they can. Our only hope is to match that energy and I feel like we did that tonight,” Defalco said. “A lot of the USA guys are very friendly with Team Brazil because one, they compete really hard when they come to play. Real volleyball all the time. So, it’s very easy to compete and try to get to that level, and they’re at a very high level.”

Defalco also thanked the Filipino fans, who made them feel at home before they take a break on Friday before ending their Week 3 stint against Germany and Japan over the weekend.

Brazil remained as the fourth seed despite dropping to a 6-4 record. Alan Souza carried the team with 26 points. Lukas Bergmann had 19 points, while Lucarelli Souza added 13 points.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Brazil seeks to bounce back against Canada at 3 p.m. on Friday

Another stellar Nimir Abdel-Aziz showing ends in loss

On: By: admin


The Netherlands’ Nimir Abdel-Aziz during a VNL 2024 Week 3 game in Manila. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Another offensive masterpiece of Nimir Abdel-Aziz went for naught as the Netherlands remained winless in Manila in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3.

Abdel-Aziz unleashed 37 points but the Netherlands absorbed its second straight loss to Iran, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10, on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Dutch star, who poured in 38 points in their Week 3 opener loss to Brazil two days ago, had another frustrating night as they remained out of the Final Eight picture with a 3-7 record in 13th place.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

Netherlands coach Roberto Piazza, speaking for Abdel-Aziz, said his player won the battle but Amin Esmaeilnezhad, who led Iran with 29 points for their second straight win, led his triumphant in the war.

“Nimir, he played a good game, but suddenly, Amin played better than Nimir. So, we have to respect that way,” said Piazza of Abdel-Aziz, who fired 27 attacks, nine aces, and a block.

“I have to be honest, I feel bad because we lost against Iran. It was also our leader’s task to keep alive the dream to be in Paris 2024, so I cannot be happy. Of course, they deserve a victory in the end, so I need to say to them ‘bravo’ and I need to think about our next two games,” he added.

READ: VNL 2024: Iran makes it back to back, beats Netherlands in 5 sets

Piazza urges his wards to play better as they hope to collect points to qualify for the Paris Olympics with two VNL games remaining against Japan on Friday and Canada on Saturday.

“I already spoke with the guys. There’s no other thing to do — we have to think about us, about to show how it’s possible to stay in the game. Also, when you have nothing to [lose], the only thing that you can do is to score [world ranking] points for the team,” said the Netherlands coach.

Gijs Jorna and Silvester Meijs seek to make the most of their remaining games in Manila.

“I think we have two more games in this amazing atmosphere. We play Japan here, which is going to be great. After we play Canada, which is also doing very good. We have to enjoy it because playing in the Philippines is something special. The fans love us and love volleyball. It’s up for us to enjoy,” Jorna said. “Thank you everybody for coming. We love playing in the Philippines and keep doing what you’re doing.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“We kept fighting but we made more mistakes than them today. It’s really simple. And it’s really hard to win,” Meijs added. “You’re really amazing. A lot of noise which we really love, so thank you!”

Naomi Osaka, 3 Grand Slam winners granted Wimbledon wildcard

On: By: admin


Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts after a point during her women’s singles match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day four of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 29, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Japan’s Naomi Osaka was one of four Grand Slam champions granted a wildcard on Wednesday into the main draw for next month’s women’s singles at Wimbledon.

The 26-year-old, a former world number one and twice winner of both the Australian and US Opens, will be playing in the main draw of Wimbledon for the first time in five years after becoming a mother.

So too will former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, who also once topped the world rankings, with the 33-year-old Dane another recipient of a wildcard.

READ: Naomi Osaka looking at ‘bigger picture’ on her tennis comeback

Wildcards are given by the All England Club to players who are not ranked high enough to qualify directly into the main draw.

Wozniacki, disappointed to miss out on a wildcard at the French Open, told Britain’s PA news agency: “I have so many special memories.

“I won junior Wimbledon back in 2005, so it’s a long time ago. There’s something so special about playing on Wimbledon’s Centre Court that you can’t replicate anywhere else.”

Germany’s Angelique Kerber, the 2018 Wimbledon champion and another former world number one who took time out from tennis to start a family, has also received a wildcard entry into the tournament, which starts on July 1.

Another wildcard announced Wednesday went to home favorite Emma Raducanu, who made her breakthrough run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021 — shortly before her stunning triumph in winning that year’s US Open as a qualifier.

It will be the first time in two years that Raducanu, 21, has been on the grass courts of Wimbledon following wrist and ankle surgery in 2023.

Last week, Raducanu lost an all-British semi-final at the Nottingham Open to eventual champion Katie Boulter in what was still an encouraging start to her grass-court campaign.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Brown, Tatum answer critics while leading Celtics to title

On: By: admin


Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) hugs Jaylen Brown during the second half in Game 5 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON — In 2008, the Celtics ended a 22-year NBA championship drought led by a Big 3.

Sixteen years later, they did it again following the play of a dynamic duo.

When Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were drafted third overall in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017, they were almost instantly branded with the hopes of a franchise that was desperately chasing its elusive 18th championship.

Along the way they’ve endured criticism about their individual play and questions about whether two players with similar skill sets could co-exist.

They answered those questions emphatically on Monday night, leading to Celtics to a 106-88 Game 5 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks to capture the franchise’s 18th championship, setting it alone among NBA champions.

READ: Celtics rout Mavericks to win record 18th NBA championship

“Getting drafted, that’s something that you dream about. But this is at the top of the mountain,” Tatum said afterward. “To be able to say we did it, that we came together and we won a championship. Banner No. 18 has been hanging over our head for so many years. To know that we’re going to be engraved in history, and it still hasn’t like registered. I’m just still trying to process it all.”

Tatum and Brown grasped their first Larry O’Brien Trophy after 107 playoff games together, the most for any duo before winning a title.

It took longer than expected, but Tatum said it was part of a process he didn’t fully understand until celebrating postgame.

“Coming up short and having failures makes this moment that much better,” he said. “Because you know what it feels like to lose. You know what it feels like to be on the other side of this and be in the locker room and hearing the other team celebrating, hearing them celebrate on your home floor. That was devastating.”

Tatum finished with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in Monday’s win. It is the third-most points scored by a Celtics player in a Finals clincher behind only John Havlicek (40 vs. Lakers, 1968) and Tommy Heinsohn (37 vs. Hawks, 1957).

Brown had 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. But he earned Finals MVP honor on the heels of a 30-point performance in Game 3 that gave the Celtics a 3-0 lead.

READ: Jaylen Brown is Finals MVP as Celtics clinch historic NBA title

“It could have gone to Jayson,” Brown said of the MVP award. “Jayson, I can’t talk enough about his selflessness. I can’t talk enough about his attitude. It’s just how he approached not just this series or the Finals but just the playoffs in general. And we did it together as a team, and that was the most important thing.”

Brown and Tatum’s journey has included five trips to at least the conference finals together, as well as a 2022 loss in the Finals to the Golden State Warriors in a series that saw Boston relinquish a 2-1 lead.

Still, Celtics ownership continued to build around them, even through shakeups that included failed free agency acquisitions of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, as well as changes to the core of the ’22 Finals teams that included trading longtime veteran Marcus Smart and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.

It only intensified the microscope under Brown and Tatum, said veteran Al Horford, who has played alongside them for six of his 17 years in the NBA.

READ: NBA: Jayson Tatum says past pain inspired Boston Celtics

He’s in awe of the maturity they’ve displayed at 27 and 26 years old, respectively.

“Those two guys continue to take steps forward. People all year criticizing them, all that expectation, all the pressure,” Horford said. “They did it. And they’ve done it at a young age. They led our group. I’m just very proud of those guys and to put everything aside and focus on winning.”

Brown said he’s most proud of how he and Tatum have grown together over the past seven seasons together.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“We’ve been through a lot, the losses, the expectations,” Brown said. “The media have said all different types of things: We can’t play together, we are never going to win. We heard it all. But we just blocked it out, and we just kept going. I trusted him. He trusted me. And we did it together.”

Swimmers in doping scandal named in China Paris Olympics team

On: By: admin


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ: Chinese swimmer Sun Yang handed Tokyo Olympics lifeline

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Scrutiny in Paris

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

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

Clint Escamis braces for tougher challenge in Season 100

On: By: admin


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

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

Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

On: By: admin


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

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

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

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

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

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

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