Tag: bout today

Iran makes it back to back, beats Netherlands in 5 sets

On: By: admin


Iran celebrates a point against the Netherlands during a VNL 2024 Week 3 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Inspired by its breakthrough win, Iran overcame another thrilling five-setter and Nimir Abdel-Aziz’s 37-point explosion for a 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10 win over the Netherlands in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Poriya Hossein powered the Iranians for their second straight victory to improve to a 2-8 record following their 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13 win over Team USA less than 24 hours ago.

Esmaeilnezhad poured in 29 points off 25 kills, three blocks, and an ace, while Hossein drilled 27 points including three blocks to deny Netherlands of a comeback in the fifth set.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

After missing the chance to close out, the Iranians were quick to get their act together in the fifth with a 10-5 spread after Hossein’s big block on Abdel-Aziz. The Dutch star, though, refused to give up and cut the deficit down to three, 13-10, before Esmaeilnezhad and Milad Ebadipour put on the finishing touches.

Ebadipour, who chipped in 13 points for Iran, said they are just enjoying the experience in Manila despite playing no-bearing games as they are already out of Final Eight contention.

“It was great. The atmosphere, we’re really so excited to play in one of the best countries for volleyball, for the fans. It was a great experience for us,” said the Iran skipper. “I hope, all season, all year, they follow volleyball. Like this year, and especially next year it’s gonna be the World Championships, the most [important] tournament after the Olympic Games. I’m pretty sure that the [arena] will be full, full of fans and you know, it’s making us feel really good to play here.”

READ: VNL 2024: Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

Iran battles sixth-seed team France (6-3) at 11 a.m. on Friday. Ebadipour said they will continue to make the most of the experience and play with nothing to lose.

“We lost eight games, so, nothing bad can happen to our team anymore, so we gave everything, the best. But we look forward and our young generation, I think they are starting to play [well], they’re starting to push and change our mentality,” Ebadipour said.

“They are young but they are professional players and most of them, they play in the best leagues in the world in Italy, in Poland, in Russia. So, they have all this experience. We all help each other the young guys, the experienced guys. It’s making a good team, and that’s the most important.”

The Netherlands remained in the 13th place with a 3-7 record after another offensive masterpiece by Abdel-Aziz, who fired 27 attacks, nine aces, and a block. Maarten Van Garderen backstopped him with 17 points. 



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Abdel-Aziz, who scored 38 points two days ago, hopes to finally get a win in Manila against Japan on Friday at 7 p.m.

Creamline taps Erica Staunton as import for Reinforced tilt

On: By: admin


Erica Staunton is Creamline Cool Smashers’ import for the PVL Reinforced Conference. –CREAMLINE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline is bringing American wing spiker Erica Staunton as its guest foreign player in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July.

The Cool Smashers on Thursday welcomed the former US NCAA player to bolster their roster in the import-laden tournament.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Erica Staunton, a dynamic 23-year-old open and opposite spiker from the USA, is joining the Creamline Cool Smashers family,” the team wrote. “Her talent, passion, and energy are sure to bring even more excitement to our team.”

READ: Creamline somehow still found way to remain on top of PVL

Staunton played for Northeastern University in Division 1 before she transferred to Georgia University.

The 6-foot-1 versatile spiker, who also has pro experience in Finland with the Oriveden Ponnistus, joins the winningest PVL club, which recently completed a historic ’four-peat’ in the All-Filipino Conference.

Staunton is teaming up with Alyssa Valdez, Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Pangs Panaga, Bea De Leon, Kyle Negrito, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.

The availability of Alas Pilipinas players Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza is still up in the air in the midseason conference as the nationals will play in several tournaments in the FIVB Challenger Cup and SEA V.League.

The Reinforced Conference title has been elusive for Creamline, which last won a championship with an import in 2018. The Cool Smashers lost to the Petro Gazz Angels five years ago and settled for bronze in 2022.

Creamline was the third PVL team to unveil its reinforcement as Chery Tiggo recently welcomed Khat Bell, while PLDT brought back Elena Samoilenko.

The top four teams in the Reinforced Conference will qualify for the Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest clubs.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Takahashi, Japan seek improvement after loss to Canada

On: By: admin


Japan during the VNL in Manila against Canada.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ran Takahashi and Yuji Nishida vowed to bounce back after fan favorite Japan fell short against Canada in five sets in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 opener on Tuesday evening at Mall of Asia Arena. 

Energized by the roaring Philippine crowd, Japan fought back from a 1-2 match deficit but still yielded to Canada, 25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10, dropping to a 6-3 record still in sixth place.

Takahashi, who had 13 points to backstop team captain Yuki Ishikawa and Yuji Nishida, admitted they committed a lot of lapses.

READ: VNL 2024: Canada denies fan favorite Japan in five sets

“We have to improve our reception [and] we have our eyes on a solution. Canada has a really nice and higher block. I think we can do much better. We have our eyes on a solution but we have to improve our reception,” Takahashi told reporters.

After a bronze medal in last year’s VNL, Takahashi believes that the Japanese need to work on their chemistry as they seek to return to the Final Eight, which takes place in Poland.

“We joined immediately after three weeks [since the VNL] started. We had just one week or two weeks of practice. I think we are not perfect. Maybe we need more practice and we need more communication with each player. Then we have to create more [opportunities] for the team,” said the fan favorite, who is playing in his third VNL Manila stint.

READ: ‘Great expectations’ ahead for Japan in VNL Manila leg

Nishida, who led the way with 19 points, expressed his “major” respect for Canada, which he believed played at a high level to tighten its grip on seventh place with a 5-4 record. 

“Every single play is important. I think today was not our kind of game. Many times we didn’t have good plays. Kudos to Canada,” Nishida said. “I’m looking for more combinations and try not to make more mistakes and a little bit more [improvement] on the communication. They are points that I can [improve on] next game. Most importantly, on the communication, obviously on the passion.”

The Japanese, though, still accommodated the Filipino fans at the fan zone as they’ve been the most loved squad since the country started hosting the VNL in 2022.

Japan has two days of rest before seeking to regain its winning ways against the Netherlands on Friday.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Alinsunurin crafts draft plan but admits picking preferred name unlikely

On: By: admin


PVL coach Dante Alinsunurin of Choco Mucho receives his award from the Collegiate Press Coprs during its awards night on Monday. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Dante Alinsunurin may not be open as to who he plans to select in the coming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft. But he was a little bit more forthcoming with his selection strategy, what with his Choco Mucho way down the picking order and with two vital holes to fill.

“We will also be looking at lesser desired players, whoever we can develop or what else we can do to solve the problem that we are having every time at the end of the season,” he said.

The Flying Titans will be missing middle blocker Cherry Nunag and foremost weapon outside hitter Sisi Rondina, who will be lent to Alas Pilipinas and, most probably, will be unavailable in July with the Nationals representing the country again in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenger Cup.

The UAAP champion coach knows what he’s losing in both standouts and will be looking to draft players who can supplant their contributions.

“We are hopeful to get a player that can help us in terms of our scoring and blockings to fill in what Sisi and Cherry have been doing inside the court,” Alinsunurin told the Inquirer in Filipino as he was hailed the UAAP men’s volleyball coach of the year by the Collegiate Press Corps on Monday night.

Manpower issues

But he was also realistic.

“Even though we know that the young ones performed well in the collegiate [ranks], it is still different once they are [in the PVL] so the adjustment can still be a problem,” he said.

Alinsunurin has previously said he has an idea who the team will be picking but prefers to keep those names in his back pocket since Choco Mucho will be on the block late in the draft and the chance of selecting highly desirable names remain slim.

The Flying Titans, who have yet to announce their import, finished with the silver in the last conference thus getting to pick a player near the end of round one just before champion team Creamline.

“Right now, we do have players in mind but we don’t know if we will have the chance to pick [them] because you and I know what our needs are and what are the needs of the other teams as well,” Alinsunurin said.

Choco Mucho encountered unfortunate manpower issues in the recent conferences with mainstays Des Cheng (outside hitter), Kat Tolentino (opposite) and Aduke Ogunsanya (middle blocker) suffering injuries.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Doncic, Irving can’t deliver for Mavericks in NBA Finals clincher

On: By: admin


Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving (11), P.J. Washington (25), Maxi Kleber (42) and Luka Doncic (77) head to the bench during a timeout in the second half of Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON — Short jumpers rolled off the rim and 3-pointers went in and out. Even free throws were a challenge for Luka Doncic in the clinching game of the NBA Finals.

Dallas needed Doncic and Kyrie Irving to be at their best in Game 5 against the Celtics on Monday night. Instead, the Mavericks’ best players got off to a terrible start, and by the time their shots started falling the Celtics were coasting to a 106-88 victory and an unprecedented 18th NBA title.

“It just wasn’t our night offensively,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said after his fifth-seeded team fell short of its second NBA title. “We’re a young team. We have a young core, and so this is an exciting time to be a Mavs fan and to also be a coach for the Mavs.”

Doncic missed his first six 3-point attempts and finished 12 of 25 from the floor. He scored 28 points — 10 of them in the fourth quarter, when Dallas never got closer than 18 points. He had 12 rebounds but also turned the ball over seven times. He was 2 for 5 from the free throw line, a problem that has bothered him throughout the series.

“He’s one of the best players in the world,” Kidd said. “For him at the age of 25 to get to the finals, to be playing his basketball at the level that he’s playing — now it’s just being consistent.”

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

The Slovenian star said injuries — a bruised chest, and problems in his right knee and left ankle — weren’t the problem.

“It doesn’t matter if I was hurt, how much was I hurt. I was out there,” he said. “I tried to play, but I didn’t do enough.”

Irving was 3 for 9 from 3-point range and 5 of 16 overall while fending off boos and crude chants from his former fans every time he touched the ball. He had nine assists but 15 points — six of them in the fourth quarter, when the game was already out of reach.

READ: Postseason like almost none other for Doncic, even without NBA title

“The crowds can chant whatever they want to chant. When we’re away, they’re obviously going to go against us,” Dallas guard Josh Green said. “He does a great job of not letting it affect him and I think that goes back to his leadership on and off the court.

“So we have nothing but respect for Kyrie. … We all got his back, for sure.”

Irving and Doncic shared a hug at the end of the game.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“We said, ‘We’ll fight together next season,’ and we (are) just going to believe,” Doncic said. “I’m proud of every guy that stepped on the floor, all the coaches, all the people behind. Obviously, we didn’t win finals, but we did have a hell of a season and I’m proud of every one of them.”

Angel Reese says foul on Caitlin Clark a basketball play

On: By: admin


Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky reacts after fouling Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the second half  of a WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

INDIANAPOLIS –Angel Reese insisted all she did Sunday was make a basketball play against Caitlin Clark.

The former Iowa star agreed with her college rival.

But that isn’t likely to defuse what happens next.

After the Indiana Fever rookie wound up on the ground courtesy of Reese’s right elbow striking Clark’s head on a drive to the basket, the referees used replay review to upgrade the foul call to a flagrant-1 and almost assuredly setting off yet another debate about the contact Clark seems to be facing each game.

READ: Caitlin Clark, WNBA rookies draw near-record crowds for 1st month

“I can’t control the refs and they affected the game, obviously, a lot tonight,” Reese said after finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five fouls in the Chicago Sky’s 91-83 loss at Indiana in the WNBA. “Y’all are probably going to play that clip like 20 times before Monday.”

Naturally, it didn’t take long for the highlight to start making the social media rounds.

But regardless of whether the elbow was intentional, the result was the same — Clark taking a head shot most sports leagues want to prevent.

Clark’s response was to walk calmly to the free-throw line late in the third quarter, make both shots and help lead her team to its second straight victory before again downplaying the situation in her postgame news conference.

“It is what it is, you know, she’s trying to make a play on the ball and get the block,” Clark said after finishing with 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her best all-around game as a pro. “I mean it happens and then those free throws when you have to shoot with nobody at the line are kind of hard. So I was just focusing on making those free throws.”

READ: WNBA fashionistas showcase styles at draft

Still, Sunday’s scene was quite different from the one that played out two weeks earlier between these same teams in front of another sellout crowd in Indianapolis.

Back then, Sky guard Chennedy Carter hit Clark on an inbound play that sent the unsuspecting guard to the ground. Carter was tagged with an away-from-the-ball call, which resulted in one free throw and league officials later upgraded the call to a flagrant-1.

Fever fans serenaded Carter and Reese with cheers any time either was called for a foul in Sunday’s rematch.

No, Fever coach Christie Sides wasn’t happy to see her star player hit the deck yet again, but at least this time, she thought they got it right.

“The right call was made in that moment,” Sides said. “Just make the right call in those moments, and we can move forward. But when we don’t make the right call in those moments, that’s when there’s a problem and they made the right call tonight.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Reese, clearly, did not agree.

“I think we went up really strong a lot of times and didn’t get a lot of calls,” she said. “Going back and looking, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made, I guess some people get a special whistle.”

It’s Meralco’s time to win PBA title

On: By: admin


San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—June Mar Fajardo, as expected, displayed grace in defeat after a rare PBA Finals loss by the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Cup on Sunday.

Fajardo, a 10-time PBA champion, made sure to give credit where credit is due, tipping his hat to the Meralco Bolts, who closed out the Beermen in six grueling games.

“That’s really how it is. That’s how the sport is. We need to accept the losses,” said Fajardo in Filipino after a heartbreaking 80-78 loss that gave the Bolts their first-ever PBA title.

“It’s Meralco’s time to win the championship. Let’s clap for those who deserve it, let’s congratulate those who deserve the congratulations.”

Fajardo gave everything he had in the finals, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 6. He also made a clutch triple that would have forced overtime had it not been for Chris Newsome’s game-winning jumper with 1.3 seconds left.

READ: PBA Finals loss fuels CJ Perez to get better

The loss was Fajardo’s first loss in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals after winning in his last six trips to the all-Filipino championship round.

“While it’s painful to lose, that’s just how life is. We won championships but this time, it’s Meralco’s time. The ball was theirs. Let’s congratulate them, they played well as a whole,” said the seven-time PBA MVP, who missed a last-second 3-pointer that would’ve won it for San Miguel.

“As for us, we’ll keep our heads up. It’s not the end of the world for us, right? There’s still the next conference so we can bounce back there.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Celtics take season’s worth of lessons into Game 5

On: By: admin


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.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“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.”

PVL draft quality takes hit with Belen

On: By: admin


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.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Unable to stop June Mar, Meralco still finds way to win

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts’ Raymond Almazan and San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—A win’s a win, no matter the cost.

In the case of Meralco in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, the Bolts won 92-88, to take the commanding 3-2 lead despite allowing Beermen star June Mar Fajardo to go off for 38 points and 18 rebounds.

Raymond Almazan wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco needs to ‘play with poise’ to close out San Miguel

“If you’ll ask me, I’ll trade that [performance] for a win,” said Almazan in Filipino at Araneta Coliseum on Friday. “He can even score 60 as long as we win.”

Almazan dropped 14 points and four rebounds in the crucial game but he got the last laugh over Fajardo who had a better shooting night.

While Almazan didn’t have the most dynamic night on offense, it was his defense that helped Meralco move to the cusp of making history.

And it wasn’t just Almazan, too, who had a hand in tiring out the Best Player of the Conference awardee.

READ: PBA Finals: June Mar Fajardo confident San Miguel will bounce back

The Bolts seemingly found the fix to San Miguel’s puzzle and one of the things they found effective was to put multiple bigs on Fajardo, including Almazan.

“What coach (Luigi Trillo) tells us is, if he scores, we run. If we foul and foul, he’s going to get some rest and we wouldn’t be able to run,” explained the lanky center.

Make no mistakes about it, though. It wasn’t easy to contain the seven-time MVP no matter how many bodies you put on him.

“June Mar’s heavy, he’s what, 260? Meanwhile, I’m at 220 but still trying my best to stop or at least limit him,” Almazan said.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“It’s hard to stop him a lot. On his off night, he had 12 points and 15 rebounds. Off night pa ‘yon ah?”