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Japan beats USA for first time in Manila finale

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Japan’s Kento Miyaura flexes his muscles during a game against USA in the VNL 2024 in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — With both teams fielding their bench in a much-anticipated final game in Manila, Japan got the better of USA, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19, to end the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on a high note before an ecstatic 12,424 crowd on Sunday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Japan coach Philippe Blain may have rested his starters led by captain Yuki Ishikawa and Yuji Nishida but Kento Miyaura sustained his fine play and powered the Japanese second unit for their first win against the Americans in their 19th meeting in the FIVB.

Miyaura, who was a revelation in their five-set comeback over France on Saturday, showed the way with 18 points including five aces to seal their entry to the Final Eight in Poland after finishing with a 9-3 record.

READ: VNL 2024: Kento Miyaura steps up for Takahashi-less Japan in crucial win

The Japanese willed their way back from a 13-17 deficit in the third set with Miyaura scoring four straight points, highlighted by three aces to give them a 24-19 lead before Kai Masato nailed the game-winning hit.

“Today I was the top scorer but sometimes we are in a difficult moment so I tried to find a solution. I had many mistakes in spiking but [I kept on trying] I’m happy to win this,” said Miyaura, who was coming off a 19-point effort in their five-set win over France less than 24 hours ago.

Trailing 22-23 in the second set, Japan fought back with Shoma Tomita nailing an off-the-block hit for the equalizer before Kyle Ensing put them at set point after an attack error. Miyaura drilled their third straight point to complete a comeback and take a 2-0 lead.

READ: VNL 2024: Yuki Ishikawa, Japan rally past Olympic champion France

Masato also turned heads with 16 points built on 12 spikes and four aces, while Taishi Onodera and Larry Ik Evbade-Dan delivered eight points each.

Miyaura thanked the Filipino fans for supporting them every game as the Japanese will bring home another precious memory in their third Manila stint before heading to the final round and the Paris Olympics next month.

“The Filipino fans are pushing us many times. Also, Filipino fans love volleyball. They are making a very nice atmosphere,” he said. 

“The last game was a very difficult game but we won the game so this experience [will help me] in the Olympics.”

After reaching the final last year and settling for a runner-up finish, USA didn’t make it to the Final Eight with a 5-7 record, splitting its four matches in its first Manila leg.



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Micah Christenson only played late in the third set, as American stars Matt Anderson, and TJ Defalco sat out with Taylor Averill and Erik Shoji being the remaining starters in the match.

Ensing led USA with 14 points, while Averill and Jordan Ewert added eight points before shifting their focus to the Olympic games in France.

Experience makes USA’s Manila stint a ‘great success’

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USA huddles during a timeout in a VNL 2024 game against Japan.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Team USA captain Micah Christenson had a first Manila trip to remember despite the Americans missing the Final Eight of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

The United States wrapped up its campaign in Manila with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-19 loss to Japan in a much-awaited clash between the two fan favorites played before an ecstatic 12,424 crowd at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday night.

The Americans, last year’s runners-up will miss the Final Eight with a 5-7 record, but Christenson and his teammates will bring great memories with them as they head back home and gear up for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

READ: VNL 2024: Japan beats USA for first time in Manila finale

“Incredible. It was capped off with an incredible crowd, the last game up here in Manila so, wish we could’ve made it a little longer of a match, but at the same time it was good volleyball, it was really good volleyball out there on the court,” said the star setter, who only played late in the third set as both squads decided to rest most of their key cogs.

“I’m really proud of our guys and how we fought and how we battled. So now, we’re just gonna keep learning from our experience but, our trip in Manila was a great success based on our experience.”

American stars Matt Anderson and TJ Defalco sat the game out as Taylor Averill and Erik Shoji were the remaining starters in the match.

Still, Christenson praised Japan for its solid showing with Kento Miyaura stepping up big time. 

“We showed our level in a lot of the sets, but towards the end of the sets, Japan really turned their serving pressure on especially, Miyaura, at the end of at least the last two sets, he came in with some really big serves,” he said.

READ: VNL 2024: USA posts second straight win ahead of Japan clash

The Americans may have missed the Final Eight in Poland after splitting their four matches in Manila. But they will come home with big smiles on their faces.

Christenson and the United States now shift their focus to the Paris Games, where they hope to take home the gold.

“It’s great. We’re gonna need everybody at the Olympics, so, from the top down, we’re gonna need everybody on this team. So to be able to have the ability to give them experience in a big game, in a sold-out crowd against Japan is a wonderful experience,” he said 



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Ong and Tigresses send women’s hoops a little shine

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Coach Haydee Ong, Tantoy Ferrer and the UST Growling Tigers celebrate UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball title. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

This season was like no other for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) women’s basketball squad.

There is that little thing about winning the UAAP women’s basketball crown for the first time in nearly two decades and ending a seven-year dynasty of the magnificent National U Lady Bulldogs.

And then there are the other unfamiliar, but much-welcomed, parts.

At the end of each season, the Tigresses often break up into individual vacations, being with family for however short a period is allowed before they return to camp.

This time, however, an invitation shoehorned an event into their calendars.

“First time, yes,” UST champion coach Haydee Ong told the Inquirer late Monday evening during the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Awards Night. “And I’m so happy.”

Kent Pastrana and Tantoy Ferrer, two of Ong’s top guns, were ecstatic, too. Even if they walked into the Discovery Suites ballroom trying to figure out what in the world they were doing there.

“Why did I become a part of this? Why am I here?” Pastrana said, laughing.

“When I entered the room, a lot of [journalists] interviewed me. It’s like, I’m here, they’re here, this is fun,” Ferrer added.

The CPC gave them reason to be there. Ong, Pastrana and Ferrer were honored by the group that covers collegiate sports, which for the first time included women’s basketball in its roster of awardees because of “the group’s mandate and vision, slowly and one by one, of expanding our awards night to as many sports as possible for inclusivity and fairness.”

“We started by feting only the achievers from the staple events such as men’s basketball and, last year, women’s volleyball for the first time but we intend to honor more as all athletes simply deserve it. We’re humbled to be the stage for that,” the CPC added Saturday in a statement provided to the Inquirer.

Building on momentum

The three Thomasians used the CPC’s stage to further push women’s basketball into the mainstream consciousness.

“I’m an advocate, not only for women’s basketball, but generally, [for] women in sports,” Ong said. “So, yeah, this (the CPC event) is [removing] barriers for women in sports. So, we’re very happy that we were being acknowledged and honored tonight.”

Ong was named UAAP women’s basketball coach of the year while Pastrana won the inaugural women’s collegiate basketball player of the year. Ferrer joined Pastrana in the UAAP women’s basketball mythical selection.

“I didn’t know there was an award like this,” Pastrana said.

“As a woman who plays, [being honored] feels really good,” Ferrer said. “We feel inspired because we get to [help] people appreciate how women’s basketball plays.”

In receiving their awards, the Tigresses stressed the importance of building on the momentum generated by one of the most watched seasons of their discipline. For the first time, women’s basketball games in the UAAP packed venues with screaming fans. And joining the usual CPC roster of honorees brightens the spotlight.

“Women’s basketball is becoming more and more popular,” Pastrana said. “It’s exciting to watch because you can see a lot of physicality that many think isn’t there because women are the ones playing.”

And the Tigresses hope to push that showcase further.

“We need to continue showing that we play hard and that we’re always competing,” Ferrer said.

For Ong, riding the wave means giving audiences more venues to watch women’s basketball outside of the collegiate scene.

“I think [we need] the consistency of other leagues, not just UAAP, even in preseason, right? Like, we have games in G-Ball or Manila Cup,” Ong said. “There are [people] who are live streaming [the games]. I think those are the necessary platforms for women’s basketball.”

For now, the honors bestowed on them will push the Tigresses to work even harder.

“I won’t let this opportunity go to waste. This will be an inspiration for me,” Pastrana said. “I think we are also an inspiration to other kids.”



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“This is not only for me,” Ong said of her award. “[This is] also for the women coaches who are dreaming to be recognized for women’s basketball. I think it’s something they can aspire for, being the Collegiate Press Corps Coach of the Year.”

Canada sweeps Manila leg but coach wants more

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Stephen Maar and Canada celebrate a point against Netherlands in the VNL.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Canada may have swept four matches in the Manila Leg to book a spot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Final Eight but it wasn’t perfect for coach Tuomas Sammelvuo as he urges his wards to stay hungry.

Canada turned to Stephen Maar and Eric Loeppky to seal a spot in the Final Eight after overcoming the Netherlands in five sets, 21-25, 25-22, 28-26, 14-25, 15-9, on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

But coach Sammelvuo said they won’t stop working on their lapses, which were still exploited by the Netherlands, led by the league’s top scorer Nimir Abdel-Aziz.

READ: VNL 2024: As Paris Olympics nears, Canada focused on improvement

“It’s never perfect but of course four wins, huge performance from the players. I’m very happy for them and we qualified for the Final Eight. That’s amazing,” said the Finnish coach of Canada. “I think we got confidence after a few wins and now we finished the end part of VNL with eight wins. That’s very very good. Now we focus on the Final Eight, we’ll keep on practicing and get ready for the quarterfinals.”

Maar powered the Canadians with 18 points off 15 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Loeppky delivered the goods anew with 14 points, while Xander Ketrzynski and Lucas Van Berkel added nine points each. 

“Fourth game in five days, five-setter, crazy environment, we wanted that win so bad and so did they. They wanted to win for him and we wanted to win for us. It went to be a really tough match mentally and also physically,” said Loeppky. “I think we needed this game. We really needed to be put in a tough situation to be able to come together and win as a team I think that’s huge for us. This one was tough, so it’s really important for us moving forward because all we have left is the Final Eight and the Olympics so all those games are going to be like this.”

READ: VNL 2024: Canada sweeps Germany for back-to-back wins

Sammelvuo was happy for his players’ improvement after finishing the preliminary round as the No.4 seed with an 8-4 record as they will also play in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“We have improved I think we’re qualified in the Olympic games and last October was a big step for us in terms of confidence. After that many players had a very good season in their clubs and we have been working, being humble and trying to improve. We’ll never stop,” said the Canada coach, who is also eyeing to return in Manila for the FIVB World Championship next year. 

“Amazing. Good crowd. Next year, the world championship is here. So I hope we’ll come back here,” he added.

 The Netherlands ended up winless in Manila with a 3-9 record despite another 37-point explosion from Abdel-Aziz highlighted by six aces. Maarten Van Garderen had 17 points.



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

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Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores, right, and President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon pose after addressing the NBA basketball media, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

DETROIT — There is still plenty of uncertainty and mystery surrounding the Detroit Pistons.

The organization is coming off the worst NBA season in franchise history and is once again searching for a new coach. There’s no clearcut path to success and their roster — beyond Cade Cunningham — is a series of question marks.

One thing owner Tom Gores seems sure about is that he has finally found the right front office executive to lead the franchise. He considers Trajan Langdon not only his president of basketball operations, but his CEO.

“After assessing everything, I really felt the best choice for the organization was a fresh start,” Gores said Friday when the organization officially introduced Langdon. “Our mistakes in the past has nothing to do with just one person. We needed a fresh start and we needed Trajan to lead with a fresh start.”

Langdon, who was previously general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, replaced former GM Troy Weaver as the franchise’s lead executive. Head coach Monty Williams was dismissed this week with five years and $65 million remaining on his contract.

READ: NBA: Detroit Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season

Former Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Pelicans assistant James Borrego are just some of the candidates who are expected to interview for the head coaching job. With the draft coming up next week and free agency starting on June 30, Langdon isn’t sure when a new coach will be in place.

“I can’t give you a timeline,” Langdon said of his coaching search.

Langdon inherits an extremely young roster — the Pistons finished the season with 11 players 25 or younger. Development will be a high priority for the next coach after a disastrous 14-68 campaign.

“As much as we want to win,” Gores said, “we want to develop these young players.”

The best of the bunch is Cunningham, who averaged 22.7 points and 7.5 assists this past season. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.

READ: NBA: Pistons hire Trajan Langdon as basketball operations president

The 48-year-old Langdon said he’ll try to take some pressure off Cunningham by upgrading his supporting cast.

The Pistons could have more than $60 million in cap space to make improvements. With many teams looking to shed salary due to the tax aprons in the new collective bargaining agreement, Langdon is willing to make trades that will help in the short and long term.

“One thing we are looking for with the cap space we do have is bringing in contracts maybe from other teams and gathering assets as well,” Langdon said. “Hopefully, with the players that come in, they can bolster the growth (of the younger players). If we can interweave those two things, that would make our summer successful.”

That’s as much as Langdon, who has been on the job for three weeks, can offer now to a fan base weary of rebuilding. The Pistons haven’t won a playoff series since 2008.

“I don’t think there’s a timeframe for us to get to the playoffs,” he said.

Gores hired Langdon not only for his basketball knowledge but for his overall leadership qualities. Langdon has been given full authority to run the organization’s day-to-day operations. One of the previous criticisms about its structure was that too many people had Gores’ ear.



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“I’m extremely confident that this partnership with Trajan is going to work, that it is going to turn our franchise around,” Gores said.

Quinto, the boy who dreamed, finally a PBA champion

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Meralco’s Bong Quinto recently paid a visit to the grave of his father and brought an item to show that he has arrived as a champion basketball player.

That was a championship shirt of the Bolts’ run in the PBA Philippine Cup, the culmination of a lifelong dream for Quinto, one which he obviously shared with his father.

“Nagbunga lahat ng panalangin mo para sa akin (All of your prayers have finally paid off),” Quinto wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.

Quinto became a PBA champion after his key role in the Bolts’ turnaround from the brink of missing the playoffs. In the Finals, his performance also downplayed why he was a huge steal as a second round pick in the 2018 Draft.

It’s also a full circle for Quinto, whose dream started when he watched a PBA game for the first time in 2007 at Cuneta Astrodome, where he saw the deciding Game 7 between Alaska and TNT for the Fiesta Conference title.

The Aces won that, and Quinto would see more games, cultivating his desire to one day become a PBA champion himself.

“Before I dreamt of winning a championship in college, I dreamt of becoming a PBA champion,” said Quinto in Filipino.

Also NCAA champ

He got an NCAA title in 2015 with Letran as part of the Cinderella “Mayhem” squad handled by rookie coach Aldin Ayo as they denied San Beda a fifth straight crown. He played three more years with the Knights, his versatility as a post player who can also play in the perimeter on full display.

But Quinto, a projected first-rounder, eventually ended up being picked 14th overall by the Bolts, who curiously had a chance to take him at No. 5 but chose guard Trevis Jackson instead.

Jackson is no longer in the league, and Quinto became a key fixture on the Meralco squad that made it to multiple semifinals and two Finals prior to this season, losing both times to Barangay Ginebra.

Quinto emerged as one of the key reasons for Meralco’s turnaround from 3-5 before eventually eliminating Ginebra in Game 7 of the semis. He also had key contributions in the Finals.

“I told the veterans that I was playing for them, because I know that at the end all of us will be the ones benefiting,” said Quinto.



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Gonzales hot Binitin favorite

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Cailey Chanelle Gonzales, who dominated the girls’ 10-12 division in Iloilo, will come into the next Junior PGT Iloilo Visayas Series leg in Binitin in Iloilo next week as the player to beat.

After shooting a 36-hole, nine-over 149 total at Sta. Barbara to win by 17 shots, Gonzales is now training her sights on winning the Bacolod stop before she flies out with the Philippine delegation that will see action in the Junior Worlds in San Diego in the United States.

She is not making it a secret that she wants to win an international title, playing well at the tree-lined Binitin layout in Murcia town will definitely send her off well.

“My immediate dream is to win an international competition,” said Gonzales, an incoming Grade 6 student at De La Salle-Zobel.

The Binitin leg will be held June 24-27 before she skips the Marapara stop to fly to the US.

Meanwhile, John Rey Oro used a hot back nine to close out with a level par 70 on Thursday and destroy twin brother John Paul with a six-shot win in the premier 16-18 boys division at Iloilo Golf Club.

Ahead by just two shots entering their final nine holes, John Rey had three birdies in a three-hole span from the 10th, capped by a chip-in on the challenging par-3 13th that all but settled the outcome as he tallied a 72-hole 296.



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EJ Obiena nabs gold in Poland tilt as Paris Olympics looms

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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!”

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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.



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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.

Gilas plays tuneup matches before OQT

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Gilas Pilipinas waves to the crowd after the Filipinos’ win over Chinese Taipei in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Chris Newsome, June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, fresh off the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, will look to make good use of upcoming tuneup matches to gauge where Gilas Pilipinas stands against stiff opposition in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

Gilas is set to face Turkiye and Poland before the final phase of qualification for the Paris Olympics gets underway in Latvia on July 2, and coach Tim Cone said on Thursday that he hopes to make good use of those two OQT warmup matches.

“Playing against Turkey and Poland will give us an indication of what we will have to bring to Latvia and the OQT to be successful,” Cone told the Inquirer.

The Philippines will face host Latvia on July 2 and Georgia the following day in Riga, needing to win at one of those games in Group A to reach the semifinals.

But Gilas must top the Riga qualification to end the country’s 52-year wait to compete in the Summer Games.

Latvia made heads turn in last year’s World Cup when it made it to the quarterfinals behind guard Arturs Zagars and Italian coach Luca Banchi.

Before heading to Latvia, Gilas will train starting on Friday at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, then face the Taiwan Mustangs of The Asian Tournament on Monday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Mustangs are a team that includes ex-NBA players Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook, but there are reports that their availability for the Gilas face-off remains unsure.

Gilas flies to Europe the next day to hold those friendlies with Turkiye and Poland.

Expected to figure prominently in the OQT lead-up is Newsome, whose performance in the Philippine Cup Finals propelled the Meralco Bolts to their first PBA title.

Fajardo and Perez are part of the contingent, so is naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who is coming off a stint with Indonesian side Pelita Jaya in the Basketball Champions League Asia.



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Ginebra star Scottie Thompson, TNT’s Calvin Oftana, Japan B.League imports Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, KBL-based Carl Tamayo, La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao comprise the rest of the squad while Mason Amos and Japeth Aguilar are reportedly taking the place of injured players AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo.

Carlo Paalam says national anthem is best heard in moment of triumph

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FILE–The Philippines’ Carlo Paalam reacts after winning against Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov during their men’s fly (48-52kg) quarter-final boxing match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on August 3, 2021. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)

A silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics is a thing of the past for Carlo Paalam.

“For me, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is different from now because from what we experienced before, we all went back to zero,” Paalam, who settled for the silver after bowing to Galal Yafai in the Finals of men’s boxing flyweight division in Japan, said in Filipino.

“We aren’t [being confident] that [because] we are already Olympians [we’re favorites] … when you think like that, you are inflating your ego and you think too much of yourself,” the 25-year-old pug said in a press conference to send off the country’s bets in Makati City on Thursday.

Paalam earned another shot at the Summer Games gold with a unanimous decision against India’s Sachin Siwach in the men’s 57-kilogram division of the Second World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, earlier this month.

He will lead this year’s Filipino Olympic bets during the opening ceremonies when he shares flag-bearing duties with fellow Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio.

“I am so happy to be [a flagbearer] because we are not only carrying our family names but the whole Philippines and walk holding the Philippine flag,” the soft-spoken fighter said.

Eumir Marcial, who jumped to the 80-kg category, also qualified again for a chance to better his bronze finish in his Olympic debut. Summer Games first timers Hergie Bacyadan (75 kg) and Aira Villegas (50 kg) complete the country’s entries for boxing.

Excited, not scared

Paalam does not want to get ahead of himself and announce that he will be gunning for a better finish in Paris.

“We aren’t thinking of the medals yet because we [need to be able to convince] the judges in every fight so we will just do our best and hopefully, whoever holds the decision will be fair,” Paalam said.

“I am super excited with a little bit of nervousness, but not to the point of being scared. Excited to perform well in Paris,” he added.

For Paalam, it will be important to focus on the positive things heading into the European fashion hub.

“We don’t think about the negative, we always think about the positive because that’s what’s more important and our courage and smarts because once you think about the negative things, nothing will happen,” he said. “I am excited to show and perform [with] the best Carlo that I can give in Paris.”

“I am not thinking about who among my opponents will be tough because it will be like you’re already defeating yourself,” Paalam said when asked who he will be wary of facing inside the ring.

Aside from shooting for his dream of a gold that has eluded him the first time he took on the world’s grandest sporting stage, there was still one thing that Paalam will be looking forward to.



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“It’s more fun to listen to the national anthem of the Philippines if you stand in the middle [of the podium] after a victory. That’s our goal.”