Tag: injury

Jema Galanza happy to join Alas Pilipinas despite minor injury

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Jema Galanza during Alas Pilipinas game against Vietnam in the FIVB Challenger Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza was grateful for the chance to suit up for Alas Pilipinas in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup despite the last-minute changes to her position due to a minor foot injury in practice.

Days before the tournament, Galanza rolled her ankle in practice, which led to her returning to a spiker position despite being initially listed as libero in time for their game against Vietnam. Middle blocker Cherry Nunag taking the second libero role.

The reigning PVL Finals MVP saw limited action as a service specialist playing in the last two sets in Alas’ 14-25, 22-25, 21-25 loss to Vietnam on Friday evening at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

HIGHLIGHTS: Alas Pilipinas vs Vietnam FIVB Challenger Cup

“Of course, we didn’t expect what happened within our team, so we focused on how to solve the problem,” Galanza told reporters. “As for me, I’ll do my best and my part to help the Philippines with whatever the coach gives me to do.”

Galanza, who wasn’t able to join Alas in the AVC Challenge Cup due to Creamline’s trip to Spain, made special mention of Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen and her development since the last time they crossed past. The Vietnamese star poured in 30 points to advance to the semifinal against Czechia on Saturday. 

“I played against her with Ate Alyssa [Valdez] and Ate Ces [Molina]. She didn’t play the whole game back then. This game, she played heavier minutes and performed really well against us. We saw how many points she contributed to their team,” she said. “We saw and felt her impact.”

READ: Alas Pilipinas’ Jema Galanza won’t play libero in Challenger Cup

The do-it-all spiker, who represented the country in the past two Southeast Asian Games, is still honored to return to Alas despite the limited action, seeking to contribute more in the next national team stints. 

“I’m happy to be part of Alas Pilipinas again and to be with the younger players. They’ve improved a lot and this team will get even better,” Galanza said. “I’m proud to be part of this. This is the time to improve and grow as a player and I can learn more from my teammates.”



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Sabalenka withdraws from Wimbledon with injury

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Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka reacts after she lost the women’s singles quarterfinal match against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day eleven of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 5, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Australian Open champion and world number three Aryna Sabalenka withdrew from Wimbledon on Monday due to a shoulder injury, tournament organizers announced.

Sabalenka, a two-time semifinalist at the All England Club, is replaced in the draw by Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva, who will face American qualifier Emina Bektas in the first round.

Sabalenka, 26, had hinted at the weekend that she may be forced to pull out after suffering the injury at the recent Berlin tournament.

READ: Sabalenka, Jabeur rule out Paris Olympics to avoid risking health

“I’m not 100 percent fit now,” admitted the Belarusian.

When asked on Saturday if there was a chance she may withdraw, she said: “There is always a chance, yeah.”

“It’s really a specific injury, and it’s really a rare one.”



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

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An old problem reared its ugly head once again as Gilas Pilipinas on Friday officially lost Barangay Ginebra star Scottie Thompson to a recurring back injury with the Nationals having less than two weeks left before departing for a mammoth task of trying to make the Paris Olympics through the Riga, Latvia qualifiers.

“Scottie is out because of an injury,” team manager Richard del Rosario told the Inquirer just as the Nationals opened camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

Thompson, according to Del Rosario, has been grounded by a slipped disc—the same back injury that hobbled him at times in his collegiate career and again kept him from playing three games early into the Gin Kings’ bid in the recently concluded Philippine Cup.

The tireless playmaker is the latest mainstay to be ruled out for the July 2-8 tournament that will complete the competing nations in the Summer Olympic Games in the glitzy fashion capital next month.

Thompson becomes the third man to be scratched from the team after two-way forward Jamie Malonzo and big man AJ Edu, who was a revelation in the Fiba World Cup the country hosted last year.

Latvia first

Team Philippines first clashes with host Latvia, ranked sixth in the World, and then Georgia.

Coach Tim Cone has already rued missing the 6-foot-11 Edu, whom he feels could be vital in battling Latvia’s big men. Now, he will be dealing with the loss of a do-it-all playmaker familiar with his system and its tendencies, and an integral cog in the long-haul cast geared toward returning to the Olympics either through the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) this year or the World Cup set in Qatar three years from now.

The Nationals kicked off their closed-door training camp with original, handpicked talents present. Japeth Aguilar and Ateneo center Mason Amos, tapped as reserves back in April, were again joined by practice players Ralph Cu and Donald Gumaru—both Cone guys at Ginebra.

The Philippines won’t be the only side dealing with a manpower crisis as Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis is expected to opt out of the OQT, as he is set to undergo surgery for a leg injury that kept him from playing three games of the NBA Finals his Boston Celtics won over Dallas.

Arturs Zagars, a crowd darling during the last World Cup, is also still coping with a knee problem sustained while serving his mother club BC Wolves in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LBL).

“Obviously, I’m still working towards that,” he said of a possible OQT stint in an interview published on the LBL website.



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As things stand, Gilas will be having just 11 players for the OQTs that will be cohosted by Spain, Greece and Puerto Rico. And whatever problems related to such a short roster should be visible even to casual fans when the Nationals host the Taiwan Mustangs this Monday at PhilSports Arena in one of its many friendlies leading up to the Riga showcase.

Gilas played with an undermanned roster during the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers when many-time World Cup June Mar Fajardo and Edu were sidelined with varying injuries.

Japan’s Ran Takahashi leaves Manila to treat knee injury

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FILE–Japan’s Ran Takahashi during a VNL 2024 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Japan star Ran Takahashi has already departed Manila to treat his nagging knee injury especially the Paris Olympics just a little over a month away, according to Philippine National Volleyball Federation Tats Suzara.

Takahashi on Friday was shut down for the remainder of the Manila leg of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and was replaced by Shoma Tomita in the lineup. The Japan Volleyball Association didn’t announce the reason for the switch.

Despite his absence, Yuji Nishida and Yuki Ishikawa carried Japan to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 win over the Netherlands Friday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: Japan star Ran Takahashi out for remainder of VNL 2024

The two players respectfully refused to give more details about Takahashi’s injury but Ishikawa lauded Tatsunori Otsuka, who stepped up with eight points to fill in the void left by their teammate.

Team Japan's Yuji Nishida and Yuki Ishikawa in the VNL Week 3 in Manila

Team Japan’s Yuji Nishida and Yuki Ishikawa in the VNL Week 3 in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“I cannot say for the team but we have to play without him. And Otsuka was playing well, so we are so happy, and when someone [has an] injury, we have to play always. So we have a single body,” said Ishikawa, who dropped 15 points off 12 kills, two aces, and a block.

Nishida, who led the Japanese with 16 points, wished Takahashi well.

“This happened, so I hoped that he would come back but it is the situation and it’s more important to have that mentality. Maybe, we were a little bit nervous, I think the guys are keeping the motivation and energy,” Nishida said.

READ: VNL: Ran Takahashi, Japan seek improvement after loss to Canada

“I hope that [Ran] will come back much better at his game and join the team. So, it’s not so long before the Olympics, so, [he’s not in a hurry]. But keep improving step-by-step, for the important games. “

Japan, which improved to a 7-3 record, wraps up its campaign against France on Saturday before battling USA on Sunday at 7 p.m.

“[We have] two more different games coming. But I think we’re at a point where we’re like enjoying [playing] volleyball. So for us to win, [the goal] isn’t like this anymore but it’s more important to enjoy the game. So I keep this mindset like this [for the weekend],” Nishida said.



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Conor McGregor says he will return to UFC after injury recovery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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Celtics offer little on Porzingis after leg injury

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Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis talks with reporters before basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS— Kristaps Porzingis didn’t do an encore with reporters two days after Boston’s big man answered questions in the immediate aftermath of the announcement of his rare lower left leg injury.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t offer much insight, either, which means Thursday’s injury report will be the closest thing to any official word on whether Porzingis’ latest ailment will keep him out of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Dallas on Friday night.

The Celtics listed Porzingis as questionable for Game 4, just as he was before getting ruled out about two hours before Game 3.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis’ status uncertain due to rare leg injury

Boston moved within a victory of an 18th championship without Porzingis, beating Dallas 106-99 on Wednesday for a 3-0 series lead. The Celtics are poised to break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most NBA titles.

The 7-foot-2 Latvian has a dislocated tendon in his left leg, caused by a tear of the tissue that holds tendons in place. The team has called the injury rare, and Mazzulla labeled it “serious.”

Porzingis played the first two games of the finals, with a crucial role in the Game 1 win, after missing the previous 10 playoff games with a strained right calf.

Mazzulla said the commanding series lead would have no bearing on whether Porzingis plays. The medical staff deemed him unfit to play after putting him through drills before Game 3.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis a big problem for Mavericks team that cast him off

“Kristaps has gotten better from yesterday to today,” Mazzulla said Thursday. “He’s fighting like hell to play. But it’s going to be up to us to protect him and to make sure that it’s in the best interest for him as a player and as a person.”

Porzingis played beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his career when he had 11 of his 20 points and two of his three blocks in the first quarter of Boston’s 107-89 victory in Game 1.

The injury happened in the third quarter of Game 2, when Porzingis said he knocked knees with Dallas rookie center Dereck Lively II when they went for a rebound on a free throw.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics land biggest punches again to move closer to title

Al Horford has started all three games in the finals, including the two when Porzingis played, and Xavier Tillman Sr. had a 3-pointer during a 20-5 Boston run while playing for the first time in the title series with Porzingis out.

“We’ve been playing all season and all playoffs without (Porzingis),” star guard Jaylen Brown said. “Obviously, we’d love to have (Porzingis) out there. We are different when he is. But X stepped in that role, and I thought he was great.”

Porzingis signed a $60 million, two-year extension with the Celtics after they acquired him in a trade with Washington last summer. That deal kicks in next season.

Regardless of whether he plays, Porzingis has a chance to win a championship at the home of the Mavericks, who acquired him in a blockbuster 2019 trade with the New York Knicks, hoping to create a dynamic European pairing with Dallas superstar Luka Doncic.

The Mavs branded that deal a failure by sending Porzingis to Washington before the trade deadline in 2022. The 28-year-old has a long history of injuries, including in New York and Dallas, and could be celebrating in street clothes on his old home court.



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“I’ve been through some stuff in my career, and obviously this is a rough patch coming back and having something happen right away again,” Porzingis said Tuesday, when the injury was announced. “It’s very — just a tough moment right now.”

Terrence Romeo determined to help San Miguel despite injury

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San Miguel Beermen guard Terrence Romeo suits up in PBA Finals Game 4. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent commended Terrence Romeo for playing through the pain in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

In the Beermen’s 111-101 conquest of Meralco, Romeo played significant minutes despite nursing an aching calf.

Gallent said that Romeo insisted on playing for the Beermen in hopes of avoiding a 3-1 rut.

“Terrence played well but I’m sure he’s not healthy yet but the kid just wants to win and help the team, that’s why he played now,” said Gallent at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

“[He’s still listed as] day-by-day. He just decided to play because he really wanted to help the team.”

In just 18 minutes of action, Romeo delivered like he wasn’t in pain with seven points, three assists and a rebound.

Still listed as day-to-day by San Miguel, Gallent said he’s just happy with how Romeo is treating the PBA Finals series even with an injury.

“I’m very happy that that’s his mentality. He talked to me yesterday and said he’ll try it and in case I bring him inside, he’ll give his 110, which he did now.”

“I told him, if there’s a chance that I can bring you inside, can you play at least a hundred percent? He did it today. Very happy that he followed the instructions.”



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