Tag: join

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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NBA: Paul George set to join 76ers on $212 million deal

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FILE–Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 09, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said early Monday morning.

A nine-time All-Star, George intends to sign the contract shortly after the league’s moratorium on signings is lifted July 6, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be announced by NBA rule until that time.

With George joining 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers will boast one of the most formidable trios in the league.

George picked Philadelphia after he spurned the Los Angeles Clippers and declined a player option in his contract for $48.7 million in 2024-2025, ending a five-year stretch with the team where he averaged at least 21.5 points each season.

READ: NBA: Paul George will leave Clippers, Caldwell-Pope to Magic

George has averaged 20.8 points over a 14-year career spent with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers.

“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers said in a release Sunday night.

The team added: “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”

He looked all the way across to Philadelphia.

The 34-year-old George joins a Sixers team that has been a perennial underachiever, even as Embiid blossomed into one of the top players in the NBA. They have not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference since 2001.

READ: NBA: 76ers president Daryl Morey has big plans for Embiid, Maxey

Embiid fueled rumors George was headed to Philadelphia during a TV appearance together during the NBA Finals.

“Hopefully this offseason, we find a way to get better, and you know,” Embiid said, pausing to side-eye George, “add some pieces.”

The 76ers have failed to find the right pieces to build around Embiid, failing with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and the list goes on. Team president Daryl Morey had prepared for this opportunity for years, building a roster with essentially all expired contracts at the end of this past season. Embiid and Maxey, expected to sign a five-year, $205 million contract this summer, are the lone key holdovers on a team chasing NBA champion Boston, New York and Indiana.

George is a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. He’s a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and was the league’s most improved player in 2013. He was a finalist for both NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, when he led the league with 2.21 steals per contest.

Much like Embiid, George’s injury history should give the 76ers reason for concern. George played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 since 2018-19.

Still, with few available options, and plenty of cap space, the 76ers had little choice but to chase an aging — yet, still elite — star such as George.

“We’re planning on being the best team in the East next season,” Morey said during the NBA draft.



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George at least keeps them in the mix in the East.

Steph Curry, LeBron ‘excited’ to join forces for Paris Olympics

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FILE–LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors headline Team USA’s Paris Olympics team. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP 

NBA superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry are “excited” by the prospect of joining forces as the United States chases a fifth straight gold medal at next month’s Olympics, USA coach Steve Kerr said Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar James and Golden State Warriors ace Curry will finally line up in Team USA for the first time in Paris after facing off against each other in 52 games during a 15-year rivalry in the NBA.

USA and Golden State coach Kerr said Thursday the two basketball icons were relishing the prospect of teaming up.

READ: LeBron, Durant, Steph Curry lead Team USA for Paris Olympics

“LeBron and Steph are really excited to play together,” Kerr said. “I’ve talked to both of them about this idea of being together after going against one another with such high stakes over the years.

“They obviously fit really well together. I think the idea of Steph playing off the ball and LeBron pushing it in transition, that’s pretty intriguing.”

Curry has a 29-23 winning record against LeBron in the NBA, with a 17-11 record in playoff meetings.

Last season, the duo featured in one of the games of the year, combining for 82 points in a double-overtime thriller which saw the Lakers narrowly defeat Golden State 145-144.

READ: Team USA has to ‘come to play’ in Paris Olympics, says Carmelo

“It’s something I’ll be able to talk about with my grandkids, about being able to compete with one of the greatest players to ever play the game,” LeBron said of Curry after that instant classic.

Kerr said Curry and Lebron will aim to gel over the course of a training camp which begins in Las Vegas next week before a warm-up game against Canada on July 10.

The USA squad also has pre-Olympic games in Abu Dhabi and London before their opening group game of the Olympics against Serbia on July 28 in Lille.

“They’re really excited to compete together for the first time and to find over the course of the practices and the friendlies some of the nuances that they can really exploit and explore, to just to see where they can have an impact for each other,” Kerr said.

James and Curry are part of one of the most powerful USA teams ever to take part in the Olympics, with a roster that also includes the likes of Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid.

“Our roster is obviously laden with stars and players who have accomplished so much,” Kerr said. “And what I love about these guys is they want to accomplish more.



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“They want to win an Olympic gold medal, and that’s why they all signed up for this.”

Kai Sotto join Koshigaya Alphas

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Kai Sotto finds his newest home at Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League.

MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto has found his new home in the Japan B.League.

Weeks after his departure from the Yokohama B-Corsairs, the Koshigaya Alphas announced that they have acquired the services of the 7-foot-3 Filipino big as they are promoted to Division 1.

“The Koshigaya Alphas have reached an agreement with Kai Sotto (formerly of the Hiroshima Dragonflies) for the 2024-25 season… At only 22 years old, but also noticed by the world, the Philippine representative big man will be the new guardian of the Alphas,” wrote the team in an Instagram post on Friday.

Sotto, meanwhile, shared that he’s just as excited as the Alphas to start a new chapter in his B.League journey.

READ: Kai Sotto continues to shine in B.League return after Gilas stint

“I’m looking forward to being a part of the Koshigaya Alphas. The Alphas have been promoted from B2 and will want to prove that they can compete in B1,” said the Gilas big.

“I also chose Alphas to grow more and become a better player. [I’m] excited to see the city of Koshigaya. I’m especially looking forward to seeing the fans!”

In Sotto’s final stint with Yokohama, where he played after a loan clause with his former team Dragonflies, Sotto posted norms of 12.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 34 outings.

READ: Kai Sotto bound to dominate Asia, believes Gilas coach Tim Cone

He helped the B-Corsairs finish with a 24-36 record.

The Alphas, though, will have to wait a few more days to start training with Sotto as he is currently on national duty with Gilas Pilipinas.

As of writing, Sotto is in Istanbul, Turkey for a couple of friendlies before Gilas’ Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament.



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He finished with nine points and nine rebounds in his last outing with the national team in their win against the Taiwan Mustangs, 74-64, which the Alphas must have watched intently.

UAAP: Topex Robinson, Jacob Cortez excited to join forces at La Salle

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La Salle coach Topex Robinson and Former San Beda Red Lion Jacob Cortez during the Collegiate Press Corps awards night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle coach Topex Robinson was given several reasons to smile from ear-to-ear at the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Monday.

Robinson took home the UAAP Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year award while also gaining the recognition of Kevin Quiambao as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Former San Beda Red Lion Jacob Cortez was also awarded as one of the members of the Men’s Basketball Mythical Five and even that made Robinson ecstatic.

Just a year from now, Robinson and the Green Archers will enjoy the services of Cortez in the Green Archers’ lineup after he switched ships from Mendiola to Taft a few months ago.

READ: After moving ‘mountains,’ Topex brings Jacob Cortez home to La Salle

“It’s so exciting to have him. He’s really going to put our program on a higher note. Having him here, I’m excited especially for next year,” said Robinson.

La Salle, the defending champions of the UAAP, will not have the talents of Cortez right away for Season 87. The NCAA Season 99 champion will have to serve one residency year before suiting up in the UAAP.

So far, though, Cortez has been “easing in” with La Salle.

“I’ve been, I’d say, sort of easing in. It’s a new team, new set of coaches, new staff and teammates for me but so far it’s been really chill. It’s been easy so far but then again I’ll have more time with them [before playing],” said Cortez.

READ: Pressure is key for La Salle’s improvement, says Topex Robinson

In his final year with the Red Lions, Cortez posted norms of 15.39 points, 3.56 rebounds, 3.44 assists and 1.17 steals per game.

He was also instrumental in helping San Beda overcome all odds as the third seed with a 12-6 card.

Now, he can’t wait to do the same or even better in a school that he holds sentimental with the memory of his father Mike playing in the 2000s.



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“It feels good because even before high school, my dad would bring me to La Salle UAAP games and now I’ve won my first championship with them in PinoyLiga. After that I just felt the excitement to play in the UAAP,” bared Cortez.

Pestrana, Mondoñedo join top awardees

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Cloanne Mondoñedo

University of Santo Tomas’ Kent Pestrana and St. Benilde’s Cloanne Mondoñedo may get lost amid the big names when the Collegiate Press Corps awards six athletes as its Players of the Year on June 17.

After all, two of the biggest names in the current college scene—National University’s volleyball ace Bella Belen and La Salle’s do-it-all big Kevin Quiambao—will be among the six to be honored by sports journalists covering the varsity beat.

But Pestrana and Mondoñedo, among with similarly lesser-heralded honorees Louie Ramirez of Perpetual’s dynastic men’s volleyball team and Joshua Retamar of “four-peat” champions National U, certainly have the credentials to back their nominations.

Pestrana, for one, spearheaded a relentless bunch of Tigresses who stunned the UAAP women’s basketball scene by putting an end to the Lady Bulldogs’ seven-year reign as champions. In a show of grit, UST eked out a dramatic series victory over NU, brining the women’s trophy back to España after nearly two decades.

Unbroken streak

Mondoñedo, meanwhile, pulled off a feat that doesn’t happen much in volleyball: The Lady Blazers playmaker won the women’s MVP trophy—an award normally contested by spikers and middle blockers—after steering St. Benilde to the NCAA women’s crown.

Mondoñedo’s quarterbacking also preserved St. Benilde’s unbroken winning streak, which has now reached 40 games.

Retamar, meanwhile, led NU as it preserved its hold of men’s volleyball superiority in the UAAP, the same achievement by Ramirez, who led Perpetual to the championship en route to winning the NCAA MVP award.

Quiambao and Belen hardly need any introduction.Belen was named MVP of Season 86’s women’s volleyball tournament and then steered the Lady Bulldogs to the UAAP crown.

Quiambao, meanwhile was season MVP and Finals MVP as he reinstalled La Salle back to the top of UAAP men’s basketball. —INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF 



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