Tag: players

Badminton body holds ‘thorough review’ of teenage player’s death

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In the handout picture taken and released on July 1, 202  Chinese badminton players and coaches pray together for the late Chinese player Zhang Zhijie, who collapsed during a match.  (Photo by Handout / public relations and media division of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) / AFP) 

Badminton’s governing body on Tuesday announced a “thorough review” following the death of a promising Chinese teenager who collapsed during a match.

Seventeen-year-old Zhang Zhijie was playing at the Asia Junior Championships in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta on Sunday when he suddenly fell to the floor.

Indonesia’s badminton association (PBSI) and Badminton Asia said he was promptly rushed to hospital but died that night having suffered a cardiac arrest.

READ: Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing on court

However, there were questions about the medical response at the venue. Footage showed it took 40 seconds from when Zhang collapsed for any kind of help to arrive on the court.

“We are taking all necessary steps to thoroughly review this matter in consultation with Badminton Asia and Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI),” the Badminton World Federation (BWF) governing body said in a statement.

A PBSI spokesman on Monday blamed the hesitant emergency response on the referee and said that as hosts they were only adhering to BWF rules.

“Following the completion of our review, we will determine whether specific aspects of these guidelines need to be changed,” the BWF added.

It is also waiting for an official report from Badminton Asia and the local organizing committee “to assess whether the correct medical procedures were followed in providing aid to Zhang when he fell to the court”.

Badminton great Lee Chong Wei earlier Tuesday called for changes in scheduling to give players more time to recover.

READ: Malaysia’s top badminton star Lee Zii Jia banned after quitting national team

The retired Lee, a three-time Olympic silver medallist, told The Star newspaper in Malaysia that Zhang’s shock death should be a wake-up call for the sport.

He said that medical teams needed to be “more alert” and called for the BWF to “review their match and tournament schedule”.

“He appeared tired and it’s sad to accept the reality that China’s future top player is gone,” Lee said.



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Chinese state media has also questioned the emergency response.

Missing players, reassigned roles hit Alas Pilipinas with reality check

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Bella Belen.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Coming off the high of a historic achievement, Alas Pilipinas is beginning to feel some of the problems of maintaining a high-profile national pool.

Luckily, the women’s program has a few reinforcements coming its way.

National University (NU) ace and UAAP two-time MVP Bella Belen and multi awarded spiker Jema Galanza will bolster Alas Pilipinas when it takes on Vietnam on Thursday in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenger Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The development took place as the playing status of vital players such as Eya Laure and Jen Nierva remains questionable with Chery Tiggo no longer allowing the two to attend the practices of the national team.

“But we are still waiting for them,” coach Jorge Souza de Brito told the Inquirer over the phone on Tuesday. “It’s OK. If [they are no longer suiting up] we’re gonna fix the problem that we have with the good players [from] our lineup.”

The national squad is coming off a historic bronze-medal performance in the previous AVC Challenge Cup.

Alas Pilipinas is also awaiting opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon, who declined the national team call up stating her need for more time to recover after leading the Lady Bulldogs to a golden run in the UAAP Season 86. De Brito said that Alas can expect Solomon to join and start training before the SEA V.League and addressed the absence of Tots Carlos.

“Rebisco (Creamline’s parent company) is supposed to release a statement regarding her condition and what happened [to her], why she’s not [in training], De Brito said as fans will have to wait more before seeing the Creamline mainstay in an Alas uniform. “It’s out of my control.”

Carlos was recently added to the Alas’ player pool even as the Cool Smasher was experiencing some injury after Creamline’s eighth Premier Volleyball League (PVL) championship earlier this year.

No shortage of talent

“Of course it [has] a huge [impact] because we are just beginning [our journey] with them and they are [possible] first six [selections],” De Brito said. “[But] every time you miss starting players, [it] also gives a chance for other players [to step up].”“In fact, they are right there so they are fighting for their place [which the missing players] should be the first one to get the spot for this competition,” said the newly re-signed mentor, who had agreed to extend his stay with the national team for two more years after his contract expired in June.

There is no shortage of talent in the Alas pool that still has opposite spikers such as Faith Nisperos, NU’s Arah Panique and Challenge Cup best opposite hitter Angel Canino of La Salle.

Middle blocker Fifi Sharma, veteran Dell Palomata and prospected top PVL pick Thea Gagate will still man the net while outside hitters Vanie Gandler and Sisi Rondina continues to backstop Alas now with Belen under the leadership of Jia de Guzman and back up playmaker Julia Coronel, another PVL aspirant.

“It’s really hard but also we [will] give other players more chances, more spots to play and show up in the national team—hard but it’s the reality right now,” De Brito added.

Galanza, however, might be seen playing a different role than her usual offensive position to fill up the libero spot left by Nierva.



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“Right now, it’s undecided. It can be because she’s a really good receiver, she has a good defense and since we have a problem we have to fix it with what we have,” De Brito said. “But it’s still not 100 percent.” INQ

Petro Gazz looking at best available players in the draft

On: By: admin


Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara and head of operations Oliver Almadro during the PVL Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz is leaving no stone unturned with the opportunity to get solid acquisitions from the PVL Draft aspirants and free agents who attended the first-ever Draft Combine this week.

Head of volleyball operations Oliver Almadro said Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara took a long hard look at the 47 rookies as well as the 11 free agents to help the Angels in their ‘three-peat’ bid in the Reinforced Conference on July 16.

Although Petro Gazz is picking 10th in the first round, Tsuzurabara had perfect attendance in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park — even the morning session with the free agents.

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

Almadro said their head coach ranked the players during the combine, seeking to pick the best available in their 10th and 20th picks. 

“We’re lookin’bg at who’s the best available players in every position. We will talk about what position will be fit for our team for the next few conferences, for the next years. But Coach Koji’s happy and he’s really ranking every player, every position,” the Petro Gazz executive told reporters.

“These players are talented. Some players nga, hindi pa nakita in the UAAP. Some of them are in the NCAA, and some of them are in the provinces. It just shows that there are really, really lots of talent here in the Philippines. We just have to provide exposure for them to compete with Manila teams.”

Almadro, who coaches the University of the Philippines in the UAAP and Letran in the NCAA, said the pro teams can’t count out the NCAA players and other aspirants from provinces and even abroad. 

READ: Brooke Van Sickle puts PVL on notice with impressive Petro Gazz debut

“For the UAAP, NCAA, I guess it’s about time na magkaroon ng joint league para malaman talaga ‘yung (level of play). Sometimes, ‘yung NCAA, na-uunderrate eh. We know naman that the UAAP is at a much higher level but you cannot underestimate kasi the NCAA players, the provincial players kasi talagang the volleyball here in the country is really growing. The level’s going up,” he said.

Petro Gazz is coming off a bronze finish in the All-Filipino Conference with Brooke Van Sickle emerging as the MVP in her PVL debut.

The Angels are seeking to complete their third straight Reinforced Conference reign, two years after Lindsey Vander Weide led them to a golden repeat.



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“The coaches and the team are really excited going to this conference. We cannot count out other teams. Other teams have good imports also. They have talented players, they are intact,” Almadro said. “Malaking bagay na umabot kami ng Final Four last conference so it’s really a good challenge for us going into this conference. Sana ma-sustain namin ‘yung record or ‘yung laging nagagawa ng Petro Gazz.”

Lakers add Dalton Knecht, Pacific teams pick veteran players

On: By: admin


PHOENIX — The NBA’s Pacific Division wasn’t the destination for 18-year-old phenoms during the draft’s first round on Wednesday night.

Instead, these teams sought grown men who could hopefully help right away.

The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns picked in the mid-to-late first round and were on the hunt for veteran college players who could be rotation players during a potentially deep playoff run next spring.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors didn’t have a selection in Wednesday’s first round.

READ: Teams keep trading light on opening night of 2-day NBA Draft

The Kings used the No. 13 selection to select Providence’s Devin Carter, a 22-year-old who averaged nearly 20 points per game during his final college season. The 6-foot-2 guard is considered a good defender, too, and could mesh well with the team’s other guards, including De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk.

The Lakers went for scoring with the No. 17 pick, adding Tennessee’s 23-year-old Dalton Knecht. The 6-foot-5 guard was one of the college game’s elite scorers last season, averaging nearly 22 points per game.

The Suns did some maneuvering on Wednesday night, trading the No. 22 selection to the Nuggets for the No. 28 pick, No. 56 pick and two more future second-round selections. Phoenix took Virginia wing Ryan Dunn at No. 28, giving the team a defensive standout to play with the team’s star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

READ: Lakers coach JJ Redick still hopes to create great content with LeBron

Phoenix was the subject of rampant trade rumors prior to the first round — particularly regarding Durant. The chatter grew so loud that second-year owner Mat Ishbia felt the need to squash that speculation on social media on Wednesday.

“Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it,” he said.

Golden State Warriors

Team need(s): The Warriors have the No. 52 selection in the second round on Thursday. In his second draft in charge as general manager, Mike Dunleavy is hoping to find an impact player like Trayce Jackson-Davis, who was the No. 57 selection last season. He turned into a key cog off the bench during his rookie year, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Who did the team draft: No one in the first round.

Los Angeles Clippers

Team need(s): The Clippers are a team that could be in flux with stars Paul George and James Harden set to hit free agency. Any sort of infusion of young talent would be nice for an older roster, but their lone pick is at No. 46 in the second round.

Who did the team draft: No one in the first round. The Clippers didn’t have a first-round pick because they traded it to the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in exchange for George in 2019. It’s one of several picks they dealt for George to pair him with Kawhi Leonard in the hopes of winning the franchise’s first NBA championship. That hasn’t happened.

Los Angeles Lakers

Dalton Knecht poses for photos on the red carpet before the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Team need(s): A player who can contribute now as the Lakers attempt to make the most of their remaining partnership between LeBron James and Anthony Davis, particularly after they apparently whiffed last year on slow-developing guard Jalen Hood-Schifino. LA could use perimeter scoring and spot-up shooting, and it could also do with more size to help Davis.

Who did the team draft: Knecht. The SEC Player of the Year is a prolific scorer who grew into stardom during a winding journey that began with no Division I scholarship offers and ended with three increasingly impressive seasons with Northern Colorado and then Tennessee.

READ: Lakers’ LeBron James is redefining NBA longevity in 21st season

Whose game does the first-round draft pick most compare to and why: Knecht was a near-consensus projected lottery pick whose outside shooting and overall style inspired parallels to everyone from Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to Jerami Grant and Terrence Ross.

Phoenix Suns

Ryan Dunn Golden State Warriors NBA Draft

Ryan Dunn, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 28th by the Denver Nuggets during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Team need(s): The Suns could use a point guard after struggling with turnovers last season, particularly in the fourth quarter. They also could use perimeter defense and a backup big man.

Who did the team draft: After moving down six spots in the trade with Denver, the Suns took Dunn at No. 28. The 21-year-old is considered maybe the best defensive player in the draft, which is something the Suns needed.

Whose game does the first-round draft pick most compare to and why: Dunn could be a player in the mold of New Orleans wing Herb Jones, who made the All-Defensive team last season in his third year in the league. Jones was the No. 35 selection in the 2021 draft.

Sacramento Kings

Team need(s): The Kings answered their biggest looming question ahead of the draft by resigning Monk to a four-year contract. Sacramento could use more size and athleticism and help on the wing to complement Harrison Barnes, who turned 32 in May. Keegan Murray and Trey Lyles — their other wings — are more spot-up shooters.

Who did the team draft: Carter should help plug some of their concerns. He averaged nearly 20 points per game last year and was billed as one of the best two-way players in the draft. He is an elite rebounder for his size, grabbing 8.7 boards per game as a smaller guard. He also improved from beyond-the-arc in each of his three collegiate seasons, shooting it at 37.7% from distance last year.



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Whose game does the first-round draft pick most compare to and why: Carter’s prowess on both ends of the floor could fit the mold of the Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday, one of the premier two-way players in the NBA. Carter is versatile, contributes in nearly every facet of the game and could improve offensively if his college numbers project to the pro level.