Tag: signs

Oliver Bearman signs multi-year deal with Haas from 2025

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FILE – Oliver Bearman of Britain has signed with F1 team Haas taking the seat vacated by German driver Nico Hulkenberg. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)

KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina— Oliver Bearman has been signed on a multiyear deal by the Haas Formula 1 team from 2025 onward.

Haas announced the signing in a statement Thursday, without giving more details. The 19-year old British driver will take the seat vacated by German driver Nico Hulkenberg, who is joining Sauber at the end of the year ahead of its rebranding to Audi for 2026.

“It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me. To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for (the) Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud,” Bearman said. “To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing what they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible.”

READ: F1: ‘A star is born’ in Ferrari teen Oliver Bearman

Bearman impressed with a stunning seventh-place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, when he stood in for Carlos Sainz Jr. He got the unexpected F1 debut after Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed an operation.

Bearman, who was 18 at the time, became the third-youngest driver in F1. He had only had two practice sessions with Haas — in 2023 — yet produced a commanding drive on a tricky circuit that was way beyond his limited experience.

He is currently competing in the F2 championship and is a reserve driver for both Ferrari and Haas — which uses a Ferrari engine. He won the Austrian GP sprint race last weekend driving for Prema Racing in F2.

READ: F1: Ex-boss Guenther Steiner not surprised by Haas’ scoring start

Bearman signed for the prestigious Ferrari academy in 2021 after being earmarked as a rising star.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” he told Ferrari. “Thank you for preparing me since F4 for this incredible opportunity and know I will give it everything I have.”

Haas team owner Gene Haas has high hopes for Bearman.

“He’s undoubtedly an exciting rookie prospect, not just based on what he showed in Saudi Arabia but also through his time developing his relationship with our team,” Haas said. “I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for (the) Haas F1 Team next season and beyond.”



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Bearman’s promotion means there will be four British drivers on the F1 grid next year, with Lewis Hamilton (who is joining Ferrari ), George Russell (Mercedes) and Lando Norris (McLaren) the others.

Ateneo farewell points Amos to La Salle; UP signs Gilas prospect

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Mason Amos is leaving Ateneo Blue Eagles after just one UAAP season with the team and is reported to be moving to La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Mason Amos traveled over 9,000 kilometers to get to Riga, in Latvia, from Manila for his national team career.

His college career took a shorter trip—just about 20 km—but that voyage looks headed to a destination farthest from the minds of basketball fans.

Amos, the Ateneo big man who has become some sort of a regular in the Gilas Pilipinas pool, announced he was leaving the Blue Eagles, with multiple reports tagging him in a transfer to the other end of Philippine basketball’s greatest and longest-running rivalry.

“To my teammates—with a heavy heart I would like to express that you guys have been a huge part of my life. I am thankful for everything that we were able to share. I have no regrets having fought by your side,” Amos wrote on his Instagram account. “I am thankful that you guys taught me lessons and that we were able to create memories I will cherish forever. I love you guys and that’ll never change.”

The shock announcement, which was made public late Monday night while Amos was with Gilas Pilipinas in Latvia for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, caught almost everyone by surprise especially since the stretch big was marked as a cornerstone for the Blue Eagles.

Instead, he will reportedly begin his residency at La Salle as the UAAP arms race continues at a frenzied pace.

The Citadel product

On Tuesday, University of the Philippines (UP) announced that it had secured the services of Gilas Pilipinas talent target Quentin Millora-Brown, who will suit up for the Maroons in Season 87.

The 6-foot-10 center from The Citadel in the US NCAA Division 1 averaged 11.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 blocks for the same school that produced former PBA guard Noy Castillo.

“We have been talking with Quentin for a time now. We’ve visited him a couple of times since 2019,” UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol said in a statement released to the media. “We are beyond happy and really excited to finally have him in the team for next season.”

Amos, the 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 games for the Blue Eagles in what now turned out to be his lone season in Katipunan.

Amos helped anchor Ateneo’s 7-7 (win-loss) record in Season 86, where the Blue Eagles were eliminated by Final Four foe UP.



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La Salle and Ateneo have yet to respond to requests for a comment on the transfer. INQ

UP Fighting Maroons signs Gilas prospect Millora-Brown

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UP-commit Quentin Millora-Brown with UP OASD Dir. Bo Perasol. –HANDOUT PHOTO

University of the Philippines isn’t taking its last two runner-up finishes sitting down.

The Maroons continued building up their talent cache, inking Gilas Pilipinas prospect Quentin Millora-Brown, who is not only trying to reconnect to a school he has roots in but also wants to link up with the national program.

“We have been talking with Quentin for a time now. We’ve visited him a couple of times since 2019. We are beyond happy and really excited to finally have him in the team for next season,” said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol.

READ: Fil-Am Jacob Bayla boosts UP title bid in UAAP Season 87

The 6-foot-10 Filipino-American averaged 11.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in the US NCAA Division I, where he last played for The Citadel—the school that produced former PBA gunner Noy Castillo.

“My grandfather studied in UP,” Millora-Brown, who is eligible for Season 87, said in a press release shared by the Maroons. “It’s his dream to see me don the Fighting Maroons jersey and play for his alma mater. Right now, I’m just really excited to meet everyone as we’ve been in touch even before the pandemic. [I am] looking forward to spending time with my new teammates ahead of the UAAP season.”

Millora-Brown, who is expected to arrive in the country this month, also wants to hook up with the national program, which has been eyeing him for quite some time.

“Of course, aside from playing for UP in the UAAP, I also want to represent the Philippines with Gilas,” he said.



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Kenny Atkinson signs 5-year contract to coach Cavaliers

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FILE -.The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring former Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

CLEVELAND— Kenny Atkinson’s first stint as an NBA head coach ended with a sudden, strange separation in Brooklyn.

He’s hoping for a longer-lasting relationship in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers finalized a five-year contract on Friday with Atkinson, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant with Golden State and now takes over a Cleveland team coming off its second straight playoff appearance.

In choosing the respected Atkinson, the Cavs ended a monthlong search that began after the firing of J.B. Bickerstaff, who led the team to 99 wins the past two seasons. Bickerstaff was let go after Cleveland lost in five games to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

READ: NBA: Cavaliers hiring Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as next coach

“Kenny brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of player development, and a relentless work ethic that aligns with the vision we have for this franchise,” said Koby Altman, the team’s president of basketball operations.

“His familiarity coaching alongside some of the NBA’s best elevates this partnership and we are excited that Kenny will guide our team and help us achieve our goals both on and off the court,” Altman added

The Cavs plan to introduce Atkinson — the franchise’s 24th coach — at a news conference on Monday.

“This is an incredible opportunity to lead an already talented young roster with an equally bright future,” Atkinson said in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand and had to prepare for this group as an opposing coach, and the task was not easy. I’m so excited to now be on this side of the ledger to help continue moving this team forward.”

READ: NBA: Cavaliers to interview assistants Johnnie Bryant, Quinn

There was a delay in Atkinson signing his contract because he was in France helping its national team prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics. He’ll be back in Europe next week for exhibition games with the French team.

Atkinson arrived in Cleveland on Wednesday and was in the team’s draft room when the Cavs selected Cal forward Jaylon Tyson with the No. 20 overall pick.

Atkinson’s hiring is another significant move in a pivotal summer for a Cleveland team that believes it has the necessary roster to compete for a championship. The next step — and perhaps the most important — is getting All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to sign a long-term contract, which he is expected to do.

The 57-year-old Atkinson is a safe, sound pick by the team’s front office and chairman Dan Gilbert, who hasn’t always handled coaching searches with aplomb. Gilbert’s outside-the-box hires of first-time NBA coaches David Blatt and John Beilein backfired badly.

Atkinson is far less risky.

He has the resume, highlighted by offensive success and a reputation for developing players. Atkinson began as an assistant under Mike D’Antoni in New York and has also been on staffs with Tyronn Lue and most recently Steve Kerr.

Atkinson won a title with the Warriors in 2022.

“Kenny is a great friend,” said Kerr, also the U.S. team’s coach who encouraged Atkinson to join the French staff. “He’s a great coach. That’s the reason Cleveland just hired him. And I was very lucky to have him the last few years.”

The Cavs are counting on Atkinson to bring out the best in their young players, particularly 23-year-old forward Evan Mobley, and take the team further than Bickerstaff could.

His experience with the Nets undoubtedly shaped Atkinson. Although his record wasn’t sparkling (118-190), he got Brooklyn’s players to buy in and the team made incremental improvements in each of his four seasons, making the playoffs in Year 3.

However, 62 games into the 2020 season, Atkinson was pushed out amid an ownership change and the ballyhooed arrivals of stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. His dismissal remains somewhat mysterious, one of those behind-the-scenes power struggles that percolate throughout the league.



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The Cavs were also drawn to Atkinson’s offensive ingenuity. Under him, the Nets were at the forefront of playing faster and shooting more 3-pointers, a trend that took off and was embraced by the champion Celtics this season.

Kiefer Ravena signs with Yokohama B-Corsairs

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Kiefer Ravena is now a free agent in the Japan B.League after his contract with the Shiga Lakes expired at the end of the season.–B.LEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Yokohama B-Corsairs will continue to have Filipino blood injected into its lineup in the upcoming 2024-25 Japan B.League season.

But no, it’s not in the form of Kai Sotto.

This time, it will be Kiefer Ravena, who recently left the Shiga Lakes in the middle of the offseason frenzy.

Just a few weeks after the announcement that the older Ravena was leaving the Lakes after a successful stint in the B2 division, the Ateneo product officially committed with the B-Corsairs.

READ: B.League: Kiefer Ravena a free agent after Shiga contract expires

“I am very excited to be playing for the Yokohama B-Corsairs. This will be a new chapter in my career and I hope to bring my experience and competitive spirit to the team,” Ravena said.

“I can’t wait to meet the fans, play with them, and compete for a championship.”

Ravena,  who posted norms of 10.51 points, 4.0 assists and 2.59 rebounds a night last season, was with Shiga in its highs and lows.

He was there when the Lakes were relegated to B2 a few seasons back and when Shiga returned to the B1 division while also winning the B2 title in the process.

Before the new B.League season, Ravena will be suiting up for Philippine side Strong Group in the 43rd William Jones Cup happening next month.

Yokohama finished with a 24-36 record last season.



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