Women's Sports

image
Oct 14, 2026

MPBL: Zamboanga stuns Quezon, forces Game 3 do-or-die

MANILA, Philippines — Levi Hernandez drilled a dagger three with 26.3 seconds left as Zamboanga SiKat bested Quezon Province, 67-64, on Wednesday and forced a Game 3 decider in their South Division quarterfinal playoffs of SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League)  2026 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum. Familiar with the venue's ring, being a former star of the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics, Hernandez did not hesitate to let the ball fly from the corner to stun the Huskers, who seized control at 64-62 after scoring 10 points against another triple by Hernandez. Quezon's  Diego Dario intruded the lane but missed the layup with 5.5 seconds left and Zamboanga's John Mahari snared the rebound. In the ensuing play, Brandon Wilson got fouled and made both charities for the final count with 3.3 ticks left. "From start to finish, walang sumuko (sa amin)," said Hernandez, adding that their coaches told them to forget about their lopsided 55-88 loss to the Huskers in the series opener on Oct. 7 at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, where Game 3 will also be held on Saturday. Zamboanga homegrown Forthsky Padrigao posted 15 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds and was chosen the SportsPlus best player over Paeng Are, who had 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Wilson contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Hernandez, with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Quezon, the reigning back-to-back South Division champion, drew 12 points from Jason Opiso, and 11 points and 5 rebounds from Christian Pagrana. MPBL All-Star Judel Fuentes was held to 8 points, making only two of 10 triple attempts. Quezon started flat, 2-11, but seized the lead at 26-25. Zamboanga, powered by Brandon Wilson, however, countered with an 11-3 run to regain control, 36-33, at the half, The North Division playoffs resume on Thursday, with games pitting Abra Solid North against Quezon City at 5 p.m., and Pasay against Meycauayan Marilao at 7 p.m. The Abra Weavers and the Pasay Voyagers beat the same opponents in the series openers and will be seeking repeats and semifinal slots. TMT

image
Oct 14, 2026

Rising Spanish tennis star handed code violation for swearing at ballboy

SHANGHAI — Rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after shouting an expletive at a ballboy in the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. Jodar, 20, was trailing Botic van de Zandschulp after losing the first set on a tie-break when he shouted in Spanish: "Give me the fucking towel!" He had fired a shot just long to lose a break point in the first game of the second set. Jodar was swiftly issued a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, a violation of the ATP rulebook, by Ecuadoran chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote. The two had a brief exchange in Spanish as Jodar complained to Pinoargote that his request for a towel was being ignored. Pinoargote responded that he understood but could not excuse Jodar's language. "Ask me, and I'll ask him," Pinoargote said. "Not like that — that's not how we speak to them." When Jodar asked Pinoargote, "What did I say?," and the umpire responded: "I can't repeat it. You know what you said." Jodar went on to beat van de Zandschulp 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2. The world number 13 is having a breakout season after starting at 168th. He will face Casper Ruud in the Shanghai quarter-finals after the Norwegian advanced when Felix Auger-Aliassime retired injured from their fourth-round match. Ball boys and girls are stationed around the court to fetch loose balls and toss them to players during service games. They also hand players towels between points.