MANILA, Philippines — Nxled became the first team to make the semifinal round of the 2026-27 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference-Siklab Series after overpowering Akari, 27-25, 25-22, 26-24, on Thursday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Nxled remained undefeated at 6-0. This marks the Chameleons’ first All-Filipino Conference semifinal appearance since their league debut in 2023. Their previous best finish in the tournament was fifth place in the 2025-26 season. "This means a lot and this is the continuity that we started in the Invitational Conference, and this is something that we really like. Today was tough and rough," Nxled’s Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti said. It is also important to note that Nxled’s current roster features several members of Petro Gazz’s 2024-25 All-Filipino Championship team: Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, Myla Pablo, and Jonah Sabete, who all joined their forces to defeat the league’s 11-time champions, the Creamline Cool Smashers. The Petro Gazz stalwarts transferred to Nxled after the franchise announced its leave of absence from the league in January 2026. Akari, on the other hand, dropped to 3-4 behind Creamline (4-1), Farm Fresh (4-2), Choco Mucho (3-3) and PLDT (3-3) in the team standings. Nxled has two remaining games in the elimination round, against Creamline on Tuesday and ZUS Coffee on Saturday. If Nxled wins over Creamline, the Chameleons will earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Akari will try to cap the first-round campaign with a win against ZUS on Tuesday.

PVL 2026 All Filipino-Siklab Series Akari def. Akari, 3-0 Brooke Van Sickle Player of the Game #PVL2026

Son Heung-min and four other South Korean players said Thursday they had put their differences aside after reports of bitter internal divisions at the heart of the national team. South Korean football has been mired in controversy since their hugely disappointing exit in the group stage of the World Cup, after which unpopular coach Hong Myung-bo quit. In the fallout, reports emerged in local media of a split involving the 34-year-old skipper Son and some of the other players, including Bayern...

PARIS, France — Eleven years to the day since the November 2015 Paris attacks, the Stade de France will on Friday host a sports match for the first time on that anniversary. Three suicide bombers struck outside the stadium shortly after 9:00 pm on November 13, 2015 during an international football friendly between France and Germany. Four people died, including the three suicide bombers, but almost simultaneously, a series of shootings and bombings were launched at restaurants and the Bataclan music venue in central Paris. In total, 130 people were killed, while more than 400 were injured, including close to 100 critically. Two victims later committed suicide. Before Friday night's Nations Championship rugby clash between France and South Africa, a tribute will be held to the victims of those attacks. "We will have a moment's pause for the events of that date and we will think about the families and the victims who are still suffering," France coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday. "And we will think about our republic of course, which is also suffering." On Wednesday, on Armistice Day, France captain Antoine Dupont and his half-back partner Maxime Lucu laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on behalf of the team to remember those who died during World War I. "I'm a citizen of the republic and we are all citizens of the republic. The French team is a citizen of the republic and we have a series of events centred around November 13 -- reflection, remembrance and, above all, a chance to ask questions about our society and the role we have in this society," added Galthie. Twice before, France's football team had played a match on November 13, against Kazakhstan in 2021 and Ukraine last year, but both ties were played at the Parc des Princes in southwest Paris instead of the national stadium.

Deni Avdija recorded 28 points, six assists and four steals, and the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder for the second straight night, prevailing 118-108 on Wednesday.

Franz Wagner tied his career high with 38 points while leading the Orlando Magic to a 123-108 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Demin each had 22 points as the visiting Brooklyn Nets cruised past the defenseless New Orleans Pelicans 145-111.

LOS ANGELES, United States — The United States withdrew Wednesday from the upcoming Under-17 soccer World Cup in Qatar due to concerns about security in the Middle East. Players were informed of the decision just over a week before the tournament is due to begin on November 19, in a letter sent by the sport's US governing body. "We are writing to inform you of the difficult decision to cancel our World Cup pre-camp and our planned participation in the World Cup," said the letter, seen by AFP. "We are extremely proud of the preparation by our players and coaches to represent the US in the World Cup. "Unfortunately, in light of current circumstances including the US State Department's Level 3 Travel Advisory for Qatar and related directives for Embassy staff and families, we are no longer able to participate in the tournament. "The well-being of our players and staff will always be our top priority." The war in the Middle East began in February with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated by targeting, among others, Gulf countries allied with Washington. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been punctuated by repeated threats from the United States and Israel to resume bombardments of Iran. Multiple sporting events in the Middle East have been affected, including the tennis WTA Finals which were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia -- which neighbors Qatar -- but are instead now taking place at Indian Wells in the US. This season's Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah was cancelled, while the race in Bahrain was called off and later rescheduled under the same name in Malaysia. Several events in Saudi Arabia have also been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following attacks on the country by the Houthis in Yemen. The US was one of 48 teams scheduled to play in the Under-17 World Cup, in a group with Montenegro, Chile and Algeria. The Under-17 World Cup shifted to an annual event last year, and is being held in Qatar for five consecutive years. Announcing its host decision in 2024, FIFA said the decision to choose a single host nation for multiple editions centered on the ability to make "use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability". Qatar was the venue for the 2022 men's World Cup.

Jamal Murray had 30 points and eight assists, and Nikola Jokic contributed 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the visiting Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 123-118 Wednesday night for their fifth win in seven games.

Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double to lead a balanced attack for the Houston Rockets, who pulled away in the fourth quarter of a 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

BERLIN, Germany — Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has slammed current chief Gianni Infantino, calling his successor a "dictator" and suggesting he needs psychiatric help, in an interview with Der Spiegel published Wednesday. Blatter, 90, criticised Infantino's decision to create the FIFA Peace Prize award for US President Donald Trump in the lead-up to this year's World Cup, hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico. He was also critical of Infantino's post-World Cup plans to sell off part of the commercial rights of the competition in the future, which was scrapped after a fierce backlash. "FIFA is suffering. It is currently led by a person who has allowed himself to be blinded," Blatter told the German magazine. The Peace Prize, he said, was "embarrassing". "Why would he do something like that?," Blatter asked. "Infantino awards a peace prize to someone who wages war against Iran shortly afterwards? That's madness." Blatter said it was easy for Infantino to secure support for his own re-election from national football bodies. "'If you vote for me,' he tells the national associations, 'you will get much more money than before.' "He is a dictator. People in FIFA tell me that no one is allowed to ride in the elevator with him. He is 'untouchable'." Speaking of Infantino's World Cup sale plans, Blatter said: "Infantino no longer knows any borders. He doesn't understand any of this. "I mean, maybe Infantino should be sent to a psychiatric ward one day." Blatter was also critical of FIFA's decision to suspend a red card awarded to USA striker Folarin Balogun after Trump intervened ahead of a crucial match at this summer's World Cup. "The red card. That's the worst. Statutes can be interpreted. But rules of the game must apply to everyone, you can't interpret them."  'Fulfilling his duties': FIFA  When contacted for comment by AFP however, FIFA pointed to its previous response to Der Spiegel, which countered Blatter's statements. FIFA rebutted allegations Infantino had acted inappropriately, saying he "is fulfilling his duties as president through his travels," while adding: "The suspension imposed on Folarin Balogun following a red card was lifted by independent FIFA judicial bodies." "Mr. Infantino does indeed use the elevator at FIFA, but does so when other people are present," FIFA said in the statement. President of FIFA from 1998, Blatter resigned in disgrace in 2015 amid corruption allegations, including accusations he had sought to buy votes for his presidency. Charges were brought against him but Blatter was eventually cleared in two trials but was banned from football by FIFA's ethics committee. Blatter told the magazine he had "no regrets" from his time in charge of the organisation. Japanese official Kozo Tashima has announced plans to run against Infantino in his re-election bid, but Blatter named World Athletics president Sebastian Coe as his pick to take over FIFA. "It is not important who is running. What is important is that the incumbent president is no longer elected. "Coe was also chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee. He is a strong personality. A president from the motherland of football, England, would be good." Blatter said he had not spoken with Infantino since early 2016.

LOS ANGELES, United States — French Open champion Mirra Andreeva stormed past Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 to reach the last four of the WTA Finals on Wednesday as Elina Svitolina kept her bid on track with a three-set win over Karolina Muchova. Russian 19-year-old Andreeva held her nerve after falling behind 4-1 in the opening set -- winning the last 11 games to seal the round-robin victory in just 62 minutes. "Oh my God, I'm even happier than I was after my first match," Andreeva said. "I feel like I can play another two matches, I'm so full of energy. I'm so pumped up. I'm so happy." Andreeva, whose three titles this year include her maiden major at Roland Garros, is making her singles debut in the elite season-ending event. The world number three seemed to be feeling the nerves in the early going against second-ranked Sabalenka. Irked that she had given up a break with a double fault, she was able to flip the switch, dealing handily with Sabalenka's big serves and pushing the Belarusian star back with her own big groundstrokes. Andreeva crucially kept momentum on her side with a break for a 3-0 lead in the second set. Sabalenka, trailing 0-40, saved three break points, but Andreeva gave herself another with a swinging volley winner and grabbed another break when a Sabalenka forehand flew just long. The increasingly demoralized Sabalenka had no answer. After the Belarusian smacked a backhand into the net to give her opponent match point Andreeva polished things off with a service winner. It was another disappointing performance for the 28-year-old Sabalenka, whose three wins this season include prestigious back-to-back victories at Indian Wells and Miami but no Grand Slams. Making her sixth straight Finals appearance, Sabalenka can still advance if she beats Svitolina in their final round-robin match on Friday. Svitolina roared back from a set down to beat Muchova 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Ukrainian veteran Svitolina lifted the WTA Finals trophy in 2018 but hadn't been back to the elite season-ending event since 2019. She got off to a rocky start against Muchova, who broke Svitolina three times in the opening set. Trailing 2-1 on serve in the second Svitolina found her range, winning five straight games to force a third set. "I was not happy with the first set," Svitolina said. "I didn't play as well. I just made some adjustments, tactical adjustments. "I think it helped me also to be more aggressive, because I was too passive in the first set," Svitolina said. Muchova's second round-robin defeat coupled with Andreeva's victory means the Czech was eliminated from semi-final contention.

LOS ANGELES, United States — The San Antonio Spurs rallied from 22 points down to beat the Chicago Bulls 124-119 on Wednesday, notching a 10th straight NBA win and keeping the pressure on the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers improved their record to 11-2 -- half a game ahead of the 10-2 Spurs atop the West -- with a 123-112 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee. Luka Doncic scored 32 points but limped out late in the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle. In Chicago, Victor Wembanyama poured in 32 points to lead seven Spurs players who scored double figures. But San Antonio had to claw back from a 22-point first-half deficit against the lowly Bulls, who dropped their eighth straight. Chicago's 41 first-quarter points were the most allowed in the opening period by the Spurs this season. They limited Wembanyama early but couldn't keep it up. He finished an efficient 13-of-18 from the floor with nine rebounds, two steals and five blocked shots. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson lamented his team's lack of "physicality and resistance" in the first half. "Just a really sloppy performance from us defensively in the first half," he said. The Lakers led most of the way in Milwaukee, where they also faced a struggling team in the Bucks. "(It) could have easily been a trap game for us," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "So I appreciate the way we handled the first half and then to build that lead in the third quarter and through the early part of the fourth was excellent." Redick said he thought Doncic's injury was "just a light tweak." Teammate Austin Reaves will require further tests on a left heel injury suffered in the third quarter when he landed awkwardly. The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by 32 points from James Harden and 23 from Donovan Mitchell, beat the defending champion New York Knicks 115-107 at Madison Square Garden. The Cavs got off to a hot start and led by 12 in the first quarter before hanging on for the win. The Knicks managed to tie the score four times in the second half but never took the lead. Peyton Watson's fourth block with 33.7 seconds left led to a thunderous dunk from Cavs center Jarrett Allen that pushed the lead to seven points and essentially sealed the win. Celtics overcome Raptors  Boston's Jayson Tatum made the go-ahead free throws with 25.2 seconds left as the Celtics rallied to beat the Raptors 98-93 in Toronto. Boston trailed by as many as 22 but stepped it up defensively in the second half to notch a fifth straight win, one night after an emotional win over ex-Celtic Jaylen Brown and the 76ers in Philadelphia. "It was ugly but I'll take it," said Tatum, who led all scorers with 24 and added seven rebounds and eight assists. In Phoenix, Kevin Durant scored 20 points and Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson added 19 apiece to lead the Suns to a 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors saw their eight-game winning streak end and lost superstar Stephen Curry in the first quarter with an abdominal injury. In Portland, the Trail Blazers beat Oklahoma City for the second time in two nights, Deni Avdija leading the way with 28 points in a 118-108 victory.

MANILA, Philippines — The La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) swimming team continued its relentless surge at the NCAA Season 102 swimming competitions at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, with standout performances from Kristian Yugo Cabana and Behrouz Mohammad ‘Madi’ Mojdeh turning the championship pool into a stage for grit, redemption, and personal triumph. After missing out on the gold standard on opening day, Cabana roared back with a vengeance, capturing two golds and a silver. Mojdeh added to the medal tally with a silver and a bronze, proving that the LSGH tankers are a force to be reckoned with. “I was pretty confident coming into the finals because my preliminary swims were solid, and I was ranked first in both the 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke,” Cabana shared. Cabana dominated the pool to capture gold in the 100m butterfly, clocking an impressive 56.74 seconds. “I was really happy with my 100m butterfly. I've been working for almost a year to break my personal best of 57 seconds, and finally getting into the 56-second range was a huge achievement for me,” he said. The LSGH tankers completed a sweet podium sweep in the event, with teammates Gilbert Gonzalo (58.82) and Gerald Esquivel (59.69) securing the silver and bronze medals, respectively.  Cabana then teamed up with Esquivel, Titus Rafael Sia, and Rafael Ubiadas to seize the gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay with a time of 3:43.22. Though Cabana narrowly missed a triple-gold sweep—settling for silver in the 50m backstroke (28.49) behind San Beda University’s Earl Baguistan—he took the razor-thin defeat as fuel for the future. “I was really aiming for a double gold, so narrowly missing the gold in the 50 back was frustrating. My dive was a little too deep, and in a 50-meter race, even the smallest mistake can cost you everything. There's barely any time to recover because it's just one lap,” Cabana admitted. “Of course, I wanted both gold medals, but I'm proud of the progress I've made. Every race teaches me something, and that just makes me more determined to come back stronger.” Conquering self-doubt Meanwhile, Mojdeh—the reigning NCAA Season 101 Rookie of the Year—showcased incredible versatility by claiming silver in the 200m breaststroke (2:30.87) and bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:23.63), bringing his running tally to one gold, two silvers, and a bronze. It wasn't an easy climb for Mojdeh, who had to battle mental hurdles and physical exhaustion. “I was really disappointed with my preliminary times, especially in the 400m freestyle. I’ve been focusing so much on my butterfly events that I somehow lost my rhythm and pacing in the 400 free. My mom reminded me not to panic or doubt myself, but to trust my training and all the hours I’ve put into the pool,” Mojdeh revealed. Those words of wisdom paid off. In the 200m breaststroke, Mojdeh finally shattered a personal barrier that had eluded him for months. “I finally managed to break my personal best. It wasn't a huge improvement, but I had been stuck at around 2:33 for almost a year, so seeing progress again meant a lot to me,” he shared. Managing his energy after a grueling back-to-back schedule was another test of character. “The 200 breast and 400 free aren't really my strongest events, so my goal was simply to make the podium. I came into the preliminaries seeded sixth in the 400 free, and by the finals, I had just finished racing the 200 breaststroke. I knew I had to be smart with my energy.” Drawing inspiration from his sister, national swimming team member Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, he leaned into his natural strengths: “I focused on feeling the water, controlling my pace, and saving enough for a strong finish. I'm naturally a back-end swimmer, just like my sister, so I trusted that strength and gave everything I had in the final lap.” Walking away with new personal bests in events outside his comfort zone, Mojdeh proved that growth happens when athletes dare to push past their limits. “I'm really happy that I managed to achieve another personal best and finish on the podium. It reminded me that even in events outside my comfort zone, I can still surprise myself if I trust my training,” he smiled. TMT

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 89  basketball tournament – second round University of Santo Tomas scribbled a new name on its active roster list and just like that, University of the East’s good vibes—generated by a win that snapped a two-year, 30-game losing streak—came to a thudding end. Peter Osang replaced Collins Akowe as the Tigers’ foreign

MANILA, Philippines — Mafy Singson hardly comes into the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Match Play Invitational looking like a defending champion poised for another title run. With no victory and just one runner-up finish in eight Ladies Philippine Golf Tour appearances this season, Singson's campaign has been far from encouraging. Her No. 12 finish in the LPGT Order of Merit likewise reflects a season marked more by struggles than by the form that made her a champion. But if there's one thing that could work in her favor, it's the very format of the P1.5-million championship set Nov. 18-20 at Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan. Unlike stroke play, where consistency over four rounds is paramount, match play offers a different proposition – one that Singson has already shown she can handle, even when her game isn't firing on all cylinders. She proved that in last year's edition of the season-ending championship, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., at The Country Club, where she overcame early-round struggles, including an inconsistent putting touch, to emerge as the last player standing. Singson displayed remarkable composure in the knockout rounds, surviving pressure and momentum swings before draining a clutch birdie on No. 17 to edge Daniella Uy by one hole in a gripping semifinal duel. She saved her best for last, overwhelming Martina Miñoza, 6-5, in the final as her putting finally clicked from start to finish. That championship run could offer a timely reminder that her fortunes need not be dictated by her season-long results. Singson's campaign has been a largely frustrating one. After tying for ninth at Lakewood, she placed second to Harmie Constantino at Caliraya Springs, shared sixth at Pinewoods, then settled for ties for 12th, 18th and 13th at Summit Point, South Pacific and Apo, respectively. She also struggled early in the year, finishing tied for 37th in the Philippine Ladies Open before winding up joint 31st in the Kenda Tires Open in Taiwan, a co-sanctioned event of the LPGT and Taiwan LPGA Tour. Her task, however, will be anything but easy, with Order of Merit winner Yvon Bisera arriving on the heels of her maiden season-long title and several other contenders enjoying considerably stronger campaigns. The top 16 players in the eight-leg LPGT season have earned spots in the match-play field, with Singson drawing No. 5 Sarah Ababa in the first round. Bisera is slated to face No. 16 Angela Mangana, while No. 2 Constantino is set to take on Chihiro Ikeda. No. 3 Tiffany Lee braces for a clash with Rev Alcantara, while No. 4 Chanelle Avaricio faces Kim Seoyun. The other opening-round pairings pit Miñoza against Velinda Castil, Gretchen Villavicencio against Monica Mandario, and Princess Superal against Uy. In match play, a costly hole does not necessarily spell disaster, as players compete to win individual holes rather than post the lowest aggregate score. The format demands constant adjustments to an opponent's game, the ability to capitalize on openings and the mental toughness to quickly move past mistakes. A hole lost means only one point conceded, but a lapse in concentration or a sudden shift in momentum can prove decisive. Nerves, composure and clutch execution can therefore carry as much weight as power and precision. TMT

Creamline and Choco Mucho seek to regain their winning ways and strengthen their semifinal bids when the sister teams clash in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Cool Smashers and Flying Titans, two of the league’s biggest crowd draws, collide at 6 p.m. in another highly anticipated showdown between teams

DAKAR—Pi Durden Forward Wangkay wasn’t among the favorites to reach the podium in the men’s 200 meters at the Youth Olympic Games. But the Filipino sprinter saved his best for last. The De La Salle standout entered the final with the fifth-fastest time from the heats and was assigned the outside Lane 9, leaving him

The inclusion of Rhenz Abando on the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers may have come as a surprise to some. But not to Gilas coach Tim Cone. “Not a surprise,” Cone said on Wednesday when Abando was announced as among the 12 players who will suit

CARMONA—After hitting his drive into the first cut of rough on the 11th hole on Wednesday, Micah Shin—the Korean-American who has been embraced as a local—stared into the distance before answering a tough question. “No, I don’t think that’s possible,” Shin, who was raised and got good at golf in Davao, told the Inquirer when

Here are the results of the games played on Wednesday, November 11 (US time). Los Angeles Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors, and other games.

Caspar Fownes will consider a supplementary entry for Megastar Heart to take on Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) if the rising sprinter makes another big statement at Sha Tin on Saturday. Plagued by lameness since arriving in Hong Kong last year, the Australian import has delivered on his promise with a pair of outstanding Class Three victories this season, prompting Fownes to label him a 100-rater in waiting. While Fownes isn’t getting too carried away, given Megastar...

Alexandra “Alex” Eala had a historic 2026 season, highlighted by her first WTA 500 title at the Washington Open and another title at the WTA 125 tournament in Birmingham.

Manila AQ Prime Assets dominated the elimination round of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).  Under the stewardship of team owner Atty. Aldwin Alegre and team manager Jojo Legaspi, Manila AQ Prime Assets delivered the most dominant elimination round campaign in PCAP history as the team swept the Alpha Division of the Wesley So Cup with a pristine 25-0 record, finishing as the only undefeated team in the league. From their opening-week routs against Mindoro (21-0), Laguna (19-2), and Pasig (17.5-3.5) to high-stakes clashes against title contenders like the San Juan Predators (14-7) and Toledo-Xignex Trojans (17-4), Manila proved virtually untouchable in the tournament.  The International Master Ricardo de Guzman-led team capped the elimination round by rallying from a blitz deficit to defeat IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba's Tribe (14-7) before shutting out OCM Cebu Niños in the rapid round for a 19.5-1.5 victory.  With his stellar performance, De Guzman was named Most Valuable Player. The other members of the team are Grandmaster Mark Paragua, IM Eric Labog Jr., National Master Dale Bernardo, Woman International Master Kylen Joy Mordido, IM Ronald Dableo, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Fide Master Christian Mark Daluz and Indian import IM Padmini Rout. "Another proud moment for the Manila AQ Prime Assets squad. You've shown the chess world the true spirit of a fighter. We are all incredibly proud of you," Alegre said.  Meanwhile, the members of the Manila team shifts their momentum from online dominance to the international over-the-board arena with the staging of the AQ Prime International Chess Open Championship on Nov. 18-24, 2026, at the Asian Institute of Tourism in Diliman, Quezon City.  The AQ Prime tournament, held in partnership with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and under the auspices of the Asean Chess Confederation—will welcome local and international masters. The weeklong Fide-rated standard chess tournament features the Master Open (2000-above) and Challenger (1999-below) divisions. The 9-round Swiss System tournament underscores AQ Prime's commitment not only to championship-caliber team play, but also to creating world-class competitive platforms for Filipino chess talents.

Victor Wembanyama had 32 points and nine rebounds and Dylan Harper added 18 points and 10 assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the host Chicago Bulls 124-119 on Wednesday for their 10th straight win.

Luka Doncic scored 32 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 23 to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their seventh consecutive win, a 123-112 decision over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

The Philippine national men's curling team clinched a spot in the 2027 World Curling Championships. Despite trailing 3-4 in the final round of their round robin match against Australia on Wednesday at the qualifying event in Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, the Marc Pfister-led squad secured a 2-point final to defeat Australia 5-4. The Filipinos earlier trailed in the match 1-4 before launching their successful comeback. "The victory officially locks up a playoff berth and earns the team promotion to the World Curling Championships," the Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines said. "Beyond the immediate championship berth, the promotion marks a monumental step forward for the program as they begin accumulating crucial world ranking and qualification points toward the 2030 Winter Olympic Games," it added. The 2027 World Curling Championships will be held in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, while the next Winter Olympic Games will take place in France in 2030.

Life has come full circle for basketball player Adam Xu. Twelve years after returning from his studies in the United States, the sports management graduate is trying his hand at being the modern athlete-executive in Hong Kong: setting foot in the business world while playing competitive basketball with his original club, Winling. Having played three seasons with the A1 Division team following his return from New York University (NYU) in 2015, Xu said returning to where he started his career was...

James Harden snapped a slump by scoring 32 points, including a fourth-quarter 3-pointer that put the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers ahead for good in a 115-107 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

Jayson Tatum logged 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and the Boston Celtics overcame a 22-point first-half deficit to earn a 98-93 road victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.