The envy of other athletes, swimmers typically wrap up their major Games galas early and start letting their hair down while everyone else is still in monastic competition mode. Contrast their hedonistic lot with the rugby 7s players at this Asian Games: “on edge, practising and a bit nervous”, according to Chloe Chan, as they impatiently wait to join the party on Thursday. “But it’s good to be nervous going into a tournament; it means you care, right?” the Hong Kong captain said. Had the chips...

CAMDEN, New Jersey — LeBron James took his seat and fidgeted with a microphone before he tossed his identification placard on the ground. “You guys know who I am, right?” James asked. Sure do. No introduction needed. LeBron James, the most famous basketball player in the world and the NBA's career scoring leader, was indeed in a No. 23 Philadelphia 76ers jersey. He's happy to play for the Sixers, happy to play with close friend and fellow All-Star Tyrese Maxey and happy to start a record 24th NBA season — with no promises of how long his career is going to last. James did make one vow: He's not in Philadelphia to lose. “I didn't leave my family,” James said Monday, “to lose in the second round.” James, Maxey, Joel Embiid and the other new star Sixers player, Jaylen Brown, were all on hand for media day ahead of the start of training camp and what figures to be the most anticipated season in Philly since Julius Erving's heyday. James is the undisputed star of the show. The usual assortment of beat writers and bloggers were dwarfed inside the Sixers' complex in New Jersey by cameras and questions from media entities far beyond the NBA scope. James, naturally, handled himself like a true professional, used to the global spotlight since he was put on a basketball pedestal as a teenager. “Understand that the noise is going to be the noise,” James said. “What happens outside of this building is going to consistently happen, and it's going to be doubled and triple and quadrupled down on you. It just comes with the territory. I understand it.” Much as James did for Cleveland when he ended a 52-year championship drought for the city by leading the Cavaliers to the title in 2016, he's in Philadelphia largely to help snap a championship drought for the Sixers that stretches to 1983 — just one year before James was born. The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks. Enter a summer makeover already boosted by the shocking trade with Boston for Brown and anchored by James’ arrival. The 41-year-old James — new teammate Justin Edwards called him “Unc” — signed a modest $8 million, two-year contract on the veterans’ minimum with the Sixers. The contract might be the minimum. The outlook is pretty much championship-or-bust for a franchise that has failed to advance out of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001. So how will James mesh with Maxey? Pay heed with Embiid? Bond with Brown? Pretty easily, actually — for now. “I think the luxury of my game is, I can do everything,” James said. “Literally, I can do everything.” He can back up the boast. He’s a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He also is coming off a season with the Lakers in which he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. For his career, he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in more than 1,600 games. “Him being here is really cool,” Maxey said. His pull with James had an added benefit — Maxey got him on the team text group chat. VJ Edgecombe said he organized a thread once Brown was traded, but the idea got complicated once James signed in July. “LeBron came, and obviously I don’t got LeBron James’ number,” Edgecombe said. “I can’t say, ‘go add 'Bron to the group chat.’ Besides, even if I had his number, why would I randomly add LeBron to a group chat? You get what I’m saying? So I told Tyrese to do it.” James weighed his career options after flirting with retirement at the end of last season. The pull to stay at his family home in Los Angeles rather than moving to the East Coast was tempting. James noted that one son plays college ball at Arizona, his daughter just started middle school and “my oldest son, my former teammate, is starting his third year in Los Angeles.” That, of course, would be Bronny James. Don't forget his wife, Savannah, whom James noted “is doing so many unbelievable things right now in her own personal journey.” After time away with family, and still feeling physically and mentally strong in offseason workouts, James decided he wanted to keep playing. With key members of Sixers ownership and the front office watching from the side, James declined to get into the issue of how much longer he wants to play. His lone focus, he said, was learning how to play with new teammates — most, like Embiid, haven't won a title — and trying to bring the championship mentality he knows so well from winning titles with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers to the Sixers. “I hope that I can, you know, bring that experience, bring that knowledge, bring the blueprint to the guys that's trying to accomplish some things that they haven't done in their career,” James said. “I've seen everything that this league has to offer on the floor and off the floor, so I hope that every single day with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy." James started his career in Cleveland in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Cavs before heading to Miami for four seasons — where he won his first two NBA titles. He then returned to Cleveland for four more seasons, including that title run in 2016, and left in 2018 for the Lakers. He won a title in LA in 2020. He won't set a timetable on how many years he has left in his career. “I don't want to speak on the future right now,” James said. “I think that would be doing a disservice to myself on just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career.” Unbelievably, that's Philadelphia.

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama said he still struggles to sleep sometimes following San Antonio's loss to New York in June's NBA Finals, but the French superstar predicts the Spurs will be tougher this season. "We're fighting for the top spot of the mountain," Wembanyama said on Monday. "We're going to have to move people in our way." The 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center reached his first NBA Finals in only his third season since being selected first overall in the NBA Draft, but the Spurs fell to the Knicks in five games. "I couldn't imagine better motivation," Wembanyama said. "We're in a great spot, very hopeful, very ambitious and ready. "We won the West last year and we don't want to do anything less this year. We want to be the first seed and we want to keep fighting for the top spot." Wembanyama said there remains an emotional toll from the heartbreak. "We have to go through some emotions and some of that you have to go through alone," said Wembanyama. "Hard to find sleep sometimes, hard emotions. "There's a just a point where you accept that you have to go through it and feel all of it. We're going to face these emotions, face the reality that we have 100 games to play." "Wemby" was last season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in blocked shots for a third consecutive season. The 22-year-old Frenchman said he felt the Spurs' 22-game playoff run last season made him better. "It feels like going through something of great magnitude," he said. "I never played so many games or so many minutes. We still pushed through it. "I'm in better shape than I could have expected right now just off experiences and growing." Wembanyama is prepared to be the hunted among NBA clubs instead of chasing other favored clubs. "It feels like we're in our place. It feels normal," said Wembanyama. "There are high expectations around us. We will play each team at their best every night. No one will be surprised by our performances now." Wembanyama averaged NBA career highs of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds last season as well as 3.5 assists, 3.1 blocked shots and 1.1 steals a game for the Spurs.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers on Monday apologized to fans and warned of grave challenges ahead after the NBA franchise was hit with severe penalties for its violations of salary cap rules. Earlier this month, the Clippers were fined a record $30 million, stripped of five first-round NBA Draft picks and had multiple leadership figures banned after a probe uncovered violations involving payments to former star Kawhi Leonard. After initially pledging to fight the sanctions, the Clippers have since pledged to comply with the NBA's decision. They begin their new season on October 21 against the Sacramento Kings. "Obviously, this took a little longer than we had hoped. You guys deserved to hear from us before this. Our fans deserved to hear from us before this, and for that, we're sorry," said Trent Redden, interim head of basketball operations, at the team's media day. Redden was standing in for Lawrence Frank, one of several Clipper executives suspended over the scandal, along with team owner Steve Ballmer. Redden said running the team "will be a challenge without them" and warned that the "penalties we are facing are significant." "These challenges are large, not just the penalties, but some of the injuries that we've already faced as well," he added. Forward Brandon Ingram -- one of two players the Clippers acquired in exchange for trading Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors -- will miss the start of the new season as he recovers from surgery on a partially torn Achilles tendon, said Redden. Shooting guard Bradley Beal will miss the start of training camp due to a knee injury, while young star Jordan Miller will not be available for months after surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff. "This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall," said Redden. "We hope to represent our fans the same way we always have in dark times -- by coming out fighting." The NBA investigation found the Clippers aided Leonard in evading salary cap rules in deals worth millions of dollars with team corporate sponsors when he signed in 2022. The probe found the club induced companies to enter into agreements with Leonard by offering them business, paid personal expenses for Leonard and his representatives, and failed to report improper solicitations for income opportunities by Leonard's then-business manager. John Gibson, a Los Angeles lawyer and long-standing Clippers fan, has been appointed interim governor and chief executive officer during Ballmer's year-long suspension. Netanyahu asked Sheikh Mohamed to deny the report, according to a person said to have firsthand information about the meeting. Netanyahu’s office had previously denied the Haaretz report. The person, along with a regional official briefed on the meeting, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secret trip. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on reports about the meeting but stressed it maintains “open and direct lines of communication” with Israel and shares “all relevant intelligence.” There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office. But the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, filed a complaint with Israel’s chief military censor against Channel 12 over what it called a serious censorship violation. It said the timing of the report endangered the prime minister and the operation and forces on the ground and exposed Shin Bet operational methods. The PMO said Channel 12 reported the flight at 9:38 p.m. while the plane was still outside Israel and about an hour before it landed. —By Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Samy Magdy in Cairo EU applies for observer status in a Saudi mission in the Red Sea The European Union is applying for “observer status” in a new multinational maritime defense coalition led by Saudi Arabia formed to protect the kingdom’s energy exports. The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas made the announcement on Monday, ahead of a Brussels meeting. The energy-hungry EU is facing record energy prices due to the war in Iran. Kallas said she will ask for an expansion of the bloc’s own small naval force in the Red Sea dubbed ASPIDES to help escort cargo vessels through the key strategic chokepoint of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and protect them from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Kallas said the “need is bigger than it’s ever been” for more ships. It’s unclear what observer status in the Saudi-led coalition would mean operationally for either the EU or ASPIDES. Supreme leader says Iranian troops defended the Strait of Hormuz from the enemy Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has praised his country’s fighters for allegedly preventing “enemy forces” from “roaming freely” in the Strait of Hormuz. Khamenei said in a message carried by the state broadcaster on Monday that Iran’s enemies now “do not come" closer to the strait than the Arabian Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean. Soon, "the Arabian Sea too, will be rid of them,” said the message, issued to mark the two-year anniversary of the killing of the militant Hezbollah group's longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Khamenei hasn't been seen or heard publicly since the opening attacks of the war on Feb. 28 that killed his father and previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. WHO says more people have been killed or wounded in Yemen The World Health Organization said Sunday it has documented 164 deaths and 645 injuries from the war in Yemen between Sept. 19 and Sept. 26. This brings the overall casualties since Aug. 6 to 4,481, with 838 fatalities. The latest intense fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemeni government forces has displaced more than 180,000 people. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 1 person, wound others A woman was killed and her husband wounded when an Israeli strike hit a Gaza City rooftop on Monday, Shifa Hospital officials said. Another person was also wounded and in critical condition. The Israeli military later said it was aware of this strike and was looking into its results. Later Monday, a second Israeli strike, on a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, left one person critically injured, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it targeted a “military operative,” but did not immediately provide further details or identify the individual. More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the Gaza ceasefire took effect nearly a year ago. Around half of that number are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which maintains detailed records that international organizations consider reliable. UN envoy says West Bank settler violence at ‘unprecedented levels’ The United Nations' acting Mideast envoy said Monday that settler violence in the West Bank has reached “unprecedented levels” – often with Israeli forces present. Ramiz Alakbarov told the U.N. Security Council that 630 documented settler attacks between June 13 and Sept. 18. resulted in casualties, property damage or both. Three Palestinian communities were "fully depopulated" during that period, he said, "bringing to 49 the number of communities fully displaced under similar circumstances since January 2023.” Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank, in violation of international law, also threatens prospects of a contiguous Palestinian state and a two-state solution, Alakbarov said. An Israeli minister vows to press on with West Bank settlement project Israel’s polarizing Cabinet minister in charge of settlement construction, Bezalel Smotrich, has condemned a decision by the attorney general to freeze a contentious project near Jerusalem. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara ordered the project to be put on hold until after the Oct. 27 elections so it wouldn't “be used for election propaganda.” The project — known as E1 settlement development — is especially controversial because it would carve out a strategic section of the West Bank in a way that critics say would destroy hopes for a viable future Palestinian state. Smotrich accused on X Baharav-Miara of “interfering in the election campaign” and acting in the service of Netanyahu’s political opponents. Israel reprimands Spain over youth minister's controversial remarks Israel summoned the Spanish Embassy’s chargé d’affaires over remarks by Spain's youth minister who declared the country's public support for a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea” — a slogan that implies a call for the elimination of the Israeli state. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Spanish Youth Minister Sira Rego’s remarks were “part of a systematic anti-Israel policy pursued by the Spanish government” and its leader, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Rego was barred from entering Israel in Sept. 2025.

NAGOYA, Japan — Philippines tennis trailblazer Alexandra Eala was in ruthless mood at the Asian Games on Monday as rain disrupted some events and Japanese organisers faced renewed accusations of mismanagement. Eala launched her title charge with victory in just 55 minutes against the outclassed world number 517 Patcharin Cheapchandej. Eala, ranked 18 and favorite for gold in Nagoya, thrashed the Thai 6-1, 6-0, after the bad weather delayed the start and forced the match inside onto a smaller court. Top seed Eala will face Taiwan's UK-born eighth seed Joanna Garland in the quarter-finals. Eala, 21, last month became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title. Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting, the Olympic champion who was thrust into a major gender row at Paris 2024, guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal. Lin defeated North Korea's Won Un Gyong in the women's 60kg class in Nagoya to reach the semi-finals, as she chases a second Asian Games gold. The 30-year-old told AFP ahead of the Games that she had considered retiring after the Paris Olympics but wanted to carry on fighting in part to defy those who questioned her eligibility. Lin and Imane Khelif of Algeria were disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after the organization said they failed unspecified gender eligibility tests. However, the IOC allowed them to compete in Paris, saying they were victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision" by the widely discredited IBA. Both went on to win gold. Rain fell steadily throughout the evening on the athletics, where Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage embellished his fast-growing reputation with men's javelin gold. China extended their dominance in diving, where they are unbeaten, as the country's overall haul of golds swelled to 131 by Monday evening. Hosts Japan are a distant second in the medals table and South Korea third. 'Rain has ruined everything' India and Pakistan stayed on course to meet in the men's cricket final after both quarter-finals were abandoned because of rain and a sodden outfield. Pakistan went through first against Hong Kong without a ball being bowled under competition rules that say the highest-seeded side progresses. A few hours later, with rain in the air, India progressed against Afghanistan with no prospect of play. "We played two matches here on this ground, so we know the condition very well, but unfortunately the rain has ruined everything," said Afghanistan's Mohammad Akram. Sri Lanka play Nepal and Bangladesh face Malaysia in the last two quarter-finals on Tuesday. However, more rain is forecast. Cricket and tennis were not the only sports to face disruption, with softball also hit with a delay. Golf is due to start Wednesday but the wet weather ruined practice. 'Totally unfair' Organizational chaos again dogged the Games when the official bus carrying the Pakistan men's volleyball team went to the wrong venue. Pakistan's group game with Uzbekistan had to be pushed back 45 minutes. "This is another mismanagement by Japan at the ongoing Asian Games," Pakistan captain Murad Jehan said from the bus in an Instagram video. "We have a very important game and the bus driver does not know in which gymnasium we are going to play," he said in the clip with a caption reading, "Embarrassing situation at Japan Asian Games 2026. Totally unfair." He added: "We couldn't expect this in Japan. There is a lot of mismanagement." It is more embarrassment for red-faced organizers of the Games, where there have been numerous complaints about the accommodation and transport. Pavel Eygel of Uzbekistan became the fourth athlete of the event to be provisionally suspended for failing a doping test. The canoeist, who had been due to compete on Tuesday, tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine.

ERNEST John "EJ" Obiena seeks to retain his men's pole vault title and deliver the Philippines another gold medal in the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Tuesday. Expected to rule the continental meet anew, Obiena competes against 11 other pole vaulters at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium at 5:20 p.m. in Manila. This Asiad appears to be Obiena's last tournament for his season. "One more for this season," Obiena wrote on his social media pages on Monday. "Asian Games tomorrow at 18:20 local time," added the 6-foot-2 pole vaulter who owns the Asian record of 6.0-m clearance. The challenge for Obiena is not only to defend his title but also to surpass the meet record of 5.90-m clearance he set at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China. Obiena sports a season-best clearance of 5.91 m, set on Aug. 18 at the Golden Sand Meet in Poland, where he soared past 5.90 m for the first time since the Paris Olympics. Seizing gold in the Polish meet, Obiena achieved another 5.90 m clearance in the Zurich Diamond League to place fifth and qualify for the World Championships next year. Obiena last saw action at the Domspringen Wesel in Germany where aced 5.75 m for a silver medal. World No. 20 Chinese Li Chenyang and No. 15 Qatari Seifeldin Abdelsalam shape up to be the best players challenging No. 11 Obiena — the highest-ranked pole vaulter in the competition. Thai Patsapong Amsamarng, whom Obiena only defeated via countback (5.70 m) at the Southeast Asian Games last December, is out to challenge the Filipino anew. Chinese Yao Jie, Indians Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Kumar Meena, Japanese Masaki Ejima and Tomoya Karasawa, Saudi Arabian Hussain Al Hizam, and Taiwanese Huang Yong-fu and Wu Yan-han complete the list of competitors.

THE Philippine women’s sepak takraw doubles team advanced to the gold medal match of the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Laos, 15-12, 15-10, in the semifinals. Composed of Jean Marie Sucalit, Abegail Sinogbuhan, and Nelly Jay Salon, the squad will face Vietnam in the finals on Sept. 29 as they aim to secure the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in the sport. Since sepak takraw was introduced to the Asian Games in 1990, the Philippines has yet to win gold in the discipline. The nation earned its first Asian Games medals in the sport at the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad (held in 2023), taking bronze in both the men’s regu and men’s quadrant events. Meanwhile, the embattled Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team put up a spirited fight against World No. 34 China, but fell in four sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21, in the preliminary round of the 2026 Asian Games at the Park Arena Komaki. The loss drops World No. 115 Philippines to a 0-2 record in Pool D, eliminating them from quarterfinal contention as only the top two teams from each pool advance. While Alas held an edge in attacks — outscoring China 42 to 31 — unforced errors proved costly for the Filipinos. The national team gave away 28 total points, including 10 service errors, compared to China’s disciplined nine total errors and just three service faults. Lacking height and financial backing compared to their top-tier opponents, Alas was led by team captain Bryan Bagunas, who tallied 15 points on 12 attacks and three aces. Leo Ordiales added 11 markers, while middle blocker Peng Taguibolos chipped in nine. Playmaker Owa Retamar dished out 12 excellent sets, while Joshua Magalaman and Marck Espejo contributed six and five points, respectively. China mounted a balanced offense to secure the win, led by Zihua Wen’s team-high 10 points. Yongzhen Li and Bin Wang added eight points apiece, supported by Yuantai Yu (6), Lei Li (4), and Chuan Jiang (2). Alas Pilipinas, which placed 13th in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, will seek its first victory of the tournament when it closes out pool play against World No. 55 Taiwan on Tuesday.

TWO-TIME Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo has publicly announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, model-influencer Chloe San Jose, revealing that the two have been quietly engaged for nine months. Fresh off his double gold victory at the Asian Games, Yulo shared the happy news on social media shortly after returning home to the Philippines, confirming that San Jose said “yes” earlier this year. “9 months ago... She said ‘Yes,’” Yulo wrote in his post. “And all I can say, and all I can feel, is that I am truly blessed. Blessed to love you. Blessed to be loved by you. Blessed to have you as my fiancé and, soon, as my forever.” He continued with a heartfelt promise: “My love, I promise to take care of you, love you, and protect you at all times. In hardship and in ease, in joy and in trials, I will choose you every day. And by the grace of God, I will be with you until eternal life.” Expressing gratitude for their journey together, Yulo added, “Above all, we just want to thank You, God, for blessing us with this wonderful moment and for allowing us to experience a love that is guided by You.” The couple’s love story began in 2020 when San Jose reached out online as a fan. After two months of daily conversations, they officially began dating in June 2020 via FaceTime, finally meeting in person at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in May 2022. Since then, San Jose has been a constant presence by Yulo’s side throughout his defining career milestones — including his historic double-gold wins at both the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Asian Games, where he dominated the floor exercise and vault finals. Reflecting on their journey, San Jose shared, “This has been my very, very emotional reaction ever since the Olympics, because we went through a lot before this. This was God, whatever they say in the comments, this was God.” Their relationship has weathered public scrutiny and family friction, notably following the 2024 Paris Olympics when Yulo’s mother, Angelica, held a press conference voicing her disapproval of San Jose and addressing financial matters — prompting Yulo to publicly defend his partner online. Through every trial and triumph, the couple has remained united, proving their bond is stronger than ever as they prepare to walk down the aisle.

MEDINAH, Illonois — The United States made a stunning rally to capture an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup on Sunday (Monday in Manila), defeating the Internationals 17-13 in a victory dedicated to US President Donald Trump. Jacob Bridgeman secured the clinching point at Medinah Country Club by sinking a four-foot par putt at the 18th hole to defeat Australian Min Woo Lee 1-up. “I’m just so damn proud of this team,” US captain Brandt Snedeker said. “All these guys, they fought for each other. They fought for this country. They fought for this team.” Snedeker said Trump — who visited the Chicago-area course for Sunday’s final day — should take credit for the win. “He told me (he) was going to bring some energy today for you guys. You guys need it,” Snedeker said. “And I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit. So thank you, President Trump.” The Americans improved to 14-1-1 in the biennial rivalry after trailing 10.5-7.5 entering 12 concluding singles matches, the Internationals poised to end a 28-year win drought but failing. “It was on a knife edge all day,” Internationals captain Geoff Ogilvy of Australia said. “It’s a very difficult thing to beat the US in singles in the US. They all played great.” The Americans had nine wins and a draw on the final day. “I don’t think I’d do anything differently,” Ogilvy said. “It sort of drifted the wrong way all day.” The non-European side’s lone win was in 1998 at Australia with a shared trophy at South Africa in 2003. The Americans, boasting eight of the world’s 11 top-ranked golfers, won on the same suburban Chicago layout where Europe took the 2012 Ryder Cup with the famed “Miracle at Medinah” fightback. “These guys never lost faith,” Snedeker said. “I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here. Medinah’s got a history of funny things happening, and sure enough, they went out there and played their asses off. I’m so damn proud of those guys.” Drama built with every match and ended with Bridgeman, who won his second PGA Tour title last week, falling behind for the first time with a bogey at 15 only to win 16 and 18 with pars. “It was the coolest moment,” he said. “I felt like I held in my emotions all day. To let it out on the last hole is pretty sweet.” Cameron Young secured the first US point, beating Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune 3&2. He won holes 11-13 for his first lead and made a 32-foot birdie putt at 16 to win. Justin Thomas, 0-3 in Cup singles, won the first four holes and never trailed in beating Canada’s Corey Conners 5&3, sinking a 15-foot birdie putt at 15 to win. South Korea’s Tom Kim answered with a 3&2 victory over reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark. “I was second off. I really felt it was a responsibility to put a point up,” said Kim, who will fly to Japan for the Asian Games. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, 3-1 this week, birdied five of the first 10 holes and never trailed in beating Colombian Nico Echavarria 2&1. South Korean Im Sung-jae rattled in birdies on four of the last six holes to beat Sam Burns 3&1, while Chris Gotterup beat South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout 1-up. The Americans seized a 13.5-12.5 lead when Patrick Cantlay edged Australian Adam Scott 2&1 and moments later Collin Morikawa beat Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama 1-up. Cantlay was never behind but needed a 57-foot birdie putt at 16 and a seven-foot par putt at 17 to win. Morikawa tied his match at 15 on a 30-foot birdie putt and won when Matsuyama missed a 15-foot par putt at 18. “I’m happy about that closing point,” Morikawa said. “That was huge.” Jackson Koivun, a 21-year-old rookie, beat South Korean 2-up. Canada’s Nick Taylor tied Russell Henley and Xander Schauffele edged New Zealand’s Ryan Fox 2&1 after the Cup was decided

LOS ANGELES — Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa blasted home runs as the Philadelphia Phillies punched their ticket to the playoffs with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday (Monday in Manila) as the curtain came down on Major League Baseball’s regular season. The Phillies had gone into Sunday’s home game against Tampa Bay on the back of a four-game losing streak, raising the prospect of the Arizona Diamondbacks pipping them to the final spot available in the National League wild card round. But the Phillies made sure of their place in the playoffs with a clinical performance that sends them into a best-of-three series against the Atlanta Braves starting on Tuesday. Phillies starting pitcher Zach Wheeler set up the victory, throwing six innings and giving up just one run with five hits and five strikeouts. The Phillies offense also kept the scoreboard rolling, with Bryson Stott driving in a run for Kyle Schwarber with a double in the bottom of the first inning. J.T Realmuto’s double in the bottom of the second made it 2-0 before Schwarber drove in two more runs with a sharp line drive that sent Realmuto and Trea Turner over home plate for a 4-0 lead. Jonny DeLuca pulled one back with a solo home run for the Rays in the fifth inning but Harper then made it 5-1 with a 366-foot solo homer. Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly allowed Stott to score for a 6-1 lead before Sosa’s home run made sure of victory. The only other major issue to be settled on Sunday was the winner of the American League West division, with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers neck-and-neck with 80-81 records at the start of the day. With the Astros holding the better head-to-head record between the two teams, the Rangers needed to beat the Minnesota Twins and hope the Astros lost on the road to the Athletics in Sacramento. But the Rangers’ hopes evaporated in a 6-4 defeat to the Twins which made the Astros’ comfortable 9-0 win over the Athletics moot. The wild card rounds get under way on Tuesday, with the Phillies taking on the Braves in the National League and the fifth-seeded Chicago Cubs facing the fourth-seeded San Diego Padres in California. In the American League, the Astros will face the sixth-seeded Chicago White Sox while the fourth-seeded New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees’ final fixture of the 162-game season against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday was cancelled as a powerful storm rolled into New York.

WASHINGTON, United States — Yuna Nishimura captured her first LPGA title on Sunday (Monday in Manila) at the NW Arkansas Championship, doing so in wire-to-wire fashion after firing a final-round five-under-par 66 at Pinnacle Country Club. The 26-year-old Japanese standout, a six-time winner on her homeland tour, managed her first top-10 finish of the year outside pairs events after missing the cut in five of her past six starts. Nishimura fired back-to-back 63s to seize a five-stroke lead before closing the 54-hole event with five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to finish on 21-under 192 for a five-stroke triumph at Rogers, Arkansas. “A five-shot lead is a pretty tough situation but I believed in myself and just kept going until the end,” Nishimura said. “I missed a lot of cuts this year, so for me to win this tournament is a surprise, but it’s a dream come true.” Nishimura became the third LPGA first-time winner of the season and the 24th Japanese player with an LPGA victory. Sharing second on 197 were Japan’s Aki Iwai, South Korean Chun In-gee and Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen. Iwai fired five consecutive birdies in her closing 62. “I was thinking it’s going to be low every player,” Iwai said. “That’s why I have to go... more aggressive.” AFP RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in the NFL’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro as the Washington Commanders and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stunned Seattle 33-31 Sunday (Monday in Manila). The first NFL game at Brazil’s iconic Maracana, where the build-up had been dominated by concerns over the soccer stadium’s patchy surface, proved to be a breathless thriller decided by a final kick. With Derrick Henry at his unstoppable best, rushing for two early touchdowns, the Baltimore Ravens opened a 24-13 lead in the third quarter. The Cowboys scored 15 without reply to edge ahead, before Ravens rookie Matt Hibner grabbed a touchdown back. Deep in the red zone, Dallas could not force a touchdown, but a field goal with seven seconds remaining appeared to force overtime. Instead, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson hurled the ball 26 yards to Zay Flowers, and immediately called a timeout with one second left on the clock. Tyler Loop converted a 56-yard field goal to prompt wild celebrations. “Major, major credit to those guys straining all the way till the end,” said Ravens coach Jesse Minter. “We felt like we had time to maybe get the ball in range. Unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay, and then obviously Tyler Loop.” Earlier Sunday, reeling from two losses and an injury to franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders turned to 32-year-old journeyman Mariota. He completed three passing touchdowns to hand the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks their first loss of the season, and snap Seattle’s 12-game winning streak. Seattle’s loss came despite their own star quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury to pass for 379 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in the NFL's first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro as the Washington Commanders and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stunned Seattle 33-31 Sunday (Monday in Manila). The first NFL game at Brazil's iconic Maracana, where the build-up had been dominated by concerns over the soccer stadium's patchy surface, proved to be a breathless thriller decided by a final kick. With Derrick Henry at his unstoppable best, rushing for two early touchdowns, the Baltimore Ravens opened a 24-13 lead in the third quarter. The Cowboys scored 15 without reply to edge ahead, before Ravens rookie Matt Hibner grabbed a touchdown back. Deep in the red zone, Dallas could not force a touchdown, but a field goal with seven seconds remaining appeared to force overtime. Instead, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson hurled the ball 26 yards to Zay Flowers, and immediately called a timeout with one second left on the clock. Tyler Loop converted a 56-yard field goal to prompt wild celebrations. "Major, major credit to those guys straining all the way till the end," said Ravens coach Jesse Minter. "We felt like we had time to maybe get the ball in range. Unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay, and then obviously Tyler Loop." Earlier Sunday, reeling from two losses and an injury to franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders turned to 32-year-old journeyman Mariota. He completed three passing touchdowns to hand the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks their first loss of the season, and snap Seattle's 12-game winning streak. Seattle's loss came despite their own star quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury to pass for 379 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. Mariota sent early touchdown passes Rachaad White and Treylon Burks, before his 30-yard hurl to Terry McLaurin opened a 14-point advantage. Seattle fought back to 24-24. But after a Commanders field goal, Darnold's pass was picked by Kain Medrano, a special teams player and backup linebacker, who raced 50 yards to make it 33-24. Seahawks pulled back a touchdown but Washington held on. "That was unbelievable... the more that adversity hits, the more that circumstances pin us against the wall, these guys find a way," said Mariota. Tight finishes On a Sunday packed with tight finishes, Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions saw off a spirited Jets fightback, winning 31-24. New York's Garrett Wilson took a superb 4th down catch from Geno Smith that was ruled a touchdown on video review, tying the game 24-24. But the joy was short-lived. Gibbs rushed for his third touchdown, Wilson departed injured, and Jets quarterback Smith was sacked on 4th down to snuff out any hope. Cleveland quarterback DeShaun Watson, making his home season debut after being booed by his own fans in the offseason, led the Browns to a last-gasp 21-18 win over Carolina. In the final year of a $230 million five-year contract ravaged by injuries and off-field controversy, Watson threw for two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 14-yard sling to Harold Fannin Jr. under two minutes left. Pittsburgh bagged a late win against Cincinnati. Veteran Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shook off recent offensive woes with three touchdowns. The Bengals took a fourth-quarter lead, but two field goals and a late strip-sack of Joe Burrow sealed the Steelers win 30-27. The Indianapolis Colts needed a 53-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to beat the Houston Texans 19-17. Bills, Chiefs win The Buffalo Bills defeated the winless Los Angeles Chargers 24-16, despite committing five turnovers. The San Francisco 49ers never trailed the Arizona Cardinals in a 36-30 win featuring four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy and two endzone receptions for George Kittle. Kansas City were comfortable 24-10 winners over Miami, while New England — last year's Super Bowl loser — was thrashed 35-6 by Jacksonville. Quarterback Kyler Murray returned from concussion in a 23-16 Minnesota win at Tampa Bay, while Las Vegas beat New Orleans 35-27. The Tennessee Titans remain 0-3, as quarterback Cam Ward threw a disastrous interception on a potentially winning drive against the New York Giants, who won 12-7.

Despite the rain, a shuffled schedule, and even the possibility of a WTA fine, Alex Eala remains focused on chasing Asian Games gold.

Alexandra Eala opened her campaign in the 2026 Asian Games on a high note, while the Philippine sepak takraw team secured medals for the country on Monday in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial has a heavyweight in his corner. SportsPlus, the country’s premier sportsbook, has partnered with the Filipino boxing star for his last two professional bouts, supporting him as he continues his pursuit of a world championship. Marcial, 8-0 with 5 knockouts as a professional, is coming off a highlight-reel victory after stopping Omar Huerta via third-round knockout earlier this month in California, USA. Reflecting on his professional journey, Marcial credited SportsPlus for playing an important role in his development inside and outside the ring. “First of all, I’m truly honored and grateful that SportsPlus PH believed in me and did not hesitate to support me. They made me feel that I can become a world champion someday as a professional boxer,” Marcial said. “They are there to help and support me as I take every step in my career. From the 50th Anniversary of Thrilla in Manila to my fight against Huerta, they have been there, backing me and supporting me every step of the way.” Beyond his own partnership with SportsPlus, the 30-year-old Marcial, who hails from Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, also acknowledged the company’s broader support for Filipino athletes through its partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). “I’m also very happy because they don’t just support me in my professional fights. They also support us national athletes through their partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee,” Marcial said. “SportsPlus also supports the grassroots program that I’m building right now. Every time I need support, they are there. They believe Filipino athletes deserve recognition not only in the Philippines, but around the world,” he continued. “They also believe that through sports, you can build a better future and achieve success. That’s why SportsPlus’ trust and support mean so much to me. They are not just a sponsor; they truly believe in me, in Filipino athletes, and in Philippine sports.” At 5-foot-11, Marcial also cross-trains in basketball and is part of the Zamboanga SiKat roster in the ongoing SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season. But while Marcial enjoys being on the basketball court, his primary focus remains boxing. “I hope this journey with SportsPlus continues until we finally win the world championship belt,” said Marcial, who has been promised a world title shot next year by PBC and his longtime adviser and matchmaker Sean Gibbons. SportsPlus Head of Brand Marketing Paul Macalindong expressed equal enthusiasm about the partnership. “SportsPlus and Eumir Marcial’s partnership is built on shared values of integrity, excellence, and a deep commitment to sports. We believe in the potential of Filipino athletes, and we firmly believe that Eumir has what it takes to become a world champion,” Macalindong said. Marcial has already demonstrated the talent, determination, and resilience required to compete at the highest level. With SportsPlus continuing to support his professional journey, the Filipino boxing star remains focused on the ultimate goal—a world championship. TMT

MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga SiKat asserted its superiority over Imus Yangkee, 86-61, on Monday to keep its playoff drive going in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Calapan City Coliseum in Oriental Mindoro. Improving on their 102-82 thumping of the Yangkees in their first encounter this year, the Zamboanguenos led by as many as 31 points (62-31) to arrange a knockout match with either the Mindoro Tamaraws or the Basilan Steel, who are battling each other in the second game, for the eighth and last quarterfinal slot in the South Division. All 15 Zamboanga players scored, led by Brandon Wilson with 12 points plus rebounds; Levi Hernandez, with 10 points plus 6 rebounds; Joseph Gabayni, with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists; John Arthur Calisay, with 7 points and 4 rebounds; and Robin Rono, with 7 points and 4 assists. It was Paeng Are, the MPBL's first One Versus One champion, who was chosen the SportsPlus best player with 12 assists, 3 steals, 3 points and 2 rebounds. Zamboanga, with Calisay and Puray outscoring the entire Imus crew, 13-11 stormed ahead at halftime, 56-31, and never looked back. The Zamboanguenos ruled the boards, 61-40, and turned that into more points in the paint, 44-20. Imus concluded its campaign this year, putting to waste Dylan Darbin's 17 points and Ian Pardo's 16. The MPBL first held its games in Calapan in 2023 at the nearby Sentrong Pangkabataan Gym. Pola Mayor Jennifer "Ina Alegre" Cruz, team owner of the Mindoro Tamaraws, and Calapan City Mayor Doy Leachon led thousands of spectators who filled the newly inaugurated coliseum. TMT

T-Mc Ongotan dropped a career-high 29 points as Arellano University squeaked past Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 82-81, in the NCAA Season 102 on Monday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Squash may have secured its long-awaited Olympic debut at the 2028 Los ⁠Angeles Games, but the chief of ⁠the sport’s global governing body is acutely aware ⁠of budget and venue squeezes and is not taking a spot at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics in Australia for granted. While World Squash is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to retain its Olympic spot, banking on the game’s expanding global footprint and plug-and-play sustainability, its president Zena Wooldridge took a pragmatic view of...

The Philippine women’s softball team bounced back from back-to-back setbacks with an emphatic 7-3 victory over Republic of Korea in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on Monday. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls opened their Asian Games bid with a 0-10 loss to host Japan followed by a 1-10 beating against powerhouse Chinese Taipei. The Philippines, however, entered the win column on Monday with a seven-run explosion in the sixth inning against the Koreans. Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASA-PHIL) presidentJean Henri Lhuillier welcomed the team’s turnaround, highlighting the resilience shown after a challenging opening stretch.  “This is the kind of response we wanted to see from our Blu Girls. The first two games were difficult, but they stayed together, trusted each other, and continued to fight,” said Lhuillier,  who also president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. “This win against Korea shows their resilience and what they are capable of when they play with confidence. We are very proud of the way they bounced back, and we know they will continue to give everything for the Philippines.” Nicole Adra Hammoude provided one of the Philippines’ strongest performances at the plate, finishing with three hits, three RBIs, and one run in four at-bats.  Team captain Ma. Charlotte Sales drove in three runs and reached the home plate herself. Skylynne Kopia Ellazar, Reyae Mae Villamin, Mylia Isabel Perez and Mary Jane Libaton also scored runs for the Philippines.  The Blu Girls finished with 10 hits and committed no errors while Korea recorded eight hits and one error. Glory Alonzo started the game and kept the Koreans scoreless through four innings, allowing four hits while striking out two.  Royevel Palma pitched the remaining three innings for the Philippines and surrendered three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.  Korea scored three runs in the fourth inning but the Philippines answered with seven unanswered runs in the sixth.  Korea was unable to score again the rest of the way. The Philippines will next face Thailand on Sept. 29, Singapore on Sept. 30, China on Oct. 1 and Hong Kong on Oct. 2.

MANILA, Philippines — Arellano University snapped Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s three-game winning streak, 82-82, to stay flawless in Group B of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. T-mc Ongotan posted a career-high performance of 29 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals to help the Arellano Chiefs enjoy a 4-0 win-loss record. Karl Flores added 10 markers, while King Vinoya, Basti Valencia, and Ernjay Geronimo added nine points each for the team’s victory. Playing without Titing Manalili, Chad Gammad led the scoring for the Knights with 23 points, while rookie Justine Cargo added 20 points; all went down the drain.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament   Arellano def. Letran, 82-81 T-MC Ongotan  Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls have acquired veteran guard Buddy Hield and cash from the Charlotte Hornets for guard Rob Dillingham. The teams announced the trade on Sunday. Hield, 33, is on the move for the second time in five days. He was traded from Atlanta to Charlotte on Tuesday. Hield played for Golden State and Atlanta last season, averaging 7.6 points in 51 games. He was traded from the Warriors to the Hawks in February. Chicago, which went 31-51 last season, is rebuilding under new leadership. Bryson Graham was hired as executive vice president of basketball operations in May, and Tiago Splitter was hired as coach in June. The Bulls selected Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain in the first round of the draft in June. They also signed Norman Powell in free agency. Dillingham, who turns 22 in January, was the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft. He was traded from Minnesota to Chicago in the Ayo Dosunmu deal in February. The North Carolina native averaged 6.3 points and 2.2 assists in 65 games last season. Dillingham joins a Charlotte team that went 44-38 last year in its first winning season since 2021-22. The Hornets beat the Miami Heat 127-126 in the NBA's play-in tournament before being eliminated by the Orlando Magic in their next game.

Alex Eala will team up with Shaira Rivera as the Filipina tandem begins its women's doubles campaign in the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday.

Alex Eala will square off against Joanna Garland, the highest-ranked player of Chinese Taipei, in the women's singles quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games tennis competition.

The Jockey Club is investigating reasons for declining local turnover to start the new season, which chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges labelled a concern. Local wagering on Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin dropped 11.5 per cent on last year to HK$1.359 billion – the fifth time local turnover was down from six meetings so far this term. While field sizes tend to be an issue this early in the season, with some trainers holding back their horses because of the hot weather, the decline in...

There have been times over the past week or so when you were left with the impression that Japan is holding the Asian Games only because everyone was too polite to say no several years ago. The rather haphazard nature of the organisation, and the tens of thousands of empty seats in venues around the Aichi-Nagoya region, is not indicative of a place that has wholeheartedly embraced its role as host to a sporting event that, in terms of competitor numbers at least, is bigger than the...

Rookie Jamal Diaz delivered in the clutch as Mapua University broke through in NCAA Season 102 with a 55-54 victory over San Beda University on Monday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Carlo Paalam kept the Philippines" boxing gold medal hopes alive after beating China"s Zhang Jiamao by split decision in the men"s 55kg quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday.

MANILA, Philippines — Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games men’s 55-kilogram (kg) boxing event after defeating Jiamao Zhang of China via split decision on Monday afternoon in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Paalam almost spent a year outside of the ring and even skipped the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand—proving that he’s hungrier than ever to top his 2018 bronze finish at the Jakarta Asian Games.  The 28-year-old Paalam opened the first round strong after sending his opponent to the ropes, allowing three judges to score in his favor. The 27-year-old Zhang started to counter Paalam’s attack in the second round, dictating the first minute. However, Paalam changed his game plan and landed better blows, showing he was not overwhelmed by China’s attacks. Paalam gained four nods of the judges in the second round. Frustration showed on Zhang’s side as he tackled Paalam to the ground in the third round. However, Paalam remained tactical and threw one-two punches and made more jabs to secure his win.

MANILA, Philippines — The Mapua University suffered a three-game skid before scoring a breakthrough victory against the defending champion San Beda University, 55-54, in Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday afternoon at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Mapua had a tough string of losses and finally cracked through the win column with the late-game heroics of Jamal Diaz, who was responsible to turn things around when San Beda was leading by 54-49 in the last one minute and 25 seconds of the final canto.  Diaz drained a triple with 54 ticks left, as San Beda's Sean Torculas missed a two-point jump shot.  With under 20 seconds left, Diaz delivered another triple with 12 seconds left that allowed Mapua to earn a 55-54 lead.  The Cardinals played hard-nosed defense, preventing San Beda from converting any points in the dying seconds of the match.  Diaz finished with eight points along with five rebounds.  Marc Cuenco led the scoring for Mapua with 19 points.  San Beda was led by Richi Calimag, who poured in 18 points, while Lawrence Hawkins made 13 markers along with eight rebounds.