76ers’ stars spark 29-point comeback to topple Cavs

Manila Times - Oct 23, 2026

PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey wanted the 76ers to show some fight once a discombobulated offense earned them booming boos and a 29-point hole that threatened to spoil their home opener against Cleveland. So he got into a tussle himself. Once James Harden, a former Sixers fan favorite turned heel, grabbed Maxey's jersey, the Sixers' All-Star guard whipped around and shoved Harden. The two went nose-to-nose- though with Harden's 3-inch height edge, it was more nose-to-beard — as a Sixers crowd instigated a howling profane chant toward the Cavaliers star. Even the new kid on the block was impressed with the pure delirium that enveloped the arena. “It was everything that I dreamed of, and more,” four-time NBA MVP LeBron James said. LeBron already has the 76ers and their fans dreaming of a championship. Yes, it is just two games into a very, very long season, yet the Sixers have already met the moment of an unworldly hype that started over the summer when they traded for Celtics star Jaylen Brown and then reeled in the marquee attraction on the free-agent market in the 41-year-old James. They bullied the NBA champion Knicks in New York and spoiled a banner raising. Then came a win against the Cavaliers —...

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Wesley So wins 4th US Chess Championship

Oct 23, 2026

Wesley So wins 4th US Chess Championship

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American chess Grandmaster Wesley So topped the 2026 United States Chess Championship for the fourth time, beating top American players, including world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana, who ruled the four previous tournaments. In the second game of the two-game rapid playoff that was livestreamed at the Saint Louis Chess Club in Missouri, Caruana made a risky, if not dubious, move by advancing his bishop too early and leaving a central pawn exposed.   So immediately took the free pawn and with it, a lot of territory on the chess board.  So castled his king on the queen-side and advanced his king-side pawns toward Caruana’s castled king.  Caruana attempted to counter-attack on the queen-side, but So continued to push his pawns forward and threatened to expose Caruana’s king.   Caruana resigned after So’s 33rd move.  So and Caruana finished the 11-round tournament tied for first place with 7.0 points apiece.  So’s journey to glory was not without glitches, however, as he unexpectedly lost to tail-ender Sam Sevian in the 11th round.  A draw would have been enough to clinch the championship but the loss enabled Fabiano Caruana, who played well in the second half of the tournament, to catch up with So.  So and Caruana then clashed in a tie-breaker where they played two games with quicker thinking time – forcing more errors and increasing psychological pressure for both players. The first rapid playoff game ended in a draw. In the first two rounds of the tournament, So was on fire as he won against 2018 US champion Sam Shankland and Jeffrey Xiong.  So also beat up-and-coming young grandmasters Andy Woodward and Ray Robson in dramatic come-from-behind victories. So pocketed the $56,000 purse for topping the tournament.  Caruana won the US Chess Championship in 2016, and 2022 to 2025.  So won the US Championship in 2017, 2020, and 2021. The US Chess Championship is considered the “toughest tournament” in the world today, with the strongest players from all over the world gravitating toward the United States. In August, So had also won the prestigious Sinquefield Cup participated by top grandmasters from all over the world.  Then in September, he played in the World Chess Olympiad as part of the United States team.

NCAA Season 102 seniors basketball standings and stats leaders after crossover phase

Oct 23, 2026

NCAA Season 102 seniors basketball standings and stats leaders after crossover phase

Check out the NCAA Season 102 seniors" basketball standings after the crossover phase, along with the league"s leading scorers, rebounders, playmakers, and defensive players.

Chameleons run up block numbers once more to stay unbeaten

Oct 23, 2026

Chameleons run up block numbers once more to stay unbeaten

Nxled is starting the habit of hosting a block party in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series. The Chameleons remain unbeaten in the season-opening tournament of the league’s 10th anniversary, but the most eye-popping statistic so far, especially in the last two games, is the number of points they have gotten off stoppages at the

Tough teams await Kings with quarters stint looming

Oct 23, 2026

Tough teams await Kings with quarters stint looming

Barangay Ginebra will have to pick its poison on Friday when, barring a monumental collapse, it formalizes its entry to the quarterfinals at the close of the PBA Governors’ Cup group stage. The Gin Kings take on the Blackwater Bossing at 7:30 p.m. at Ynares Center in Antipolo, needing a win to avoid losing by

Pacquiao may face Cordina in potential comeback fight

Oct 23, 2026

Pacquiao may face Cordina in potential comeback fight

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao may return to the boxing ring on Dec. 11, 2026, one week before he turns 48 years old. Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that talks for a fight between Pacquiao and former world champion Joe Cordina of Great Britain are “well advanced.”  “We’ve agreed terms to face Pacquiao, but we don’t know if it’s happening,” Hearn said at a media event on Thursday. “From our side, we’ve agreed to do it.” The fight could be placed in the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua heavyweight clash. Pacquiao last fought in July 2025 which ended in a draw against Mario Barrios. Cordina, a former IBF super-featherweight champion, was slated to fight American Abdullah Mason for the WBO lightweight title in Cleveland in July, but was denied a US visa. This would be Pacquiao’s first fight against a British opponent since he beat Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas in 2009. Early this year, Pacquiao made headlines for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather but that bout was postponed indefinitely in June.

Mondilla new leader; Avaricio scores again

Oct 23, 2026

Mondilla new leader; Avaricio scores again

Clyde Mondilla gunned down 10 birdies in a third round eight-under-par 64, leapfrogging to the top of the P2.5-million ICTSI South Pacific Championship and moving within another solid round of ending a two-year title-less spell. The long-hitting ace from Bukidnon had two three-putt miscues as the only blackeyes in an otherwise superlative effort, as his

Letran, JRU boost records as NCAA race heats up

Oct 23, 2026

Letran, JRU boost records as NCAA race heats up

Jose Rizal University and Letran strengthened their positions in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, taking contrasting routes to victory at San Juan Arena. Allen Laurenaria delivered the winning basket with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime as the Heavy Bombers escaped Perpetual Help, 72-70, to tighten their grip on Group A’s top

NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's record 20-point streak ends in Thunder's win over Nuggets

Oct 23, 2026

NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's record 20-point streak ends in Thunder's win over Nuggets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 17 points to snap an NBA-record streak but the Oklahoma City Thunder knocked off the Denver Nuggets 96-84 at home Thursday.

Asian Football Confederation endorses Gianni Infantino for another term as Fifa president

Oct 23, 2026

Asian Football Confederation endorses Gianni Infantino for another term as Fifa president

The head of the Asian Football Confederation said ⁠on Friday the regional body would support Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as Fifa president. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC president, had previously backed opposition to Infantino’s failed plan to sell ‌off the commercial rights to Fifa tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. He had joined with the presidents of Uefa and Concacaf to pen an open letter calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan...

King James Reyes bags bronze in Asian Para Games para athletics

Oct 23, 2026

King James Reyes bags bronze in Asian Para Games para athletics

King James Reyes officially secured the first para athletics medal for the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Para Games on Friday, finishing third in the men"s 1500m T46 final.

NBA: LeBron James grateful for Philadelphia debut, calls boos 'amazing'

Oct 23, 2026

NBA: LeBron James grateful for Philadelphia debut, calls boos 'amazing'

Thursday night proved that even at 41 years old and near the end of a legendary career, LeBron James can still experience "firsts" both career and personal.

Reyes wins bronze in Asian Para Games

Oct 23, 2026

Reyes wins bronze in Asian Para Games

The Philippines secured its first medal in para-athletics at the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan on Friday. King James Reyes finished third in the men’s 1,500 meters T46 event with a time of 4:13.81, a personal best. Sri Lanka’s Wahumpurage Puwakpitikande pulled away from the rest of the pack to win the gold medal with a record setting time of 4:03.25. India’s Parmod was over six seconds behind, clocking 4:09.65, for the silver medal. Reyes’ bronze medal win made up for Thursday’s results allocation of Cyril Cloyd Ongcoy in another 1,500 meter race category that saw him drop from third to fourth following an overnight results change.

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