NBA star Kyrie Irving’s deeply held connection with China a case of ‘paying it forward’

South China Morning Post - Oct 8, 2026

No offence to Kyrie Irving’s Dallas Mavericks teammates or, for that matter, the Houston Rockets, but there is no question who will get the loudest cheers on Friday and Sunday in the NBA China Games. Nor is there any doubt which player will attract the most cameras and reporter questions during Thursday’s Mavericks-Rockets Media Day, which is projected to be covered by more than 400 journalists, most of them from China and other Asian countries. China’s love fest with Mavericks star guard...

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Hong Kong tennis bosses eye golden pipeline after Coleman Wong secures sport’s future

Oct 9, 2026

Hong Kong tennis bosses eye golden pipeline after Coleman Wong secures sport’s future

Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s historic men’s singles gold at the Asian Games had an impact far beyond earning him a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; it also secured tennis’ elite status in Hong Kong for another four years. Wong beat Wu Yibing of China in straight sets in the final at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Centre in Nagoya, becoming his city’s first singles winner at the continental Games. Bronze for Eudice Chong and Cody Wong Hong-yi in the women’s doubles made it the most successful Games...

Gilas girls fall big to China, turn focus to key 5th-place match

Oct 8, 2026

Gilas girls fall big to China, turn focus to key 5th-place match

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas Youth women’s team lost to China by 63 points, 112-49, on Thursday in the qualification for the semifinals of the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Division A in Seremban, Malaysia. But despite the loss, the Gilas girls still have a shot at booking a place in the Fiba U19 Women’s Basketball

Mirra Andreeva seals China Open semifinal vs Nikola Bartunkova

Oct 8, 2026

Mirra Andreeva seals China Open semifinal vs Nikola Bartunkova

BEIJING–Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva pushed through two tie-breaks to beat her compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) at the China Open on Thursday, powering into a semi-final clash with Nikola Bartunkova. Andreeva, the 19-year-old fourth seed, is the favorite for the tournament in Beijing now that a series of upsets have knocked out her

Alex Eala shares coach’s blunt lesson on effort

Oct 8, 2026

Alex Eala shares coach’s blunt lesson on effort

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala admitted that giving everything in a tennis match does not necessarily mean playing well, a difficult lesson driven home by criticism from her coach after a three-set contest. The Asian Games bronze medalist and world No. 18 in the Women’s Tennis Association singles rankings shared the experience during an October 7 appearance

F1: Valtteri Bottas opts for two wheels to reach Singapore Grand Prix

Oct 8, 2026

F1: Valtteri Bottas opts for two wheels to reach Singapore Grand Prix

SINGAPORE–Valtteri Bottas swapped his Formula One car for a bicycle as he pedalled the 420 kilometers from Sepang in Malaysia to this week’s Singapore Grand Prix. Other drivers on the grid enjoyed luxury private planes for the short flight between Sunday’s Bahrain GP at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur to the Marina Bay Circuit

Nikola Bartunkova beats Karolina Muchova to reach China Open semifinals

Oct 8, 2026

Nikola Bartunkova beats Karolina Muchova to reach China Open semifinals

BEIJING–World number 34 Nikola Bartunkova stunned her Czech compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 at the China Open on Thursday to breeze into the semi-finals. The 20-year-old sealed the win in just 66 minutes and will play either Mirra Andreeva or Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round. Bartunkova won five consecutive games in 19 minutes in

EJ Obiena upbeat on chances for third straight Olympics

Oct 8, 2026

EJ Obiena upbeat on chances for third straight Olympics

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena believes he is in a better position to make another run at the Olympics as he eyes competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Speaking at a Senate hearing Thursday, Obiena expressed confidence in his chances of making his third straight Olympics, citing his new training

Alex Eala not penalized by WTA for Asian Games stint, says Philta

Oct 8, 2026

Alex Eala not penalized by WTA for Asian Games stint, says Philta

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala was not penalized by the WTA for skipping a mandatory tournament to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games 2026, according to Philippine Tennis Association executive director Tonette Mendoza. In a Senate hearing conducted by the Committee on Sports on Thursday in the aftermath of the Asian Games, Senator Bong

Gilas’ Asian Games struggles highlight player availability issue anew

Oct 8, 2026

Gilas’ Asian Games struggles highlight player availability issue anew

MANILA, Philippines– Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the Asian Games again exposed a problem that has followed the national team through the years: the availability of Filipino players based abroad. Without the team’s mainstays and naturalized star Justin Brownlee, the Nationals went with an all-PBA roster with a lone holdover from the gold medal run in

WNBA: Breanna Stewart says Liberty were told no reset timeout in OT

Oct 8, 2026

WNBA: Breanna Stewart says Liberty were told no reset timeout in OT

ATLANTA — The New York Liberty opted not to advance the ball for a better shot at a tying 3-pointer, then said after their loss WNBA Wednesday night that officials told them they didn’t have a reset timeout left. The Liberty inbounded the ball under the basket, forcing them to go the length of the

WNBA: Veronica Burton’s 3-pointer puts Valkyries up 2-0 vs Aces

Oct 8, 2026

WNBA: Veronica Burton’s 3-pointer puts Valkyries up 2-0 vs Aces

SAN FRANCISCO — Veronica Burton hit a deep 3-pointer that put Golden State ahead with 41 seconds left and converted two free throws in the closing seconds, Tiffany Hayes had 21 points, and the Valkyries held off the Las Vegas Aces 83-81 on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series.

Rain or Shine guns for 5th straight win

Oct 8, 2026

Rain or Shine guns for 5th straight win

RAIN or Shine hopes to keep its win streak going despite coming off a long break as it battles Barangay Ginebra on Friday in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Elasto Painters are shooting for their fifth consecutive win since opening the tournament with back-to-back losses. Rain or Shine currently sits on top of the Group B standings with a 4-2 record. Ginebra, on the other hand, is at the bottom of the Group B with a 2-4 card. Rain or Shine plastered Ginebra, 110-99, during their initial meeting on July 26. Import Aaron Fuller scattered 37 points and 12 rebounds against the Gin Kings, who then had Riley Grigsby as their import. Grigsby has since been replaced by Jordan Murphy. Murphy, a Puerto Rican forward, has built a professional basketball career overseas following his four-year college stint at Minnesota. The 29-year-old Murphy takes the spot of Grigsby, who served as Ginebra’s import through the conference’s first six games. Grigsby averaged 31.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks for the Gin Kings. Cone though felt, Murphy’s size is what the team needs now, especially since the team is still awaiting Justin Brownlee’s potential return. Brownlee, the four-time PBA Best Import, is still recovering from multiple injuries. In the curtain raiser, Magnolia and Blackwater clash at 5:15 p.m. Magnolia will try to avenge its 89-81 setback to Blackwater when they first met in July. Import KJ Buffen will be leading the way for the Hotshots, who will also have to find ways to contain the Bossing’s do-it-all reinforcement Kentrell Barkley. Magnolia currently sits at No. 2 in Group B with a 4-3 record while Blackwater is at No. 4 with a 3-3 card.

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