PVL: Team effort, trust key to Akari success, Mars Alba says

Inquirer.net - Nov 1, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran setter Mars Alba is eager to make the most of Akari’s talent by orchestrating a balanced offense in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series. Alba dished out 22 excellent sets and scored eight points in Akari’s second straight win of the tournament, outlasting Farm Fresh, 25-22, 25-27, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12, last

Read full article

More News

NBA: Pelicans trounce Hawks for 2nd straight win

Nov 1, 2026

NBA: Pelicans trounce Hawks for 2nd straight win

NEW ORLEANS — Saddiq Bey scored 25 points in a reserve role, Jeremiah Fears added 20 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-99 on Saturday night. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each scored 15 for the Pelicans, who lead by 28 en route to their second straight victory after losing

Diana Shnaider beats Leylah Fernandez for Pan Pacific Open title

Nov 1, 2026

Diana Shnaider beats Leylah Fernandez for Pan Pacific Open title

Russia’s Diana Shnaider won her first title of the year on Sunday with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo. World number 13 Shnaider looked to be cruising to victory after winning the first set and taking a 4-0 lead in the second. World

WNBA offseason begins with search for first commissioner

Nov 1, 2026

WNBA offseason begins with search for first commissioner

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut — With Golden State the newly crowned WNBA champion, the league turns its attention to a pivotal offseason. Unlike last year when a new collective bargaining agreement dominated the offseason, the top priority is finding new leadership. Outgoing Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has been in the position nearly seven years, announced last month that she was retiring at the end of the calendar with year. A search has begun and the next commissiner will inherit a host of issues, including officiating, the transgender debate scheduling and improving a strained relationship with players. Here's a look at some of the main topics that will be center stage over the next few months before the season tips off again next May with a 50-game schedule: Improving relationship with players The league thrived in many ways during Engelbert's tenure. Under her leadership, the WNBA enjoyed record growth and popularity, and signed a record-breaking broadcasting deal. Players surpassed million-dollar annual salaries. But despite her accomplishments, Engelbert's relationship with players cordial at best, confrontational at other times. Breanna Stewart may have summed it up best when said that players “respect” Engelbert. Building a stronger relationship with players will likely be one of the first things on the new commissioner's to-do list. Officiating improvements Complaints about officiating felt like it reached a crescendo this season. The WNBA is taking various steps to address the situation. The league is opening a the new officiating replay center. The WNBA, along with the NBA, completed a multi-million dollar renovation in New Jersey to the official replay center. It will be fully operational next season. The WNBA is working to upgrade techonology and video infrastructure at arenas to help the process. There were improvements this year after a rough start to the season where teams struggled to adjust to the emphasis on players' freedom of movement. The league put together a task force, which Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve is on, in the offseason to help clean up some of the physicality in the game. The main point of emphasis was to help players’ freedom of movement. Despite some hiccups early on, it has led to more offense as teams are averaging around 86 points a game — the highest ever. Scheduling challenges WNBA teams will play a record 50 games next season. It helps that there's no break for either the women's FIBA World Cup or the Olympics. Still the playoffs could once again go into the start of the NBA season. Nearly every team will be playing in an NBA arena next season with a few exceptions. To avoid a repeat of this year where Game 6 of the WNBA Finals was played at 12:30 p.m. EDT because of arena availability, the teams need to lock in potential playoff dates way ahead of time. Transgender debate The WNBA has criticized those trying to create a narrative about transgender women playing in the league. “There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others,” a league spokesperson said in August after an anti-hate task force met virtually and discussed a variety of topics, including social media vitriol and transgender athletes. The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. The league has said they aren't eligible. Welcome back Houston Comets The Connecticut Sun will relocate to Houston as the Comets will return after folding in 2008. The Sun were bought by the Houston Rockets ownership group led by Tilman Fertitta for $300 million. The Comets will begin play next season and are tied with Toronto for the best chance to win the WNBA draft lottery that will be held on Nov. 15. While the Sun relocated to Houston, there will be no expansion teams entering the league next year. Cleveland will enter in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.

NBA: Rockets beat injury depleted Thunder

Nov 1, 2026

NBA: Rockets beat injury depleted Thunder

HOUSTON — Jabari Smith Jr. had 30 points and nine rebounds, Marcus Smart added 24 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-98 on Saturday night. Smith shot 10 of 18 from the field, including 6 of 12 on 3-pointers. Smart was 7 of 10 on 3s as the Rockets shot 46%

NBA: Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace out for Thunder

Nov 1, 2026

NBA: Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace out for Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY — Chet Holmgren will miss about two months because of a right knee injury, continuing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s run of bad injury news early in the season. Already potentially without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the rest of the regular season, the Thunder said Holmgren began experiencing discomfort in his knee

NBA: Cam Boozer helps Grizzlies stay unbeaten with win over Kings

Nov 1, 2026

NBA: Cam Boozer helps Grizzlies stay unbeaten with win over Kings

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Rookie Cameron Boozer had 27 points and nine rebounds, Isaiah Stewart added 24 points as the Memphis Grizzlies remained the only unbeaten team in the NBA with a 136-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. The Grizzlies’ 6-0 record matches the 2014-15 season for the best start in franchise history.

Gabby Williams named WNBA Finals MVP, Valkyries win first title

Nov 1, 2026

Gabby Williams named WNBA Finals MVP, Valkyries win first title

Gabby Williams wouldn’t be denied in the second half. She scored 28 of her 30 points in the final 20 minutes as the Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship in just their second season with a 68-63 Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night. She broke the WNBA Finals record for

Yamaha pulls out of Qatar MotoGP over 'Middle East situation'

Nov 1, 2026

Yamaha pulls out of Qatar MotoGP over 'Middle East situation'

SEPANG, Malaysia — Yamaha said on Sunday it won't participate in next weekend's Qatar MotoGP, citing "the situation in the Middle East". "Yamaha has not identified sufficient grounds to change its existing company-wide travel restrictions," the Japanese manufacturer said. Among the racers on the MotoGP grid riding Yamaha bikes is France's Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion. The MotoGP Group said it was "disappointed" by the decision and said that "Yamaha's non-participation also carries sporting implications". "While we recognize the team is subject to a broader corporate policy restricting travel to the Middle East, we do not believe this decision reflects the extensive assurances provided to all championship stakeholders," it said. MotoGP said talks with Qatari organizers and safety advisers had not flagged any reasons to change plans for the event. "We communicated that position, together with the latest available information, to all manufacturers and teams today and welcome the confirmation from the remainder of the grid that they will compete in Qatar, and we thank them for that commitment," the MotoGP Group said. The statements came shortly after the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang, after which there are just three races left in the season, starting in Qatar. Ducati's reigning seven-time world champion Marc Marquez won the race at Sepang and could clinch the title in Doha. Several riders declined to talk afterwards about the Qatar race. According to reports, there was haggling behind the scenes in Sepang about whether teams would go to Qatar.

Angel Reese’s record rebounding not enough in WNBA Finals loss

Nov 1, 2026

Angel Reese’s record rebounding not enough in WNBA Finals loss

Angel Reese’s first postseason ended just short of a championship. Reese had eight points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, but Atlanta fell to Golden State 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night. “I’m really proud of the year I had,” Reese said. “Done a lot of great things this year and

Gabby Williams, Valkyries win WNBA title, beating Dream in Game 7

Nov 1, 2026

Gabby Williams, Valkyries win WNBA title, beating Dream in Game 7

SAN FRANCISCO — A fresh WNBA CHAMPIONS T-shirt over her uniform, Gabby Williams cradled the shiny MVP trophy in one arm and gave it a kiss. She held up a No. 1 with her left hand, then hugged and high-fived her supporters all the way to Golden State’s locker room where she pulled on some

NBA: Wembanyama powers Spurs past short-handed Timberwolves

Nov 1, 2026

NBA: Wembanyama powers Spurs past short-handed Timberwolves

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 43 points, seven rebounds, six blocks and four assists as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-111 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Dylan Harper added 25 points and six assists for San Antonio in the opener of a three-game homestand. De’Aaron Fox scored 20.

Canelo Alvarez wins back WBC title, beats Christian Mbilli

Nov 1, 2026

Canelo Alvarez wins back WBC title, beats Christian Mbilli

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Canelo Alvarez regained the WBC super middleweight championship on Saturday night, using precise counterpunching and a strong second-half performance to defeat Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Alvarez, who handed Mbilli his first professional defeat. Alvarez improved to 64-3-2, while Mbilli fell

Recommended