Raptors, Kawhi agree on $115M deal

Manila Times - Sep 24, 2026

KAWHI Leonard and the Toronto Raptors have agreed on a two-year contract extension that could be worth $115 million if he plays both seasons, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The second year of the deal, the 2028-29 season, is at Leonard’s option, according to the person who spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity. The Raptors on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) confirmed that the contract had been signed, without releasing the terms, which were first reported by ESPN. Leonard, 35, led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title and is now locked into a new deal with a team with eyes on competing for another title. He is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in 65 games a year ago. Leonard will make just over $50 million this season, the last year of his current contract. It was generally assumed that the Raptors would strike a deal to keep Leonard — a seven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP — soon after landing him in a trade with the Clippers. The sides agreed to that trade in late June but didn’t complete it...

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TNT brings in Hornsby as new import

Sep 24, 2026

TNT brings in Hornsby as new import

Defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion TNT tapped Nick Hornsby as its new import to take the spot of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson as the team prepares for the resumption of the tournament this October. The Tropang 5G made their official announcement on their social media accounts Thursday. “Bagong Tropa. Bagong armas. Meet the newest addition sa TNT Tropang 5G. Ready to make his mark,” the team posted. “Welcome KaTropa Nick!” The 31-year-old American is seen as a stand-in import with original choice, three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained last December. He suffered the Achilles injury while playing for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League Season 3 home-and-away tournament last December. TNT team manager Jojo Lastimsosa said they don’t want to rush Hollis-Jefferson’s return. “We want to make sure Rondae is fully ready before we put him back on the court. He needs more game simulations and we don’t want to rush his return. We want him as close as 100 percent as possible,” TNT said in a statement. Hornsby is coming off a recent stint with the Edmonton Stingers  in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Hollis-Jefferson, the left-handed American-Jordanian known by his initials RHJ, actually rejoined the team’s practice several weeks back, suiting up for the multi-titled PBA squad during a friendly match against the Jordanian national team, which used it to prepare for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. TNT though elected to bring Hornsby, more likely to give the do-it-all Hollis-Jefferson more time to get himself back into shape. His brother Rahlir lasted just four games since replacing Darius Day. Rahlir averaged 22.8 points, 12 rebounds and over four assists, where TNT limped to an even 4-4 record, behind the 7-3 cards of NLEX and San Miguel Beer, as well as Converge (5-4) in the Governors’ Cup. The tournament is currently on a break to give way to Gilas’ international tournaments. TNT hopes to secure a win when the tournament restarts on Oct. 7 as the Tropang 5G battles Terrafirma.

Sotto returns to Japan, signs deal with Altiri Chiba

Sep 24, 2026

Sotto returns to Japan, signs deal with Altiri Chiba

Kai Sotto will be returning for another season in Japan after signing with new team Altiri Chiba. The Chiba squad welcomed the 7-foot-3 Sotto through its official announcement on its website on Thursday. “I'm looking forward to joining the club Altiri Chiba. I'm very excited to meet the team, Coach Andrej [Lemanis], the staff, my teammates, and the fans!” Sotto said in a statement posted on the Chiba website.  Sotto was coming off a stint with the Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League 2025-26 season, where he averaged 13.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, as he made a successful return from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury on his knee. The left-handed Filipino is fresh off a return stint with Gilas Pilipinas, where he averaged 15.5 points, 15 rebounds and 2.0 asssists as the Philippines scored a two-game home sweep against Jordan and Iran in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers fourth window in Manila. Sotto will be making his much-debut with Chiba on Oct. 3 against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, with the Japanese squad hoping to improve on its 19-win effort from the previous season. “I'll do everything I can to help this team win and achieve great things this season,” he added. Altiri CEO and representative Yoshihide Niwa  welcomed Sotto to the team. “He is a big man who combines imposing 220cm stature with a soft touch around the rim and the passing vision to bring his teammates into the game,” the Japanese team official said in a statement.