Villa keeper Suzuki eyes Asian Cup atonement after ‘very bad’ display in 2024 defeat

South China Morning Post - Oct 6, 2026

Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki said he is confident Japan can win next year’s Asian Cup and thinks his “very bad” performances were responsible for their quarter-final exit two years ago. Suzuki, who has impressed in the Premier League since joining Villa in the summer, made a string of mistakes at the 2024 Asian Cup in Qatar as Japan were bundled out in the last eight by Iran. But he believes he is a better player this time around and backed Japan to end their 16-year wait for the...

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Ka Ying Rising trials ‘better than last year’ in key test ahead of The Everest defence

Oct 6, 2026

Ka Ying Rising trials ‘better than last year’ in key test ahead of The Everest defence

David Hayes was happy to give Ka Ying Rising a “pass mark” after his “ambling” barrier trial at Randwick on Tuesday morning ahead of his defence of his Group One The Everest (1,200m) crown on October 17. The world’s highest-rated galloper drew a legion of supporters to the Sydney track for the 1,000m hit out and he was given an easy time of things to finish second behind Ninja in a time of 59.46 seconds. Zac Purton always had a double fistful on the David Hayes-trained star sprinter and never...

NBA: Spurs' Tobias Harris ruled out for preseason

Oct 6, 2026

NBA: Spurs' Tobias Harris ruled out for preseason

San Antonio Spurs forward Tobias Harris will miss the preseason due to a left calf strain, the team announced on Sunday.

Carlos Yulo shifts focus to Worlds

Oct 6, 2026

Carlos Yulo shifts focus to Worlds

MANILA, Philippines -- Leading the Philippines at the 20th Asian Games with two gold medals in Japan, gymnast Carlos Yulo shifts his focus to the World Championships from October 17 to 25 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. "I'm gonna do my best and show up," said Yulo when asked about the matter during the Team Philippines' "Heroes Welcome" at a hotel in Manila Monday night. While he always strive for excellence, Yulo said he's out to observe more in the worlds where he's a 3-time champion already. Yulo ruled the floor exercise in the 2019 edition of the Worlds and the vault apparatus in 2021 and 2025. The 4-foot-11 gymnast topped the same events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, mirroring that performance in the just concluded Asian Games. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist said the World Championships next year is the real deal since it will serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.  "I'm not expecting anything in the Worlds. I just want to observe the competitors," said the 26-year-old Yulo.  "The most important is next year's edition since it will be a qualifier for the Olympics. But for this one, I just want to see the rotation. I'm praying that we will be safe competing there." "Caloy" will be joined by the national team including his brother Eldrew. The 18-year-old likewise claimed a medal at the Asiad, snaring bronze in horizontal bar.

Karl-Anthony Towns unlikely to sign contract extension before NBA season

Oct 6, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns unlikely to sign contract extension before NBA season

Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, a centerpiece in New York's championship season, is not optimistic a contract extension will be finalized before the season opens in two weeks.

Proposed Asian football reforms threaten to kill Hong Kong’s World Cup hopes

Oct 6, 2026

Proposed Asian football reforms threaten to kill Hong Kong’s World Cup hopes

As Hong Kong bathed in the afterglow of their Fifa Asean Challenge Cup triumph on Saturday, the level-headed Sun Ming-him cautioned that World Cup qualification remained a pipe dream for Roberto Losada’s team. What Sun, one of Hong Kong’s best players, did not know as he spoke was that despite the World Cup swelling to 48 teams this year, and another 16 potentially joining mammoth future editions, the city side’s qualifying task could soon become all but impossible. It has been reported that on...

NBA tests smart basketballs, wrist wearables in select preseason games

Oct 5, 2026

NBA tests smart basketballs, wrist wearables in select preseason games

NEW YORK — The NBA is experimenting with two pieces of technology in the leadup to the season, the league announced Monday. Select exhibition games will include a smart basketball that has a Bluetooth sensor in it and can collect data for future use in real-time officiating decisions. The league said the information from the Wilson-developed connected balls will be for research only and not affect calls made during those games. Officials in select games will also use wrist wearables to communicate with the replay center in designated situations, including replay reviews, scoring changes and clock malfunctions. The wearables went through what the NBA called a successful pilot program during the summer league. The technology will not extend into the regular season.

LeBron, Embiid, Maxey skip 76ers' preseason opener vs Knicks

Oct 5, 2026

LeBron, Embiid, Maxey skip 76ers' preseason opener vs Knicks

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James and Joel Embiid are among the healthy inactives for the Philadelphia 76ers in their preseason opener Monday night against the NBA champion New York Knicks. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey also will sit out. Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe are the lone regular starters in the lineup. The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Knicks. James signed a free-agent deal with the Sixers over the summer. He is 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. James, Embiid and the full healthy roster played in a public scrimmage on Saturday on the 76ers' home court.

Yulo, Yape set for highest Asian Games cash bonus

Oct 5, 2026

Yulo, Yape set for highest Asian Games cash bonus

GYMNAST Carlos Yulo and taekwondo jin Jeus Yape emerged as the top cash incentive earners among Filipino athletes who medaled at the just-concluded 20th Asian Games in Japan. Under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, Asian Games gold winners will receive P2 million from the government while silver and bronze medalists will receive P1 million and P400,000, respectively. Winning two gold medals with floor exercise and vault titles, Yulo will take a total of P4 million. On the other hand, Yape will seize P2.4 million for his gold in mixed individual virtual taekwondo and bronze in the men’s individual poomsae. Yape served as the Philippine flag bearer in the Asiad closing ceremony on Sunday. Pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena rose as the third highest earner from the Games with P2 million for securing a second straight gold in his sport. Obiena is also entitled to additional incentives after setting a new meet record with his 5.91-meter clearance. The Philippines finished in 17th place at the Asiad with four golds, nine silvers, and 16 bronzes which translate to P23.4 million in cash incentives. Meanwhile, Team Philippines coaches will also receive cash incentives amounting to half of the incentives of the athletes they coached or trained. Under Section 9 of Republic Act 10699, coaches are entitled to cash incentives “if they have personally trained and rendered service to the athletes or teams who win in international competitions at least six months prior to the international competition.” In Yulo's case, coach Aldrin Castaneda will receive P2 million.

Eala out of WTA Finals contention   

Oct 5, 2026

Eala out of WTA Finals contention   

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala is already eliminated from WTA Finals contention after skipping the WTA 1000 China Open for the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Currently at No. 17, an “X” is already placed next to Eala’s name in the WTA live race Monday, signifying that she’s no longer in contention for the season-ending event. The WTA Finals is slated from Nov. 8 to 15 in Indian Wells. World No. 18 Eala missed out on precious China Open ranking points to play for the Philippines in the Asiad, where she made a semifinal finish for a bronze medal. The decision to skip China Open ensured that Eala won’t reach the top eight in the cutoff deadline on Nov. 1. Sporting 2,181 points this season, Eala is 2,173 behind current No. 8 Linda Noskova who holds 4,354 as of posting time. Even if Eala joined the China Open, it would have been improbable for her to overtake Noskova. Overtaking the Czech netter meant that the Filipino player would need to go deep in the tournament while the former would need to make a quick exit. Then, that scenario would have needed to repeat at the Wuhan Open — the last 1000 event of the year — for Eala to truly close the gap and give herself a fighting chance to take the No. 8 spot. A quick exit in China would have quickly eliminated Eala from the WTA Finals contention anyway. Even world No. 14 Diana Shnaider got booted out after reaching the third round in Beijing, giving her a total of 2,408 only which is even 227 higher than Eala’s total points. Taking this to account, Eala’s decision to skip China for the Asiad proved sound albeit she will suffer fines and likely be disqualified for season-ending bonuses. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina (7,492) and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenaka (6,485) are so far the only players who have qualified for the WTA Finals, which has a 5,915-point qualification cut. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula (5,825), No. 4 Mirra Andreeva (5,722), and No. 5 Coco Gauff (5,654) are closing in on the threshold. World No. 6 Elina Svitonlina (4,809), No. 7 Karolina Muchova (4,400), No. 8 Noskova (4,234), No. 9 Marta Kostyuk (3,910), and No. 10 Iga Swiatek (3,584) are within striking distance.

PBA adjusts schedule for Gilas’ FIBA bid

Oct 5, 2026

PBA adjusts schedule for Gilas’ FIBA bid

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the national cause, adjusting its calendar to support Gilas Pilipinas in their quest to secure a berth in the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Currently in the final leg of a two-month conference break, the pro league suspended action to allow national team players to compete in two major international tournaments: the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Season 50 Governors’ Cup is set to resume on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to complete the elimination round and quarterfinal phase. However, the PBA will take another scheduled hiatus shortly after to give Gilas ample time to prepare for the fifth window of the Asian Qualifiers in late November, where the Philippines will face Syria and Iran in Seremban, Malaysia. These calendar sacrifices come on the heels of momentum-building home victories against Jordan and Iran during the August window at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Playing without injured naturalized star Justin Brownlee, Gilas leaned heavily on the return of 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto, who anchored the team with solid averages of 15.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. The Philippines currently holds a 4-4 record in Group E, trailing leaders Australia (8-0), New Zealand (6-2), as well as Iran and Jordan (both 5-3). With only the top three teams per group and the best fourth-placed team qualifying for the World Cup, every remaining window is critical. To accommodate these international commitments while keeping its three-conference format intact, the league is looking at tighter timelines for next season. PBA Commissioner Willy Marcial revealed that Season 51 is targeted to open in February 2026, following the Rookie Draft on Jan. 17, but side events like out-of-town games and the annual All-Star Weekend may be sidelined to fit the calendar before December 2027. All proposed schedule adjustments remain subject to final approval by the PBA Board of Governors.

Chourio lifts Brewers over Padres

Oct 5, 2026

Chourio lifts Brewers over Padres

LOS ANGELES —Jackson Chourio smacked a walk-off two-run single to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday (Monday in Manila) and a commanding 2-0 lead in their Major League Baseball playoff series. For the second straight day the Brewers rallied from 2-0 down to beat the Padres, who are now in survival mode as the best-of-five National League division series shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday. “I don’t have words for this,” Venezuela’s Chourio — who hit a two-run homer to spark the Brewers’ Game 1 rally — told Fox Sports after belting a two-out, bases-loaded fastball from dominant Padres closer Mason Miller up the middle for the winning runs. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit there and, you know, thankfully he threw me one that I could do something with,” Chourio said. With three errors the Brewers looked far from the team that won an MLB best 103 regular-season games. San Diego seized a 1-0 lead in the first inning and capitalized on Brewers errors to push the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth. Milwaukee had stayed in range with a run in the bottom of the fifth, finally breaking through against Padres starting pitcher Michael King with a double from Christian Yelich, who scored on a base hit by Sal Frelick. The Padres pushed their lead back to two in the seventh, but the Brewers pulled within 3-2 in the bottom of the inning when an error from Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth allowed a run to score. “We’re a team that never backs down,” Chourio said. “We’re never going to back down from a challenge, and we like these moments. We’re going to keep going, and we’re going to battle for every opportunity that we get.” The winners of the series will take on either the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers or the Atlanta Braves for a place in the World Series. The Dodgers, trying to become the first team since the New York Yankees in 1998, 1999 and 2000 to win three straight World Series titles, took a 1-0 series lead into game two of their NL division series against the Braves later Sunday in Los Angeles.

Smotherman wins first PGA Tour title

Oct 5, 2026

Smotherman wins first PGA Tour title

LOS ANGELES — Journeyman golfer Austin Smotherman claimed the first PGA Tour victory of his career on Sunday (Monday in Manila), sealing a two-stroke triumph at the Bank of Utah Championship. Smotherman, 32, carded a closing three-under-par 68 at the Black Desert Resort in Ivins to finish on 25 under. That was good enough for the world number 121 to hold off Doug Ghim in second place, who shot a final-round 69 for a 24 under total. David Ford’s seven-under-par 64 left him tied for third with Trace Crowe, three shots off the lead, with Kevin Streelman and Ben James a shot further back. The round of the day came from Luke Clanton, who reeled off seven birdies and an eagle in a nine-under-par 62 that left him tied for seventh with Steven Fisk on 21 under. The Bank of Utah Championship is part of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Fall series, with elite players usually opting to skip the event after playing in the season-ending playoffs.

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