Tag: match today

Pacquiao wants KO win vs Japanese MMA fighter Chihiro Suzuki

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Former Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, left, and Japanese mixed martial arts fighter Chihiro Suzuki pose during a press conference Monday, June 10, 2024, in Tokyo. They are scheduled to fight in a three-round match in July. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

TOKYO — Manny Pacquiao said Monday that a title fight against Mario Barrios is in the works, with details still being negotiated.

Pacquiao, a former world champion who retired in 2021, spoke in Japan on Monday to promote a three-round boxing exhibition on July 28 against Japanese MMA fighter Chihiro Suzuki.

“We’re still in under negotiation,” the 45-year-old Pacquiao said of the possible Barrios fight for the WBC welterweight title. “And, we’re talking about that. The fight is not materialized yet. But that negotiation is ongoing.”

READ: Pacquiao set for July exhibition, in talks for title bout vs Barrios

He hinted any eventual fight would be in November or December. But he said his mind was on Suzuki.

“I just want to say to everybody. This is not an exhibition. This is a fight, a three-round fight,” Pacquiao said. “We will be looking for a knockout for this fight. So you better watch, and it’s going to be a lot of action in the ring. And, of course, I’ll do my best to win by knockout. Thank you.”

Pacquiao lost in the run for the presidency of the Philippines in 2022.

READ: Manny Pacquiao ‘ready to go’ for comeback fight–possibly in Saudi

His career boxing record is 62 wins (39 KOs), 8 losses and 2 draws.

Suzuki knows he is up against a legend.

“In a way this is a challenge for me,” he said. “It’s a real honor to be able to fight against someone who has made history, so I will face him with respect. For me, it’s one of the biggest challenges of my life and a test that I have to overcome.”

Angel Di Maria on target as Argentina downs Ecuador 1-0

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Angel Di Maria #11 of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goal against Ecuador in the first half during an International Friendly match at Soldier Field on June 09, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images/AFP

Angel Di Maria scored the only goal as Argentina warmed up for the defense of their Copa America crown with a 1-0 friendly victory over Ecuador in Chicago on Sunday.

Di Maria, named as captain for the game with Lionel Messi on the bench, bagged his 31st international goal in the 40th minute of an entertaining clash at Soldier Field.

Patient approach play saw Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul play an incisive pass to defender Cristian Romero in an advanced position on the edge of the area.

READ: Brawling fans in stands delay Argentina-Brazil World Cup qualifier

The Tottenham centre-back swiveled brilliantly and picked out Di Maria with a superb reverse pass and the veteran winger darted in before steering a deft low finish past Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.

Di Maria made way for Messi on 56 minutes but the Inter Miami star was unable to help Argentina add to the scoreline.

READ: Messi’s Argentina loses first match since World Cup title

Sunday’s game in Chicago was one of two friendlies Argentina has scheduled before they kick off the Copa America on June 20 against Canada in Atlanta.

The reigning world champions face Guatemala in Landover, Maryland, on Friday as they wrap up preparations for the Copa America, which is being staged in the United States this year with teams from Concacaf participating.

Celtics hold off Mavericks for 2-0 lead

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Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) is blocked by Boston Celtics’ Derrick White (9) and Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

BOSTON — Jrue Holiday had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum made up for a rough shooting night with 12 assists and nine rebounds as the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 on Sunday night to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Luka Doncic, who was listed as questionable to play less than two hours before the opening tipoff, scored 32 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists — the first NBA Finals triple-double in Mavericks franchise history. But he missed a one-footed, running floater from 3-point range with 28 seconds left, ending Dallas’ last chance at a comeback.

Game 3 is Wednesday night in Dallas. The Mavericks need a win then or in Game 4 on Friday to avoid a sweep and earn a trip back to the Boston Garden, where the local fans are already making space in the rafters for what would be an unprecedented 18th NBA championship banner.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics stars united as Kidd comment stirs debate

The Celtics won the opening pair in the NBA Finals for the ninth time. They have won the previous eight, and have never been forced to a Game 7 in any of them.

Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, Tatum had 18 and Derrick White also scored 18 points for top-seeded Boston. Kristaps Porzingis limped his way to 12 points. Tatum was 6 for 22 shooting and 1 of 7 from 3-point range; the Celtics were 10 for 39 from long distance overall.

Kyrie Irving, who’s drawn the animosity of the local fans ever since cutting short his stay in Boston in 2019, scored 16 points; he has lost 12 games in a row against the Celtics.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics’ formula leaves Mavericks searching for solution

Unlike their 107-89 victory in Game 1, when a fast start from 3-point range staked them to a 29-point, first-half lead, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from long distance and were around 20% for most of the game.

Tatum scored zero points in the first quarter and had only five at halftime, when he was still 0 for 3 from 3-point range.

Boston was still just 5 for 30 from long distance when Peyton Pritchard banked in a half-courter at the third-quarter buzzer to give Boston an 83-74 lead.

UP finds needed push from previous Finals defeats

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FILE–UP Fighting Maroons’ CJ Cansino . –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Losing only a few members from its core, University of the Philippines (UP) still looks like the formidable crew that fought in the last three championship series of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

But the Fighting Maroons had only reached the throne once in those Finals appearances after folding to Ateneo two years ago and against La Salle in Season 86.

“Coming short the last two seasons—that’s where we are coming from. We’re not gonna lie about that,” assistant coach Christian Luanzon said on Sunday after UP ousted Far Eastern University with an 89-77 victory in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup knockout semifinals.

The Maroons, also the defending champions of this preseason tilt, have been dominating the competition made up of squads from both UAAP and NCAA and are currently in an eight-game winning streak.

‘Everyday grind’

Guard CJ Cansino and former Most Valuable Player big man Malick Diouf exhausted their playing years while Luis Pablo and Cyril Gonzales transferred, but UP still has the services of mainstays such as JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and reigning Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez as well as a bunch of recruits.

But from its experience in those last two seasons, UP is not getting complacent with how it is playing so far especially with last season’s tormentor La Salle meeting them once again in the Finals.

Despite squandering a 24-point lead, the Green Archers survived the late-game efforts of Letran, 91-87, in the other semifinal pairing to advance to the championship with sophomore forward Jonnel Policarpio’s 19 points.

“We know that it’s not going to be easy to [reach the top] but there’s a process to that and it starts with our everyday grind during practices and building our habits and chemistry,” Luanzon said.

“[We are honing] the culture that we want and the standard that not only coach [Goldwin Monteverde] wants but the standard that the players put on themselves as a team,” he added.

That standard can be seen through powerful forward Lopez, who delivered a 22-point performance from eight-of-12 field goals apart from seven rebounds. Graduating guard Cagulangan led his crew with 13 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals.

“This is our team so the standard that we uphold in practice and games should fully be translated inside the court, that’s the most important thing,” Luanzon said. INQ

Mavs plan to get Celtics to fight among themselves

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, fornt, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving vie for the ball during the first half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON — Jason Kidd couldn’t figure out how to stop the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Now he’s hoping they will get in their own way.

The Mavericks coach seemed eager to sow dissension in the Boston locker room on Saturday when he singled out Jaylen Brown as the Celtics’ best player — words transparently designed to irk Jayson Tatum, an actual NBA first-teamer who was sixth in the voting for the league’s MVP.

Asked during his off-day media availability about a game-plan to defend Brown, Kidd said, “Well, Jaylen’s their best player …” prompting reporters to perk up and wonder: Did he really say that? (It was the final question of his news conference, so there was no follow-up.)

Tatum said it won’t work.

READ: NBA Finals: Attitude, not environment, key for Mavericks in NBA Finals fightback

“We understand that people try to drive a wedge between us. I guess it’s a smart thing to do — or try to do,” Tatum said. “We’ve been in this position for many years, of guys trying to divide us and say that one of us should be traded, or one is better than the other. So it’s not our first time at the rodeo.”

On that, Brown agreed completely.

“We’ve been just extremely focused on what our roles and our jobs are. We have all had to sacrifice,” he said. “Right now, at this point, it’s whatever it takes to win. And we can’t let any outside interpretations try to get in between us.”

Drafted third overall in back-to-back years, Brown and Tatum have emerged as one of the NBA’s best duos, combining to lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals five times in their seven seasons together. But even with the success — 64 wins this year, the league’s No. 1 overall seed, and a second trip to the NBA Finals — they have had to combat speculation that there wasn’t room in the locker room for both of them.

Although Tatum’s career numbers have been better, Brown is the highest-paid player in the league — a quirk of timing and age that gave him the first shot at a supermax contract extension that will earn him more than $300 million over five years. Brown also outplayed Tatum in the 2022 NBA Finals, was the MVP of this year’s conference finals and outscored Tatum 22-16 in the Game 1 victory over Dallas on Thursday night.

That may explain why Kidd said on Saturday — twice — that Brown was Boston’s main threat.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics’ formula leaves Mavericks searching for solution

“Jaylen’s their best player,” the Mavericks coach said. “He did everything, and that’s what your best player does. Just understanding how to play both sides — defense and offense at a high rate — he’s been doing that the whole playoffs.”

But no one else seems to think so.

Tatum averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists this season, and Brown averaged 23, 5.5 and 3.6. And even with Brown outscoring him in Game 1, Tatum’s numbers are also better in the playoffs so far. (And besides: The real star of the opener was Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis.)

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he’s not worried about internal rivalries getting in his team’s way, as long as his players “focus on the truth.”

“What goes on in our locker room, how we communicate with each other, how we build relationships with each other and how we treat each other on and off the floor, that’s the most important thing,” he said.

The Mavericks have their own Big Two, with five-time All-NBA first-team guard Luka Doncic teaming up with Kyrie Irving to form an All-Star backcourt. Irving, who teamed with LeBron James to win the 2016 NBA championship in Cleveland even as they struggled to co-exist, said he tries not to pay attention to talk pitting him against his teammate.

“I’m just here to play basketball,” Irving said. “You’ve got to be selfless in your approach. Obviously, you’re not going to get it right all the time, but as a teammate, you just want to push those other things to the side that don’t really matter or get you better as a team. So we just leave it to everybody else to argue whose team it is and who has the most responsibility. It’s all our jobs to be prepared.”

Johann Chua reaches semis of World Pool Championship

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Johann Chua. Photo from Matchroom Pool

Johann Chua posted twin victories Friday to march into the semifinals and close in on becoming the latest Filipino winner of the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Chua defeated Syria’s Mohammad Soufi, 11-8, and China’s Dang Jin Hu, 11-3, at Green Halls to become the country’s lone hope of capturing the prestigious nine-ball competition.

The 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2023 World Cup of Pool co-winner will take Albania’s Eklent Kaci in Saturday’s semifinal.

READ: Filipino bets advance in World Pool Championship

If Chua wins, he’ll face either Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk or 2019 champion Fedor Gorst, the Russian-born pool player who now represents the United States, for the title later in the day.

A top purse of $250,000 is at stake in the tournament.

Jeffrey Ignacio and Anton Raga won their round-of-16 matches, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

READ: Johann Chua, James Aranas lead PH to record fourth World Cup of Pool title

Ignacio beat Spain’s David Alcaide, 11-4, but bowed to Kaci, 11-7, in the quarters, while Raga downed 2018 winner Joshua Filler of Germany, 11-7, only to be shown the door by Gorst in his next match, 11-4.

The two Filipino cue artists will take home $27,000 each for making it to the last eight.

Filipinos eye strong showing at Ironman, 70.3 races in Subic

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FILE– John Alcala is among the athletes to watch out for in this year’s Ironman Philippines. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

John Dedeus Alcala leads a determined group of Filipino athletes against a formidable lineup of international competitors in the Ironman Philippines and the IM 70.3 Subic Bay races scheduled for Sunday in Subic.

Alcala and the rest of the competitors will tackle the  3.8-kilometer swim, 180km bike ride, and 42.2km run on a world-class championship course in Subic where slots in the World Championships are at stake.

Among the notable competitors from 54 countries is Filipino bet August Benedicto, who aims to deliver a strong performance in the 11th edition of the IM 70.3 race, which includes a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and 21.1km run.

READ: John Alcala, Ines Santiago rule rainy Ironman

“I’m thrilled to compete here, even though I’m now based in Ireland,” said Benedicto.

Alcala, who triumphed in the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa in 2022, meanwhile, faces a tougher challenge, notably from 2022 champion Czech contender Petr Lukosz.

Despite missing out on his age-group category in the recent Ironman 70.3 Cebu, Lukosz remains a top contender in the full-distance race.

“It’s all about dreams. I still have a dream to do full Ironman sub 9 hours. I came three minutes short in Arizona,” said Lukosz. “And I told my wife that I will try one day to be in Top 10 in Kona in my age group.”

READ: Tested warriors carry PH fight in Subic Bay Ironman

The Ironman and IM 70.3 age group kick off at 5:45 a.m., with the swim cutoff time set at 70 minutes from the last athlete’s start. The bike and run stages have cutoff times of 5 hours and 30 minutes and 8 hours and 30 minutes, respectively.

The top 25 male triathletes from the full Ironman earn spots in the Kona, Hawaii World Championship from Oct. 22-28. The top 15 female athletes will qualify for the IM World Championship in Nice, France, from Sept. 24-28.

The IM 70.3 Subic Bay offers 45 age-group qualifying slots for the Vinfast IM 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand, on Dec. 14-15, with 15 slots reserved for female participants to promote gender equality.

Eleora Avanzado, Euan Ramos lead Ironkids Subic winners

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Euan Ramos and Eleora Avanzado crossing the finish line at the Choco Hero Ironkids 2024. –HANDOUT PHOTO

Eleora Avanzado and Euan Ramos showcased remarkable performances, leading their respective divisions in the premier age category of the Choco Hero Ironkids race on Saturday at Subic Bay Boardwalk.

Avanzado raced for a total time of 26:34 over the 250-meter swim, 6-kilometer bike, and 2km run event to rule the girls’ 13-14 division, edging Celinda Raagas in a close finish.

Raagas registered a total time of 26:49 to come in second in the race which served as a prelude to Sunday’s premier full-distance Ironman Philippines and the IM 70.3 Subic Bay races.

READ: Young bets take spotlight as Ironkids unfolds

Ramos, meanwhile, dominated the boys’ 13-14 division from start to finish, posting a total time of 22:37 (03:11 in the swim, 10:52 in the bike, and 06:51 in the run), outpacing Joan Marcelo, who finished with a time of 24:05. David Mora claimed third place with a time of 24:31.

This marks Ramos’ fifth victory in the Ironkids, highlighting his determination to not only become a leading triathlete but also a Youth Olympian.

“My dream is to become a Youth Olympian,” said Ramos, a student at Small World Christian School in Benguet, Baguio. “It’s a rewarding feeling to cross the finish line first again here in Subic.”

Maria Isabella Raagas ruled the girls’ 11-12 category (200m swim, 4km bike, and 1.5km run) with a time of 21:15 while Kurt Cruz led the boys’ race, timing 20:35.

In the relay competitions, Team TriClark Scania and Team NAS Kids topped the girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively, with Team SPED G and Team Olongapo Junior Trackers also securing victories.

Zverev beats Ruud to set up French Open final with Carlos Alcaraz

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Germany’s Alexander Zverev plays a shot against Norway’s Casper Ruud during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Alexander Zverev exacted revenge on Casper Ruud at the French Open on Friday to reach his second Grand Slam final and first since 2020, with Carlos Alcaraz standing between him and the title.

Fourth seed Zverev, who had lost in the semi-finals at Roland Garros in each of the past three years, fought back to beat Ruud 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in a repeat of their last-four clash 12 months ago.

Zverev won just seven games when the pair met in the 2023 semis and a similar story was on the cards after Ruud cruised through the opening set.

READ; Alexander Zverev reaches French Open semifinal as trial proceeds

But the German raised his game, reaching his first French Open final and keeping his hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title alive.

Zverev holds a career 5-4 winning record against Alcaraz, including a victory in their only previous Roland Garros meeting in the 2022 quarter-finals.

Alcaraz earlier battled past incoming world number one Jannik Sinner in five sets.

“If you’re in the final of Roland Garros, you deserve to be there. That goes for him, as well,” said Zverev.

“He played a fantastic match today. Played a fantastic tournament in general, I think. I’m expecting a very difficult match.”

READ: Carlos Alcaraz embraces ‘suffering’ to reach French Open final

There will be two first-time finalists for the first year since Rafael Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta for the first of his 14 titles in 2005.

The 27-year-old Zverev’s only previous major final appearance saw him blow a two-set lead to lose to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open.

“I was not ready then to win my first Grand Slam final,” said Zverev, the first German man to make the final since Michael Stich in 1996.

“I’m definitely not a kid any more, I’m a little older. If not now, then when?”

A German court dropped a case against Zverev over allegations he assaulted an ex-girlfriend earlier on Friday, after a settlement was agreed.

Ruud was targeting a fourth Grand Slam final, but the two-time Roland Garros runner-up was well below his best and struggling with illness.

“I wasn’t able to play with the kind of tennis I like to play with intensity because I was kind of limited with my stomach,” said Ruud. “I don’t want to make an excuse or excuses, but it’s frustrating and disappointing.”

 Zverev fights back

Alexander Zverev French Open

Germany’s Alexander Zverev clenches his fist after winning the third set during his semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament against Norway’s Casper Ruud at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

The Norwegian seventh seed had not played since Monday after enjoying a walkover in the quarter-finals due to Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament with a knee injury.

Zverev had spent more than eight hours on court during two five-setters in the third and fourth rounds, before beating Alex de Minaur in the last eight.

“To go deep and to win a Grand Slam, you have to go through difficulties and you have to go through a lot of ups and downs,” added Zverev.

“You’re not going to win a Grand Slam by winning every match in straight three sets. Some players do, like Roger (Federer) did, Rafa (Nadal) did a few times, but normally to win a Grand Slam you have to go through battles.”

Ruud looked the fresher of the two as he raced into a one-set lead.

But Zverev was much improved in the second set, breaking twice while hitting 15 winners against just four unforced errors to level the match.

A break in the fifth game of the third set put him in control against a struggling Ruud.

He served it out for a 2-1 edge in sets, despite briefly faltering with successive double-faults and having to save a break point.

Ruud took a trip to the medical room after the third set.

But he was broken again in the first game of the fourth before Zverev moved to the brink of the final by giving himself breathing space with another break for a 5-2 lead.

He showed no signs of nerves, confidently serving it out at the first opportunity with an ace.

Fencer Maxine Esteban wins silver ahead of Paris Olympics

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Maxine Esteban, left, poses with her silver medal at the 2nd African Fencing Championships. Photo from International Fencing Federation

MANILA, Philippines—Maxine Esteban earned a silver medal in the 22nd African Fencing Championships ahead of her upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics debut.

The Filipino-Ivorian fencer fell short against Egyptian fencer Yara Elsharkawy, 8-9, in the final of the women’s individual foil event on Thursday evening (Manila time) in Casablanca, Morocco.

The 23-year-old Olympian surpassed her bronze finish last year.

READ: Maxine Esteban off to Paris Olympics carrying PH pride

“[Silver medal] in the African Championships’ 24 [in Morocco]! Missed the gold by 1 point but I’m so grateful for this! God is so gracious. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get this!! To God be the glory,” wrote Esteban on her Instagram.

Esteban, the World No.37, will train in Poland and Paris with the Japanese national fencing team as she prepares for the Olympics.

When Esteban had a short vacation in Manila, she expressed that she is still representing both the Philippines and Ivory Coast.

READ: Samantha Catantan’s Paris ticket draws up potential clash with Esteban

“You can really never take away the Filipino in me and I will forever be Filipino,” she told the reporters when she watched the Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup in Rizal Memorial Coliseum last May.

The former Ateneo star is also grateful for the continuous support of the Filipinos despite her naturalization and she is looking forward to fence with her good friend and fellow Filipino Samantha Catantan in the latter round of the Olympics.

“Everyone who qualified in the Olympics, they’re all really good fencers. Just like Sam, she would be a worthy fencer to fence against. It would be an honor to fence against her. I’m really looking forward if ever that time comes,” Esteban said. “Hopefully, hindi kami magkatapat sa early stages and you know maybe magkatapat na lang kami sa Finals.”