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Dan Hurley turns down Lakers offer, will stay at UConn

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FILE – UConn head coach Dan Hurley calls towards his players during the first half of the Elite 8 college basketball game against Illinois in the men’s NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

LOS ANGELES–Dan Hurley has rejected a six-year offer reportedly worth a total of $70 million from the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and is remaining men’s basketball coach at the University of Connecticut, a statement said Monday.
The Lakers would have made the 51-year-old American, who guided the Huskies to US college crowns in 2023 and 2024, among the half dozen best-paid coaches in the NBA.
But Hurley turned down the deal after meeting on Friday with the Lakers.

READ: Lakers conduct public coaching search in hopes of pleasing LeBron

In a statement released by the University of Connecticut on Monday, Hurley said he would remain in college basketball.
“I am humbled by this entire experience,” Hurley said. “At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut.
“We met as a team before today’s workout and our focus right now is getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships.”
Hurley is 141-58 over six seasons with Connecticut and has an overall college head-coaching record of 292-163. He signed a six-year, $32.1 million deal with the Huskies last year.

READ: Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham after NBA playoff ouster

The Lakers had a coaching vacancy after firing Darvin Ham last month.
Ham went 90-74 over two seasons in which the Lakers reached the playoffs. But after battling into the Western Conference finals last year before losing to eventual NBA champion Denver, the Lakers were ousted in the first round this time by Denver.
There was some success for the Lakers this past season as they won the first edition of the NBA In-Season Tournament, now called the NBA Cup.
The Lakers last won the NBA Finals in 2020 and hope to rebuild with Anthony Davis and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, who turns 40 in December.

‘One of my worst races,’ says Lewis Hamilton after missing podium

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Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes looks on, on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 09, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFP

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said he had driven “one of the worst races” of his long career on Sunday when he finished fourth behind Mercedes teammate George Russell in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton said he believed his car was capable of winning, but that he had made a lot of mistakes in his 341st race, in which Russell passed him in the closing laps to snatch away his first podium finish this year on one of his favorite tracks.

“Over the weekend, it’s a poor performance from myself,” he said. “Some other things came into it yesterday, mostly myself, but then today, it’s one of the worst races I’ve driven. Lots of mistakes.

READ: F1: Verstappen wins crazy rain-hit Canadian Grand Prix

“Of course, if I qualified better, I would have been in a better position…

“But it is becoming a car we can fight with and that’s a real positive, going into the next part of the season. It’s going to be a close battle and if I get my head on right, I’ll get better results.

“I think this weekend the car was capable of winning. That’s such a great feeling so we’ll take the points and keep on trying.”

Hamilton holds the joint record of seven wins and six poles at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where he claimed his maiden victory, with McLaren, in 2007.

Russell, who had started from the second pole position of his career and the team’s first since Hamilton’s pole at Hungary last year, said: “This feels like a missed opportunity. We were really quick at the beginning on the inters and then Lando came through really fast, but then we jumped back onto the slicks and made a couple of mistakes, pushing the limits and paid the price.

READ: F1: Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes has found ‘North Star’

“Nevertheless, it was our first podium of the year, we had a really fast car and to be back in the mix fighting for a victory, that’s what F1 is about.”

Asked about his two late bold passing moves on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Hamilton, Russell added: “It was pretty tight with Oscar and Lewis at the end. It was hard, but fair racing.

“It’s so difficult when there’s only one dry line, so you have got to be committed and trust your rivals.”

Team boss Toto Wolff said despite missing out on a first win since the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 2022, he was satisfied with the team’s recent progress.

“A victory was maybe a long shot, or a short dream, but you must not be too greedy. The car has made a good step forward and the development direction is true.”

He added that he was not sure if Red Bull had “made a step backwards” but that “the most important thing” is that their performance advantage was shrinking.

Jannik Sinner takes over No. 1 spot from Djokovic

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Italy’s Jannik Sinner reacts after winning the first set during his men’s singles semi final match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day thirteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 7, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Jannik Sinner’s anticipated rise to world No. 1 was officialized on Monday when the ATP released its new rankings, making him the first Italian ever to hold the top spot.

Sinner reached the semifinals of the French Open where he was beaten by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz who climbed to second, nudging 37-year-old Djokovic, who has been No. 1 since last September, down to third.

READ: Jannik Sinner reaches French Open semifinal, to become world No. 1

Djokovic holds the record for the number of weeks spent at No.1 — his tally of 428 is 118 weeks more than next best Roger Federer.

The German Alexander Zverev, who was runner-up to Alcaraz in Paris, remains in fourth place, ahead of Russian pair Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev.

ATP rankings

1. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 9525 pts (+1)

2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 8580 (+1)

3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8360 (-2)

4. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6885

5. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6485

6. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 4710

7. Casper Ruud (NOR) 4025

8. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3995

9. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 3845 (+2)

10. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 3775

Celtics call Pritchard 3 ‘play of the game’ in Game 2

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Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts after his made three-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks to end the third quarter in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

Payton Pritchard doesn’t care much about what his line in the stat sheet looks like, which is one of the many things that endears him to Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics.

He was sent into Game 2 of the NBA Finals with 3.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, with one mission: Take a desperation 3-pointer before time expires. It’s a low-percentage shot, and it’s no secret that plenty of NBA players won’t take them because it can hurt their stats.

Pritchard takes them happily. And this time, it worked.

A 34-footer, from the NBA Finals logo just inside the midcourt stripe, bounced off the backboard and in for a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter. They were Pritchard’s only three points of Game 2, and they were an unforgettable part of Boston’s 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

“I think the play of the game can’t go unnoticed, the humility of our team, is Payton’s shot at the end of the quarter,” said Mazzulla, the Celtics’ coach. “You see guys around the league pass up on that shot or fake like they want to take it, so that their numbers don’t get messed up. He takes pride in taking that, and that’s winning basketball.”

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic triple-double not enough for Mavericks

The play was one that the Celtics call for Pritchard. He caught the inbounds pass while building a head of steam, took three dribbles, stopped just in time and let it fly. It went in, he started jumping around like a madman and a sold-out crowd at TD Garden followed suit.

“The energy that Payton brings, him just having the (courage) to take that shot … it was definitely a confidence boost,” Celtics guard Jrue Holiday said.

According to SportRadar, Pritchard is one of five players in the NBA with at least 13 attempts from 30 or more feet in the final 3 seconds of a period this season. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton went 5 for 20 in those moments, Denver’s Nikola Jokic went 1 for 16, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard went 4 for 14 and Dallas’ Luka Doncic is 0 for 14 on those tries.

They’re all superstars, all max-contract guys who don’t have to worry if their 3-point percentage takes a tiny hit.

Pritchard — now 2 for 13 on such heaves this season — isn’t a max guy. Not even close. He sacrifices the numbers anyway, and that’s what Mazzulla was raving about after Game 2.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics hold off Mavericks for 2-0 lead

“It shows belief he put me in that situation, knowing I could hit that shot.” Pritchard said. “To believe in me, it means a lot as a player.”

And it wasn’t some throwaway moment, either.

Dallas had just cut a double-digit deficit down to six, a very manageable margin going into the final 12 minutes. Pritchard’s shot wasn’t just three big points; it breathed life into Boston going into that closing quarter.

“He has the humility and selflessness to not care if he misses it,” Mazzulla said. “He practices it and has an understanding of how a shot like that can impact the end of a quarter and it can impact the run that a team makes. So, they had went on a run to end the quarter, and I thought that shot kind of gave us a little bit of poise and a little bit of momentum that we needed heading into the fourth quarter. That was big-time.”

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.

Adamson caps dominant stint with Shakey’s Girls volleyball crown

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Adamson celebrates during the Shakey’s Girls volleyball final. Photo from SGVIL

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson stamped its class to rule the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League after dominating Bacolod Tay Tung, 25-20, 25-5, 25-22, in the winner-take-all final on Sunday at Adamson Gym.

The Lady Baby Falcons had another perfect campaign, sweeping all of their six matches in the SGVIL capped by a quick win over the reigning Palarong Pambansa champions.

Adamson also swept the UAAP Season 86, winning all of its 14 games.

READ: Kings’ Montessory beats NU for Shakey’s Girls volleyball bronze

Shaina Nitura emerged as the tournament MVP, leaving a winning legacy with another championship before she moves up to college with the Lady Falcons for Season 87 next year.

“It’s not just special for me. It’s special for the team, coaches, our parents and the Adamson community,” said the graduating high school sensation.

“This is a very good opportunity for my teammates, who will be left. They gained confidence and courage for the next leagues, especially for (UAAP) Season 87.”

Nitura delivered 10 points off eight attacks and two aces in her final high school game.

Lhouriz Tuddao led the collective effort of Adamson with 11 points highlighted by five blocks, while Abegail Segui was also instrumental with 10 points.

READ: UAAP rivals arrange KO semis in Shakey’s Girls volleyball

“I told them to renew the right mindset, whenever they are in doubt with what they do so that they can have a better flow of movement,” said Adamson coach JP Yude.

The Baby Lady Falcons, who convincingly took the opening set, unleashed a 14-3 start in the second frame before scoring seven straight points for a 21-4 spread after Nitura’s ace en route to a two-set advantage.

The Thunderbolts’ five points in the second came from the home team’s four service errors and only converted one attack point.

Bacolod Tay Tung refused to play a lopsided championship game, starting the third with a 10-6 lead before Segui scored back-to-back kills to take a 11-10 advantage and force a see-saw battle.

Adamson pulled away after Tuddao’s big block for a 23-20 lead before Nitura’s attack error. Libero Mariana Pineda’s lucky push put the Baby Lady Falcons at match point, 24-21, followed by Segui’s service error.

Setter Felicity Sagaysay nailed the championship-clinching 1-2 play to end the game in just 70 minutes.

It was still a great stint for Bacolod Tay Tung, which improved to silver after a bronze finish last year.

The Thunderbolts won five games before losing the championship, where no one scored in double figures with Rhose Almendralejo leading the way with seven points.

Meanwhile, Shakey’s and organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management Group Inc. (ACES) will stage the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals in July, where the top three UAAP and NCAA teams will compete against college teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The third edition of the preseason championship, featuring 10 NCAA squads and eight UAAP teams, takes place later this year.

Kouame, Abarrientos boost Strong Group’s Jones Cup roster

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FILE–Ange Kouame.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ange Kouame and RJ Abarrientos bolstered the Strong Group-Philippines roster for the 43rd William Jones Cup set from July 13 to 21 in Taipei.

The local club team on Sunday announced its latest addition to its roster as Kouame is set to make his third appearance in the Jones Cup after playing for Ateneo in 2018 and reinforcing Rain or Shine last year.

“Ange has been like a son to our team owner, Boss Frank (Lao). Finally, I will get the chance to coach him, especially after our Dubai stint where he got sick and had to miss the tournament completely,” said Strong Group coach Charles Tiu.

READ: Strong Group taps ex-PBA import Chris McCullough for Jones Cup

“I know he’s improved a lot and has been healthy, so that’s a good sign. Whenever it comes to playing for the flag, Ange has always been willing.”

The Gilas naturalized center was supposed to play for Strong Group in the 2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship but his team-up with former NBA star Dwight Howard was derailed due to dengue.

Kouame played in France with Nationale Masculine 1 club UB Chartres Métropole, averaging 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 22 games.

“I’m really, really happy to represent the country again. It’s another opportunity for me to win this competition,” said the UAAP Season 84 MVP.

Meanwhile, Abarrientos, armed with his experience with his B.League team Shinshu Brave Warriors in Japan, teams up with Kiefer Ravena and Jordan Heading.

READ: Strong Group brings back Jordan Heading for Jones Cup

“RJ was one of our first options for the point guard spot, but we had to wait until he got clearance from Japan and his agent to play,” said Tiu. “I always like guards who can score, so we are excited to have him on the team. When the opportunity to play for the country arose, he immediately said yes!”

In his debut season with the Brave Warriors, Abarrientos averaged 7.8 points and 2.4 assists per game.

The Far Eastern University product won the 2022-23 Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis before taking his act to Japan.

“Of course, I’m very excited because it’s my first time on the team, and I’m eager to play with my kuyas and to represent our country again,” Abarrientos said. “I’m also thankful for the opportunity given to me by SGA. I can’t wait to join them and compete on the big stage.”

Chris McCullough and Caelan Tiongson are also part of Strong Group’s roster for the Jones Cup.

James Maquilan posts KO win to retain WBC Asia Continental belt

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James Maquilan floors Jason Facularin in their bantamweight bout in the main event of Blow-by-Blow at Cuneta Astrodome.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea

MANILA, Philippines–James Noli Maquilan bucked off a slow start to score an electrifying 11th-round knockout of the gutsy Jason Facularin and retain his World Boxing Council Asia Continental bantamweight belt late Saturday night during Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow show at Cuneta Astrodome.

Referee Jerold Tomeldan called a halt to the scheduled 12-rounder at the 1:03 mark upon seeing one of Facularin’s cornermen go up the ring to plead that the fight be stopped immediately as the small but boisterous crowd erupted in cheers.

Representing the Penalosa Boxing Gym of Merville, Paranaque, Maquilan floored Facularin in the fifth with a classic jab-straight combo and late in the 10th round with a perfectly timed left hook.

READ: Blow-by-Blow Maquilan, Facularin fight for WBC Asia Continental title

The win boosted Maquilan’s card to 10-1 with seven knockouts while the loss dropped Facularin’s mark to 8-2 with eight knockouts.

Facularin started strong as he forced Maquilan to the ropes in the first two frames with a furious two-fisted head and body assault.

But Maquilan, known to be a slow starter, found a way to counter his foe’s aggressiveness en route to the smashing win.

READ: Blow-by-Blow: Maquilan stops Alipio for PBF bantamweight belt

Eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao could not help but rave about the fantastic showing of Maquilan and those who fought in the undercard.

“Blow-By-Blow is fully committed to help develop Filipino fighters and I will be leading the way to enable them to fulfill their dreams,” said Pacquiao.

Ex-LSU player Josh Maravich, son of NBA legend, dead at 42

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FILE – LSU senior Josh Maravich, left, shakes hands with coach John Brady as his mother, Jackie Maravich, center, watches during Senior Day events before LSU’s NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on March 5, 2005, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig, File)

COVINGTON, Louisiana — Former LSU basketball player Josh Maravich, son of late Hall of Fame basketball player Pete Maravich, has died at age 42, the university announced Saturday night.

He died at home on Friday, the LSU statement said. No cause of death has been released.

Josh Maravich was a reserve for LSU, which plays home games in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, from the 2001-02 to 2004-05 seasons under then-coach John Brady.

READ: Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player, dies of cancer at 71

For the younger Maravich, it was a childhood dream to play for LSU, where his father set the men’s NCAA Division I scoring record of 3,667 points between 1967 and 1970.

“I wanted to come here for my dad to make him proud,” Josh Maravich said in a 2005 article in The Daily Reveille, the LSU student newspaper. “I knew I wasn’t going to be a star player, but for me being a walk-on was what I always wanted to do.”

Pete Maravich was a prolific scorer during an NBA career that was cut short in 1980 by lingering effects of a major knee injury a couple years prior.

READ: Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević dies after heart attack

In 1988, at age 40, he died from a heart condition that had gone undetected.

Earlier this year, he was back in the headlines when his Division I scoring mark — which went unmatched by any men’s or women’s player for more than half a century — was surpassed by Iowa star Caitlin Clark (3,951 points).

In 2022, when LSU unveiled a bronze statue of Pete Maravich outside its basketball facility, sculptor Brian Hanlon credited Josh Maravich and his older brother Jaeson Maravich with the idea to depict their father — who was known for his showmanship and creativity — making a behind-the-back pass.

Alas Pilipinas girls rip Singapore to open Thailand U18 tilt

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Alas Pilipinas girls. Photo from SMM Volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas girls demolished Singapore, 25-14, 25-6, 25-12, to kick off its 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship on a rousing note on Saturday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Thailand.

University of Santo Tomas high school star Kimberly Rubin led the collective effort of the Philippine U-18 team for its first win in the six-team competition, where the top two teams of the single round-robin will clash in a winner-take-all final on June 13.

Rubin scored most of her points in the second set, where they dominated the Singaporeans by 19 points.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls set for two U18 tournaments

Kimberly Rubin shone brightly, racking up eight points in the second set alone. 

UST players Lianne Penuliar and Avril Bron were also instrumental for Alas, while Harlyn Serneche of National University-Nazareth School contributed to the squad in their first win.

Ashley Macalinao of Kings’ Montessori School scored five points in the third set before NUNS Akeyla Bartolabac delivered the game-winning ace.

READ: PH national volleyball teams to be called Alas Pilipinas

It was a winning debut for the new Philippine girls’ volleyball team Taka Minowa of Akari, which is also the backer of the young nationals.

Alas battles face Malaysia on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time) before taking on Thailand, Australia, and Indonesia.

The Alas girls will also compete in the Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship from June 16 to 23 also in Thailand.