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Basketball legend Jerry West dies at 86

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LA Clippers executive board member Jerry West attends a game between the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2022. Obsessive perfectionism and a deadly jump shot made Jerry West, who died on June 12, 2024 at the age 86, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. His uncompromising will to win and encyclopedic knowledge of the game also made him one of the league’s all-time great executives. —Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES — Jerry West, an iconic 1960s star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who inspired the NBA logo, died Wednesday at age 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced.

West played for the Lakers from 1960 through 1974, winning his only NBA title in 1972, and was co-captain on the 1960 Rome Olympic US basketball gold medal squad.

In later years, West served as an executive on several NBA clubs, most recently the Clippers, his knowledge and guidance contributing to eight championship runs, six by the Lakers.

“Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86,” the Clippers announced. “His wife, Karen, was by his side.”

The league plans to have a pre-game tribute to West before Wednesday’s third game of this year’s NBA Finals.

“I’m so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing,” fellow NBA icon Michael Jordan said in a statement. “He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me. I valued his friendship and knowledge.

“I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. I admired his basketball insights and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game. He will be forever missed. Rest in peace, Logo.”

With impressive speed and quickness and a deft shooting touch, West was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his skilled shotmaking under pressure.

“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

“He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments.”

In the 1969 NBA Finals against the arch-rival Boston Celtics, he received the Most Valuable Player award even though the Celtics beat the Lakers for the title.

West was an NBA All-Star in all 14 of his league seasons and the NBA scoring champion in 1970. His jersey number, 44, was retired by the Lakers.

Current Lakers star LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP, said he will miss chats with the legend.

“Will truly miss our convos my dear friend! My thoughts and prayers goes out to your wonderful family! Forever love Jerry! Rest in Paradise my guy!” James posted on X, formerly Twitter.

West was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and was enshrined again in 2010 when the entire 1960 Olympic basketball team was inducted.

In October, West will be enshrined for a third time as a contributor for his work as an executive, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor.

In 1969, the NBA created its current logo, which was the silhouette of West dribbling a basketball, an image inspired by a photograph of West during a game.

“He was the league’s first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality,” Silver said.

“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history.”

For his career, West averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game.
‘Basketball sage’
West, who coached the Lakers from 1976-1979, would capture eight titles as an NBA executive, five with the 1980s “Showtime” Lakers, another with LA in 2000 and two with Golden State in 2015 and 2017, before joining the Clippers.

“This is a hard day,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said in a statement.

“I’m honored to call Jerry a confidant, an advisor and a friend. Connie, my wife, called him my ‘Basketball Dad.’

“He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive.

“He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped.

“He always lent an ear and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him.”

PH concludes Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign with loss

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Philippines’ players sing their national anthem before start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Indonesia and Philippines at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on June 11, 2024. (Photo by Bay ISMOYO / AFP)

The Philippine men’s football team wrapped up its Fifa World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 loss to Indonesia Tuesday at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Goals scored courtesy of Thom Haye and Rizky Ramadhani from each half allowed the Indonesians to progress into the final round of the qualifiers while the team formerly known as the Azkals ended with just one point on one draw in six matches.

About 65,000 fans watched the match which was a non-bearing or coach Tom Sainfiet’s side after its elimination was confirmed last week with a heartbreaking 3-2 away loss to Vietnam in Hanoi.

READ: Indonesia ‘closer to dream’ of Fifa World Cup after beating PH

Next up for the Philippines is the third round of the qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup which it will try to secure as one of the six group winners.

Haye scored for Indonesia in the 32nd minute after the Philippines kept things scoreless behind a few saves from goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza, who was placed in the starting lineup.

The Philippine side tried to equalize in the second half, but Indonesia eventually doubled its lead near the hour mark on Ramadhani’s header.

Late in the match, the Philippines saw one of its new players go down with an injury when Adrian Ugelvik got elbowed by Indonesia keeper Ernando Sutaryadi during stoppage time.

The team said Ugelvik, in only his second cap, underwent observation at a hospital in the Indonesian capital.

‘Natural killer’ Canino stars for Alas despite different role

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Alas Pilipinas’ Angel Canino (12) during the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino may have played in an unfamiliar position as an opposite spiker in Alas Pilipinas’ historic bronze medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup but being a “natural killer” made her shine brightly.

“She’s a natural killer,” Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito told reporters. “You can put her in any position and she will [still] do real damage.”

Playing at the opposite didn’t stop Canino from emerging as Alas’ leading scorer throughout the Challenge Cup and earning herself the Best Opposite Spiker of the tournament to cap the country’s first AVC medal in 63 years.

READ: Angel Canino makes her parents and country proud in Alas Pilipinas debut

De Brito said the key to the former UAAP rookie MVP’s stellar play was her determination to play for the country.

“One of the most important aspects is she’s still young, she still has a long way to go in the UAAP. When I brought her inside I told her, look Angel I will try to put you in the opposite. What do you think? [She answered] No problem coach,” the Brazilian coach said. 

“[She said] no problem to be the opposite, no problem to be there, no problem to be the first six, no problem to be someone who’s gonna help us in the second six. I’m just here to help. What more can you ask for someone who just wants to join the national team.”

“She had some ups and downs but it’s part of the process. But for now, I’m really happy because she’s really enjoying the time there to grow. She always asks for help even from the other players in practice. You can see it in her eyes that she’s willing [to] try,” he added.

READ: Jia De Guzman, Angel Canino cop AVC Challenge Cup awards

The La Salle ace expressed how honored she was to play for the country and realize her family’s dream to don the national colors, armed with the advice of her father and ex-national team player Rodel.

De Brito is grateful to La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus for allowing Canino and other La Salle players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel to play for Alas as they also saw action in a friendly in South Korea.

“I’m really thankful because La Salle let her come [and her teammates] especially also coach Ramil,” the Alas coach said. “It’s important that we can help each other if there’s something that we can give back to him, of course, it’s this kind of experience she had here, of course, she’ll bring there (La Salle) to share it with other players and their team. Like the NU players did in the past.”

De Brito has more options now in the opposite as Tots Carlos and Alyssa Solomon join the training pool for the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. But it will still depend on their practice, which started on Wednesday.

La Salle invests playing minutes on Kevin Quiambao backup

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La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao. –UAAP PHOTO

The work to defend its UAAP men’s basketball crown has already begun for La Salle—and for this, new faces surround the Green Archers’ foremost weapon, Kevin Quiambao.

“Being part of this program is no joke … you are always gonna be as good as your last game so that’s the standard that we always put in our program,” coach Topex Robinson said as La Salle advanced to the Finals of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup against a familiar rival in University of the Philippines (UP) waiting on the other side. The two schools battled for all the marbles in Season 86 with La Salle successfully taking the throne behind MVP Quiambao. Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, Francis Escandor, Ben Phillips and Joaqui Manuel have since graduated and left holes all over the roster.

Robinson has filled that up and the team remains committed to the same mantra that gave them success last season: focusing on themselves and what they can control. That’s why he gave some of those new guys the exposure they need, even in high stakes games.

“It’s a gamble on my part to play the guys who don’t usually see action on the floor, giving them the chance to really prove themselves,” he said after what should’ve been a runaway victory against Letran in the semifinals.

Knowing the need to expose his newer cogs to the high-level of collegiate basketball, Robinson opted to keep his new guys on the floor despite squandering a 24-point lead on the way to a 91-87 escape act over the Knights.

“Those are the gambles that I would always take and the responsibility and the consequences will always be falling on my shoulders,” he added as La Salle tries to get back on the Fighting Maroons, who won against them in the eliminations, on Wednesday.

“The more we give them that air time, the more we could really finalize our roster because after the FilOil, we don’t really have a tournament ready for us except for a Japan trip,” the champion coach said.

Along with Quiambao, La Salle’s key holdovers include Earl Abadam, Jan Macalalag, CJ Austria, Michael Phillips (injured), EJ Gollena and Jonnel Policarpio.

Henry Agunanne, formerly a big man for Centro Escolar University, has been a force to be reckoned with inside the paint as he now backstops La Salle.

“By that time … most likely we [have] already chosen the guys that are gonna be part of Season 87 for us, so this is the best time to really put them to a test and then see if they really have what it takes to be in the lineup,” Robinson said.

“It’s gonna be an exciting game against UP on Wednesday, so another test of character for us,” he added.

‘Still underdogs’ Meralco Bolts keeping guards up

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Meralco Bolts during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Holding a 2-1 series edge over San Miguel Beer doesn’t change the fact that Meralco is still the underdog in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Bolts rookie Brandon Bates made it clear: No lead is safe, especially against the mighty Beermen.

“We’re not excited. Even though we’re up 2-1, Ginebra was up 3-2 against us, I remember, and look what happened there. At any given moment, it could be taken away,” said Bates after Meralco pulled off a 93-89 Houdini act in Game 3 on Sunday.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco countering San Miguel depth with defense

“We’re not taking this for granted. We’re not satisfied. Until we get the fourth win, it’s all nothing.”

Bates knows that the worst thing Meralco could do at this point is to let its guard down.

Brandon Bates Meralco Bolts PBA Philippine Cup Finals

Meralco Bolts rookie Brandon Bates during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“Our coaching staff is big on us not being complacent and not having some swagger coming into the games and things like that. We’re still the underdogs,” said Bates, who scored two points and grabbed five rebounds but had a hand in forcing June Mar Fajardo to turn the ball over seven times.

READ: PBA Finals: Brandon Bates not letting the spotlight get to him

“Regardless of whether we’re up 2-1, we’re still the underdogs so we have to have that chip on that shoulder. We have to understand that.”

Bates and the Bolts go for a commanding 3-1 advantage on Wednesday.

Alas Pilipinas girls bounce back, stay in title hunt

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Alas Pilipinas girls and Australia in the Princess Cup Southeast Asian U-18 Volleyball Championship in Thailand.–Photo from SMM Volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas girls stayed in championship contention after bouncing back with a 25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19 victory over Australia in the 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship on Tuesday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Thailand.

Licking the wounds of their tough first defeat to Thailand less than 24 hours ago, the national youth team regained the share of second place tied with Indonesia with 3-1 records.

The Philippines and Indonesia clash for a Final berth on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time).

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls off to 2-0 start in Thailand tournament

The top two teams clash in a winner-take-all final on Thursday. Thailand leads the league with a 3-0 card, eyeing its fourth sin against Singapore as of posting time.

Kimberly Rubin continued to shine bright for Alas, while Lianne Penuliar and Harlyn Serneche backstopped Rubin as the Nationals recovered from a 15-25, 12-25, 11-25 loss to Thailand on Monday evening.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls rip Singapore to open Thailand U18 tilt

The Aussies tried to orchestrate a comeback after winning the third and put up a gallant stand in the fourth but their errors allowed the Filipino Spikers to escape behind the finishing touches of Rubin, Serneche, and Avril Bron.

Alas pulled off a comeback in the second set, crawling its way back from a 19-23 deficit as Serneche scored three points in a row before Bron’s set-tying ace.

Anni Tang committed a crucial attack error followed by Denesse Daylisan’s set-clinching kill for a two-set lead.

Lassiter rues blown chance for SMB in Game 3

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San Miguel Beer swingman Marcio Lassiter gestures during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel swingman Marcio Lassiter lamented what could’ve been another Beermen game for the taking.

Instead of gaining the upper hand in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco, it was the Beermen who were back to playing catchup down 2-1 in the title series.

The worst part about losing Game 3 for Lassiter and San Miguel was the fact that the game could’ve gone either way.

READ: PBA Finals: Chris Newsome, Meralco deliver own dagger in Game 3

“Obviously it’s a tough loss like Game 2 was a tough loss on them. It’s going to be a long series but we got our heads up. We could’ve won that game too with breaks of the game,” said Lassiter, who scored 12 points and five rebounds on Sunday.

“We didn’t capitalize on a few things, obviously rebounding and some late-game shots but all in all, we know we could do better.”

But despite playing hard-nosed defense late in the game, the Bolts just knew how to respond down the stretch with Chris Newsome hitting a clutch 3-pointer reminiscent of Lassiter’s triple in the waning seconds of Game 2.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco escapes San Miguel for 2-1 series edge

“Breaks of the game,” as Lassiter would say but Newsome’s clutch bucket also made Lassiter realize what this series has become for them and Meralco.

“It seems like it’s [always] all coming down to one possession. Each possession’s crucial.”

The Beermen look to equalize in Game 4 on Wednesday still at the Big Dome.

Nikola Jokic on Serbia’s preliminary roster for Paris Olympics

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BELGRADE, Serbia — Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was included on Serbia’s 16-man preliminary roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics on Monday, ending doubts he would skip the basketball tournament. The three-time NBA MVP has missed some important international tournaments in the past, citing long NBA seasons. But Jokic ended the current NBA season earlier

Petecio surprised by sparring requests

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Nesthy Petecio (left) settled for the silver in the Tokyo Olympics after losing to hometown bet Sena Irie (right) in the final. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Staying busy in a training facility in Bangkok last month, Nesthy Petecio was amazed at the volume of boxers looking to trade blows with her atop the ring.

“I was surprised with the number of boxers who wanted to spar with me at the training camp,’’ said Petecio, who is back in Manila after a monthlong workout at the Thai capital.

Getting a crack at Petecio is quite understandable since most, if not all of them, craved exchanging mitts with an Olympic medalist.

Petecio pocketed the silver medal in the women’s 57-kilogram class during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and with Japan’s Sena Irie, the champion in the featherweight division, now gone, the Filipino former world champion is considered at the top of the pecking order.

“They just loved to face me in the ring and I really don’t know why. As soon as I arrived in the camp, several boxers immediately took interest in slugging it out with me,’’ said Petecio.

She will leave for the Metz training camp in France with Olympic qualifiers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam in less than two weeks.

They are scheduled to travel together to Germany in another arranged camp from July 1 to July 14 together with Eumir Marcial and fellow Olympians from 22 countries, serving as the ultimate phase of their preparation for the Paris Olympics.

“I’m in the process of building up my strength and stamina. But I think what I really have to develop from now until the Olympics is the proper mindset once I enter the ring,’’ said Petecio.

The 2019 world champion in her division encounters not a few distractions in her buildup, but perfectly knows how to deflect them.

“There are distractions every day, but I always choose peace of mind,’’ said Petecio.

The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist lost to Irie via unanimous decision in their gold-medal match in Tokyo, but the defeat only boosted her resolve.

“I feel that my confidence isn’t there yet, but I’m on my way to getting there,’’ said Petecio. INQ

De Brito extension raises questions on Veloso status

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Jorge Souza de Brito leaves up his post as Akari coach. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With Jorge Souza de Brito earning an extended stay with the women’s Alas Pilipinas, there has been some ambiguity as to what will happen to the supposed reshuffling of the national team coaches.

“After careful thought, consideration and consultation with the PNVF (Philippine National Volleyball Federation) board, I would like to officially announce that we would like to retain coach Jorge until the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games 2025,” PNVF president Tats Suzara said in a statement released to the media.

Sergio Veloso was touted to take the place of de Brito when his contract end with Italian Olympic mentor Angiolino Frigoni supposedly taking the coaching duties for the men’s team up to the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) World Championships here in 2025.

READ: Jorge Edson Souza de Brito stays on as Alas Pilipinas coach

So the question arises: What will happen to Veloso now?

“I will be able to give you some information after the meeting with the PNVF,” Veloso told the Inquirer when asked about his fate.

Unprecedented bronze

De Brito led a hastily built women’s national team to a historic and unprecedented bronze medal finish in the previous Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup held here.

The women Nationals, composed of young and seasoned players led by skipper and playmaker Jia de Guzman, knocked down all of their preliminary assignments before Kazakhstan halted their winning streak but managed to still finish on the podium after defeating Australia.

That prompted the PNVF to extend de Brito’s stay even before his contract was set to expire at the end of this month.

Veloso, on the other hand, achieved only moderate success with the men’s squad, which had a lackluster stint in the recently concluded AVC Challenge Cup in Manama, Bahrain.

The Alas men’s team was swept by China and the host in their preliminary meetings before earning its lone win against Indonesia in the classification round.

The Filipinos then ended up in the tenth spot like last year after losing to Asian powerhouse Thailand, also in the classification phase.

For now, Veloso will still get to stay in the country as he also calls the shots for the Ateneo women’s volleyball team in the UAAP. INQ