Rupert Zaragosa came back from two shots down at the start of the day to win for the first time this season, as a closing four-under-par 68 gave him a one-shot win over Zannie Boy Gialon and Keanu Jahns in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship in Cagayan de Oro on Thursday. The pint-sized 29-year-old

NEW YORK, United States — Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs were predicted to win the 2027 title with the French superstar taking Most Valuable Player honors in an NBA team general managers survey released on Thursday. In the 25th annual survey, general managers answered 48 questions and could not vote for their own team or personnel. The Spurs, who lost to New York in last June's NBA Finals, were ranked the top choice as champion for the upcoming campaign by 50 percent of the 30 executives with Oklahoma City second on 43 percent and New York and Philadelphia, the new club of LeBron James, also receiving votes. Last year, Oklahoma City won the poll with 80 percent of GMs picking the Thunder to win the title. The Spurs edged the Thunder as top pick in the Western Conference with New York the first choice in the East followed by Philadelphia. Wembanyama, the top overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft and 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, topped the survey in eight different questions regarding players. The 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center who took the Defensive Player of the Year award last season, was predicted to be the next MVP by 77 percent of general managers, a record level of support in the survey. Denver's Nikola Jokic, a Serbian center and three-time NBA MVP, was second choice at 10 percent. Wembanyama won as player the GMs would want to start a franchise at a record 93 percent. The 22-year-old was also named the top pick as the NBA's best defender and most versatile player, among other categories. Spurs guard Dylan Harper was named the player most likely to have a breakout 2026-27 campaign.

By combining digital technology with professional expertise, the city can improve athlete performance, promote safer exercise and contribute to better public health.

The 0.1 second that stood between Yvette Kong Man-yi and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics was “unbearable”, the Hong Kong swimmer writes in her newly published memoir, The Unmeasured Human. It was, the 33-year-old recalls years later, “too small to feel and too large to survive unchanged”. Fourteen years on, Kong is grateful for the heartbreaking experience, telling the South China Morning Post that “challenge is fundamental to human growth and spirit”. “I needed to find the courage to try again...

The 0.1 second that stood between Yvette Kong Man-yi and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics was “unbearable”, the Hong Kong swimmer writes in her newly published memoir, The Unmeasured Human. It was, the 33-year-old recalls years later, “too small to feel and too large to survive unchanged”. Fourteen years on, Kong is grateful for the heartbreaking experience, telling the South China Morning Post that “challenge is fundamental to human growth and spirit”. “I needed to find the courage to try again...

Gareth Ainsworth knows Accrington inside out and has warned the Gills they must match the hosts’ intensity if they are to make it back-to-back wins.

Amar'e Stoudemire has traded in his jersey and shorts for a dress uniform and a badge.

MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix and Meralco clash in a critical PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup match that has serious playoff implications on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with both squads looking to score a crucial win to get a better advantage at securing a playoff spot. So far, Magnolia is the only team at Group B that has sealed a playoff spot with its 6-3 record. Phoenix enters the match carrying a similar 4-3 record with idle Rain or Shine, while Meralco is at 4-5. Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater are lurking behind with the two struggling squads owning anemic 3-5 slates. Phoenix hopes new import Marcellus Earlington could fit in well as original import BJ Johnson left the team during the long conference break to sign up and play in Russia. Earlington though has been with the team for over two weeks already, giving the former St. John’s and San Diego standout time to learn the system under coach Charles Tiu. “He is an inside player and gives us more balance against having another wing player,” Tiu said, noting the different look the 26-year-old Earlington can bring to the Fuel Masters. Earlington averaged solid numbers of 22.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists for Ironi Nahariya in his most recent stint in the Israeli National league. The American reinforcement played for the Fuel Masters, who dropped a narrow 83-80 decision to Mongolian squad Omni Erdenet Miners in their friendly game over a week ago. Phoenix won by the skin of its teeth when it scored a pulsating 98-97 victory against a then all-Filipino Meralco crew last July 15. as import Jordon Varnado failed to play due to a hamstring injury. Varnado has since been back in in harness, and with the foreign reinforcement at work, the Bolts revived their playoff hopes after hammering the Gin Kings, 97-88, followed by the Bossing, 120-115 in their last two games.  Meanwhile, playoff-bound Converge (6-4) tries to keep its winning ways going when it battles woeful Macau (2-9) at 5:15 p.m. The Giant Pandas hope to end their second conference with a bang, and at least, redeem themselves after losing by 60 points and 55, respectively against NLEX and TNT in a one-week span. TMT

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs were predicted to win the 2027 title with the French superstar taking Most Valuable Player honors in an NBA team general managers survey released on Thursday.