Category: Sports

BINH DUONG, Vietnam—At first glance, Tetra Pak’s products seem oddly familiar, like a childhood friend whose name is dangling at the tip of your tongue.

Perhaps it’s the shape that’s cloaked in a different design. It is, after all, the universal term in the Philippines for anything that’s packaged in carton: a niece’s chocolate drink, mom’s pineapple juice, tita’s coconut water.

READ: Tetra Pak recycling: From rubbish to kindergarten tables, chairs

John Jose, Tetra Pak marketing director for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, provides some clarity that our childhood assumptions are true. Among Tetra Pak’s biggest customers in the country is Del Monte Philippines, whose products include the fruit juices that line grocery shelves, alongside other staple brands like Nestle, Selecta and Magnolia.

“In the Philippines, we have multiple customers,” Jose tells the Inquirer in an interview here. “If you go to the supermarket, you will see the brands there.”

While Tetra Pak has become a household name in the Philippines, Jose notes that they have yet to capture as many customers as those in neighboring countries.

Home to at least 110 million people, the Philippines presents a massive opportunity for Tetra Pak. At present, the country makes up only a small share of Tetra Pak’s client base, which mostly seeks its services for dairy products.

The majority, or 55 percent, of its products go to Vietnam, while 29 percent collectively go to Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia. The secret here is that Vietnam’s milk consumption is more than double that of the Philippines at 30 to 40 liters per capita, making it a large market for Tetra Pak.

Dairy dynamics

Where might the challenge be for the Philippines, which had welcomed Tetra Pak a few years earlier than Vietnam?

Jose explains that it is in the form that dairy takes: In Vietnam, people consume more ready-to-drink milk, or those already in liquid form. Filipinos, on the other hand, prefer powdered milk because it is easier to transport; it occupies less space and it’s undeniably lighter.

“We cannot do powder in our solution,” Jose admits. “So there are new categories that we’re looking to enter.”

Armed with its P14.4-billion carton packaging factory in Binh Duong province, Vietnam, Tetra Pak is ready to penetrate a new category that’s also emerging in popularity in the Philippines: coffee and tea.

“[Dairy] is becoming a very competitive market. There are a lot of players in dairy, so we need to start expanding into the other categories,” Jose says.

“We feel now is the right time. We have the solutions in place,” he adds, referring to the various sizes of Tetra Pak’s packaging, from 200 milliliters to 300 mL, from slim to wide. “That can address the different needs of consumers.”

The newly opened second phase of its Binh Duong factory more than doubles Tetra Pak’s production capacity at this site to 30 billion aseptic carton packages per year from 12 billion when it was first opened in 2019, along with 15 additional packaging formats.

Alternative to plastic bottles

By expanding its capabilities in Vietnam, Tetra Pak can now better serve neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific, including the Philippines.

The challenge now is toppling plastic bottles from their throne in the coffee and tea packaging category.

For their part, Jose explains they have been hosting open house sessions for brand owners in the Philippines, hoping to change their mind and see the benefits of carton packaging: sustainability and recyclability.

These sessions also allow Tetra Pak to gain consumer insights that will later shape their strategies and turn interest into practice.

But convincing and converting will take some time, he says.

“Through our business development team in the Philippines, we continue to try to talk to beverage players to see if there’s any interest in the ideas that we have,” Jose adds.

For now, Tetra Pak hopes that its efforts are enough to open the gates to packaging coffee and tea by 2026, thus starting a new era for the 74-year-old company.

“We have done a lot of work in terms of understanding the category … we translate these insights into actual opportunity platforms that customers can look at,” Jose says.

On Monday, Julie Vanloo landed in San Francisco after winning the EuroBasket championship with Belgium, only to learn that she’d been waived by the Golden State Valkyries.

The 32-year-old guard turned to social media to express her disappointment that she missed Belgium’s championship parade, only to learn she was no longer a part of the Valkyries’ future.

Three days later, however, Vanloo received great news: the Los Angeles Sparks were signing her.

Vanloo made her WNBA debut in 2024, averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Washington Mystics.

In December, the Valkyries selected Vanloo in their expansion draft, and she appeared in 9 games before heading overseas for EuroBasket.

While she was gone, the Valkyries re-signed rookie Kaitlyn Chen, whom they drafted 30th overall in April. Chen, who currently remains on the roster, averaged 4.3 points in 19.3 minutes per game, shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three.

The Sparks will benefit from Vanloo’s shooting, playmaking

The Sparks, who currently have a 5-12 record, have been led by Kelsey Plum and Odyssey Sims in the backcourt. Sims, however, was waived earlier this week after averaging 9.8 points per game across 12 games. Plum is averaging 20.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals.

Vanloo will provide Lynne Roberts with another guard who can handle the ball, and space the floor. Vanloo has shot 30.8% from three in her WNBA career. She also averaged the second-most assists (4.3) per game among rookies last year.

“We’re excited to get her,” Roberts said ahead of Thursday’s game between the Sparks and the New York Liberty, per Winsidr’s Myles Ehrlich. “One thing we need is consistent three-point shooting. She brings that. She’s super feisty, she’s a winner. When we played Golden State, she hit about four threes in 70 seconds.”

Vanloo is poised to make her Sparks debut Thursday night.

LONDON — Filipina-American singer Olivia Rodrigo. John Cena. Dave Grohl. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. There was as much star power — or maybe even more? — in the Royal Box at Wimbledon as there was down below on the Centre Court grass on Wednesday, July 2.

And that was on an afternoon that featured two-time defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, No. 1-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka, and 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain all winning matches at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament’s main stadium to reach the third round.

“It’s so special in the Royal Box to have those kind of people in there. It definitely adds a bit of pressure, I guess, if you look up and you kind of recognize (them),” Raducanu said. “That’s why I try and stay with my eyes on the court as much as possible. Only after, you kind of look up and take it all in, if they’re still there.”

The seats in the Royal Box behind one of the baselines are by invitation only, and there was quite a list of celebrities on hand for Day 3 of competition.

“I was trying not to look today,” Sabalenka said about the collection of boldfaced names, explaining that she might be distracted while competing. “I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on, I’m going to open the social media (and ask), ‘OK, who was there?’”

Well, Aryna, here’s a rundown:

Rodrigo, fresh off headlining at music festival Glastonbury while on tour for her GUTS album, sat next to her boyfriend British actor Louis Partridge and Cena, the professional wrestler and movie star. Rodrigo chatted at one point with former England soccer coach Roy Hodgson (the current person in that job, Thomas Tuchel, also was in attendance).

Grohl, a member of the rock bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana, made an appearance, too, as did the married couple Chopra and Jonas. Hollywood’s Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, who also are married, were on the Royal Box list, along with actor Dominic Cooper.

Others taking in a day of tennis at the most famous court in the world included British athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists Sophie Bray (field hockey) and Tom Daley (diving), and Paralympic gold medalist William Ellard (swimming).

Oh, and there was actual British royalty there Wednesday: Princess Michael of Kent. /ra

It’s being called the “worst scandal in the history of the World Series of Poker.” Last week the $1,500 “Millionaire Maker” event was wracked with controversy when it was alleged the top two players engaged in a chip dumping scheme at the final heads up table in order to secure an additional $1M in prize money.

Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll met at the final table, with the winner poised to make $1.26M and the runner-up set to make $1M — but it’s here where the wrinkle comes in. Yaginuma was taking part in third-party promotion that would pay him $1M if he won any qualifying World Series of Poker event, which the Millionaire Maker was. This effectively meant that if Carroll won the final table the combined prize pool would be $2.26M, but if Yaginuma won then the prize pool was $3.26M.

It’s here that viewers began noticing some stunning irregularities in Carroll’s play. Yaginuma continually raised, and re-raised uncontested, with Carroll folding numerous hands. Then to cap things off there was one hand in question where Carroll folded top pair on the flop, which stoked rumors that the pair might have worked out a back-door arrangement to ensure that Yaginuma would win, and they would split the bonus $1M in prize money.

Despite both players denying the allegations the World Series of Poker made an unprecedented decision on Monday night.

This would be the first time in the history of World Series of Poker that a winner’s bracelet was not awarded due to cheating concerns. However, the side promotion will still pay Yaginuma the $1M for winning the event. Some poker events do allow agreements between players, but the World Series of Poker explicitly forbids it.

It’s unclear what will happen next. There’s no concrete evidence that the two players actually colluded, and their actions didn’t influence the event in any way outside of first and second place. They did not cheat any other player out of their placing, and that raises questions whether or not it’s right that they’ll lose their prize money.

There has also been no determination whether the players will be banned from future WSOP events.

MCLEOD GANJ, India — Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, joined thousands of Buddhist followers on Monday in 90th birthday prayer celebrations, a landmark resonating far beyond the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades.

Draped in traditional maroon and yellow robes, the Dalai Lama sat and listened to speeches and chants of monks, nuns, pilgrims, as well as well-wishers from across the world.

The leader, who turns 90 on July 6, and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959.

READ: Dalai Lama says his successor to be born outside China

The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday is more than a personal milestone.

The charismatic Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist Tenzin Gyatso — who Tibetans say is the 14th reincarnation of the 600-year-old post — is also expected to reveal if there will be another Dalai Lama after him.

“We offer our fervent devotions that Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, lives for a 100 eons,” a chorus of red-robed monks sang.

“May all your noble aspirations be fulfilled,” they added, in front of a crowd that included religious leaders of many faiths.

READ: Dalai Lama: Pope Francis ‘dedicated himself to the service of others’

The Dalai Lama has said the institution will continue only if there is popular demand — and is widely expected to reveal that decision on Wednesday.

The occasion carries profound weight not only for Tibetans, but also for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.

His advancing age has also sparked concern over the future of Tibetan leadership and the delicate question of his succession.

While China condemns him as a rebel and separatist, the internationally recognised Dalai Lama describes himself as a “simple Buddhist monk”.

Many exiled Tibetans fear China will name a successor to bolster control over a territory it poured troops into in 1950. /dl

The 2025 Fifa Club World Cup finished off the group stage and the knockout bracket is officially set. The group stage consisted of 32 clubs from around the world competing in eight groups. The top two in each group advanced to the knockout bracket where they were seeded based on whether they finished first or second in their group.

The order of tiebreakers for teams tied in the group stage is first points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question, then goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question, and then the number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question. If there is a tie remaining after that, it goes to total group stage goal differential, then total goals scored in group play, then team conduct in group play, and finally the drawing of lots.

Full Fifa Club World Cup odds are available at FanDuel Sportsbook.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup bracket

Round of 16

Match 1: Palmeiras 1, Botafogo 0 (AET)
Match 2: Benfica vs. Chelsea
Match 3: Inter Milan vs. Fluminense
Match 4: Manchester City vs. Al Hilal
Match 5: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter Miami CF
Match 6: Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich
Match 7: Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey
Match 8: Real Madrid vs. Juventus

June 28 update: Palmeiras edged out Botafogo in the first match of the knockout bracket. The squads were scoreless through regulation and then the first nine minutes of extra time. Paulinho finally put Palmeiras on the board in the second half of extra time at the 100th minute. Gustavo Gómez received a second yellow card at the 116th minute, which meant he had to leave the game, leaving Palmeiras with ten men on the pitch. Botafogo could not take advantage over the final ten minutes of match time and Palmeiras advanced.

Quarterfinals

Match 9: Palmeiras vs. Match 2 Winner
Match 10: Match 3 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner
Match 11: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner
Match 12: Match 7 Winner vs. Match 8 Winner

Semifinals

Match 13: Match 9 Winner vs. Match 10 Winner
Match 14: Match 11 Winner vs. Match 12 Winner

Final

Match 15: Match 13 Winner vs. Match 14 Winner

June 20 update: Bayern Munich clinched advancement from Group C with a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich faces Benfica on June 24 and if the German club wins or draws, they will claim the group. Flamengo won Group D with a 3-1 win over Chelsea. With wins over Chelsea and Espérance de Tunis, Flamengo clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker over the two squads tied behind them.

June 22 update: Juventus and Manchester City clinched advancement out of Group G with wins in their first two matches. They face off in the final round of group play, but the their wins eliminated Wydad AC and Al Ain in group competition.

June 23 update: PSG beat Seattle Sounds FC 2-0 while Atlético Madrid beat Botafogo 1-0. That left a three-way tie for first with each team having six points. Due to a split of matches between the three, the tiebreaker moved to head-to-head goal difference. PSG won that (+3) while Botafogo took second place (+0) ahead of the eliminated Atlético Madrid (-3). Palmeiras and Inter Miami CF both played their final group matches to a draw to secure advancement to the knockout stage.

June 24 update: Benefica defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 to win Group C. The German side claimed the second knockout stage berth from the group. Chelsea beat Espérance de Tunis to claim second place behind Flamengo in Group D.

June 25 update: Borussia Dortmund beat Ulsan to win Group F while Fluminense claimed a draw to advance. Inter Milan knocked out River Plate and claimed Group E, while Monterrey advanced with a big win over Urawa Red Diamonds.

June 26 update: Manchester City defeated Juventus to secure the top spot in Group G. Real Madrid beat RB Salzburg to win Group H, while Al Hilal beat Pachuca to move past RB Salzburg for second place.

Who has advanced

Group A: Palmeiras*, Inter Miami CF**

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain*, Botafogo**

Group C: Benfica*, Bayern Munich**

Group D: Flamengo*, Chelsea**

Group E: Inter Milan*, Monterrey**

Group F: Borussia Dortmund*, Fluminense**

Group G: Manchester City*, Juventus**

Group H: Real Madrid*, Al Hilal**

*: Group winner
**: Group runner-up

The 2025 NBA Draft class has been endlessly debated over the last 12 months, with little consensus among the lottery prospects after Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper come off the board with the first two picks. Finally, draft day is here, and the speculation about how certain players fit with certain teams will be over.

There’s no drama at the top of the draft. Flagg will be the new franchise player for the Dallas Mavericks just months after they traded their last franchise player, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers. Dylan Harper will join Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio for what the Spurs hope will be a championship duo. Then things get interesting. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the keys to the draft at No. 3 overall, and things only tougher to project after that.

Check out our top-60 big board for the 2025 NBA Draft. Read our long, reported features on Cooper Flagg and Collin Murray-Boyles. Scope out the three highly-touted prospects I’m fading in this class, and three sleepers I’m willing to bet on. You can also look at my first ever 2025 draft board, published the day after the 2024 draft, to see how much the first-round projection has changed over the last year. Here’s our final mock draft.

We’ll be giving out instant grades for every pick. Refresh this post often to see our analysis as every pick gets made. Let’s get into it.

1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Grade: A+

Flagg is one of the strongest prospects I’ve evaluated since I started covering the draft here in 2014. He checks every box for a potential franchise player: he had elite production at a young age, he has a great frame for an NBA forward, the skills to dominate on or off-the-ball, and the athleticism to finish plays on both ends of the floor. Flagg’s elite mentality ties the whole package together: it feels like he plays harder than anyone else on the court despite always being the most talented player out there. He was arguably the best player in college basketball this past season despite being 17 years old for half the season after only three years of high school. He’s about to be the youngest player in the NBA, but he’s still going to be an instant contributor around Anthony Davis in Dallas. The Mavs winning the lottery completely makes up for their awful Luka Doncic trade. Good thing Flagg plays defense, so even Nico Harrison won’t trade him.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Grade: A

Harper is a huge guard at 6’6 with a 6’10 wingspan who gets downhill with ease and converted a stunning 70 percent of his rim attempts as a freshman at Rutgers. He’s more of a scorer than a facilitator at this stage, but he still has solid playmaking vision and has shown some passing manipulation flashes. Harper should be able to guard multiple positions, and he’s especially solid on the ball. His ability to collapse the defenses off the bounce is going to make Victor Wembanyama’s life so much easier. He’s not the best shooter yet, which makes his fit next to Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox a bit less enticing. Still, Harper hit 37 percent of his spot-up threes and should be a fine player off the ball. Every team in the league wants big guards who can get into the paint, and the Spurs just landed one next to Wemby.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor

Grade: B+

Edgecombe is a freak athlete who leverages his physical gifts to disrupt opposing offenses and get out in the open floor. He’s a solid spot-up shooter with easy three-point range, he’s a fantastic rebounder for a guard, and he generally does a good job avoiding turnovers. Edgecombe has a high floor because he’s a good defender with plenty of offensive utility. His ceiling will be determined by how his finishing and pull-up three-point shot develops. He’s an interesting fit for a Sixers team that already has two smaller guards to build around in Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey, but Edgecombe has a case as the best player on the board, and that makes him a perfectly fine selection.

4. Charlotte Hornets – Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

Grade: A

Knueppel is an elite shooter who made better than 40 percent of his threes and 91 percent of his threes as the Robin to Cooper Flagg’s Batman at Duke. He’s a solid secondary playmaker who developed a nice connection in the pick-and-roll with another Duke lottery pick, Khaman Maluach, while also showing some ability to score on drives off two feet in the paint. Knueppel doesn’t look like a top-5 pick at first blush with only an average mix of length and explosiveness, but his strength, footwork, and knockdown shooting will make him a very good pro for a long time. I like his fit between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as a connective piece who can play within a team structure and still figure out how to pick his spots and have a big impact.

5. Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

Grade: B

Bailey has an awesome combination of length, shot-making, and athletic explosiveness. He can splash shots from all over the floor, but tends to settle for difficult pull-ups because he doesn’t have the ball handling to get all the way to the rim. Bailey can struggle with his focus defensively, but he has the tools to recover to the ball and swat shots. I worry about his lack of passing vision if he’s going to step into a starring role on a Jazz roster that’s far away from competing. Still, Bailey should have a high floor with his physical gifts and shooting, and as the game slows down for him, he could easily end up as one of the better players in this class.

6. Washington Wizards – Tre Johnson, G, Texas

Grade: B+

Johnson is an indefatigable shooter with a quick release and immense confidence that every shot is going in. The Texas freshman has a unique talent for bending defenses off the ball with his movement shooting, and he’s a an excellent pull-up shooter and mid-range shooter, too. Johnson’s intense mentality should be a welcome addition to a young and wayward Wizards team, and I think he’s better as a defender and passer than he’s given credit for, but he still has plenty of room to grow in those areas. Johnson needs to add strength to his thin frame and prove he can do more than settle for jump shots, but his shooting is so good that it’s hard to imagine him failing.

7. New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

Grade: B+

Fears only spent three years in high school before being thrown into the SEC fire and still leading Oklahoma to the NCAA tournament. He has the best combination of speed and ball handling in this class, and he doesn’t need a screen to beat his defender and get into the teeth of the defense. He has a very good mid-range/floater game for such a young player, and has already mastered the dark arts of getting fouled. Fears has only average size for an NBA lead guard, and he isn’t a good three-point shooter or rim finisher yet. Still, Fears thrived at a super young age against ultra difficult competition, and his best plays showed star upside. The Pelicans are swinging for the fences here.

8. Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin, G, BYU

Grade: D

I named Demin as one of three prospects I’m fading in this draft. He absolutely has the talent to prove me wrong. The BYU freshman has a great combination of size (6’9) and passing, and looked like a top-5 pick at times this year against weak competition. The problem is that Demin’s production suffered against better competition when facing bigger and more athletic players. He lacks burst to beat anyone off the dribble as a ball handler, he’s a poor three-point shooter, and he’s too weak to compete defensively right now. Demin will have to improve his shot quite a bit to live up to this draft spot, but his size and passing gives him a chance.

9. Toronto Raptors – Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Grade: A

Murray-Boyles is the best defensive player in this draft. He also has plenty of offensive skills with impressive driving ability and great passing vision. He can overpower opposing players with his strength, and he can challenge shots and muck up the passing lanes with his length. The catch? Murray-Boyles is a bit short for a big man at 6’6.5 barefoot, and he isn’t a good shooter yet. Read my feature on how CMB is attacking his shooting development, and how he went from a three-star recruit to a top-10 pick. He’s one of the best all-around players in the draft, and he’s going to be a gem for a Toronto team … as long as they can put some more shooting around him for a roster that already doesn’t have much shooting.

10. Phoenix Suns – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

Grade: A

Maluach was the No. 3 player on my board. I love his combination of length, finishing, and paint protection which gives him a high floor to impact the game. Maluach’s ceiling is dependent on how his three-point shooting and perimeter defense develops, and I’m willing to bet on him in both areas. The fact that he’s only been playing basketball for five years and is already this good is pretty amazing. The Suns badly needed a center, and Maluach falling to this spot is an incredible gift. He has the high upside Phoenix needs to salvage the Devin Booker era. This is my favorite pick of the draft.

11. Memphis Grizzlies – Cedric Coward, F, Washington State

Grade: B-

Coward only played six games at Washington State this past season after starting his career in D3 and also spending two years at Washington State. His year ended early because of a torn labrum, but his defense and shooting projection was still encouraging enough to put Duke and Alabama in a bidding war for him in the transfer portal. Coward shot up the draft board at the combine, and is now a lottery pick. The Blazers traded this pick to the Grizzlies. I’m a bit skeptical of Coward just because he has played so few games against good competition, and hasn’t played well in those games. He’s the mystery man of this draft, but his ridiculous 7’2 wingspan and 40 percent three-point stroke is still a decent bet at this part of the draft.

12. Chicago Bulls – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm

Grade: A-

Essengue has a ridiculous combination of length and athleticism, and he’s already been productive in a pro league as the second youngest prospect in this class. He’s at his best in transition, and the Bulls are a great fit for his skill set as a team that wants to play at a super fast tempo. Essengue is not yet a good shooter, handler, or passer, so the Bulls will need to develop his skill level. Still, it’s hard to find a big forward with this kind of mobility who has already put up good numbers against older competition. The Bulls need upside swings, and this counts as one.

13. New Orleans Pelicans – Derik Queen, C/F, Maryland

Grade: C+

The Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 pick to Atlanta, a massive gamble to trade up 10 spots. Queen is an awesome driver and one-and-one scorer as a beefy 6’10 big man, but I’m skeptical of how he fits with New Orleans’ other first round pick, Jeremiah Fears. Both Fears and Queen need to play with the ball in their hands because neither is a good shooter yet. They are also both minus defenders. New Orleans does have some long and rangey wings to put around them in Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, but who knows what to make of the Zion Williamson situation there now. I like Queen in a vacuum, but this is way too much to trade up for him, and that’s why the grade suffers.

14. San Antonio Spurs – Carter Bryant, F, Arizona

Grade: B+

Bryant has an ideal frame for an NBA forward at 6’8, 220 pounds, with a 7’1 wingspan. He’s one of the most explosive athletes in this class, which he leveraged to put up huge block and steal rates defensively. His offense is mostly undeveloped to this point, but he showed solid spot-up shooting at Arizona by hitting 37 percent of his threes as a freshman. What worries me about Bryant is that 80 percent of his baskets were assisted, and he can’t do much with the ball in his hands. That’s less of a concern for a team with Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper on the roster. This is a good fit between player and team,

15. Oklahoma City Thunder – Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

Grade: A-

Sorber is super long and super strong center with a 7’6 wingspan and 260+ pound frame. He’s a throwback big who sets hard screens, rebounds, and protects the rim. He doesn’t currently shoot threes and he doesn’t have great vertical athleticism yet. Still, this is an awesome fit to the OKC roster, and he should allow the team to move off Isaiah Hartenstein eventually for a cheaper backup center as the roster gets more expensive.



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After a week off, Formula 1 returns to action with the Austrian Grand Prix.

However, a few teams likely welcomed the week away from the track.

A dramatic collision between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris knocked Norris out of the race, and dropped him 17 points behind Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship standings, and opened the door to further speculation over how McLaren will handle a championship-caliber car, and two incredibly fast drivers.

That question, and more, are on the docket as the grid heads to Austria.

How does McLaren respond after the Canadian Grand Prix?

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

As the 2025 F1 season began, everyone knew this moment was coming.

That belief did not make it any less shocking when the moment finally arrived.

With McLaren beginning the year as the dominant force on the grid, with the MCL39 the premier package, they looked destined to repeat as Constructors’ Champions, while Norris and Piastri appeared as frontrunners for the Drivers’ Championship.

But an eventual battle between the two — months removed from last year’s “Papaya Rules” storyline — loomed.

That came to a head in Montreal, as the teammates locked horns in the closing laps of the Canadian Grand Prix. As they battled for fourth in the final act of the race, they came together at the run into Turn 1, as Norris tried to squeeze by his teammate on the inside:

Norris took immediate responsibility for the incident (and for “being stupid” in his words) in the moments after the race, even apologizing to Piastri in the media pen. Team Principal Andrea Stella noted that apology in his own comments, as he outlined that a collision between two McLarens is “not acceptable.”

“Well, we never want to see a McLaren car involved in an accident and definitely we don’t want to see the two McLarens having contact, so this situation is a situation that we know is not acceptable,” began Stella after the Canadian Grand Prix.

“At the same time, we appreciate that Lando immediately owned it and apologized to the team, which for us sort of reset the situation. I’m sure he has an important learning point coming from this race, he paid a price in the championship.

“Like I said, we appreciate his behaviour straight after the accident and we will go racing again.”

They indeed go racing again this week in Austria. But as they remain one-two in the Drivers’ Championship standings, will there be another scrap like the one in Montreal between these fast teammates this season?

Marvelous Max Verstappen at Red Bull Ring

Two figures will loom over the festivities this week, one literal, another figurative.

The first is the massive statue that hangs over the circuit in Austria, that will cast a shadow over the sea of orange that assembles to cheer their hero:

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

The other is how well Max Verstappen has done in this home race for Red Bull.

While how Norris and McLaren rebound from Montreal is likely the main story heading into the Austrian Grand Prix, one cannot overlook Verstappen’s success at Red Bull’s home race. Verstappen has been nothing short of dominant at Red Bull Ring, notching four victories and five pole positions over his career at the Austrian Grand Prix.

One of those pole positions came a year ago, as Verstappen edged out Norris and George Russell to secure P1. While he did not win the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix — more on that in a minute — he did secure a win in the F1 Sprint race at Red Bull Ring last year.

This year is a standard Grand Prix weekend, with no F1 Sprint race, but Verstappen’s success at Red Bull Ring absolutely makes him a threat to win this week.

Still, he will have to keep things clean in Austria, as he remains one penalty point shy of a one-race suspension. The next two penalty points on his FIA Super License are set to expire after this weekend, points that he earned in this race a year ago.

Austria 2024, revisited

While the incident between Piastri and Norris at the Canadian Grand Prix was perhaps the first truly dramatic moment of the 2025 F1 season, it was this race a year ago that offered the first stunning incident of the 2024 campaign, and the battle between Norris and Verstappen.

After a slow pit stop on Lap 52 of last year’s Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen was left to cling to a lead over Norris. The two battled over several laps, often at Turn 3, and then on Lap 64 the two clashed again, coming together again at Turn 3:

Both Verstappen and Norris suffered punctures, and the damage to Norris’ MCL38 was terminal. Verstappen was able to continue, but he was given a ten-second penalty for causing the collision. That penalty did not factor in his qualification, as he finished fifth, more than 14 seconds behind fourth-place Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen was also given two penalty points on his Super License for causing the collision, points which expire following this year’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The incident truly kicked off the title fight between the two friends, and speculation about the relationship between the two followed them around the world over the rest of the season. While the two drivers brushed those aside in many a press conference, Austria was not the last time they clashed on the track last season.

Their clash at Red Bull Ring a year ago also opened the door for Russell, who was more than happy to pick up the pieces and claim a win at Red Bull Ring.

Mercedes on the rise

As for Russell, he and Mercedes are coming off a dream weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver captured pole position for the second consecutive season in Montreal, and he was able to hold off Verstappen over the closing laps to secure his first win of the season.

As for his new teammate, rookie Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old became the third youngest driver to secure a podium in F1 history with his third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. Only Verstappen and Lance Stroll were younger when they picked up their maiden F1 podium finishes.

Russell’s victory in Montreal pulled him to within 23 points of Verstappen for third place in the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, and the double-podium result for Mercedes saw the Silver Arrows edge ahead of Ferrari in the battle for second in the Constructors’ standings.

Can they keep it rolling in Austria? It might come down to the weather. Mercedes has been strongest in cooler conditions the past season-plus, which might have Toto Wolff and company watching the weather more than anything else this week.

Frustration at Ferrari

Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images

The buildup to the Canadian Grand Prix saw some tension boil to the surface at Ferrari.

Team Principal Frederic Vasseur was forced to respond to reports from Italian media that he was under increasing pressure to keep his position. Both La Gazzetta della Sport and Corriere della Sera released reports in the days ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix that Vasseur, as well as other key management figures, were under threat of losing their jobs should the team keep underperforming.

Vasseur fired back in Montreal, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc coming to his defense.

“I don’t know the target. I don’t understand the target. Perhaps it’s to give shit to the team, but in this case I don’t see the point. Perhaps, for them, it’s the only way to exist but it’s really hurting the team,” said Vasseur in Montreal.

“At one stage, it’s the lack of focus and when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes the difference. And from the beginning of the weekend we are just speaking about this.

“If it’s their target to put the team in this situation, they reach their goal. But I think it’s really… It’s not like this that we will be able to win a championship. And at least not with this kind of journalist around us.”

“Things aren’t perfect,” said Hamilton. “But for me, I’m here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top.”

“We have a vision that we share, us three – Fred, Lewis and myself, in order to try and get back to winning. And we’ve been working to put that all together. This is our plan. And we should stick to it,” added Leclerc.

Both Leclerc and Hamilton finished in the points in Montreal, but the double-podium result from Mercedes saw the Silver Arrows slip ahead of Ferrari in the standings, dropping the Scuderia to third.

Can they take that spot back in Austria?

Sauber on the upward track

Change was in the air at Sauber as the 2025 F1 season began.

Last year’s driver pairing of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas was out, with the two taking on reserve roles at Ferrari and Mercedes, respectively. In were veteran Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, last season’s F2 Drivers’ Champion. Jonathan Wheatley joined the team in the spring as the new Team Principal, coming over from years of service as the Sporting Director at Red Bull.

And these changes come as more are on the horizon, as the team becomes the Audi works operation next year.

But despite the changes, and the tenth-place finish a season ago, Sauber has surprised this year. While they sit ninth in the standings they are coming off a pair of points results, as Hülkenberg finished eighth in the Canadian Grand Prix, and an impressive fifth in the Spanish Grand Prix, as he passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to secure a strong result.

Now Hülkenberg heads to another track where he delivered a strong result, as he finished sixth in this race a year ago.

Hülkenberg sat down with F1.com’s Lawrence Barretto ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, and spoke about what lies ahead for him, and Sauber, as the transition to Audi continues.

“It’s such a reset and a white piece of paper that everyone starts from. It’s impossible to predict anything.

“The big four teams have an advantage in terms of infrastructure and all these kinds of things. But it’s a good opportunity, because it is a reset, it is a fresh start for everyone with these new regulations,” said Hülkenberg.

“It’s extremely exciting and a good opportunity for everyone, including ourselves. We need to work hard, we need to work focused on it and hopefully we’ll come out on the right side of it.”

But while that transition comes next season, can Hülkenberg and Sauber make it three consecutive finishes in the points this week?

Being forced to hand over the previous PVL All-Filipino Conference crown did not diminish everything that Creamline has accomplished, but it did put some pressure on the 10-time champions this season.

“I think we have a different pressure right now,” Alyssa Valdez said. “Coming into this (PVL On Tour), we actually fell short [in] the last conference.”

“The motivation of every one is very different. The pressure we feel right now is really different. But, in the end, I think we have to stick by our mantra to just give the best in every game. And of course, always have good vibes,” Valdez added.

After completing the first-ever league Grand Slam last year, the Cool Smashers’ dynastic reign was halted by Petro Gazz last April.

And Creamline is looking at this preseason showcase as a chance to recalibrate, especially with new faces now in their roster to backstop the veterans, before the real thing kicks off later in the year.

The Cool Smashers star in the night cap of the first day of the On Tour in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur province, against Capital1 Solar Spikers. And coach Sherwin Meneses will be looking at what his young guns are made of.

The Grand Slam winners loaded up on middle blockers after drafting former National University Lady Bulldog Sheena Toring and Nica Celis from the University of the Philippines.

“Coming from good universities in terms of their programs in sports, I am happy to see that these two girls are very willing to listen and to learn,” Valdez said. “It’s one of the best qualities you want if you’re coming into a team setup. So, that’s one of the things I see in them.”

“These two kids are very nice. With Sheena, you wouldn’t know she comes from a winning team in the UAAP. She’s a really hard worker. And on the other side, Nica is always ready for all the feedback that we’re trying to tell her. The future is bright for these two and hopefully, they can contribute a lot to the team,” the multititled hitter said.

It could also be the game that confirms whether Mich Gamit, formerly of ZUS Coffee, has jump-shipped to the Cool Smashers.

This also marks Jorge Edson Souza de Brito’s return to the pro ranks, now with the Solar Spikers. But the star power may take a bit of a hit with this year’s top rookie Bella Belen expected to be out due to national team duties.

But Capital1 has also been busy in the free agent market, signing Jerrili Malabanan, KC Galdones and Rachel Austero to backstop Trisha Genesis, Iris Tolenada and Roma Mae Doromal.

Meanwhile, Akari, which now has new faces on the sidelines with Tina Salak as the new head tactician, assisted by Far Eastern U men’s coach Eddieson Orcullo, opens the preseason tilt against Cignal.

The HD Spikers added to its lineup Erika Santos and Tine Tiamzon, along with prized rookie Erin Pangilinan.