Category: Sports

The Indiana Pacers are never beating the ‘team of destiny’ allegations. The Pacers have been living on the edge throughout their charmed run in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and their magic is still going strong in the NBA Finals against the best team in basketball.

The Pacers shocked the Thunder, 111-110, in Game 1 with another miraculous win in the final seconds. Indiana’s historic comebacks have all followed a similar pattern: the Pacers get down big, claw back with some hot shooting to close the deficit, and then Tyrese Haliburton takes them home. It happened again in Game 1 with another mind-blowing Haliburton dagger to win it. At this point, he’s leaving NBA legends in the dust with his run of clutch play.

The Pacers didn’t take their first lead in Game 1 until Haliburton’s shot swished through the net with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Just getting the game to one possession took some witchcraft: Indiana trailed by 15 with under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and they were down five points with 90 seconds left. The Pacers needed to make of their clutch threes, and they did. The Pacers needed the Thunder to miss some makable shots, and that happened too. They also needed Haliburton to continue his unbelievable playoff run with another game-winner to put them over the top, and of course he delivered.

Haliburton has hit a game-winner in every series so far. Somehow, they keep getting more ridiculous.

Haliburton closed out the Milwaukee Bucks in the first-round with driving scoop shot around Giannis Antetokounmpo. He stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the second round by missing a free throw down two, collecting the rebound, and ripping a step-back three for the win. His amazing game-tying shot in Game 1 against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, complete with a Reggie Miller tribute, completed another wild another comeback to force overtime before Indiana pulled away victorious. He already has another dagger in the NBA Finals after only one game.

Haliburton has more clutch shots in the final five seconds of playoffs games on this run than Kobe Bryant did his entire career.

The Pacers keep cheating death in these playoffs, and Haliburton is their Houdini. Just to win one game with a wild comeback and a buzzer-beater on a playoff run will be remembered forever.

To do it four times in the same postseason? That’s the type of stuff that gets sportswriters like me making hokey ‘team of destiny’ references. How else can you explain this?

There’s some temptation to say we should have seen this coming. Haliburton was hitting clutch shots all throughout the regular season. I’m partial to his “Four Verts” game-winner against the Bucks in March, but there are so many more from where that comes from.

Per Tom Haberstroh, “Haliburton is 13-of-15 on shots to tie or go ahead in the final 2:00 this season” after hitting the game-winner against the Thunder in the NBA Finals. That stat doesn’t seem possible, but it’s very real. Watch all of Haliburton’s clutch shots this season here.

In our NBA Finals preview, we wrote about two keys to this series: turnovers and corner threes. We said the Pacers had to avoid turnovers to have any chance against the Thunder; so much for that: Indiana turned the ball over 24 times to just six Thunder turnovers, and still won. A big reason why they were able to overcome that was because of their shooting from the corners: Indiana shot 10-of-16 from the corners in Game 1, including a big one by Aaron Nesmith with 2:39 left on keep Indiana in the game.

We called Thunder center Chet Holmgren the second-most important Thunder player in this series in our preview. He was terrible in his NBA Finals debut, finishing with six points on 2-of-9 shooting. Jalen Williams also struggled, shooting 6-of-19 from the floor for 17 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was as spectacular as expected on the night with 38 points, but he missed his final shot — a mid-range gimme over Andrew Nembhard — that likely would have won the game for the Thunder given their foul up three strategy.

The Thunder were a huge favorite entering the NBA Finals at -700 to win the series in most sportsbooks. The Pacers immediately made it a series by pulling out Game 1, and now the stage is set for a classic NBA Finals.

Haliburton and the Pacers are simply unflappable in clutch moments. He’s performing at a level not even the legends of the game have touched. The Pacers can’t be counted out until they are dead and buried, and they keep finding new ways to escape. Whether the Pacers win or lose this series, what Haliburton has done in these playoffs deserves to be remembered forever.

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte overwhelmingly won the Davao City mayoral race last May, despite being locked away at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The ex-leader was arrested and turned over to the international tribunal to face allegations of crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s drug war, in which an estimated 12,000 to 30,000 people were killed.

Duterte’s term as Davao City mayor is set to begin on June 30, but he is still detained at the ICC, awaiting his confirmation of charges hearing on September 23.

Can a jailed Duterte take office as mayor?

Here is what the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) says in a position paper by Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs Romeo Benitez:

Benitez said no Philippine law disqualifies Duterte from taking his oath of office despite being detained at the ICC.

In fact, the Constitution, the Administrative Code, and the Local Government Code require all public officials to take an oath of office before assuming duties, the DILG undersecretary stressed.

Further, in a chance interview with reporters in Quezon City last May, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they recognized Duterte’s victory in the Davao City mayoral race.

READ: Remulla to ask ICC if PH consul could swear in Duterte as Davao mayor

Who can administer Duterte’s oath?

Benitez pointed to Section 41 of the Administrative Code, which provides that the following officers have the general authority to administer oaths of office:

• president
• vice president
• members and secretaries of either house of Congress
• judiciary members
• department secretaries
• provincial governors and vice governors
• city mayors
• municipal mayors
• bureau directors
• regional directors
• clerks of courts
• registrars of deeds
• other civilian officers in the public service of the government of the Philippines whose appointments are vested in the president and are subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments
• all other constitutional officers
• notaries public
• barangay chairpersons

“In administering oaths of office, personal appearance is required as the oath needs to be signed in the presence of the authorized official,” Benitez said.

In Duterte’s case, the nearest officials authorized to administer the oath of office are the Philippine ambassador and consul to the Netherlands, he went on.

“Both [are] appointees of the President and subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments,” he added.

J. Eduardo Malaya is the Philippines’ ambassador to the country’s embassy in the Hague.

Can the Philippine ambassador and consul administer Duterte’s oath at the ICC?

Benitez cited Article 6 of the Vienna Convention, which states: “A consular officer may, in special circumstances, with the consent of the receiving State, exercise his functions outside his consular district.”

The Vienna Convention is an international agreement on diplomatic and consular relations, to which the Philippines and the Netherlands are parties.

“The Department, however, shall defer to the existing rules and mechanisms of the Department of Foreign Affairs on this specific authority and the matter of securing ICC permission for said purpose,” Benitez said.

Remulla previously said the DILG will ask the ICC if the Philippines can send a consul to administer Duterte’s oath.

READ: ‘Work from Hague’: Duterte wins mayor’s race, but can he govern?

Will Duterte be able to assume office if he takes his oath?

“If [Duterte] is able to take an oath of office, his detention renders him both physically and legally temporarily incapable of performing his duties and functions as mayor,” Benitez said.

He pointed to Section 46 of the Local Government Code, which provides that the vice-mayor will automatically assume the office as acting mayor.

In this case, Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte will take his father’s place in an acting capacity.

And who will be his vice-mayor?

The highest-ranking Sangguniang Bayan member will be designated by the DILG secretary as acting vice mayor, Benitez said, citing Administrative Order No. 15 series of 2018.

What happens if Duterte is unable to take his oath?

Benitez pointed to Section 11 of the Batas Pambansa No. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code, which states: “The office of any official elected who fails or refuses to take his oath of office within six months from his proclamation shall be considered vacant, unless said failure is for a cause or causes beyond his control.”

“Having failed to qualify, a permanent vacancy ensues in his office calling for the assumption of the vice-mayor as the new local chief executive and the highest-ranking sanggunian member as vice-mayor, pursuant to Section 44 of the Local Government Code,” Benitez said.

“The DILG shall recognize the validity of the oath of office administered to a public official, including FPRRD, so long as it complies with Philippine constitutional and legal requirements. We shall monitor the developments and act accordingly,” he added.

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The WNBA started its in-season tournament, the Commissioner’s Cup, in 2021, before the NBA created a cup of its own. The premise was straightforward: allow teams to earn more money during the season while also supporting local charitable organizations through a friendly competition.

Like most new initiatives, the first year saw a bit of confusion. Each team’s first home and away game against every single team in the league was a Cup game, and then the East and West teams with the best record in those games made it to the Final. While all of the initial games counted as regular-season games, the Final did not.

In recent years, they’ve changed the rules. Now, there is a two-week period in June where every game on the schedule is a Cup game, and then the best East and West teams in that period of the schedule make the final. What has not changed, though, is the fact that all 13 teams in the WNBA choose a charitable organization to support during the tournament.

Every time a team wins during Cup games, money is donated to their organization. Once two teams make the Final game, money is also donated to the winning team and the second-place team. The winning team also wins a $500,000 prize pool to split among players. There is also $120,000 of cryptocurrency provided by Coinbase ($5,000 for each player) for everyone in the Finals game.

With the tournament already started, the league has announced the 13 organizations that teams have chosen to support. The Las Vegas Aces received backlash on social media for their choice to support the Anti-Defamation League in Nevada, an organization that has been criticized for the rhetoric they are using about the war in Palestine.

The Aces have since deleted all their social media posts announcing the move, but it remains to be seen if that was because of a change in their choice or just a desire to avoid discussion of it. The blurb announcing their official selection on the WNBA’s website is still up.

When asked about the team’s choice of organization, head coach Becky Hammon said she didn’t know anything about it and hadn’t asked. Whether that’s true or not, her response proves that the WNBA continues to have trouble both educating their coaches and players about how the tournament works, but also getting them excited and invested in the process.

Here are the organizations the other 12 teams in the WNBA have chosen to support during the Commissioner’s Cup. All stated charity missions are via the WNBA website.

Atlanta Dream: Center for Black Women’s Wellness

Mission: To improve the health and well-being of underserved Black women and their families.

Serving the Atlanta area for 36 years, the Center for Black Women’s Wellness fights to ensure women have access to healthcare. They focus not only on physical health, but mental, emotional and financial health as well. They want women to not just survive, but thrive in all aspects of life. They provide women with no health insurance care on a sliding scale, including everything from Pap Tests, labs, family planning, examinations, breast exams, mental health therapy and more. They also have both a Maternal and Child Health program as well as an Economic Self-Sufficiency Program.

Chicago Sky: BUILD, Inc.

Mission: To inspire hope and offer opportunities for youth facing systemic obstacles to achieve positive futures.

BUILD, Inc works with Chicago youth to break the cycle of violence and help them plan for a more positive future. They are a “nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization working on Chicago’s West Side.”  BUILD holds everything from after-school programs, mentorship, summer camps, and more to create chances for these kids to have fun and be involved with enriching activities. The goal is both to keep kids out of harmful circles and gangs, but also to help them heal after they may have been involved in or exposed to violence.

Connecticut Sun: ACLU Connecticut

Mission: To maintain and promote civil liberties and civil rights throughout the USA and particularly within the state of Connecticut.

ACLU Connecticut is the local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, defending, promoting and expanding civil rights in the state. They do everything from litigation to community organizing, civic engagement and education. ACLU is non-partisan and works on its six core values of anti-racism, dignity, diversity, equity, inclusivity, and partners in justice.

Dallas Wings: Unity Unlimited, Inc

Mission: Providing educational activities and resources to people, young and old, to foster unity and harmony within the community, the city, the state, the nation and the world regardless of race, culture or denomination.

Unity Unlimited, Inc creates programming aimed at overcoming racial and cultural division and fostering harmony among people. Examples include a farming initiative that teaches people how to cultivate their own food sources, Juneteenth education and celebration, scholarships, resources for entrepreneurs, and more.

Golden State Valkyries: Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice

Mission: Build community and mobilize young leaders in the movement to end youth criminalization and mass incarceration.

Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, or CURYJ (pron. Courage), works to liberate youth from the disempowerment that comes with youth incarceration. Their programming puts youth at the front of transforming communities and helping each other heal from trauma while learning the skills and tools needed to thrive in life. The organization aims to end youth incarceration in California by 2030.

Indiana Fever: Peace Learning Center

Mission: Peace Learning Center facilitates community learning that acts as a catalyst for peace.

Peace Learning Center aims to bring communities together to educate and promote peace. They work on the three pillars of wellness: skill building, belonging, and restorative practices. What started as programming aimed to teach youth about conflict resolution has grown into programming for all ages. They hold seminars, activities, camps, school programs and more for Indiana communities.

Los Angeles Sparks: Social Justice Partners LA

Mission: Invest in, expand, and connect communities advancing racial & social justice.

Social Justice Partners LA works to address root causes of racial, economic and social injustice in the Los Angeles area. Starting with education and growing into action, SJPLA’s programming involves fellowships, homelessness initiatives, online courses for people to learn about social justice issues, and healing practices for those fighting to restore justice to communities.

Minnesota Lynx: ACLU Minnesota

Mission: Protect the civil liberties of all Minnesotans through litigation, public education, and lobbying.

Similar to the Connecticut Branch, ACLU Minnesota fights for the civil liberties of people in the state. Their values include advocacy for freedom of expression, equity/justice understanding, common humanity, inclusive democracy, community engagement, and diversity.

New York Liberty: Girls for Gender Equality

Mission: GGE works intergenerationally, through a Black feminist lens, to center the leadership of Black girls and gender-expansive young people of color in reshaping culture and policy through advocacy, youth-centered programming, and narrative shift to achieve gender and racial justice.

Girls for Gender Equality was initially created to help girls have better access to sports and fitness, and later expanded to include more initiatives under the umbrella of creating equality. They now focus greatly on ending violence against girls and women by educating youth and providing opportunities for Black girls and gender-expansive youth to lead. They work through a combination of policy change, youth-led programming, and culture change work.

Phoenix Mercury: YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix

Mission: Eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix works to empower women of all ages, races and ethnicities to help achieve equality. They do social justice work and anti-racism programming, leadership skill building, programming to create community for seniors, and try to instigate change through advocacy.

Seattle Storm: Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

Mission: To empower Black and other historically underserved people to thrive for generations through social and economic justice.

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle uses advocacy, programming, community outreach and coalition building to promote seven pillars: housing, education, workforce development, public health, entrepreneurship, civic engagement and financial empowerment. They create programming to help families cope with challenges, encouraging self-sufficiency in all aspects of life. They also serve as a liaison between the community and local businesses, government, and other organizations that share concern for the welfare of the Black community.

Washington Mystics: ACLU of DC

Mission: The ACLU of D.C. works with District residents and supporters of our vision to protect and advance civil liberties and civil rights by using the tools of public education, political advocacy, organizing, and litigation.

Like the branches in Connecticut and Minnesota, the ACLU of DC works to protect the civil liberties of citizens in the District. Specifically, they aim to create a community where people are free from systemic governmental oppression and can exercise their power to protect and expand civil rights. They work to make sure citizens know their rights, and help with criminal justice reform, disability rights, due process, equal protection, freedom of speech, and the rights of government employees, immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community and more.

MANILA – The Senate approved six key measures on Monday as lawmakers reconvened for the final six session days of the 19th Congress.

Among the measures passed was Senate Bill No. (SBN) 890, or the Government Optimization Act, which empowers the President to streamline the executive branch through a five-year rightsizing program aimed at eliminating redundant functions and improving service delivery.

The bill, principally authored by Senate President Francis Escudero, was passed with 22 affirmative votes and no opposition.

Escudero said the bill is not meant to downsize the workforce but to optimize it.

“Rightsizing is about streamlining the bureaucracy… upgrading, upskilling, and upscaling personnel to help them fill up much-needed positions and put them on the path toward career advancement,” he said.

Under the measure, a “Committee on Optimizing the Executive Branch” will oversee the implementation of the Government Optimization Program.

It covers all agencies under the Executive branch, excluding constitutional offices, local government units, the Judiciary, and teaching and uniformed personnel.

Also approved was SBN 2805, or the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Act, which expands the agency’s mandate to regulate on-demand streaming platforms.

Sponsored by Senator Robinhood Padilla, the bill seeks to ensure that content on digital platforms adheres to Filipino standards of decency and morality, especially to protect minors.

“The MTRCB’s charter was enacted in 1985, long before the streaming era. This bill updates its mandate to reflect the realities of digital media,” Padilla said in a news release.

Another approved measure, SBN 2965 or the Free Funeral Services Act, provides an “indigent funeral package” to poor families in crisis, including those affected by calamities or disasters.

Authored by Senator Imee Marcos, the bill seeks to provide dignified burial assistance to those who cannot afford basic funeral services.

The Senate also passed SBN 2974, or the Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act, which allows for up to two PSHC campuses per region, except for Metro Manila.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who sponsored the bill, said it would address the growing number of qualified but unadmitted PSHS applicants due to limited slots.

“Since 2022, PSHS has turned away over 5,800 qualified students simply because of a lack of space. This bill will democratize science education access,” Zubiri said.

Also approved was SBN 2960, or the Lifelong Learning Development Framework (LLDF) Act, authored by Senator Joel Villanueva.

The measure institutionalizes a national framework for continuous learning and upskilling for all Filipinos, with a focus on micro-credentials, transferable skills, and alternative learning certifications.

“We can no longer rely solely on what we learned in school. We need to learn continuously to meet the demands of modern life,” Villanueva said.

Another bill, SBN 2975, or the Revised Animal Welfare Act, was likewise passed to update existing laws on the treatment and protection of animals, though details of the measure were not immediately available during the session. 

/gsg

The Road to Omaha, and the College World Series, begins this week.

Starting Friday, regional action in the Men’s College World Series begins. While the Men’s College World Series is the most well-known part of the Division I baseball tournament, the 64-team tournament begins this week at various sites throughout the college baseball world.

Here are the teams, schedules, seedings, bracket, and more as it all gets underway Friday.

How does the NCAA Division 1 baseball tournament work?

The NCAA Division 1 baseball tournament has four stages, the last of which is the Men’s College World Series Finals. It also combines double-elimination tournaments in both the Regionals and the College World Series, with a best-of-three series in both the Super Regionals, and the College World Series Finals.

It all begins with the Regionals, or the first round of the tournament, and that stage gets underway this week.

This portion of the tournament sees the 64 teams split into 16 four-team brackets. Each four-team bracket sees the teams seeded #1 through #4, and they participate in a double-elimination tournament, culminating in a winner for each bracket. Those tournaments are hosted by the top seed in each bracket, one of the 16 teams selected as a national top seed.

Those 16 teams advance to the Super Regionals, where they are split into eight pairings. These pairings then play a best-of-three series, leaving just eight teams standing.

The third stage is the Men’s College World Series, where the eight winners of the Super Regionals descend upon Omaha, Nebraska. The eight teams are split into two double-elimination brackets, consisting of four teams each.

The winners of the two brackets then meet in the Men’s College World Series Finals, where they play a best-of-three series to determine the NCAA Champion.

2025 NCAA Men’s Baseball Regional Schedule and Results

The Regionals begin on Friday, May 30, with games running through Monday, June 2 if necessary. Again, this is a double-elimination format.

All times Eastern

Athens Regional hosted by Georgia

• Georgia 20, Binghamton 4
• Duke 12, Oklahoma State 5
• Oklahoma State 13, Binghamton 5
  Binghamton is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Georgia vs. Duke, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Oklahoma State vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Auburn Regional hosted by Auburn

• Stetson 11, NC State 2
• Auburn 9, Central Connecticut 5
• NC State 12, Central Connecticut 0
  Central Connecticut is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Stetson vs. Auburn, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | NC State vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Austin Regional hosted by Texas

• Texas 7, Houston Christian 1
• UTSA 10, Kansas State 2
• Kansas State 7, Houston Christian 4
  Houston Christian is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Texas vs. UTSA, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Kansas State vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Baton Rouge Regional hosted by LSU

• LSU 7, Little Rock 0
• Dallas Baptist 6, Rhode Island 2
• Little Rock 22, Rhode Island 10
  Rhode Island is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | LSU vs. Dallas Baptist, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Little Rock vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 9:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Chapel Hill Regional hosted by North Carolina

• North Carolina 4, Holy Cross 0
• Oklahoma 7, Nebraska 4
• Nebraska 4, Holy Cross 1
  Holy Cross is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Nebraska vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Clemson Regional hosted by Clemson

• West Virginia 4, Kentucky 3
• Clemson 7, USC Upstate 3
• Kentucky 7, USC Upstate 3
  USC Upstate is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | West Virginia vs. Clemson, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Kentucky vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Conway Regional hosted by Coastal Carolina

• East Carolina 11, Florida 6
• Coastal Carolina 10, Fairfield 2
• Florida 17, Fairfield 2
  Fairfield is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Corvallis Regional hosted by Oregon State

• USC 13, TCU 1
• St. Mary’s (CA) 6, Oregon State 4
• Oregon State 7, TCU 2
  TCU is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | USC vs. St. Mary’s (CA), 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Oregon State 7 vs. Loser Game 4, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 10:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Eugene Regional hosted by Oregon

• Arizona 3, Cal Poly 2
• Utah Valley 6, Oregon 5
• Cal Poly 10, Oregon 8
  Oregon is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Arizona vs. Utah Valley, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Cal Poly vs. Loser Game 4, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 10:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Fayetteville Regional hosted by Arkansas

• Arkansas 6, North Dakota State 2
• Creighton 11, Kansas 4
• North Dakota State 4, Kansas 3
  Kansas is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Arkansas vs. Winner Game 2, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | North Dakota State vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 9:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Hattiesburg Regional hosted by Southern Miss.

• Miami (FL) 5, Alabama 3
• Columbia 11, Southern Miss. 4
• Southern Miss. 6, Alabama 5
  Alabama is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Miami (FL) vs. Columbia, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Southern Miss. vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Knoxville Regional hosted by Tennessee

• Cincinnati 11, Wake Forest 6
• Tennessee 9, Miami (OH) 2
• Wake Forest 14, Miami (OH) 13
  Miami (OH) is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Cincinnati vs. Tennessee, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Los Angeles Regional hosted by UCLA

• UCLA 19, Fresno State 4
• Arizona State 4, UC Irvine 2
• UC Irvine 8, Fresno State 3
  Fresno State is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | UCLA vs. Arizona State, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | UC Irvine vs. Loser Game 4, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 10:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Nashville Regional hosted by Vanderbilt

• Louisville 8, East Tennessee State 3
• Vanderbilt 4, Wright State 3
• Wright State 7, East Tennessee State 5
  East Tennessee State is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Louisville vs. Vanderbilt, 9:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | East Tennessee State vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 9:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Oxford Regional hosted by Ole Miss

• Georgia Tech 9, Western Kentucky 2
• Murray State 9, Ole Miss 6
• Ole Miss 8, Western Kentucky 6
  Western Kentucky is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Georgia Tech vs. Murray State, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Ole Miss vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

Tallahassee Regional hosted by Florida State

• Florida State 6, Bethune-Cookman 2
• Mississippi State 11, Northeastern 2
• Northeastern 4, Bethune-Cookman 3
  Bethune-Cookman is eliminated
• Saturday, May 31 | Game 4 | Florida State vs. Mississippi State, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 5 | Northeastern vs. Loser Game 4, 12:00 p.m., TBD
• Sunday, June 1 | Game 6 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:00 p.m., TBD
• Monday, June 2 | Game 7 | If necessary

2025 Men’s Division 1 Tournament Bracket

Here is the complete NCAA Men’s Baseball Tournament bracket:

You can also view the Men’s tournament bracket at NCAA.com.

Men’s Baseball Tournament Regional teams and seedings

What teams earned a top seed?

If you play baseball in the SEC, odds are you secured one of the top 16 seeds. Of those teams, half are SEC schools. In all 13 SEC programs made the field of 64, a new NCAA record.

Vanderbilt, coming off their win in the SEC Tournament, secured the top seed in the field.

Here are the national top 16 seeds heading into the Regionals.

1. Vanderbilt (42-16)
2. Texas (42-12)
3. Arkansas (43-13)
4. Auburn (38-18)
5. North Carolina (42-12)
6. LSU (43-14)
7. Georgia (42-15)
8. Oregon State (42-12-1)
9. Florida State (38-14)
10. Ole Miss (40-19)
11. Clemson (44-16)
12. Oregon (42-14)
13. Coastal Carolina (48-11)
14. Tennessee (43-16)
15. UCLA (42-16)
16. Southern Miss (44-14)

Here are the 16 Regional locations, listed in alphabetical order:

• Athens Regional (Georgia)
• Auburn Regional (Auburn)
• Austin Regional (Texas)
• Baton Rouge Regional (LSU)
• Chapel Hill Regional (North Carolina)
• Clemson Regional (Clemson)
• Conway Regional (Coastal Carolina)
• Corvallis Regional (Oregon State)
• Eugene Regional (Oregon)
• Fayetteville Regional (Arkansas)
• Hattiesburg Regional (Southern Miss)
• Knoxville Regional (Tennessee)
• Los Angeles Regional (UCLA)
• Nashville Regional (Vanderbilt)
• Oxford Regional (Ole Miss)
• Tallahassee Regional (Florida State)

What teams earned an automatic bid?

• America East: Binghamton
• AAC: East Carolina
• ASUN: Stetson*
• Atlantic 10: Rhode Island
• ACC: North Carolina
• Big 12: Arizona
• Big East: Creighton
• Big South: USC Upstate
• Big Ten: Nebraska
• Big West: Cal Poly
• CAA: Northeastern
• Conference USA: Western Kentucky
• Horizon League: Wright State
• Ivy League: Columbia
• MAAC: Fairfield
• MAC: Miami (OH)
• Missouri Valley: Murray State
• Mountain West: Fresno State
• NEC: Central Connecticut
• Ohio Valley: Little Rock
• Patriot: Holy Cross
• SEC: Vanderbilt
• Southland: Houston Christian
• Southern: East Tennessee State
• SWAC: Bethune-Cookman
• Summit: North Dakota State
• Sun Belt: Coastal Carolina
• WCC: Saint Mary’s
• WAC: Utah Valley

*Stetson’s spot is a matter of some controversy. Florida Gulf Coast led Stetson 6-5 in the seventh inning in an Atlantic Sun Tournament game on Sunday, when a six-hour rain delay began. Conference officials eventually called the game and declared Florida Gulf Coast the winners, and the two teams co-conference champions.

However, Stetson received the automatic bid. As outlined in ASUN commissioner Jeff Bacon in a statement, the decision came down to conference “policy:”

“Despite tremendous efforts, we were unable to complete the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament due to inclement weather,” Bacon said in a statement. ”Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has been declared the winner of today’s first championship game and, with FGCU and Stetson University (Stetson) having a 1-1 record versus each other, both FGCU and Stetson will be recognized as 2025 ASUN co-tournament champions.

“Per ASUN policy, Stetson University will be awarded our 2025 automatic qualifier. Congratulations to both teams for an outstanding season, and best wishes to the Hatters as they continue on.”

Stetson was the top seed in the ASUN tournament, with a 24-6 regular season record compared with the 16-14 mark of Florida Gulf Coast. Stetson had also already defeated the Eagles 5-4 in the double-elimination tournament, and entered Sunday’s game with an unblemished 3-0 mark in the ASUN tournament.

Here are the 64 teams selected for the 2025 Men’s Baseball Tournament, broken down into their four-team brackets

Athens Regional hosted by Georgia
#1 Georgia (42-15)
#2 Duke (37-19)
#3 Oklahoma State (28-23)
#4 Binghamton (29-24)

Auburn Regional hosted by Auburn
#1 Auburn (38-18)
#2 NC State (33-19)
#3 Stetson (40-20)
#4 Central Connecticut State (31-15)

Austin Regional hosted by Texas
#1 Texas (42-12)
#2 UTSA (44-13)
#3 Kansas State (31-24)
#4 Houston Christian (32-23)

Baton Rouge Regional hosted by LSU
#1 LSU (43-14)
#2 Dallas Baptist (40-16)
#3 Rhode Island (38-20)
#4 Little Rock (24-32)

Chapel Hill Regional hosted by North Carolina
#1 North Carolina (42-12)
#2 Oklahoma (35-20)
#3 Nebraska (32-27)
#4 Holy Cross (31-25)

Clemson Regional hosted by Clemson
#1 Clemson (44-16)
#2 West Virginia (41-14)
#3 Kentucky (29-24)
#4 USC Upstate (36-23)

Conway Regional hosted by Coastal Carolina
#1 Coastal Carolina (48-11)
#2 Florida (38-20)
#3 East Carolina (33-25)
#4 Fairfield (39-17)

Corvallis Regional hosted by Oregon State
#1 Oregon State (41-12-1)
#2 TCU (39-18)
#3 USC (35-24)
#4 St. Mary’s (CA) (35-24)

Eugene Regional hosted by Oregon
#1 Oregon (42-14)
#2 Arizona (39-18)
#3 Cal Poly (41-17)
#4 Utah Valley (32-27)

Fayetteville Regional hosted by Arkansas
#1 Arkansas (43-13)
#2 Kansas (43-15)
#3 Creighton (41-14)
#4 North Dakota State (20-32)

Hattiesburg Regional hosted by Southern Miss.
#1 Southern Miss. (44-14)
#2 Alabama (41-16)
#3 Miami (FL) (31-24)
#4 Columbia (29-17)

Knoxville Regional hosted by Tennessee
#1 Tennessee (43-16)
#2 Wake Forest (36-20)
#3 Cincinnati (32-24)
#4 Miami (OH) (35-21)

Los Angeles Regional hosted by UCLA
#1 UCLA (42-16)
#2 UC Irvine (41-15)
#3 Arizona State. (35-22)
#4 Fresno State (31-27)

Nashville Regional hosted by Vanderbilt
#1 Vanderbilt (42-16)
#2 Louisville (35-21)
#3 ETSU (41-15)
#4 Wright State (38-19)

Oxford Regional hosted by Ole Miss
#1 Ole Miss (40-19)
#2 Georgia Tech (40-17)
#3 Western Kentucky (46-12)
#4 Murray State (39-13)

Tallahassee Regional hosted by Florida State
#1 Florida State (38-14)
#2 Northeastern (48-9)
#3 Mississippi State (34-21)
#4 Bethune-Cookman (37-21)

2025 Super Regionals schedule

The Super Regionals will run either Friday-Sunday, June 6-8 or Saturday-Monday, June 7-9. Here is how the brackets will align for the Super Regionals:

Nashville Regional winner vs. Hattiesburg Regional winner
Tallahassee Regional winner vs. Corvallis Regional winner
Chapel Hill Regional winner vs. Eugene Regional winner
Conway Regional winner vs. Auburn Regional winner
Austin Regional winner vs. Los Angeles Regional winner
Oxford Regional winner vs. Athens Regional winner
Baton Rouge Regional winner vs. Clemson Regional winner
Knoxville Regional winner vs. Fayetteville Regional winner

2025 Men’s College World Series

The Men’s College World Series will begin on June 13. The Men’s College World Series Finals are set to begin on June 21.

MANILA, Philippines — Former NCAA MVP Mycah Go is juggling College of Saint Benilde’s four-peat bid in the ongoing Season 100 and her dream to enter the PVL—officially, this time.

Go was signed by Farm Fresh when it joined the league two years ago but never suited up due to an ACL injury. That’s why she has to go through the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft on June 8 at Novotel.

FULL LIST: 2025 PVL Rookie Draft Aspirants – Inquirer Sports

“I’m definitely excited. I’ve been wanting to go pro for a long time, and now that it’s finally happening, it feels great,” Go told reporters in Filipino. “Just like everyone else, I’m really excited to take the next step into the pro league.”

The Lady Blazer is eager to prove herself again to earn a spot, even while still competing in the NCAA.

On Friday, Go dropped by the Draft Combine at Paco Arena before heading to FilOil EcoOil Centre, where she helped St. Benilde complete a second-round sweep with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-12 win over Lyceum to enter the Final Four with a 16-2 record.

“That’s how it is. Once the NCAA ends, this is the next step. So I really have to be prepared,” Go said.

Her CSB teammates Clo Mondoñedo, Mich Gamit, and Gayle Pascual made their PVL playoff debuts with ZUS Coffee during its breakout 2024–25 All-Filipino campaign.

Former NCAA MVP Mycah Go of College of Saint Benilde on joining the #PVLDraft2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/MfjRrmLyB1

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 30, 2025

Go is not rushing her way to catch up to the pro achievements of her fellow Lady Blazers Al she wants is to help the team that will trust her in the draft.

“I’m very open and willing to learn whatever a team needs from me. I really want to contribute in any way I can,” she said. “I feel very ready. But since I’m coming from an injury, I just want to keep improving consistently.”

Go is determined to apply all her learnings from CSB and ZUS coach Jerry Yee, who accompanied her on Day 1 of the combine.

“I’ve learned a lot from Coach Jerry. He really helped me grow. So whoever picks me in the pros, I feel like I’ll be bringing everything I learned from him to the team,” she said.

The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000 following their Game 4 Eastern Conference Finals win over the New York Knicks. After blowing a 20-point lead and scoring a postseason-low 100 points in Game 3, Indiana got off the canvas and dropped 130 on the Knicks, including a sparkling 32/12/15 triple-double performance from breakout star Tyrese Haliburton.

If Indiana’s surprise run to last year’s Eastern Conference Finals was somewhat downplayed due to the several key injuries to the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks’ star players, there should be no questioning how good this year’s Pacers team truly is. While their defense has improved considerably (13th in defensive rating after a woeful 27th in 2024) and is a major factor in their rise to title contention, their offense has been magnificent virtually all season and ascended to the upper stratosphere in the playoffs.

Indiana Pacers offense in the 2025 NBA Playoffs

• 1st in FG% (only team at or above 50%)
• 1st in TS% (only team at or above 60%)
• 1st in 2-pt FG%
• 1st in 3-pt FG%
• 1st in assist to turnover ratio
• 1st in points per possession in transition offense
• 1st in half court points per 100 possessions (per Cleaning the Glass)
• 4th in fastbreak points per game
• 4th in points off turnovers
• 6th in FT% (1st among conference finalists)

Their one “weakness” on offense has been poor offensive rebounding (both in volume and rebounding rate), but when you’re scoring at approximately 1.2 points per possession it’s not as big a deal.

Much like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers play at a fast pace while taking tremendous care of the ball. Indiana’s low turnover rate is even more impressive when you consider they lead all playoff teams in passes per game. Unlike the Thunder, Indiana doesn’t have anyone as dominant as league MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, so they rely on a balanced attack. Seven Pacers averaged at least 10 points in the regular season and all of their starters have averaged double figures in the playoffs.

The Knicks series has exemplified how defending the Pacers is like a frustrating game of Whac-a-Mole. Andrew Nembhard can struggle his way to a 1/9, three-point clunker like he did in Game 4 and Bennedict Mathurin is there to swoop in off the bench and score a slump-busting 20. Pacers’ top scorer Pascal Siakam can have a modest 17-point Game 1 on 7/16 shooting only to have Aaron Nesmith unleash a 30-piece on a preposterous 8/9 from deep. Tyrese Haliburton can have a 14-point, 5/16 night and Siakam is there to carve Tom Thibodeau’s defense to pieces with 39 points in a Game 2 road win. There are offensive threats from Haliburton all the way through their impressively deep bench, which features dependable backup guard T.J. McConnell and his indefatigable ability to drive into the paint and get off a good shot. They iced Game 4 on an Obi Toppin dagger 3, much to the pain of Knicks fans.

Haliburton recently described head coach Rick Carlisle’s system as “organized chaos,” of which he is the masterful orchestrator. It’s an eclectic, free-flowing offense that can unleash three-point onslaughts just as much as it can rely on old-school post-ups from Siakam and Myles Turner or Haliburton floaters and lay-ups. When their aggressive, high-intensity defense is forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds, their transition game is poetry in motion and has left their Eastern Conference foes flummoxed and flustered. The Pacers attack everywhere and anywhere with high efficiency. During the regular season Indiana was 6th in midrange rate, 20th in three-point rate (exempting garbage time and end-of-quarter heaves), and 20th in rate of shots at the rim. They ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage in all three categories and have generally kept the same shot profile in the playoffs. This is arguably the ideal group to dispel any notion that all NBA teams play the same and just hunt for 3s, layups, and engage in an endless cycle of drive-and-kicks.

Indiana has consistently shown it has the potency to build huge leads (as the Cleveland Cavaliers found out in their Game 4 humiliation) and quickly erase seemingly impossible deficits, as evidenced by their remarkable last-minute comeback wins in each series.

Little attention was paid to the Pacers throughout the regular season; it wasn’t totally unjustified when they were 10-15 and struggling without the injured Haliburton and Nesmith. Since the calendar flipped to 2025, they’re 47-17 (playoffs included) and have looked every bit like a championship contender. Haliburton may be the headline name but this version of the Pacers is an undeniably great team. Indiana’s “organized chaos” has shown itself to be hard to stop, exciting to watch, and Rick Carlisle is five wins away from leading a second team to a first NBA championship.

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — The provincial government of La Union has collected 8.4 metric tons of plastic waste from residents across 15 localities.

The action was done through its “Trash to Goods Program” where plastic waste is exchanged for canned goods.

Of the total waste gathered, 4.4 metric tons were polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, while 3.9 metric tons were mixed plastics.

These items were exchanged for over 175 boxes of canned goods.

The initiative was led by the Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) in partnership with HOPE Business for Good and Century Tuna.

It aims to promote responsible waste management and environmental sustainability through recycling.

Launched in April 2023, the program encourages residents to trade recyclable items like plastic bottles, tarpaulins, and styrofoam for canned goods, with exchanges based on weight.

The activity is conducted annually in designated locations.

“This program ensures that waste materials are reintegrated into the economy, instead of being discarded, ensuring sustainability and solid waste reduction,” Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This also proves the strength and unity of our responsible constituents towards the preservation of the environment,” she added.

PG-ENRO head Annalyn Rosario-Valdez said the initiative not only strengthens waste management but also encourages reduced plastic use and proper segregation.

An information education campaign was also held on May 21.

The campaign was meant to educate tourism stakeholders on Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Plastic Code of La Union, and the process of conducting a plastic brand audit.

The program serves as a strategic intervention of the provincial government to support the implementation and preservation of the province’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan.

The collected recyclable plastic wastes will be delivered to accredited recycling centers./apl

Something incredible crossed my phone the other night while I was doing my nightly ritual of doomscrolling before bed in an eternal addiction to ruin my sleep. It was a jersey frame being sold on Amazon, but not just any jersey frame — it was a frame for the greatest football player of all time. That’s right, Patriots and Buccaneers legend Tom Braby.

What do you mean you’ve never heard of Tom Braby? It’s Braby. No. 12. In the bottom right you can see him in his iconic Patriots’ jersey.

And this display even has his highly sought after “Braby” signature.

Naturally, seeing this absolutely sent me. The only thing I can assume if that these pop-up drop shippers based out of China are utterly terrified about the NFL suing them or being delisted from Amazon. So instead of actual, realistic images of jerseys, we end up with Tom Braby.

This isn’t a one off either. Amazon is littered with more jersey frames with hilariously fake names.

Being a Carolina Panthers fan I was extremely stoked to see that the esteemed brand “IHEIPYE” was selling a frame for my favorite player: Future Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechll.

I know what you’re thinking: Braby and Kuechll are legends, but what about a player who hasn’t retired and is in the league right now? Don’t worry, because while Braby is the GOAT, he could soon be passed by the legend that is Patrick Wahowes.

The weird thing about Wahowes is no matter how great he is, I can never remember whether he plays for the Los Angeles Chargers or the Detroit Lions. Memory can be funny like that.

You might not really be a football fan though. It’s okay, because if you prefer watching basketball then Amazon frames have you covered. There is absolutely no better way to display your Chicago Bubls jersey than with a shadow box from “Jinchuan.”

The Bubls were a huge part of my childhood. Watching Mitchell Jorban soar over the rest of the NBA was an absolute delight, and I’m so glad there’s a way to remember it now.

These amazing jersey frames are so iconic that you could decorate your entire living space with them. Support your minimalist, workout-focused home decor with a Lakers jersey next to the man, the myth, the legend — Ronald.

It’s been such an illustrious career than I forget sometimes that Ronald played for Manchester United.

Ronald’s history is a huge contrast to Messs. Everyone remembers Messs playing for Barcelona.

It’s just amazing that we live in a world now where you can be sitting at your home one second, staring at your boring, unadorned wall, wondering what you could bring in to jazz up your living space — then with just a couple of Amazon clicks you can find a multi-functional way to hang both your Jordaa jersey and your Jamee one.

In case you need help finding this specific frame it’s the “Sboitflmm Jersey Frame Display Case – Football Jersey Display Frame – Lockable Jersey Shadow Box with UV Protection Acrylic Door and Hanger for Hockey.”

Time to spruce up your home with nostalgia, grace, and Tom Braby.

Israel accused the United Nations Wednesday of seeking to “block” Gaza aid distribution, as the global body said it was doing its utmost to gather the limited assistance greenlighted by Israel’s authorities.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a two-month aid blockade, is dire, with food security experts saying starvation is looming for one in five people.

“While the UN spreads panic and makes declarations detached from reality, the state of Israel is steadily facilitating the entry of aid into Gaza,” Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council.

He said the assistance was entering by trucks — under limited authorization by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing since last week following the blockade — and via a “new distribution mechanism developed in coordination with the US and key international partners.”

Danon was referring to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, US-backed aid group that has established its own distribution system, one the United Nations considers contrary to its humanitarian principles.

READ: Marcos urges warring parties in Gaza Strip to protect civilians

A chaotic distribution of aid at a GHF center Tuesday left 47 people wounded.

Israel’s ambassador blamed Hamas for the tumult, saying the Palestinian group set up roadblocks and checkpoints to block access to the distribution center.

He accused the UN of “trying to block” the aid.

The United Nations “is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism,” Danon added.

‘Will not participate’

Danon specifically accused the United Nations of having removed these nongovernmental organizations from a database listing groups working in Gaza, an accusation rejected by the UN.

“There are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told AFP.

But the UN reiterated its opposition to coordinating with GHF.

“We will not participate in operations that do not meet our humanitarian principles,” insisted Dujarric.

He also said the UN was doing all it could to gather the aid arriving through Kerem Shalom.

Since last week 800 truckloads were approved by Israel but fewer than 500 made it into Gaza, according to Dujarric.

“We and our partners could collect just over 200 of them, limited by insecurity and restricted access,” he said.

“If we’re not able to pick up those goods, I can tell you one thing, it is not for lack of trying.”

Danon had said “more than 400 trucks” full of aid were already on the Gaza side of the crossing and that Israel had provided “safe routes” for the distribution.

“But the UN did not show up,” the Israeli envoy said. “Put your ego aside, pick up the aid and do your job.”

Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 54,804 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry there. The UN considers the figures reliable.

The punishing offensive has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble — including hospitals, schools and other basic infrastructure — and resulted in the displacement of almost all of its roughly two million people.

Israel launched its operations in response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed 1,218 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. /das