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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.

The 2025 Gold Cup kicks off on Saturday, June 14, with the final scheduled for July 6, 2025. The United States is hosting the tournament and is a co-favorite with Mexico to win the championship trophy. Both nations are installed with Gold Cup odds of +190 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Mexico or the United States have won the biennial tournament all but once dating back to its start in 1991. Canada won the tournament in 2000 after the US and Mexico were both eliminated in the quarterfinals of the knockout stage. Mexico has won the tournament nine times while the US has won it seven times.

The group stage opens on June 14 with Mexico and the Dominican Republic facing off in Group A play. Group play wraps on June 24 at which point two nations from each group advance to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals will take place on June 28 and 29, the semifinals will take place on July 2, and the final will take place on July 6 in Houston.

We’ll be tracking the full slate of matches of the group stage, with the schedule, results, and live updates of the standings until the eight quarterfinalists are determined. All times listed are ET.

Gold Cup group schedule, standings

Group A

1. Mexico: 2-0-0, 4 GF 2 GA (+3), 6 points
2. Costa Rica: 2-0-0, 6 GF 4 GA (+2), 6 points
3. Dominican Republic: 0-0-2, 3 GF 5 GA (-2), 0 points
4. Suriname: 0-0-2, 3 GF 6 GA (-3), 0 points

Schedule

June 14: Mexico 3, Dominican Republic 2
June 15: Costa Rica 4, Suriname 3

June 18: Costa Rica 2, Dominican Republic 1
June 18: Mexico 2, Suriname 0

June 22: Mexico v. Costa Rica, 10:00 p.m., Las Vegas, NV
June 22: Dominican Republic v. Suriname, 10:00 p.m., Arlington, TX

Group B

1. Canada: 1-0-0, 6 GF 0 GA (+6), 3 points
2. Curaçao: 0-1-0, 0 GF 0 GA (+0), 1 points
3. El Salvador: 0-1-0, 0 GF 0 GA (+0), 1 points
4. Honduras: 0-0-1, 0 GF 6 GA (-6), 0 points

June 17: Curaçao 0, El Salvador 0
June 17: Canada 6, Honduras 0

June 21: Curaçao v. Canada, 7:00 p.m., Houston, TX
June 21: Honduras v. El Salvador, 10:00 p.m., Houston, TX

June 24: Honduras v. Curaçao, 10:00 p.m., San Jose, CA
June 24: Canada v. El Salvador, 10:00 p.m., Houston

Group C

1. Panama: 1-0-0, 5 GF 2 GA (+3), 3 points
2. Guatemala: 1-0-0, 1 GF 0 GA (+1), 3 points
3. Jamaica: 0-0-1, 0 GF 1 GA (-1), 0 points
4. Guadeloupe: 0-0-1, 2 GF 5 GA (-3), 0 points

June 16: Panama 5 Guadeloupe 2
June 16: Guatemala 1, Jamaica 0

June 20: Jamaica v. Guadeloupe, 7:45 p.m., San Jose, CA
June 20: Guatemala v. Panama, 10:00 p.m., Austin, TX

June 24: Panama v. Jamaica, 7:00 p.m., Austin, TX
June 24: Guadeloupe v. Guatemala, 7:00 p.m., Houston, TX

Group D

1. United States: 2-0-0, 6 GF 0 GA (+6), 6 points
2. Saudi Arabia: 1-0-1, 1 GF 1 GA (+0), 3 points
3. Haiti: 0-1-1, 1 GF 2 GA (-1), 0 points
4. Trinidad and Tobago: 0-1-1, 1 GF 6 GA (-5), 0 points

June 15: USA 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
June 15: Saudi Arabia 1, Haiti 0

June 19: Trinidad and Tobago 1, Haiti 1
June 19: USA 1, Saudi Arabia 0

June 22: Saudi Arabia v. Trinidad and Tobago, 7:00 p.m., Las Vegas, NV
June 22: USA v. Haiti, 7:00 p.m., Arlington, TX

WASHINGTON — Representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have initialed a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC — a document to be formally signed on June 27, a joint statement said Wednesday.

The text, which builds on a declaration of principles signed in April, “includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities” in eastern DRC, according to the statement released by the two nations, as well as the United States and Qatar, which acted as mediators.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will witness the signing in Washington later this month, the statement said.

READ: Peace still elusive for east DR Congo 30 years after genocide in Rwanda

The deal was reached during three days of “constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests” between DRC and Rwandan officials in the US capital, it said.

The text also includes provisions on “disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups.”

The anti-government M23 armed group — which US and UN experts say receives military backing from Kigali — launched a lightning offensive at the start of the year in eastern DR Congo.

It took control of Goma in late January followed by the city of Bukavu, and has set up governing structures in the regions under its control. Thousands of people have been killed.

READ: Rwanda says it killed a Congolese soldier who crossed the border

The resource-rich eastern DRC, which borders Rwanda, has been plagued by violence for three decades, with a resurgence since M23 went on a renewed offensive at the end of 2021.

Rwanda had said last month that a definitive peace agreement to end the crisis with its neighbor would be signed in mid-June in Washington.

Kigali denies it offers any military support to the M23 but says its security has long been threatened by armed groups in eastern DRC, notably the FDLR, a group created by ethnic Hutus who massacred Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. /dl

The 2025 Men’s College World Series is underway from Omaha, Nebraska.

Eight teams arrived in Omaha with dreams of a College World Series title, after surviving both the Regionals and the Super Regionals. As with those two earlier rounds, the final two stages of the Men’s College World Series combine a double-elimination tournament with a best-of-three series to determine the winner.

The eight teams — Arizona, Coastal Carolina, Louisville, Oregon State, Murray State, UCLA, Arkansas, and LSU — are divided into two brackets: Bracket 1 and Bracket 2. They will use a double-elimination format to determine a winner from each bracket, and those two teams will square off in a best-of-three series to determine a champion.

Men’s College World Series Schedule and Scores

Tuesday, June 17

Bracket 2: LSU 9, UCLA 5

Monday, June 16

Bracket 2: Arkansas 3, Murray State 0 — Murray State eliminated

Sunday, June 15

Bracket 1: Louisville 8, Arizona 3 — Arizona eliminated
Bracket 1: Coastal Carolina 6, Oregon State 2

Saturday, June 14

Bracket 2: UCLA 6, Murray State 4
Bracket 2: LSU 4, Arkansas 1

Friday, June 13

Bracket 1: Coastal Carolina 7, Arizona 4
Bracket 1: Oregon State 4, Louisville 3

Men’s College World Series Bracket 1

Coastal Carolina, Arizona, Oregon State, and Louisville are the four teams in Bracket 1. Coastal Carolina booked a spot in the Men’s College World Series with a sweep of Auburn in the Super Regionals, while Arizona defeated North Carolina in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional to claim their spot.

As for the other two teams, both Oregon State (with a win over Florida State) and Louisville (with a win over Miami) win the third game of their Super Regional series to book a trip to Omaha.

Here is a full look at Bracket 1:

Men’s College World Series Bracket 2

The four teams in Bracket 2? UCLA, Murray State, Arkansas, and LSU. The first three teams booked a spot in Omaha thanks to a sweep in the Super Regionals: UCLA swept UTSA to take the Los Angeles Super Regional, LSU swept West Virginia to take the Baton Rouge Super Regional, and Arkansas swept defending champions Tennessee to take the Fayetteville Super Regional.

As for the third team, Murray State won Game 3 of the Super Regional against Duke to take the Durham Super Regional and book a spot in Omaha for the first time in program history.

Here is a full look at Bracket 2:

2025 College World Series Schedule

(Charles Schwab Field; Omaha, Nebraska; all times ET)

Friday, June 13

Game 1: Coastal Carolina 7, Arizona 4

Game 2: Oregon State 4, Louisville 3

Saturday, June 14

Game 3: UCLA 6, Murray State 4

Game 4: LSU 4, Arkansas 1

Sunday, June 15

Game 5: Louisville 8, Arizona 3 — Arizona eliminated

Game 6: Coastal Carolina 6, Oregon State 2

Monday, June 16

Game 7: Arkansas 3, Murray State 0 — Murray State eliminated

Game 8: Bracket 2: LSU 9, UCLA 5 (game completed on Tuesday)

Tuesday, June 17

Game 9: Louisville vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m., ESPN (Loser Eliminated)

Game 10: Arkansas vs. UCLA, 7 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, June 18

Game 11: Coastal Carolina vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m. ESPN

Game 12: LSU vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, June 19

Game 13 (if necessary): Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, time TBD, ESPN

Game 14 (if necessary): Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, time TBD, ESPN

2025 Men’s College World Series Final Schedule

Saturday, June 21

Championship Series Game 1, 6 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, June 22

Championship Series Game 2, 1:30 p.m., ABC

Monday, June 23

(if necessary) Championship Series Game 3, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

BEIJING, China – China’s factory output grew slower than expected last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, while a bump in a key gauge of domestic consumption offered a rare bright spot for the economy.

The United States and China this month agreed to a temporary truce in a blistering trade war that saw tariffs hiked to eye-watering levels and upended global supply chains.

And the impact of the standoff was highlighted Monday as a report showed industrial production grew just 5.8 percent last month, below the 6.0 percent predicted in a survey of economists by Bloomberg.

READ: China factory output beats forecasts, weathering tariffs

That was below a forecast-beating 6.1 percent in April, according to the data published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

“Weaker external demand was partly to blame,” Zichun Huang, China Economist at Capital Economics said in note.

“Despite the tariff truce, the contraction in industrial sales for export appears to have deepened last month.”

However, retail sales — a key gauge of consumer demand — grew 6.4 percent year-on-year in May, according to the NBS, topping the 4.9 percent forecast in the Bloomberg survey and sharply up from April’s 5.1 percent increase.

Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, wrote in a note that the retail sales figures “came as a surprise” — pointing to the possible impact of a government trade-in programme for consumer goods.

The NBS said the world’s number two economy “maintained stability” last month as authorities “stepped up the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies”.

But it added that “there are still many unstable and uncertain external factors, and the internal momentum for expanding domestic demand needs to be further strengthened”.

Beijing has struggled to sustain strong growth since the pandemic, grappling with deep-seated problems at home including a persistent slump in domestic consumption and a debt crisis in the property sector.

Commercial property prices in a representative group of 70 cities fell month-on-month in May, reflecting continued consumer caution, the NBS said.

The surveyed unemployment rate — another closely watched figure as millions of young people struggle to find suitable work — edged down to five percent in May from 5.1 percent the previous month, the bureau said.

China is targeting economic growth of around five percent this year.

But the picture has been complicated by trade tensions with Washington that erupted in a gruelling tit-for-tat tariff war after US President Donald Trump took office in January.

The two sides have since agreed a pause on retaliatory levies but have not yet announced a lasting deal.

isk-mjw/oho/dan

© Agence France-Presse

Last year nothing separated George Russell and Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, as the two drivers posted identical times in Q3 at the front of the field. Only the rules, which state that the driver who posts the time first, put Russell into pole position ahead of Verstappen.

Not much separated the two drivers a year later, as again the pair will start up front with Russell in P1, as his time in Q3 was just 0.060 seconds faster than his Red Bull driver. However, the Mercedes driver admitted after the session that he might have an advantage as the duo, who have clashed in recent weeks, head into Turn 1 on Sunday.

That advantage? Verstappen’s penalty situation.

Verstappen entered this race week with 11 penalty points on his FIA Super License, putting him one shy of a one-race ban. Drivers who receive 12 penalty points in a calendar year are suspended for a race, and with Verstappen’s two oldest penalty points not coming off his FIA Super License until the end of the month, the Red Bull driver must navigate both the Candian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix without incident to avoid a ban.

Asked about the start of the race after qualifying, Russell joked that Verstappen’s penalty situation could give him an advantage.

“I’ve got a few more points on my licence to play with, so let’s see,” said Russell after qualifying, to the roar of the crowd.

The Mercedes driver described his pole position, and the final lap, as “exhilarating.”

“That last lap was probably one of the most exhilarating laps of my life,” said Russell. “On my steering wheel, you’ve got the delta, and I just saw every corner, I was going one-tenth quicker, one-tenth quicker.

“I got into the last corner, and I was six tenths up, I was like, ‘alright, this lap’s mighty.’ Crossing the line and seeing we were P1 was a real surprise, but I was so chuffed with it.”

This was the sixth pole position of Russell’s career and the first of the season for the Mercedes driver. He currently sits fourth in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings … 26 points behind Verstappen.

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Rocky Alcoseba, son of the late Cebu basketball icon Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, has voiced his frustration over the struggling campaign of the Cebu Classic in the ongoing Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

This came after Cebu absorbed a brutal 131-65 loss to the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters on Thursday night—a lopsided result that not only drew the ire of MPBL fans but also deeply disappointed Alcoseba.

Cebu currently sits at 24th in the league standings with a 4-11 win-loss record and has lost four straight games. Worse, the team has reportedly been fielding just six players due to alleged internal issues.

Their loss to Batangas was arguably the worst beating of the season. Batangas’ Philip Paniamogan, a fellow Bisaya from Cagayan de Oro, torched Cebu with 46 points, including a whopping 15-of-24 shooting from three-point range, along with five assists.

Dennis Santos led Cebu with 22 points, eight rebounds, and one assist. Ladis Lepalam tallied a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while John Paul Martinez added 13 points.

But for Alcoseba, the team’s current campaign is far from the Cebuano brand of basketball that once defined the island.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Alcoseba reminisced about how the Queen City of the South once prided itself on a strong basketball tradition—led in part by his father, who steered the M. Lhuillier Jewellers to numerous championships.

“Wherever Cebuanos play—be it in local leagues, Manila circuits, or international arenas—opponents know they’re in for a battle. ‘Basta Bisdak, gahi ug isug jud na.’ That saying lives on through the current generation of Cebuano standouts,” Alcoseba wrote.

“But now, it’s incredibly disheartening to witness what’s unfolding with the so-called Cebu Classic. A team that carries the name of our beloved island—and by extension, our basketball legacy—should be a source of pride. But instead, we see a roster barely filled, games lost by blowouts, and an effort that doesn’t come close to reflecting the talent and tenacity Cebuanos are known for,” he added.

“This isn’t just a disappointment. It’s a disservice.”

Alcoseba, who has an upcoming grassroots-based and women’s basketball tournament dubbed the Visayas G-Hoops here in Cebu, did not mince words in calling out the team’s management.

“This team was meant to showcase the deep pool of talent Cebu has long produced. Instead, it has become a shadow of what it should be. To the team’s management and ownership: this is your responsibility. Step up. Do better. Either rebuild this team in a way that truly honors Cebu, or drop the name entirely. Cebuano basketball deserves more than this half-hearted representation.”

Meanwhile, Jerome Calatrava, a former team official of the Cebu Sharks—the first Cebu-based MPBL team backed by International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI)—shared similar sentiments. He stressed that a Cebu team in the MPBL should be owned and operated by people who truly understand Cebuano basketball.

“As a Cebu-based sports enthusiast, I believe all teams representing Cebu should be based here and owned by Cebuano companies. It’s hard for outsiders to truly grasp Cebuano basketball culture,” said Calatrava of the Omega Boxing Gym. “If there are internal problems, they should resolve them within. At the end of the day, they’re representing our city.”

Calatrava added that the Cebu Sharks franchise is not defunct but merely on leave. He revealed they are waiting for a new and capable backer to bring the team back to the MPBL.

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Some of the best players in college softball from this past season will be playing next year in a new place and with a different uniform.

East Carolina’s Emma Jackson, who slapped 21 home runs over the fence this season, landed at Missouri. All-American catcher Jasmyn Burns, previously of Ohio State, has already joined Texas Tech. The national leader in strikeouts, Belmont’s Maya Johnson, and the national leader in hits, Boise State’s Sophia Knight, have entered the transfer portal too. Knight has already signed with Tennessee.

Now that the Women’s College World Series is over after Texas beat Texas Tech in a thrilling three-game series, many key players from the eight teams that made the trip to Oklahoma City have decided to look for greener pastures. As evidenced by their performances this past season, these are players that could help their new teams win a whole lot of games and make deep runs into the postseason.

These are the best players in the transfer portal from the softball teams that played in the World Series this year:

Kaitlyn Terry — Pitcher/Utility, UCLA

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2024, Terry had another strong campaign for UCLA as a sophomore as she became the first Bruins’ pitcher since Rachel Garcia to open her career with back-to-back 20-win seasons. In addition to posting a 2.64 ERA with 172 strikeouts, Terry had a decent season at the plate too with 35 hits and 30 runs scored. Terry, a lefthander, was 11th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 5.06 mark.

Mia Williams — Second Base, Florida

The daughter of former Florida basketball player and NBA champion Jason Williams, the sophomore infielder was a crucial part of the Gators’ success this season and earned All-SEC and All-American honors. Williams posted a 1.144 OPS, 61 hits, 52 runs, 19 homers and 44 RBI.

Addisen Fisher — Pitcher, UCLA

The right-hander from Bend, Oregon, had a standout season for the Bruins as arguably their second-best pitcher, piling up a 16-2 record, 100 strikeouts and a 2.59 ERA in 113 innings of work. Fisher was named a First Team Freshman All-American by D1 Softball and was a finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year. She was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in 2024 by Softball America.

Corri Hicks — Catcher, Oklahoma

Hicks didn’t play all that much as a freshman this past season for the Sooners, but showed flashes of the potential that made her a top 15 recruit in the 2024 class, like when she hit a walk-off home run against Boston University in the regional stage of the NCAA Tournament. In 23 at-bats this season, Hicks had six hits, three of which were dingers. She posted an OPS of 1.045.

Raegan Jennings — Infielder, Texas Tech

Jennings led the Red Raiders’ bench with 35 hits and 20 runs scored in 88 plate appearances. Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco called her an “All-American-type pinch hitter” after she came up with a big single and scored a run in the Red Raiders’ Game 2 World Series win over Texas. She’s a sophomore who hits left-handed and had a .398 batting average this year.