BASKETBALL
US trounce Taiwan B
Taiwan’s men’s national B team were thoroughly thrashed by the US, represented by the UC Irvine Anteaters, in the William Jones Cup in Taipei yesterday. The home squad initially put up a decent fight, ending the first quarter five points down at 32-27, but things only went downhill from there and they ultimately lost 117-59. In earlier games, Qatar beat the United Arab Emirates 81-57, while the Philippines, represented by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, edged Iran 98-90. South Korea, represented by Anyang KGC, beat the Japan U22 squad 97-89.
SOCCER
Messi, Miami on a roll
Lionel Messi on Tuesday extended his remarkable goal-scoring streak as Inter Miami powered into the final of the Leagues Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Philadelphia Union. The Argentina superstar took his tally to nine goals in six appearances for Miami in an entertaining semi-final at Philadelphia’s Subaru Park. Venezuelan international Josef Martinez, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, and substitute David Ruiz scored Miami’s other goals, with Alejandro Bedoya the lone scorer for outgunned Philadelphia. The result leaves Messi preparing for the 42nd final of his career with Miami facing Nashville SC in Saturday’s final of the World Cup-style tournament for teams from the US’ MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX. Nashville booked their place in the final later Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Mexican side CF Monterrey.
SOCCER
Neymar signs with Al-Hilal
Neymar on Tuesday became the latest superstar soccer player to take the riches on offer from the Saudi Pro League, completing a move to Al-Hilal after six seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. The clubs reached an agreement on the transfer of the Brazil forward for a reported 90 million euros (US$98 million), a record for a league that is now financially backed by the oil-rich state. The 31-year-old Neymar signed a two-year contract that is expected to earn him an annual salary of about US$100 million. “I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in the club’s announcement.
BASEBALL
Elder, Ozuna back on track
Bryce Elder and Marcell Ozuna have never lost faith in themselves, and it is paying off. Bouncing back from a rough stretch, Elder pitched seven innings to lead a one-hitter, getting all the run support he needed when Ozuna hit a three-run homer in the first to lead the Atlanta Braves past the reeling New York Yankees 5-0. “I’m not going to sit up here and say I was always confident,” said Elder, a first-time All-Star this season, but just 1-3 with a 7.94 earned run average over his previous six starts. “You just have to say: ‘Forget it. I’m just going to go back to trying to make one pitch at a time,’” Elder said. At the end of April, Ozuna was hitting .085 with a pair of solo homers accounting for his only RBIs, prompting plenty of fans to call for his release. The Braves stuck with the burly designated hitter, who has batted .275 with 22 homers and 58 RBIs since. “I knew I was a good player,” Ozuna said. “I just never give up. The only thing I have in my mind is to show them what I can do.”
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
AC Milan’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League took another hit on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which left them eight points from Serie A’s top four. Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth, some way behind fourth-placed Juventus after losing an entertaining contest at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a match which was rescheduled from October last year due to torrential rain and flooding. Swathes of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, much of which is fertile agricultural land, had been left under water following a massive autumn downpour. Dan Ndoye prodded home the decisive goal in the 82nd minute
Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, yesterday produced a “life-changing” maiden win to qualify for The Open Championship. Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal. The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf. Peake held back tears as he
MILWAUKEE PREVAIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points as the Bucks withstood Nikola Jokic’s 27th triple-double of the season to beat the Nuggets Golden State star Stephen Curry on Thursday drilled 12 three-pointers in a scintillating 56-point display that carried the Warriors to a 121-115 victory over the Orlando Magic. Curry’s explosive performance helped the Warriors dig themselves out of a 17-point hole, with the point guard signaling the start of the fightback with a three-pointer from beyond the half-court line to end the first half that pulled the Warriors within 66-52 at the break. In the third quarter, he single-handedly outscored the Magic with 22 points to Orlando’s 21. The four-time NBA champion finished two three-pointers shy of former teammate Klay Thompson’s record for most
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