BASKETBALL
Taiwan A set up decider
Taiwan A yesterday downed the BSBL Guardians 97-80 to move to a 7-0 record, setting up a winner-takes-all match against Strong Group Athletics today to decide the top team. Brandon Gilbeck’s 14 points was the main contributor to Taiwan A’s win against the Australia-based side at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City. In other games yesterday, Malaysia Harimau beat Japan 79-72, the United Arab Emirates lost to Ukraine 94-50 and Strong Group Athletics defeated Taiwan B 96-70 to keep their unbeaten run going.
Photo: CNA
RUGBY UNION
Australia beat Georgia
Flankers Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight yesterday scored two tries apiece as Australia won a third straight match under new coach Joe Schmidt with a scrappy 40-29 victory over Georgia at the Sydney Football Stadium. The loose forwards both crossed on either side of the break and were joined on the scoresheet by center Hunter Paisami and prop Isaac Kailea to give the Wallabies three successive wins for the first time since late 2021.
RUGBY UNION
New Zealand crush Fiji
The All Blacks yesterday cut loose against Fiji with seven tries to win their one-off Test 47-5 in San Diego, California. New Zealand flyhalf Damian McKenzie landed six off his seven conversion attempts and was a central figure as the All Blacks’ backs feasted on dominance of possession and the forward pack’s ability to win quick breakdown ball.
RUGBY UNION
England win under-20 title
A dominant second-half performance on Friday gave England a 21-13 victory over title-holders France in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship final in wet and chilly Cape Town. Going into halftime 7-6 ahead, England imposed their authority in the second half, while and a yellow card to No. 8 Mathis Castro Ferreira on 46 minutes hurt France. While numerically disadvantaged, France conceded eight points, including a second try for the winners, scored by replacement forward Arthur Green. His score, coupled with three penalty goals from center Sam Kerr, stretched a one-point lead to 15 before French fullback Mathis Ferte crossed for a consolation post-hooter try.
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Robinson Cano spent 17 seasons playing in the MLB in front of all kinds of baseball fans, but he said there is something special about his stint with the Mexican Baseball League’s Diablos Rojos. He is not alone. The league last week opened its 100th season, aiming to keep an impressive growth in attendance that began after the national team’s surprise run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and is already surpassing some first-division soccer clubs. After finishing third in the 2023 tournament, many casual fans, some of them soccer enthusiasts disappointed after Mexico were eliminated in the first round in the 2022
Kumar Rocker, a first-round pick in both the 2021 and 2022 drafts, on Thursday won for the first time in the major leagues. Rocker struck out a career-best eight in a career-best seven innings as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Rocker (1-2) threw a career-high 78 pitches and allowed three runs on five hits without a walk. The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted third overall by Texas in 2022, a year after concerns over a physical led to him going unsigned by the New York Mets as the 10th overall pick. He made his major
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