Pacers Excited to Host NBA Finals Game 3 in Indianapolis
For the first time since 2000, the NBA Finals are coming to Indianapolis. The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series as the games move to Indiana for Game 3.
Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith said the team is thrilled to play at home in front of their fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The city has been waiting 25 years for this moment, and the players are eager to experience the energy of the home crowd.
The Pacers won the opening game and had a strong start to the series but lost Game 2 by a score of 123-107. Oklahoma City’s defense was tough in the second game, limiting Indiana’s points in the paint. Pacers star Pascal Siakam said the team needs to handle the pressure better and stay in control despite the Thunder’s aggressive defense.
Thunder’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been outstanding, averaging 36 points per game in the Finals. He scored 34 points and made 8 assists in Game 2. His total of 72 points in the first two Finals games is the best ever for a player’s debut, beating Allen Iverson’s record of 71 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander said he is just playing his natural game and trying to help his team win. He added that while he’s proud of his scoring, what matters most is winning games. The series is still wide open, and both teams are focused on the next challenge.
PNVF publicizes 16-man lineup for Alas Pilipinas Invitationals
Marck Espejo will spearhead the Philippines in its homestand when the nation hosts the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals from June 10 to 12 on the Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
The longtime nationwide group outdoors spiker leads the 16-man lineup introduced by Philippine Nationwide Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Monday, only a day earlier than they plunge into motion within the invitational event set to arrange the squad for the 2025 FIVB Males’s World Championship right here.
Additionally included are different mainstays Joshua Retamar, Steven Rotter, Kim Malabunga, JP Bugaoan, Joshua Umandal, Jack Kalingking, Lloyd Josafat, and Louie Ramirez.
PNVF has additionally tapped a number of collegiate stars in Josh Ybañez of UST, Ken Batas of Ateneo, Echo Adajar of La Salle, and the Nationwide College troika of Peng Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, and Buds Buddin.
Rounding out the squad is Filipino-American Jackson Reed.
Alas Males will open their bid on Tuesday in opposition to Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi of Indonesia earlier than taking over Hyundai Capital Skywalkers of South Korea and Thailand nationwide group on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Built-in Information
Zam Nolasco says Benilde’s Sport 1 win fueled by Spherical 1 loss that snapped their 43-game streak
Revealed June 9, 2025 6:53pm
Up to date June 9, 2025 6:53pm
De La Salle-School of Saint Benilde stepped into Sport 1 of NCAA Season 100 girls’s volleyball finals on Sunday not simply chasing one other title, but additionally redemption.
The Woman Blazers have been pitted in opposition to Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was the identical staff that snapped their dynastic 43-game successful streak relationship again to the pandemic-hit Season 95 in 2020. The Woman Knights shocked them throughout their Spherical 1 assembly, pulling off a 25-22, 25-23, 26-24 shock sweep final March 8.
The Taft crew made certain it would not occur once more, particularly with a much bigger prize at stake this time.
Benilde, although, needed to endure a primary set hiccup earlier than taking down the Woman Knights with a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 victory to maneuver a win away from its fourth title in a row.
“Nu’ng first spherical, could dalawang losses kami and ‘yung isa doon sa Letran. Pinilit talaga namin na hindi na sila makakaisa pa ulit sa amin and makabawi,” Zam Nolasco, who starred in that four-set romp, informed GMA Information On-line.
“Nakikita naman sa recreation namin na maganda naman ‘yung nilalaro namin.”
[In the first round, we had two losses and one of those was to Letran. We tried hard not to let them get another over us and to bounce back… You can see it in our game, we are playing well.]
Benilde had already avenged that loss once they secured a 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18 win over Letran of their Spherical 2 rematch the place, by the way, Nolasco additionally led the cost with 17 factors constructed on 11 assaults and 6 blocks.
In Sport 1 of the championship spherical, the third-year center blocker was additionally in command after dropping a team-high 21 factors constructed on 12 assaults, eight blocks, and one ace.
Whereas momentum is clearly on their facet, the 6-foot tower harassed that the staff is targeted on leaving the previous behind—together with the final three championships—as they goal to shut out Letran and full a uncommon four-peat on Wednesday.
“Sinasabi sa amin na ‘yung championship final season, ‘yung mga nakaraan ay sa seniors na namin ‘yun e,” she added.
“Kumbaga, ngayong season na ‘to kukunin na namin and ayun ‘yung magiging sa amin. Doon lang kami nagfo-focus.”
[We’re told that the championship last season, that’s for our seniors… This season, we want to win this and this is for us. That’s what we’re focused on.]
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information
Manny Pacquiao enshrined to Boxing Corridor of Fame
Manny Pacquiao was inducted into the distinguished Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame earlier at the moment in New York, USA.
Pacquiao, the lone eight-division champion in historical past, joined fellow Filipinos Pancho Villa, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, and promoter Lope Sarreal.
“From the streets of Basic Santos, to the brilliant mild of Las Vegas, to tonight on the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame. No sneakers, no meals, no probability, only a dream in my coronary heart,” Pacquiao wrote on his official Fb web page.
“I by no means imagined this second, however by God’s grace, right here we’re. This isn’t nearly boxing. It’s about religion. Household. Sacrifice. Objective. It’s about each Filipino and each fan who believed in me, even when the doubters didn’t.”
Pacquiao’s, although, journey will not be over. On July 16 at MGM Grand Area in Las Vegas, the 46-year-old Pacquiao will lace them up as soon as extra against WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
An underdog within the upcoming battle, Pacquiao is poised to interrupt his personal file of being the oldest welterweight champion in historical past ought to he overcome his lanky Mexican opponent.
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information
Alas Pilipinas falls to unbeaten Iran for first loss in AVC Nations Cup
Alas Pilipinas faltered late towards the resilient Iran to soak up its first loss within the 2025 AVC Ladies’s Volleyball Nations Cup, 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 23-25, 13-15, on Monday on the Dong anh Gymnasium in Vietnam.
Having fun with a 2-1 set lead, the Filipinas mounted an enormous comeback try within the fourth set with Shaina Nitura and Vanie Gandler offering the activate the bench as they erased an early four-point deficit and turned it into simply an 18-19 drawback.
Nitura’s single block on Shagi Hassankhani even tied issues up at 22-all earlier than an assault error from Angel Canino noticed Iran taking the set level at 24-22. Fatemah Khalil then despatched a powerful kill to the newly-subbed Julia Coronel to tug the Philippines to a deciding set.
Nitura continued to shine for Alas because the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Yr fueled a 4-0 run, placing the roof on Masoumeh Masi earlier than hitting one from the left aspect off a Bella Belen setup to provide Alas an important 11-9 cushion.
The Philippines, nonetheless, dedicated back-to-back errors that allowed Iran to pressure an 11-all impasse. A Dell Palomata fast and a much-needed service ace from Gandler then had the Filipinas having fun with a 13-11 lead.
However Alas collapsed within the endgame with Zahra Salehi denying Nitura and Canino committing one other assault error, paving the way in which for Iran’s match level at 14-13.
Zahra put the exclamation by shutting down the other assault from Canino because the Iranians remained unbeaten at 3-0.
Canino nonetheless emerged as the highest scorer for the Philippines with 20 factors anchored on 17 assaults, two blocks, and one ace whereas Laure and Palomata chipped in 16 and 10 markers.
Alas fell to a 2-1 card and is now at third place in Pool B. They should beat two powerhouse golf equipment in New Zealand on Wednesday and Kazakhstan on Thursday to bolster its rivalry.
Solely the highest two groups within the two swimming pools will advance to the crossover semifinals with the champions clinching a ticket to the 2026 Asian Ladies’s Volleyball Championship.
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information
Perpetual reclaims HS boys volleyball crown; Arellano wins first women’ trophy
Printed June 9, 2025 7:47pm
Up to date June 9, 2025 7:47pm
College of Perpetual Assist System DALTA reclaimed the NCAA boys highschool volleyball crown after outlasting Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Recreation 3 of the finals, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-9, on Sunday within the NCAA Season 100 volleyball fiesta on the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
John Weihanan Lat led the Junior Altas with 15 assaults, six blocks, and an ace, whereas Zyro Ornos had 19 factors. Workforce captain Charles Conciina distributed the ball nicely with 19 wonderful units, whereas Nathan Paul Ciriaco and Gabriel Cyrus Macatumo had 16 factors. Resty Santos had 12 factors.
Jessel Nimo had 22 factors, whereas Nhasty Bajaladia had 18 factors for the Squires.
That is Perpetual’s thirteenth title in highschool volleyball, and based on head coach Sandy Rita is his seventh underneath his belt.
“Para sa amin talaga,” Rieta instructed GMA Information On-line.
“Medyo could gigil din sa sarili ko, siyempre kailangan kong maibalik. Assured din ako ngayon na aabot sa finals ‘yung gamers ko.”
[It was really for us… I had some eagerness also myself, of course I wanted to get it back. I’m also confident now that my players are in the finals.]
Within the women’ division, Arellano College claimed its first title after beating Perpetual in Recreation 2 of the finals final Could 31, 21-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-11, 15-4.
Samantha Maranan erupted fof 31 factors from 30 assaults and an ace, whereas Catherine Cau and Jasmine Galaga had 19 and 14 factors, respectively.
Sherrie Rose Acosta was the one double-digit scorer for Perpetual with 20 factors.
?“First time namin eh and lahat kami nagtulungan so price it naman lahat,” Maranan stated.
[It was our first time and we all helped each other and it was all worth it.]
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Built-in Information
