Latest news with #Blazers
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
LPU survives Benilde in five-setter to wrap season on high note
NCAA Lyceum of the Philippines University survived league-leading De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 25-20, 15-25, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15, to wrap its campaign in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Friday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. The two teams were tied at 12 in the fifth set before an unsuccessful block touch challenge and an attack error from LPU handed the Blazers the match point. Raymark Betco's service, however, went out, then Jun Edang scored back-to-back to hand LPU a 15-14 lead. Kevin Ondevilla then tied the set anew for the Blazers, but it was Edang who eventually sealed the victory for the Pirates. Graduating Kian Moral, meanwhile, had 20 digs and 20 receptions. Edang had 29 points from 27 attacks and two blocks, while Isaiah Chrys Santos had 18 points as the Intramuros-based crew finished the season on a high note and improved their record to 3-15. Dexter Granadia and James Harold Marasigan led the Taft-based squad with 17 and 16 points, respectively, as they still finished on top with 14 wins and four losses. Rocky Motol and Mike Balbacal saw limited action in preparation for their Final Four match, while Jacob Agassi Herrera was temporarily sidelined due to a knee issue. Christian Aguilar, meanwhile, was converted to libero for today's game due to shoulder issues. Benilde, who earned a twice-to-beat bonus as the no. 1 team, will take on Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the Final Four on Sunday. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunder Becomes the Youngest Finals Team Since 1977 Blazers
After dispensing with the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, the Oklahoma City Thunder has become the youngest NBA Finals team since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder's time is now. — Nate Duncan (@ 2025-05-29T02:56:33.086Z The Western Conference Champion Thunder roster, which will face either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, boasts an average age of 24.7. Advertisement The squad is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aged 26, Jalen Williams at 24 and Chet Holmgren at 23 with 31-year-old Alex Caruso serving as the oldest. The 1976-77 Blazers squad featured an average age of 24.5, led by the late Bill Walton, then 24. Other notable Blazers included Lionel Hollins at 23, Maurice Lucas at 25 and Dave Twardzik at 26 with the group's elder statesman being 31-year-old Herm Gilliam. The 1976-77 Blazers squad went on to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the NBA Finals with Walton winning Finals MVP. The 2024-25 NBA Finals will kick off on June 5 in Oklahoma City. More from
ABC News
5 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Basketball team resurrected to help build kids' dreams in remote WA town of Leonora
Most nights in Leonora are filled with the sound of basketballs hitting the concrete. It's the sound of a small outback town coming back from adversity. About 800 kilometres east of Perth, Leonora has many problems: limited opportunities, crime and high rates of youth suicide. It also has one basketball team, the Blazers. The Blazers were resurrected by Rene Reddingius, affectionately called "Pop" by Leonora children, who high-five him when they see him in the streets. He runs the basketball program with the help of his partner Shelley. Almost a decade ago, six Aboriginal youth took their own lives over an 18-month period in the town of about 1,500 people. So in 2017, Rene — a Pirni man — left his job with the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People to return to his country, the Goldfields, to make a change. "We were the hotspot for the world," Rene said. Rene knew what pain felt like, "having a hell of a time trying to survive 2004", after recovering from an attack. "I survived by coming to my country at my darkest hour," he said. "On my country … contemplating my future, I ended up walking back into camp, and I've become the man that I am today, and I will always walk with strong sense of purpose." And it's that sense of purpose that he wants to help young people on his country to find. Resurrecting the old Blazers team, which he founded in 1991, gives Rene a way to reach them. He says the majority of children in the remote Goldfields town are "at risk", often facing additional socio-economic challenges, but that shouldn't limit or determine what they can achieve. Rene says there's no "miracle work', it's just about giving children the skills, strength and support to make the best choices for themselves. "You've got to do the actions that will make the difference, the choices at the crossroads," he said. "It's: 'Don't jump in that stolen car, driven by your cousin'. It's: 'Don't take that substance that's been offered at the party by your boyfriend.'" The basketball program has given a new direction to the lives of many Leonora children, such as captain Amber Thomas. She lived in the neighbouring ghost town of Gwalia and used to walk one hour into town for "muck-up games" when the program restarted. Amber had a full house where she was "like a big sister to her big sisters," and a full head. "Pop" Rene and the Blazers became her second family. "He's my safe space when I don't have a safe space," Amber said. On the basketball court she stopped saying "I can't do it" and, now a youth worker, she's guiding other teens, just a little younger than her. "Push through and see how far you can get," she said. Blazers look up to Amber and the other captain, McKye Blake, who's also her partner. "When the kids think about what a healthy relationship looks, they think like Amber and McKye," she smiles. McKye used to get in trouble, but staying in the team helped him stay in school and he's now an apprentice boilermaker. Being a role model "puts a lot of pressure" on McKye, who has to "act like a leader". But basketball has taught him pressure can shape character. "Going into these areas we don't feel comfortable. Like, going through, helps you become better," McKye said. The Blazers' training starts without Rene, with the children taking it upon themselves to lead the warm-up session. Anyone who's late, including Rene himself, runs laps. It's about accountability but also hard work. "If you have the bar low, people can fall over it." Every Blazer player is expected to set and achieve goals, cheered on, and held accountable, by the entire team. It's something Leonora mother Naomi Sprigg dos Santos appreciates. "I think it's vital for children who come from trauma and often times dysfunction to know that life can be predictable and to have a routine," she said. "Rene offers that in the program. There is a predictability about his training, there's a predictability about his expectations." Ms Sprigg dos Santos thinks relationships play a huge part in the success he's having. For Rene, the "life-skill program" must try to engage families, and the whole community. "They have shared memories, and instead of dropping a kid off at a program, you can go and do stuff with them," he said. Wongai grandmother Samantha Banks is an ex-basketball player and current supporter, touring with the team when she can to see her grandchildren playing. "It keeps us all together, me, the kids," she said. "My nana comes and watches me play, cheers me on and makes me confident," Aliahky smiles shyly. Ms Banks said basketball was teaching her grandchildren how to want to be on time, organised, but, most importantly, on the right path. "He can take his little anger or whatever on the courts," she said. It is one positive message, reinforced on the court, at school, and at home, that Rene wants children to internalise. The Blazers have been touring the state. Rene says they are big opportunities for small-town children, and their peers who have fallen through the cracks are taking notice. But if the basketball program is taking them places, it's because it's a grassroots movement. Rene's father, who's also called Rene, but is better known as "Sir", taught four generations of Leonora youth. "They respond to you as the relationship you've built," he says. Families, the shire CEO and the school principal say having familiarity and continuity makes the program more successful than anything that could be offered by a visiting service. Choosing to return to his home town and stay, Rene has helped it to bounce back. Even if he decides to leave, the once under-confident Amber is ready to step up. "My dreams and hopes for Blazers is, let me just say, me working for them, being a big boss of Blazers," she smiled. "One day, I will get there."
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Benilde overcomes Perpetual, ends ALTAs' reign in NCAA men's volleyball
NCAA There will be a new champion in NCAA men's volleyball soon. On Sunday, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde defeated the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 24-26, 25-22, 30-28, 25-17, to eliminate the ALTAs from playoff contention in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament and end the Las Piñas crew's hopes for a fifth straight crown. The two teams were neck-and-neck early in the fourth set as they were tied at 8 before the Blazers pulled away and took a 14-10 lead. Perpetual caught up as it trailed 16-14, but Benilde pulled away anew with the likes of Raymark Betco and James Marasigan leading in the rally. With Benilde leading 20-16, Jeff Marapoc tried to put Perpetual closer, but Marasigan, Mike Balbacal, Jacob Herrera, scored three straight for the Blazers. A service ace from Marasigan put Benilde at match point before Rocky Roy Motol sealed the victory. Motol led the Blazers with 28 points from 25 attacks and three blocks, to go with 17 receptions and nine digs, while Jacob Agassi Herrera added 19 points. Marasigan had his own triple-double of 14 points, 23 receptions, and 12 digs, while 13 points. Kobe Brian Taguba's 29 points and Marapoc's 16-point output for the ALTAs went to naught as Perpetual fell short in the end game. Benilde, now at the top spot with 14-3, will still play Lyceum of the Philippines University on Friday. Perpetual, who slipped to 9-8, will wrap its season on Wednesday against San Beda University. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA insider reveals Portland Trail Blazers' potential asking price for Toumani Camara
We're still eagerly awaiting to see who wins the NBA Finals between the top contenders in the Eastern and Western Conference. Meanwhile, other teams, like the Portland Trail Blazers are formulating their offseason plans on how to improve the roster around players like Toumani Camara. Yet, Camara, who was just selected as a second-team All-NBA defender, certainly is a potential building block. However, the Blazers may prefer to capitalize on the 25-year-old rising star's surging trade value instead. Though, if the Blazers do consider trading the 2023 second-round pick, how much would he fetch? Advertisement The Athletic's Jovan Buha recently took a crack at placing Camara's trade value around the league based on what he's heard. According to Buha, Camara's trade value could be as high as two first-round picks. 'I have heard that the Blazers want something like two firsts for Camara, so maybe they view Dalton and a first as sufficient, but I think Portland probably says no, to be honest.' The Athletic's Jovan Buha on Toumani Camara Camara may have been a bit of a hidden gem until receiving recognition from the league. Yet, Camara did enjoy a breakout season with 11.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals, and half a block per game. Keep in mind, this was just the Belgian native's second year in the league. Who knows how high his ceiling could be? Still trying to build a contender, it may be wise for the Blazers to see what Camara is fully capable of before weighing a trade that would ship him out for more draft picks. Yet, if there's a player they covet, like the Los Angeles Lakers' Dalton Knecht, perhaps a deal could be had. Related: Milwaukee Bucks preparing for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this offseason
