Latest news with #MostValuable
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GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
EJ Castillo, Jude Bagay shine as EAC Generals rule Indonesia tournament
EJ Castillo and Jude Bagay delivered standout performances on the international stage, powering Emilio Aguinaldo College to the U25 Cheng Hoo Cup 2025 title last week in Cirebon, Indonesia. The Generals captured the title by going undefeated in five games while fellow Philippine representative Polytechnic University of the Philippines seized the silver with a 4-1 win-loss record. Incoming rookie Castillo, a homegrown product of EAC high school, proved his scoring ability against foreign clubs, amassing 86 points — the most in the U25 division — while Bagay was named Most Valuable Player after collecting 72 points. Other Generals also made their mark, with veteran guard Kyle Ochavo dishing out a tournament-high 28 assists and ranking fourth in steals with 14. Brianne Angeles (74 points) and Joshua Tolentino (50 points) also impressed, both finishing among the top 10 scorers. EAC's feat came just days after making the quarterfinals of the 2025 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, where the Generals racked up six wins against three losses to join Letran, Benilde, and Arellano in the Top 8. They, however, fell to the University of Santo Tomas to bow out of contention. —JMB, GMA Integrated News ?
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Dodgers Have No Plans to Move Mookie Betts Off Shortstop Amid Offensive Struggles
Mookie Betts is on pace to do something he has not done in an MLB regular season since 2017. After appearing at more than one position in the field every year from 2018-24 (and before that, from 2014-16), Betts had spent one of his 754.1 innings in the field at shortstop. Betts isn't a versatile utility player any more. He's the Dodgers' entrenched shortstop. More news:Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Gets Major Praise From Padres Superstar Betts spent time at shortstop, second base, and right field each of the last two years. He surrendered the shortstop position last year only after recovering from a hand fracture that cost him nearly two months out of the middle of the season. Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman finished out last season as the Dodgers' shortstops. Both returned this season, but Betts started 88 of the Dodgers' first 97 games before the All-Star break at shortstop. More news:Dodgers' Will Smith Showers Padres Superstar With Praise Betts has been arguably more valuable with his glove than his bat this season. He's slashing .244/.315/.381, on pace for career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, respectively. The 2018 American League Most Valuable Player lost 20 pounds in the middle of spring training as a result of an illness. He said in May that he formed bad habits while trying to compensate for the sudden weight loss. Those bad habits - more than his first full season at a new position - are responsible for his poor batting numbers in 2025. More news: Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw in Awe of Shohei Ohtani On the Mound According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers have no plans to move Mookie Betts off the shortstop position. "I just can't see that you go out there and stick him in right field tonight and he's going to throw out two hits or three hits, or he goes to second base and he's going to go on a heater," manager Dave Roberts said. "That's hard for me to kind of imagine. But it's a fair ask. I just don't see that as the case." More news: Dodgers' Dave Roberts Gives Opinion on Controversial NL All-Star Although Betts' illness and the ensuing bad habits formed early in the season, he's done some of his worst hitting recently. In his last 30 games, Betts has two home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .185 batting average. Some of that is likely a result of bad luck; Betts' batting average on balls in play during the 30-game streak is an abysmal .198. Even still, Betts' expected batting average (.213) and OBP (.256) during his 30-game slide, according to Statcast, are the worst among Dodger regulars. Betts' defensive play leaves little reason to complain. More remarkable than his continued presence at shortstop amid his slump at the plate has been his continued presence as the number-2 hitter in the Dodgers' lineup. For more Dodgers news, head over to Dodgers on SI. This article was originally published on as Dodgers Have No Plans to Move Mookie Betts Off Shortstop Amid Offensive Struggles. Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
iLembe Sharks U12 team crowned kings of KZN
The iLembe Sharks made history by clinching their first-ever U12 KZN Invitational Primary School Soccer Association football tournament title. The Ian MacLeod football tournament, held at Kearsney College over the weekend of July 12 and 13, featured intense competition as 13 district teams from across KwaZulu-Natal battled for honours. This is only the second year the North Coast district has entered a team into this prestigious football festival, delivering an outstanding performance to lift the trophy. The iLembe Sharks played 12 matches, winning 11, drawing just one and conceding only a single goal throughout the tournament in a dominant run to the title. Goalkeeper D'Artagnan Munro and midfielders Sibusiso Shaba, Jordan Wright and Kayden Duncan were all selected for next year's KZN U13 trials. Wright was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Saturday brought wet and misty conditions, but the Sharks' spirit remained undampened. The team played eight matches on the opening day, winning seven and drawing one. 'It was a physically and mentally demanding start, yet the boys powered through with focus and energy. The following day, we brought fresh intensity,' said head coach Jakez Kritzinger. The Sharks were awarded one walkover and then won their remaining two group matches, setting up a high-stakes final clash against the unbeaten Durban North Pumas, who had won all 11 of their games. 'We had to win the final game to lift the trophy,' said Kritzinger. 'A draw would have handed the title to the North Durban Pumas.' The final match was a tense, fast-paced affair with everything on the line. Both teams played with heart and discipline. With less than five minutes remaining, playmaker Rugolo O'Neal broke the deadlock, scoring the goal that sealed a 1-0 victory. 'To see these boys give everything, especially under pressure and in difficult conditions, was inspiring,' said Kritzinger. 'This team made history and they truly earned it. They played as a band of brothers and showed their quality.' Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New QB ranking further validates Lamar Jackson's elite status
New ranking puts Lamar Jackson among the NFL's top three quarterbacks. It's often said that this is a quarterback's league, and there's a reason for that. The impressive statistics these individuals achieve each year underscore their pivotal role in the game's evolution. Lamar Jackson, in particular, is celebrated as one of the most exciting players in football. The Baltimore Ravens star has already won two AP MVP trophies, showcasing his remarkable talent and impact on the field. Last season, Jackson took his already elite play to another level, leading all NFL quarterbacks in passer rating (119.6) and QBR (77.3). He threw for 4,172 yards while tossing 41 touchdowns vs. only four interceptions. He picked up 915 additional yards and another four touchdowns with his legs. Lamar entered the 2024 NFL season already having earned two First-Team All-Pro nods and three Pro Bowl mentions. He added one more of each for his trouble, so the question we ask every year is simple. How does he rank vs. his peers playing the same position? We're glad you asked. One of the more well-known NFL platforms recently tried to answer that question. Lamar Jackson lands third on FOX Sports' ranking of the top ten NFL quarterbacks As we turn the page from June to July, FOX Sports ranked the top ten NFL quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson landed third, but a misprint may have stated what most are already thinking. FOX mistakenly calls him "the defending NFL MVP", which he isn't, unless we're mentioning the trophy he won as the Pro Football Writers Association's Most Valuable Player, but FOX's statement says a lot. No disrespect to last year's winner, Josh Allen, but doesn't it seem like Jackson should have won the trophy? The only person we may have understood being ranked on his level would have been Saquon Barkley, but if last season didn't teach us anything else, it taught us this. Let's call it what it is. The NFL's MVP trophy is typically awarded to a quarterback. There aren't many in the game today who play the game at an equally elite level as 'Action' Jackson. Here's FOX's theory from their ranking. "Jackson, the defending NFL MVP, might be the most versatile quarterback on this list. What he lacks in accuracy, he makes up for in touchdown efficiency and rushing ability. He's led the NFL in touchdown percentage twice, posting an impressive 8.6% mark last season as he threw for a career-high 41 touchdowns. He's also led all quarterbacks in rushing yards the past two seasons and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 2019 and 2020. His one knock is that the Ravens have yet to appear in a Super Bowl with him as the starter." Jackson lands behind Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. The top ten is rounded out by Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, Jayden Daniels, and Dak Prescott. That's a nice list. Even though these types of discussions are always subjective, the only players at the QB position that we would tolerate being listed ahead of Lamar in terms of skill set are Allen and Mahomes, if we're being honest. That said, although it seems more feasible to place Allen behind Mahomes and Jackson, this list won't receive a ton of complaints on this platform, except to note that placing Dak Prescott in the top ten is worthy of discussion.
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘One of the biggest mistakes in football' – Ex-Man Utd coach slams club for transfer decision ‘everyone at club regrets'
MANCHESTER UNITED made one of the "biggest mistakes in football" by selling Scott McTominay, a former Red Devils coach has claimed. The Scotland international's near-life-long love affair with the Old Trafford club came to an end last August when he joined 4 Scott McTominay left Manchester United last summer for Napoli Credit: GETTY 4 The Scotland international flourished with the Serie A side and helped them win their first Scudetto Credit: REUTERS 4 Former Red Devils coach Benni McCarthy reckons United made a mistake letting McTominay leave Credit: GETTY The midfielder's departure, which was in part to help balance the books , wasn't lamented in the slightest as he wasn't a guaranteed name in the starting XI. McTominay, however, has flourished since leaving the Theatre of Dreams and helped guide Napoli to last season's Serie A title. He scored 12 goals in 34 league appearances for the Neopolitans and was named Serie's Most Valuable Player of the season. Many connected with United have since cursed McTominay's departure, including former coach Benni McCarthy. READ MORE SPORTS NEWS The South African told "When they go, the profit lets you sign more players. "Having said that, it was one of the biggest mistakes in football to let him leave. He was born to play for United. "Maybe he wasn't the most technical, but he had fight, and I think it's what they will get back with Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "Scotty was a player that you look for in a dressing room to get you where you want to be. "To let him go for what was a small transfer fee was a big shame. I think everyone at the club regrets that decision." Scott McTominay dances with old fan while puffing on cigarette as never-ending Napoli title party continues McTominay's impressive debut season at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium has seen him immortalised by Napoli fans. An incredible shrine to the midfielder has been painted on the graffiti-filled San Nicola a Nilo street in the heart of Naples' Decumani district. McTominay wrote his name into Napoli's history books in May by helping them clinch their fourth Scudetto with a stunning bicycle kick in their 2-0 win over Cagliari, which saw them pip
