MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University finally barged into the win column at the expense of Adamson, 64-58, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday.
Mo Konateh dominated in the paint to power the Tamaraws with a monster double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds, while Kirby Mongcopa…
https://sports.inquirer.net/643047/uaap-feu-ends-winless-start-beats-adamson
**UAAP Schedule: Season 88 Basketball Tournament**
The University of the Philippines demonstrated its trademark grit on Saturday, with none more impressive than Harold Alarcon. Despite playing under the weather, Alarcon powered through sickness to lead the Fighting Maroons to a hard-fought 66–59 victory over National University.
The game took place at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, where the Fighting Maroons’ resilience was on full display. This win handed the Bulldogs their first loss of UAAP Season 88, marking a significant moment in the tournament.
https://sports.inquirer.net/642978/harold-alarcon-powers-through-for-up-fighting-maroons
NBA fans were taken aback after noticing Payton Pritchard’s alarming neck wound during the Boston Celtics training camp on Saturday.
The Celtics guard made an appearance for a media interaction, revealing a noticeable bloody wound on his neck.
This unexpected sight sparked concern and reactions among fans, highlighting the physical intensity and risks involved in the sport.
Further updates on Pritchard’s condition and the circumstances surrounding the injury are eagerly awaited by the Celtics community and NBA followers alike.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-they-tryna-send-bro-valhalla-nba-fans-horrified-payton-pritchard-suffers-scary-neck-injury-celtics-training-camp
PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Three days shy of a year after Bronny James made his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in this desert arena, the NBA’s most famous son resumed his quest to show he belongs in the big leagues.
While his 1-for-12 shooting performance in the Lakers’ opener wasn’t ideal, James felt his effort Friday night was another step forward in a process that’s already showing results to coach JJ Redick. Bronny James scored eight points while LeBron James and Luka Doncic sat out of the Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Bronny’s 40-year-old father is progressing deliberately in his return from a minor nerve injury to begin his record 23rd NBA season, while Doncic is also ramping up with caution after his busy summer playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket. That left plenty of playing time in the Coachella Valley for depth players like Bronny James, who hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for his only field goal.
He missed his other seven 3-point attempts while struggling for buckets alongside fellow 2024 draft pick Dalton Knecht, who was 2 for 10 with 1-for-7 shooting from distance.
“I felt like they were pretty good shots,” said Bronny James, who turns 21 years old on Monday. “Not rushed, not forcing anything. Didn’t have my legs under me as much as I wanted to, so a lot of them were short, but most of them were on line. I felt like I could have made those. I felt like I took some good shots.”
Bronny’s confidence was undiminished by those misses after the Lakers opened their preseason in the same arena where Bronny James first played alongside his famous father in October 2024. The Palm Springs-area fans who rumbled with anticipation whenever Bronny touched the ball a year ago didn’t react much this time around.
The novelty of Bronny’s presence has faded while he continues to grow into something much more than a sideshow. Bronny was in the Lakers’ first substitution group, and he played nearly 23 minutes. He gave a consistent defensive effort with intermittent effectiveness as he works to become the impact defender that Redick believes he can become with more growth.
“Definitely felt like I was more comfortable, especially with the ball in my hands, and with the defensive and offensive schemes,” Bronny said. “But I’m just trying to feel it out. Feeling my way still and just continuing to grow.”
Bronny appeared in 27 games for the Lakers during his rookie season, even making basketball history by playing alongside his father in the opener. But he accomplished much of his growth in the G League, where he averaged 21.9 points and 5.5 assists for the Lakers’ affiliate.
After a summer of hard work, Bronny is demonstrating progress to Redick.
“He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” Redick said of Bronny. “Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved, but there’s a big difference between improving those things in individual workouts and small group settings, and doing it 5-on-5. … He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him in developing a comfort level in playing at this level.”
Austin Reaves scored 20 points to lead the Lakers’ starters, which included newcomers Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia with Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Bronny James wasn’t the only Lakers player trying to stand out on defense.
Ayton had eight rebounds and just one point while taking only two shots in 18 minutes, but he also blocked two shots while demonstrating his commitment to protecting the rim.
The Lakers’ preseason continues Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Redick said Doncic also will sit out that game in San Francisco, as will LeBron James. That means Bronny James will have more chances, and he remains determined to seize them.
“I’m just trying to feel it out, trying to get some reps in with the guys,” Bronny said. “There’s probably not going to be as many opportunities during the season, so I’m just coming out and defending hard, playing my game, doing the non-negotiables. So if JJ sees that, maybe he’ll give me an opportunity.”
**UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 88 Basketball Tournament**
**MANILA, Philippines** — University of the Santo Tomas made sure to bounce back in its own backyard on Saturday in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
Following a close loss to National University, the Growling Tigers gave the Thomasians at the Quadricentennial Pavilion a treat with a dominant 111-99 victory.
https://sports.inquirer.net/642918/uaap-ust-bounces-back-clobbers-ue-in-mens-basketball
The 2025 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces showcases a thrilling duel between two of the league’s best players — Alyssa Thomas and MVP A’ja Wilson.
Thomas, who placed third in MVP voting, delivered arguably the finest season of her career, averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. She guided Phoenix to a 27-17 record and the No. 4 seed, then led them past the defending champion New York Liberty and top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the postseason.
Wilson, meanwhile, closed the season on a tear, powering the Aces to a 16-game win streak that pushed them into second place. She put up 23.4 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, along with 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest. Las Vegas finished 30-14 and defeated the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to book their ticket to the Finals.
Here’s a breakdown of how the two stars have fared against each other.
### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Head-to-Head
In regular-season matchups, Wilson holds an 11-6 career edge over Thomas. This season, the Mercury won their first meeting 76-70, with Thomas tallying 14 points and 13 assists, while Wilson sat out.
In the second clash, Wilson erupted for 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists to lift the Aces to an 84-81 win. Thomas posted 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in that game.
The next two contests went to Las Vegas as part of their season-ending streak. In an 86-83 victory on August 15, Wilson dropped 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Thomas logged 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Their final regular-season matchup ended in an 83-61 blowout for the Aces, with Wilson contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Thomas countered with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
For the season, Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in three games against Wilson, while Wilson put up 25.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Playoff History
Their rivalry stretches back to Thomas’s Connecticut Sun days. In the 2020 playoffs, Wilson’s Aces edged Thomas’s Sun 3-2 before falling to the Seattle Storm in the Finals.
In 2022, the two met again on the Finals stage, with Las Vegas winning the championship in four games.
Across nine playoff games head-to-head, Wilson has averaged 21.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, while Thomas has posted 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
As the 2025 WNBA Finals tip off, the battle between these two stars will be a key storyline to watch.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/alyssa-thomas-vs-a-ja-wilson-closer-look-battles-mvp-rivals-ahead-2025-wnba-finals-duel
The 2025 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces showcases a thrilling duel between two of the league’s best players — Alyssa Thomas and MVP A’ja Wilson.
Thomas, who placed third in MVP voting, delivered arguably the finest season of her career, averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. She guided Phoenix to a 27-17 record and the No. 4 seed, then led the Mercury past the defending champion New York Liberty and top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the postseason.
Wilson, meanwhile, closed the season on a tear, powering the Aces to a 16-game win streak that pushed them into second place. She put up 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, along with 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest. Las Vegas finished with a 30-14 record and defeated the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to book their ticket to the Finals.
Here’s a breakdown of how the two stars have fared against each other.
### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Head-to-Head
In regular-season matchups, Wilson holds an 11-6 career edge over Thomas. This season, the Mercury won their first meeting 76-70, with Thomas tallying 14 points and 13 assists, while Wilson sat out.
In the second clash, Wilson erupted for 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists to lift the Aces to an 84-81 win. Thomas posted 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in that game.
The next two contests went to Las Vegas as part of their season-ending streak. In an 86-83 victory on August 15, Wilson dropped 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Thomas logged 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Their final regular-season matchup ended in an 83-61 blowout for the Aces, with Wilson contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Thomas countered with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
For the season, Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in three games against Wilson. Wilson, on the other hand, put up 25.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in those matchups.
### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Playoff History
Their rivalry stretches back to Thomas’ Connecticut Sun days. In the 2020 playoffs, Wilson’s Aces edged Thomas’ Sun 3-2 before falling to the Seattle Storm in the Finals.
In 2022, the two met again on the Finals stage, with Las Vegas winning the championship in four games.
Across nine playoff games head-to-head, Wilson has averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, while Thomas has posted 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
As these two stars face off once more in the 2025 WNBA Finals, fans can expect an intense and memorable showdown between Alyssa Thomas and A’ja Wilson.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/alyssa-thomas-vs-a-ja-wilson-closer-look-battles-mvp-rivals-ahead-2025-wnba-finals-duel
