BASKETBALL
Teams pull out of merger
The P.League+’s (PLG) Taipei Fubon Braves, Taoyuan Pilots and Kaohsiung Steelers on Monday withdrew from a proposed merger with the rival T1 League. The decision not to participate in the new professional basketball league was tough, but necessary, the three teams said in a joint statement. They said that their bottom line was that the PLG was to be the main body under the merger, which was the consensus reached at the six-team internal PLG meeting on June 26 and was verbally agreed on by the preparation committee. “We negotiated in good faith to communicate a way to integrate by maintaining the autonomy of the PLG, or to retain the two-league structure with exchanges during match season, but could not reach an agreement,” they said. The three teams are to remain in the PLG and prepare for the new season, striving to protect the people, players, passion, professionalism and principles of the league, they said. The three teams also announced they would be holding an independent draft on Friday. Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung has been appointed president of the newly merged league, the merger preparation committee said. Chuang said that he was honored and would do his best to lead the league to the next level.
BASKETBALL
Taiwan face-off at Jones Cup
Taiwan’s national women’s A team beat Taiwan’s B team 73-53 on the penultimate day of the five-day William Jones Cup in Taipei yesterday. The A team were up 23-9 in the first quarter, and although the B team were close on their heels during the remaining three quarters, they could not erase the deficit. In yesterday’s other games, the Philippines beat Thailand 68-58, despite Thailand’s Sasiporn Wongtapha putting up a leading 18 points, and Japan thrashed Malaysia 84-34, maintaining their spot on top of the table after having won all four of their games.
RUGBY UNION
France players arrested
Two members of the France national rugby team touring South America were on Monday arrested in Argentina following an allegation of sexual assault, a justice official in Mendoza Province said. Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, who featured in France’s 28-13 Test victory over Argentina on Saturday, were detained in Buenos Aires and are to be taken to Mendoza where the crime allegedly took place. “Today a commission from the province of Mendoza is traveling to Buenos Aires to bring them and proceed with doing the relevant examinations,” said Martin Ahumada, a spokesman for the Mendoza prosecutor’s office. “If the examinations align with the testimony of the victim, the related charge will be made,” he said. The alleged attack took place at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where France’s players and staff were staying for last weekend’s Test match, local media reports said. “If the facts are proven, they are incredibly serious. You must spare a thought for the young woman,” French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill said. “It’s the opposite of everything that rugby is, of everything that rugby does, of everything that rugby builds... But you must let the investigation, which is necessary, take place.”
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles at the French Open, after she and German partner Mark Wallner defeated Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Briton Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets, despite temperatures exceeding 32°C in Paris, while Taiwan’s top men’s doubles player Ray Ho also reached the second round. Hsieh, who made it to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2024, and Wallner defeated Klepac and Glasspool 6-3, 7-5 in just more than an hour, converting three of five break points, while holding their opponents to just one conversion
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
FAST AND LOOSE: Despite command struggles, Ohtani has pitched his way out of trouble after falling behind in counts, which manager Roberts credited to his velocity Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night tossed six innings of no-hit ball, gave himself an early lead with a home run and still was not satisfied with his performance. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar dropped some expletives that were picked up by the on-field mic as he struggled with his command in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up an earned run in the fourth inning while visibly fuming on the mound. Ohtani (5-2) earned his third consecutive victory. “Just command was off, and I just felt like I was battling the lack of
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