Magnolia Hotshots’ Ian Sangalang blocks Meralco Bolts’ Chris Banchero during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Ian Sangalang has been a consistent and efficient offensive weapon for Magnolia in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Not only has Sangalang scored 10 or more in the Hotshots’ six games this conference, but he’s also shooting a blistering 80.9 percent from the field.

But when asked about his offense, Sangalang said that the key to his steady scoring production is his play on the other end of the floor.

READ: PBA: Magnolia pulls away to beat Meralco in rain-delayed game

“I don’t think my plays lately are special. I really just started on defense. That’s where I get my momentum,” said Sangalang after helping the Hotshots rout the Meralco Bolts, 105-88, on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“Every time that coach puts me in, I give it all on defense so I can stay in the game longer.”

Sangalang gave the Bolts fits with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds plus a steal.

The seasoned center, who is averaging 14.2 points per game, also had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds in an 88-73 win over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

“The offense will come naturally. I don’t think about that anymore. For me, I just start on defense,” said the 34-year-old Sangalang, who’s known for being the team’s defensive backbone since his college days with the San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA.

After opening the conference with losses to Phoenix and Blackwater, the Hotshots have now won three of their last four games to move into a third-place tie with the Bossing in Group B.

Devin Haney is currently searching for his next opponent and Shakur Stevenson believes there is only one option for him.

Haney hasn’t fought since becoming a three-division world champion when he defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title back in November.

He has been rumoured to face a number of opponents since then, including Stevenson himself, but it looked like ‘The Dream’ would finally settle on a mandatory showdown with Keyshawn Davis after Top Rank won the purse bid for the clash last week.

Those plans went up in smoke when Davis pulled out of the contest, and Stevenson has explained why he thinks Haney now must target a battle against unified super-welterweight champion Jaron Ennis.

“You said you’d fight Conor Benn? You said you’d find Xander. Why the f**k you don’t say you want to fight Boots now? Matter of fact, you’ve got no other option.

“There’s nobody else on the table. There’s no me, there’s no Key[shawn Davis], there’s no Rolly. Who do you go to? Boots is free. Go get him.”

Ennis previously became unified champion at welterweight before moving up to 154lbs, making an instant impact in the new division when he stopped Xander Zayas in June to win the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles.

It remains to be seen whether Haney would have any interest in moving up in weight to take on Ennis, with ‘Boots’ also having been linked to fights against IBF champion Josh Kelly, and fellow unbeaten star Vergil Ortiz.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were suspended from team drills at practice Saturday following their fight the day before, giving rookie QB Fernando Mendoza his first opportunity in training camp to run the starting offense.

“We have very clear expectations about how we want to practice, how you go about our business,” head coach Klint Kubiak said in a statement. “We violated that yesterday, so we held those guys out. That’s all I’m going to say about it. We addressed it with the team and we’re moving on.”

Cousins and Crosby had to be separated by teammates after the fight. The 37-year-old quarterback appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass, forcing an incompletion, and then charged the 6-foot-5, 256-pound defensive end, who is three inches taller and 42 pounds heavier.

While Las Vegas selected Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it also signed the soon-to-be-38-year-old Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, to a two-year, $12.6 million deal in April. 

Meanwhile, Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, was set to join the Baltimore Ravens in March prior to the Ravens backing out of a trade after developing long-term concerns over the defensive end’s medicals.

The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 season and entering their first with Kubiak as head coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Diego Rossi scored the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute to help Monterrey to a 2-1 win over Inter Miami, which played without Lionel Messi, in the group stage of the Leagues Cup on Saturday night.

Messi returned to his native Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge, earlier in the day. It is not known when the 39-year-old star forward will return to the club.

The 39-year-old Messi took a two-week break after leading Argentina to a runner-up World Cup finish. He made his first appearance as a reserve when Inter Miami tied Columbus 2-2 in an MLS match Aug. 1. Messi then had two goals and an assist in Inter Miami’s first Leagues Cup match a 4-2 win against Atletico San Luis on Wednesday.

Miami (1-1-0, 3 points) won the 2023 Leagues Cup and reached the final last year, but its chances of advancing to the knockout stage appear bleak with one match remaining in its 18-team group. 

The strike by Rossi, who was acquired July 3 from the Columbus Crew, capped a two-goal second half for Monterrey (1-1-0, 3 points). Rossi won the 2022 MLS Golden Boot for Los Angeles FC and he helped Columbus to titles in the 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup.

Monterrey erased a 1-0 halftime deficit on Hugo Cuypers’ equalizer in the 47th minute. Cuypers was an 2026 MLS All-Star and scored 13 goals in 11 games this season for the Chicago Fire before his transfer to Monterrey on July 23.

Rodrigo De Paul put Inter Miami on the board with a strike from 25 yards that landed inside the left post in the 32nd minute.

As he celebrated the goal, De Paul temporarily removed his No. 7 jersey to reveal Messi’s No. 10 in support of his national team and club teammate, which resulted in a yellow card.

Monterrey defender Carlos Salcedo went off due to an injury in the 15th minute and was replaced by Jorge Rodriguez.

Both clubs conclude the group phase on Wednesday. Miami will host Leon while Monterrey will visit Nashville.

Prima Bella appreciated the quick pace and finished strongly to win the Ranvet Handicap (1000m).

Considered one of the most improved horses in training, Prima Bella has hit a purple patch of form, recording her third win from five starts this winter preparation.

“Prima Bella’s airborne,” Smith enthused. “When you get a mare in form, you have to keep them going. Look at Paul Cave’s mare The Mona Lisa, she keeps winning too. My mare has never been going better and I will have to look at a stakes race now because she is racing so well.”

Prima Bella ($7), who carried a competitive weight of 52.5kg after apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald’s 3kg claim, powered to victory by just over a length from the favourite Amazing Eagle ($3.40). Beast Mode ($5.50), the early pace-setter, held on for third.

The Randwick track surface was upgraded to a Good 4 during the meeting, but Prima Bella’s time of 56.57 seconds remained exceptionally fast for this time of year.

Smith indicated that Prima Bella is likely to target a race like the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick in two weeks.

“I’ve got Idle Flyer resuming that day but I might split the mares up and run her in the Show County Quality (Group 3 $250,000, 1200m),” Smith said. “Prima Bella deserves her chance in a better class of race as she is in such good form and she handles wet or dry tracks.”

Idle Flyer, a winner of the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes and Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes to conclude her autumn campaign, has completed two barrier trials in preparation for her return, including a close sixth behind Matcha Latte at Rosehill on Friday.

Smith’s speedy sprinter Headwall also moved closer to a racing comeback with a notable third in Apocalyptic’s heat at Rosehill.

In other news, New Zealand trainer Lauren Brennan had her inaugural runner at Royal Randwick and celebrated a win with I Park in the MyPlates Handicap (2400m).

I Park achieved his third career win from 21 starts, collecting $82,500 for his Sydney Saturday success, which was more than his earnings from his previous 20 starts combined.

“Our plan was to bring I Park to Sydney over winter and look for these 2400m races,” Brennan explained. “He’s got the win and I think we might take him home now.”

Ridden by Tim Clark, I Park ($12) dug deep under pressure to defeat Le Troisir ($8.80) by a long head, with Elle Hudson ($4.40 equal favourite) finishing just over a length away in third.

Golden Century, which had been backed into equal favouritism at $4.40, led into the straight but faded to finish at the rear of the field.

Check out the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.

FIFA on Saturday warned against what ⁠it called a “concerted ​and ongoing effort” to undermine its leader, Gianni Infantino, saying attempts to challenge his leadership must follow the governing body’s statutes ​and democratic procedures.

It came amid an increasingly bitter standoff over Infantino’s leadership following the collapse of his proposal to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments.

Read moreFIFA scraps controversial private investment plan after backlash

The statement was released Saturday, a day after a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European football’s governing body. Infantino has categorically denied the allegations, according to the article.

UEFA confirmed that a “departure payment” was made to the employee and said it was “in line” with regulations at the time.

Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.

In the statement Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino’s critics of trying to weaken his authority and remove him from office without due process.

Read moreFIFA closes ranks round Infantino amid mounting leadership crisis

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” said the FIFA statement, which was also posted on X. “Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”

It said some reporting has included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” which shouldn’t be presented as fact.

“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead.”

Infantino faced intense backlash after details of his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity were published. UEFA and two other continental confederations – North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation – rejected the plan.

He did receive backing from FIFA’s management board last Wednesday following a meeting in Morocco, and he apologised over the process. UEFA’s threat to have its 55 member countries boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was scrapped remained, with UEFA saying Thursday that the announcement “changes nothing”.

While confirming the exit payment “was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time”, UEFA said the rules had been tightened since 2016 and currently “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)

Casemiro departed Man Utd at the end of last season and has left big boots to fill but his fellow Brazilian is confident he’s the man to do just that.

They might both be Brazilian, and both have Manchester United on their CV, but on the surface, there isn’t much else that Andrey Santos has in comparison with Casemiro at the start of his Old Trafford career.

United splashed out up to £70million on a 30-year-old Casemiro four years ago, signing a midfielder with a glittering resume and five Champions League titles to his name after a glorious spell at Real Madrid.

Santos is eight years younger than Casemiro was when he arrived in Manchester, has joined from Chelsea where he struggled to gain first-team opportunities and although he has six caps for Brazil, he wasn’t particularly close to their World Cup squad this summer.

The switch from Casemiro in 2022 to Santos in 2026 is indicative of the change in transfer strategy at United and the £50million paid to Chelsea for the 22-year-old is seen as good business for the future. Santos has his best years ahead of him and recruitment chiefs at Old Trafford liked the data on him and the scouting reports.

Although it is only pre-season, he has looked the part so far. Santos has started all four friendlies and caught the eye again in Gothenburg on Saturday, controlling the midfield against back-to-back European champions PSG.

After the game, speaking to the media for the first time as a United player, he backed himself to be the man to replace Casemiro, having arrived at the club alongside Youri Tielemans as part of an £85million midfield rebuild.

“Casemiro for me, it’s like a legend, you know,” said Santos. “So now he’s gone out. Now I’m here so I feel that I can do like Casemiro did in the last season and I’m here to do it.

“My qualities, I like and prefer playing more deep like a number six. So I try help my teammates without the ball and with the ball I love breaking the lines.”

Santos’ desire to play as a No. 6 will be music to Michael Carrick’s ears. He was considered an all-rounder at Chelsea but United need players to sit deep in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1, although the focus this summer has shifted to midfielders with a high-level technical ability as well.

He found opportunities hard to come by at Chelsea, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez the clear first-choice midfielders at Stamford Bridge, but is delighted to have made the leap to Old Trafford and what should be a more prominent role this season.

“I was so happy [when United showed their interest],” he said. “The moment when my agent called me, I told my wife, and she said, ‘ Yeah, we have to go.’ And of course, Manchester United is so big, I’m so happy to be here, and I want to win every single game and every single trophy possible.

“I know Chelsea is a big club as well, so I think thank you for everything Chelsea did for me in my period. But now Chelsea is gone, here is my home right now. And I want to be here for a long, long time and win so many trophies.”

Santos joins a team that finished third in the Premier League last season but faces the extra demand of a return to the Champions League this term, but Carrick has set his sights on looking up the table and the £50m new boy has his eyes on silverware as well.

Advertisement

“When I talk about Manchester United, we talk about winning,” he said. “I think we have to work hard every single day to try to win every single trophy possible.

“And like as an individual, I have my goals and I hope that I can work with my teammates with my goals and hope to win some trophies.”

Manchester United 2026/27 Away Kit

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £40

Fanatics

Advertisement

Buy Now on Fanatics

Manchester United have launched their new away kit for the 2026/27 season. Inspired by the legendary 1988 kit, the blue jersey features wavy stripes that echo the River Irwell.