The Philippine women’s baseball team in training ahead of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. –PABA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s baseball team opens its campaign in the Women’s Baseball World Cup on Sunday in Tainan, Taiwan where it will seek a spot in the Finals as one of the top three finishers.

A tough opening assignment awaits the Filipina batters as they take on defending champion Japan in Group B at Aspac Secondary Stadium with the first pitch set at 2:30 p.m.

Also in the group are host Chinese-Taipei, Venezuela, Cuba and Great Britain.

Veteran coach Saki Bacarisas is calling the shots for the 20-player Team Philippines, which qualified for the World Cup as a wildcard entry.

The top three teams after the group stage will advance to the Finals next year in Rockford, Illinois, along with the United States, Australia and Canada.

The Americans, the Australians and the Canadians secured their spots after Group A was played last month in Rockford. Also in the group were South Korea, Mexico and Hong Kong.

Players who will don the national colors are Maria Christine Bautista, Angel Kaye Bedano, Helea Campos, Ivymhel Capistrano, Shyla Mae Celis, Delyrose Covarrubias, Mharnie dela Cruz, Madelene Domaug and Erika Fernandez.

Also on the team are Martine Dominique Francisco, Cassandra Inot, Chastene Jover, Mae Langga, Jojielyn Lim, Mary Joy Maguad, Mary Nichole Padasas, Mery Ann Ramos, Jam’mn Joyce Rasco, Richelle Toledo and Veronica Velasco.

Their other games are against Cuba on Monday, Chinese-Taipei on Tuesday, Great Britain on Wednesday and Venezuela on Thursday.

It took just one round of the Premier League to puncture the preseason positivity surrounding Manchester United and Tottenham. Saturday in England’s top division began with United, the 20-time champion with a new permanent manager and a freshly renovated midfield, getting rolled over by promoted Hull in an embarrassing 2-0 loss. It ended with Tottenham, one of the biggest spenders in Europe this summer with $300 million – and counting – of new players in its squad, getting overwhelmed in a 3-0 defeat at Brentford. In the middle was a win for Everton in front of Britain’s recently installed prime minister and a victory for another promoted club, Ipswich.

Hull made a dream return to the top flight after a nine-year absence but much of the post-match chatter was about Man United’s shortcomings.

First-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy at set-pieces consigned United to a tepid loss away to a team that was promoted via the second-tier Championship playoffs and is widely expected to be among the relegation candidates.

“It was never going to be perfect,” said Michael Carrick, who was rewarded for leading United to a third-place finish last season and a return to the Champions League with a permanent contract over the summer.

Carrick also was given a new central-midfield duo in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos – Brighton’s Carlos Baleba might be next – while Marcus Rashford returned from a loan spell at Barcelona and entered as a halftime substitute against Hull.

They struggled to impress along with many other players in a lackluster team display that showed United – last a Premier League champion in 2013 under Alex Ferguson – still has far to go to recapture its former glories and is unlikely to challenge for the title, at least on this evidence anyway.

“One game doesn’t change the direction of everything,” Carrick said. “It doesn’t change the direction of the football club.”

Across Europe, only Chelsea has spent more on new players than Tottenham this summer but it didn’t show at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, who joined for a club-record $133 million from Newcastle, was among the new signings in a Spurs team that was completely outplayed by a settled Brentford lineup, which was two goals ahead by the 33rd thanks to close-range strikes by Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt.

Michael Kayode slid in to add a third just after the break and Igor Thiago, Brentford’s top scorer last season, missed a chance to pad the scoreline by hitting the post with a penalty.

Everton had a famous fan in its stadium watching a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Andy Burnham took in his first Everton match since becoming Britain’s prime minister last month and saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry score goals for the hosts.

Everton manager David Moyes said he spoke to Burnham, a season ticket-holder at the club, on the phone after the match.

Ismaila Sarr, linked with a move away from Palace, wasn’t in the matchday squad for Pierre Sage’s first game in charge of the team, though the manager said the Senegal forward’s absence was injury-related. Palace lost Morocco defender Chadi Riad to what appeared to be a serious knee injury that forced him to be carried off on a stretcher in the second half.

Ipswich was another promoted team to win in the opening round of games, scoring in the 90th minute through Jack Clarke to beat his former club Sunderland 2-1.

Leeds also scored a late winner, with Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free kick enough to dispatch Nottingham Forest 1-0.

Arsenal began its title defense by beating Coventry, the second-tier champion last season, 3-0 on Friday.

On Sunday, Manchester City – demolished 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend – looks to bounce back against Bournemouth and Liverpool travels to Newcastle.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Farm Fresh Foxies during a game vs Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2026 PVL on Tour in Victorias City. –PVL PHOTO

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Farm Fresh capped its PVL On Tour stint on a high note, eking out a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-12, 15-10 win over Capital1 on Saturday at Victorias City Coliseum here.

Reigning Season MVP Trisha Tubu did most of the damage with 24 points, but it was veterans Ces Molina and Ara Galang who spelled the difference for the Foxies to finish their preseason with two wins in three matches.

From a precarious 8-6 lead in the fifth after Khy Cepada’s massive spike went straight to the face of Galang, Molina scored five crucial kills in Farm Fresh’s six points to reach match point, 14-9. Ysa Jimenez saved a point, but Tubu drilled the finishing cross-court kill.

Molina had 16 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 11 digs, while Galang came out off the bench to lead a strong fourth set and finish with 14 points from eight spikes, three blocks, and three aces and also tallied eight digs.

“I think that’s really our role as veterans on this team—leadership. Even though I’m not the captain, I can still contribute whatever skills the team needs. I’m just happy that we were able to finish the conference on a good note,” said Molina.

Farm Fresh Foxies’ Trisha Tubu during a game vs Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2026 PVL on Tour in Victorias City. –PVL PHOTO

Louie Romero tossed 23 excellent sets, while Mylene Paat-Rezanova contributed nine.

“Today’s game was a fantastic game. It was a seesaw battle. We need more practice because we have the Invitational Conference come next week,” said Farm Fresh coach Koji Tsuzurabara.

Farm Fresh braces for the Invitationals starting on August 31, facing defending champion PLDT, the Jaja Santiago-led Creamline, Nxled, Thailand’s EST Cola, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.

Capital1 lost both of its two preseason games without the Alas Pilipinas trio Bella Belen, Erika Santos, and Vanie Gandler.

Shaya Adorador led Capital1 with 14 points and nine excellent receptions. Jimenze had 13, Cherry Nunag chipped in 11 points, while Cepada added nine. Rookie Detdet Pepito had 16 digs and 14 excellent receptions.

Clemson football has suspended defensive tackle Vic Burley after his arrest, coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement Aug. 22.

Swinney said Burley was arrested by the Clemson University Police Department on a disorderly conduct charge.

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“Earlier today, I was made aware of defensive tackle Vic Burley’s arrest by the Clemson University Police Department for disorderly conduct early Saturday morning,” Swinney said in a statement. “I have made the decision to suspend Vic from our football team indefinitely. We are extremely disappointed by his actions and decisions.”

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football DT Vic Burley suspended after arrest

Two of boxing’s biggest — and most unpredictable — personalities will meet in the ring on Saturday when Rolando “Rolly” Romero defends his WBA welterweight championship against Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Romero is something of an unexpected world champion, though he’s accomplished the feat twice over in his career. Always a popular fighter based on his big personality and strong social media presence, Romero has never displayed elite boxing skills, instead relying on an offense-first style and solid power.

In 2022, Romero received his first opportunity to break through to the top of the sport, but he was brutally stopped in the sixth round by Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

In his next fight after losing to Davis, Romero won his first world championship, picking up a ninth-round TKO win over Ismael Barroso to capture the vacant WBA junior welterweight championship. That win was heavily tainted by the fact that Romero was getting thoroughly outclassed by Barroso, a late replacement in the fight, when the referee jumped in for a clear early stoppage nearly the second Romero had gathered any momentum.

Romero dropped the title in his next outing, getting stopped by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Two fights later, Romero again found himself playing the “b-side” to a bigger name fighter when he took on Ryan Garcia in New York’s Times Square.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. looks to bounce back from disastrous loss when he faces Rolly Romero for welterweight title

Brian Campbell

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Garcia fought the worst fight of his life, turning in a lifeless performance that allowed Romero to win the “regular” WBA welterweight title, and was subsequently elevated to full champion when Jaron Ennis vacated his belt to move up in weight.

Now, Romero faces Lopez, a fighter who has always been viewed as a man with elite talent but a lacking mental game, almost the inverse of Romero.

Lopez won the first 16 fights of his career, a run that culminated in a win over Richard Commey to claim the IBF lightweight championship and Vasiliy Lomachenko to add the WBA and WBO titles.

Just as it seemed Lopez was poised to take over the sport, he suffered a devastating setback when he dropped a split decision to massive underdog George Kambosos Jr. Lopez was knocked down by Kambosos and clearly lost the fight, making the one card scored his way an oddity that seemed to convince Lopez boxing’s elites had conspired against the bigger name fighter with the bigger fanbase and the bigger promoter in favor of a fighter largely unknown in the sport.

As Lopez performed a backflip after the Kambosos loss, it confirmed to many that mental issues Lopez had displayed throughout his career — along with a seemingly unhealthy attachment to his father serving as his trainer — may hold him back from his true potential.

Lopez rebounded with six wins of varying quality, including struggles against Sandor Martín and Jamaine Ortiz, and a few impressive wins, including over Josh Taylor to capture the WBO junior welterweight title.

That run brought Lopez to his most recent fight, where he was badly outclassed by Shakur Stevenson over 12 rounds. Lopez was nearly shut out that night, losing 119-109 on all three official scorecards.

Against Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez Sr. offered little constructive advice in the corner, something that Lopez Jr. has taken issue with in the months since the loss, continuing their tumultuous relationship.

“I’m fighting a big puncher at 147 and going up to that weight for the first time,” Lopez said at a recent media workout. “We’re taking a risk, because it’s no risk, no reward. I’m just focusing on my objectives so I can come out victorious.

“Every fight at 147 will be my biggest fight. I won’t say they’ll all be the most challenging. The best man will end up on top. Right now I’m only focused on Rolly Romero.”

Elsewhere on the card, rising middleweight prospect Yoenli Hernandez is back to take on Francisco Daniel Veron. The 29-year-old from Cuba has looked like the real deal since making his pro debut in 2022. He’s amassed a 10-0 record with nine knockouts to his name. He picked up his biggest win to date against Terrell Gausha in a fourth-round knockout.

“I’m the best middleweight in the world right now,” Hernandez said at a recent media workout. “My hunger for glory, my desire to be champion and win every title — that’s something I don’t see in the rest of the division. Everyone seems to arrive, get the title, and settle. Not me. I’m coming to get the title, keep it, and fight the best. Lately, nobody in my weight class wants to face the best.”

Also on Saturday, Gary Antonio Russell makes his return to the ring when he takes on Victor Santillan at junior featherweight. Russell, one of the five fighting brothers, holds a 21-1 record as a pro. However, he has just two fights since 2024 as he looks to build toward a title shot.

Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the undercard for Saturday night in Las Vegas with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

Romero vs. Lopez fight card, odds

• Teofimo Lopez Jr. -300 vs. Rolando Romero (c) +230, WBA welterweight title
• Yoenli Hernandez -1400 vs. Francisco Daniel Veron +750, middleweights
• Gary Antonio Russell -180 vs. Victor Santillan +140, junior featherweights
• Carlos Utria -1600 vs. Israel Mercado +750, junior welterweights
• Marco Romero -5000 vs. Kahlil Mitchell +1300, middleweights
• Benjamin Johnson vs. Jose Gabriel Rodriguez, welterweights
• Joseph Brown -5000 vs. Alton Wiggins +1300, junior middleweights
• Aldo Blancas -5000 vs. Ricky Mamone +1300, junior welterweights

Where to watch Romero vs. Lopez 

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 22 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (Main card) (Main event ring walks expected around 11 p.m. ET)
• Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
• TV Channel/Stream: DAZN PPV | Price: $79.99

Prediction

Lopez is the better fighter. He’s the man with more natural gifts. He’s the fighter with more technical skills. However, Lopez is also a fighter with some obvious flaws. He’s shown mental weakness and a tendency to get flustered the second things aren’t coming easily in the ring. Lopez has also had extreme trouble with fighters who use movement and don’t choose to engage. Sandor Martín took that approach in a fight where he likely deserved the decision, and that left Lopez asking “Do I still got it?” after the final bell.

The problem for Romero is that he is very unlikely to be a fighter who is going to take a Martin-esque approach to fighting Lopez. Romero has a strong mental game, and that’s a good tool against someone like Lopez, but he doesn’t have the style to further fluster and beat Lopez unless he turns in a career-best performance.

Romero beat Garcia because Garcia simply didn’t show up that night in New York City. Garcia didn’t engage and he didn’t throw punches, making for an easy night for Romero. Lopez isn’t likely to turn in a dud on that level, and all things being equal, it should be a fairly easy win for Lopez. Whether or not Lopez can score his first stoppage win since 2022 is a more intriguing question. Pick: Teofimo Lopez via UD

Who wins Romero vs. Lopez, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $2,500 on his combat sports picks last year, and find out.

Farm Fresh Foxies’ Ara Galang during a game vs Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2026 PVL on Tour in Victorias City. –PVL PHOTO

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental —Negros Occidental has always held a special place in Ara Galang’s heart.

A decade ago, when La Salle used to play in the UniGames in Bacolod, Galang was a crowd favorite in the province.

Fast forward to the present, Galang continues to receive plenty of love from the Ilonggos, from the meet-and-greet to Farm Fresh’s final PVL on Tour game Saturday at Victorias City Coliseum here.

“I really miss playing in college, especially here at Unigames, so I miss this kind of crowd. It’s really nice to have so many people supporting the Farm Fresh team and me. I’m very thankful,” said Galang in Filipino after Farm Fresh’s capped its come-from-behind 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-12, 15-10 win over Capital1.

Galang made sure to reward that fan support, making the most of her opportunity off the bench.

Farm Fresh coach Koji Tsuzurabara, Ces Molina, and Ara Galang after ending the #PVLOnTour with a win. #PVL2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/4FCBcb1mZS

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) August 22, 2026

The veteran wing spiker helped spark Farm Fresh’s strong fourth set before finishing with 14 points on eight spikes, three blocks and three aces. She also had eight digs.

“I think it’s really about having the confidence and being ready whenever I’m called. I have to be ready to step up whenever the team needs me. I’ll just keep doing my best to contribute something positive to the team,” said Galang.

Farm Fresh finished its preseason winning two of its three matches.

With the Invitationals just around the corner, Galang vows to stay ready to help the Foxies as they face defending champion PLDT, the Jaja Santiago-led Creamline, Nxled, Thailand’s EST Cola and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.

“It’s another challenge and another game for us. With international teams, the competition will definitely be different. We just have to give our best every time and continue working together as a team,” said Galang.

Shakur Stevenson considers Oleksandr Usyk to be one of the most “skilful” heavyweights of all time, only to come off second best in a compelling fantasy showdown.

The 39-year-old seems on the verge of retirement but, even now, is widely regarded as the top dog and most accomplished fighter of his division.

Having already cemented his Hall of Fame status, the Ukrainian is a two-division undisputed king and has firmly established himself as the greatest heavyweight of this era.

In particular, his two respective victories over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua offer a fair reflection of Usyk’s heavyweight success, while a pair of stoppages against Daniel Dubois only enhance his legacy.

It could be argued, however, that Usyk, despite remaining unbeaten and completing every available challenge, has not been afforded the level of opposition that Muhammad Ali, for instance, was used to facing on a consistent basis.

‘The Greatest’ did, after all, amass victories over future Hall of Famers such as Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston and Ken Norton.

Even his 1977 points victory over Earnie Shavers, who never held a world title but was one of the all-time hardest punchers, should be considered a phenomenal achievement.

Stevenson has therefore told Daily Mail Boxing that he favours a prime Ali against Usyk, who, while an elite technician, would be the first to admit that he is not quite on the American icon’s level.

“That’s the hardest fight [to call], just because they’re both so skilful. But, for me, I gotta go Ali.”

Coming off a subpar performance against Rico Verhoeven, who he nonetheless stopped in round 11, Usyk is now plotting his final fight before sailing into the sunset.

The Vikings are expecting good things from the front five in 2026. Some of that is due to health, some of that is due to the coaching change, and some of that is due to what appears to be a firmer commitment to the running game.

Part of the effort to beef up the o-line involved welcoming a newcomer into the mix.

The Vikings have announced that interior o-lineman Joshua Gray has been signed: “The #Vikings have signed G Joshua Gray and released DL Eric Johnson II.” Removing Johnson from the mix means losing a veteran DT; the timing is at least somewhat fortuitous for him since he has runway to find a job with a team looking for added muscle on the defensive side of the trench battle.

What does Mr. Gray bring to the table? Is he being brought aboard as insurance for some Blake Brandel inconsistency?

The Vikings Welcome a New Large Lad to MIN

In all likelihood, the recent add is a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option rather than a true contender to start in Week 1.

Indeed, if there is going to be an in-house pivot at C1, then Michael Jurgens is the name to know. He gets praise for being a smart, hard-working player. Where he loses is in his lack of anchor against power. Think Garrett Bradbury but not the same athlete and not on the same level overall.

Jurgens, at least, could offer predictably sturdy snapping and what would probably be below average blocking. Is that better than the current outlook?

Consider just a quick thought on Gray from Alec Lewis of The Athletic: “The Vikings are signing C/G Joshua Gray, per sources. Adds more depth on the interior. Most recently been with the Panthers. Was on the Falcons’ PS last year. Smaller frame but can really move off the ball.”

Brandel brings much to the table. The do-it-all player has been around for the entire O’Connell era (he got added in the same draft as Justin Jefferson; debates have raged since about who is better). As a result of being in Minnesota so long, he’s very well-equipped to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, which is a very important task.

So, too, is he a pretty good athlete. In fact, he gets into green grass well on screens and can climb to the second level to dance with linebackers. Nobody should expect the second coming of Jason Kelce out there but Brandel is a player with good size, movement abilities, and a great understanding of the game.

Where he creates uncertainty is in his ability to snap. Or, perhaps, an inability to snap. Only a single bad snap every few games can be enough to be a major problem where the margin for error is ultra thin.

For whatever it’s worth, note that rookie lineman Caleb Tiernan is described as being week-to-week with an ankle injury from the Giants preseason game. That reality doesn’t necessarily impact Brandel but the overall depth has been depleted some. Gray’s arrival can help with Tiernan missing time, at minimum.

Take a listen to what Kevin O’Connell had to say:

As things stand, the backup guard spot(s) is a battle. Walter Rouse looks like a contender to be that swing guard. Maybe Henry Byrd could get tossed into the mix. If healthy, Tiernan could look to move inside in the same way that Ezra Cleveland transitioned from college OT to NFL OG. He’d need to ensure he gets low since he’s tall like an OT — close to 6’8″ — but there’s potential for him to be very good.

Joshua Gray will be looking to show that he is part of the collective solution for the Vikings’ OL. Getting added so late doesn’t leave him with a ton of time to make an impression but he’ll be looking to prove he belongs. He can do so through physical, competitive play while also boasting positional versatility.

Gray is 26.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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