The Cool Smashers celebrate the win on the floor. —PVL IMAGES

Sherwin Meneses saw bright signs all over as Creamline’s newcomers proved that they are deserving of being called Cool Smashers by embracing the championship-winning system with a lot of the team’s stars unavailable in their PVL On Tour debut.

Meneses gave his young recruits an early opportunity, and they didn’t disappoint, as the Cool Smashers pulled off a 25-18, 25-23, 16-25 and 25-19 victory over an Nxled side that played without Brooke Van Sickle on Wednesday night at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

Ishie Lalongisip, an outside hitter recruited from defunct Cignal, impressed with nine points in her first game in a Creamline uniform, while rookie setter Donna Paralejas earned the starting nod before veteran Kyle Negrito took over in the latter sets.

Rookie Barbie Jamili and Erin Pangilinan, also an ex-Super Spiker, also got their chances to play and contribute to the Cool Smashers.

“I want them to be competitive because they’re with Creamline now, and the culture here is different,” Meneses said in Filipino. “They’re all hardworking players, and we’re happy that they ended up with Creamline.

“We already talked to them. They’re in the professional league now, so they have to work hard while enjoying the experience of being part of Creamline,” he went on. “That’s the strength of these young players—they’re confident, they’re willing to learn, and they follow instructions. Hopefully, they can continue performing well.”

For Lalongisip, joining Creamline was exciting, coming in after Cignal filed a leave of absence despite its gallant stand against the 11-time champions in the All-Filipino Conference finals.

“I’m really happy … because now, I’m teammates with Jema (Galanza) and the rest of the squad,” Lalongisip said in Filipino. “I’m super excited and really looking forward to everything I’ll learn here with Creamline.”

Creamline opened its preseason campaign without national team standouts Jia De Guzman and Jen Nierva, who are training with Alas Pilipinas for the Asian Games, while Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Pangs Panaga and Bea De Leon sat the game out.

After two runs for new trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, former European galloper Boniface is ready to add to his winning record.

This is provided the gelding can overcome what Kent Jnr described as a ‘sticky draw’ in the Precise Air Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Boniface achieved three wins from his five starts in France before making his way out to Australia to find a new home at Cranbourne with Price and Kent Jnr.

Following an initial campaign late last year where Boniface reached the trialling stage, the four-year-old was gelded and turned out for another break.

He returned to racing with a pleasing fifth over 1600m at Sandown in May before finishing a last start second over 1800m at Randwick on June 20.

Kent Jnr stated that Boniface had made nice progression from that outing and worked encouragingly on Tuesday, providing the stable with confidence ahead of Saturday’s race.

But drawing gate 14 in the 15-horse field was not ideal, although he will start from barrier 10 if the four emergencies do not gain a start.

“He was good first-up and he was excellent second-up, so he’s doing a great job in his first Australian preparation,” Kent Jnr commented.

“He’s drawn sticky on Saturday, but off his work on Tuesday, he’s showing that he’s going very well.”

“It’s a sticky draw because he’s a bit exuberant. We would prefer to be covered up, but you could roll forward but you could undo all the good work by giving him the wrong message and light him up, or you could snag back to last and have too much to do.”

“We’re also not sure about him on a real heavy track. He’s trialled well in the heavy, but I like the horse and he’s going great.”

“If he takes natural improvement from his last start, he will be right in the finish.”

Tyler Schiller, who partnered Boniface in his most recent appearance, takes the ride again on Saturday.

Check out the latest racing odds for the event.

Former Sacramento State offensive lineman Ivan Garza died on Wednesday from injuries after being struck by a vehicle. The football program announced Garza’s death on social media. He was 25 years old.

Garza played for the Hornets from 2019-23, redshirting as a freshman. He appeared in 38 games during three seasons, starting 36 of them at either left or right tackle.

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A 6-foot-5 lineman, Garza was on two Big Sky championship teams in 2021 and 2022, and earned honorable mention all-Big Sky honors in 2023. He played at Sacramento State after graduating from Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, California.

“Rest in peace, Ivan Garza,” a statement from Sacramento State football said.

“We give our deepest condolences to Ivan’s friends and family. He will be remembered as a wonderful teammate, player, and Hornet.”

France strengthened their status as favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals.

Didier Deschamps’ side once again showed their quality, dominating a Morocco team that had impressed throughout the tournament but struggled to cope with the French attack.

Kylian Mbappé recovered from an early penalty miss to score his eighth goal of the tournament before Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé added a second just six minutes later to seal another convincing victory.

Mbappé won the first-half penalty after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui, but his weak spot-kick was comfortably saved by Yassine Bounou. The Real Madrid forward responded in style after the break, curling a superb effort into the corner in the 60th minute.

Dembélé then wrapped up the win with a powerful low strike that slipped through Bounou’s hands, leaving Morocco with no way back.

France completely controlled the game and limited the Atlas Lions to just one shot on target and five attempts in total, proving once again why they are considered the strongest team left in the competition.

The victory was France’s sixth in a row at the World Cup, and they have now scored 16 goals in six matches, more than any other team in the tournament.

Mbappé is also leading the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals and has now equalled Lionel Messi’s tally at this World Cup. The 27-year-old has also reached 20 World Cup goals, moving within one of Messi’s all-time record of 21.

France, champions in 1998 and 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals as they continue their bid for a third FIFA World Cup title.

With Mbappé in top form, Dembélé producing big performances and a defence that continues to shut down dangerous opponents, Les Bleus are increasingly looking like the team every nation must beat.

Leo Carlsson says he never wanted to leave Anaheim after the Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers‘ record-setting offer sheet to keep the young center with the franchise.

Shortly after Anaheim confirmed it had matched the five-year, $90 million contract, Carlsson shared a message through the team’s X account, making it clear where he wanted to play.

“I always wanted to be here. I really wanted them to match. I always, always wanted to be a Duck. It’s my home. I just wanted to be here a long time. I’m just super excited to be back.”

Leo Carlsson also addressed the size of the contract, which carries an NHL-record $18 million average annual value.

“It was an offer that 99 percent of people would sign too,” Carlsson said. “It’s a pretty simple answer. I really wanted to be here, though. I really wanted them to match. I want to be an Anaheim Duck.”

Anaheim matched the Flyers’ offer before the deadline, keeping the Carlsson with Ducks through the 2030-31 season.

Leo Carlsson is coming off a career-best season after recording 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points in 70 regular-season games. He added 11 points in 12 playoff appearances as Anaheim reached the postseason. Since being selected second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Carlsson has recorded 141 points in 201 regular-season games with Anaheim.

Leo Carlsson was always part of Anaheim’s plans

The Ducks never sounded like a team that was willing to let Leo Carlsson leave.

Owners Henry and Susan Samueli said matching the Flyers’ offer sheet was an easy decision. They also credited general manager Pat Verbeek for keeping enough cap space available to retain the 21-year-old.

“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo. We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

Verbeek said the organization has believed in Carlsson since before selecting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years. We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”

Leo Carlsson has already reached a few milestones early in his NHL career. He is the youngest player in Ducks history to score 50 goals and reach 100 career points, and he is also the youngest Swedish-born player in NHL history to hit the 100-point mark.

The Swedish forward has also represented his country at several international tournaments. Although an injury kept him out of the 2026 Winter Olympics after he was named to Sweden’s roster, he helped his country win bronze at the 2025 IIHF World Championship with 10 points in 10 games.