Sports
João Cancelo set to sign permanently for Barcelona on Tuesday as free agent after Al Hilal contract termination
João Cancelo is set to return to Barcelona for a third spell after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract with Al Hilal, clearing the way for the Portugal international to rejoin the Spanish champions as a free agent.The 32-year-old had one year remaining on his contract in Saudi Arabia, but his desire to return to Barcelona has now been matched by an agreement that allows him to leave without a transfer fee. He is expected in Barcelona on Tuesday to complete the move and sign his contract.
Cancelo finally gets the permanent Barcelona move
Cancelo had already agreed personal terms with Barcelona in June, with the remaining obstacle being his situation at Al Hilal. That has now been resolved after the player and Saudi club reached an agreement on an early termination.According to sources cited by ESPN, Cancelo will join Barcelona as a free agent after previously spending two loan spells at the club. He first arrived from Manchester City for the 2023-24 season before returning to Al Hilal, then came back to Barcelona on loan during the second half of last season.That second spell proved important. Cancelo helped Barcelona win LaLiga and made it clear that he wanted to remain at the club permanently.The situation had appeared difficult because Al Hilal had initially valued him at around €10 million, before reportedly raising their asking price to €15 million. Barcelona’s preference was to avoid a significant transfer fee, and the eventual termination of Cancelo’s Saudi contract has removed that obstacle.He is now set to make the move without Barcelona having to negotiate a transfer fee with Al Hilal.
A third arrival, but a first permanent signing
This will technically be Cancelo’s third time signing for Barcelona, although it will be the first occasion on which he joins on a permanent contract.His first spell began in August 2023, when Barcelona signed him on loan from Manchester City for the 2023-24 campaign. Financial limitations meant they could not turn that arrangement into a permanent transfer, and Cancelo subsequently moved from City to Al Hilal.He returned to Barcelona in January 2026 on another six-month loan from the Saudi club and helped the team secure the LaLiga title.The Portugal international has now secured the permanent return he had been seeking.Before reaching the top level with Manchester City and Barcelona, Cancelo came through at Benfica and also played for Valencia, Inter Milan and Juventus. He spent part of 2023 on loan at Bayern Munich before joining Al Hilal in 2024.His honours include league titles in Portugal, England, Italy, Germany and Spain, making him the first player this century to win the top-flight title in four of Europe’s five major leagues.
Barcelona’s summer plans gather pace
Cancelo becomes Barcelona’s fourth signing of the summer, following Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu.The club’s recruitment has continued to develop rapidly, with Rodri also reportedly agreeing a €76.5 million ($88.4 million) move from Manchester City on the same day. That would reunite Cancelo with his former City team-mate in a Barcelona squad that has already retained the Spanish league title and is looking to strengthen further.Barcelona are also pursuing a striker, with Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez reported to be their preferred target, while another No. 9 and potentially a centre-back remain under consideration.After Sunday’s 5-2 friendly victory over Basel, manager Hansi Flick acknowledged that more business could still take place.“We will see what happens, but it could be that we are still lacking something,” Flick said.For Cancelo, however, the uncertainty is largely over. After two temporary stays in Catalonia and an increasingly complicated spell in Saudi Arabia, he is now expected to return to Barcelona on Tuesday with the opportunity to finally make the Camp Nou his permanent home.
Sports
Althoff defeats G1 performers in 2026 Rosehill feature
Althoff, a less-heralded member of the Chris Waller stable, achieved a significant career highlight at Rosehill, outclassing the Group 1 performer Attica with a superb Zac Lloyd ride.
Patiently handled in the midfield, Althoff ($3.60) saved ground before unleashing a decisive run in the straight to cross the line 2-1/4 lengths ahead of Attica ($3.10 fav). The Epsom Handicap placegetter, Fully Lit ($7), secured third place, a short neck further back.
“They never stop surprising you,” Waller stated. “He’s always been a consistent horse. He’s had a few niggles with his knees, and he’s obviously matured now and put all those little things behind him. Beautiful ride. Zac is riding with confidence. Horses feel that and that’s how he won.”
The five-year-old had indicated his well-being when finishing second to Carbonados at Rosehill on August 1. Despite a history of inconsistency for punters, Waller believes Althoff is capable of succeeding in a lower-grade stakes race when conditions align.
“I know he’s not an easy horse to follow, but when they return like that you like to think they can build towards something, and he did,” Waller commented. “He’s never been one we’ve thought too highly of, but we’ve thought enough of him to keep him going. He’s a good, Saturday money-spinning horse and if he had the perfect conditions, a race at Newcastle like the Cameron Handicap, or those type of second-tier Listed or Group Three races (could suit).”
Attica, conceding seven kilograms to the winner, put up a valiant effort to finish second.
Stable representative Brave Pride noted that Attica’s trials had suggested a sharper turn of foot, but his performance indicated he would benefit from a middle-distance test.
“Just the way he trialled, we thought he might have been a bit sharper today,” Brave Pride said. “He ground away nicely. (Jockey) Adam (Hyeronimus) was happy with him. He just said he probably wanted to be in that rhythm a bit longer over 2000 metres. We’ll press on, probably with the idea of getting more towards a mile-and-a-quarter.”
Althoff’s victory marked the fourth winner for Waller on the day, while Lloyd celebrated a riding treble. Punters looking for the next opportunity might find value by checking Australian betting sites for early markets.
Sports
Texas A&M legend Von Miller set to join Cowboys in long‑awaited move
Texas A&M Hall of Famer Von Miller is getting to live out one of his childhood dreams. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the former Aggie great is expected to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, bringing one of football’s most decorated careers back home to Texas.
For Aggies and Cowboys fans, this move has felt inevitable. There’s been smoke around Miller’s interest in Dallas for months, paired with Jerry Jones’ desire to add another veteran pass rusher to the defense. The signing mirrors last year’s addition of Jadeveon Clowney, another experienced edge presence brought in to bolster the pass rush.
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But Miller’s arrival carries deeper significance.
The eight‑time Pro Bowler grew up in Texas and starred at DeSoto High School, making this a true homecoming and a full‑circle moment in his career. After recording nine sacks last season with the Washington Commanders in a rotational pass‑rushing role, he now returns to the state where his football journey began.
Miller’s rise started in College Station, where he became one of the most disruptive defenders in the country. His Texas A&M resume remains one of the strongest in program history:
His 2010 season alone 68 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, 10.5 sacks, and an interception cemented him as one of the greatest defenders ever to wear the maroon and white.
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Drafted No. 2 overall by the Denver Broncos in 2011, Miller immediately delivered, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Over 15 seasons, he’s built a Hall of Fame resume:
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133.5 career sacks (18th all-time, most among active players)
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Super Bowl 50 MVP, one of the most dominant defensive performances in championship history
Now, Miller is set to bring that legacy to Dallas, finally joining the team he grew up watching and the fan base that watched him become a Texas legend.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M legend Von Miller set to join Cowboys in long‑awaited move
Sports
Dodgers not playing ‘clean baseball,’ Dave Roberts says after loss to Brewers
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called out his struggling club after a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday cost them a significant tiebreaker in the race for home-field advantage.
“I say this because it’s just been four or five, six weeks of below-average production in our offence. It’s just the truth, and I think we just haven’t played clean baseball for quite some time, and that speaks to the defence,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers lost three of four in the key series against the Brewers, who are three games ahead of Los Angeles in the chase for the National League’s best record and hold the head-to-head advantage for postseason seeding if the teams end up in a two-way deadlock.
Los Angeles is 5-11 in its past 16 games, having been swept by the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs and losing series to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Brewers in that span. Since July 1, the back-to-back World Series champions are 18-21.
Their issues putting together effective at-bats were evident in the final two games against the Brewers, totalling three runs on 11 hits and three walks.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been consistent offensively,” Roberts said. “For me, it’s winning a 2-1 pitch and not chasing. Winning a 3-2 pitch, taking the walk. Not chasing the first pitch to then be 0-1. I see our guys, we’re chasing off in, chasing away, and I just don’t see the consistent plan of attack, 1 through 9.”
Even Shohei Ohtani, the centrepiece of the Dodgers’ big spending and bigger winning, was not immune. He grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on first and third in the seventh.
“I think that urgency of every single pitch is important. I don’t think we have that intent, and some guys are scuffling at that with their swings and things like that, which is real. But I think other guys are not valuing every single pitch,” Roberts said.
Compounding those stumbles have been frequent defensive breakdowns. Second baseman Tommy Edman had two errors in the series finale, resulting in three runs. The first came when he did not cleanly handle Mookie Betts’ throw for a force that would have ended the inning with the bases loaded in the second, allowing the Brewers to score their opening run.
The other came in the ninth inning, when Edman could not field a grounder to turn a possible double play, extending their deficit to 6-1 and further reducing the Dodgers’ long odds of staging a comeback.
Roberts trusts his group can get back on track, but only by putting in the hard work necessary to get through this extended funk.
“I don’t think that’s who we are. I think we’ve done it long enough, individually, collectively. But I do think that just saying you’re going to come out of it isn’t the right way to look at it. I think coming out of it is by how you go about it,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers have time to work things out, holding a seven-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West, and jockeying with the Brewers and Atlanta Braves for the two spots that avoid playing in the wild-card rounds.
Roberts just hopes this weekend’s results do not end up having implications in the playoffs.
“I really wanted to win this game because it could matter, but we didn’t,” he said. “So now we got to move forward, but I hope it doesn’t come back to bite us.”
Sports
Jack Whaley of England wins 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion with father on his bag
ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Jack Whaley blinked back tears as he clutched the U.S. Amateur championship trophy and could only think of the countless times his father kept encouraging him, kept playing golf with him, all to urge a promising teenager on the cusp of quitting the game to stick with it for better days ahead.
With his dad on the bag, Whaley fulfilled Andy Whaley’s unwavering belief and capped the tournament victory of his life at Merion with a father-son embrace that put an exclamation point on a career that at one point seemed destined to dry up on English soil.
“He can actually see me happy, and I can see him happy coming off the golf course,” Whaley said.
Whaley played with double gloves, needed an umbrella, was stung by a wasp at rainy Merion Golf Club and still pushed through the inconveniences to cap a tremendous tournament and hold off Jay Leng Jr. to win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday.
Whaley should keep the rain jacket.
The 22-year-old Englishman gets to soak up the spoils that come with winning amateur golf’s greatest prize.
With the sky finally clear on the rain-slogged course, Whaley sank his final putt for birdie to win the 36-hole final 4 and 3 and hugged it out with his caddie — his father. Whaley’s mother ran out to join them for a family embrace while Andy gripped the famed wicker basket flagstick.
“This week it just clicked,” Andy Whaley said. “I can’t explain it. I don’t know why.”
His son broke down in tears as he held the Havemeyer Trophy and dedicated the win to his father, who never gave up on Jack, even as he kept missing cuts as a teenager.
“As we were driving back, I was looking at my dad with some of the names that are on this thing,” Whaley said after his win. “I never thought my name would among such impressive people.”
Whaley made a rapid rise from NAIA star to Florida State to amateur champion. The college senior now has an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open and the 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews, along with the Masters, should he remain an amateur. He wore his Seminoles cap and team colors for the championship round.
Whaley won the seventh U.S. Amateur held at Merion and is the first Englishman winner since Matt Fitzpatrick at Brookline in 2013.
He shook off a wasp sting on the fourth fairway in the afternoon session before he rallied his way to the title. Leng, a Stanford junior, held a 2-up advantage through the first 18 holes after both players bogeyed the par-5 18th on an overcast and windy round.
Whaley pointed to a spot on his right ankle where the wasp got him and left him throbbing for the next two holes.
“I had to pull this stinger out,” Whaley said with a laugh.
Maybe the stinger will be immortalized down the line at Merion.
The U.S. Amateur does hold a special place in Merion history. The rock near the 11th tee box at Merion marks one of golf’s grandest holes.
It was on that hole where Bobby Jones closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final and clinched golf’s only season grand slam with a win at the U.S. Amateur.
Ben Hogan also has a plaque that honors his 1-iron on the 18th hole of the 1950 Open.
“It’s a huge honor to be part of the names of all the famous people,” Whaley said.
Aaron Rai used double gloves months earlier in his PGA Championship victory at nearby Aronimink Golf Club, just as Whaley did months later.
Whaley made the change after he sliced one out of bounds on six because the rain affected his grip.
“It seemed to work, so I kept going,” Whaley said.
Merion is set to host the U.S. Open in 2030, 2040 and 2050, alongside the U.S. Women’s Open in 2034 and 2046.
Whaley is No. 90 in the world amateur golf ranking, while Leng is at No. 23.
Leng gets pretty nice consolation prizes. He also earned a spot on the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team, in the Masters and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year, provided he remains an amateur.
The other five players named to the Walker Cup team were Kihei Akina, Ryder Cowan, Josiah Gilbert, William Jennings and Stewart Hagestad.
“It shows I can compete with the best,” Leng said. “I can compete with anyone, honestly. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Sports
Sungjae Im plays way into FedEx Cup top 50; Jordan Spieth knocked out
Aug 15, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Despite holding a share of the lead after the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Thursday, Jordan Spieth didn’t have enough in the tank this weekend to push himself into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points race.
Instead, Sungjae Im of South Korea was the only golfer to play his way into the second leg of the PGA Tour’s three-week playoffs.
Despite a disappointing final-round 74 that took him out of contention for the victory Sunday at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Im tied for fifth (7 under par) and that was more than enough to boost him from 53rd in points to 40th. Only the top 50 players in the chase move on to the BMW Championship.
The one player to give up his spot was Keith Mitchell, who entered the week 49th overall, tied for 34th at the St. Jude at 1 under and fell two spots to 51st. Matt McCarty (T63, 7 over) slipped from 48th to the 50th and final qualifying spot.
Spieth, meanwhile, entered the week No. 54 in the standings and needed a solo 23rd finish just to have a mathematical chance of advancing. He was in fine position to achieve that after opening the tournament with rounds of 65 and 69.
But a 2-over 72 Saturday and an even-par 70 Sunday impeded his progress, and he settled for a five-way tie for 19th at 4 under. He landed No. 52 in points, the second one out.
“I needed to be almost flawless (Sunday). When the wind was blowing, it’s a hard golf course,” Spieth said.
He was 2 under for his round through 10 holes but recorded three bogeys with one birdie from Nos. 11-15.
“(Saturday) really set me back,” Spieth said. “Felt like I stayed pretty calm, got off to the start I wanted (Sunday). Then around that 11, 12, 13, 14 stretch, if you can get through there unscathed, you know you’re looking at some opportunities on the other holes. I did pretty well around those holes this week, but (Sunday) kind of caught a couple that could have gone one way or the other and ended up mis-executing the shots just barely and didn’t get away of it.”
Spieth reiterated the confidence he had in the way he was playing as his season came to an unceremonious end.
“In some ways I feel like I’m leaving some out there, and in some ways it’s a good thing because like I mentioned after the first round, this will be the last time I finish like this for a while,” Spieth said.
“I’m very, very confident in what’s coming. I just ran out of steam and maybe made a couple bad decisions over about a six-week stretch on what I was working on, and I just didn’t quite have enough time to make up for it.”
Other notable players who did not advance to the BMW Championship included Max Homa (No. 53), Harris English (No. 54), Corey Conners of Canada (No. 59), Shane Lowry of Ireland (No. 62), Brian Harman (No. 65) and rising rookie Jackson Koivun (No. 67).
Below is the full list of the 50 players to qualify for the BMW. The top 30 players in points following that tournament qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship.
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Matt Fitzpatrick
3. Cameron Young
4. Si Woo Kim
5. Wyndham Clark
6. Sam Burns
7. Chris Gotterup
8. Tommy Fleetwood
9. Collin Morikawa
10. Ludvig Aberg
11. Xander Schauffele
12. Jacob Bridgeman
13. Rory McIlroy
14. Russell Henley
15. Akshay Bhatia
16. Hideki Matsuyama
17. Ryan Gerard
18. Min Woo Lee
19. Kristoffer Reitan
20. Alex Fitzpatrick
21. J.J. Spaun
22. Viktor Hovland
23. Alex Smalley
24. Justin Rose
25. Ryan Fox
26. Tom Kim
27. Adam Scott
28. Kurt Kitayama
29. Bud Cauley
30. Rickie Fowler
31. Gary Woodland
32. J.T. Poston
33. Nicolai Hojgaard
34. Alex Noren
35. Jake Knapp
36. Robert MacIntyre
37. Aaron Rai
38. Ben Griffin
39. Sepp Straka
40. Sungjae Im
41. Michael Thorbjornsen
42. Nico Echavarria
43. Patrick Cantlay
44. Justin Thomas
45. Ryo Hisatsune
46. Sahith Theegala
47. Michael Brennan
48. Eric Cole
49. Maverick McNealy
50. Matt McCarty
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nick Yorke comes through for Pirates in series clincher vs. Red Sox
Aug 16, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Yorke (38) hits a two run single against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Nick Yorke had three RBIs while playing in his first game in exactly three months, while Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe each drove in two to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates secure an 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a 2 1/2-hour rain delay between the sixth and seventh innings, the Pirates secured the series victory and have won three of their past four as they attempt to stay alive in the National League postseason race. Boston has split its past four games after losing five in a row.
Yorke was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday and played for the first time since May 16 before he was optioned to the minors. Yorke’s two-run single off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval (1-2) in the third put the Pirates ahead 6-0 and highlighted a five-run inning for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates struck for two runs in the bottom of the first after Esmerlyn Valdez hit the first of his two doubles. Reynolds and Lowe followed with back-to-back RBI singles that put Pittsburgh ahead 2-0.
The same trio kickstarted the big third inning in the same fashion. Valdez followed Jared Triolo’s single with a double, and Reynolds and Lowe followed with run-scoring singles. After Yorke’s big hit, Henry Davis pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-0 on a sacrifice fly.
Connor Wong, who finished with two hits, gave the Red Sox some hope when he belted a three-run home run off Pirates reliever Hunter Barco in the fifth inning. Barco was also recalled from Triple-A on Sunday after Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Wilber Dotel and infielder Jack Brannigan.
Kirby Yates (1-5) replaced Barco in the seventh when play resumed and pitched a scoreless inning.
Sandoval gave up seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings. Raymond Burgos, who was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Worcester, pitched four innings — and remained in the game even after the rain delay — as he allowed one run on two hits and one walk, and had one strikeout. The Pirates started Lake Bachar as they pushed ace Paul Skenes’ next start to Wednesday. Bachar threw three scoreless innings and fanned four.
The Red Sox placed designated hitter/outfielder Masataka Yoshida on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, and right-hander Justin Slaten on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kevin O’Connell Had to Pick Between Competitive and Rebuild

Kevin O’Connell became the Minnesota Vikings head coach after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got signed to be the general manager. The HC has now outlived the GM.
Part of what’s making life tricky for the skipper is that he’s still sorting through the team-building philosophy from Mr. Adofo-Mensah. Pretty infamously, there was the desire to thread the needle by finding a way to win without fully tearing the team down. So much of what made the quarterback decision difficult was the lingering impact of that infamous competitive rebuild approach.
Kevin O’Connell
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The Lingering Effects of the Competitive Rebuild
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s approach would have worked if J.J. McCarthy was competent. Not elite, but just pretty good.
Inserting a solid passer into last year’s team would have involved doing better than just 9-8. Brian Flores had a strong defense yet again and Matt Daniels led a very good special teams effort. What was missing was an offense that could keep up. O’Connell’s side of the ball finished off at 26th in the NFL by averaging 20.2 points per game. There’s a lot of blame to spread around but a ton has been put onto McCarthy.

Kevin O’Connell has therefore had to make a tough call.
Emphasizing a rebuilding effort would mean continuing to lean on McCarthy. He’s improving but there are concerns about how fast he’s improving. After all, O’Connell has yet to win a playoff game and is already entering his fifth season as the head coach. More concerning is that Justin Jefferson is 27 and going into his seventh NFL season without any playoff success.
How long can the Vikings expect the historic WR1 to be patient?
Kevin O’Connell has therefore decided to pivot at quarterback. Doing so has led to onlookers bringing up his past comments about franchises failing quarterbacks (which is to say nothing of him referring to McCarthy as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback back in 2024). A touch awkward, right?
Rolling with Kyler Murray is very likely to be the best decision for 2026. The 29-year-old veteran still looks like a clunky fit for the scheme but each side is adjusting to the other side. By Week 1, Kevin O’Connell hopes to have sorted through a lot of the issues to create a formidable passing attack.

Murray’s task is to allow the Vikings to compete in 2026. Do so by elevating the players around him. O’Connell will then get credit as a quarterback whisperer yet again if the flawed but remarkably talented Murray shines in the Twin Cities.
Emphasizing the competitive portion of what was a competitive rebuild does have a poor aftertaste. Not long ago, J.J. McCarthy was the young QB1 but he could be seeing his roster spot on life support.
Such awkwardness wouldn’t exist with a new skipper, but Minnesota didn’t roll with a Mike Zimmer/Rick Spielman approach, a full reset that allows for a clean break with the past. Keeping half of the former leadership duo may yet prove wise but O’Connell is sorting through some tension.
The Vikings just finished off the debut preseason game of the year yesterday. A couple more await — the Ravens and Broncos — before Kevin O’Connell tries to construct a successful 2026 season that’s more about competing than rebuilding.
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Surprise Qi4D driver switch leads to win
Sports
PLDT ends perfect preseason prep and gets to touch lives of fans as well
Kath-Arado, the bemedaled PLDT libero, does a selfie with fans from her hometown of Lanao del Norte. —MARLO CUETO
PLDT may have played a different format in what was supposed to be its title defense of the PVL On Tour, but the High Speed Hitters were pleased to win both games and meet fans from different provinces before beginning their season in the Invitational Conference starting Aug. 31.
PLDT fended off Akari, 25-14, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, to end its preseason campaign on a high note on Saturday at the Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium in Tubod, Lanao del Nortem as the two-time PVL champion High Speed Hitters had a perfect On Tour stint after also beating Choco Mucho in four sets in Vigan City last July 25.
The chance to see their fans in Isabela, the original venue of the Choco Mucho game, last week, didn’t happen because of foul weather. And that is the only regret the High Speed Hitters have in this offseason.
“It would’ve been nice to play in the Isabela leg, but at least in our final On Tour game, we achieved our goal of improving from our game against Choco Mucho,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino. “Credit to Akari, especially in that set when they refused to give up.
“I kept telling our players that there’s really no room for complacency,” he went on. “We’re happy that we bounced back in the fourth set and got the win.”
The High Speed Hitters won their maiden championship in the PVL during last year’s On Tour. But a pure preseason showdown was implemented this year.
Ricafort and his wards understood the situation and still took every preseason game like a regular one as they prepare for a new season.
“It’s not really something we have control over, whether it continues as a regular conference or not,” he said. “Some teams were affected because they had players with Alas Pilipinas, so their lineups were incomplete.
“That’s just how our calendar worked out this time,” Ricafort continued. “At least we have the Invitationals to look forward to, and I’m sure that won’t be easy to win. We’ll prepare well and hopefully (play well) there.”
Savi Davison, who led the High Speed Hitters with 22 points on 19 kills, two blocks and an ace, while adding 13 excellent receptions and nine digs, enjoyed her chance to visit other provinces and touch the lives of the fans.
“I think it’s just being able to adapt in other places,” said the Filipino-Canadian hitter. “I know for us, it’s hard because there are so many fans and so much support here. There’s also a lot of support in Manila, but it’s not the same here since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to come see us.
“So, it’s really about making adjustments point by point and set by set,” she said. “I’m just happy that we were able to keep adjusting and get the win.” INQ
Sports
Is Aaron Donald signing imminent? DT works out with Rams again, Sean McVay mum on timeline
The waiting game on a potential Aaron Donald return continues in Los Angeles, and while Rams coach Sean McVay said he would prefer the defensive tackle make a decision before long, he declined to put a timeline on an announcement one way or another.
Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been considering a comeback since early June when the Rams traded for star edge rusher Myles Garrett. He worked out with the team on Sunday for the second time this month, suggesting he and the Rams are beginning to get a clearer picture of whether he could suit up in 2026.
“I’m hopeful that it will be sooner than later, but I also want to respect when he does feel like that clarity will come,” McVay said after Saturday’s preseason game. “I think there’s a chance that we’ll be closer to that than not, but I don’t want to say too much or put some sort of invisible deadline on something that doesn’t exist, in my mind, for him.”
Donald initially showed up at the Rams’ facility on Aug. 5. The team was required to report his activity on the NFL transaction wire because he used team equipment in their building during training camp. It was the closest thing to an official practice Donald participated in since he retired at the end of the 2023 season.
The workout videos Donald regularly posted to social media throughout his retirement showed that he remained in excellent shape during his first couple of years away from football. Still, he needs to demonstrate that, at 35, his body can withstand the rigors of playing as an elite defensive lineman. Every workout in Los Angeles is an additional data point in that regard. And if he proves to both himself and the Rams’ staff that he is up to the task, the team has made it clear they would welcome him back with open arms.
“If Aaron does decide he wants to do it, I’ve been very open that we want to try to explore that opportunity,” McVay said. “But I think he has earned the right to be able to say he knows himself in terms of ‘Am I able to stack back-to-back days? Am I able to do some of the different things?’ And some of those benchmarks that he’s set out for himself.
“What I don’t want to sit here and do is put a timeline on it, and then something comes up where I’ve got to push it back. What I have said with him; we have some loose things where we have identified dates that we would like to be able to hit. But what I don’t want to have is any sort of unnecessary pressure on him if there’s some unforeseen circumstances.”
The Rams’ defense already projects as a top-flight unit in 2026 following the Garrett trade and the additions of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Adding arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time back into the mix would only further solidify Los Angeles as the preseason Super Bowl favorite.
While it would be unfair to expect Donald to produce at the same level he did during his prime, anything close to that kind of output would be a boon to the Rams’ defensive front. The eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits he posted in his final season were far from career highs, but they were still good enough to earn Donald an eighth first-team All-Pro selection. If he could flirt with those numbers in a comeback season, the Rams would take it in a heartbeat.
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