Ravena brothers Kiefer (right) and Thirdy during a B.League game in 2021.–Photo from San-En NeoPhoenix

MANILA, Philippines—The idea may seem far-fetched now, but the thought of the Ravena brothers being teammates again still crosses Kiefer’s mind.

“I’m not sure if one day that’ll happen. We’ll see if the rules change about eligibility and asian quota imports but I’ll be more than happy to be able to do that,” said Ravena at SM Megamall on Saturday for the B.League Final Week in Manila.

“It’s been more than 10 or 12 years since we were able to do that. I’m getting old, so hopefully, we have a chance to play professionally together,” added the 32-year-old guard.

READ: Kiefer Ravena to stay in B.League but with new team

Unfortunately for that dream, the B.League has a rule where only one Asian Quota Player (AQP) is allowed per team.

With its tenth year, however, the B.League can make some changes along the way when it comes to player restrictions.

Whether that happens or not, though, Kiefer is confident with Thirdy’s decision-making as they both try to navigate their ways into the next steps of their career.

“He handles his own stuff. I just want to make sure everything happens accordingly for him.”

“It’s not fun not having a team but at the same time, with all the experiences he’s had over the years, he became a better person and player. If ever a time comes that he returns to the B.League, he won’t need a lot of adjustments to go back to his bearings.”

READ: Kiefer Ravena sees Filipino playing in B.League Finals ‘very soon’

The Ravena brothers were the first Filipino talents to take their acts to the B.League.

Thirdy blazed the trail when he signed with the San-En Neophoenix in 2020 before Kiefer followed suit when he joined the Shiga Lakes the following year.

The two were part of the Gilas Pilipinas team that settled for the silver medal at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Thirdy is currently a free agent after playing for Dubai Basketball in the ABA League and EuroLeague.

Oleksandr Usyk has responded to Derek Chisora’s bold prediction that Rico Verhoeven will pull off a monumental upset in Egypt.

The Dutch kickboxer is considered an almighty underdog as he attempts to dethrone Usyk, the bona fide heavyweight king, at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

Having had just one professional boxing match, against an opponent who retired with an 0-6 record, it is clear to see why Verhoeven is such an outsider.

Still, he managed to score a second-round finish over Janos Finfera in 2014, but this came at a level that the likes of Usyk are hardly familiar with.

Instead, the Ukrainian is far more accustomed to facing world-class opposition, with his last six outings involving two victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, respectively.

His consistency at the highest level can therefore explain why he has become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion, considered by many as the sport’s No.1 pound-for-pound operator.

Yet somehow, heavyweight veteran Chisora has backed Verhoeven to climb Mount Everest without an oxygen mask, or indeed the relevant experience to tackle such a formidable challenge.

In response, though, Usyk has told Boxing King Media that his former opponent, who he unanimously outpointed in 2020, is merely going against the grain in an effort to stir up trouble.

“Derek, you’re crazy. [These are] only words – blah, blah, blah.”

Some have credited Chisora for giving Usyk one of his toughest tests, applying non-stop pressure in an attempt to disrupt the masterful southpaw’s rhythm.

Since then, though, the former cruiserweight king has only gone from strength to strength, progressively establishing himself as a fully-fledged heavyweight champion.

Tyson Fury has been called out by a former heavyweight champion who could scupper the 37-year-old’s expected clash with Anthony Joshua later this year.

The two Brits are set to collide in October or November, only Joshua must first defeat Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25.

Fury, meanwhile, is targeting another warm-up fight, possibly in August, following his unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov last month.

Prior to beating Makhmudov, ‘The Gypsy King’ had not fought since 2024, when he suffered consecutive points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in May and December.

It appears that Fury is eager to make up for lost time, wanting one more fight before finally colliding with long-time rival Joshua.

Among the names that have been mentioned, Andy Ruiz Jr has seemingly been the most forthcoming in his pursuit of facing the two-time heavyweight champion.

Despite having not fought since his draw with Jarrell Miller in August 2024, the American, who suffered a hand injury in that fight, is now preparing to end two years of inactivity and wants lock horns with Fury.

Speaking with talkSPORT, Ruiz insisted that, even if their showdown does not materialise in August, he will nonetheless be targeting a Fury fight in the next 12 months.

“That’s exactly why I had to come over here [to Egypt] and show my face, to let them know that Andy’s back, Andy’s recovered and he’s in good shape.

“In the next 12 months, or before I retire… I want Tyson Fury.”

Known for his huge upset victory over Joshua in 2019, when he became a unified world champion, Ruiz has fought on a largely sporadic basis since losing their rematch later that year.

Pink Test match ball (Getty Images)

The International Cricket Council is considering a series of sweeping changes to cricket’s playing conditions across formats, including a potentially game-changing proposal that could see teams switch from the traditional red ball to the pink ball during Test matches under specific circumstances, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The proposed amendments were reportedly discussed during the ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting held virtually on Thursday, with former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who currently heads the ICC Cricket Committee, among those involved in the discussions. One of the biggest talking points is the possibility of using a pink ball in regular Test cricket if weather interruptions force matches to continue under lights. The report states that both teams would need to agree to the switch before the start of the series, with “mutual consent” expected to be a key condition. Exactly how the transition from the red ball to the pink ball would take place during an ongoing Test remains unclear, but the ICC is understood to be actively exploring the move. Cricbuzz reports that the proposed regulations could officially come into effect from October 1, subject to approval by the ICC Board at its meeting in Ahmedabad on May 30. Another notable proposal involves allowing head coaches onto the field during drinks breaks in ODI cricket. Under current playing conditions, only substitute players are permitted to enter the field during those intervals. The existing clause reads: “Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire.” If approved, head coaches would also be able to interact directly with players during drinks intervals in ODIs, similar to what is already permitted in T20 Internationals for tactical discussions. However, it is still not confirmed whether coaches would need to wear official team kit while entering the playing area. The ICC is also looking at reducing the innings break in T20Is from 20 minutes to 15 minutes. The current rule states: “There shall be a 20-minute interval between innings, taken from the call of Time before the interval until the call of Play on resumption after the interval.” A shorter break would leave teams with less time to regroup and plan ahead of the chase. Meanwhile, another important addition under consideration is giving on-field umpires access to HawkEye technology to monitor suspected illegal bowling actions during matches. While the operational details are yet to be finalised, the move appears aimed at tightening oversight around suspect bowling actions in international cricket. According to Cricbuzz, all the proposed amendments remain under discussion and are awaiting formal approval from the ICC Board later this month.

Liverpool fan Josh Sexton can be found on outlets including The Anfield Wrap, external

It comes to something when your long-time nemesis says it is time to move on and you actually feel a little bit sad about it.

It feels like a chapter of English football is truly closing.

I actually grew to quite like Guardiola – a feeling made easier by Liverpool refusing to be any competition to his team this season.

Between his compassionate politics and his increasingly funny news conferences, the man who became the bane of our existence has started to cut a much more likeable figure.

The respect element was always there.

Yes, there are caveats to City’s success, but there are very few doubts about Guardiola’s greatness as a manager.

After Jurgen Klopp left Anfield in 2024, it seemed only natural that the man he went toe to toe with for so many years would move on fairly soon after.

The truth is, the standards those two managers set would warp our perception of what a normal title-winning points total looks like.

Arsenal have pipped Guardiola to the Premier League this season, but they have done so with a maximum of 85 points – a climbdown from the days of Liverpool and City pushing each other to 90-plus totals.

Liverpool have fallen away this season, but Guardiola moving on means the barrier to entry for a title race is likely to not be as high.

Therefore, Liverpool supporters should be reassured that a return to the top is not too far away, especially with such a talented group of players.

We might not see those 2018-2022 levels again for a little while, though, and for that we will always – at least partly – have Guardiola to thank.

NLEX Road Warriors huddle during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against TNT.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Kiefer Ravena may be playing in the Japan B.League, but he still keeps tabs on the PBA from time to time.

Of course, that meant he remains up to date, especially when it comes to his former team, NLEX.

The Road Warriors had quite the misfortune in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup, wasting their twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals at the hands of TNT.

READ: Kiefer Ravena to stay in B.League but with new team

And who else would know that pain better than Ravena?

“Hopefully we didn’t pass that curse,” said the former Yokohama guard at SM Megamall on Saturday.

“It still stings for me because it could’ve been another semifinals opportunity for me in my first year right after my suspension.”

Led by Robert Bolick, NLEX found success in the elimination round as the top seed with a 10-2 card.

But despite being armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, the Road Warriors still faltered to the Tropang 5G led by import Bol Bol.

That’s a familiar sight for Ravena. Almost way too familiar.

Back in 2019 when Ravena still played for NLEX, he fueled the Road Warriors to the No. 1 spot with an 8-3 record in the Governors’ Cup.

Much like this year’s NLEX squad, Ravena’s crew also lost to the eighth-seed in the quarters.

He did, however, acknowledge that the Road Warriors will only get better with their young core of LJay Gonzales, Xyrus Torres, JB Bahio and Schonny Winston.

“The future’s bright for them. If ever a time comes if I return with those guys around, it’ll make things a lot easier knowing those guys can perform. I’d just be on the sidelines monitoring and mentoring those guys.”

Team LSG in action© BCCI

AIFF held a Special General Meeting of its General Body members in Kolkata on May 23. (AIFF)

New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Body passed the responsibility on finalising the commercial rights deal back to the Executive Committee at the SGM held in Kolkata on May 23.During the SGM, the General Body gave the “power to discuss and deliberate” on the two bidders to the Executive Council. Given the legal and constitutional requirements, that was the maximum possible today.The AIFF had received two bids for the commercial rights, from FanCode and Genius Sports. Of the two, the AIFF is vehemently in favour of UK-based Genius Sports which is offering Rs 64.4 crore per year, which will grow by 5% each year, totalling Rs 2129 crore over the 15+5-year cycle.“The Federation further discussed the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), for which, it has received bids from two entities. To that extent, the General Body unanimously approved that the Executive Committee be given the power to discuss and deliberate upon the MRA negotiations,” said a statement from the AIFF after the SGM which was attended by 19 Executive Committee members, 32 representatives from Member State Associations, along with representatives from FIFA and AFC. Curiously, the SGM was also attended by former AIFF president Praful, who is now a FIFA Council member.On Friday, representatives from the ISL clubs met senior AIFF officials to discuss the commercial rights deal. The clubs have expressed concerns about the model where their financial interests are unclear. As a result, majority of the clubs said in a statement they “are now compelled to review the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season.”Later, in an email, they asked AIFF General Body against taking a decision on the long-term commercial rights model. The clubs requested that “no binding decision be taken at the Special General Meeting scheduled for tomorrow [May 23]. The Clubs remain willing and available to continue engaging constructively with the AIFF and Genius Sports to arrive at a collaborative and financially sustainable framework that protects the interests of all stakeholders and, most importantly, secures the future of Indian football.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national team have been instructed to remain in isolation for 21 days before they can travel to the United States for the World Cup due to the Ebola outbreak in the country.

The Congolese team are currently training in Belgium after their planned training camp in Kinshasa was cancelled over health concerns.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, said the players must stay inside a controlled environment in Belgium to avoid any risk.

“They must remain in that bubble or they may not be allowed to enter the United States,” Giuliani said.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced restrictions on non-American travellers who have visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.

However, all the DR Congo players are based outside the country, meaning they are not expected to be directly affected after the cancellation of the camp in Kinshasa.

Giuliani also warned that anyone joining the squad must stay separate from the players to avoid health complications.

“If anyone joins the team and later shows symptoms, it could affect the entire squad’s participation at the World Cup,” he explained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday raised the public health risk level of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo from “high” to “very high”.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the danger across the African region remains high, although the global risk is still considered low.

DR Congo are expected to play friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 in Belgium and Chile on June 9 in Spain as part of their preparations for the tournament.

The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, with DR Congo set to face Portugal in their opening match on June 17.