Galeries Tower Highrisers’ top overall pick Lams Lamina during the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Top overall pick Lams Lamina is eager to bring her championship experience to help Galeries Tower in its bid for success in the new Premier Volleyball League season.

Lamina expressed gratitude after being selected first overall by Galeries in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft on Wednesday night at Novotel.

Entrusted with helping the three-year-old franchise move forward, Lamina is determined to make an immediate impact on a team that reached the second phase of the Play-In in the All-Filipino Conference but has yet to break through to the semifinals.

LIST: Who each team picked in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft

“I’m very excited. First of all, Galeries is in a rebuilding phase, and as a rookie, I’m entering a new system and environment. I accept the challenge, and I’ll do everything I can to help the team. I’ll give my best and put in 100 percent effort,” said Lamina in Filipino.

“I’m entering a new system and a new culture with Galeries. There’s still so much for me to learn as a rookie in the PVL,” she added.

The two-time UAAP Best Setter will be bringing the winning tradition she built with National University from high school to college. In her five seasons, she was part of the Lady Bulldogs’ five straight finals appearances and won three titles.

Lams Lamina is the first overall pick by Galeries Tower in 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.–PVL PHOTO

“I’ll bring my attitude, the way I play, my fighting spirit, my discipline as a person and as a player, and most especially my competitive mindset,” Lamina said.

“I know it won’t be easy for us. But as a rookie, I’m willing to put in the work together with my teammates. We don’t know what the future holds, so for now, we’ll focus on the present and keep working.”

Lamina will be working with Galeries setters Julia Coronel, a third overall pick in the 2024 draft, and Maji Mangulabnan in running the offense for Jean Asis, Roselle Baliton, Erika Deloria, Gayle Pascual, and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.

“I think it will be a healthy competition with my older teammates. As a rookie, I just want to show what I can contribute to the team. At the same time, I hope I can share whatever I’ve learned and continue learning from them as well,” she said.

Lamina is set to make her professional debut in the PVL on Tour and is looking forward to playing in different provinces while testing herself against the league’s top setters.

“I’m excited because it gives me a chance to showcase my talent in different places. I’ll also get to meet new people and experience different environments, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Lamina said.

“I’m always ready. But it all starts with how I prepare and manage myself. The PVL is a different level because you’re going up against veterans. I feel like I’ll learn a lot, and I’m really ready to embrace that challenge,” she added.

The retro shirt harks back ‘to the glory days’ of the England football squad

With just over a week left until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off, If you’re an England supporter you may be thinking about the best way to support the team ahead of its first match against Croatia. One easy way to honour England FC’s history and its iconic World Cup performances is with a retro football shirt.

Better yet, you could save as much as £27 on a brand new shirt by taking advantage of a double deal. While Sports Direct usually sells the Score Draw England Third Shirt 1988/89 on its site for £49.99, it is currently discounted to £35.

Despite this, England fans could save even more due to a cashback deal from TopCashback. The brand is allowing shoppers who are new to signing up, whether they’re new Sports Direct customers or not, to grab the shirt for just £23.24.

READ MORE: England fans can save 26% on 2026 World Cup shirt in Sports Direct deal after pricing ‘backlash’

READ MORE: ‘Exceptional’ 220 thread-count bedding reduced from £50 to £27 ‘gets softer the more you wash it’

Meanwhile, customers who are already signed up to TopCashback can still grab the shirt for less than its original price at £38.24 once cashback has been calculated. The shirt features the iconic classic England FC crest on the front, which is paired by a geometric design in a light blue colour.

Sports Direct claims the shirt “captures the essence of the game and embodies the spirit of a true sports enthusiast” by harking back to the glory days of England FC. Made with ‘high-quality’ polyester, the shirt is both durable and breathable, allowing you to wear it for a full day while remaining comfy.

If you consider yourself a serious football shirt collector, you could instead opt for the 2004-06 England Away Shirt Beckham, which is available at Classic Football Shirts for £69.99. This shirt features the iconic red shirt worn by England during his tenure as the captain of England’s Golden Generation’, coming complete with authentic branding and club crest.

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Otherwise, if you want to support a more local team, you could opt for the 2023-24 Manchester City Puma Away Shirt, which is available at Vintage Football Shirts for £40. This Manchester City shirt features the widely popular away colourway from the 2024/24 Premier League season and comes with authentic sponsorship branding.

No reviews are currently available at Sports Direct for the Score Draw England Third Shirt 1988/89, however, some England fans may find that the elastic collar is a bit too unorthodox for them, especially when compared to more modern shirts. Furthermore, the polyester material might be uncomfortable for some shoppers who prefer to go for a cotton blend, allowing for extra breathability in many cases.

Meanwhile, Sports Direct itself has received a wave of positive reviews via Trustpilot, with one customer writing: “Great service and good product only ordered on Saturday afternoon and they arrived Monday morning, can’t beat that for service, makes a welcome change.”

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Another added: “Everything arrived quicker than expected. Good quality clothes, well packed.”

A third said: “Quick and fast all the way knew what was going on all the way through, thumbs up.” While a fourth added: “Easily ordered my replacement trainers.I know the style and fit from previous buys. Quick delivery. All good.”

However, one other customer noted: “The shopping was easy. The delivery was speedy. However the package was completely mangled ! Thankfully the shoes inside have withstood the bashing. I’d have to think twice before using this site again.”

While another said: “Always a great time shopping with them. Great prices and great customer service. The only downside is that you always have to pay for transport and if you choose the cheapest option, it can take long to have it delivered.”

How to get the England Third Shirt 1988/89 for £23.24 via TopCashback

free via this linkSports Direct

Just because the Minnesota Vikings appear to be on track for a Kyler Murray season at QB1 does not mean that J.J. McCarthy will be on the trade block.

That’s the message from The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis this week, as McCarthy trade rumors have swirled in recent days after some thought McCarthy sounded disgruntled at Vikings organized team activities. Minnesota controls McCarthy’s contract through the end of 2027 — and 2028 if it exercises his fifth-year option.

Vikings Should Keep the Two QBs in the Picture

McCarthy Trade Theories Dialed Back

Plugged into the Vikings more than most, Lewis said this week, “My conversations with people internally have not been about trade. They have not been about those comments. They have been about wanting to maximize every single day in the field and making sure that happens. The chips will fall how the chips will fall.”

And truth be told, the comments make a lot more sense than Minnesota being in a big hurry to trade the quarterback they once viewed as their franchise guy.

How They Started in the First Place

The moment Murray signed in Minnesota three months ago, a McCarthy trade rumor mill grew legs, at least little ones. Because NFL media and fans lack patience for a quarterback’s development, they interpreted Murray’s signing as a cue that McCarthy could be on the way out.

Instead, the Vikings’ brass has said every step of the way that it still believes in McCarthy and is willing to be patient with his maturation.

The wildcard is McCarthy’s mindset. If he expressed discontent — telling the Vikings he wanted to be traded — their hands could be tied. Last week, McCarthy spoke to reporters and compared Murray’s arrival and his role on the team as “two guys in high school” on the other side of the room. Those comments only intensified the trade fodder, and here we are.

Just Keep the Murray + McCarthy Setup

In 2025, the Vikings faced a critical decision regarding their quarterback. They had several options: Sam Darnold, who had just led them to a 14-3 season before a late-season collapse; Daniel Jones, a potential challenger for the starting role; or the tempting veteran, Aaron Rodgers. Alternatively, they could have opted for a more gradual approach with McCarthy, allowing him a gentle transition into his first year as a starter.

The Vikings bypassed all these possibilities. They committed solely to McCarthy, hoping for the best. The gamble proved unsuccessful. Minnesota missed the playoffs, McCarthy failed to establish himself as the long-term solution, and by February 2026, the team was still without a solid answer at quarterback.

That’s when Murray’s arrival became a game-changer. He provides the Vikings with something they lacked last year: a genuine backup plan. While McCarthy can still earn the starting job, so can Murray. Minnesota no longer has to stake its entire season on the development of a single young quarterback.

With both players, the likelihood of securing a stable QB1 appears quite higher than it did during last year’s all-in bet on McCarthy.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted last week from OTAs, “Murray made all of the best throws of the practice, demonstrating his downfield touch and accuracy. Nothing McCarthy did was objectionable, and one of his few incompletions — a pass to the flat that cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. nearly intercepted — occurred when two receivers drifted far too close to each other.”

“And while McCarthy’s post-practice comments about their relationship delivered headlines, it was Murray who might have said the most notable four words of the afternoon: ‘My confidence is unshakeable.’”

As an Endgame, Which Teams Might Want McCarthy

Pretend momentarily that McCarthy does fuss and demand a trade. If that happened this summer, he might be looking at a shortlist like this of suitors:

• Arizona Cardinals
• Cleveland Browns
• Indianapolis Colts
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Miami Dolphins
• New York Jets
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ironically, the Cardinals — Murray’s former employer — might make the most sense if Arizona cannot resolve its current and befuddling holdout ordeal with Jacoby Brissett.

Sportsnaut‘s Andrew Buller-Russ noted on the Steelers as a McCarthy trade destination last week, “The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 42-year-old starting quarterback. Eventually, they need to plan for a future after Aaron Rodgers.”

“The Steelers do have a pair of developmental options in 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, plus third-round rookie Drew Allar. Between the two, there could be a future starter in there, but adding a former first-round pick with a winning pedigree can’t hurt either.”

On the whole, though, expect the Vikings to keep McCarthy. There is no real upside to trading him, especially since two of the last three Vikings seasons have been sullied by quarterback injuries. Minnesota needs the quarterback depth.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Capital1 selects Detdet Pepito with the second pick in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Bella Belen wasted no time welcoming childhood friend Detdet Pepito to Capital1, even joking that the prized rookie libero would have to find a different jersey number.

Moments after the Solar Spikers selected Pepito with the second overall pick in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft on Wednesday night at Novotel, Belen playfully reminded her new teammate that No. 4 already belongs to her.

LIST: Who each team picked in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft

“I’m not giving it up. I’m No. 4,” Belen said in Filipino with a laugh. “If she wants No. 4 too, she can wear 04 or 44. This is my number already. Det, bahala ka na sa buhay mo.”

The lighthearted exchange highlighted the excitement surrounding Capital1’s revamped roster as Belen teams up with former college rival Pepito for the first time since elementary school, aside from their stint in the national team pool during the pandemic.

Kidding aside, Belen knows exactly what the University of Santo Tomas captain brings to the table.

Capital1 selects Detdet Pepito with the second pick in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.–PVL PHOTO

“I’m happy because I know what Detdet is capable of, and I know she can help our team a lot. The last time we were teammates was back in elementary school — well, aside from the national team during the post-pandemic period. It’s nice that we’ve been given another opportunity to play together again,” said Belen, who was recently crowned as Rookie of the Year.

When her name was called, Pepito immediately thought of her reunion with Belen and UST teammate Pia Abbu.

“While I was walking on the red carpet, I kept looking at Bella. It brought back a lot of memories because we’ve been teammates since elementary school. Now that I’m in the PVL, I get to be teammates with her again, along with Pia Abbu. I’m really happy and excited because I know I’ll learn a lot from them,” Pepito said.

“I’m super happy and grateful. During my final playing year at UST, this was one of the things I worked hard for and dedicated my performances toward. So it means a lot,” she added.

Detdet Pepito on joining Bella Belen and Capital1. #PVLDraft #PVL2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ

Follow our PVL draft updates here: https://t.co/hoTk3B9zKQ pic.twitter.com/X26QvLGwcc

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— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) June 3, 2026

Pepito will join Roma Mae Doromal and Rachel Jorvina in defending the floor for the Solar Spikers, who are now led by Belen and MVPs Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos.

The two-time UAAP Best Libero is putting a premium on teamwork as she looks to help Capital1 continue its rise in the PVL.

“I think the first step is to slowly build chemistry with my new teammates and adapt to the system they already have. Of course, we’ll dream big. Hopefully, a championship can eventually come our way as well,” said Pepito.

For Belen, it’s simply another manifestation coming true after jokingly recruiting players during the All-Star Game and even after Pepito’s final UAAP appearance.

Now, she finally gets to play alongside one of the teammates she had long wished for.