Stephen Holt (right) and Ginebra went on a hot start that Rey Nambatac and TNT could not overcome. —PBA IMAGES

The TNT Tropang 5G fully understand what it takes to beat Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals—Game 3 of the best-of-seven series proved them right again.

But there’s a difference between knowing and doing something about it.

The Gin Kings went on another hot start and then fought off their opponents’ attempts to rally en route to a 2-1 series edge.

“That’s the biggest problem when you face Ginebra,” Roger Pogoy told the Inquirer after their 116-102 loss at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. “If they start strong and build a big lead, it’s hard to catch up, so you should stick to them to have a bigger chance of winning.”

According to Pogoy, once you allow Ginebra to go on those fast first-quarter starts, you basically dug your own grave.

And on Sunday, that’s what the Tropang 5G did. They fell behind, 35-16, after 12 minutes of action as Stephen Holt fueled the Ginebra’s burst with 15 of his 23 points coming in the first period.

Pogoy tried to rally TNT—he finished with 28 points—but the Tropang 5G couldn’t climb out of the early hole, which went as deep as 22 points at one point.

“We can’t afford to have Ginebra start like that. We’ve faced them a lot in the Finals, and it’s proven that every time they start well, they just keep on going,” Rey Nambatac said, echoing Pogoy’s sentiments.

“That’s the kind of lapses that we should minimize in Game 4 and this series. Hopefully, we find a way to adjust for that.”

After playing well in the first two games of the series, Nambatac was held scoreless in Game 3.

Much of his struggles came because he was in foul trouble early in the game. He finished with five fouls in a limited 17-minute performance. He was averaging 14.5 points per game before Game 3. INQ

The ref was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup

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Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during Game 3 vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES

Scottie Thompson’s triple-double in Barangay Ginebra’s Game 3 victory over TNT had a lot of “first since” written all over it.

Thompson finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Gin Kings’ 116-102 win at the Mall of Asia Arena, recording the 12th triple-double of his PBA career.

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, Thompson became the first player since teammate Justin Brownlee to reach 12 career triple-doubles. More significantly, he is the first local player to record at least 12 career triple-doubles since PBA great Ramon Fernandez achieved the feat in the 1980s.

It was also the league’s first triple-double since Brownlee posted one in Game 6 of the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against guest team Bay Area.

Thompson’s all-around effort helped Ginebra seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 3 also saw Thompson become the 103rd player in PBA history to score 5,000 career points after converting a layup midway through the opening quarter.

Still, Thompson’s milestones took a back seat to the performances of Stephen Holt and Brownlee. Holt snapped out of an offensive slump to score 23 points, while Brownlee erupted for 41 to power the Gin Kings.

“I got to tip my cap to our players,” coach Tim Cone said. “It was the third game in five days, but we basically only played five or six guys in heavy minutes. They really dug deep, knowing this could be a pivotal game in the series.

“A lot of things happened for us and we’re pleased to come away with the victory,” Cone added, while also praising RJ Abarrientos for his floor leadership.

Abarrientos scored 15 points and added five rebounds and six assists. He also hit a crucial four-point play against TNT import Chris McCullough that helped blunt the Tropang 5G’s fourth-quarter rally.

McCullough finished with 44 points in the loss, putting him on the other side of another statistical rarity.

Mangonon noted that Brownlee and McCullough became the first opposing players to score at least 40 points each in a PBA Finals game since Alaska import Ron Riley and Purefoods import Derrick Brown did so in 2002.

Riley scored 43 points while Brown had 45 in Alaska’s 106-102 double-overtime victory in Game 2 of the Governors’ Cup Finals. inq

Watch the best of the action as Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise scores a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their final World Cup warm-up match in Lille.

MATCH REPORT: Olise scores hat-trick in France World Cup send-off win over Northern Ireland

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England cricket captain Ben Stokes is facing removal from the Test squad after breaching team protocols in a nightclub incident alongside teammate Gus Atkinson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Monday evening that the pair became embroiled in an incident in the early hours while celebrating Sunday’s victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is understood that the timing contravened the team’s midnight curfew, which remained in effect despite the match’s conclusion, with suggestions of further breaches.

Reports linking the incident to players from Saracens have led the Gallagher Premiership club to launch an investigation.

The ECB is also conducting an internal inquiry to clarify the exact circumstances, and the matter has been referred to the Cricket Regulator. No further details have been made public.

An ECB statement read: “The ECB is investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand.

“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday when an incident took place.

“We are seeking further information and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.

“The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.”

In the short term, it seems highly likely that both players will lose their places in the squad for the second Test, which starts at the Kia Oval on June 17.

Beyond that, Stokes may need to persuade his employers that he can still hold the office of captain.

The ECB has been at pains to show that lessons have been learned from the winter, with their troubled Ashes tour marred by accusations of unprofessionalism and excessive drinking.

Harry Brook, Stokes’ vice-captain and a candidate to lead in his expected absence, narrowly held on to his role as white-ball skipper after it emerged he was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington immediately prior to the Australia tour.

The Saracens statement read: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.

“The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately.

“We will make no further comment at this time.”

The reports will come as a further embarrassment to England head coach Brendon McCullum, who has defended his players over previous incidents, but conceded in the wake of the 3-0 T20 series win over Sri Lanka in February that players had to be responsible for their own behaviour.

McCullum said: “If you go back to the day I walked into the job, the first thing I said to these boys is don’t do anything that lands you on the front page of the paper and nothing good happens after midnight, but we’re going to have a good time.”

Throughout the summer in OTAs and training camp, the 90 Vikings compete for 53 coveted roster spots and another 16 on the practice squad. Last week, the franchise ended the roster spot chase of a sophomore receiver, who, on paper, looks like an absolute stud.

In his first move with the team, new GM Nolan Teasley adjusted the depth of the receiver position. He signed Michael Briscoe and Trayvon Rudolph. To make room for them, Teasley waived Joaquin Davis, an undrafted rookie from 2025.

Davis initially joined the Vikings in December and the practice-squad player signed a futures contract after the season. After a few practice sessions this summer, the decision-makers have seen enough and showed him the door, despite his prototypical athletic profile.

Davis signed with the Broncos after going unclaimed in the 2025 draft and turned heads throughout the offseason and in training camp. It helps to possess a Randy Moss-like body at 6’4″ and 195 lbs with 4.3 speed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee anything in the big leagues, as there’s more to playing wideout than size and speed.

The technical aspects seemingly remain a work in progress.

NFL draft scout Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile, “Height, length and speed are all check marks in Davis’ favor. His rare blend of length, elite speed and foot quickness will be enticing to a team late in the draft or as a priority free agent. He’s still very unrefined as a route-runner and needs to improve his play strength and catch consistency. While there are issues to work through, his ability to separate and stretch the field creates an intriguing ceiling.”

Now that he’s off the team, the Vikings will continue to evaluate their depth receivers to form the best group behind the elite trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. That group might be the best in the business and unites Jefferson’s technique, Addison’s playmaking ability, and Jennings’ size.

Behind them, the club employs sophomores Tai Felton and Myles Price, who have starred on special teams but barely contributed on offense. Undrafted rookie Dillon Bell has turned some heads in OTAs and could be a player to watch.

Davis was that guy for the Broncos last year, but it hasn’t translated so far.

Broncos reporter Andrew Mason posted on social media last July, “Joaquin Davis, if the Broncos can give him time, could really be something special. The ball just sticks in his hands. Like Velcro when it hits. His wingspan, his stride, his vertical, his speed … man, this dude has some tools. The NCCU product has got serious potential.”

Further competing for roster spots are undrafted rookies Luke Wysong, Marcus Sanders Jr., and Terrill Davis, as well as 2025 practice-squad receiver Dontae Fleming. We’ll get to see more from them in training camp and the preseason.

Davis won’t be the last athletic marvel to discover that the NFL is about more than size and speed. The tools that once made him an intriguing prospect are still there, but they weren’t enough to convince the Vikings to keep him around.

As training camp approaches, Minnesota’s receiver competition rolls on without him, and another player will get the opportunity Davis couldn’t turn into a roster spot.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

The heightened security and anticipation for President Donald Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night at Madison Square Garden didn’t please at least one of the San Antonio Spurs stars.

De’Aaron Fox said Trump, who became the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game after entering MSG 40 minutes prior to tip-off, was “inconvenient on everybody else.” But his head coach, Mitch Johnson, had a contradicting statement about the situation.

“No, I have not felt any inconvenience or – we’ve got a big game tonight,” Johnson responded during a pre-game presser conference, “and trying to continue to find a way to play closer to our standard and our identity than we had in the first two games.

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San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson watches the game from the sidelines against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., on March 25, 2025. (David Reginek-Imagn Images)

“There’s a lot going on, and I’d much rather be a part of it than not.”

The enhanced security protocols, which included Secret Service, TSA and more joining the NYPD, shook up midtown Manhattan around MSG on Monday. A security wall was placed around the arena, while those fans lucky enough to snag tickets have been seen moving in slow masses due to the extra security checkpoints.

DEMOCRAT HAKEEM JEFFRIES RIPS TRUMP FOR “RUINING” KNICKS’ FIRST NBA FINALS GAME IN 27 YEARS

Fox spoke at the Spurs’ shootaround on Monday, where he was admittedly irked about his usual routine being changed.

“We got, obviously, more security. We gotta like send stuff early. I think our busses are a little earlier.”

Fox also noted being “screened like it’s TSA,” with photos surfacing on social media of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama getting screened by security personnel before entering “The Garden.”

“It’s a little inconvenient for the people that’s got to play, but it is what it is,” Fox added.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox calls out to teammates during the first half of an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Jan. 27, 2025. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

Knicks head coach Mike Brown didn’t answer when asked if it was appropriate for the president to attend the game, but he did answer what his own commute was like back at home after winning the first two games of this best-of-seven series on the road.

“A lot of people text me all the time about this and that, and for me, my focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now. I feel our group is that way, too,” he said.

“Coming here, I stayed downtown because we were practicing here. So I stayed downtown at the team hotel. I’ve never done that on a game before. But it’s easier because we’re practicing here, and so staying downtown and coming from our hotel to here was shorter driver or a shorter commute than what I’m used to coming from Westchester County.”

Members of the U.S. Secret Service walk the perimeter of a security fence outside Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026, in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

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Trump has attended numerous sporting events since beginning his second term, including the Super Bowl in New Orleans two seasons ago, the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.

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Former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s friendly with Ukraine on Sunday evening and was taken to hospital

Christian Eriksen has confirmed he is back home and with his family after collapsing again while playing for Denmark on Sunday night. Eriksen was taken to hospital after he collapsed during the second-half of his side’s game against Ukraine in Odense.

Play halted after Eriksen appeared to clutch his chest and fall to the ground in the 64th minute and staff immediately rushed to attend to the Dane as many of his team-mates broke down in tears. The former United star momentarily lost consciousness but managed to walk himself off the pitch after treatment.

He was then rushed to the hospital for more tests, but confirmed on Monday that he has now returned home and also stated that the situation was different from when he collapsed on the pitch five years ago.

Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “I want to let everyone know that I am doing well and that I am home with my family.

“As you can probably imagine, receiving a shock from my ICD has had a major impact on both me and my family, but I want to reassure everyone that this was a different situation from what happened in 2021. I am feeling good, and my recovery has already started.

“In addition to being grateful for the support and assistance of all the players and the medical team on the field, I am also incredibly grateful to the doctors who have cared for me and my heart over the years.

“Thanks to their expertise, my ICD did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it. For now, my focus is on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation, and playing football with my children.”

In 2021, Eriksen collapsed during a European Championship match in Copenhagen against Finland ⁠and was given life-saving CPR treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He was later fitted with a special heart-starting device ⁠known as an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD).

The ICD device enabled him to return to football, although Inter Milan’s regulations surrounding the medical implant prevented him from continuing his career at the club.

Eriksen subsequently joined Brentford to relaunch his playing days in February 2022 before going on to represent United and, now, Wolfsburg.

In a message of support on Sunday night, United said: “Everybody at Manchester United is encouraged by Denmark’s update on Christian Eriksen following today’s abandoned friendly against Ukraine.

“The club is sending strength and love to Christian and the Eriksen family as we await further news.”

Argentine right back Gonzalo Montiel had the world in the palm of his hand, and the fate of his country in his foot. Billions of soccer fans were on the edge of their seats watching a World Cup final for the ages. His team was tied at 3 after extra time, sending the game into penalties. Kylian Mbappe scored all of France’s goals, while Messi found the back of the net on a penalty kick. Yet here Argentina was, one PK away from their first-ever World Cup trophy. Montiel stepped up and shot a laser to the left side of the net, while the goalie dove the other way. Jubilation for Argentina, devastation for France. A friend claimed this game was the greatest World Cup game he’s ever seen. That’s up for debate.

What’s not up for debate is that one of the most exciting sporting events in the world kicks off this Thursday. Mexico will take the field to face South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with a 1 pm start time. This game will be followed by the Republic of Korea’s match against the Czech Republic in Guadalajara.

The next day, the United States takes on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. The 2026 World Cup features plenty of headlines and obstacles, but first, let’s highlight the history that will be made.

This is the first World Cup hosted by three countries. North America (Canada, USA, Mexico) will have 16 sites, and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has the honor of hosting the Finals. There are two venues in Canada (Vancouver, Toronto), three in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey), and across the coasts in the USA, except for Kansas City.

With three hosts, that means more teams as FIFA expanded to 48 countries after having 32 in the past. Four teams will be making their World Cup debut, and the spotlight will be on them. Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curacao look to prove they earned the chance to run with the juggernauts on a global stage. Curacao is located in the southern Caribbean and has a population of 158,000 people, making it the smallest country to play in the summer event. To compare that to somewhere in the US, the city of Bellevue, WA, has roughly the same population.

From a country’s debut to two players who have ruled the turf for decades. Lionel Messi has the most appearances with 26, while Cristiano Ronaldo is in fifth at 22. Both will be playing this summer in what could be their last World Cup, since Messi is 38 and Ronaldo is 41. The record across the board goes to former USWNT midfielder Kristine Lilly. She has played in 30 tournament games, and that streak may never be broken.

Meanwhile, Brazilian superstar Neymar had to earn his spot on the team. He made the squad despite dealing with a calf strain. While he had to fight for his spot, Kylian Mbappe was a sure lock for France. The forward scored all three of their goals in the last World Cup final, and he is unbelievable to watch at 27 years old. Harry Kane represents England, while Mohamed Salah will lead Egypt. Saleh was rumored to go to the MLS, specifically FC Cincinnati, but talks fizzled out, and he remains in Liverpool. To round it out, Christian Pulisic continues to be the star for the USA.

The expectations for the United States are very high, but the odds of them reaching the Round of 16 are slim. Gone are the days of Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Landon Donovan. In their place is a youth movement led by coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is from Argentina and managed Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea.

The squad he selected includes seven players from the MLS, sixteen across Europe, and one playing in Mexico. Defender Tim Ream was assigned captain for this year’s tourney. One notable absence from the team is Lyons midfielder Tanner Tessmann. Fans and analysts alike believed he was a lock to make the team, but it didn’t happen.

The red, white, and blue are in Group D along with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. This year is the 250th birthday of the USA, and the pressure is on for this team to give Americans a reason to celebrate.

Canada is in Group B with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and Qatar. Qatar hosted the last tournament, but unlike then, they had to earn their spot this time around. The third host, Mexico, will have to duel it out with South Africa, South Korea, and the Czech Republic in Group A.

For a complete picture of the World Cup Group stages, here is a link of all the countries and the groups they’re in.

Group C looks the most intriguing of them all. The global juggernaut Brazil is joined by Haiti, Scotland, and Morocco. Remember in 2022, Morocco made headlines by becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals. Grab the popcorn and enjoy Morocco vs Brazil on Saturday, June 13th at 5 pm. It’s going to be worth watching. Brazil also holds the honor of World Cup supremacy, having won it five times.

Despite them having won the World Cup the most, Brazil has the sixth-best odds according to Fan Duel. Both Spain and France are favorites to win this summer, while Curacao, Haiti, and Cape Verde have the lowest odds. The United States is listed at +6000 by FanDuel and has the best chances out of the three host countries to win it all.

Now that we’ve covered the teams, key players, and odds, let’s look at some hot topics heading into this summer. Due to the war in Ukraine, Russia will not be participating once again in a global sporting event. FIFA allowed Iran to be stationed in Mexico amidst turmoil with the USA.

The unfortunate reality is that some players will be representing their countries without fans in attendance. Due to a travel ban issued by the Trump administration, both Haiti and Iran’s fans won’t be able to witness their teams play in person. Fans from both India and China were close to being unable to watch any of the World Cup. However, in the last week, they’ve made media rights deals to broadcast the games in their country. Lastly, media members from African countries and Iran will not have Visas given to them for coverage.

Americans also face their fair share of hurdles. The transit tickets are in the triple digits, and less than six percent of those have been sold. Not only that, but parking is also a hefty expense, with fans in LA having to fork over 250 dollars. Even more bizarre, according to the Athletic, FIFA released a statement telling fans they cannot bring a water bottle into any venues. They have since flipped their position on the matter, and now grant fans the freedom to bring their bottles.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a lot of criticism for ticket prices as well. The United States opener against Paraguay hasn’t sold out yet, and may not be at full capacity when the first pass is initiated in the game. Ticket prices start at 319 for Group Stage Games, but increase to 1360 for the quarterfinals. The World Cup Final in New Jersey will cost even the most enthusiastic soccer fans 20,000 on average. Gianni Infantino has responded by saying what most leaders would. The demand is incredibly high, and the tournament is prestigious.

Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City, wants his citizens to have affordable ways to watch the games in his city. Whether or not his efforts will pay off remains to be seen. President Donald Trump has expressed excitement for this edition of the World Cup, but also acknowledged the soaring ticket prices. Claudia Pardo, the President of Mexico, had to squash the doubts that her country wouldn’t be able to host any games due to internal conflict. Lastly, the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Karney, is thrilled to be a host and got to hoist the trophy alongside the FIFA President in a media presser. With three countries preparing for tourists and outstanding soccer games, let’s hope this World Cup is like no other.

The official World Cup song is called ‘Dai Dai’ by Shakira and Burna Boy. It’s not as memorable as her past songs, but Shakira’s presence continues her reign of dominance under the world’s brightest lights.

We will end this with a prediction by the German economist Joachim Klement. He has predicted the last three winners of the World Cup and was interviewed by CBS. The economist believes the Netherlands will win the WC and lift the trophy in New Jersey. He added that Japan was a dark horse and could surprise many. When it comes to how far the USA goes, he said they can get out of the Group Stage, and the odds get slimmer the further they go.

In the next days leading up to the event, there is bound to be more breaking news around how this World Cup will operate. Anything can happen, and whether or not fans show up due to financial burdens, this will be a tournament where the winner gets bragging rights around the world for the next four years.