Player Profile Series: Cherry Nunag’s rise beyond the norm

Alas Pilipinas secured the bronze medal after beating Indonesia, 27-25, 27-29, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11, in the 2026 Southeast Asian Girls' U18 Volleyball Championship. 

This marks their second consecutive Bronze Medal after they clinching the first in last year's tournament.

Ella Gonzalvo also won the Best Outside Hitter Award in the tournament. 

Meanwhile, Thailand successfully defended their title against Vietnam, 25-23, 29-27, 25-22, and was crowned champion once again in the Princess Cup. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a 3-year contract extension, retaining him to be a key part of the team until the 2028-2029 NBA season. 

The extension will pay him $75 million in new money for the next three years, with a total of $134 million guaranteed over the next five years with OKC.

The German center's impact on this young OKC team has extended beyond the stat sheet, as he played a significant role in helping the franchise win the 2025 NBA championship. 

During his two years in Oklahoma, he averaged 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as their starting center.

The long-awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., originally scheduled for September 2026, has been postponed, according to Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur, made the announcement on Friday.

Pacquiao camp stated the postponement was caused by volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock completely surrounding the Mayweather camp.

Among the the reported legal disputes is a lawsuit filed by Events company CSI against the american boxer, alleging he and his camp failed to fulfill the agreement granting the exclusive promotional rights for the rematch, and an exhibition match between him and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. 

The lawsuit reportedly involves at least $4.65 million for the american boxer to recover. 

The possibility of this rematch will likely happen on early 2027, should the Mayweather camp and CSI be fully resolve their internal contract disputes out of court.

Furthermore, Pacman, who just came out of retirement last year and fought Marrio Barrios that ended in a draw, has begun exploring other options for his next fight this year. 

Gilas Pilipinas forward/center Jack Danielle Animam will be playing for Energa Toruń, a Polish women's basketball club. 

Ahead of her debut in the Orlen Women's Basketball League this coming season, the management expressed their excitement to have her on the team. 

"We are delighted to officially announce that Jack Danielle Animam is the newest player of our club! Standing at 193 cm (6'4"), the center/power forward (born in 1998) will make her debut in the Orlen Women's Basketball League this coming season, writing a brand-new chapter in the history of basketball in Toruń," they wrote. 

Animam, consistently known as a double-double machine wherever she plays, is expected to play a significant role on her new team as they try to compete for a championship.

AJ Dybantsa has officially been selected by the Washington Wizards with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the 19-year-old prodigy is already looking ahead to this next chapter of his basketball journey.

Speaking during the NBA Draft press conference, Dybantsa reflected on what it means to achieve one of basketball's biggest milestones while acknowledging that his job is not yet finished.

"I know I have a lot of work to do, but obviously, this night is just a celebration of all the hard work I've done in the past, so tonight I'm gonna celebrate. But, you know, I got to get to the plane tomorrow morning, and I'll probably work out tomorrow if I can, if they let me," he said.

Dybantsa's selection was also a historic moment for Brigham Young University (BYU). He became the first player in school history to be drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft, an achievement that means a great deal to him.

"It means a lot. They welcomed me with open arms... I'm giving my most thanks to BYU for believing in me. BYU family all around."

As he begins his NBA career, Dybantsa believes having experienced veterans around him will be essential to his development as a player. He specifically pointed to former All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis as players he hopes to learn from.

"Just coming to the league and not having any vets is probably tough. But having vets, like All-Star guys like Trae Young and Anthony Davis, guys who've won championships like Anthony Davis, I think I can pick their brains to get easy knowledge," he said.

Dybantsa also expressed confidence in the overall 2026 draft class, highlighting the years of competition and brotherhood made among many of the players selected.

"I've been playing against or with these guys since we were about 13 or 14 years old. I've been going to NBA camps, Nike Academy, and seeing the same faces. It shows credit to our hard work, discipline, and focus that we're able to do this for such a long time.

"I think down the road we can continue to do this. They've been comparing us to certain draft classes, and obviously, we're going to have to see how it plays out and how we do in the league. But if we're talking in existence, that would be very special."

Dybantsa enters the NBA carrying high expectations as he prepares to lead the Wizards into a new era, with an exciting and thrilling future still waiting to unfold.