Author: INQUIRER.net

Savouge players celebrate during a win over ProVolley Academy Australia in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational semifinals.–Photo from Spikers’ Turf

MANILA, Philippines — Savouge Aesthetics remained unbeaten in two games in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals after dominating ProVolley Academy of Australia, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19,  on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Savouge coach Sydney Calderon had the luxury of fielding all of her players with JC Enarciso running the plays with 14 excellent sets and Hero Austria scoring nine points, only seeing action in the third set.

READ: Savouge fends off UST to open semifinals

Mark Calado, Shawie Caritativo, Daniel Nicolas, and Renzel Antonio had six points each for a 2-0 record before facing Cignal next on Monday at the same venue at 3 p.m.

“It’s good. This is really the goal. I told them, let’s take it one game at a time. It helps build our confidence,” said Calderon in Filipino.

“Our next games are against Cignal, Criss Cross, and then Kindai. I told them it’s good that we’re gaining momentum before we face those teams. But the players told me they’re ready to go to battle, they’re here already, so we’re not letting this chance slip away.”

Calderon, who steered the team to back-to-back bronze in the past two conferences, has one reminder to her squad: The Finals.

“That’s what we’re holding on to. I told them that during the eliminations, our performance wasn’t really that good. But this is the real fight.

READ: Spikers’ Turf: Savouge boots out Navy, VNS posts first win

This is what will set the tone and determine how we’ll finish the season,” said Calderon.

“But again, like my players said, they want to reach the finals. I told them, if we want to make the finals, we need to fight. We need to have a championship mindset.”

Meanwhile, ProVolley Academy fell to 0-2 after also absorbing a straight-sets loss to Kindai University on Friday.

Filipino spiker Jude Aspero led the Australians with seven points and 16 excellent receptions, while team captain Samuel Hansen and Isaac Relova added six points each. 

ProVolley Academy braces for Criss Cross also on Monday at 5 p.m.

Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle during a game against PLDT in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz found its stride when it mattered most, gaining momentum late in the seeding race ahead of the PVL Reinforced Conference quarterfinals.

Fueling that surge and silencing doubts brought on by their early struggles was Brooke Van Sickle, the Filipino-American workhorse who has been the Angels’ driving force for the past two years.

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz edges PLDT, seals quarterfinals duel vs Creamline

Van Sickle unleashed a trademark triple-double of 27 points, 15 digs, and 14 receptions to tow Petro Gazz from eighth to fifth place with a gritty 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 25-21 victory over PLDT to close out the preliminary round on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Her two-way brilliance earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of November 18 to 20.

The 27-year-old outside hitter believes the Angels — twice champions in import-laced play — have rediscovered their “best volleyball” at the perfect time as they push to get their redemption bid in full swing after last year’s brutal quarterfinal exit against their incoming playoff rival, Creamline.

“We’re definitely moving more cohesive as the games go on, so I’m really excited for that. I’m really proud of everyone stepping up and playing some gritty defense,” Van Sickle said, after Petro Gazz sealed back-to-back wins for a 5-3 record heading into the playoffs.

“We’re stepping in the right direction, slowly. It’s just a matter of working at practice and getting the reps in. I think we’ve got the team that gels the best right now.”

READ: Petro Gazz Angels topple an empire and change PVL landscape

Van Sickle took the citation in near-unanimous fashion, edging Cignal’s Katrin Trebichavska, her Petro Gazz teammate Lindsey Vander Weide, Capital1 ace Oleksandra Bytsenko, ZUS Coffee’s AC Miner, Farm Fresh setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, and Choco Mucho veteran Royse Tubino in deliberations by reporters covering the country’s pioneering pro volleyball league.

After a quiet start, the Petro Gazz star picked up steam as the conference progressed, finishing the preliminaries eighth in digging (3.23 digs per set), ninth in spiking (35.48% success rate), and tenth in scoring (160 points).

Now looking to erase the sting of last year’s early playoff exit to the Cool Smashers, the two-time PVL Most Valuable Player knows the Angels must be in top form if they hope to reach the Reinforced Conference semifinals for the first time since winning their last import-backed crown in 2022.

“They’re a really tough team. We need to go back, watch film, make adjustments, and be on our A-game because they’re going to bring theirs,” said the 5-foot-9 attacker.

Petro Gazz and Creamline will square off in a knockout match on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the winner punching a ticket to Thursday’s semifinals.

Gabrielle Henry of Jamaica remains confined in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in Thailand, three days after she fell off the stage during the Miss Universe 2025 preliminary evening gown competition.

In a statement released on Instagram Friday, Nov. 21, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization said that Henry’s sister, Dr. Phylicia Henry-Samuels, shared to them that the beauty queen’s condition has improved slower than expected. 

“Gabby isn’t doing as well as we would have hoped, but the hospital continues to treat her accordingly,” Dr. Henry-Samuels said, noting that doctors have ordered Henry to remain in the ICU for at least seven days for close monitoring and specialized care.

Henry was walking the runway in a sequined orange gown and high heels on Nov. 19 when she slipped and fell off the edge of the stage. She was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. 

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A post shared by Miss Universe Jamaica (@officialmissuniversejamaica)

The organization appealed for continued prayers while asking the public to refrain from spreading “negative comments, misinformation, or speculation that may cause further distress to the family.” 

“During this profoundly difficult time, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization is earnestly calling on Jamaicans at home and across the Diaspora to continue keeping Gabrielle in their prayers,” it continued. 

The organization earlier said that Henry was not suffering from life-threatening injuries, and Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha, who visited the beauty queen, said she had no broken bones and was receiving proper medical attention. 

Henry’s accident came before the controversial results of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, where Fatima Bosch of Mexico emerged as the winner and Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo finished as third runner-up. /ra

SALT LAKE CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Oklahoma City had a 33-4 run and the defending champion Thunder routed the Utah Jazz 144-112 on Friday night in NBA Cup play to improve to 16-1 and push their winning streak to eight.

Gilgeous-Alexander was shooting less than 27% on 3-pointers after seven games but has made half his long-range shots since then and all three attempts from beyond the arc against Utah to go along with 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 10 of 12 from the line.

READ: NBA: Chet Holmgren, Thunder roll past reeling Pelicans

It was a rainstorm in Oklahoma City tonight ⛈️

They became the 6th team in NBA history to hit 23+ threes on 60+ 3P%!

They move to 16-1 on the season and 2-0 in the @emirates NBA Cup. pic.twitter.com/oSjQSPFYu9

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025

Isaiah Joe scored 16 points and Jaylin Williams made five 3s for a season-high 15 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder — 2-0 in the NBA Cup — shot 61.4% from the field and a season-best 62.2% on 3s, making 23 of 37.

Keyonte George scored 20 points and Lauri Markkanen added 19 for Utah. The Jazz are 5-10 overall and 0-3 in tournament play.

The Thunder forced 28 turnovers and turned them into 44 points, disrupting the Jazz sets and visibly frustrating Utah’s players.

Utah led 84-77 before the Thunder finished the third quarter on the 33-4 run, including 22 points in a row. Oklahoma City is the league’s best third-quarter team and showed it by forcing nine turnovers with suffocating pressure defense while shooting 9 for 13 from 3-point range.

READ: NBA: Thunder dominate Luka Doncic, Lakers

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 as OKC outscored Utah 43-20 in the period. Incredibly, Utah led by 18 points (39-21) before OKC led by 36 late in the game.

The Jazz scored 44 points in the first quarter, more than any team has tallied in any quarter against the Thunder this season, to lead 44-30.

The Jazz led the entire first half but the Thunder closed to 68-67 and Coach Mark Daigneault was assessed a technical foul arguing a non-call at the halftime buzzer.

Up next

Thunder: Host Portland on Sunday night.

Jazz: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) shoots next to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

SAN FRANCISCO — Deni Avdija had 26 points, a career-high 14 assists and six rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Golden State Warriors 127-123 in the NBA Cup on Friday night.

Avdija shot only 6 for 14 from the floor but made 12 of 13 free throws, including two with 9.8 seconds remaining as the Trail Blazers beat the Warriors on the road for the first time since Jan. 1, 2021.

READ: NBA: Vucevic’s buzzer-beating 3 gives Bulls win over Blazers

Deni Avdija and Caleb Love led the Trail Blazers to victory with some career showings!

Avdija: 26 PTS, 6 REB, 13 AST (career-high)Love: 26 PTS, 5 AST, 6 3PM (all career-highs)

Portland is 2-1 in West Group C 🏆 pic.twitter.com/a96coA8ehW

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025

Donovan Clingan had a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Caleb Love scored 26 points, Toumani Camara added 20 and Sidy Cissoko scored 15.

Portland led the entire fourth quarter but Golden State kept it close behind another mercurial night from Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP scored 38 points and made nine 3-pointers, two in the final minutes to keep the Warriors close.

Trailing 115-111 with 4:08 remaining, the Warriors missed a chance to get closer when Butler was called for an offensive foul while battling for a rebound. Golden State coach Steve Kerr challenged but the call was upheld.

Butler scored 20 points and Brandin Podziemski each scored 20 points. Draymond Green had 11 points and eight rebounds in the Warriors’ third consecutive loss.

NBA: Huerter, Vucevic hit big 3s late as Bulls hold off Nuggets

Portland is 2-1 in Cup play, while the Warriors are 1-2.

Prior to the game the Warriors celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1975 championship, with several players from that team including Hall of Famer Rick Barry attending.

Portland got off to a quick start behind Camara and Clingan, who combined for 16 points and six rebounds in the first quarter

Curry and the Warriors turned the tables with a 44-point second quarter. Curry made five 3-pointers and was 6-for-6 to help Golden State to a 72-65 lead at the break.

Up next

Trail Blazers: Play the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Warriors: Face the Jazz at home Monday.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) questions a call from referee Courtney Kirkland (61) with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON — Nikola Jokic had 34 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Jamal Murray added 26 points and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets held on to beat the Houston Rockets 112-109 on Friday night.

Jokic, who scored 24 points in the second half, finished 11 of 20 from the field. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 12 points off the bench for the Nuggets, who shot 53%.

READ: NBA: Nuggets roll past Pelicans, Nikola Jokic posts triple-double

Nikola Jokić turns in another stellar performance!

🃏 34 PTS🃏 10 REB🃏 9 AST🃏 2 STL🃏 4 3PM

Denver wins their 9th in 10 games and moves to 2-1 in West Group C! pic.twitter.com/EbTVQnisAb

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025

Denver improved to 2-1 in NBA Cup play with one game remaining on Nov. 28 at home against the Spurs, while the Rockets dropped to 1-2 in NBA Cup play, with one game left at the Warriors on Wednesday.

Reed Sheppard scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Rockets, who had their five-game winning streak snapped. He had 20 points in the first half on 8-for-11 shooting, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.

Amen Thompson added 22 points and seven rebounds, Jabari Smith Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Alperen Sengun had 14 points and Kevin Durant finished with 13 points for Houston, which shot 44%.

READ: NBA: Huerter, Vucevic hit big 3s late as Bulls hold off Nuggets

Trailing 92-87 with 9 minutes remaining, Denver went on a 20-9 run to take a six-point lead on two free throws by Murray with 23 seconds remaining. Houston scored 8 of the next 11 points to cut the lead to 110-109 on a 3-pointer by Smith with 5 seconds remaining. Jokic made two free throws with just under 3 seconds left, and Sengun’s halfcourt heave at the buzzer missed.

Aaron Gordon exited with a right hamstring strain less than 3 1/2 minutes into the first quarter after falling to the court while driving. Gordon, who missed the Nuggets’ last game Wednesday at the Pelicans due to injury, was slow to get up and limped to the locker room.

Up next

Nuggets: Host the Kings on Saturday night.

Rockets: At the Suns Monday to begin a four-game road trip.