INDIAN WELLS — World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the tournament announced on Wednesday, in the latest setback for the player due to his refusal to take the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

Considering the bated breath with which the Sixers’ homestand against the Nets is being awaited, the schedule fittingly has it as one of just two matches on tap today.

MULTI-TITLED coach Ramil de Jesus will make his much awaited return to the Premier Volleyball League after more than a decade as his F2 Logistics clashes with Black Mamba Army on Wednesday at the start of the league’s second pro-season at the Paco Arena in Manila.

SORSOGON CITY — Defending champion George Oconer and 2019 titlist Ronald Oranza will try to spearhead the Navy Standard Insurance team minus its former team captain as they race in the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas, which hits the road with a 10-stage race tomorrow here and ends on March 20 in Baguio City.

NATIONAL esports team backer Smart Communications, Inc., further bolstered its mission for the country’s esports promotion and development with the launch of GIGA Arena.

SYDNEY FC dashed Kaya FC-Iloilo’s dream of making a second straight appearance in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League main tournament with a comprehensive 5-0 romp in Tuesday’s Preliminary Round Playoff at the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

ALEX M. Eala slightly moved up in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ladder after gallant stands in three straight tournaments in France.

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool stuttered into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win over Inter Milan after suffering a 1-0 loss to the Italian side, who was reduced to 10 men, at Anfield on Tuesday.

MUNICH, Germany — Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski grabbed the earliest hat trick in Champions League history with three goals by the 23rd minute as the Germans steamrollered Salzburg 7-1 on Tuesday to book a place in the quarterfinals with an 8-2 aggregate score.

FIVE different golfers have a chance to sit on the proverbial throne as world No. 1 at the conclusion of The Players Championship this weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

INDIAN Wells organizers said on Tuesday that world number two Novak Djokovic had been placed in the tournament’s draw but it was unclear if the Serbian would be permitted to enter the United States.

DEANDRE Ayton posted his 20th double-double of the season and Cameron Payne had 18 points and 12 assists as the Phoenix Suns rallied late for a 102-99 win over the host Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.