AS THE investigation on possible violations of some collegiate teams of government’s health and safety protocols during this time of the pandemic continues, the head of the top sports agency of the land moved to chime in and put things in perspective.

TORONTO — Serena Williams shook off some COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) layoff rust to grind out a 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(0) win over Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus on Monday to move into the third round of the Western and Southern Open.

AFTER parading his wares in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga is set to make his ONE Championship debut this week.

Even by National Basketball Association standards, the stepback three-point shot is a low-percentage one. While taken to create significant separation — up to six feet when well executed — from a defender who will then be reacting too late, it likewise increases the subsequent attempt’s degree of difficulty. Don’t tell that to Luka Doncic, though; the Mavericks All-Star has it as an effective part of his arsenal, and all and sundry have no choice but to accept the outcome either way. The operative word is “effective” as opposed to “efficient,” so its launch is accompanied by anticipation; in the make-or-miss league, the make-or-miss proposition is accepted with bated breath.

LUKA DONCIC’S 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime lifted the Dallas Mavericks to a 135-133 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and even up the teams’ first-round Western Conference playoff series as two games apiece on Sunday in the NBA bubble near Orlando.

UNABLE to train on-court as a group for the few months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Alaska Aces are girding to begin some training this week as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) makes its long-delayed return to activities.

LISBON — Bayern Munich were crowned European champions for the sixth time after beating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-0 thanks to a second-half header from former PSG youth academy graduate Kingsley Coman in an absorbing Champions League final on Sunday.

ONE of the main players in the local boxing scene ended last week its successful run as Cebu-based ALA Boxing decided to close down.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (PSG) manager Thomas Tuchel says Lionel Messi would be welcome at the club if he ever decided to leave Barcelona but he does not expect the Argentine forward to do so.

THE Western and Southern Open lost its top two women’s seeds on Sunday with number one Karolina Pliskova and number two Sofia Kenin crashing out of the US Open tuneup.

DUSTIN JOHNSON continued his red hot play at Northern Trust Open on Saturday curling in a 40-foot eagle putt on 18 to give him a five shot cushion going into the final round of the FedExCup playoffs opener.

LEBRON JAMES recorded 38 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series on Saturday night near Orlando.