KAYA FC–Iloilo made sure there was no repeat of last week’s stalemate against Mendiola FC 1991, putting in an assured performance en route to a 5-1 victory in Philippines Football League action at the Aboitiz Pitch on Wednesday. Jordan Mintah put in another outstanding shift for the hosts as he bagged four goals in the contest.

HOUSTON -- Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow has been granted the clearance to work deep into Game 5 of this American League Division Series on Thursday.

It didn’t take long for A.J. Hinch to publicly announce that Justin Verlander would be his Game Four starter. The body that was Game Three of the American League Division Series hadn’t even turned cold yet, but he felt he couldn’t take any chances. Not with the Rays, supposedly overmatched against aces, instead blitzing Zack Greinke for six runs on five hits in just three and two-thirds innings. The extension of the future Hall of Famer’s playoff woes forced the Astros manager to tap Justin Verlander in hopes of a repeat of their dominant win in the opener.

THE TNT KaTropa remained on the top of the heap in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup after notching their fifth win in as many games with a hard-earned 103-100 victory over the Northport Batang Pier on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

THE National University Bulldogs staved off a major meltdown in UAAP Season 82 action on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, defeating the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 85-79, in overtime to book their second win in the tournament.

THE San Sebastian Stags return to National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 action today looking for a win that could well secure for them a Final Four spot.

ALREADY assured of a spot in next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena said he is now channelling his focus on having a solid campaign at the 30^th Southeast Asian Games, which the country is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

WHAT was supposed to be Brave Combat Federation’s second Manila event later this year is no longer happening after the promotion decided to defer it and play Romania instead.

Teimour Radjabov defeated Ding Liren 6-4 in the finals to win the 2019 World Cup. He had to survive a grueling 25-day event with games everyday and only two one-day breaks. Round about the 15^th day of competition the participants were already complaining about exhaustion and this was only the halfway point!

By all accounts, Ben Simmons was the star of the Sixers’ preseason match yesterday. He certainly put up a heady stat line that included eight caroms and seven dimes, not to mention 21 markers off just 14 shots. For all his usual array of close-in makes, however, his most significant score came via a contested pull-up from 27 feet out. Launched with 2.3 ticks left in the second quarter of a blowout, it got leather and nylon to meet, resulting in hearty applause from the 13,407 who trekked to the Wells Fargo Center. No matter that the score was then 79-41 against the hapless Guangzhou Long-Lions, and that, despite the coverage, he faced no pressure in taking it after milking the clock close to halftime.

THE University of the East Red Warriors are out to sustain their fighting form of late when they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball action today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.