TORONTO -- Kevin Durant’s long-awaited return from injury on Monday with the Golden State Warriors season on the line in the NBA Finals was short-lived as he suffered an Achilles injury in his first game in over a month.

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP does not come back to Manila until August but this early much buzz is generating behind it after it announced a stacked card for the event.

AFTER a 15-year absence, the Blu Boys are back in the World Men’s Softball Championships set from June 13 to 24 in Prague, Czech Republic. The country’s national men’s softball team will face Cuba on June 14 in its first game in Group A where defending champion New Zealand and Asian champion Japan are also playing.

LOS ANGELES -- A premium iron player will likely win this week’s US Open at Pebble Beach, where Zach Johnson has almost as good a chance of prevailing as Dustin Johnson in the third major championship of the year.

Action in the midseason tournament Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup is now in full swing with all competing teams having taken the hardwood.

For a while there, it looked as if the Raptors were on their way to making a date with destiny by once again riding on the coattails of superstar Kawhi Leonard. When he checked in with nine minutes and change left in the fourth quarter, they hitherto seemed unable to overcome the obstacle erected courtesy of the cameo appearance of injured Kevin Durant. But no matter; with the game on the line and the championship within sight, he promptly went to work. In a little over three and a half minutes, he came up with a block, a rebound, two points, an assist, a rebound, three points, two points, three points, and two points to preside over a 12-point turnaround and get them six up with just about the same period left to play. Scotiabank Arena was ready to explode.

THE Philippine national youth team will see action at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece beginning later this month boasting one of the taller lineups in the squad’s rich history that has many excited.

PARIS -- Defying the years and one of the most fierce onslaughts he has ever faced at Roland Garros, Rafa Nadal won his 12^th French Open crown on Sunday, leaving Dominic Thiem crushed and a packed Parisian stadium shaking their heads in wonder.

SEEMINGLY having found their collective groove and form in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, the Alaska Aces look sustain it as they go deeper in the tournament.

JEREMY MARTICIO, a grade 8 student of Pulo National High School in Cabuyao City, Laguna dominated the Meralco Youth Rapid Chess tourney last Sunday at the Multi-Purpose hall, Meralco compound, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City.

With the change of administration of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) there have been some rule changes in the qualification process for the world chess championship.

Kevin Durant finally trekked to the court with his teammates the other day. In the intervening month since he was sidelined late in Game Five of the Golden State Warriors’ semifinal-round series due to a right calf strain, he had seen them crest with defining performances to earn a fifth straight attempt at claiming the Larry O’Brien Trophy. In dispatching the Rockets and Blazers en route, they appeared to show they would do just fine without him. Against the Toronto Raptors, though, their supposed progress in his absence proved to be fool’s gold. And, with a lone win to their name after four matches in the Finals, they found themselves needing his services simply to survive. Needless to say, his presence in their short practice on the eve of Game Five was a decidedly welcome one.