Sports

Major League Baseball’s non-tender deadline on November 15, 2024, sent 66 players into free agency, including Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García, catcher Jonah Heim and right-hander Josh Sborz. Another 34 arbitration-eligible players agreed to contracts before the cutoff, led by Kansas City infielder Jonathan India at $8 million for 2025. The moves reshaped rosters and payroll plans across the league and expanded the free agent market ahead of the 2025 season.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz attended the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City to support Filipino junior gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo, younger brother of world champion Carlos Yulo, during the men’s all-around final. Yulo did not reach the podium in the all-around standings, but Diaz met him after the event and urged him not to quit and to keep working on his routines for future competitions. The Junior World Championships gathered young gymnasts from multiple countries, with the Philippine delegation using the meet to evaluate its junior athletes under international standards. Diaz’s presence highlighted athlete-to-athlete support within Philippine sports as officials and coaches monitored performances and prepared for upcoming international events.

Philippine gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo finished eighth in the men’s all-around final at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, scoring 78.731 points among 24 finalists. His Top 10 placement came in a strong field of junior gymnasts from various countries, marking a notable result for the Philippines’ junior gymnastics program on the world stage.

The NBA announced that more than 60 million viewers in the United States watched nationally televised games on NBC/Peacock, Amazon Prime Video and ESPN during the first month of the 2024-2025 regular season, marking the league’s highest opening-month total in 15 years, excluding the 2011-2012 season that began on Christmas Day.

The Dallas Mavericks announced that guard Dante Exum will miss the entire 2025-2026 NBA season after complications from an offseason right knee procedure led doctors to recommend a second surgery. The 30-year-old guard, who re-signed with Dallas on a one-year free-agent deal, will undergo the operation in the coming days and then begin a structured rehabilitation program under team and outside medical supervision, according to the organization.

Filipino gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo said in Manila that he is considering pausing his studies to focus full-time on gymnastics after a strong first day at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championship, where he qualified for four event finals. Yulo, competing for the Philippines in men’s artistic gymnastics, stated that he has already made many sacrifices for the sport and plans to consult his family and coaches before making a final decision on his academic plans. Officials described his Junior Worlds campaign as part of the country’s long-term athlete development program.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo left in the second quarter of a 118-106 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night after sustaining a left groin strain. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he had no further update on Antetokounmpo’s condition immediately after the game and indicated that the next step would involve additional medical evaluation. The team ruled Antetokounmpo out for the remainder of the contest shortly after he headed to the locker room, and no timetable for his return has been announced.

Gilas Pilipinas will play Guam in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on November 28 and December 1, 2025, without forward Calvin Oftana after coach Tim Cone confirmed that a hamstring injury will sideline the national team mainstay. Cone said the staff adjusted the roster and rotation and will monitor Oftana’s recovery in coordination with his club.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials removed a state trooper from sideline duty during the Texas A&M vs. South Carolina football game in College Station after a tense encounter with South Carolina players prompted an internal review. The trooper left the field for the remainder of the game while supervisors began examining video, reports and witness accounts. No injuries, arrests or criminal investigations were reported. The agency has not released the trooper’s name and has not set a timeline for completing the review.