Sports Weekly: Warriors advance, NU Lady Bulldogs in familiar territory
Photos from AP, Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net, IWF, PBA IMAGES
The Golden State Warriors are in the second round of the NBA playoffs while the National University Lady Bulldogs find themselves back in the UAAP volleyball finals for the fourth straight time.
In boxing, pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue continues his undisputed reign in the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Filipino weightlifters take home 10 gold medals in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth and Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru.
Over at the PBA, the Magnolia Hotshots stretch their undefeated start in the Philippine Cup.
Here’s Inquirer Sports’ round-up of last week’s news from April 28 to May 5:
NBA: Buddy Hield, Steph Curry propel Warriors past Rockets in Game 7
Golden State Warriors players react to Buddy Hield’s (7) first quarter buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Houston, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Steph Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Buddy Hield made nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA Western Conference semifinals with a 103-89 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 7 Sunday night.
The Warriors will face the Timberwolves Tuesday night in Minnesota. They became the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to advance to the semifinals and eliminated Houston in the playoffs for a fifth time.
UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs return to finals, rally past FEU
NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after returning to the UAAP women’s volleyball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
National University is right where it wants to be—back in the UAAP women’s volleyball Finals, with a score finally settled.
The defending champion Lady Bulldogs outlasted Far Eastern University, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15, in the Final Four Saturday, booking a return trip to the championship round against a familiar foe in La Salle.
Naoya Inoue dropped, stops Cardenas in 8th to remain undisputed
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue walks away as referee Thomas Taylor moves in to protect Ramon Cardenas during the eight round of a title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inoue retained his titles with an eighth-round TKO. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP
Unbeaten Naoya Inoue of Japan retained his undisputed super bantamweight world crown on Sunday, climbing off the canvas to stop American Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round in Las Vegas.
Inoue improved to 30-0 with his 27th victory inside the distance when referee Thomas Taylor halted the fight 45 seconds into the eighth round after a flurry of powerhouse punches by the champion with Cardenas only able to cover up.
PH weightlifters bag 10 golds at youth, junior worlds
Albert Ian delos Santos during the Junior men’s 67kg category in the IWF Youth and Junior World Championships. –IWF PHOTO
The Philippines collected five more gold medals on Friday coming from Zamboanga City’s Jhodie Peralta and Albert Ian delos Santos to end a successful campaign at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth and Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru.
Peralta delivered three golds in the Youth women’s 55kg category while Delos Santos, who placed fourth in snatch, dominated the clean and jerk, and total in the Junior men’s 67kg category.
“For the last five consecutive Olympics, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) always qualified and garnered the first Olympic gold for this country. In three years time, a new group will try to grab a medal again in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Winning these 10 golds in this world competition, which includes powerhouse China, simply means we’re on the right track again,” said SWP president Monico Puentevella.
PBA: Magnolia pulls away, crushes Terrafirma for 5-0 start
Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Terrafirma Dyip –PBA IMAGES
Magnolia leaned on a 23-0 run in the second quarter on its way to fashioning out a 127-94 victory over Terrafirma and staying unbeaten in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at Ynares Center here.
The Hotshots launched their breakaway early in that period, turning a 31-27 lead into 54-27 that put a quick end to the competitive aspect of the contest and eventually improved to a perfect 5-0 record.
More sports highlights
NBA: Gregg Popovich retires after 29 seasons as Spurs coach
Canelo Alvarez sets date for Terence Crawford after beating Scull
UAAP: Pride and redemption fuel La Salle’s finals return
PBA: TNT finally ends slump, beats San Miguel Beer
NBA: Lakers prepare for offseason rebuild after playoff exit
LEAD-UP: GAMES TO WATCH OUT FOR
- NBA Conference semifinals: Celtics-Knicks, Thunder-Nuggets (May 6, Tuesday)
- UAAP men’s volleyball Final Four: NU vs UST (May 7, Wed)
- UAAP women’s volleyball Finals: NU vs La Salle (May 11)
- Alex Eala at Italian Open
