By ASHLEY AHN FIFA President Gianni Infantino said earlier this week that the “Iranian team is coming, for sure,” to play in the World Cup in the United States this summer. Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum in Washington on Wednesday, he said, “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come.” The comments come as peace talks between Iran and the United States have not yet resume

Jordan Murphy (34) led all scorers with 26 points, but Ponce fell to Aguada on Wednesday night. (Jorge Correa) By THE STAR STAFF The Santeros of Aguada, Criollos of Caguas and Vaqueros of Bayamón all recorded victories in Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games on Wednesday night. At Ismael “Chavalillo” Delgado Coliseum in Aguada, the Santeros defeated the Leones of Ponce, 83-77. The visitors stayed in the game despite the home team dominating the

Hunter Tyson (5), a second-round pick by Oklahoma City out of Clemson in the 2023 NBA Draft, finished with 26 points and nine rebounds in Carolina’s win. By THE STAR STAFF The Gigantes of Carolina defeated the Piratas of Quebradillas 104-99 in a Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league game at Carlos Miguel Mangual Coliseum in Canóvanas on Tuesday night. The Gigantes (3-3), who dominated from the opening tip-off, put together a 10-2 run in the fina

Temi Thomas-Ailara led the Criollas’ attack with 15 points. (Heriberto Rosario Rosa / FPV) By THE STAR STAFF The Criollas of Caguas regained the lead in the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF by its initials in Spanish) Semifinal Series B on Tuesday night at Roger Mendoza Vidal Coliseum in Caguas, downing the Leonas of Ponce in straight sets in the third match of the series. Match 4 of the best-of-seven will continue tonight at 8 at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Po

If the players’ votes are any indication, then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the silky smooth Oklahoma City Thunder star, is on his way to a second straight Michael Jordan Trophy. (Wikipedia) By SAM AMICK, JOSH ROBBINS and JOE VARDON / THE ATHLETIC For the first 25 Most Valuable Player Awards in NBA history, it was the league’s players, not the media, who determined the winner. All that changed with the 1980-81 season, when a panel of 69 writers and broadcasters selected Julius Er

Isaiah Hicks led Ponce with 19 points in a losing effort. By THE STAR STAFF The Osos of Manatí and the Santeros of Aguada were winners in a pair of Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games on Sunday night. At Juan Aubín Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manatí, the Osos defeated the Leones of Ponce 105-94. Trailing 86-61 going into the fourth quarter, Ponce mounted a spirited rally in which they outscored the hosts 33-19 in the final frame, but it was too litt

Sherridan Atkinson, left, led the way for Ponce with 26 points, including 23 on attacks. (Heriberto Rosario Rosa / FPV) By THE STAR STAFF The Leonas of Ponce defeated the Criollas of Caguas in four sets on Sunday at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce to even the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF by its initials in Spanish) Semifinal Series B at a match apiece. The set scores were 19-25, 25-15, 25-22 and 25-22. With a 2-1 lead in sets, Ponce staked out an 8-3 lead

The Gigantes of Carolina-Canóvanas trailed the Vaqueros of Bayamón by 22 points early on, but fought their way back to win by a point in the closing seconds. Caguas defeats Guaynabo By THE STAR STAFF The Gigantes of Carolina-Canóvanas and the Criollos of Caguas were winners on Saturday night in a pair of National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games. The Gigantes overcame a 22-point first-quarter deficit before topping the Vaqueros of Bayamón 77-76 at Ca

“Good base stealers have an attitude,” Davey Lopes said in 2016. “If the catcher threw me out, I would say, ‘What did I do wrong?’ I would never wonder what he did right.” (Facebook via National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) By RICHARD SANDOMIR Davey Lopes, an All-Star second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers who was one of the most successful base stealers in baseball history, died last Wednesday in Providence, Rhode Island, near where he grew up. He was 80. A spokespe

Ramses Meléndez (22) led all scorers with 22 points off the bench in Arecibo’s win over Ponce. By THE STAR STAFF The Capitanes of Arecibo and the Indios of Mayagüez were the victors in a pair of National Superior Basketball League (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games on Wednesday night. At Manuel “Pataca” Iguina Coliseum in Arecibo, the Capitanes defeated the Leones of Ponce 101-82 in a matchup that held little suspense. The Capitanes quickly took control and maintained the