San Germán shot 51 percent from the field and won going away. By THE STAR STAFF The Criollos of Caguas and the Atléticos of San Germán were winners on Saturday night to cap off the first week of the 2026 Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) season. At Juan “Pachín” Vicens Auditorium in Ponce, the Criollos of Caguas defeated the Leones of Ponce 99-98 in overtime. Caguas set the pace from the start with an 8-0 run and closed the first quarter leading 23

Emily Elliot (22 points) came up big down the stretch for Manatí (Heriberto Rosario/FPV) By THE STAR STAFF In a Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF by its initials in Spanish) Section B quarterfinal match on Saturday night, the host Atenienses of Manatí halted the momentum of the Criollas of Caguas, securing their first victory in three matches and keeping their hopes of advancing to the semifinals alive. Caguas, which was looking to punch a direct ticket to the next rou

By TARIQ PANJA The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned transgender athletes from competing in the women’s category at the Olympics, after telling its members to conduct mandatory genetic testing for women’s competitions. The decision, the most consequential since Kirsty Coventry was elected last year as the first woman to serve as president of the IOC, followed a board meeting and months of speculation over the organization’s policy on one of the most contentious iss

The Vaqueros of Bayamón executed in key moments down the stretch to close out the win in Manatí. By THE STAR STAFF The Vaqueros of Bayamón defeated the Osos of Manatí 73-71 on Wednesday night in a Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) game at Juan Aubín Cruz Coliseum in Manatí. Bayamón entered the final quarter with an eight-point lead following a solid first half, during which they managed to pull away by as many as 14 points. However, the Osos made a run at the start of the fo

Tamara Otene had 13 points as the Cangrejaras of Santurce notched a straight-sets victory over the Valencianas of Juncos in the LVSF quarterfinals. By THE STAR STAFF The Cangrejeras of Santurce defeated the Valencianas of Juncos in straight sets on Wednesday night at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Hato Rey in the Section A quarterfinals of the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF by its initials in Spanish). It was the first postseason match for the Valencianas (0-1). The o

Beyond all the numbers, though, is the fact that we are still seeing LeBron James’ vintage competitiveness and hoops acumen at this stage, and at this age -- 41 -- and it has made these past few weeks wonderful to watch. (Facebook via NBA Philippines) By SAM AMICK / THE ATHLETIC His silly smile said it all. Here was LeBron James in Year No. 23 of his pro basketball career, having just tied Robert Parish for the NBA record in games played, and he looked like a toddler whose mo

The Leonas of Ponce outblocked the Atenienses of Manatí 13-7 en route to the quarterfinals win. (Facebook via Las Atenienses de Manati) By THE STAR STAFF The Leonas of Ponce stole a road victory at Juan Aubín Cruz Coliseum in Manatí in their first match of the postseason on Tuesday night, defeating the host Atenienses in four sets as the quarterfinals of the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF by its initials in Spanish) continued this week. The outcome marked the second

Isaiah Hicks, seen here during his time with the Capitanes of Arecibo, joins the Leones of Ponce after playing in South Korea. He boasts a solid career that includes an NCAA championship in 2017 with the University of North Carolina and NBA experience with the New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets. By THE STAR STAFF The Leones of Ponce announced Tuesday the signing of veteran forward-center Isaiah Hicks as their third import player for the 2026 Baloncesto Superior Nacional (B

The San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey, widely considered the best defensive catcher in the game, initially worried that ABS would devalue his skills, but now says he’s excited to see how he and other catchers can take advantage of the system. (Facebook via San Francisco Giants) By MATTHEW CULLEN The foundations of baseball have largely remained the same since Babe Ruth swung a bat. Nine innings make a game. Three strikes and you’re out. And the ultimate authority on all pi

Yannik Álvarez of Puerto Rico By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rican tennis player Yannik Álvarez finished as the runner-up at the prestigious J500 Gaspar “Banana Bowl” tournament held in Brazil -- one of the top events on the global junior circuit. Álvarez played a highly competitive three-set final on Sunday against Argentina’s Dante Pagani. The top-seeded Puerto Rican dominated the first set with a score of 6-3, displaying solidity and control from the baseline. However, the No. 6