LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball (MLB) on Thursday (Friday in Manila) proposed reducing the number of regular-season games from 162 to 154 and changing playoffs so that top seeds can pick their opponents. The proposals, which also included expanding post-season division series from best-of-five to best-of-seven, were presented in the latest bargaining session between the MLB and its players association, as fears loom of a standoff over salary restrictions that could interrupt next season. “MLB has proposed returning to a 154-game Regular Season, best-of-seven Division Series, and opponent selection in the Wild Card and Division Series,” said a league statement. The league said shortening the regular season would create a standard weekly off day that would benefit player health. More off days would also be added in the postseason to allow extra rest, with fewer daytime playoff games and additional primetime games, said MLB. A new system that allowed higher-seeded clubs in the playoff wild card and division series rounds to select their opponents would be implemented from next year, if agreed. The proposals come as baseball faces the prospect of an owner lockout and potential player strike in the coming months. The next collective bargaining agreement is due to be negotiated by December. Team owners are pushing for a salary cap and floor, citing huge payroll disparities between clubs which they say have damaged competition. The players association is opposed to any move to reduce the amount clubs pay, and has accused team owners of simply wishing to save themselves money. In a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the players association said it was reviewing the latest proposals, and would let players weigh in before responding at the bargaining table. “Unfortunately, the league once again made clear that all of its proposals are contingent on players’ agreement to a salary cap, a system that guts player rights and compensation, as well as its other anti-player proposals,” said the Major League Baseball Players Association statement. Under the proposals to pick playoff opponents, the third-seeded team in each league would have the option of playing either the fifth or sixth seed in the wild card round. The top seed in each league, which receives a bye in the wild card round, would choose which wild card winner to play in the subsequent round. The proposed shorter regular season, and expanded division series round, would both begin in 2029.

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Fresh off making the clinching putt in another US victory at the Presidents Cup, Jacob Bridgeman birdied four of his last five holes Thursday for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Jordan Smith in the Baycurrent Classic. The PGA Tour’s lone stop in Asia features its strongest field of the FedEx Cup Fall, with 13 of the 24 players who competed in the Presidents Cup two weeks ago at Medinah in the Chicago suburbs. Bridgeman made his debut at Medinah, and his par putt to defeat Min Woo Lee on the 18th green was the clinching point for the 11th straight American victory. He was right back at it on the Yokohama Country Club course with a bogey-free round. Only one of his eight birdies, an 18-footer on his fourth hole of the round at No. 13, was outside the 10-foot range. “I felt a little rusty to be honest, but I was able to score the ball well and I felt like I put the ball in positions where when I made a little mistake, it was pretty easy to recover,” Bridgeman said. Smith, who advanced to the PGA Tour postseason in his first year after earning a card through the European tour, also played bogey-free for his 64. He spent nine years on the European tour and is adept at travel and learning new courses. Even so, his first time playing a full PGA Tour schedule was new in so many ways. He felt pleased to get to the postseason to guarantee a card for next year, and the next step is getting into the bigger events. “I’m very, very happy,” Smith said of his year. “Obviously it’s tough for us guys coming over here. I mean, I’ve had 10 seasons on the DP World Tour, so it was all very familiar to me. Coming over to the PGA Tour, everything’s very, very new, new faces, new places, new golf courses. “To adapt that quickly, I’m very happy with that. But I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It’s been good fun.” Max Homa was among four players another shot behind. Japan’s biggest golf star, Hideki Matsuyama, was at 67 along with Ryo Hisatsune and Collin Morikawa. Bridgeman didn’t get much practice in since the Presidents Cup. He chose to rest, went to Maine for his sister’s wedding and took the long charter flight to Las Vegas before getting in a little practice. It worked out for him on Thursday. Jordan Spieth, making his first start since he failed to advance to the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, had a mixture of birdies and bogeys, along with one double bogey, for a 72. Key for players like Smith and Homa are trying to finish the year in the top 60 on the FedEx Cup to become eligible for two of the early signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera. Players like Billy Horschel and Tony Finau, who each opened with a 71, are trying to finish among the top 100 to secure a full card for 2027. AP

Barangay Ginebra drew big games from RJ Abarrientos and new import Jordan Murphy to roll past Rain or Shine, 129-111, to end its two-game losing skid in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila. Abarrientos sizzled with a game-high 34 points, highlighted by six triples, to go along with nine assists. Murphy, taking over from Riley Grigsby, scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and issued seven assists, along with four blocks in an all-around PBA debut as Ginebra avenged its 110-99 loss to Rain or Shine in their first meeting. The Gin Kings opened the game with a 40-19 lead, stretched it to 27 points by halftime and led by as many as 67-34 en route to moving to a tie at fourth place with Blackwater with a 3-4 win-loss slate. Rain or Shine saw its four-game winning streak come to an end, dropping to 4-3, and allowing Magnolia to grab the lead in Group B with a 5-3 win-loss slate. The Hotshots won earlier in the day, 107-101, after beating the Bossing. “I think that we just were a little desperate, played with a little desperation tonight being at the bottom of the team standings,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “That’s not something that we are never used to. The players aren’t used to it. Certainly, the fans aren’t used to it.” Aaron Fuller led Rain or Shine with 23 points and 13 rebounds for Rain or Shine, but he also had nine turnovers.

Dallas Mavericks fans will have to wait just a little bit longer to see Kyrie Irving in their team’s colours for the first time in almost two years, after he sat out Friday’s 135-117 pre-season loss to the Houston Rockets in Macau. Even without the flashy point guard running things, however, the two Texas clubs still put on a show for the thousands that packed into The Venetian Arena for the second year of NBA China Games. When the 34-year-old does finally return after an injury break that began...

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson fine-tunes her shooting touch following every practice. That little bit of extra work has defined her greatness since being drafted first overall in 2018. On Thursday, she received a voice message from former Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating her on redefining greatness leaguewide after she was named WNBA MVP for

NEW YORK–NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first half in his first pre-season game for Philadelphia on Thursday, but the new-look 76ers fell 114-108 to the Nets in Brooklyn. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, announced in July that he had signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, ending weeks of speculation

RJ Abarrientos caught fire from the field, drilling three four-pointers and six triples on his way to a 34-point outing, while new import Jordan Murphy added 30 points to power Barangay Ginebra past Rain or Shine, 129-111, in the PBA Governors" Cup on Friday.

Jerom Lastimosa and import KJ Buffen powered the Magnolia Hotshots to their fourth consecutive win in the PBA Governors" Cup, escaping the Blackwater Bossing, 107-101, on Friday.

BEIJING, China — Homegrown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) at the China Open on Friday and storm into a semi-final against Belgium's Elise Mertens. Zheng, a wildcard entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year's tournament having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-finals. The world number 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second set tie-break. Zheng double-faulted on the first point but crawled her way out from a 0-2 deficit and fell onto her back victorious after winning her second match point. "Truthfully, because I really wanted to grab this win, I was really nervous," the 24-year-old told the crowd. "I played really aggressive in important moments," she said, adding that her opponent "raised her level" in a tight second set. Svitolina made just 13 unforced errors over the one-hour-and-47-minute match, but was outgunned by 48 winners from the 2024 Olympic champion. - Mertens upsets Swiatek - Mertens, the world number 19, beat Poland's Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7/0), 6-3, overcoming some nerves to dump out the 2023 title winner. "I tried to be consistent. She's a great player, so I had to really push myself," said Mertens, who had lost both of her two previous matches against eighth-seeded Swiatek. "It was really nerve-wracking at the end but I kept myself calm... I just can't believe it." The 30-year-old was the evening's better technician, making just 11 unforced errors to Swiatek's 34 across the one-hour-and-50-minute affair. Mertens had surged into her singles quarter-final after beating third-seeded Coco Gauff, also in straight sets.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde extended its winning streak to four games after defeating Arellano University, 94-82, in the NCAA Season 102 men"s basketball tournament on Friday.

MANILA, Philippines — College of Saint Benilde claimed the number one spot after defeating Arellano University, 94-82, in the crossover round of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Friday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The Benilde Blazers tallied a league-leading 6-1 win-loss record, while Arellano absorbed its third consecutive loss with a 4-3 card. Justine Sanchez received the player of the game plum, with 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for St. Benilde. “What happened is that we remained composed, and I told to my teammates that we should help each other, and we can do this. I told them that whatever happens, we should stay together," said Sanchez in Filipino. Benilde’s supporting cast provided ample help for Sanchez with Jhommel Ancheta leading the way on offense with 18 points. The duo of SJ Moore and Zenric Jarque also helped the cause with 12 points each. Basti Valencia topscored for Arellano with 17 points. T-Mc Ongotan’s struggles continued as he dropped 14 on a 4-for-11 shooting night. King Vinoya also scattered 12 points as his squad dropped to 4-3 in Group B. The scores: CSB (94) - Ancheta 18, Sanchez 17, Moore 12, Jarque 12, Morales 9, Torres 9, Jucom 6, Podador 6, Cajucom 5,Go 0, Lorenzo 0, Daja 0, Arciaga 0 AU (82) - Valencia 17, Ongotan 14, Vinoya 12, Buenaventura 10, Borromeo 8, Langit 8, Geronimo 4, Hernal 3, Camay 2, Abiera 2, Cabotaje 2, Flores 0, Manansala 0 Quarter scores: 25-26, 42-48, 73-70, 94-82

MADRID — NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the ownership group at Atletico Madrid, the Spanish top-flight club said Friday. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has become the latest North American sports star to take an interest in soccer, following the likes of LeBron James and Tom Brady. “This is a club with a long-standing presence at the top of European football, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. Atletico said the partnership was “grounded in shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned.” James became a part-owner of the Fenway Sports Group in 2021, the conglomerate that owns the Boston Red Sox and iconic Premier League club Liverpool. NFL great Brady is a minority owner of English second-tier team Birmingham. Atletico did not reveal how big a stake 2025 NBA champion and back-to-back NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander had taken. “His investment reflects an interest in the club’s long-term vision and international growth,” it said. Atletico, second in the standings, visits La Liga rival Alaves on Saturday.