Digest

BASKETBALL

Plucky Rockets shot down in CBA debut

The Ningbo Rockets produced an encouraging debut in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Sunday, but still ran out 105-92 losers to the Shanxi Loongs.

The Rockets were confirmed as the CBA's 20th franchise three months ago, with the team's average age just 22.

Ningbo shooting guard Li Borun finished with a team-high 26 points. Zhang Xu and Ma Zhenxiang added 18 and 17 points respectively.

Meanwhile, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers began life without Zhou Qi with a demoralizing 108-69 loss to the Zhejiang Lions.

Team China star Zhou left Xinjiang in the offseason for Australian club South East Melbourne Phoenix, and the Flying Tigers sorely felt his absence in the paint.

Eighteen-year-old center Yu Jiahao starred with 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Lions.

In other games on Sunday in Zhuji, there were wins for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, Shanghai Sharks, Beijing Ducks and Liaoning Flying Leopards.

Chicago beats Phoenix to win first WNBA title

Allie Quigley scored 26 points and Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot had double-doubles as the host Chicago Sky won their first WNBA championship with an 80-74 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday afternoon.

The sixth-seeded Sky, just 16-16 in the regular season, lost only twice in the postseason and prevailed 3-1 in the Finals after out-scoring the fifth-seeded Mercury 26-11 in the fourth quarter, holding them without a field goal in the final 4:41.

Parker, a former MVP and WNBA champion in Los Angeles before signing for her hometown team during the offseason, had 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Vandersloot had 10 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, and series MVP Kayleah Copper added 10 points.

"It feels amazing. I have the whole city there. We've got the whole city here. It's amazing how Chicago supports. We're champions for life here," Parker said.

Simmons practices but Sixers status unclear

Ben Simmons practiced with the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time this season on Sunday, though no decision was made on his status for the season opener.

"He was just one of the players," coach Doc Rivers said.

Simmons was a holdout for training camp and the early part of the preseason in the wake of his offseason trade demand. The three-time All-Star guard made a surprise return to the team on Monday. Once he cleared the NBA health and safety protocols, Simmons was eligible to practice.

The Sixers open the season Wednesday at New Orleans and play their home opener Friday against Brooklyn.

Rivers said he'll "wait and see" on Simmons' status for the season opener. "Just watching him, I thought he was in decent shape," Rivers added. "Still not, obviously, game shape."

Simmons, the No 1 pick of the 2016 draft, was not on the court when practice was open to the media on Sunday, and the Sixers said the Australian was expected to talk at some point this week.

SOCCER

Napoli leaves it late to extend perfect start

Victor Osimhen soared in for a towering header nine minutes from time as Napoli extended its perfect start to Serie A with a 1-0 win over Torino on Sunday.

After Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne had seen his weak first-half penalty saved and Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a goal wiped off by VAR for offside, Osimhen came to the rescue for Napoli.

The 22-year-old Nigeria striker finished off an assault on Torino's goal following efforts from Dries Mertens and a deflection that set up Osimhen's header.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti heaped praise on Osimhen's rapid improvement this term.

"He's becoming more complete," Spalletti said. "And when you have strong players in attack you can always think about changing the match at any moment."

The win moved Napoli two points above unbeaten AC Milan, which defeated Hellas Verona on Saturday.

Lucky escape for fans after stand collapses

Part of a stand at NEC Nijmegen's ground collapsed as visiting Vitesse Arnhem supporters celebrated their 1-0 victory on Sunday, but no injuries were reported according to local media.

The lower section of the stand buckled as away fans jumped up and down in unison in front of the players after the final whistle.

"There are no injuries to my knowledge," Nijmegen president Wilco van Schaik told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.

"I'm speechless. There are all sorts of things that go through your mind."

City mayor Hubert Bruls, who was at the game, said he was "very shocked by what happened".

"Fortunately, as far as I know, no one has been injured. I want an investigation to be carried out as quickly as possible," he added.

GOLF

McIlroy hits milestone with Las Vegas victory

Rory McIlroy capped off a big weekend in Las Vegas on Sunday by surging past Rickie Fowler and holding off Collin Morikawa to win the CJ Cup at Summit in Las Vegas for his 20th PGA Tour title.

McIlroy seized control with a 35-foot eagle from just off the green on the par-5 14th, and then played mistake-free down the stretch for a 6-under 66 and a one-shot victory.

McIlroy is the 39th player to win at least 20 times on the PGA Tour, and it's his fifth straight PGA Tour season with at least one win.

Fowler, who started the final round with a two-shot lead, faded with a pair of three-putts and shot 71 to tie for third. The threat came from Morikawa, a member at The Summit Club, who shot 29 on the front nine to get in the mix and closed with an eagle for a 62.

That forced McIlroy to play mistake-free after his big eagle putt on the 14th, and he never came close to a bogey in finishing at 25-under 263.

"It is a big carrot," McIlroy said of the 20 wins. "I didn't know it would be this week."

Xinhua - Agencies