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NBA star Tony Parker announces retirement after 18 seasons By Leah Asmelash and Saeed Ahmed, CNN Former San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker announced his retirement Monday after 18 seasons in the NBA. Parker, 37, originally had planned to retire after 20 years. "If I can't be Tony Parker anymore and I can't play for a championship, I don't want to play basketball anymore," he told ESPN's The Undefeated. Parker is a six-time All-Star who spent the 2018-19 season with the Charlotte Hornets. He played in more than 1,200 games and ended his career with an average of 15.5 points per game. Parker, who is French, was selected 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2001 NBA draft. Along with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and coach Gregg Popovich, he won four championships in San Antonio -- in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. He was the Finals MVP in 2007, the first European to receive the award. Parker spent his whole career with the Spurs, except his final season. He told The Undefeated he still felt like he could play two more years -- he's healthy -- but he simply didn't see the reason for it. He didn't think Charlotte could win a championship, even with his help. "And if I don't play for a championship, I feel like, why are we playing?" he said. Outside of the NBA, Parker is president of ASVEL Basket, a French basketball team based in Lyon. He has owned the team since 2014 and will stay involved during his retirement. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByvslZIFMsL/?igshid=bh5uqyr2dlbs

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Helterbrand reveals what convinced him to unretire, play in MPBL by RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON REDISCOVERING his competitive fire in the legends' circuit had Jayjay Helterbrand making a detour and unretire. "I was playing with the legends' group and I think that ignited me and got my juices flowing. It made me think that I can play again," he said on Wednesday during the opening of the 2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena. "I still got the passion for the game, I still love the game. Just to make it simple and sweet, I just miss playing." The 2009 PBA MVP has spent the past year joining his fellow Ginebra greats in oldtimers games around the country, and is currently suiting up in the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Face-Off with fellow former Gin Kings. Now, he'll add the Imus Bandera to his schedule. Aside from his hardcourt comeback, Helterbrand will also get a chance to team up with his good friend Jojo Cunanan, who helped him seamlessly blend in. "They welcomed me with arms wide open. They have been so supportive. Even with just one practice, they've been really great. I'm really excited to play and be part of Imus," he said. The 5-foot-11 Helterbrand, though, made it clear that he's already past his old "The Fast" self and all he wants is to contribute in whatever way for the good of Imus. "I've only had one practice under my belt and just from watching the games, this ain't no joke because you're going to be running up and down the court," he said. "There's no way I can be able to keep up after two years. But it's a long season so hopefully I can get in shape, slowly and surely." "I'm just here to help the younger guys and guide them, just trying to be a good example. Whatever I can add on the court is just a bonus. I'm not trying to do too much. I hope they understand that. If I'm called to do more, I'll do it." Helterbrand also hopes that God-willing, there will still be more left in his 42-year-old tank for this campaign with the Bandera. "It's all up to God with how He's going to allow my body to go through this," Helterbrand said. "I trust Him." (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvr_QjFwYL/?igshid=cjg7ezbws7g1

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Jimmy Alapag to join Sacramento Kings as assistant for Summer League ESPN5 Carlo Pamintuan Jimmy Alapag is set to join the Sacramento Kings as an assistant for the 2019 Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. The San Miguel Alab Pilipinas head coach in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) and the San Miguel Beermen assistant coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is eager to learn from some of the best basketball minds in the world when he joins the Kings. Little did Alapag know, keeping in touch with an old friend would enable him to advance his young coaching career. "I stayed in touch with Vlade Divac who is the Chairman of the FIBA Players' Commission, where I've been a member of for the past four years," said Alapag. "After our campaign ended in the ABL, I got to talk to him again. I told him I needed to learn more about coaching because I've only been a head coach for two years and he brought up the idea that I should come in and learn from the Sacramento Kings where he is also the general manager." According to Alapag, it was an easy decision to make when Divac made the invitation. "I cherish the opportunity to continue my education in coaching," Alapag said. "I've been blessed to have worked with a lot of great coaches in the PBA and with Gilas Pilipinas and I'm excited to learn more from the coaches in the NBA." All 30 teams will compete in the 15th NBA Summer League, which will be held from July 5 to 15 at the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Las Vegas. All teams will play four preliminary games each.The top eight are then seeded in the knockout tournament with a champion being crowned on July 15. The top selections from the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 20 at the Barclays Center, are expected to perform in the Summer League. Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, James Harden, and Russel Westbrook all played in the Summer League before their rookie years while Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, and John Wall are all former Summer League Most Valuable Players. Alapag is set to leave on June 26 to join the Kings' training camp in Sacramento before heading to Las Vegas. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByuadHClSzw/?igshid=l8fuo8ihkjgo

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Drake celebrates the Raptors' NBA championship with new music By Faith Karimi, (CNN)Toronto Raptors super fan Drake is celebrating his hometown team's NBA championship in an epic way. After jumping up and down, chugging champagne -- he's the Champagne Papi after all -- and hugging everyone around him after the game ended, the rapper announced he's dropping new music Friday -- or as he called it, a "2 pack." In an Instagram post shortly after the game,Drake posted a photo of a championship trophy along with the words, "Omerta" and "Money in the Grave" featuring Rick Ross. "The chip to the 6! See you tomorrow with a 2 Pack lets go," he captioned the photo -- but in upper case and lots of exclamation points. Drake is a Raptors ambassador, and has been a courtside fixture at their home games over the years. With his favorite team winning a championship, fans wondered whether the well-documented Drake curse is finally dead and buried. The Canadian artist has repeatedly posed for photos with sports players, only for their teams to lose in the near future. Drake "cursed" a number of players while on tour in Europe this year, prompting football club Roma to jokingly ban its players from taking photos with him in April. Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attended a Drake concert in London three days before his team lost its Premier League game against Everton. Manchester United also became a victim of the rapper's jinx, losing in the FA Cup shortly after its players posed for pictures with him. It's not just football players who've suffered the fate of the Drake curse. UFC's Conor McGregor lost a crucial fight after he hung out with him. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByspsJllkxk/?igshid=1hmssa02uf55h

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Nick Nurse (born July 24, 1967) is an American basketball coach who is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysoKsJFj_P/?igshid=m4b6qqidxog6

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Fredderick Edmund VanVleet Sr. (born February 25, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). At Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois, he was an All-State player who was mostly recruited by mid-major basketball programs. In college, he contributed to a resurgence of Wichita State Shockers basketball that included a Final Fourrun in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament by the 2012–13 Shockers team as a freshman and an undefeated regular season by the 2013–14 team as a sophomore. By his sophomore year, he was on midseason watchlists for most major awards. He was named as a 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American by a variety of media outlets. As a junior for the 2014–15 Shockers, he was an All-Missouri Valley Conference first team selection and received All-American honorable mention recognition from the Associated Press. He is the Wichita State career assists leader. He was named Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year as both a sophomore and a senior. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bysn0RgFeQ-/?igshid=4o9bopg8olk

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Daniel Richard Green Jr. (born June 22, 1987) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina (UNC), where he played in more games (145) and had more wins (123) than any Tar Heel before him. Green is also the only player in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 three-pointers, 150 blocks and 150 steals. He won an NCAA championship his senior year and was subsequently drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 46th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. During the 2013 NBA Finals, Green set an NBA record for most three-point field goals made in a Finals series. He then won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs the following season, and became just the third player from UNC to win an NCAA championship and an NBA championship, the two others being James Worthy and Michael Jordan. In 2019, he won his second NBA championship in his first season with the Raptors. Known for his perimeter defense and three-point shooting, Green has been a key contributor on both ends on the floor throughout his NBA career, having been selected to his first NBA All-Defensive Second Team in the 2016–17 season. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysnjqfFuiK/?igshid=1kxoa1qj606z3

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Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila (born 18 September 1989) is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ibaka was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder's former incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics, with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Ibaka is a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and has twice led the league in blocks. Although born in the Republic of the Congo, Ibaka plays for the Spanish national basketball team in international competition. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysnUXoFvO2/?igshid=8mt9udok2w0g

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Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the New Mexico State Aggies and was named the conference player of the year in the Western Athletic Conference(WAC) in 2016. Siakam was selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft with the 27th overall pick. As a rookie, he received multiple assignments to the NBA Development League (known now as the NBA G League), and helped lead Raptors 905 to a D-League title while earning D-League Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in 2017. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysnFwMlUMi/?igshid=ot9tobfnbby3

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Marc Gasol Sáez (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈmaɾɡ ɡəˈzɔl]; born 29 January 1985) is a Spanish professional basketballplayer for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA draft. After having his rights traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008, he signed with the team and remained with the franchise until being traded to Toronto in 2019. He is a two-time All-NBA Team member, a three-time NBA All-Star and an NBA champion. In 2013, he was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Gasol has been a regular member of the Spanish national basketball team since 2006. He has won two Olympic silver medals and a FIBA Basketball World Cup title. In the EuroBasket, he has won two titles, a silver medal, and two bronze medals. The 7'1" center is the younger brother of fellow NBA player Pau Gasol. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bysm3rulOoG/?igshid=njyc7g77trvf

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Kyle Terrell Lowry (born March 25, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and declared for the NBA draft after two seasons of college basketball with the Villanova Wildcats. He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 24th pick in the 2006 NBA draft. Lowry is credited with helping lead the Raptors to the playoffs and win an Atlantic Division title for the first time in seven years, during the 2013–14 season, his second season with the team. In 2015–16, he helped lead the Raptors to 56 wins, at the time the highest win total in franchise history, and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time. As a member of the Raptors, Lowry has been a five-time NBA All-Star, voted in as an Eastern Conference starter in 2015 and 2016, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016. He has appeared as a member of the U.S. men's national team, winning a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysmlFrlClN/?igshid=1www939nwei9g

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Kawhi Anthony Leonard (/kəˈwaɪ/, born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Leonard played two seasons of college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs, and was a consensus second-team All-Americanas a sophomore. He was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, but was traded to the San Antonio Spurs the same day. After seven seasons with the Spurs, Leonard was traded to the Raptors in 2018. Leonard was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2012, and won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014, when he was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 2019, he won his second NBA championship and Finals MVP after leading the Raptors to their first championship in franchise history. He is a three-time All-Star, has two All-NBA first team selections, and five All-Defensive team selections. Nicknamed "The Claw" or "The Klaw", he is known for his defensive skills, having won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award consecutively in 2015 and 2016. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BysmMFfFU9i/?igshid=3mftc3v6wvml

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Requiem for a Dynasty: Finals Loss Brings an End to the Warriors Era HOWARD BECK OAKLAND, Calif. — It will be said that a dynasty ended here Thursday night, that it crumbled into dust, as all great dynasties eventually do. But that's not entirely accurate. The dynastic Warriors of Golden State—the team of Steph and Klay and Dray and KD, the era of Splash Brothers and Strength in Numbers—did not simply buckle under the weight of its own hubris, or under the duress of a greater team. This dynasty was methodically mutilated—muscles torn from bone, ligaments shredded, limbs contorted, until there was nearly nothing left, just the barely recognizable skeletal remains. The Toronto Raptors danced away with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after taking a 114-110 victory in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. The Warriors staggered away, a storied team in ruins. Klay Thompson left on crutches, having torn his left ACL late in the third quarter. Kevin Durant wasn't even here for the end, having left Game 5 on crutches after rupturing his Achilles. DeMarcus Cousins half-limped out of the arena, his left leg weakened by a torn quad muscle that barely healed in time for the Finals and still isn't sound. After five straight Finals, three championship parades and 105 playoff games, the attrition and exhaustion dragged this superpower back to Earth. Gravity defeated human will. The Death Lineup met the basketball grim reaper. "Tough way to go out," Stephen Curry said afterward, one of the few foundational players to survive this uniquely dramatic and uniquely painful Finals. The run, the reign, is over. No one wanted to admit it, but it's a near certainty now. Thompson could miss most or all of next season. Durant likely will, too, and he'll probably be wearing some other uniform when he returns. He's widely expected to leave as a free agent next month. Shaun Livingston, a key backup throughout this run, is considering retirement. After years of handwringing about the dominance of the Warriors, the inevitability of the Warriors, the unfairness of the Warriors—after all the bemoaning about their audacity and arrogance, their "light years ahead" proclamations—it's over. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByslfVmlkM6/?igshid=dcdpr1sylupp

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Windhorst: Warriors Intend to Offer Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson Max Contracts PAUL KASABIAN The Golden State Warriors intend to offer five-year max contracts to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, according to Brian Windhorst on ESPN's First Take. "It is my understanding in talking to people with the Warriors organization is that their intention is to continue and offer Kevin Durant a full five-year max contract and to offer Klay a full five-year max contract," Windhorst said.  Durant can opt out of his deal and become a free agent this offseason. Thompson is already an unrestricted free agent. Durant and Thompson both suffered significant injuries during the NBA Finals. Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 5, and Thompson left Game 6 with a torn left ACL. Per Windhorst, the Warriors would be on the hook for over $350 million in payroll and luxury taxes if they sign Durant and Thompson to max deals. However, Windhorst said that Golden State's move to Chase Center in San Francisco will be a "cash cow" that brings in enough revenue to help pay for their roster. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters that Durant will miss the entire 2019-20 season. It's not known how long Thompson will be out for, but a torn ACL could keep him out for all of next year as well. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByslEFxFqmh/?igshid=1sqyqvy89z1px

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Warriors vs. Raptors NBA Finals Game 6 score, takeaways: Kawhi Leonard fairy tale complete, Toronto wins first title By Brad Botkin The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions for the the first time in franchise history. They secured the title with a 114-110 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, taking the series 4-2. An instant classic in every sense of the word, the two teams went back and forth from the opening tip until the final buzzer. There was once again another significant injury as Klay Thompson went down with a knee injury late in the third quarter, and left the arena on crutches. Golden State kept fighting, but shorthanded as they were, they couldn't quite find enough buckets down the stretch as Steph Curry's potential game-winning 3-pointer went awry.  Kyle Lowry finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Raptors. Pascal Siakam also went for 26, while Kawhi Leonard and Fred VanVleet each added 22 of their own. Thompson led the Warriors with 30 points, and Andre Iguodala chipped in 22 points.  Not a normal championship Nothing about this NBA title the Raptors just won is normal. It is the first in the history of the franchise, for starters. These Finals finished with five straight road victories, which is almost impossible to believe. Kawhi Leonard comes to Toronto as a potential one-year rental, after sitting out basically the entire prior season, and ascends to perhaps the best player in the world when everyone kind of forgot about him to win Finals MVP. The last season for the Warriors at Oracle Arena. Kevin Durant misses the first four games, then guts his way back in Game 5, only to tear his Achilles tendon and completely alter not only these Finals, but the landscape of the entire league. Klay Thompson comes back after straining a hamstring and missing Game 3 to go nuclear in Game 6, only to tweak his knee and miss the entire fourth quarter. And somehow the Warriors are still in it, down one with under 10 seconds to play and the greatest shooter ever has a clean look to send it to a Game 7 and keep the hope of winning four titles in five years alive. And misses.  (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByskXTHlTj-/?igshid=1798s6q6eikdf

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Independence Day (Philippines) Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlan; also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, "Day of Freedom") is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12, commemorating the independence of the Philippines from Spain. The day is spent with family bonding with friends and relatives and in either outdoor and indoor activities. All government offices and schools are closed as are private enterprises save for commercial establishments. As required by law the Flag of the Philippines, first flown on that day in 1898, is displayed in homes and establishments from as early as May 28, Flag Day, or on a selected date of May by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which serves as the organizer of the celebrations, to the 30th of the month. Fireworks displays are the norm. Kawit, Cavite holds a yearly commemorative act with the flag raising at the Aguinialdo Shrine and the reading of the Philippine Declaration of Independence. Worldwide, Filipinos will gather on June 12 or a date close to it to publicly celebrate, sometimes with a Philippine Independence Day Parade. (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl5CxSFKs2/?igshid=xpxbuuiz715n

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Kyle Lowry reacts to Kevin Durant’s injury in Game 5 of NBA Finals by Paolo Songco When Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant went down with what appeared to be a serious non-contact injury in Game 5 of the Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry was one of the first to try and prevent the home crowd from cheering Durant’s ill fate. Following Toronto’s razor-thin 106-105 defeat, Lowry spoke out about the incident, as he tried to explain why he believes some of the supporters initially reacted the way they did: Raptors' Kyle Lowry on Warriors' Kevin Durant: "I don't think the fans knew the significance of the injury. In this league, we're all brothers. You never want something like that to happen." Lowry showed the ultimate sign of sportsmanship as Durant went down, as he looked genuinely concerned with what just transpired involving the reigning back-to-back Finals MVP. Obviously, Durant’s departure would give the Raptors an advantage, but this never seemed to cross Lowry’s mind, with his primary concern being the welfare of his fellow player. Sadly, initial reports suggest Durant’s injury is of the worst-case variety for the Warriors. Golden State officials fear the worst, with the 30-year-old reportedly sustaining what they suspect to be an Achilles tear. Further testing will confirm the severity of Duran’t injury, but if it is indeed a tear, not only will he miss the remainder of these Finals, but he is also at risk of being forced to sit out the better part of next season. As Lowry expressed, at the end of the day, the NBA is one big family, and not a single individual in the league shoud wish any harm on his fellow player. Prayers up for KD (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl2ZobFWYR/?igshid=6gmtpmm7xfdx