First Filipino NBA Champion, LPGA Koran Duo, BYU’s Akina Honored
By James Moreau | 08 Jun, 2026

With Dylan Harper and Jordan Clarkson clashing in the Finals, the league prepares to crown its first champion of Filipino descent.

In the NBA Finals, history is guaranteed to be made as the sports world prepares to crown the first player of Filipino descent to win an NBA championship.  The New York Knicks have jumped out to a commanding two-game series lead, though veteran guard Jordan Clarkson has only played sparingly off the bench during their run.  On the other side, San Antonio Spurs combo guard Dylan Harper has emerged as an absolute difference-maker on the sport’s biggest stage. The rookie phenom is averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting a highly efficient 55% from the floor.  Harper came up big in the clutch, burying several critical baskets down the stretch of Game 2 to keep San Antonio alive before a costly, late-game turnover by Victor Wembanyama ultimately sealed the victory for the Knicks.  The series now heads to Madison Square Garden, where even the “cheap seats” are going for $5,000, in a must-win Game 3 for the Spurs.

A pair of Korean LPGA stars finished in the top five of the U.S. Women’s Open, this year’s second major championship.  In Gee Chun put together a brilliant, steady performance over four grueling days to finish at 6-under par, securing a fourth-place finish and a hefty payday just over $580,000.  Right on her heels was compatriot Sei Young Kim, who carded a 5-under par overall to claim fifth place, walking away with just under half a million dollars for her stellar week of play.

In collegiate golf, BYU standout Kihei Akina capped off an extraordinary debut season by being named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Phil Mickelson Award, given annually to the nation’s top freshman.  The Native Hawaiian phenom proved to be a dominant force all year, compiling a 69.05 scoring average—the lowest single-season mark in BYU history.  Akina validated the award on the biggest stage in amateur golf, completing a top 10 finish at the NCAA DI Men’s National Championship after turning in a brilliant 8-under-par performance.