Talofa, Ma’lelei, Bula and Welcome to Season 05 Episode 52 of Breakfast Bites by TeivovoSports.com – a wrap of Pasifika people’s sports news on a cool and partly cloudy Thursday morning 25 May 2023.

Coming to you with tons of hanisi from the 180th meridian, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In rugby: The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championships kicks off tomorrow with all games at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia and teams competing for a spot in the inaugural World Rugby WXV competition later this year. In Round One: Papua New Guinea versus Fiji at 5.30pm (AEST) followed by Samoa versus Tonga.

In rugby league: Our World Famous Tips for NRL Round 13 Games: The Dolphins to crucify St George Dragons at Kayo Stadium at 7.50pm tonight AEST, the Eels to sanctify the Cowboys at CommBank Stadium tomorrow night.

In boxing: “Joseph Parker is f***ing back!” beamed WBC World Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury after a thumping right hook to the eardrum was all it took for Joseph Parker to defeat Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu as the Kiwi heavyweight got the job done in the first round.

Post-fight, Parker said he’ll fight “anyone who’s keen.”

In football: Newcastle qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after a 0-0 draw against relegation-haunted Leicester on Tuesday, in front of a jubilant St James’ Park crowd.

Newcastle’s remarkable rise from relegation candidates to a top four finish in the EPL in just 18 months is a tribute to Eddie Howe’s management and the financial might of the Club’s Saudi-backed ownership group.

In SportsBiz: Despite talk of retirement, Lebron James remains a massive force in the business of the NBA and on social media.

In addition to the Lakers ranking among the NBA leaders in home and away attendance and local television ratings, James boasts a Twitter following of nearly 53 million fans, the most of any American athlete.

He also led all NBA players again this year in All-Star Game fan voting and topped NBA jersey sales for the second half of the 2022-23 season.

James also remains under contract with the Lakers for the 2023-24 season at US$46.9Million and has a player option for the following year at US$50.7M.

In the NBA: The Denver Nuggets may have booked their spot in the NBA Finals, but the Miami Heat will have to wait a few more days and maybe a few more games to get another chance to join them.

Up 3-0 and with a chance to sweep the Celtics, the Heat instead fell away late as Jayson Tatum inspired Boston team surged to a 116-99 Game 4 win to keep its season alive.

The series now returns to Boston for Game 5 as the Celtics have a shot to potentially make history and become the first team to recover from a 0-3 playoffs deficit.

Okay sports fans, on “Background Buzz” today I share the sports feel good story of Michael Block.

The 2023 PGA Championship that saw Brooks Koepka win his fifth major a week ago, was overwhelmed by the feel-good story of Michael Block, a club pro from Southern California who shocked the golfing world and finished tied for 15th at Oak Hill Country Club.

The PGA of America uses the PGA Championship to highlight its club pros across the country, most of whom work at golf courses full-time, teaching lessons and taking care of course business.

Twenty of those PGA Professionals qualified for the event, but Block, who works at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, was the only one to make the cut, his first time doing so, after four other PGA Championship appearances.

Already a wild story halfway through the tournament, Block battled with 2013 US Open Champion Justin Rose on Saturday before playing Sunday’s final round with superstar Rory McIlroy.

The made-for-Hollywood story climaxed when Block sent the gallery into a frenzy with a hole-in-one on the par-3 15th hole.

His dream round culminated with Block sinking a par putt on the 18th green to clinch a tie for 15th.

Not only did that finish earn Block a spot in next year’s PGA Championship, but also a dream payday for a working golf pro of US$288,333.

Block is now one of golf’s hottest commodities.
He participated in live walk-and-talks on the air with ESPN and CBS during his second and third rounds and has been invited to play in this week’s PGA Tour event in Texas - the Charles Schwab Challenge, and the RBC Canadian Open in June.

Go Block Go - and that’s a wrap!

For TeivovoSports.com I’m Culden Kamea – please hit the like and subscribe buttons below if you want to receive more Pasifika sports highlights on Breakfast Bites.

Mahalo, vina’a and tank you all too mass for all your love and support.

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