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Santi Aldama Is Getting Married to His Girlfriend Pilar Barquin

Congrats to the couple!

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Santi Aldama is a Spanish professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Memphis Grizzlies.

Before being drafted into the NBA, he was a Loyola Greyhounds basketball player in college. Likewise, he was selected as the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship’s most valuable player (MVP).

2023 was a very important year for Aldama —  both professionally and personally. He scored his career high in February 2023 and got engaged to his girlfriend in September 2023.

Santi Aldama’s relationship with future wife and dating history

Aldama has been dating his girlfriend, Pilar Barquin, for quite some time. He is very secretive about his personal life, so he has not revealed anything about his dating history or his past relationships.

As a result of his privacy, it’s unknown if he had dated anyone before he began dating his future wife. Similarly, the details of his relationship with his girlfriend-turned-fiancee are not known. It is unknown when the duo first met or how they started dating.

However, it looks like they have been together before the summer of 2021. Barquin first posted her boyfriend on Instagram in July 2021.

She posted a series of photos with his with the caption, “un día más admirándote y sintiéndome la persona más afortunada del mundo!! Enhorabuena,” which roughly translates to “One more day admiring you and feeling like the luckiest person in the world!! Congratulations.”

Since then, Barquin has been more comfortable sharing photos of her boyfriend on her social media. On the other hand, Aldama first posted about his girlfriend and revealed that he was dating Barquin in May 2022. 

Since they have been dating, Aldama and his girlfriend have celebrated Christmas together with their family. After dating for at least two years, the duo got engaged in September 2023.

Santi Aldama might get married to his girlfriend soon.

Santi Aldama might get married to his girlfriend soon. (Source: Instagram)

They uploaded photos showing off the engagement ring on their Instagram with the caption, “así empezamos el verano 🤍 sí para siempre!!!!!!,” which translates to, “So we started the summer 🤍 yes forever!!!!!!”

To date, it is unknown if the two have married or if they are just engaged. Aldama has not referred to Barquin as his wife, and neither has Barquin referred to the athlete as her husband.

So, it looks like the two are not married yet but might be planning for their dream wedding. For now, fans of the NBA star will have to wait patiently to see their favorite player share the wedding vows with his partner.

Santi Aldama’s family and career

Aldama was raised in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain. He began playing basketball at the age of three because of his family.

He was inspired by his own family, especially his father, Santiago, who played professional basketball in Spain and Portugal before joining the Spanish national team in the 1992 Summer Olympics. His uncle, Santi Toledo, also played professional basketball in Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Aldama began his basketball career with Canterbury Basketball Academy in Las Palmas and subsequently elected to stay there despite having offers from major clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Gran Canaria.

He averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while playing for Canterbury with Oumar Ballo in the 2017 Spanish Under-16 Championship. 

He was instrumental in his side finishing third, behind FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Aldama spent 2018 on loan with FC Barcelona’s under-18 team in the Ciutat de L’Hospitalet qualifications for the Adidas Next Generation competition.

Aldama declared his commitment to play collegiate basketball for Loyola Maryland on August 5, 2019. He was lured to the school because his father knew assistant coach Ivo Simovi and because Aldama hoped to one day work in business, and he felt at ease when he visited in June 2019. 

Many analysts were surprised by Aldama’s decision to play for a mid-major program as he was considered a four-star recruit and a high-major player. 

Aldama was out for the first three months of his rookie season due to a knee ailment that necessitated surgery. On February 1, 2020, he made his college debut for Loyola Maryland, scoring 11 points in 17 minutes in a 79-73 win over Navy.

In four weeks, Aldama was voted Patriot League Rookie of the Week three times. He was chosen to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team at the completion of the regular season.

He had a season-high 23 points in a 78-75 defeat to Lehigh in the first round of the Patriot League tournament on March 3. In 10 games as a freshman, Aldama averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks.

Aldama had 30 points and 22 rebounds in a 97-94 quadruple overtime defeat to Lafayette on February 13, 2021. He broke the program record for most rebounds in a game and tied Adonal Foyle’s Patriot League record

Aldama had a career-high 33 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 13 of 15 from the field in a 67-63 win over Army in the Patriot League tournament quarterfinals on March 10, 2021. He assisted Loyola in reaching its first Patriot League championship game.

He was named First Team All-Patriot League as a sophomore after averaging 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Aldama declared for the NBA draft on April 14, 2021, while still retaining his collegiate eligibility. 

Later, he decided to stay in the draft. The Utah Jazz selected Aldama with the 30th overall choice in the 2021 NBA Draft. Later, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Grizzlies confirmed Aldama’s signing on August 8, 2021. Aldama had a season-high 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in a 152-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 2, 2021.

Aldama was added to the Grizzlies’ 2022 NBA Summer League squad. On July 18, 2022, he was chosen to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team.

With Jaren Jackson Jr. out, Aldama was designated the Grizzlies’ starting power forward to begin the 2022-23 season. On 19 October, he earned his first career start, earning a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 115-112 overtime win over the New York Knicks.

Aldama scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 128-113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 2, 2023. Currently, he is still signed to the Memphis Grizzlies, and is reported that he is earning a $2,194,200 salary for the 2023/2024 season. 

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Stephen Curry To Bring The Underrated Golf Tour This Summer

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Stephen Curry To Bring The Underrated Golf Tour This Summer

NBA legend Stephen Curry’s Underrated Golf U.S. Tour returns this summer for its third season. 

More than just golf, the tour aims to empower underrepresented youth. Curry expects the tour to be a gateway to further opportunities for junior golfers from various backgrounds.

“Golf has always been one of the most powerful vehicles to spark professional and social conversations,” Curry said. 

The event will kick off from June 21 to June 23 at Old Barnwell Golf Course in Aiken, South Carolina. The tour will then move to Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek Golf Club in Portland from July 8 to July 10. 

The next stop is the Warren Golf Course at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, from July 22 to July 24. The final stop is TPC San Antonio in San Antonio from August 7 to August 9.

During the event’s climax, the Curry Cup, the top 24 best performers will face each other in a final match at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. 

Rooting for the underdogs

The tour is mainly sponsored by Curry’s lifestyle brand Underrated. Global tax advisory firm KPMG also acts as a partner for the event. 

The tour player and brand ambassador for KPMG, Mariah Stackhouse, will also join as the host for KPMG Leadership Day at the Curry Cup. Stackhouse said last year’s Curry Cup and KPMG Leadership Day were special for her. 

“Underrated is about so much more than golf. It’s about a shared goal of empowering the next generation in meaningful ways by imparting the critical success factors that go into winning, far beyond what you see in a final score,” she said. 

“I’m honored to be part of this family alongside Steph and my friends at KPMG and look forward to elevating Underrated even further this year.”

Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, established Underrated in 2019. The brand aims to identify overlooked talents and provide them with a platform for recognition. According to Curry, it draws from his experiences as an underestimated athlete. 

The Underrated Golf U.S. Tour includes seminars on business ethics and career paths in the industry. Athletes can also network with golf coaches and industry leaders.

Passion and expansion

Despite his basketball stardom, Curry’s love for other golf is evident with his wins in tournaments such as the American celebrity golf tournament in Nevada in 2023. 

Curry, who dropped a Hole-in-One during the tournament, made the U.S. turn its attention towards him. According to rumors, many were betting on his results, including those monitoring very fast Golf in-play betting. Many celebrities congratulated him on social media, while some reporters asked if he would shift his career to golf after the swing. 

His interest in golf is driven by his family, who takes golfing more seriously. His wife, Ayesha Curry, is also said to enjoy playing golf with Curry across the globe.

In line with that passion, Curry is planning to expand the European tour this year. According to Curry, the golf system for students and athletes in Europe is similarly exclusive and exclusionary to the U.S. 

Therefore, Curry intended the Underrated Golf European Tour to allow junior golfers in Europe to meet top-tier college recruiters. This is especially backed up by the fact that the European series has seen massive growth in only two years, 

The top three boy and girl winners from last season’s Underrated Golf Tour have been invited to play at Walton Heath Golf Club in the southwest of London for its Europe season-opening tournament. 

If all goes to plan, the top boy and girl winners from the European leg will automatically win entry into the 2024 Curry Cup.

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Xabi Alonso to Snub Liverpool and Stay at Bayern Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso previously played for Liverpool for several seasons.

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Xabi Alonso to Snub Liverpool and Stay at Bayern Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso is one of the most famous former footballers in the world. The Spanish player is one of the most decorated players and has won various trophies, awards, and accolades.

He was born on 25 November 1981 in Tolosa, Spain. He played in a midfield position, mostly dominating the central position, and has also played as a defensive midfielder several times. He has about 11 million followers on Instagram.

Xabi is 42 years old and currently the head coach of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He has established himself as one of the most promising young managers in the world.

He has been recently linked to move to Liverpool’s vacant coaching position as Jurgen Klopp is leaving at the end of the season.

Xabi Alonso to stay at Bayern Leverkusen and snub Liverpool

In an interview, Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, claimed that this is his last season and that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

As Liverpool is actively searching for a new manager, many fans and media considered Xabi Alonso as one of the potential candidates to replace the manager. However, Bayern Munich’s former president, Uli Hoeness, said that the move is probably impossible.

Xabi Alonso set to snub Liverpool

Xabi Alonso is set to snub Liverpool. (Credit: Instagram)

He added that given the current success of Bayer Leverkusen, he would be inclined to stay with his team and would not want to leave it behind.

Apart from Liverpool, he has also been heavily linked with Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich. Alonso has not said anything regarding his next move and is focused on winning the Bundesliga title.

Managerial career of Xabi Alonso

Xabi earned his license after completing the UEFA elite coaching course in 2018 and joined the Real Madrid U14s as a coach. In 2019, he was appointed manager of Segunda División B club Real Sociedad B. He coached the club until the end of the 2021-22 season. 

He was appointed as the new head coach of the Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen on 5 October 2022. He was contracted until June 2024. The team had played eight games of the season and was placed second to bottom.

In his debut, he won against Schalke 04 with a 4-0 scoreline. At the end of the season, he finished in sixth place in the league and reached the semi-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League.

He rejected the move to Tottenham Hotspur and signed a new contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2026.

In the current season. 2023-24, he is currently at the top of the table and has managed to go 10 points clear of 33-time champions Bayern Munich. He likes to play in a 3–4–3 formation with an emphasis on passing and counter-attack.

He has also set a record as the first German team to go unbeaten for their first 33 games of the league season across all competitions. With eight games remaining, his team is set to create an upset in the German league by lifting the title for the first time in their history.

The current defending champion is Bayern Munich, who has won every league title in the last 11 years.

Xabi Alonso’s playing career at Liverpool

Alonso started his professional football career at Real Sociedad. He quickly progressed through the youth ranks and the reserve team and made his first team debut at the age of 18.

He appeared against Logroñés in December 1999 in a Copa del Rey match but was quickly loaned out to Eibar to gain first-team experience. However, his loan spell was short-lived as Sociedad was in the relegation zone, and the manager called him back to help out the team.

This move from the coach was successful, as the team finished at 14 positions at the end of the season. He was also made the young captain of the team.

His performance in the 2002-03 season is considered one of the best league performances for Real Sociedad.

He helped the team to finish second place, just two points below Real Madrid, and helped the team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He was also called up for the Spanish national football team and made his international debut in April 2003.

On 20 August 2004, he signed a contract with Liverpool, marking the beginning of a new era at Anfield. He made his debut at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton Wanderers, but the team lost the match by 1-0. He was, however, praised for his passing skills.

In his debut season, he won the Champions League with the team as he played an important role in scoring a penalty to lead the team into extra time. In the following season, 2005-06, he managed to win his first FA Cup against West Ham United.

He was part of the Liverpool team until 2009 and later made a move to Spanish giant Real Madrid. Due to his heroics in the Champions League and his beautiful plays, he is considered one of the Liverpool legends.

He was part of the Real Madrid team from 2009 to 2014 and later made his move to Bayern Munich. He retired from Bayern in 2017.

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Oscar De La Hoya Praises Jaime Munguia Ahead of Canelo Alvarez Fight

Oscar De La Hoya is the founder of Golden Boy Boxing Promotions.

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Oscar De La Hoya Praises Jaime Munguia Boxing Combination

Boxing Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has heaped huge praise on the young boxer Jaime Munguia and believes he can beat veteran champion boxer Canelo Alvarez.

He has praised the combination of the young boxer and revealed that he has more endurance and stamina than the Mexican legend.

Oscar De La Hoya picks Jaime Munguia to beat Canleo Alvarez

De La Hoya, who is a famous boxing promoter and former boxer, has picked Mungula to emerge victorious in his fight against Alvarez.

He believes Munguia has what it takes to beat Alvarez in their upcoming fight on May 4th. He also thinks this fight will mark a “changing of the guard,” with 27-year-old Munguia with a record of 43-0, 34 KOs, defeating the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo with a record of 60-2-2, 39 KOs.

Oscar De La Hoya praises Jaime Mungaia

Oscar De La Hoya praises Jaime Mungaia. (Credit: Instagram)

The Mexican is 33 years old and seems to have lost some speed and agility in his last three fights. However, it remains to be seen if Canelo has slipped enough to be beaten by a fellow Mexican who has fought lesser opposition or if he still has enough in him to defeat this fighter with a 100% win record.

Oscar De La Hoya and Ryan Garcia Feud explained

De La Hoya has been growing through a legal and social media feud with top boxing star Ryan Garcia. Their relationship sounded right before Garcia’s fight against Gervonta Davis. However, after the loss against the veteran champion, their relationship started to sour.

During the post-match press conference of the boxing match, Hoya was nowhere to be found as he left the event immediately. Garcia was all alone in facing the questions from the media and the trolling from the fans, which made him feel betrayed.

After this, Garcia, signed to Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, started plotting to leave the promotions. He publicly criticized how he was left alone to face his demons and urged De La Hoya to let him go of his contract.

This led to a legal battle between them as the promotions sued Garcia, and Garcia sued them in return for the breach of contract.

The legal lawsuit is still ongoing between the two former partners. Both have confirmed neither party wants any money, as Garcia wants to leave the promotion ASAP while Hoya wants him to honor his contract until the end.

He said in the official podcast, “I’m not suing him for money, he’s not suing me for money. I just want him to honor my contract. That’s it.”

He also urged him to honor their contract and reminded them of their obligations. He expressed his desire for them to fight and become legends.

He mentioned his reluctance to have Garcia fight Gervonta “Tank” Davis with a rehydration clause, emphasizing that he was seeking his best interests. He also noted that people influenced Garcia to switch promoters by promising greater care and financial gain.

Brief Info on Oscar De La Hoya’s Career

De La Hoya is a former professional boxer and current boxing promoter who owns the Golden Boy promotions.

He has accomplished a lot in his career, winning 11 world titles in six different weight classes, including three lineal championships. His journey to success began with a great performance at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal in the lightweight division for the United States.

Throughout his career, De La Hoya received a lot of recognition. He was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1995 and was the top-rated pound-for-pound fighter in the world in both 1997 and 1998.

In addition to boxing, he has also made significant progress in sports promotion. In 2002, he started Golden Boy Promotions, making him the first American of Mexican descent to own a national boxing promotional firm.

This venture highlighted his entrepreneurial drive and dedication to improving the sport. Additionally, De La Hoya broadened his promotional efforts to encompass mixed martial arts (MMA), a notable milestone in combat sports.

Other than his interests in sports, he also has a keen interest in politics. In 2020, he was thinking very seriously about running for the presidency of the United States. In an interview when asked about it he stated, If the numbers look right… I’m gonna go for it.”

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