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Carlos Martínez, the Spanish 3×3 basketball star on a mission to clean the world’s oceans | FIBA Basketball

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The highest ranked 3×3 basketball player in Spain, Carlos Martínez is well known for his versatility on the court. When he isn’t blazing a trail on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour, the 6’7” playmaker is making waves away from basketball, too – helping to turn used fishing nets which blight the world’s oceans into netting used in an array of European sports leagues, including across professional basketball and LaLiga football, among others top-level competition.

His investment into cleaning the oceans began in 2020 when Carlos set up Ecoballution in his home city of A Coruña (Galicia) in Spain’s north-west. “I live in a city right next to the sea and I recognize the problems with the pollution in the ocean,” Carlos told FIBA 3×3, marking World Environment Day (June 5). “Initially, I came up with the idea of making handmade basketball nets by upcycling used fishing nets. Nowadays we are recycling between six to eight tonnes of marine debris every year.”

Among other business investments in the health and fitness industry, Ecoballution forms part of Carlos’ vision for changing the planet for good through the power of sport. The re-purposed fishing nets are stronger than traditional basketball hoops, he explains, and have been adopted outside basketball too. As well as Spanish football top-flight, aquatic sports such as water polo also adopt the innovative product. His vision, Carlos says, is “to make the world a better place through sports”, highlighting his unique position as a professional basketball player to advocate positive change. He adds: “Sport is a way of life and can be a way of changing lives, too.”

Carlos, 29, came up with the idea for Ecoballution during a transitional period in his basketball career. Having played professional basketball since the age of 14, when Covid forced the industry’s global shutdown, Carlos says he was even considering retiring from basketball to focus on his business ventures. At the age of 24, he turned to 3×3 basketball instead, a decision which presented him with a change of direction, as well as the motivation and energy to grow the values of the Ecoballution brand alongside his basketball career.

“Sport is a way of life and can be a way of changing lives, too.”

Carlos Martínez, Ecoballution

“Like a lot of people, I recognized the problem of the plastic in the sea,” Carlos continues. “Nobody wants to see plastic bottles and old fisherman nets in the water. At the time, I knew about some netters who were working in this space already and we explored options for this project. In the first year, we worked out how to create the product and, five years on, now sell nets in shops throughout Spain and via many distributors.

“I invest everything in this project to create social good within our community, and for the planet, while my main goal is to make a better world through our initiative. At the time, I saw that FIBA 3×3 was growing and, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics hosting the 3×3 basketball for the first time, I thought it was the best moment for me to enter this sport.

“Although I was, at one point, thinking about retiring from basketball and exploring other interests in entrepreneurship and business investment, now I am in my fourth year with the Lausanne 3×3 team and I’m continuing to enjoy both my sport and my passion projects. Sport is a really good tool to transmit good things, let’s say. It plays an important role in helping to change things that maybe are not fair or can teach younger generations to adopt.”

Thus far, Ecoballution serves sports teams and leagues throughout Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. While there are lots of opportunities for Ecoballution to expand its customer base, and support other sports, Carlos says he would “love to bring the product to more clubs and league around the world” and to use his platform as a professional athlete to accelerate FIBA 3×3’s sustainability drive.

“Sometimes people think it’s an athlete’s obligation to show these types of values,” Carlos says. “While I don’t necessarily think it’s an obligation, morally we have a good platform to share these social initiatives, including those environmental projects like Ecoballution.

“For me, it follows my vision to make the world a better place through sports. I follow the same mission as a player – to give the best on the court. This keeps my energy high. The work we are doing and the revenue we are investing back into the project I have to say is super satisfying. This is not only a trend but in many ways is a necessity also. For me, our goal is to spread our vision with as many people as possible. It’s not only a basketball net, but in doing what we do, we are bringing about positive change to our relationship with the sea.”



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NCAA Volleyball Regional Schedule Set

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December 8, 2025

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The fourth-seeded Indiana volleyball team (25-7, 14-6 B1G) will play in the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The NCAA announced start times and dates for next week’s regional semifinals on Sunday (Dec. 7) afternoon. The Hoosiers will play top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Noon ET on ESPN.

 

Following the greatest regular season in program history, IU was awarded a top-16 national seed and the chance to host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers made quick work of their first two matchups, sweeping Toledo and fifth-seeded Colorado in Bloomington to advance to the Sweet 16.

 

IU is one of five Big Ten programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 schools left in the big dance, IU is one of two teams (Cal Poly) that didn’t make the big dance last year. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season program record for wins (25) and will attempt to advance to the regional final for the first time in program history.

 

The other matchup in the Austin Regional will pit second-seeded Stanford and third-seeded Wisconsin against each other. Their match will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of IU’s. The winners of both regional semifinals will meet on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon for a spot in the national semifinals in Kansas City.



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Louisville volleyball NCAA Tournament bracket, Texas A&M vs UofL game

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December 8, 2025

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Dec. 6, 2025Updated Dec. 7, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET

After defeating Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday night, No. 2 Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, and take on No. 3 Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 at 7 p.m. Friday.

This will be the Cardinals’ seventh consecutive regional appearance but first with Dan Meske as head coach.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:

No. 2 seed Louisville versus No. 3 seed Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.

Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.

Buy Louisville volleyball tickets here

After defeating Marquette, UofL will play Texas A&M in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Regional Friday at 7 pm. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:

  • First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
  • Regionals: Dec. 11-14
  • Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri



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The Omaha World-Herald’s Nebraska All-Class volleyball teams

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December 8, 2025

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Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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5 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.

Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history.  Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.

In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history.  First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).

Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.

First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

 



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Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.

Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.

Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.

Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.

Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.

Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.

Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.

Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.

IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.

Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.

Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.

Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.

Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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