Barangay Ginebra gave a wonderful Christmas gift to their die-hard fans by defeating the Magnolia Hotshots, 95-92, in their Christmas Manila Clasico duel on Wednesday night, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Magnolia seemed inspired to win their first back-to-back victories in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup as they erected a 55-41 halftime lead and even established a game-high 22-point lead in the third period.But the Gin Kings displayed their never-say-die attitude to put the game in a cliffhanger showdown.

The Converge FiberXers climbed from a 17-point deficit to steal the game from Barangay Ginebra, 98-91, in the continuation of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Saturday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.Ginebra dominated the game in the first half and established a 57-40 lead before the break.But Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston took over in the second half to lead Converge to a third straight victory.Stockton was vital in the third period, scoring 17 of his 22 points. He also had six rebounds and eight assists.The FiberXers scored 33 in that quarter, limiting Ginebra to only 13.In the fourth quarter, Winston poured out the first seven markers as Converge established its largest lead, 89-78.

Converge took down Phoenix, 116-105, to post its first win streak in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The FiberXers overcame an 18-point deficit in the early stages of the first period and rallied in the second half to improve their record in the standings to 4-2 to secure their first consecutive conference victory."We just stuck on. We didn't panic. We returned on how we run our system, run our offense and defense. It's nice because we have six players in double digits," said coach Franco Atienza, expressing his satisfaction with his team's effort in making a comeback.The FiberXers gradually narrowed the gap by scoring more points than the Fuel Masters. Converge eventually tasted their first lead after two free throws from Bryan Santos that placed them ahead 69-67 at 5:53 in the third session.Halfway through the fourth quarter, the FiberXers shattered any hopes of a final surge of momentum for the Fuel Master with Alec Stockton leading the 9-0 run, ending with a pair of charities courtesy of Jordan Heading, 105-94, with 3:38 left on the clock.

The TNT Tropang Giga notched their back-to-back wins after outlasting Blackwater as they cruised to a 109-93 victory in the 49th Season of PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Tropang Giga improved their record to 2-2 after opezning the conference with two consecutive losses. Coach Chot Reyes claimed during the postgame interview that they intended to block George King from the long arc. Consequently, the Blackwater import only attempted that range once out of six."During the last several days, we focused on how to stop George King. We all know his ability from the four-point line, so we really made it a point, we were very intentional in guarding the four-point line against George," said Reyes.

San Miguel suffered a 71-62 loss to Hong Kong Eastern at the Southorn Stadium in Wanchai on Wednesday, December 18, making a win in the East Asia Super League (EASL) still out of reach.The Beermen nearly overcame a 20-point deficit but ran out of steam in the fourth quarter, sliding to an 0-3 win-loss record in their second EASL campaign.June Mar Fajardo delivered 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in the losing effort that saw San Miguel collapse after getting within one possession with more than six minutes left.The Beermen were down 19-39 at one point, but they worked their way back and were within 58-60 after a hook shot by Fajardo. However, Eastern put on an 11-0 run, courtesy of a tip-in from Chris McLaughlin, to restore order.

Meralco blew a double-digit lead against the Busan KCC Egis, 68-72, in the continuation of the East Asia Super League (EASL) home-and-away season on Wednesday, December 18, at the Busan Sajik Gymnasium. The Bolts appeared to be headed for their third EASL victory and a trip to the Final Four.With 4:02 remaining, the Bolts appeared to be in control, 66-53, but their 13-point advantage was erased by Heo Ung, headlining the comeback with four consecutive three-pointers to reduce the deficit to just one.The 31-year-old Ung scored an easy layup to give Busan the lead after Chris Newsome missed a layup. The Bolts turned to the returning Akil Mitchell with four seconds remaining in the game, but he made a poor turn-around jumper that missed the basket.Ung finished with a game-high 31 points, 17 of which came in the final four minutes of the game. Deonte Burton contributed 26 markers, 14 rebounds, and five assists in the come-from-behind win. 

The Philippine National Weightlifting Team, is aiming to win a medal in the 2024 Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar, which started last Sunday, December 15 and will end on Christmas Day, Wednesday, on the 25th of December.The team is set to compete in the women’s youth division with Althea Bacaro in the -40kgs category where she submitted a total lift of 122 kgs.Joining Bacaro are Princess Jay Ann Diaz (40kgs and total-125kgs), Alexsandra Ann Diaz (45kgs), Jeaneth Hipolito (45kgs), Kim April Inan (-49kgs), Jhodie Peralta and Rosalinda Faustino in the -55kgs.Meanwhile, the men’s youth division is composed of Aldrin Colonia (-49kgs), Eron Borres (-49kgs), Prince Keil Delos Santos (-55kgs) and Jose Masangkay Dayao III (-67kgs). Lifting in the women’s junior category are Angeline Colonia (-45kgs) Rosejean Ramos (-45kgs) and Lovely Inan (-49kgs).Also participating in the men’s junior division are Eron Borres (-55kgs), Prince Keil Delos Santos (-55kgs), Eleaphraime Limmong (-55kgs) and Jose Masangkay Dayao III (-67kgs).Also, PH young Weightlifters will be led by Head of Delegation Monico Puentevella and coaches Patrick Lee, Edmundo S. Cardano, Allen Diaz, Kelly Kae Rojas and Joe Patrick Diaz.The delegation builds on the momentum of the Philippine senior weightlifting team, which recently achieved significant success at the IWF World Championships. Cebuano Fernando Agad clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 55-kilogram Group A division, while Rosegie Ramos earned a bronze in the women’s 49-kilogram category.

Filipino cue artist Jefrey Roda secured the championship in the 3rd Universal Chinese Taipei Open and the World Nineball Tour (WNT) ranking event title against Ko Pin Yi of Taipei in the finals.In the finals, Roda was down 8-11 to Ko Pin Yi but won the next five racks to seal the win 13-11.It was Roda's first WNT ranking title. He first defeated Johann Chua in the quarterfinal round, 11-3,and dominated Spain's Francis Sanchez Ruiz in the semis, 11-2.In his social media post, Roda expressed his gratitude to those who supported and believed in his skills and ability to win the competition and to become champion. 

Filipino cue artist Rodlin John “RJ” Bautista is in full swing as he prepares to participate in the Derby City Classic Open Tournament scheduled to be held from January 17 to 26, 2025 at the Caesars Southern Indiana Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA.According to Bautista, he will try his luck in the said tournament where he will face the best billiard players from around the world.

Chery Tiggo bounced back to the winning column after overpowering Galeries Tower in a five-set thriller, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-8, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference over the weekend at Philsports Arena.The team led by Norman Miguel improved to a 4-2 win-loss record, while Galeries finished the year with a 1-5 record after losing in five sets for the seventh time in 15 conference losses."It was a real effort from everyone. During the first three sets, it was like that, our moves weren't right, it seemed clumsy. But it came out in the fourth set," said Chery Tiggo’s ace Cess Robles during the postgame interview.The Crossovers’ victory was bannered by Robles, who registered a game-high 21 points anchored on 20 attacks and an ace along with 11 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.Captain Aby Maraño contributed a 15-point output, while Pauline Gaston, who assisted the team clinch the fourth set, scored a total of 14 markers.Jen Nierva took care of Chery Tiggo’s defense with 21 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions as Jas Nabor orchestrated the team’s play, tossing 13 excellent sets.Gaston’s several attack points helped the Crossovers rally to a 9-2 run from 16-14 deficit in Set 4, tying the match at two sets apiece.

After the Green Archers failed to clinch the coveted championship in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball, Kevin Quiambao is about to leave his team for good.The De La Salle power forward confirmed this after signing a contract with the Goyang Sono Sky Gunners to play in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).In his post on social media, he said that he will continue his plan to play in the NBA someday.

Karl Eldrew Yulo did not stop on the medal hunt after winning eight gold medals in the recently concluded 2024 Chiu Wai Chung Cup in Hong Kong.Yulo dominated the eight individual and team events. He first won the individual all-around before successively winning all six apparatuses: floor exercise, vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar, pommel horse, and still rings, which the junior men’s artistic gymnastics team relied on to lead the team event.Yulo's victory was part of the 14 gold, six silver, and five bronze medals that the Philippines will bring home from tournaments hosted by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines in 2024.Yulo is currently being trained by Japanese gymnast coach Munehiro Kugemiya, who was the former coach of his older brother, Carlos Edriel "Caloy" Yulo, who won two gold medals in the Paris Olympics last August.Aside from Eldrew Yulo, the senior men's artistic gymnastics team also won the gold medal in the team event.Miguel Besana won three gold medals in the seniors individual all-around, floor exercise, and pommel horse, while Justine Ace De Leon led the way in the still rings and parallel bars mints.Besana also won three silver medals in the rings, parallel bars, and vault, and a bronze in the horizontal bar. De Leon also came home with a bronze in the vault.Among the other medalists are Hilarion Palles III for pommel horse bronze and parallel bars bronze, John Matthew Vergara for horizontal bar silver and parallel bars bronze, Jhon Romeo Santillan for floor exercise silver, and Jan Gwynn Timbang for pommel horse silver.

Congratulations poured in for Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo as he closed out 2024 with an impressive fight.Magsayo remained on track for a title shot after he demolished Ecuador’s Bryan Mercado inside two rounds in their lightweight bout last Sunday (Manila time) in Long Beach, California.Magsayo dropped Mercado four times with left hooks to the body.Currently ranked third in the WBC super featherweight division, Magsayo is targeting a world title eliminator against Eduardo Hernandez of Mexico, where his promoter Sean Gibbons is working hard to seal the fight.The pride of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, has garnered admiration from fans and fellow Filipino boxers, but he has a lot of work to do to prepare for bigger fights in 2025.He once held the WBC featherweight strap after edging Gary Russell Jr. by majority decision in January 2022 before losing to Vargas on points six months later.The 29-year-old is rated in the top five by the four major sanctioning bodies, including No. 3 by the WBC and WBO. He is highly likely to contend for a belt next year.Magsayo was aggressive from the get-go and was just simply too good for Mercado (11-7-1, 6KOs). He knocked down Mercado for the first time late in the first round with a vicious left hook to the body.Magsayo has been on a resurgence since suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of two-division champions Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa.

The San Miguel Beermen are seeking their second straight win under the guidance of the returning head coach Leo Austria.San Miguel returned to winning after Austria took over and brought in new import Torren Jones in their last game against the Terrafirma Dyip, 106-88.The multi-titled mentor was again called to take charge after disappointing losses to NLEX (99-104) and Rain or Shine (107-93) that followed a lackluster 107-103 come-from-behind opening win over Phoenix.Nine-time champion Austria was plucked from his consultant portfolio in January 2023 to take over from Jorge Gallent, who slid to consultant in the process.The Beermen will be facing the Blackwater Bossing, also seeking their second straight victory.

The Philippine Men’s Football team’s match against Myanmar ended in a 1-1 draw in the opening match of their 2024 ASEAN Championship campaign at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.Myanmar scored first through Maung Maung Lwin at the 25th minute mark.During the second half, Bjorn Kristenensen scored the goal through a spot kick in the 72nd minute of the game. 

It was a grind night for the defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers as ZUS Coffee pushed them to a five-set thriller, 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.The Smashers improved to 4-0, and now tied with Cignal HD Spikers at the top of the league standings heading into 2025.Alyssa Valdez fired up 17 points, while Jema Galanza had 15 and Michele Gumabao added 14. The Cool Smashers had a 72-66 advantage in kills, allowing them to offset their whopping 33 unforced errors.Also coming through were Bernadeth Pons, and Galanza who scattered 17 and 15 hits, 12 digs and 12 receptions respectively, for the dynastic champion-seeking a magnificent five-peat feat and 11th crown.

The Choco Mucho Flying Titans had a tough game win against the Farm Fresh Foxies on Thursday evening to wrap up the year with an important win in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.Choco Mucho squandered a two-set advantage but rediscovered their touch in the final frame to pull off a tough 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 25-27, 15-12. Sisi Rondina was the catalyst of their breakaway in the fifth set, as the explosive spiker fired back-to-back hits that gave the Flying Titans a 13-8 advantage. The former league MVP dropped 26 points,13 digs and 13 receptions.Kat Tolentino added 18 on 10 attacks, a whopping six blocks, and two aces, while Cherry Nunag finished with 10 points and playmaker Mars Alba was credited with 25 excellent sets.

Filipino boxers secured their winning medals in the recently concluded ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Championships 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.The Philippines concluded its campaign with a silver and 4 bronze medals.Marrvin Tabamo led the pack and settled for a silver medal on Wednesday's finals of the men's 51-kilogram category after losing via unanimous decision to Uzbekistan's Asilbek Jalilov.In the tournament, he defeated Siiovush Mukhammadiiev of Ukraine in the first round via unanimous decision, Wang Xiangkun of China in the quarterfinals via split decision, and Hsu Po Hau of Taiwan via referee stoppage in the semifinals.With Tabamo's finish, the Philippine delegation still left Thailand with 5 medals; one silver from Tabamo and four bronze medals from others: Jay Bryan Baricuatro (men's 48kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men's 63.5kg), Ian Clark Bautista (men's 57kg), and Riza Pasuit (women's 57kg).

Few months before the start of the 87th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women's volleyball tournament, Dr. Obet Vital filed his resignation as the head coach of UE women's volleyball team last Tuesday, December 10. Although for Dr. Vital, it was a tough decision he made, but there are things beyond their  control. According to the chief tactician of the Recto-based volleyball squad, there were differences in vision, particularly regarding the program of development, especially in grassroots initiatives, and the long-term direction of the team. Also, the approach is not maintained and no longer aligned. 

Troy Rosario made no mistake in choosing Barangay Ginebra to be his second home. For him, the fulfillment of his childhood dream came into being. His first game with the Gin Kings last Wednesday night was the culmination of his ambition in the league ever since he was a child. “Finally, it's been a childhood dream nga eh to wear that jersey. Talagang masarap sa pakiramdam. Pagdating ko pa lang dito sa venue, talagang ‘yun ‘yung tinignan ko eh, kung nasaan ‘yung jersey ko. Finally, masusuot ka na rin,” said Rosario.Rosario played his first game in a Ginebra uniform against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup action last night, which they won, 109-100.The 6-foot-7 big man started and played 30 minutes. He contributed with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists on 4-of-11 shooting.Rosario also admitted that the Gin Kings was the last team that spoke to him through the intercession of Scottie Thompson, his former teammate way back then in the PBA D-League.