Gymnasts and siblings Karl and Elaiza Yulo were among those who were recognized in the recently concluded 4th Siklab Youth Sports Awards held last Thursday, December 5 in Taguig City.Gymnast Karl Eldrew was among the Youth Heroes awardees, while Elaiza received the Super Kids award.Eldrew recently won four gold medals in the 3rd JRC Artistic Gymnastics Stars Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, while Elaiza has also been making her own name in gymnastics and now a recipient of the Milo Emerging Athlete Award and Most Bemedalled Women's Artistic Gymnastics Athlete in Palarong Pambansa. Eldrew and Elaiza will also be mentored by their brother Carlos Yulo's former coach, Munehiro Kugimiya.

The San Miguel Beermen couldn't stop the fiery Robert Bolick before the end of the final period as NLEX defeated SMB, 104-99, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.The NLEX shooting guard was unstoppable and scored 20 of his game-high 39 points in the final quarter and added nine assists, helping the Road Warriors erase a 19-point deficit and secure their third straight win. They improved to 3-1 in the conference, while dropping San Miguel to 1-1 as the Beermen failed to build on a slim win against Phoenix in their first assignment.The Road Warriors trailed by 19, 46-65, in the third quarter after an and-one play by Quincy Miller.However, NLEX dropped a 23-8 bomb to put themselves back into the game, 69-73, after a layup by Bolick, with less than two minutes to go in the third.The former point guard of San Beda Red Lion's performance left NLEX head coach Jong Uichico impressed with the skill and dedication he displayed in the game.

TNT Tropang Giga was unable to hold on to the tight defense of Northport Batang Pier, which won its fourth straight game, 100-95, on Sunday night at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City.However, TNT managed to cut the lead to 97-95 with 1:43 left on the game clock when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made a free throw, but Joshua Munzon successfully converted his three-point shot to keep the Batang Pier from losing the lead.“I just take that shcot with confidence. The play wasn't even for me but [my teammates] found me. I was open and I was happy that I made that shot. I was confident in myself. Every time I shoot the ball, I think it's going in," said Munzon.Northport Batang Pier assistant coach Renzy Bajar said the key to their win was their strong defense against TNT.The Batang Pier also took advantage of the suspension of big man Poy Erram, who was penalized for hitting Glenn Yang in TNT’s conference-opening loss to Hong Kong Eastern this weekend. 

The Galeries Tower Highrisers finally enter the win column in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference by beating the Capital1 Solar Spikers in a 26-24, 25-14, 25-23 sweep on Saturday, December 7, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex in Cebu.Julia Coronel, the No. 3 overall pick in the inaugural draft, had her best game so far in the pro league as she produced nine points, highlighted by five service aces, including four straight at the start of Set 2. She also had 10 excellent sets.Jewel Encarnacion, another Galeries rookie, put up a solid outing with 10 attack points to go with back-to-back 10-point showings from mainstay spikers Ysa Jimenez and Andrea Marzan.Meanwhile, Leila Cruz, Coronel's former La Salle teammate, put up 14 markers and five digs that went for naught as Capital1 absorbed its fourth loss in five games.The former DLSU captain finally won a game after failing to do so in their first four games. The win also broke the 10-game slump of the Solar Spikers since April.In their Saturday match, Coronel brought out her effort in the young career that she has.

Mapua swept College of St. Benilde in their best-of-three Finals series of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 100th Season.The Cardinals ended their 33-year title drought on Saturday, December 7, with a convincing 94-82 victory over the Benilde Blazers.It will also be a fitting gift for the university, which will mark its 100th year anniversary in January 2025.Mapua did not only sweep the Finals to establish their dominance of the collegiate league, they also went on a 12-0 blast, including a nine-game sweep in the second round of the eliminations.

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) named Justine Baltazar as the 2024 Most Valuable Player, making him the first-ever back-to-back MVP of the league.Baltazar averaged 15.56 points, 16.0 rebounds, 5.91 assists, and 1.19 steals while playing for 30.44 minutes each game this season. The mobile big man also led the Mythical Five selection, together with San Juan Knights' Orlan Wamar, Zamboanga Master Sardines' Jaycee Marcelino, Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards' Will McAloney, and Batangas City Tanduay Rhum Masters' Cedric Abalaza.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns made history by being the first-ever back-to-back champions of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League or MPBL after sweeping the Quezon Huskers, 65-61, on Saturday, December 7, at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.Justine Baltazar, who also made history by becoming the league’s first back-to-back MVP, led the charge with his monster double-double performance of 19 points and 19 rebounds, to go along with two assists and a block.Archie Concepcion also scored 19 points and grabbed five boards to support Baltazar, while Encho Serrano who’s back from a one-game suspension, supplemented 15 markers, six boards, three assists and one steal to complete sweep of the best-of-five series.

Jansen Rios buried a crucial three-pointer in the dying seconds of the game to give Meralco the win against Terrafirma, 96-91, on Friday night, December 6, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The win also lifted the Bolts the share of the lead in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup team standings with NorthPort Batang Pier at 3-0.It was a grind-out battle in the crucial stage of the game until Rios hit an unmolested triple at the right corner to give the Meralco a 94-91 lead and Chris Newsome sank two free throws after Dyip's erratic plays in the final 9.4 seconds of the game.The game seemed like it would be a blowout game when the Bolts erected a 67-51 lead in the third quarter but Terrafirma showed resiliency and even tied the game at 91-all with 1:05 left in the fourth and final period.Meralco coach Luigi Trillo was just glad his team hung on despite blowing a big lead.

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.

Creamline bounced back from a failed third-set rally against sibling rival Choco Mucho, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, December 3.The Cool Smashers, who were on the verge of winning the tournament with their third consecutive sweep, faltered in a thrilling third set before rallying in the fourth to force a tie with Cignal at the top of the rankings, both with identical 3-0 records."But of course, the Choco [Mucho] really, really won't lose easily. We know they will come back to the game so I just told the players that we should just enjoy ourselves, perform well so we can get the win," said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses."Let's not be pressured. It's just that, the [players] responded, because there are many [game] rallies, so it's really not just a battle, it's really endurance. So, it's good that we got the win," he added.

Filipina swimmer Quendy Fernandez notched four gold medals in the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.The 19-year-old University of the Philippines student brushed off the scorching heat as she splashed her way to grab the girls’ 100-meter backstroke crown, registering a time of 1:07.21.Fernandez breezed past Lora Micah Moguis who clinched the silver medal with a time of 1:10.53, while Jann Maureen Doton clocked in 1:18.42 to nab the bronze honor.

A year to remember in Philippine sports annals will be celebrated by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) in grand fashion as it holds its annual Awards Night on January 27, 2025 at the historic Manila Hotel. The country’s oldest media organization headed by its president Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star, is set to honor the best and brightest personalities and entities who made the country proud in the year that’s about to end. In a memorable 2024 campaign, the Philippines elevated its standards by gaining a first ever double gold medal in the Olympics courtesy of dynamic gymnast Carlos Yulo during the 33rd edition of the Games in Paris, France. The feat came four years after lady weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz gave the country a breakthrough Olympic gold in Tokyo, and transpired during the same period when the Filipinos commemorate their 100 years of participation in the quadrennial showcase. The Paris stint also saw Philippine boxing rising to the occasion again by winning a pair of bronze medals through the robust fists of Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. Yulo and the rest of the Filipino Olympians including the country’s representatives to the Paralympic Games, will be at the forefront of the traditional festivities where the awarding of the Athlete of the Year serves as its highlight. Another special part of the program is the induction of another Filipino great to the PSA Hall of Fame. The late track and field legend Lydia De Vega was the last celebrated athlete to be recognized with the honor. In celebration of the country’s centennial participation in the Summer Games, past Filipino Olympians will likewise have their own moments during the awards ceremony. The customary awards like the Executive of the Year, National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, President’s Award, and top performers such as Mr. Basketball, Ms. Volleyball, among others, are also going to be handed out. To be recognized too, are major awardees in different sports, the usual citations to different sports figures and individuals, and the regular Tony Siddayao Awards and MILO Awards for junior athletes. Not to be forgotten with a prayer and minute of silence are the personalities who passed away in the year 2024.

The final 10 players added to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 50 Greatest list were officially announced on Wednesday, April 2.Nelson Asaytono, long expected to be part of earlier announcements for the Top 25 and Top 40 lists, has finally secured his place among the PBA’s greatest. He leads the latest batch of players included in this prestigious group.Joining Asaytono in the final 10 are: Jeffrey Cariaso, Rene “Bong” Hawkins Jr., June Mar Fajardo, Abraham Columbus “Abe” King Jr., Daniel Charles “Danny” Seigle, Earl Scottie Thompson, Arnulfo “Arnie” Tuadles, Manuel “Manny” Victorino, and Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin.

Akari marred the debut of Thea Gagate and return of Jovelyn Gonzaga to overcome ZUS Coffee’s test, 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Thursday, November 14.Ivy Lacsina paced the Chargers, which had already defeated Galeries Tower on the first day of the season and had won two in a row for a solid 2-0 start.After gaining a 16-13 advantage in the fourth set, debutante rookie Gagate attempted to keep the Thunderbelles in the match before Gretchel Soltones hammered a down-the-line kill, propelling Akari on a 23-20 lead. Chai Troncoso then came through with a massive serve ace to square the match at 23 apiece.However, Faith Nisperos and Lacsina delivered back-to-back sharp kills, shattering ZUS Coffee’s comeback attempts.“Actually, we’re doing good in the fourth set, and then little by little, we’re showing quite bad attitude. It’s kind of relaxed already. Also, just because we already adjusted our serving, that’s why we were able to make a lot of passes,” said Chargers head coach Taka Minowa.

Quincy Miller has the possibility of playing in the PBA once again, as he is considered by the San Miguel Beermen to be their import in the upcoming Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.Miller is currently playing for SMB as one of the two reinforcements in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2.San Miguel deputy Peter Martin said that they are considering bringing in the 31-year-old in the mid-season conference to help them defend their title, but there's no assurance yet."Maybe, maybe not," said Martin of Miller's status.In their EASL loss to the Taoyuan Pilots last Wednesday, November 13, at the Philsports Arena, Miller showed brilliance by delivering 32 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.The numbers he provided were far from the first time he suited up for the Beermen when they lost against Suwon KT Sonicboom in the opener of the regional tournament a month ago.Miller only chipped in eight markers on 2-of-12 shooting from the field during the loss.And his redeeming performance last Wednesday caught the attention of the San Miguel coaching staff.

Meralco Bolts secured their second home win in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Season 2 on Wednesday night, November 13, when they narrowly defeated the Busan KCC Egis, 81-80, at the Philsports Arena.Akil Mitchell, who replaced the recently retired Allen Durham as one of Meralco's reinforcements in the tournament, led the Bolts to victory with his 33 points punctuated by his split free throws in the final 6.4 seconds that eventually sealed the game. He also grabbed 22 rebounds in their come from behind victory.Mitchell, who will also play for Meralco as their Commissioner's Cup import, boosted the team to a 2-1 win-loss record.The other reinforcement of the Bolts, DJ Kennedy added 14, to go along eight boards, five assists, and two steals for the squad, while team captain Chris Newsome scored eight before fouling out in the crucial minutes of the fourth quarter.

Carl Hilario emerged as the most decorated para swimmer after winning all three of his events on the second day of the Para Swimming competition in the 8th Philippine National Para Games on Tuesday, November 12, at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.The 18-year-old PNPG rookie from Aklan gained his first gold medal in the men’s 100 meter freestyle S14 on Monday, November 11, finishing with 1:04.55.He went on to win two gold medals the following day in the men’s 200-meter freestyle S14 with a record of 2:31.80 and the men’s 100-meter butterfly S14 with 1:21.31.

The two teams representing the Philippines are aiming for the fifth consecutive crown in the Mobile Legends M6 World Championships to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 28 to December 15.Fnatic Onic PH led by coach Tony Senedrin and Aurora MLBB led by coach Aniel ‘Master the Basics’ Jiandani are the two Philippine teams that will compete in the MLBB M6 World Championship.

The Gilas Pilipinas has released its list of 15 players who will compete in the 2025 FIBA ​​Asia Cup Qualifiers on November 21 and 25 to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena.Among of those were: June Mar Fajardo, Ange Kouame, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos, Justin Brownlee, Aj Edu, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo and Scottie Thompson.Ange Kouame has been included in Gilas Pilipinas after the Samahan ng Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed it.According to SBP executive director Erika Dy, Kouame will also participate in the Gilas camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City Laguna starting November 15.Dy also said that having multiple naturalized players in the first pool submitted to FIBA is allowed, until the eve of the game where a technical meeting will be held to finalize the roster.“The night before [a game], there’s a technical meeting. You have to have only one naturalized [player],” Dy said.

Seasoned players Mike Phillips of De La Salle University Green Archers and Camille Clarin of National University Bulldogs both delivered outstanding performances for their teams in the final stretch of eliminations in the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournaments.As both teams continued to compete for their respective titles, Phillips and Clarin contributed crucial assistance for their respective teams, which resulted in them being awarded as the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) UAAP Players of the Week award for the period of November 3–10.After a fiercely contested poll, Phillips defeated Mo Konateh of FEU, AJ Fransman of Adamson, and Nic Cabañero of UST to win the weekly prize.With an average of 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks during DLSU's 2-0 week, the 6-foot-8 forward was the most popular pick among reporters in the men's tournament.In a hard-fought 58-53 victory over FEU, Phillips filled the void left by reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao on a rare off night. He finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, five steals, and two blocks.“I’m just so happy with my role that coach [Topex Robinson] gave me," said Phillips, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the final quarter against the Tamaraws."I just try to be one of the leaders on the defense and the energy, and a lot of times I still struggle with my offensive end, and sometimes too much energy, and it’s not channeled the right way, but that’s why I trust in my teammates,” he added.