National University (NU) reaffirmed its dominance in both men’s and women’s volleyball, securing crucial victories over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to close the first round of the UAAP Season 87 tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 16.

The University of the Philippines (UP) capped off the UAAP Season 87 first round with crucial victories in both men’s and women’s volleyball, overcoming Adamson University’s standout performances at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 16.

Zus Coffee secured a quarterfinal spot in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, while Nxled ended its campaign on a high note with a dominant win, as both teams wrapped up their play-in matches on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.   

After stepping away from the basketball scene for quite some time, Oliver Agapito is now recalibrating his skills with Masters Pinoy Pilipinas Basketball, set to compete in the World Masters Tournament from May 17-30, 2025.In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, Agapito shared his basketball journey, life beyond the sport, and how he found himself drawn back to the game.

Being a three-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) champion is a significant achievement, especially during the competitive era of the 1990s to 2000s. That wealth of experience is precisely what Ernesto “Estong” Ballesteros brings to the table as he prepares to compete for Master Pinoy Pilipinas Basketball in the upcoming World Masters Tournament in Taiwan from May 17 to 30.In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, Ballesteros shared the contributions he plans to make to the Philippine 45up team as they compete on the international stage."The number one thing I can bring to help the team is my experience in the PBA and international competition," Ballesteros said in Filipino."It will be a big boost since we will be facing stronger and heavier opponents," added the sweet-shooting big man, who will be representing the country as a basketball player for the third time in his career.Ballesteros previously played for the RP Team in 1996 before entering the professional league in 1997. That’s why he feels honored and privileged to wear the Philippine colors once again, joining forces with fellow former PBA players such as Roger Yap, Gherome Ejercito, Gilbert Malabanan, Oliver Agapito, and Marlon Basco.

De La Salle University asserted its dominance in UAAP Season 87 volleyball, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s divisions against archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, March 12, at the SM Mall of Asia.In the women’s match, Shevana Laput delivered a career-high performance, scoring 25 points to lead the Lady Spikers to a 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 victory.With 19 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, Laput spearheaded La Salle’s third consecutive win, improving their record to 4-2. Angel Canino contributed 17 markers, while rookie setter Mikole Reyes recorded 20 excellent sets.Despite Ateneo taking the third set and an early 8-4 lead in the fourth, La Salle regained control behind Laput’s explosive plays, sealing the win after two hours and 14 minutes. The victory marked the Lady Spikers’ 15th straight win over Ateneo since the Season 79 Finals in 2017.

National University continued its strong run in the UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s divisions against Adamson University on Wednesday, March 12, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The NU Lady Bulldogs maintained their unbeaten record, cruising past the Lady Falcons in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18. Now at 6-0, they are just one win away from sweeping the first round, with a finals rematch against University of Santo Tomas set for Sunday, March 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  Alyssa Solomon led the charge with 22 points, while Vange Alinsug and Bella Belen added valuable contributions. Alinsug registered 12 markers, four receptions, and two digs, while Belen tallied nine points, 12 digs, and five receptions.Despite Adamson taking a 20-16 lead in the second set, NU’s composure prevailed, with Solomon and Alinsug sparking a late comeback. The Lady Bulldogs then dominated the third set, closing the match with a 7-1 finishing run led by two-time MVP Belen, Solomon, and Alinsug.

The Philippines will have three teams competing in the AVC Women’s Champions League as the host country, with PLDT joining Creamline and Petro Gazz in the tournament.Just hours before the official draw in Bangkok, Thailand, the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) awarded the Philippines an additional slot for the inaugural club competition, set to take place from April 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. Creamline and Petro Gazz were the first to qualify for the tournament after finishing at the top of the preliminary round in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference and advancing to the quarterfinals.

ZUS Coffee delivered a clutch performance in the decisive fifth set, showing composure, resilience, and timely execution to edge out Cignal in a thrilling five-set battle, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Play-In Tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, March 11.“We’re very happy, but there’s a bit of frustration since we could have closed it out in the fourth set. Still, we held on in the fifth, so we’re happy,” said Thunderbelles head coach Jerry Yee.  Cignal made a late push in the deciding frame, cutting ZUS Coffee’s lead to 13-12 after a block from Jackie Acuña on Jovelyn Gonzaga and an attack error by Michelle Gamit.However, former HD Spiker Chai Troncoso rose to the occasion, delivering two consecutive clutch hits to seal the victory. She finished with 21 points, including 15 attacks, four aces, and two blocks, while also recording 17 excellent receptions.  ZUS Coffee seemed poised to close out the match in four sets, holding a dominant 12-3 lead early and an 18-11 advantage midway. But Cignal mounted a strong comeback, led by Vanie Gandler and Ishie Lalongisip, forcing a deciding set.

Chery Tiggo secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after battling past a resilient Farm Fresh team in a hard-fought four-set match, 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, March 12.The Crossovers needed two hours and seven minutes to overcome the determined Foxies, who pushed them at every turn. However, Chery Tiggo’s experience and composure in crucial moments made the difference, setting up a best-of-three quarterfinal clash with reigning champions Creamline.

National University battled past Ateneo de Manila University in a tough match, securing a 23-25, 26-24, 27-25, 29-27 win to stay undefeated in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday, February 19, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.The Bulldogs overcame a four-point deficit in the third set, gaining control and carrying that momentum into the fourth to eventually defeat the determined Blue Eagles.With the win, NU improved to 2-0 this season, while Ateneo, under new head coach Vince Mangulabnan, fell to a 1-1 record.Leo Ordiales led the Bulldogs with 14 points, including 13 attacks, while Peng Taguibolos had a standout performance with 13 markers, featuring seven attacks and a game-high six blocks.Congolese middle blocker Obed Mukaba contributed 10 points, with four blocks, four aces, and two attacks, and last season’s Rookie of the Year Jade Disquitado added seven points in his Season 87 debut.Greg Ancheta facilitated NU’s offense with 18 excellent sets, while Jimwell Gapultos protected the floor with 18 excellent receptions and four digs.The five-peat seeking Bulldogs will next face Far Eastern University on Sunday, February 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Ateneo Blue Eagles will have to continue their UAAP Season 87 campaign without two key players after injuries to Zel Tsunashima and Jlo Delos Santos were evaluated last week.Tsunashima sustained a freak injury during their opening match against the Adamson Lady Falcons when she landed awkwardly after a block attempt, resulting in a broken left shin (tibia and fibula) in the fifth set.At the time, Tsunashima had scored 10 points and was a crucial part of Ateneo’s effort. She had to leave the game late in the deciding set when Adamson was ahead, 11-9.

Choco Mucho hiked its winning streak to four after achieving a sweet success against Akari, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night, February 8, at the Philsports Arena.The Flying Titans sealed the game, reestablishing their groove after the second set hiccup. Choco Mucho went into overdrive in the fourth set, after thumping Akari in a close third set, swiftly establishing an 11-4 lead thanks to the efforts of Cherry Nunag, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Isa Molde.Before concluding the game, the Flying Titans kept up their pace and increased their lead to 21-9.

Filipino-American Levi Jung-Ruivar is making her Olympic debut in Paris.Ruivivar switched allegiance from the United States to the Philippines last year and stamped her ticket to the Paris Games when she clinched the silver medal in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics held in Doha, Qatar, a couple of weeks before she turned 18.As Levi qualified for the Summer Olympics, she became the youngest in the Philippine delegation for the Paris Games.Hailing from Los Angeles, Jung-Ruivivar began her gymnastics journey at the age of one-and-a-half, at her mom’s suggestion. She gradually made her way up the U.S. women’s gymnastics program ladder, ultimately becoming a four-time USA Elite National Team Member. At the end of 2022, Jung-Ruivivar, whose father is Filipino, made the transition from Team USA to the Philippines, for which she has competed since.

Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena won his second gold medal in the athletics season of the 2025 Orlen Copernicus Cup held in Torun, Poland.Obiena cleared the 5.80 meters jump to secure the gold medal in the event.On his first jump attempt, Obiena quickly cleared the 5.50m mark. He also cleared rhe 5.60m, which took him to 5.70m, although Obiena missed twice on his 5.80 jump until he got the tactic and was able to clear the mark on his third attempt.Meanwhile, Piotr Lisek of Poland took the silver medal with a 5.70 mark, while Sondre Guttormsen of Norway came in third with the same mark, with Lisek beating Guttormsen via countback.Last month of January, Obiena previously won the gold medal at the recently concluded Metz Moselle Athletics Championships in France, and had a silver medal at the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus.The two-time Filipino Olympian also previously failed to defend his title at the ISTAF Indoor in Germany after finishing seventh with a 5.55-meter jump last week.

Shaina Nitura unleashed a record game debut to lead Adamson to a thrilling reverse sweep over Ateneo de Manila University, 21-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-12, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, February 16, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The homegrown Adamson product reset the UAAP scoring record for a rookie in her debut game as she unloaded 33 points anchored on 28 attacks, four blocks, and one ace, while also grabbing five digs and seven receptions. Despite Nitura surpassing the record previously set by University of Santo Tomas’s Angge Poyos, who fired 31 markers last season, she downplayed the achievement.